Category Archive: Nature’s Gifts

13 May

Direct Messenger of the Gods

I feel lucky to be able to observe this beautiful bird of prey. Linda, though,  is the real lucky one because Mr. and Mrs. Merlin have set up residence in the huge white…
May 13, 2014 at 6:20 pm Leave a comment
More Moss Sporophytes
18 Nov

The Sexual Life of Moss

This magical miniature world is only visible to those who stop and crouch down, and allow themselves to be drawn in. Short-sighted voyeur that I am, I have to take…
November 18, 2013 at 9:04 am 2 Comments
31 Oct

From Big Worlds to Small

I feel free and alive and optimistic in this forest, just steps from my backyard. It’s natural and rocky, and wonderful for any and all moods. I’m always amazed at…
October 31, 2013 at 11:32 am Leave a comment
18 Oct

Soothing Serenity in the Bay

A trip down the street (or is it up?) always serves me up a delicious treat. I inhale it and digest it, and then go home to make supper or…
October 18, 2013 at 5:10 pm 1 Comment
17 Oct

Simply Beautiful in Lavender

Just a wee bud thinking of waking up to see the gorgeous fall colours all around her. Soon. Not right away. Soon. If I lived at KD’s I might set…
October 17, 2013 at 9:42 am Leave a comment
Some Colours of Fall are Muted
16 Oct

Some Colours of Fall are Muted

Taupes and tans; greens and grays; browns and beiges; creams and ecrus. What a palette! And these are only a few of the tones inside this one frame. Where does…
October 16, 2013 at 8:29 am Leave a comment
A Rainbow Touches the Horizon
13 Oct

A Rainbow Touches the Horizon

It was far off across the bay and framed by the trees on the far side of the neighbour’s property, so it would have been easy to miss. It was…
October 13, 2013 at 1:14 pm 4 Comments
12 Oct

If You Go Into the Woods Today

This weather is fabulous for a walk in the woods with my camera and my dog. She explores with her nose and ears, while I use my eyes — up…
October 12, 2013 at 4:57 pm 2 Comments
11 Oct

Down by the Bay ♪ ♫ ♩

“Down by the bay” where the sunsets glow. (I can’t type my title without Raffi’s song going through my head.                    …
October 11, 2013 at 4:19 pm 4 Comments
09 Oct

When I am An Old Woman

I shall indeed wear purple! I’m assuming you know Warning, the poem by Jenny Joseph? No? You don’t know it? And you’re how old? Well, if you’re 50 or more, I…
October 9, 2013 at 6:16 pm 3 Comments
The Peace of Wild Things
09 Oct

The Peace of Wild Things

This is one of my old photos — from 2005 — and one of my favourite poems — from 1968. The two belong together. Thank you, Wendell Berry, for your…
October 9, 2013 at 12:52 pm 2 Comments
29 Sep

A Winded Nuthatch Catches His Breath

After flying Kirplunk! into one of my dining-room windows, this fluffy little handful of feathers needed a cuddle in a warm jacket. He was stunned. After the “heart to heart”…
September 29, 2013 at 6:08 pm Leave a comment
Scaly Pholiota
04 Sep

Scaly Pholiota

This gray and drizzly September morning seemed like a perfect time for a walk in the woods to look for mushrooms. And, though there weren’t many, I did find a…
September 4, 2013 at 1:15 pm 3 Comments
Fabulous Fractals
29 Aug

Handiwork — Mother Nature Style

Although some would argue that Mother Nature creates only “approximate fractals” they look pretty close to perfect to me. In fract [sic] I would say that Mother Nature always takes first…
August 29, 2013 at 2:55 pm 1 Comment
28 Aug

Nutritious, Delicious, Free!

Go out into your yard and disrupt the soil. Then wait, watch and wonder. Before long you may be lucky enough to see a whole new crop of these wonderful…
August 28, 2013 at 2:32 pm Leave a comment
07 Jul

Learning the Ropes with Triplets

When these cavernous little mouths are not chirping frantically for food, they are wide open, waiting for Mommy to insert a fresh new tid-bit of shad fly. And there she…
July 7, 2013 at 1:34 pm 1 Comment
17 Jun

Past Her Prime and Wind-Blown

This lovely white poppy has very few competitors as she waves to seek my attention. Her coral and pink cousins have come and gone, and now she and her two…
June 17, 2013 at 4:24 pm Leave a comment
16 Jun

The Painted Turtle on Her Mission

This gorgeous specimen was at the end of our street exploring the environment. Perhaps she was resting after laying her eggs? Perhaps she was on the lookout for a good…
June 16, 2013 at 5:03 pm 2 Comments
04 Jun

Horsing Around with Clover

Living and working at Quinn’s farm — wonderful! Being spoon-fed sweet fresh clover — priceless! And actually, her name is Rosie, not Clover. 🙂
June 4, 2013 at 10:16 am Leave a comment
03 Jun

Chaotic Salad Corner

Mother Nature is happy here. I bedded the four swiss chard seedlings early — in a row — about a hand’s width apart — in holes made by my gloved…
June 3, 2013 at 10:25 am 1 Comment
30 May

Lovely in Lilac

Even the lowly chives put on their lilac finery to trip the light fantastic. They attract my attention, but I wonder, “Where are the bees?” Are they not dancing yet?
May 30, 2013 at 5:07 pm 1 Comment
28 May

Flashes of Oriole Orange

They are so busy — courting, and duelling, and re-fuelling at my feeder. And if all goes well, they will breed and raise their families in my trees. Or in…
May 28, 2013 at 9:35 am Leave a comment
23 May

Centre Stage

What a beautiful flower.! She certainly cannot stay in the shadows for long. My lens will find her.
May 23, 2013 at 2:19 pm Leave a comment
Precious Poppy Petals
22 May

Prima Ballerina

May brings one of my favourite flowers — the oriental poppy with the delicate tissue-paper petals! As I watch her dancing in the spring breezes, I can’t help but marvel…
May 22, 2013 at 2:01 pm 1 Comment
06 May

Basking

She was so patient with me as I changed lenses and moved around to try and get a better angle. For almost ten minutes she just watched and waited and…
May 6, 2013 at 9:40 am 2 Comments
16 Apr

Our Delightful Afternoon in the Forest

We were there for about an hour and a half, maybe more, but I could have easily stayed twice as long. Even more than usual, on this gray and drizzly afternoon, my forest…
April 16, 2013 at 5:28 pm Leave a comment
04 Apr

Swans in the Snow

April Fools! Yes, it was quite the wintry day in Hanover on April 1st this year. And there on Marl Lake was a lovely pair of swans, heedless of the…
April 4, 2013 at 3:06 pm Leave a comment
15 Mar

One More Reason to Love Terrasse-Vaudreuil

Yes, there are many reasons to be thrilled to live here. But right at the top of the list I would include our opportunities to enjoy spectacular sunsets. I and…
March 15, 2013 at 4:32 pm Leave a comment
14 Mar

Mums in the Sunshine

With the return of the bitter cold winds today, I felt that a little warmth would be welcome. Here you might catch some from the sunny petals.
March 14, 2013 at 12:38 pm Leave a comment
25 Jan

Dragonfly Days

Perhaps this delicate dragonfly will remind us of warmer days — pleasantly comfortable October mornings when the temps were not in the minus 30 degrees Celsius.
January 25, 2013 at 10:36 am Leave a comment
20 Jan

A Precious New Life Outside the Womb

January 20, 2013 at 12:17 pm 1 Comment
23 Nov

Mother Nature’s Talents

 The mirror on my garage door shows off Mother Nature’s talents in painting. And at this time of the year, the canvas changes almost every day. Here our favourite artist competes with the…
November 23, 2012 at 10:32 am Leave a comment
18 Nov

Mid-November in the Woods

I thought they had packed away their colourful finery for another year, but today, November 18th, there they were, still flaunting their delicate beauty.  Amazing and mesmerizing. And I cannot…
November 18, 2012 at 6:05 pm 1 Comment
10 Nov

The Woodpile

Once again we’re at that time of the year when squirrels are squirreling away their goodies, and homeowners are stacking their wood. Actually, in this case, the wood-burners might be…
November 10, 2012 at 2:46 pm Leave a comment
26 Oct

Salvaged Sumac

I didn’t want her, but allowed her to stay. Then I tolerated her. Now I know why: she’s gorgeous in the fall.
October 26, 2012 at 7:30 pm Leave a comment
23 Oct

With Down as Delicate as a Baby’s Breath

When the milkweed pods open in the fall I enjoy my walks even more than usual. I am so drawn to these gentle flying seeds that I want to film…
October 23, 2012 at 2:56 pm Leave a comment
21 Oct

Rocks — They Speak Volumes

Yes, I find they speak to me. And in a very rich language, full of texture and colour. They whisper their history and echo their almost-forgotten dreams to all who…
October 21, 2012 at 11:46 am Leave a comment
20 Oct

Gingko Gold

My beautiful living fossil is quite golden this time of the year.
October 20, 2012 at 6:23 pm 1 Comment
16 Oct

Reflections on the Bay

I saw no wildlife in the bay today, but these muted fall colours on the water gave me reason to pause and join in their reflection.
October 16, 2012 at 12:58 am Leave a comment
12 Oct

One of the Fallen

Yes, I choose to believe that she lived a good life. Now she will go on to please others with her warmth.
October 12, 2012 at 8:06 pm Leave a comment
12 Oct

Full Moon — Blue Moon

When there are two full moons in a calendar month, we call the second one a blue moon.  See here for more information: http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/when-is-the-next-blue-moon

October 12, 2012 at 1:58 pm Leave a comment
This is Katie's Style! Aren't you jealous?
03 Oct

The Beauty of Au Naturel

Such unpretentious charm and beauty!  It totally melts her grandmother’s heart.
October 3, 2012 at 4:45 pm Leave a comment
30 Sep

Twinkle Toes in the Grass

At nine months old, Katherine loved to sit in the grass and sing.  It was a delight to watch her.
September 30, 2012 at 9:13 pm Leave a comment
29 Sep

Lightly Steamed; Drowned in Butter; Sprinkled With Salt

Oh how I love swiss chard!  And not only its taste.  It is also beautiful to look at and to touch. Hopefully, the farmer’s market still has some for me.
September 29, 2012 at 1:47 pm Leave a comment
26 Sep

Puff, but Not the Magic Dragon

Yes, this lovely 11-inch-diameter specimen was in the forest just up the street from my door — just waiting for me to salvage. You see, last fall I saw a…
September 26, 2012 at 2:25 pm 2 Comments
21 Sep

Fascination With Fungi

Yes, I am enchanted by these wonders of Nature.   Maybe there are actually fairies underneath?  Regardless, I will keep looking.
September 21, 2012 at 1:49 pm Leave a comment