Sunday, March 21, 2010

Day Tripper

Over the last few weeks, Frank and I have taken a few different day trips through part of southern Ontario. Below are a few photos taken from one of them, a couple of weeks back. I hope you enjoy them and please remember to click on each of them to enlarge.


One of my favourite things to do while Frank is behind the wheel is to try my hand at drive-by shootings. I liked this red barn in sunlight and shadows. The snow is long-gone now that we've had a few days of 18C (64F).




Another drive-by revealed this lone bench in the middle of a snowy field.




This tree caught my eye from a long way off. I liked how its branches reached out for sunlight.





In Alderville, Ontario, there's a native art outlet called Smoke's. Somewhere down the road, I'll probably be featuring a few of what I believe are their best pieces of art. Today, I'm just including some colourful items seen around their gallery - like these bald eagles which welcome visitors from their nest up on the roof.




Native drums. Can you hear them?




A colourful quilt hangs from one of the display walls. I love how one colour blends into the next.




A brightly painted totem pole stands proudly in one corner of the gallery.





A different place, this store sold hundreds of different beads. Their display made me think of my talented friend, Dawno who designs beautiful, beaded jewelery.





Back at Frank's place, a late afternoon walk reveals some of the damage done by the icy floods over the past couple of months. The underside of this apple tree is quite scarred. And it doesn't look like it will be too long before erosion sends it into the creek.





This handsome crow is keeper of the light standard.





For the second time in two days, I spotted a Sundog (not to be confused with my bloggy pal Suldog, although every bit as bright and colourful). This one reflected nicely in the large, muddy puddle on the path. It was a rubber boots kind of day.






At the end of an early spring day, there isn't much better than lighting a fire and sipping on a belly-warmer.

Thanks for joining me on this day.

58 comments:

Nancy said...

All of your pictures are so clear and perfect. I especially liked the sundog - but that bench in the field was sort of lonely. Waiting for someone to pause and soak in the sounds of the meadow, and may be a spring or summer day.

ds said...

Wonderful as always. That quilt is magnificent! Unlike Nancy, I enjoyed the bench in the field very much; it seemed so peaceful. Thanks so much for sharing your "drive-bys"!

LadyFi said...

Fabulous photos as always. I love that red barn and that fabulous sunset. What a glorious day!

Sueann said...

Beautiful photos!! Love the sundog...gorgeous!!
Hugs
SueAnn

Gary's third pottery blog said...

Oh, that bench! Funny, the pic of beads reminds you that ordinary stuff makes good photos :)

Brian Miller said...

very nice...i think my fav is actually the barn...reminds me of trips through the country side...

Tabor said...

Great photos. You have an eye for seeing something that I would just let pass by. I also have tried dry by shootings without nearly as much success. I think my husband has too heavy a foot on the accelerator!

Steve Gravano said...

Great photos as always. It's always fun to read the comments, and how everyone has a favorite photo, the sundog, the bench or the barn. I like the crafts from Smoke's, especially the Eagles and the colorful quilt. You always have something for everyone.

Maggie May said...

As usual, all your photos are good but the ones that caught my eye specially this time were the quilt...... the birds of prey on the roof..... the crow on the light....... the sunset and the barn through the window.

Nuts in May

CiCi said...

Wow, the quilt is beautiful. I like the colors in it. And the first pic, the barn, great pic, I would not have known you took that picture while in the moving car. I really like the bird on the light fixture. Oh heck, all the pictures are great. And then going home to light a nice fire and relax is one of life's rewards.

NJ said...

Wow as always great pictures. I was really interested in the one with the eagle when I saw where it was from. My son's fiance is originally from the Alderville reserve.

Rosaria Williams said...

What gorgeous pictures! Hard to pick a favorite!

Grayquill said...

Thanks for letting us come along on your trip...I like the fire.

Frank Baron said...

Another fine batch. :) I think I like the barn and sundog pics the best. Imagine how great some of those from-the-car shots would be if I ever cleaned the windows!

Karen said...

That quilt was marvolous!! Wow! And to end my scenic tour with a fire and warm memories was delicious. Thanks!

Linda said...

Those are some great pictures. My favorites are the barn, and the sundog. We don't have barns like that around here.

The sundog and the reflection in the puddle are great. I've got a sunset picture that I took after a rain, and it wasn't until I downloaded it that I realized I had reflections of the clouds on the wet street and puddle in the driveway. So cool!

Thanks for sharing.

Mage said...

Lovely thank you. Just comfortable images, thank you.

Dianne said...

I love the bench in the field
so strong and stoic
waiting for spring

and the crafts are amazing!! so many incredible colors

Dawning Inspiration said...

Looking at the top picture of the barn and imagining driving by and finding it makes me breathe a big sigh of peace... thanks for that!

Looks like you had a great day!

MaggieGem said...

Day trips are great, thanks for taking us along on yours!

Your pictures are wonderful, as always, but I am a sucker for Red Barns! Love that shot!

Margo said...

As with all your photos I can not just see, but hear, smell and feel them! Sorry I've been awol lately - I've started a new blog (and I'm serious when I say I would love for you to submit something about one (or more :)of these awesome day trips.

Hilary said...

• Thanks so much, Nancy. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. :)

• Thanks, DS. It's funny how the two of you each got such different feelings from that bench. As for me, I was simply amused. :)

• Thanks kindly, LadyFi. Much appreciated. :)

• SueAnn, thanks very much. :)

• Thank you, Gary. I'm glad you think so. I so often realize that about ordinary shots. :)

• Brian, I'm glad you enjoyed the barn photo. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Tabor, you just need to adjust the shutter speed to his heavy foot. ;) Thanks for the kind words. :)

• Thanks very much, Steve. I'm glad you think so. :)

• Thank you, Maggie. I'm pleased that you enjoyed the photos. Thanks always for your visit. :)

• Thanks very much, Technobabe. I'm glad you like the pics. The fire was indeed a wonderful end to the day. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• NJ, thank you. We found a few interesting places in Alderville. This one kept catching our eye on our trips to the cottage over the years. We finally made a point of stopping by there and I'm glad we did. I'll have more photos eventually. :)

• Thank you, Lakeviewer. Much appreciated. :)

• Grayquill, I'm glad you could join me on this trip. Pass another log, please. :)

• Thanks, Frank. I think I'll carry a small bottle of window cleaner in my camera bag from now on. I enjoyed my time with you muchly. :)

• Thank you, Karen. I'm so glad you could join me. :)

• Thank you, Linda. Those are the best kind.. the photo you described. I often don't realize just what I might have in the photo until I've seen it on the computer. We're so focused on what stands out the most that we miss the details which just make the photo even better. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks, Maggie. I'm so glad you think so. :)

• Thank you, Dianne. I had a hunch you'd like the bench photo. I was lucky to catch that one. Thank so much for your always kind words. :)

• Thank you, SD. We did indeed have a fine time. I'm glad you enjoyed that barn shot. :)

• Glad to hear it, Maggie Gem. Thanks for joining me. :)

• Thanks kindly, Margo. I'll have to check on your new post as soon as I'm done here. Thanks for the always kind words. :)

Cheryl Kohan said...

Drive-by shootings - love that term! You've certainly got that technique down pat, Hilary.

I love barns and churches as subjects. That barn photo is just excellent. And the fire at the end of the day...that's perfect.

SandyCarlson said...

Oh, these are great. Your drive-bys are wonderful. There tough to do. That whole walk about back to the fire just made my day. Oh for such good company!

Fragrant Liar said...

Yes, I did hear the drums. :)

That tree, in its last throes of life, really got to me.

Lisa said...

I enjoyed it so, thank you.

Dave said...

I like to see your Canadian country side, and your photos depict it so well. Good reflective photo of the sundog. A double winner as I also find reflections make interesting photos too. Can we have some photos of your lake, countryside and cities please? - Dave

Pauline said...

Such a lovely day in pictures - thanks for taking us along!

Anonymous said...

I need the native drums and totem in my house... like yesterday!

Land of shimp said...

Someone had to move that out there, heh, wonder if they were trying to cross the entire field and abandoned bench halfway across?

"Argh, gug, my back! Screw it, it's staying here!"

Boy, you'd really have to be in the mood to sit on a bench to make that your destination, which I rather love.

Lovely photographs, Hilary, can you tell which one caught my attention the most?

Also, those Eagles on the roof are just cracking me up. I'd like to introduce them to some pigeons I know.

Suldog said...

By this time, it goes without saying that I love your photography, so instead I'll tell you about the odd bit of synchronicity here. I was listening to tapes of one of my old bands, in the car on the way to work, and our cover of "Day Tripper" was the last tune I heard before coming in here and logging on.

Ooh. Scary.

Unknown said...

Thanks for taking us along, your eyes see beauty.

Daryl said...

A pixelated quilt .. LOVE it .. and the barn and the reflection photos .. I would love to be along on one of your day trips

Anonymous said...

Yes... so nice to end the day by the fire! Great pics as always. Love the red barn! :) The Bach

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Hilary: What a neat set of photos from the trip. They are really neat.

Reb said...

Stunning as always. I love that quilt, the work that must have gone into it boggles the mind.

Sorry I've been a bit lax in visiting. Love the work from Janet and that she recycles to make her art is great.

messymimi said...

I can imagine sitting on that bench in the spring, just soaking up the warmth and listening for birds.

Beautiful pictures.

Rachel said...

that fire looks sooo cosy! great photos

photowannabe said...

Fantastic day-trip pictures. The Sundog reflection shot is a real prize and the Indian quilt is amazing.
Thanks for your concern for my Hubby. He seems to be recovering painfully and slowly, but its been only 4 days. We go to the Doc this afternoon and see what he has to say. I'm so thankful there were no broken bones or head trama. Pretty scary.

Tammie Lee said...

I feel as though I went on a road trip with you. Fun to see the world through your eyes and lens. I have been told that when one sees a sundog that there will be rain within 24 hours. Did it rain? Wishing you a lovely week.

maddie said...

I love the picture of the beads, Hilary. I just wanted to put my hands in there and make some necklaces.But particularly like the sundog. Beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for taking us along, Hilary -- and thank you for driving, Frank! :)
I love the barns, the lovely reflection on the water, and I really, really, really want to go "back" to that gallery -- with an unlimited bank account! Can we please also stop at the bead shop?
I'll bring the belly-warmer for the after-shopping fire.

Anonymous said...

Obviously, I need to get a passport!

Hilary said...

• Thanks so much, Cheryl. I quite enjoy discovering which photos survive the shooting. ;) Thanks always for such kind words. :)

• Sandy, thank you so much. I'm really glad you enjoy them and I'm especially glad you joined me. I always cherish your company. :)

• FL, I'm glad you heard the drums too. Now, can you hear the Twilight Zone theme? ;) That apple tree is going to be missed when the banks take it into the river one day. Thanks. :)

• Ocean Girl, thanks kindly. Much appreciated. :)

• Dave, thank you so much. I'm glad you're enjoying our Ontario countryside as I do. More surrounding areas coming up shortly.. before too long, anyway. Thanks always for stopping by. :)

• Pauline, thanks so much for joining me. :)

• ED, the natives are restless, are they? I hope you hear your soothing drums soon. Thanks for the visit. :)

• Shimp, you're the only one I know who has a complete background story for any given photo that you encounter. That's such a gift and I'm glad you share it with us in the comments. Don't be in too much of a hurry to introduce your pigeons to the eagles. You may be rid of the former problem but can you imagine the upgrade in droppings? ;) Thanks for stopping by, my friend. :)

• Suldog, thank you for telling me about this. Something drew you to where your name was mentioned. It seems that synchronicity is more effective than Google Alerts. ;)

• Thank you so much, Deb. Always happy to have you along. :)

• Daryl, yes.. I noticed that pixelation effect too. Im glad I'm not the only one. I would so enjoy having you along for a day trip or several. Maybe one day. :)

• Thank you, Bach. I'm glad you enjoyed your time with me. :)

• Fishing Guy, thanks very much. :)

• Good to see you, Reb. You've gone and disappeared for too long. I do understand that life makes other demands and I'm glad you're keeping busy. Thanks always for your kind words. :)

• Messymini, thank you kindly. I think you're right about that bench. It would be a great place to sit and enjoy the seasons. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Rachel, it was very cosy. Thanks for the kind words. :)

• Sue, thanks very much. I'm so relieved to hear that your husband managed to survive this horrible fall without major damage. He's very lucky, though I suspect he's not feeling all that chipper at the moment. Please keep us posted with his progress. Thanks always for the visit. :)

• Tammie Lee, I'm glad you could join me on the road trip. It's always fun to have some good company. I honestly have no idea if it rained after seeing the sundog or not. It was the second one I'd seen - the first being the day before and I don't think we had rain after that one. The huge puddle might be indicative of recent rain, or of ice melting. I'm just not sure. I will however make a point of noticing next time. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Maddie, thank you. I found the beads so attractive too. I wouldn't have the first idea what to do with them, but I wanted to play. ;) Thanks so much for the kind words. :)

• KC, thank you for joining us. Get that passport and make your way up here. There are so many places I'm sure you'd enjoy. And even more so with a belly full of warmer. ;)

Trée said...

Gorgeous images from an educated eye to from and function. Thanks for sharing. (Saw you visiting Erin and thought I'd stop by and say hello) :-)

Cloudia said...

All Wonderful!
Particularly like the Maple Leaf flying beside the sun dog, the crow - oh, All of it!!
(I still hear the ghost drum)

Aloha from Hawaii my Friend!


Comfort Spiral

Zuzana said...

Beautiful day!
Loved all the images, every single one. The eagles look almost alive. Love all the art as it is so eclectic and I would have loved to have looked through all those beads!
The sunset was breathtaking and as you know, I love to sit by the fire.
Thank you for sharing your day dear friend,
xoxo
Zuzana

Bhavesh Chhatbar said...

The photographs, the subjects, and the photographer, all are beautiful! What an amazing trip!!

Wednesday Wallpaper - Abandoned House in Greenery

 

Kerri Farley said...

Beautiful captures Hilary! You always post the neatest shots!!

Bhavesh Chhatbar said...

And thanks so much for sharing!

Bhavesh

 

Anita said...

It's so nice that you can travel to various places, and take beautiful photos that can be savored again and again. :)

Unknown said...

Oh! It looks so lovely! I love old barns. And sun flare just delights me to no end! : )

Pretty birds and beads. Day trips are so fun!

Wendy said...

That poor apple tree - it almost looks like it's casting a magic spell over the water.

Love your sundog and that barn. The totem pole is so colourful and the quilts too.
Thanks for taking us along on your walk.

May said...

Beautiful pics....especially like the sunset. Thanks for sharing all of those pictures.

Hilary said...

• Welcome, Trée and thanks for the kind words. They're very much appreciated. :)

• Thank you, Cloudia. I'm glad that our Canadian Maple Leaf touched you. Aloha, eh? :)

• Zuzana, thank you, my friend. I'm glad you came to share the day with me. It made it all the better. :)

• Bhavesh, thank you very kindly. Much appreciated. :)

• Thanks, Kerri. I always feel the same about yours. :)

• Anita, thanks very much. I'm glad you enjoyed them. I sure enjoyed taking them. :)

• LWK, I get such a kick out of sundogs too.. they're as exciting to see as rainbows. Thanks for joining me. :)

• Wendy, thank you. I like the way you described the apple tree. You're quite right. Thanks so much for accompanying me on my wanderings. :)

• May, thank you so much for your kind words. They're much appreciated. :)

Redbush said...

Love the photos, Hilary! Those totem poles are amazing and the bald eagles as well. It looks like your trip was fantastic!

Deb said...

I wish all drive-bys were as friendly and beautiful as yours! Thanks for taking us with you for a virtual day trip ~ beautiful pics as always!

Hilary said...

• Thanks Redbush. It sure was. :)

• Thanks kindly, Deb. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)