One of my favourite faces waits patiently for our return home.
Thanks for joining me on this morning walk.
Thanks for joining me on this morning walk.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Morning Walk
Care to join me for a walk around the pond? The sun has been up for a couple of hours but cloudy skies have kept it from spreading its warm, colourful hues.
Until just now, that is. This is one of my favourite trees along this pathway. I've never known it to to sprout a leaf but its dead branches are often inviting to many varieties of birds. I'm sure they'll be by soon. We could wait for a few minutes but it's cold out, and I think we should move along.
There was a light dusting of snow overnight - the only snow that's out there right now. It's been a fairly dry winter, so far. These lovely orange seeds belong to the spindle berry. They keep their colour through much of the season.
Spent Queen Anne's Lace forms a cup to gather fallen snowflakes.
Wispy foliage peers over the edge of the icy pond.
This sweet sparrow basks in a spot of morning sunlight.
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79 comments:
OH! I love your cat, and WOW, those dried berries! Its hard to imagine in summer, but winter has tremendous beauty if you look for it :)
How tidy and efficient the Queen Anne's Lace holding its cup of snowflakes!
I was out last weekend and took pictures of trees too. As pretty as trees are completely dressed in leafery, the bare shapes are interesting, aren't they?
Wow,some real beauties today.The spindle berries and Queen Ann's Lace are my favorites. And that sky behind the tree trunk is incredible. ( I could have used another layer it was a bit cold.;)
The berry photo is especially fabulous.
Love your cat's eyes.
Thanks for the walk and it wasn't cold at all for me!!
Must see if I can plant some spindleberry.
What a lovely walk this morning... and returning to that loving cat face just warms the heart!
Have a great day!
And thank you for taking us.
That berry shot is absolutely stunning!
Perfect kitty photo. Love the Queeen Anne's Lace too. They seem to be abundant in our area and always provide me with great photographic opportunities.
Sweet post!
Di
Good "seeing" on your morning walk. I tend to walk in a stupor, particularly in the morning as I did a while ago.
Looks like a nice walk. Lovely shots!
Many years ago I used to drive a certain route to work and I had a favorite 'dead' tree - it had such a cool shape. Unfortunately, years later nature took it's course and now what was left of it has been cut down. Of course, time will bring more cycles...
I love that dead tree. It sends a wonderful feel.
Superb .. love especially Queen Anne's ice cone!
These are amazing! I love the ice cone and the berries. thanks for the walk... the best kind while still in the warmth of my blankets :-)
I love these images Hilary. the snow capped seed and grasses.
adorable kitty...the sup of snow is amazing...great eye...
Beautiful pictures as always!
Catch a cup of snow! This person from the Deep South loves that idea, as long as she doesn't have to freeze to do it.
Thank you for the wonderful stroll, quite refreshing~!
That was a quick, brisk walk, Hilary! Loved it, snow dusting and all.
You have a gorgeous cat!
Sound like similar weather here.When it does that, I fear for the worst.Lovely walk ,I had a great time.
At first glance, I thought that was a squirrel's tail in the top of that tree. The picture of the sparrow makes me marvel that such little, seemingly fragile creatures can survive winter. They're amazing. And the cat photo is excellent...such clarity and detail. The look in the eye makes me wonder if you caught the cat looking at the sparrow. :)
Cute sparrow and kitty! Nothing like a nice brisk morning walk!
I enjoyed our walk :-)
Hugs, Katherine
love the tree & such a cute cup of snow
Hope you are buying some frames for these wonderful shots ~ incredible ! Wish we lived closer so we could go on a photowalk together. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us !
Lovely! The things you see if you actually get up before 9 am. :)
oh the spindle berries and queen anne's lace are just lovely!
Love the burning branch on that dead tree and of course your sweet kitty's face ;) Great photos as always Hilary.
A few of my favourite things. :) Skitty's got a great face.
thank you for the beautiful walk
OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! All breathtaking!
I love your sweet little sparrow. Looks like a lovely walk.
Thanks for the walk - I feel refreshed! What a sweet face at the end. Beautiful photos!
Oh! I soooo need your camera eye for my photo taking. I love the silohuetted tree, and the spindle berry! I feel like I'm right there waiting for the drops of water to start dripping off the berries.
That was a lovely walk. Thank you for the invitation. That is quite an adorable face that awaits your return. I look forward to more pictures of your family this year.
Beautiful photos Hilary! I love that tree. It has a lot of character. And your cat photo is just fabulous! Great shots! Hope you're keeping warm during our icy weather!!!
:)
Nice walk, lovely cat!
Hi Cuzzie!
That post was the cat's meow, and so are you.
Hugs,
Cuzzie P
That was lovely, Hilary. Love the Queen Anne's Lace cupping the snow. It's as different perspective of a fave flower of mine.
Thanks for the tour.
jj
Hilary, I love how you capture to feeling of your surroundings in your photos. They were gorgeous.
Lovely blog, beautiful photos and the last one, I am not very fond of it, is a cat, absolutely fantastic.
fantastic photos... thanks for taking us along... love your cat
I'm thinking it's a toss-up between the spindle berry photo and the little kitty photo. They're both gorgeous!
Oh, lovely kitty! I think those spindle berries are my new favorite photo of yours. So glad you shared your walk!
I do LOVE your kittty!!!!!
You take marvelous pics....what a talent you are !!!!
Gosh!
You make me wanna be a better photog!
I so missed my walks here. . .
Aloha from Hawaii
Comfort Spiral
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yes, sparrows are sweet
I always feel refreshed after a photographic walk with you. Your favorite face shares much the same look as one of my favorite faces...enjoyed the peacefulness of the stroll
hugs
Sandi
Beautiful! I love the Queen Anne's Lace. Just gorgeous! :)
• Gary, so true. You just have to bundle up really well when you do. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• June, I love Queen Anne's Lace in all seasons but mostly in autumn and winter. And yes, bare trees and even the dead ones have such beauty to share. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Thanks for the kind words, Steve. Next time I'll have another sweater ready for you. ;)
• Thanks, Deb. I'm glad you enjoyed. :)
• I'm glad you kept warm, Tabor. Spindle berry is a rather large sprawling bush but it sure is interesting in all seasons. :)
• Maggie Gem, thanks kindly. I'm always happy to see that sweet face greet me. :)
• Dawn, thanks for joining me. I'm glad you liked it. :)
• Di, it's such an artistic looking plant in all seasons, isn't it? Have you ever pulled one out by the roots in summer? They smell just like carrots. Thanks for the kind words. :)
• AC, it's a funny thing - I tend to see a lot more when I'm carrying my camera, so I always try to make sure that I do. Thanks for the visit. :)
• Thank you, Sarah. It's a shame that your favourite tree is gone but clearly, it's not forgotten. And like you said, there's always another to catch your eye. Thanks for such kind words. :)
• Thanks, Leah. It does indeed. I'm glad it touched you. :)
• Thanks, Daryl. Much appreciated. :)
• Grayquill, I'm glad you were all toasty warm while I braved the cold for you. Thanks for the kind comments. :)
• Thanks so much, Ellen. I'm glad you enjoyed the post. :)
• Thank you so much, Brian. :)
• LadyFi, much appreciated. :)
• MessyMimi, if you bundle up, you won't freeze too much. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Lailani, thanks kindly. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
• Pat, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. And Skitty appreciates your kind compliment too. :)
• Steve, I'm sure prairie weather is a force with which to be reckoned! But I'm glad you could join me on my walk. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Linda, you're right.. that branch does look like a squirrel's tail. My cat and that sparrow were nowhere near one another but he (Skittles the cat) had been watching a squirrel who hangs out on my window ledge. At this time though, he was just chilling on top of the television. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Bach, thanks for joining me. :)
• Thanks, Katie. I'm glad you came along. :)
• Thank you, Christine. :)
• Deb, a combined photo walk would indeed be a lot of fun. If you're even in the area, you can count on it. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Kristina, thank you. Yes, it happens occasionally. ;)
• Thanks kindly, Lime. Much appreciated. :)
• Thanks so much, Reb. Always so nice when you drop by. :)
• He does, Frank. And I'm sure he misses you very much. :)
• Becca, thanks for joining me. :)
• Thanks kindly, Rosaria. :)
• Elizabeth, thanks kindly. I'm glad you came along. :)
• Barbara, thanks very much. Nice to have you along for the walk. :)
• Redbush, thanks so much for the kind words. It's still pretty cold out here so you might have a bit of a wait for those drips. Why not have a coffee in the meantime. I'll pour. :)
• Thanks very much, Linda. I'm glad you enjoyed the walk. :)
• Rain, thank you kindly. I knew you'd enjoy the tree and my Skittles. Thanks so much for the visit. :)
• Thanks very much, Sage. :)
• Thank you, Cuzzy. You're too kind. :)
• Thanks very kindly, Joanna. It's one of my favourites too. Thanks for joining me. :)
• Karen, such kind words. Thank you kindly for that. :)
• Bob, it surprises me that you're not very fond of cats, though I'm thinking that maybe they interfere with your wonderful birds. In any event. Thanks so much for the very kind words. They're so appreciated. :)
• Thanks very much, Samson. He's a great cat. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. :)
• Fragrant Liar, thanks so much. It pleases me that you like them. :)
• DS, thank you. I'm so glad you came along for the walk. Your company is always enjoyed. :)
• Thanks, Hilary. I'm not at all surprised that you love the cat. ;) Thanks so much for such kind words. They are so appreciated. :)
• Claudia, what are you talking about? You're a GREAT photographer. But thanks for those kind words. :)
• Sandi, such a nice thing to say. I'm glad you could join me and that you have a sweet feline who waits for you when you get home, too. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thanks kindly, Kat. Much appreciated. :)
Very cool photos especially the berries and your cat.
These photos are all up to your high standard of photography Hilary. Wonderful, every one. But I specially loved your cat. What's it's name? - Dave
Beautiful walk it was indeed! Every pictures speaks of an atmosphere and your words complement the images so well.;)
Is that Skittles? What a beautiful face it is indeed, those magnetic green eyes.;)
xoxo
WOW! perfect photo to end with, I was already "oohing and ahhhing" and then, "WOW".
I love it when you invite us to come along on your walks. Thank you, Hilary! ♥
Your kitty is the picture of comfort.
Such a lovely capturing of small moments.
Thank you for including us on your lovely walk!! I esp. LOVE the picture of your cat!! :-) I love cats (& dogs) so much!!
Have a Wonderful weekend!!
HUGS,
Coreen
I enjoyed the walk very much!! Loved the berries and the Queen Anne's Lace!! Fabulous!
And that sky...wow!!
Thanks
Hugs
SueAnn
The spindle berries are fantastic, but that Queen Anne's lace got me - I thought it was a drying cotton blossom at first. Never knew Queen Anne's lace could be as beautiful in the winter as it is in the summer and fall. And to think I have some growing along the edges of my own back yard and have never been out to explore in the snow...
Your cat and the photo are gorgeous. She (?) reminds me very much of my own Thelma Lou, who left us many years ago. Thelma Lou had an accident which damaged her hip and when she grew old and arthritis set in, she found it difficult to move around in cold weather. So she sat around and got...fluffy. Poor thing, her stomach literally dragged the floor during January and February. I miss her dearly.
That's some pretty amazing photography! I can see that you and John have found common ground in your prospective blogs.
Thanks too, for dropping by. I've been out of the blogger's loop forever. Nice to see a new face!
the cat face is just AMAZING !!!!
wow.....that should be entered in a contest !!
Oh how delightful - the angled background on the bird picture is so wonderfully dynamic, and the way you managed to make this winter bitter Canadian think snow looked soft and sweet is nothing short of amazing!
Well seen... Wonderful collection.
Best Regards,
Wong
The Queen's Ann's Lace with snow in it was especially pretty. And the kitty. Oh, and the berries!
I too love your Cat, Hilary! Quite a "Welcoming Committee" when you return home to the warmth of the heater!! I have often wondered if you have ever posted about how you began working with the camera. It is truly a gift in your hands!
Have a nice weekend, Hilary:)
Way to find something to take a picture of in a bleak landscape (to me).
Hope your New Year's was happy.
Gorgeous captures. I loved the first one.
It is amazing how many pictures you can get from that walk. The different seasons and the different lighting and conditions, as well as the different things/people that come your way.
The cat picture is adorable and I like the first picture too.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Thanks for the delightful walk this morning. The stark tree is stunning against the morning sky, and the Queen Anne's lace is striking. These would make fantastic notecards or bookmarks.
I just love coming to your blog when I need a boost for the day. Thanks Hilary for sharing your talents.
I'm astounded over the wonderful notes you get. Just sitting here smiling. Wonderful pictures, but your noters are so special.
How lovely! That was very calming...
Pearl
These are super. I especially love the way the Queen Anne's lace holds onto the snow.
• Thanks, VM. :)
• Thanks kindly, Dave. This cat is named Skittles and his brother, whom I'll have to show another time is Zephyr. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Zuzana, I'm so glad you joined me for this walk. That is indeed my Skitty. You'd love him! Thanks for the visit and kind words, my friend. :)
• IBHH, thank you kindly. He's such a cool kitty. :)
• KC, I'm always happy to have you along on my walks. Maybe one day for real if you ever come up for a visit. :)
• Thanks very much, Pauline. :)
• Coreen, thanks so much for joining me. I'm glad you enjoyed the walk and my Skitty. :)
• Thanks, SueAnn. I'm pleased that you enjoyed the post. That's such a lovely new profile photo! :)
• Thank you so much for such kind words, EthelMae. The next time it snows there, you'll have to remember to check out the Queen Anne's Lace in your yard. I know what it's like to miss a cat like that. I like how you so lovingly referred to her as.. fluffy. That's even better than big-boned! I'm glad you enjoyed the photo of Skittles. He's a great cat. :)
• Thank you, Turtle Guy. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. It might be a good time for you to reloop! ;) Thanks for the visit. :)
• Beth, thanks for that kind compliment.. from me and from Skitty. :)
• TattyTiara, thanks so much for the kind words. We Canadians have to do something to make the winters more acceptable, eh? ;)
• Welcome, Wong. And thanks for the kind words. :)
• Good to see you, Terrie and thank you. :)
• Thanks very kindly, Michael. Such a lovely compliment. The camera was a generous gift from a good friend. I'd had a very old point and shoot and wanted to upgrade. It has scarcely left my hands since. Thanks so much for your always-kind words. :)
• Thanks very much, DFP. It can be bleak but there's always something to help break it up. Thanks for stopping by. :)
• Thank you, Rajesh. Much appreciated. :)
• Maggie May, thanks very much. There are times it feels like nothing much changes around here but really it's a matter of looking for, and hopefully finding it. I'm glad you enjoy my posts. Thanks always for your visits. :)
• Sue, you always say the nicest things and that means so much to me coming from such a fine photographer as yourself. Thank you. :)
• Maggie, I totally agree. Everyone who stops by and comments is so kind and encouraging. They're the best.. and yourself included, of course. Thanks for that. :)
• Thanks, Pearl I'm glad you think so. :)
• Sandy, thank you so much. I'm pleased that you like them. :)
I, so, enjoy your walks...sorry I'm so late, but none-the-less totally in awe!
Thanks, Jill. You're never too late.. and always appreciated. :)
Winter really is beautiful, isn't it? Every little leaf or branch or critter stands out perfectly when it's wrapped in snow. We just need to take the time to look.
I am so grateful that you do that and share it all with us. Another lovely stroll. Thanks!
I adore your kitty.
Thanks so much, Cheryl. It means so much to me that you enjoy my posts. I'll give Skitty a scratch behind the ears for you. I'm sure he'll purr. :)
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