Saturday, July 23, 2011

Cottage Delights

Last week, were were back at Frank's family cottage, enjoying sunshine, fishing, swimming and lovely sunsets. However, the photos below go back to our June visit to the cottage. We hope to head back up there semi-soon so I'm continuing my "summer hours" of scheduled posts and sporadic visits to your fine blogs. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy whichever photos I manage to post.



after rain scene
It rained one of the first days we were up there but toward evening, the sun came out to brighten our beautiful surroundings. The hammock looked especially vibrant in the late day glow.




dragonfly on hammock3
When there's rain, there's mosquitoes. And when they're out in full force, thankfully so are the dragonflies. This beauty took a rest atop the colourful stripes of the same hammock seen in the previous photo.



dragonfly on leg
Another lovely dragonfly landed on my jeans and proceeded to climb up the outside of my leg. I managed to snap a pic just before he was to close to get into focus.




rods
Late in the day, the saturated sunlight streams through the back porch windows. Frank's fishing rods were all lined up and ready to go.




sun set2
So ends another lovely day.

More cottage photos coming up soon.

60 comments:

bon bon said...

just dropped by for the first time...glad i did as these are some absolutely beautiful captures! the light is amazing. makes me want to be there myself...
:o)

TexWisGirl said...

just beautiful! all of them!

Ruth Hiebert said...

That first picture is a prize-winning one.Great dragonfly shots too.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

Lovely photos. Looks so peaceful - as five boats went by my place while I was looking at your photos. There was a dragon fly in my kitchen the other morning. I was able to catch him and get him outside. I'm thankful for them also.

Dawn said...

WOW!
Now that 1st capture made me want to fly out there right now!
What a magical place...this getaway!

Elizabeth Grimes said...

The eyes on that dragon fly...wow! What a beautiful place!

Frank Baron said...

Four keepers there. Very, very nice. I hope a couple of my green-eyed dragonfly shots turn out nearly as well. Love the pic of the rods. :)

Frank Baron said...

Okay. Five. 5.

I have counting issues. :)

Brenda Pruitt said...

You take the loveliest photos! I was just outside a few minutes ago trying to catch a shot of an elusive blue dragonfly... Never managed to.
Brenda

Anvilcloud said...

Frank must certainly be an avid fisherman. Love dragonfly 2.

VM Sehy Photography said...

Very cool shots. Love the dragonflies.

Bob Bushell said...

Looks like it was a fabulous holiday, I love all of those shots.

Anonymous said...

I have a plan to secretly visit your place after dark and sleep in that hammock... I have a feeling I'll be wearing a lot of OFF to keep the mosquitos off me as I sleep though. Sure do like that photo!!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful series. I could go for a few days in that hammock with a good book or three!

Brian Miller said...

had a dragonfly land on my shoulder at the river today...it sat there for like 5 minutes...when i stroked its wings it finally flew away...

that first pic, the framing and light are perfect...so inviting...

photowannabe said...

Oh, get me to that hammock quickly. that looks like pure heaven.
The dusk picture is gorgeous too.
What a magical place to spend some quality down time.

Unknown said...

The lake shot is breathtaking!

Maggie May said...

That hammock looked really inviting..... and then the dragonfly settled on it.
Perfect!
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

I feel as if I've just been on vacation. The hammock, the fishing rods, and the lake look so peaceful in that late-day sun. Dragonflies are interesting creatures. That one on your jeans looks as if he's performing some acrobatics for you.

DJan said...

Your pictures always get me, but that dragonfly on your jeans... wow!

Pierre BOYER said...

Great pictures from soft days...
Greetings from France,

Pierre

ds said...

I. Want. That. Hammock.
How do you photograph a dragonfly's eye, amazing lady? Always beautiful shots, and the last invokes a hugh sigh...Thank you.

Tabor said...

Beautiful photos...much impressed with the Oriental rug on the porch! Someone has style!

Kristina P. said...

So pretty! I wouldn't spend any time online either.

Anyes said...

Taking a dragonfly's photograph while it is climbing up your jeans, very impressive, Hilary :-)
I would have been way too fidgety to have it stay there while I was photographing it.
The first photograph is such a dreamy one.
Enjoy your week-end and thank you for your help :-)

Out on the prairie said...

Lovely photos, I like that hammock.I head out tomorrow for a bike ride across Iowa with 15,000 others. A city on wheels

Mental P Mama said...

Such a beautiful place....

Anonymous said...

WOW...What a dragonfly capture! Lovely lake photos!

Anonymous said...

You've outdone yourself with these photos! I love them all... The dragonfly pic is particularly striking...

Laura said...

Hillary...so much beauty discovered...thank you for sharing the world through your eyes!

Sérgio Pontes said...

The photos are great

Regards

Leah J. Utas said...

The close up dragonfly pic is wonderful.

messymimi said...

You've made me want a hammock, too.

Do you also have bats up there to help thin the mosquito populations?

ellen abbott said...

that second dragonfly photo is just wonderful as is the photo of Frank's fishing poles. Once, outside my backdoor was a dragonfly. I was pretty sure he was dying and picked it up with my finger which he clasped. And then the little bastard bit me! I shook it off and the next day it was still there but dead. Now it graces a (gathered) wasp nest on the sill over my sink in the kitchen.

beth said...

oh those dragon fly eyes.....WOW WOW WOW

ethelmaepotter! said...

I sure am glad we don't have to pick a favorite every time we come here; it would be an impossible task. I'm trying to decide between the fishing rods on the rug and the hammock...or the clouds reflecting in the lake...or one of the dragonflies...

Anonymous said...

Sigh- such stunning photos! Looks like paradise...

{ T G L } said...

Beautiful :) I love the dragonfly shots. Nicely done!

Blessings,
This Good Life

Anonymous said...

sighs & smiles

so glad you are enjoying the summer, i feel it in the photos :)

Indrani said...

I like the swinging hammock in the first shot.

Shammickite said...

You're making me wish I had a summer cottage by a lake......

Rob-bear said...

What a lovely-looking place. And so nicely captured in the photos. So glad you had a chance to enjoy it, along with the livestock.
The dragonflies look a little bug-eyed; a sign of their excitement at being with you.

solarity said...

Immortal dragonfly! I wonder how anyone can actually use the hammock, because if you're IN it you can't SEE it.

Mary Anne in Kentucky, in her own (boring white mesh) hammock at the moment.

Lisa said...

Oh they are so beautiful. You must have so much fun there in the summer.
Lovely and breathtaking also.

Lynne with an e said...

I'm filled with peace and contentment just gazing at those lake photos. The dragonfly that came to investigate you is beautifully captured in the photo (camera always at the ready, apparently!) in all its delicate strength and beauty. And I love the moody shadows and tones of the fishing rod scene. Obviously you're enjoying the benefits of summer and it's lovely that you're sharing some of them here.

Daryl said...

LOVE the feeling your pix convey in this post

Hilary said...

• Welcome, Bon Bon. Thanks so much for the kind words. I'm glad you stopped by and hope that you will again soon. :)

• Tex, thanks so kindly. :)

• Ruth, thank you. You're too kind. :)

• Thanks, MJ. I'm glad you were able to return him safely outdoors. They're lovely creatures. :)

• Dawn, it sure does have its magic. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Elizabeth, thanks. They never cease to amaze me. :)

• Thanks, Frank. It's a good thing you clarified. I was wondering which one you didn't care for. ;) I'm sure your dragonfly shots turned out great. Especially of the one on my leg. You could back away from it... :)

• Brenda, thank you kindly. They are indeed elusive.. you have to follow them around until they get tired. ;)

• Thanks AC. And yes, Frank is indeed an avid lifelong angler. :)

• VM, thanks very much. :)

• Bob, it always is up there. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Di, thanks so much. I have to warn you, that you might wake up to an awesome sunrise, the thrrrrumm of a passing hummingbird or the heron fishing on the shore beside you. The mosquitoes are just the bonus. ;)

• Chip, it's a good thing you got your request in early. There's a waiting list, you know? ;) Thanks for the kind words. :)

• Brian, don't you just love those magical encounters? I had a damselfly land on my shoulder while I was floating around in the lake. It stuck with me for quite a while and kept returning to that same shoulder once it did fly about some. I know I'd feel differently if it was a mosquito or bee that took a liking to me but I was quite enchanted by this visitor, as I'm sure you were by yours. Thanks so much for your always kind words. :)

• Thank you, Sue. It looks like there's quite a line growing for use of that hammock. You're slotted for 1 pm to 3 on August 3. ;)

• Susan, thank you. I'm glad you like it. :)

• Thank you, Maggie. That dragonfly knows a good thing when it sees one. :)

• Linda, I'm quite taken with dragonflies. They're so aptly named.. like modern-day dragons. I like that you see this one as performing for me. He sure let me know when he was ready for his close-up. ;) Thanks always for the visit. :)

• DJan, thank you kindly. I was quite taken with that creature. :)

• Pierre, merci toujours pour vos bons mots. :)

• Oh, DS. You and the rest of the visitors want that hammock. We'll have to work out a timeshare. Thanks always for your kind words. They're so appreciated. :)

• Thanks, Tabor. I'm going to guess that they stylish individual was Frank's mother. Their family has owned this cottage for 40+ years. I'm not sure how long that porch addition has been around though. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Kristina, there's no connection up at the cottage so I can't say that I wouldn't if I could... just that I can't. ;)

Hilary said...

• Anyes, thanks very kindly. I probably would have been fidgety if it had been on my bare skin, simply for the tickle factor. Thanks so much for your kind comments. They're always so appreciated. :)

• Steve, thank you. And good luck with that bike ride. It sounds like quite the adventure. :)

• MPM, it is indeed. Thanks for the visit. :)

• Thanks very much, Jill. :)

• Roobo, thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed them. :)

• Laura, thank YOU for stopping by to enjoy. :)

• Welcome, Sergio, and thank you kindly. :)

• Leah, thanks very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)

• MessyMimi, there are indeed bats there (and around my home). I think they're most interesting creatures. Thanks for stopping by. :)

• Thanks very much, Ellen. Too bad about the bite. I've held them (clasped to the finger, as you said) many times without incident. A bit of Googling tells me that if a dragonfly feels threatened it will indeed bite and a quick pulling away from the bite can actually result in its decapitation. That's so surprising to me as they look so sturdy. Their life span is relatively short. Too bad this one bit you on its way out. Thanks always for stopping by. :)

• Thank you, Beth. I'm glad you enjoyed. :)

• Ethelmae, thanks very kindly, my friend. Of course you don't need to pick one. You just need to keep coming back. Please. :)

• Thanks, LadyFi. It pretty much is, there. :)

• TGL, thank you kindly. :)

• Christine, thanks very much. I'm glad you're enjoying them. :)

• Indrani, thank you. :)

• Shammie, it's one of my wishes too. In the meantime, I'm enjoying the visits And I'm glad you're enjoying your visits here. :)

• Thank you, Rob. You bug-eyed comment made me laugh. Thanks for that. :)

• Mary Anne, that is indeed a dilemma. It's a good thing there are actually two hammocks up at the cottage. ;)

• Lisa, thank you kindly. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos. :)

• Louciao, thank you so much. Your kind and colourful words are so appreciated. I think I should hire you to write up my photo descriptions from here on in. ;)

• Thanks so much, Daryl. :)

Anonymous said...

the shot of franks fishing net is awesum.. particularly the shadows n textures of wood n carpet

Mage said...

Marvelous stuff as usual. You sure do have your camera with you at just the right time. :)

Barbara said...

love that second dragonfly shot!! great capture. I miss mine this year...

Hilary said...

• Thanks very much, Thrviewfinder. I'm glad you like it. :)

• Thanks, Mage. I tend to have it with me ALL the time. ;)

• Thanks you, Barbara. Much appreciated. :)

Kat said...

Ooooo! I love your new layout! Just lovely!
And gorgeous photos, as usual. Love that first shot!!!!

Brandy Marie said...

o how beautiful!! I wish I was sitting there with you :) that dragonfly photo on your jeans is to die for. As well as the sunset :) _B

Hilary said...

• Thanks very much, Kat. :)

• Thanks kindly, Brandy Marie. I'm glad you could join me. :)

Betty Manousos said...

another brilliant set of photos!
love them all!

betty xx

Barb said...

Heaven on Earth (except maybe not the mosquitoes)!

Hilary said...

Thanks very much, Betty and Barb! :)

BeachBuzz said...

Stunning photos. Amazing how photos give you an interesting window into your life.

Case in point: We recently put our Georgian Bay beachfront cottage up for sale, and in the process I took all kinds of photos for our website. The more photos I took (and reviewed with the family), the less we collectively wanted to sell.

Check out some of the photos at beachfront cottage

Do we stay or do we go? Maybe another photo session will help us make up our mind.

lime said...

oh that hammock looks positively inviting!