Friday, September 6, 2013

Pure Randomness

So much of life, it seems to me, is determined by pure randomness.
Sidney Poitier 


Just as the title suggests, I have a few random photos for you from late spring and early summer, which don't really fit with any other collection of photos, so I'm sticking them here.

picnic family3
The northern shore of Lake Ontario is only about fifteen minutes from my place in Mississauga. Frank and I headed that way one day, in early summer. After lunch, Frank sat by the water while I went for a walk. I took a few distant photos of this family. A mother walks her restless child over to other family members. The woman on the rock appears to be in deep thought while another one prepares lunch. It's the lovely turquoise and orange colours and serene atmosphere that drew me in.





picnic family2
Mama settles her baby as a couple of gulls watch on.





radio drop
While we're people watching, this man was hoping to find the radio he had just dropped while fishing by this dock near my home. It was unlikely that he found it - at least not in working order.





sign
Someone must have stepped in it one time too many. This was a outside a low rise apartment building. The yard space is not enclosed and leads right into the park.





on branch serviceberry
Most of its leaves are their usual green but a couple of the branches of the serviceberry bush turn scarlet very early on in the growing season. This photo was taken in May. The tree had produced blossoms but not the berries by this time. It produces just one sprig of red leaves like this every spring. I know not why.





sumac pink2
Until this spring, I never noticed how very pink the young shoots of the fuzzy sumacs are. I shot this at a fast shutter speed so the colours appear a bit more intense than in reality but not by much.






survivor tree
This poor tree. A couple of years ago, its branches were removed and the bark marked with a florescent orange X, as an alert for its eventual removal. It wasn't removed. Instead it gave off the slightest growth by the end of that summer. Last year, it had a slightly larger selection of leaves and it still escaped the buzz saw. This year, its leaves filled out more and we were beginning to believe that it was bringing itself back to the land of the living.

We've had a lot of rain and strong wind recently. On one such day, my neighbour Caroline and I went out for a walk shortly after a storm. We discussed this tree and how it seemed to have such a will to keep on living, and how we hoped it wouldn't be cut down. We were still talking about it when we reached that point in the path where we encountered it. We both fell silent. All that new growth which you see above, was lying on the ground beside the tree. It had all extended from a single branch which was narrower than my wrist. Its growing weight combined with the turbulent weather was too much for that branch to bear. I still hope they don't cut the tree down.





droplets
Getting up close and personal with an iris leaf after a rainfall.





near home
I'll leave you with this image of the highway just before where we turn off to drive the last ten minutes to our new home. Eventually, I'll be sharing more photos from there. I just need to move in for good, first. ;)

More photos coming up in a few days.

57 comments:

Anonymous said...

The scarlet leaves remind me of chinese lanterns and the sumac reminds me of spider legs (I like the sumac better, though). The tree reminds me of home:-) Love your photos. You are really talented.

ADRIAN said...

You must be settling down. Time for two posts in a week.
See you next time.

Indrani said...

Each shot is beautiful, felt sorry for the guy who lost his radio there. That was a good action shot, but for the explanation I would have wondered what was happening.

Jackie said...

I love every photo and every description. Thank you so much for the time you spend taking the photographs that lift my spirit. Beautifully done....

Anonymous said...

jolies ces feuilles rouges

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

It's always fun when you do one of these random posts, just seeing all the things that catch your eye, and always so well photographed. I found the red sumac leaves especially intriguing. It's interesting that the plant puts out that one sprig every year.

Cloudia said...

Girl! You showing your mastery here
ALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^= <3


Birdie said...

I get a spiritual attachment to trees and feel a sort of grief when they get cut down.

Gayle said...

I love being inside your mind for a time. You have such a wonderful eye into our world. I feel your concern regarding the poor tree. I hope it keep on.
Thanks for a new set of inspiration!

Dave said...

An interesting variety of photos Hilary. You don't need a theme for your photos as any assorted mix are interesting - Dave

Brian Miller said...

nice...i like the little fuzzy sumac branches..i have dropped a radio while fishing as well and i think the guy is probably out of luck...ha

Rae said...

They are wonderful photos. You have such talent!!

Kerri Farley said...

Oh those leaves.....they steal my heart!

Leah J. Utas said...

Good capture of that poor fellow looking for his radio.
Peaceful pics. Thanks.

Jinksy said...

Thanks for the spice of life variety. :) ♥

DJan said...

I am always pleased to see that I will have some pictures of yours to look at, ponder, and enjoy. Thank you! :-)

Liz Mays said...

I was so hopeful for that little tree and I think I'll just keep on hoping. That's sad!

Sharon Wagner said...

I can just imagine how angry you'd be. After stepping in it one time too many. The sign is so civilized!

TexWisGirl said...

i do this 'leftover' clean-up now and then, too, and call it randomocity. :)

i like these posts of all different things.

messymimi said...

While i'm not sure i could live there in winter, i wouldn't mind living where you do in the warmer months, it's too pretty!

Sueann said...

Beautiful...well done
Hugs
SueAnn

ellen abbott said...

I always enjoy your photos but I especially like the red leaves.

Red said...

Some of these photos have a whole story by themselves. I like the one about searching for the radio. The look on the guys face says a lot. The tree has a great story.

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Many photos and accompanying stories are a delight this morning. Thank you for this gift. Needed something happy and this just fit the bill. I hope they don't cut down the tree as well. Oma Linda

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Many photos and accompanying stories are a delight this morning. Thank you for this gift. Needed something happy and this just fit the bill. I hope they don't cut down the tree as well. Oma Linda

stephen Hayes said...

I always look forward to your photos. Sometimes they are my only glimpse of nature that day.

Out on the prairie said...

Looks like a nice drive to the new place

sage said...

I like that last shot of the road cutting though some of the Canadian shield, I suppose.

Bob Bushell said...

Love your photos, the family are great and the tree, bundles of merriment.

photowannabe said...

Love your random photos.
that's my life at times..so random.
Love the fuzzy sumac stems and the family picnic.
Great human interest story.

Country Girl said...

Wonderful to visit with you again.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Hi Hilary-- Lovely pics as always. The greens in the trees and their freshness always make me smile.

I hope the summer has been productive for you and Frank with the move. I know what a massive job that can be and I hope you're happy with your progress.

Have a great weekend, jj

Anvilcloud said...

The wind and rain was not kind to some plants this year. My echinaceas have yet to stand upright properly.

Sandi McBride said...

I have to laugh because even your
random shots are captivating...you are magic with a camera!

Haddock said...

Love the greenery all over the place.
I always admired mother nature.... like that one tree marked X ....how they spring those small tender leaves from the most uncommon places, to get back to a full grown tree.
And yes that board, its a real nuisance at times.

Linda said...

Great photos, Hilary. I find it strange that the tree would sprout one branch of red leaves that early in the year.

In the fall sometimes I see one red branch, or like last year, one set of yellow leaves on our pecan when all the rest were green. Nature marches to her own drummer.

Friko said...

A colourful collection; I love the pictures of the family.
In spite of their rather ‘different’ appearance they belong in the landscape as much as anyone.

Is it possible that the tree has been lopped to regenerate growth?
It’s done with some trees. But the shooting branch was not meant to break off, I am sure of that.

Jenn Jilks said...

I know what you mean about a collection of unrelated photos!
They are beautiful, and we must appreciate the colours whlie we can.
The hijabs are gorgeous, aren't they?
Of course, your 'angry skies' are amazing.
Benny has a lovely face.
And you have a photo of crepuscular clouds and a rainbow! Excellent captures! I've enjoyed them all.

Anita said...

I often see families or individuals whose pictures I'd love to take without them knowing. Some day, I'll be as good as you. :) The picnic meal next to the water must have been very relaxing.

The towering trees lit by the sun are beautiful; and so is everything else in your photos - though I feel sorry for the man searching for his gadget.

Rosaria Williams said...

You found your heaven!

Mage said...

Just lovely stuff. I like those gently rolling hills near your new home. Comfortable.

Lisa said...

These are beautiful when shot from the heart . Loved this post.

yaya said...

Random is good..I like the view in your world! You always find the beauty in the everyday!

Lynne with an e said...

Random thoughts, random pictures, random moments...all add up to make good little stories...no need for drama,just a satisfaction with being alive and being present. They also remind me of how it's the little things when one is packing or unpacking, be it for a trip or a big move, that one tends to linger over longest, wondering just what to do with them. N'est-ce pas?

Suldog said...

I'm always saddened by a tree having limbs removed (or being cut down entirely.) I still resent having MY willow tree cut down (I grew it from a branch of another tree when I was five or six, it grew large in our back yard, but when our house was sold to a new landlord, around my twentieth birthday, he decided to remove it.)

Linda said...

Nice pictures! Too bad about the tree... and the poor fellow's radio.

MastHoliday said...

Your pictures looking beautiful..nice post.

Dan said...

Nice bowl of stew! ;-)

Hena Tayeb said...

oh I love the man trying to find is radio.. did he really think he could find it?!

Vagabonde said...

I enjoyed looking at all your random photos – all quite good whether you took them from a distance or very close – nice work.

Ercotravels said...

Nice written post with beautiful pictures!

Daryl said...

life has been hectic so i have signed up to get your blog in my inbox now i will be able to read/reply w/o having my silly job interfere

Kat said...

Lovely random pics. I adore the young pink shoots and the water droplets. Gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful shots as usual. The scarlet leaves are lovely.

ethelmaepotter! said...

Well, I knew I should have saved you for last. I'm trying to catch up with a few old friends, and here I go blowing to smithereens my 10-minute allowance on each blog. But how can I not linger over each photo of yours, how can I not keep hitting "older posts," going back further and further and further...soaking up the beauty in your world?

It seems you've been quite busy! Congrats on you and Frank getting your own place. The views and what bit I found of the house are idyllic. And it's good to see Benny is still around.

Thanks for coming round to visit me. I'll alert you when I'm back for good.

Rita said...

Love the random photos! I hope they don't cut down the tree, too. :)

Betty Manousos said...

terrific macro shots!
i also love your writing style.
a beautiful post i tottlly enjoyed it!