The Murmur of Spring

All the woods are alive with the murmur and sound of spring. ~ Oscar Wilde

Spring is truly here and I've been taking more photos the last couple of weeks than over the past several months. Various adorable and interesting creatures have begun to reappear in our world, and the sounds of the season are sweet and cheerful. Our dock is back in the water, to be followed shortly by the boat. Splashes of colour have painted the landscape and the grass is perceptibly greener and growing daily. Big sigh!

I have a few random photos to share with you. Most were taken two or three weeks ago. One of them still shows the ice on the lake which has kindly since melted away. Still, they're all semi-recent images. I hope you enjoy them.



Sweet, little bright-eyed Chickadee. The boldest beauty among our visitors. They have landed on Frank's hand (full of birdseed) a couple of times now. I'm hoping that my turn won't be too far behind.






Some pretty colours in the evening sky. This is the view we see out of our kitchen window. The same place the eagles were flying in the last post.






Snack time! This decadent collection of chocolate was Frank's thoughtful way of saying either "Congratulations" or "Better luck next time" when I took my driving test in March. Thankfully, it was the former and I could indulge with gusto. Erp! Thank you, Frank.






Up close and personal with the gnarly base of a beautiful old tree. It kind of looks like a lizard's face. Or perhaps ET. Hmmm I never meant that to rhyme but it does in an awkward sort of way. Let's try that again.

Up close and personal with the gnarly base
Of a beautiful old tree.
It kind of looks like a lizard's face
Or perhaps ET.
(I'm so easily amused.)






A cling on from last autumn.






Another holdout from just before winter. They must have been pretty, little bell flowers at one time.






Here's that still-icy lake view. We were in the middle of a weather change - from cold to warm - and the fog just enveloped the trees like a silky, sheer scarf. I took a ridiculous number of photos, and processed many of those. I'll only inflict this one on you (this time).






The landscape looks a lot more like this now. This is a little spot called Paradise Landing.






This tree bark has a certain.. a-peel.






At the edge of our property, everyone's favourite spring bud - pussy willows.






Purple crocus. It was like a fresh breath of spring air to see them growing outside our kitchen door. Thank you, Spring!

I'll have some critter photos for you next time.

The Very Breath of Spring

“Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?”  ~ Neltje Blanchan

Spring.. it ain't over yet. Come join me in taking in a few more sights around my neck of the woods, and Frank's. 

One of just a few red tulips which grace my front yard this spring. 

Not far away, a daffodil bud shortly before it opens.

  Outside my back window, this little cutie was enjoying some of the seed which was scattered primarily for the birds. The photo quality is poor as it was taken through two panes of glass. I've always loved red squirrels, and especially since I was introduced to sweet, little Roxy. Go on and have a look - she's adorable. 

Frank lives near a lovely creek which makes its way into Lake Ontario. Each year, they lose more trees and other plant life to erosion. I suppose it won't be too much longer until this tree loses its grip and makes its way into the great lake. For now, it still makes a pretty picture. 

There are a lot of walnuts to be found around the area.

And of course, what self-respecting spring season makes its appearance without the obligatory robin. This one stopped pecking in the dirt in order to watch me rather closely. You can see some of the wet earth on its beak. 

Back home again, the sun is setting behind a new leafy growth.

That's it for today. I'll have more images for you in a few days.

Things That Spring Brings

I'm still in part time mode and I don't expect that to change in the near future. I'll visit blogs when I can, and continue with my regular posts and the Posts of the Week as time permits, but I won't be commenting with my usual degree of regularity throughout most of the upcoming warm spring and summer months. Thanks for understanding my sporadic visits.

Spring is such an incredible season. It brings sights, sounds and sensations all its own. Please join me, and I'll be happy to share some of my recent spring moments.

Beautiful spring tulips - a gift from a friend who came to dinner one evening. I was leaving for Frank's the next day, so I brought them with me.

They brightened up his front window on a rainy day. This one with its solitary stray petal reminds me of a lady's hand, holding a teacup - pinky raised, whilst sipping delicately.

From the outside looking in, they somehow made Benny's sad "don't leave me" face even more forlorn.

When the rain ended, we took a walk through the field along the creek. There were plenty of red-winged blackbirds still singing for a mate.

Nature's finest architect was in the neighbouhood. The beaver is the official Canadian symbol and on this day, we saw many trees which had been gnawed down for dams or lodges. We never did see the critter despite the evidence of its presence.

After the walk, we settled on the back deck for drink. I had one of those girly drinks which goes down like a soda but has that mini-kick (more like a nudge) to it. This fly must have found it appealing too.

At the end of the day, the setting sun cast a soft orange glow upon the tulips.

I hope you enjoyed checking out some of the spring sights with me.

EGGceptional and Posts of the Week

Have an EGGceptional Easter.. Passover.. Spring!

And now, without further delay, here are the Posts of the Week. The icon below is yours for the taking if if your blog post is named as a Post of the Week - either as top post or as a runner up.

This week's POTW is a simple but delightful photograph which illustrates the power of both nature and nurture across generations.

Grandmother and Granddaughter
by Andrey
at Photo Album

More wonderful posts are categorized below (they may well fit into more than one category but I'm only selecting one for each):

Anticipating Zoey
by EthelMaePotter
at The Adventures of Fred and Ethel

Distances
by Betty
at Bossy Betty





Installing Spring
by Reb
at Sibu Pegasus Power

And Yet She Looks Perfectly Normal
by Pearl
at Pearl, Why You Little...






In the Mist
by Lisa
at Red Willow Photography

Sipping from the Cup of Sunlight
by Lady Fi
at Lady Fi

Sunny
by Daryl
at Through My Eyes

What If...
by Dawn
at Puzzle Pieces

Manatees
by The Retired One
at The Retirement Chronicles

Side Effects
by Daryl's Ray
at Out and About in New York






The Rendezvous
by Debbie
at Words on Wheels
Recommended by: Lailani

Please drop by their blogs for a visit and leave a kind comment if you have the time. Also, please feel free to add your own choices (for any blog except this one) for a specific blog post in the comments section below, where others can see them.

Thank you.

It Has Sprung

It's beginning to look a lot like spring around here.



Most of these photos were taken a couple of weeks ago. The soft fur of the Pussy Willow emerges after a long winter. (please click to enlarge)



Fluffy buds of spring. (please click to enlarge)




A watchful Robin hops around in hopes of finding some worms. (please click to enlarge)




New leaves unfurl to greet the warming sun. (please click to enlarge)




A pair of Cardinals hunt for food together. (please click to enlarge)




Grackles are so colourful in the sunlight. This iridescent gold and blue beauty eats from some fallen seed. (please click to enlarge)




A lovely House Finch nibbles on some seeds. (please click to enlarge)





This cutie has been coming around for a few weeks, to stock up on some spilled seed. Just have a look at those ears. (please click to enlarge)




The rosy sky of dusk as seen from behind new buds. (please click to enlarge)




The fiery sun kisses the sky goodnight. (please click to enlarge)



More in a few days.

Stepping Into Spring

Tuesday afternoon, I was sitting at the computer, waiting for my younger son, Alex to arrive home from a friend's house. I heard the front door open and I expected the familiar footsteps of my boy. Instead of the thunk, thunk of teenage feet climbing the stairs, my ears were met with relative silence. Figuring he had stopped to use the washroom downstairs, I continued to focus on my task of down-sizing recently captured photographs. A moment later I thought I heard the floor creak behind me and I expected to hear the sound of a chair rolling across the floor as Alex took his usual seat at the computer behind mine. Silence prevailed. Without turning around I greeted him, but heard nothing in response. This of course prompted me to turn around and face not my younger son, but my older boy, Jeffrey who had driven home from university to surprise me with a three day visit. His grin met my look of joyful surprise, and his arms opened wide, ready to receive my lunge and hug.

Originally, his plan was to come home on Thursday and stay for the weekend, but he had work to do in order to prepare for his upcoming training this summer. With his exams finished two days earlier than planned, he decided that he would spend Tuesday through Friday at home. I cooked dinner for him that night and he returned the favour by preparing lunch for me the next day - a wonderful Mediterranean-style pita wrap with barbecued pork, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and lots of Tzatziki sauce. We drove to a nearby conservation area in the afternoon and enjoyed each others company and chatter as we explored the paths along the Credit River. Back home, we caught a glimpse of a heron (possibly the same one I'd seen the day before a bit farther from home) as it landed on the shore of our local pond. The air was warm, and the late-day sunlight filtered through the trees. My son was home and all was right in my world.

The weather has been lovely so far this month and I've had ample opportunity to go out walking. Everywhere I looked, I saw the reassurances that spring had finally sprung. Here are just a few random images from the past couple of weeks.

Frank isn't the only one who finds frisbees and other treasures when he's out walking. I came across this happy-faced frisbee while strolling along a nearby creek. Despite its broken face, its infectious smile seems to have attracted one of the many snails that were busy making trails that day.


Not too far away, another snail was hurrying along at breakneck speed, among the blades of grass. If you click on the image to enlarge it, you can see its eye at the tip of the left tentacle.


In town, a store owner brightens up their outdoor display with some of the flowers they sell. Remember to click to enlarge these lovely blossoms.



One of the spring blooms in my own garden. I used to have a number of crocus flowers come up each spring along with these daffodils, some tulips and irises. This year I only had one white crocus. My next-door neighbour has never planted any crocus bulbs, and yet for the past couple of years her garden has proudly boasted some of the same flowers that mine used to display. Coincidence, Caroline? I think not! ;)



This is one of my favourite places to walk. It's just off of the paved pathway of my local park. The trees are growing at odd angles to reach the sunlight.



Looking up, airplanes left chromosome-like contrails in the sky.



A brand new leaf as it is about to emerge from this bud. Click to see more detail.



A duck perches upon a rock as the golden sunlight sets on the pond behind him.


Jeffrey and I crossed this suspension bridge which spans a narrow crossing of the Credit River. Like any normal guy, he took great pleasure in rocking the bridge while we crossed.



Our small pond reflects the sunset with shimmering warmth.



A robin perched upon a branch greets the rising moon with its song. You can see the subtle colour of the robin's breast if you click to enlarge.