A Summer's Day

Yesterday's "Once in a Blue Moon" was one of my rare posts which was only up at the top of the heap for one day before moving on to this, the next post. If you didn't happen to catch it and would like to see it, you can click on "previous post" at the end of this page.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I'll be posting summer photos well into autumn. I have a lot of them and my posting schedule has been lagging recently. I'll do my best to keep up - starting with the images below.

Although I've titled this post A Summer's Day, the photos were not snapped within the same 24 hour period. Some are not even from the same week. Or month. Still, they depict a summer's day and that's all I'm going to say about that.




There's a volunteer-attended butterfly garden at my nearby park. This lovely orange flower greeted the morning sun through much of the summer.





A pair of purple thistles strut their colourful stuff.






The colour on this one is just emerging but it's enough to attract this cabbage white butterfly.






Yet another prickly plant catching a few shaded rays.






This squirrel found something interesting to munch on. He scarcely looked up when I snapped this shot.






I don't know about you, but when I lean in toward this photo, I feel like the spikes of this flower are actually moving - 3D-style.






And while you probably already think I'm a bit nuts, do you see a hag's face in the blooms of this Queen Anne's Lace? That gap near the bottom would be her mouth and the protrusion in the middle, her nose? No? Okay, never mind. ;)





A Green Heron takes flight. You can't see much green in this fellow but some of his feathers have a definite teal green sheen to them in certain light.





Well how about that! I do have a shot of him in just that right light. You can see the green in his wing, tail and a bit in his face.


 


As the day and summer progressed, I enjoyed watching the groups of ducklings grow. This was taken in early July but by now, I can no longer tell the young from their parents. I wonder if this guy is dreaming of the day when he too, will have feathers as large as the one floating beside him.





A wander at dusk at the early part of the season. I looked up just in time to see a Great Blue Heron fly off into the the twilight-painted sky.





A robin watches the night fall from atop the branches of a pine tree.

More photos in a few days.

Lost and Found

Wandering around one day, I noticed a few things that were lost... and found. I was hoping to see some interesting birds on this walk but as I approached a park bench from a distance I could see something perched up its seat.

It was either waiting patiently for its owner, or playfully considering a grope to an unsuspecting bottom. Come to think of it, that might be Frank's glove...

While searching for an interesting link or quote or something to do with lost gloves, I happened upon Unloved Glove - a fun little site dedicated to gloves which are lost and ultimately found by someone else. I sent the above and another image to them for their gallery and they were posted the same day. Click on Glove Gallery. Thanks Kenneth - aka Glove Guv.

The tree is more than first a seed, then a stem, then a living trunk, and then dead timber. The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A tree probably lost its grip one windy day and found itself adrift in the pond. Part of it eventually made its way to the edge of the dam, just waiting to take that final plunge. You can see the water streaming past it and the slope of the dam to the right. You can also see an odd spotty pattern throughout the photo which tells you that I snapped it through a chain link fence.

Another lost article which someone lovingly wrapped around a branch. Its bright colour stood out to me against the otherwise dull landscape. I hope it doesn't belong to the same person who lost their glove. For one thing, they'd be getting pretty cold by now. But even worse - that combination of patterns and colours would be such a fashion faux pas!

This little cutie found something interesting and was in a hurry to bury it. He was tamping the ground when I snapped this image. Seconds later he ran off to find something else. I hope he doesn't lose track of his hiding place.

As an aside, I know that many of you comment about our black squirrels whenever I post a photo of one of them. Black squirrels are the exact same species as the Eastern Gray squirrel so common all over the place. There just happens to be a large number of black ones in our area. The litters are often mixed. Recently we've begun seeing increasing numbers of little Red Squirrels in our area and a few that I'm reasonably certain are the results of cross breeding with the Eastern Grays. They're awfully cute. These last three images are of something that I simply found appealing to the eye.

The sun was low and golden, and this bright red length of yarn caught my attention. It was artistically entwined around the fine branches of this young tree.

I'm not certain if it was the wind or a human hand which placed it there, but I certainly enjoyed photographing it with the marcro lens.

A gentle embrace

Thanks for losing yourself with me at the Lost and Found. I hope you found something here to enjoy.

Cuteness

There isn't anything cuter than young children or animals, and especially the combination, as in young animals. This post has all three. Prepare for cuteness.

This photo was taken outside my front door. Skitty is lounging on the fence between my neighbour's and my yard.

Let's start with one of the sweetest creatures I've ever known. Skittles is a gentle, curious, funny and fun feline. A real purry pal to all. In the early days of Benny's visits, Skitty did a lot of hissing, growling and swatting - until he realized that Benny was rather benign - all bluster and bark and turn-on-a-dime agility, who never gave worse than a soft-mouthed chomp, never causing pain nor reason for serious concern. Skitty stopped seeing Benny as a true foe and began acknowledging him as the real pest he actually is. Over time, Skitty came to realize that he actually enjoyed his confrontations with Ben, and would wander across his path with this "come hither" slink that cats do so well. The little brat was seeking him out to engage him in creature combat. I'll have to record their antics again sometime soon but if you've never seen the two of them in action before you might enjoy this video from a few years back.

One of my young neighbours, T.

I watched T playing in his driveway across the street for a bit. He was having a great time sculpting soap suds. "Hey, T," I called from my front deck, camera to my eye, "what are you making?" He glanced at me for a moment, grinned and turned back to the lather. "Oh, just a mess." Ya gotta love little boys.

Everybody loves some bunny, sometime.

One afternoon, I was looking out the back door, noticing how the grass needed to be cut when a pair of teeny tiny ears popped up between the blades of green overgrowth. The grass wasn't excessively long - maybe about 3- 4 inches, so you can imagine how small this little cutie really was. It was no more than 6 or 7 inches, ears included. So sweet.

Goslings are all fluff and cuteness.

Out by the pond in the park, the only goslings I've seen are this pair which I featured a few posts back. They seem to have moved on, now. I've not spotted them for a few days. They sure were entertainingly cute while the were here.

Ready to spring into action.

Rounding the bend, and glancing up, this little guy sprung out at me from behind the tree like a wee, furry ninja. He decided I'd make a better friend than foe, however. I just might have had peanuts.

Meet Snoopy.

On my way back to my house, I pass by a neighbouring home where one of Benny's buddies lives. Benny always tries to take a detour down their driveway just in case Snoopy is available to play. On this day, I was without Ben, and Snoopy was having a "time out" for misbehaving. That sad look comes to you from behind the glass door.

That banana has a-peel.

Little Miss Lily, looking as cute as ever, was quite taken with that banana peel for a while. Until Benny stole it from her, that is.

And speaking of Benny...

No set of "cute" photos are complete without da man (as Sandy sometimes refers to him)! Here he is doing his merry water dance. As long as someone has a hose, he's one happy customer. Summer has arrived - and so has that certain smell of wet doggie!

I'll have more photos to share with you in a few days.

Around the Pond

It's time for another one of our walks around the pond. I've got a fresh pot of coffee brewing and there's some tea steeping over there. Grab a cup of your preference and let's head out the door.

This neighbour's garden always catches my eye just before we enter the park. I like the brilliant contrast of red and yellow spring colours.

This sweet, little squirrel is watching us from a lichen-covered tree branch. He knows I sometimes bring him peanuts. I don't have any on me today - sorry, buddy.

I photograph this scene in every season and in all kinds of weather. It's one of my favourite views in the park. Blossoms are in full bloom. Enjoy them - they won't last too long.

As we move along the walkway, more blossoms are peeking out between the crisscross of the chain-link fence.

On the other side of the path, I happen to notice a burr just dangling from a twig. I thought it merited a photo.

Doesn't this Canada Goose look so beautiful in the golden sunlight. Such a regal bird.

Though the ducks caught my eye first, I was taken with how the three different tree parts and their respective reflections made interesting angles in the water.

Heading back home, we get a full view of the dock and the budding willow behind it. Isn't spring a great season?

Thanks for joining me on this morning walk. Just leave your empty cup on the counter. I'll have it washed and ready for you for next time.

If you'd like to see a few more images from around this pond (and elsewhere), wander over to Frank's current blog post. He includes some photos of Benny...

Wings and Other Things

I'll probably return to my colour-themed posts somewhere down the road - there are still a few shades which I haven't explored but for now, I'm posting a few new photos taken over the last several weeks. All of them were snapped either in my own back yard or around my local park. Please remember to click on each of the photos to enlarge them.




This little guy kept a wary eye on me while I prepared to refill the bird feeder and suet. Taken through glass. (please click to enlarge)





He knew it wouldn't be long before I'd also toss some peanuts out for his snack. (please click to enlarge)





Since the squirrels and back yard birds are taken care of, let's see what we can find around the pond. (please click to enlarge)





A sudden flurry of activity (namely one crazy little Jack Russell Terrier) sent these Mallards flying to the safety of the other side of the pond. (please click to enlarge)





On this day, as has happened other times on my walks, a fluffy little Northern Mockingbird seemed intent upon making sure I noticed him. He sat and watched me while I spoke to him and took some photos. (please click to enlarge)





By the time I moved along, the sun was beginning to descend in the sky, creating that magic hour which I love so much. The Queen Anne's Lace of last summer seemed to enjoy its warmth. (please click to enlarge)





On the other side of the pond, there was a lot of Cardinal activity. A large flock of these red beauties seem to hang out in this one particular area. This male perched on a branch above me. (please click to enlarge)





A lovely female landed on the fence post of a neighbouring back yard. Aren't her colours just incredible? (please click to enlarge)





Approaching the dock, I found this to be an unusual place for a snow angel. It was actually formed on the semi-frozen surface of the pond. This means that someone stepped out on mushy ice to make their wings. It's a good thing the ice wasn't any softer at the time. (please click to enlarge)





Later in the day, the sun was setting by the dam end of the pond. This is just one of the concrete posts and the sun reflecting in the icy surface. (please click to enlarge)

Thanks for joining me.