With the First Step

With the first step, the number of shapes the walk might take is infinite, but then the walk begins to define itself as it goes along, though freedom remains total with each step: any tempting side road can be turned into an impulse, or any wild patch of woods can be explored. The pattern of the walk is to come true, is to be recognized, discovered.

- A.R. Ammons

Spring is here. The days are warm - some of them sunny. That means that Little Lake and its surrounding path calls to me and my camera. Most of these photos were taken a couple of weeks ago and the grass had still not quite greened up yet. It's lush and verdant now but you'll have to wait for next time to see that. For now, come join me around Peterborough.


I've seen this sweet pooch a few times now. That open window allows him free access to the sloped porch roof where he likes to hang out and snooze. I suspect he's used to being photographed.






One day (though not this one) I was about a half block past him when I hear him barking excitedly. I turned to see a car pulling into the driveway. His person had arrived home and he was thrilled to go greet him. He quickly turned tail and ran back in through the window in anticipation of their reunion.






It pays to look up sometimes. It's also a good idea to look down, once in a while. This colourful worry doll caught my eye in a parking lot.






Did I mention that flowering trees are now in bloom?






As are all of the spring bulbs. The crocus is my favourite probably because they're usually one of the first to emerge. And well.. because they're purple!






Of course, you can't deny the beauty of the brilliant yellow daffodil.






Seasonal home businesses have begun to open up shop again.






A lone pine cone soaks up the warming rays of spring sunlight.






This is one of two Little Library spots of which I'm aware in my neighbourhood. I suspect there are more. Books and magazines are free for the taking. When I think of it before heading out, I grab one or two from my own shelf and help to replenish it.






Finally, we reach the lake where this lovely mallard was waiting patiently for us. Or so I like to think.






I snapped this photo from a distance. The place is called The Silver Bean and it only opened its doors for the season a day or two earlier. There was already a small party going on.






This guy is attended a party for one - enjoying his reading by the waterside.






A grackle's feathers looks so lovely in the sun. Still, he kept his cold, yellow eye on me as I approached slowly.






On the way back home, I offer a parting shot of the dock where people and dogs will soon be diving into the warming waters of Little Lake.

I hope you enjoyed the stroll. More photos coming up pretty soon.

Shades of Spring

From beautiful sunrise to subtle but lovely sunset, our world has awakened in soft, fragrant shades of spring. I hope you enjoy the photos below, along with the humour of Jarod Kintz, Wallace Stevens and Jack Handey's Deep Thoughts.

The morning always has a way of creeping up on me and peeking in my bedroom windows. The sunrise is such a pervert.

~ Jarod Kintz

On this May morning, Frank's two wonderful sisters, Lisa and Theresa were sleeping under our roof. It was the first time they came up to visit and we enjoyed their company immensely. I hope they'll return before too long. On that day, I awoke early to see shades of pink spilling into my bedroom. Outside, the sun was rising and a duck was having a peaceful swim alongside the dock.

The grackles crack their throats of bone in the smooth air. Most spiss oh! Yes, most spissantly. They sing right puissantly.

~ Wallace Stevens (taken from two of his quotes)

Despite their cold eye... despite their raucous call.. despite how they appear to be a simple black bird, grackles, when viewed in the right light - are beautiful, colourful birds.

My two favorite colors of the rainbow are gold and leprechaun.

~ Jarod Kintz

Given the right conditions, it's almost impossible for me to resist looking for and photographing a rainbow. They're always such a visual treat. Bring on more sun showers!

I bet the sparrow looks at the parrot and thinks, yes, you can talk, but LISTEN TO YOURSELF

~ Jack Handey

Another little cutie who comes to visit us is the chipping sparrow. Isn't that a sweet little face?

Whenever I hear the sparrow chirping, watch the woodpecker chirp, catch a chirping trout, or listen to the sad howl of the chirp rat, I think: Oh boy! I'm going insane again.

~ Jack Handey

Here's a closer look. Was I wrong?

Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff.

~ Jack Handey

Daffodils look quite pretty from any angle - especially after a rain.

We like to praise birds for flying. But how much of it is actually flying, and how much of it is just sort of coasting from the previous flap?

~ Jack Handey

Stepping outside on the deck, I inadvertently spooked a great blue heron. They sure are graceful for such a gangly, awkward-looking bird.

Instead of casting my fishing line into the lake, my hook got caught on a passing cloud. It's OK, because I ended up catching a bird.

~ Jarod Kintz

When I saw this cloud, I immediately thought of the old Irwin Hasen comic strip Dondi. To me it appeared as if he was glancing up to the left and whistling a carefree tune. Can you see it? You probably have to be over forty to remember Dondi.

As I walked through the woods, I looked up and saw a squirrel. I smiled and he smiled. At least I think it was a smile. My teeth were showing and my cheeks were pulled up. That's a smile, isn't it?

 ~ Jack Handey

So now that spring is here, it would appear that this red squirrel probably has some little ones to feed. No more calling her Rufus. She has now been dubbed "Rufette."

If I could lick the sunset, I'll bet it would taste like Neapolitan ice cream.

~ Jarod Kintz

Aside from its location, there are some days that our dusk is quite similar to our sunrises. We do face east and if anything is going to explode into colour it will be the dawning sun. But occasionally, the reflective sunset gives us some colourful moments, as well. Just imagine how this might have looked on a western waterfront.

I want to be the first and second man to dance on the moon. No, I won't moonwalk. But I will Cha Cha-with my clone.

~ Jarod Kintz

The clear evening sky revealed a partial moon. When moonrise happens before sunset, you still get to enjoy some of the blueness in the sky.

More photos coming up before too much longer.

Feathered Friends

You're just in time to join me for a stroll around the pond. Keep your eyes open and be prepared to be still from time to time. We're going bird watching.

The grackle has beautiful colouring which can appear quite differently...

in different lighting...

or low lighting.

This mallard finds it all very amusing. He's quacking up.

Here's a rare sight around here. We see lots of them around the more urban parts of the city, but rarely do I see a pigeon in my little suburban neck of the woods. This one has been tagged with a ring on its leg.

It's always a treat to see the young goslings or ducklings appear on the pond. This small family seems to be ailing though. Only one parent and two goslings. I'm thinking coyotes.

Another great treat is when the herons return. We're very lucky to have frequent visits from Night Herons, Green Herons and this beauty, the Great Blue Heron. He was fishing right along the shoreline, just down the slope from the path.

He was successful in catching a fish, but I wasn't successful in catching that with my camera. Mr. Blue glanced up at me, and allowed me to snap one more shot before he took off to hunt elsewhere. He totally made my day.

I hope you enjoyed these encounters with our feathered friends.

I'm still away from home for a couple of days. I hope to get back to my more regular visits shortly after that. I hope so.. I've run out of scheduled posts. ;)

Just A Walk

Below are just a few simple everyday photos from around my place and Frank's. Nature has kindly provided the subjects. Come on and walk with me, please.



Frank lives near this lovely creek full of twists and turns and sharp, swirling bends like this one. Here, the creek is about to work its way around a small peninsula.





Further along the creek is this horizontal apple tree. Erosion has worn the shoreline down considerably over the last few years. I don't think I've ever actually seen this tree growing vertically, but it was only a couple of seasons ago that it wasn't any worse than diagonal.




It won't be long until it's entirely underwater but for now (a few weeks after the previous photo), it's still blossoming.





Speaking of underwater, Frank pointed this trout out to me one day last week, just as the spawning season subsided. It was one of those fish that some people seem to have a hard time spotting. You can read about that over here at Frank's blog.





This piece of weathered wood reminded me of a crocodile or alligator. Please tell me that I'm not the only one who sees that.





Frank's yard has this piece of driftwood sharing space with his spring Snowdrops.





Back at my place, the feeder birds are always a treat to watch. Frank identified this one as a female Cowbird.





The Grackle's iridescent colours always look so beautiful in the sunlight.





Grackles are always a bit ungainly and awkward when trying to fit themselves onto the feeder. I think this wide-eyed expression makes him look a bit crazed - a grack on crack.





This pretty Robin decided to pose nicely for me by the pond.

I'm not fond of spiders and for those of you who feel the same way, be forewarned that this final photo is of one of these eight-legged wonders.





Despite how I feel about sharing my space with them, there's no denying that spiders are interesting creatures. There were about two dozen of these web masters hanging out in their newly-built webs on the railing of the dock one night. I didn't mind taking this ones picture but I think I'd still be ushering it out of the house if it were to show up unexpectedly.

I hope you enjoyed the stroll and that you'll join me again soon.

The Wings of Spring

Winter is well and truly over in my neck of the woods. We may still get some snow. Temperatures may still dip below freezing. The wind may once again cut through us like a knife before April is done. But winter's back is broken and spring has arrived, bringing with her the music of our feathered friends.

Please walk around the pond with me and I'll point out the birds I've seen the last few days. If you click on the audio files beneath each photo, you'll also experience some of the sounds of spring. Any of the photos can be enlarged a bit by clicking on them.



Robins are known as the first sign of spring but this winter, I continued to see the odd one here and there throughout the season. Still, it's wonderful to see and hear them out in full force. They're beautiful, aren't they?






To me, the Red-winged blackbird is the true harbinger of spring. This year, Frank and I each waited anxiously to hear its familiar "Bdleeeeeeeeeeet," signaling that winter had finally moved along for another year. Its song is such a welcomed sound.






For a couple of springs and summers, I've heard these little "meep meep" sounds and had no idea which bird it vocalized this way. I'd look around and never find the source. Just last week, while Frank and I were walking, we heard it again, and Frank informed me that he'd recently noticed that a Nuthatch was the little bird responsible for this call.






Starlings are all out in full force. They're a rather bland bird much of the time but when the sunlight catches them just right, their lovely colours appear. Much like the Grackle...






I haven't managed to snap a photo of a Grackle yet this year but I've seen several of them around the pond and at my back yard feeder. I love their iridescent colours which appear with the sunlight.






The Canada geese have been returning to the pond since last month's oil spill. It's good to see and hear them come home again. I haven't heard anything further about that situation but I'll be sure to let you know when I do.






Beautiful Canada flying in their V formation. They announce their arrival and departure with a beautiful chorus.






This photo was taken in my back yard last week. It appears rather flat because it was shot through double glass doors. While walking today, I heard a Blue jay calling from the bushes. I stopped for the longest time and tried to locate him but could not. He must have moved along and I decided that I would too. A few steps further and I saw what I thought was a Mourning dove on a branch. I moved a bit closer and found a clearing where I had a good view of the bird whose back was turned toward me. I realized by its size that it was a bit too large to be a dove. It turned to look at me...






.. and I found myself looking right into the eye of a beautiful, young Sharp-shinned hawk. It made my day.

Thanks for joining me on my walk. It's always nice to have company when taking in the wonderful sights and sounds.