The Lazy Mist

So dull and dark are the November days.

The lazy mist high up the evening curled,

And now the morn quite hides in smoke and haze;

The place we occupy seems all the world."

~ John Clare

A week into November, the day started off sunny and bright. I made some coffee and settled in at my desk to check email and to see what was happening on social media. Time passed and I was probably about to pour a second cup when I turned to look out the window. No more sunshine. But no real cloud. It had become rather foggy, and the sunlight was ever so slightly visible on the edge of the haze. Time to grab the camera and head out.


I wandered around the neighbourhood for a while. The sun was already threatening to burn through the mist and I decided to make my way to the river.






Although the air was crisp enough between the bench and where I was standing, I could scarcely make out the opposite river bank.






The view came into focus a bit better once I reached the shore.






Bare trees and misty air. Cold - and yet comforting.






It wasn't long before the sun brought brighter colours into view.






The day soon resumed as it had started - in full sunshine.






Ten days later, on November 18th, the day warmed up to near-summer temperatures. I needed nothing warmer than a t-shirt for my walk.






I wandered in areas both familiar and less so. This was one of the latter.






The day smelled like spring, felt like summer, looked like autumn...






...and yet, in anticipation of winter,  people were taking the opportunity to decorate for Christmas.






Despite the unseasonal warmth, the playground was devoid of kidlets.






The ducks were strutting around as if they had somehow managed to sidestep winter altogether. I might have been doing likewise.






The end of a perfect day.

Reality returned two days later with below-freezing temperatures, very strong winds and a little more than a dusting of snow. But it sure was nice while it lasted.

More photos coming up before too long.

Cast in a Golden Light

First thing we'd climb a tree
And maybe then we'd talk
Or sit silently
And listen to our thoughts
With illusions of someday
Cast in a golden light
No dress rehearsal,
This is our life

~ Rob Baker/Gordon Downie

There truly is something bordering on magical about that time of day just before sunset (or just after sunrise). The super saturation of colour. The lengthening shadows. The depth of texture. They all make for an especially enjoyable time to be behind the lens. These photos were taken at various times during the past couple of months, at that wonderful hour, late in the day. I hope you enjoy them.


Flowers in the park seem exceptionally proud of their brilliant colours in the late-day sunshine.






Hopefully some rain will bring more water into the nearly-dry Jackson Creek. I'll bet that something interesting lives amid the roots and rocks at the base that tree.






Let's have a closer look. What do you think could be hiding in there?






A young artist was enjoying the lingering daylight while painting the lake in front of her.






This was a bit earlier in the day, in Omeeme, Ontario. There was still a slight amber hue to the light.







A few fuzzy berries basking in the sun's warming rays.






Saturation (whether by rain water or by golden sun rays) really adds drama to tree bark. This stand of trees in the park seems to be appreciative of that.






Colourful canoes look positively brilliant in this light.






A gardening crew are all ready to take on the next project.






I'm glad I'm not allergic to goldenrod as my mother was. I find it quite attractive. So do all of the little bugs you'll find if you look closely.






The sun sets on the city of Peterborough, and you'd think that would mean that the day is pretty much over.






But not if the date is August 20, 2016. And you're in Canada. And you know that this is the night that movie screens are being set up all over the country to simulcast The Tragically Hip's final concert.






Have a seat. Welcome the night. And see 'the constellations reveal themselves one star at a time.'
Thank you, Gord Downie. 'You are ahead by a century.'

Winter is Nature's Way…

Winter is nature's way of saying, "Up yours." ~ Robert Byrne

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

The sunrise peeking through the branches of a pine tree on the edge of our property, as seen through my bedroom window.

Some people walk into our lives and leave footprints on our hearts. Others walk into our lives and we want to leave footprints on their face.

~ Unknown

As the morning sunlight falls across the snow, it reveals tracks of the human, deer and dog variety. And possibly others.

When I found the skull in the woods, the first thing I did was call the police. But then I got curious about it. I picked it up, and started wondering who this person was, and why he had deer horns.

~ Jack Handy

This is one of our frequent track makers. Frank calls him Notchy. I call him Notcho. He doesn't really care who calls him what as long as he can get in on some bird seed action.

I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it's such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.

~ Ellen DeGeneres

This is Opie. He stands out to us.. or rather, his ears do. He's one of the few who like to nibble on carrots and that's exactly what he's doing right there.

Beer nuts are $1.50 and deer nuts are under a buck.

~ Unknown

For a while, we thought that this one was Opie. Their ears stick out the same way but this ones are notched. At one point, we hadn't seen Opie around for a while, and we figured that something might have happened to his ears because we'd never seen another deer with such a T-shaped head. Then, one day they both came around at the same time and we realized that this one needed to be named Fauxpie - to rhyme with his twin-like pal.

Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, "I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I am going to snow anyway." ~ Maya Angelou

These two are way on the other side of the bay - walking on water.

I read about a guy in Michigan this winter who was cruising along on his snow mobile. "Whoo hoo!" Didn't see a barbed wire fence. FOOM - cut his head right off. And I'll be honest with you, my first thought was... That's how I want to go. Having the time of your life, "Whoo hoo!" FOOM. I want the last thought in my head to be, "Hey, check out that headless snow mobile driver. He's got a jacket just like mine."

~ David Crowe

Also across the bay, these guys zipped by in a hurry.

There is an art to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

~ Douglas Adams

The Search and Rescue helicopter can often be heard and then seen over our lake - probably in training.

My father told me all about the birds and the bees, the liar - I went steady with a woodpecker till I was twenty-one. ~ Bob Hope

Another little local flying machine.

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 Handy

He's also quite the eating machine. Doesn't he have a great look with that red spot on his head?

I had a great view of the sunset. At least until father went and changed the channel. Dammit, dad!"

~ Jarod Kintz

The day ends with some more fancy solar artwork - courtesy of the setting sun and clouds.

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.

I Hear Lake Water Lapping

As usual, I'm nowhere near my new place yet. 

Construction is going on without me. Fishing is happening without me. Autumn is evolving without me. And Frank is enjoying life up there without me. 

My city house has been on the market for less than a week. There's been a fair bit of interest and I'm hopeful that things will move along before too long. Please keep your fingers crossed for me. I very much want to go home.

The following photos were taken when I was up there in the summer. I hope you enjoy them.

I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore. . . .

I hear it in the deep heart's core.

~ William Butler Yeats

Benny is enjoying his life at the cottage. As long as we can present a good throwing arm, he'll provide the fetches.





In the water, on one side of the dock, these weeds are growing tall.






They produce a pretty purple flower called Pickerelweed.






Other pretty garden flowers attract our beautiful hummingbirds. Of course they enjoy the feeders also.






This little guy must have been fed regularly around here. I bent down to tie my shoe, one day, and he suddenly appeared between my feet and rested his two front feet on my hand. He looked me right in the eye as if to ask where the munchies are. I had to oblige him, eh?






Of all strange creatures to rest upon the sliding door glass. This appears to be a miniature crustacean of some sort. He was clinging to the glass after a rainfall. It was about the width of a tomato seed and twice as long.







This is a late-day glimpse of the island across the bay.






And just a little bit later, the last reflective light of the sun paints the sky with a kiss goodnight.

More photos coming up soon.