A Walk Around the Lake

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

~ Wallace Stevens

Step slightly back in time as we take another walk along the shoreline of Peterborough's Little Lake. These pics were actually snapped during the latter part of the summer but I know you folks have never balked at photographic time travel before, so please join me.

When a stone is dropped into a pond, the water continues quivering even after the stone has sunk to the bottom. ~ Arthur Golden

This is called The Launch Pad. Peterborough is full of whimsical, creative artists and these slingshot-styled resting spots are proof of that.

My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach you how to swim. ~ Paula Poundstone

How handy to live right across the road from the public dock.

It was one of those places where mist lingers well into the day and the dawn chorus starts early. 

~ Fennel Hudson

Water birds of all kinds are not too shy in the presence of people - even those of us who are toting a camera.

Looking out over the lake, I felt enveloped in the most peaceful, loving utopia. ~ Laurie Kahn

This girl sat for quite a while - probably listening to music, texting occasionally - but mostly enjoying her surroundings.

A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. ~ Henry David Thoreau

And then I happened upon these guys. There are two dogs and they show up on the pier with their people most pleasant evenings, anxious to fetch the tennis balls from the lake.

If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water. ~ Loren Eiseley

On this day, the daughter had just tossed the ball for her canine friend.

Man is troubled by what might be called the Dog Wish, a strange and involved compulsion to be as happy and carefree as a dog. ~ James Thurber

And nothing could hold this baby back.

Water is sufficient...the spirit moves over water. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

Dad was gearing up to throw this one out for the other pooch. Gotta love the look of anticipation.

He had as much fun in the water as any person I have known. You didn't have to throw a stick in the water to get him to go in. Of course, he would bring back a stick to you if you did throw one in. He would even have brought back a piano if you had thrown one in. ~ James Thurber

You'd think he'd have been launched from one of those slingshots.

Moody and withdrawn, the lake unites a haunting loveliness to a raw desolateness. ~ Dale Morgan

While waiting for the pooches to return, I noticed some charcoal art on the cement.

Take the broken pieces of your life, bake a master cake out of it. Don't stand still like a lake; keep flowing like a stream! ~ Israelmore Ayivor

Each of them after their own tennis ball, though sometimes the stronger swimmer would steal his buddy's ball and make him swim back without it.

The water doesn't know how old you are. ~ Dara Torres

At a different dock, kids were having fun jumping off into the water.

A lake carries you into recesses of feeling otherwise impenetrable. ~ William Wordsworth

And speaking of lakes, this photo was taken a couple of days before moving from my previous dwelling - the final sunrise that I witnessed while living there.


I have many more photos from that time. I continued to snap some even though I stopped blogging in March for a few months. Eventually I'll sprinkle them in among my future posts.

Well here's one more..



Today's blog post was brought to you by the letter R.

Honor the river, stream, lake, or well that makes possible your life, your town, or your city.

~ Gail Thomas

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Happy Thanksgiving to my co-Canucks!

Who You Are

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~Dr. Seuss

A couple weekends ago, my neighbour, her young son and I headed into town to watch the Peterborough Pride Parade. I expected it to be colourful, upbeat and fun and I wasn't disappointed.

Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start. ~ Jason Collins

This was the start of the parade which probably lasted about a half hour. Gotta love the play on words with the GayPole.

If you removed all of the homosexuals and homosexual influence from what is generally regarded as American culture, you would pretty much be left with "Let's Make a Deal." ~ Fran Lebowitz

This local businessman was feeling the love.

Gay teenagers are four times as likely to attempt suicide as straight ones. I wish they knew that there's nothing wrong with them; that they are just a different shade of normal. ~ Jodi Picoult

It was well attended by community kids..

There is nothing wrong with going to bed with someone of your own sex. People should be very free with sex, but they should draw the line at goats. ~ Elton John

... even kids of the four-legged variety.

It always seemed to me a bit pointless to disapprove of homosexuality. It's like disapproving of rain. 

~ Francis Maude

I was quite impressed and pleased with the huge show of support from local churches.

At some point in our lifetime, gay marriage won't be an issue, and everyone who stood against this civil right will look as outdated as George Wallace standing on the school steps keeping James Hood from entering the University of Alabama because he was black.

~ George Clooney

Each carrying their messages of love and acceptance.

It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength. ~ Maya Angelou

There was also the school board staff and students sporting t-shirts which said "Respect Accept Include."

Ethnic diversity adds richness to a society. ~ Gary Locke

Also supportive were various government branches.

If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door. ~ Harvey Milk

Our much-respected first responders such as the Peterborough Police...

I believe gender is a spectrum, and I fall somewhere between Channing Tatum and Winnie the Pooh. ~ Stephen Colbert

... prideful Paramedics..

When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one. ~ Leonard Matlovich

... and our always-ready Infantry Reserves.

Don't quit. Never give up trying to build the world you can see, even if others can't see it. Listen to your drum and your drum only. It's the one that makes the sweetest sound. ~ Simon Sinek

Amnesty International followed close behind.

Let's make a law that gay people can have birthdays, but straight people get more cake--you know, to send the right message to kids.

~ Bill Maher

Everywhere I looked I saw youthful faces...

I was raised around heterosexuals, as all heterosexuals are, that's where us gay people come from... you heterosexuals. ~ Ellen DeGeneres

.. and youthful hearts.

I had a hell of a time convincing people I was gay - which was so annoying! ~ Portia de Rossi

There were high-flying butterflies...

Mothers, tell your children: be quick, you must be strong. Life is full of wonder, love is never wrong. Remember how they taught you, how much of it was fear. Refuse to hand it down - the legacy stops here. ~ Melissa Etheridge

.. and those who stayed closer to earth.

I once had a large gay following, but I ducked into an alleyway and lost him. ~ Emo Philips

I'm not so sure this little guy was aware of his flamboyant appearance..

We had gay burglars the other night. They broke in and rearranged the furniture. ~ Robin Williams

... but this guy surely was.

Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? ~ Ernest Gaines

Lots of fun and smiles all around.

The important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself. ~ Gore Vidal

The parade ended at a nearby park where folks mingled and muddled through the crowds.

Here is a little tip for all of you. Don't come out to your father in a moving vehicle. ~ Kate Clinton

Thanks for coming along!