Summer Rain

Summer rain taps at my window
West wind soft as a sweet dream
(performed by) Johnny Rivers

Thank you to everyone for your very sweet comments and good wishes on my previous post. And thanks especially to those who have stuck with me through the years, to those who commented for the first time and every fine one of you in between.

These photos were taken at different stages of different rainy days. The names after the song quotes are those of the performers and not of the lyricists.

Someone told me long ago there's a calm before the storm

I know, it's been comin' for some time

When it's over, so they say, it'll rain a sunny day

I know, shinin' down like water

~ Creedence Clearwater Revival

Here comes the rain again

Falling on my head like a memory

~ Eurythmics

Long as I remember the rain been comin' down

Clouds of mystery pourin' confusion on the ground.

Good men through the ages tryin' to find the sun.

And I wonder still I wonder who'll stop the rain.

~ Creedence Clearwater Revival

Listen to the mandolin rain,

Listen to the music on the lake

~ Bruce Hornsby

Somewhere over the rainbow way up high

There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true

~ Judy Garland

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,

I can see all obstacles in my way

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)

Sun-Shiny day

~ Johnny Nash

You and me and rain on the roof

Caught up in a summer shower

Drying while it soaks the flowers

Maybe we'll be caught for hours

Waiting out the sun

~ The Lovin' Spoonful

Why are there so many songs about rainbows

And what's on the other side

Rainbows are visions

But only illusions

And rainbows have nothing to hide...

So we've been told

And some choose to believe it

I know they're wrong, wait and see

Some day we'll find it

The rainbow connection

The lovers, the dreamers, and me

~ Kermit the Frog

I'm singing in the rain

Just singing in the rain

What a glorious feelin'

I'm happy again

I'm laughing at clouds

So dark up above

The sun's in my heart

And I'm ready for love

~ Gene Kelly

More photos coming up soonish.

The Number 7 - and Some Flowers

Surprise! The Great Blue Heron in my header has flown away and left nothing but blue water behind. It's time for a sunny change. It is my fourth revamp since I began blogging - oh... about - nay, exactly seven years ago, today. This cheery sunflower will adorn my blog for the next while - however long that may turn out to be. To help kick-start the new look, the images in this post will be all about the flowers found around here - either wild or in our yard. I hope you enjoy the bouquet.

Since this is my seventh blogiversary, I decided to look back and see who my first seven visitors were - those who still stop by, that is.





The first comment ever to land on my blog came from Frank, of course. He was the one who encouraged me to start blogging. Thanks, Frank! He isn't doing any blogging himself, these days but he does still stop by for a visit. Hopefully he'll start writing over at his Baron It All blog and perhaps posting photos at Canon Fodder again soon.







By my second post, Crabby began commenting. So, aside from Frank (always #1), she has been my longest standing, consistent visitor. She leaves great, funny comments and has a fine, humour-filled fitness blog of her own called Cranky Fitness.







It was mid-October before Leah began stopping by. She continues to post wonderful content over at her blog, The Goat's Lunch Pail and so very kindly keeps on coming back to my cyber world whenever I post. She's having surgery for bowel cancer, this week. Please keep this always-grateful, inspiring lady in your best thoughts.







Shortly after that, the lovely Sue from Photowannabe left me a comment, and like those mentioned above, she too continues to visit regularly. Among other fine posts, she likes combining her wonderful photography with the alphabet. Stop by her blog to see what I mean.







It was New Year's Eve when Shammie first stopped by. She was known as ex-Shammickite then but eventually, she decided that once a Shammickite, always a Shammickite so she soon dropped the "ex." But she's never dropped my blog, and I'm most grateful for that. Give her a visit over at Rook's Nest.








It was March 2008 before Out and About in New York City photographer Daryl left her first comment. She was sent by David McMahon from Authorblog who originally did the Post of the Day. Later he handed that baton over to me, and the POTW was born. He no longer blogs but many of you beautiful people are here because of David and for that, I will be forever grateful.








My seventh regular visitor who still visits today is the lovely and funny Michelle from House of Lime. She too, found my blog through David. Michelle/Lime is a fine writer with a terrific flair for humour. You won't regret it one bit if you stop by her blog for a visit.

Thank you, to all who have come by over the past seven years. And for sticking with me. The blogging world is a very encouraging, affirming and supportive community, and I'm thankful for, and enjoy each and every one of you who so kindly stop by to comment. I also appreciate those who silently lurk. If you're one of the latter, and have never commented before, I'd love it if you said "hi!" Maybe just this once?

More photos coming up soonish.

The Dock of the Bay and Posts of the Week

I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay wasting time.

~ Otis Redding/Steve Cropper

I love our dock. Well maybe not the dock so much but rather the view of our lake which usually includes the dock. Though the conditions are different in most of the images, you might find this post a bit repetitive because many of them are of the same view - the dock. There's only so much one can expect from a dock. What can I say? You just can't teach an old dock new tricks.



The first spark of light appears in the sky, soon to ignite the morning with vibrant hues. You can still see the solar powered lights on the dock. To them, it's still night.






Before too long the sun and clouds unite to provide colour and drama in the sky. The nights are cool. The day is warming. The hills are misty with change.






Before too long, most of the early morning colour is gone but the mist remains while the temperature rises.






Let's shake things up a little bit. Can you handle the excitement? Here the same dock as seen from the water. You can tell that our renovations are still incomplete.





'
I'm not the only one who is fond of the dock. This seagull spent quite a bit of time here, one day. It was only when I started snapping a few photos with the long lens, that I could see why.






It was hidden by his shadow in the first photo but here, you can plainly see that this gull had been busy fishing.






Despite my distance from the gull, he seemed to sense my presence and grew uneasy with my prying camera lens. Seconds later he took off with his dinner.






Dusk on the bay is usually a subtle blend of colours. Since we face east, it's the morning which outdoes itself from one time to the next. But when the mosquitoes permit, it's still a lovely sight to look out over the bay before nightfall.

I seem to have fallen into a once-a-week posting pattern. I may or may not continue with that pace for a while but I do think I'll get back into more frequent posting, once summer is done. I'm just not in any hurry for this beautiful season to be over. I hope you're enjoying yours. More photos coming up sooner or later.

❀  ❀  ❀  ❀  ❀

And now, without further delay, here are the Posts of the Week. The icon below is yours for the taking if your blog post is named as a POTW.

***
A GOOD READ

Dependence Day
by Michelle
at House of Lime

We Were Constellations // Once
by Brian
at WaystationOne

***

PHINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Bird and Butterfly Stand-off
by Gail
at Louisiana Belle

Holding Up the Sky
by Fiona
at Lady Fi

Back Stroke
by Montanagirl
at Montanagirl's Photo Blog

Bride and Groom
by Andy
at Eye Candy

Kenya Anniversary
by Sue
at Photowannabe


***

YOU MIGHT RELATE (AND LAUGH)

Horrifying
by Birdie
at Ditching the Black Dog

***

JUST PLAIN ALL AROUND GOOD

In and Out
by Betsy
at My Five Men

The Way I See It
by Leah
at The Goat's Lunch Pail

***
YOU'LL SAY "AWWW"

An Awe Filled Moment
by Tabor
at One Day at a Time

***

READERS' CHOICE
 
Recommended by: Gail
Wonder Into Worship
by Anita
at Did You Bring Your Camera

***

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

The Smiles of Nature - and Other Things

Colors are the smiles of nature.

~ Leigh Hunt

The shadow of your smile
When you have gone.
Will colour all my dreams
And light the dawn.
~ Paul Webster (The Shadow of Your Smile)
Beautiful sunrise. Mist across the bay. Gold in the sky. All reflecting in the tranquil lake. How could one not smile?


 



Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
~ Charles Chaplin (Smile) 
 I was delighted to discover that we had bleeding hearts growing here.






Keep on smilin' thru the rain
Laughin' at the pain
Just flowin' with the changes
Till the sun comes out again
~ Jimmy Hall - Wet Willie (Keep on Smiling)
This sign, at a local baked goods and trinkets shop, gave me a chuckle.






When you're smiling, when you're smiling
The whole world smiles with you.
~ Joe Goodwin (When You're Smiling)
Saturday morning garage sales - perfect for restocking the library. I just finished reading Secret Daughter. American and East Indian story line. Canadian author. It's not bad.






Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag, and smile, smile, smile. 
~ George Henry Powell/Asaf (Smile, Smile, Smile)
A decorative bicycle parked in a yard seen on one of my outings.






Smile an everlasting smile
A smile could bring you near to me
~ Barry Gibb - Bee Gees (Words)
Benny - he makes everyone smile. I know you agree.






Whenever I see your smiling face I have to smile myself because I love you. Yes, I do.
~ James Taylor (Your Smiling Face)
As promised in my last post, here is the strangest little creature I've ever seen on the outside of the window pane. This adorable tree frog was only about 3cm (just over an inch) long. Cute, or what?







A long, long time ago I can still remember how the music used to make me smile - 
~ Don McLean (American Pie)
These little guys provide night music (much like crickets do) during their mating season in late spring and early summer.







I'm so happy that you love me.
Life is lovely when you're near me.
Tell me you will stay. Make me smile
~ James Pankow (Thanks, Suldog) - Chicago (Make Me Smile)
Colourful Muskoka chairs (Adirondak chairs south of the border) always make me smile. They remind me of the Laurentians, north of Montreal, where we spent our summers as children.






Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That's what friends are for.
~ Carole Bayer Sager (That's What Friends Are For)
My Skitty and Zephyr always make me smile. True brotherly love.





To know, know, know you
Is to love, love, love you
Just to see you smile
Makes my life worthwhile
To know, know, know you
Is to love, love, love you
And I do, yes I do, yes I do
~ Phil Spector (To Know You is to Love You)
This gentle paw belongs to my beautiful Zephyr.






Looking back at sunsets on the east side
We lost track of the time
Dreams aren't what they used to be
Some things slide by so carelessly
Smile like you mean it
Smile like you mean it
~ Mark Stoermer- Killers (Smile Like You Mean It)
We face east so when a sunset provides colours this vivid, it makes me wonder just how brilliant the view would be facing west. Of course, then we'd miss our wonderful sunrises.

More photos coming up.. sometime.

If I Had Wings...

Fight or flight? If I had wings, there'd be no choice. But since I don't have wings, I have to rely on my cape, and a long running start. ~ Jarod Kintz

All quotes below are by Jarod Kintz

"If my love could be represented by a blur, it would be the beating of a hummingbird's wings. Did you know that my love is the only love that can fly backwards?"

A sweet little male Ruby-throated hummingbird perches atop the feeder holder ready to shoo off any interlopers.

"My phone rang and a duck quacked, so I answered the bird."

A duck on a dock. There's not much more to say about that other than it was a dull day and I used the flash to fill in some of the missing details - hence the Mallard's red eye.

"Insects have the most sex. Trust me, I peep on them through my microscope."

I may not have a microscope to peep on bugs but this one is indeed behind glass. The kitchen window, to be exact. And the macro lens helped to see this probable stink bug up close while the flash assisted in illuminating it. Many of the spots on the window are out of focus gnats, mosquitoes and other assorted insects. Many more of them are water spatters, dust and other marks which prove we don't have sparkling clean windows. They don't look that bad without the flash.

"I've always envied flies. Think about it: you're a fly, your name is an action, the very thing you do all the time. It's your innate action in life, the thing you were born to do. It's like a salesperson who was named Sell. I love that. If I ever met a salesperson who said, "Hi, I'm Sell," I'd reply, "And I'm sold!."

I found this attractive fellow in the house. He's sitting on a turkey feather which I used to transport him back outside.

I am a duck. I'm cool and calm on the surface, but underneath it all is a nonstop struggle to succeed. My feet are like orange spatulas"

At the same time the mallard was on the dock, these two new (to me) creatures were swimming beside it. The trusty bird guide told me that they're a pair of Lesser Scaups. The male on the left. A rather rare migratory find around here.

"Love, I love it like an airplane loves a helicopter, but not as much as a bat admires a butterfly."

A lovely Eastern yellow swallowtail butterfly whose tail has seen better days.

"I once snorted a moth. Unintentionally, of course. Its not like I was trying to get high."

Once night falls, there are countless numbers of insect staring at us from outside the window. This moth was one of them. Next post, I'll show you one of the most unexpected wee creature I've seen on a window - just a few inches over from the moth.

"I once saw a snake having sex with a vulture, and I thought, It's just business as usual in Washington DC."

For such an unattractive bird, the Turkey Vulture sure does look beautiful in flight.

"I had a dream about you. The leaves changed from yellow to red, but the stoplights did not. This made me continually cautious, and you kept honking at me. I thought you were the rudest goose ever."

One of our local family of geese. This goose, gander and their four goslings mingle with another family of two goslings, Mom and Dad. They're such devoted creatures.

"If God had wanted men to swim, he would have taught fish to fish. But fish don't fish, and neither do I, but it's also the reason I don't swim."

Loons. They're beautiful, entertaining, wonderful, haunting and enchanting birds. If you've never heard the call of the loon, you don't know what you're missing. In fact, please do find out what you're missing. Have a listen over here. The first (pair tremelo), second (pair wail) and last (wing noise, hoot, yodel) will give you all the typical loon calls between them. They're a joy to listen to. And to watch. We have five loons that tend to hang out together on the bay. Some may be wee ones but they all look full grown to us.

I hope you enjoyed some of the winged creatures who share our space, along with the crazy quotes of Jarod Kintz. I should have more photos coming up before too long.