Within Walking Distance

Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time. ~ Steven Wright

A couple of weeks back, I ventured out along the shores of Peterborough's Little Lake.

From the ages of 8-18, me and my family moved around a lot. Mostly we would just stretch, but occasionally one of us would actually get up to go to the fridge. ~ Jarod Kintz

It was typical March weather - warm in the sunshine but a cool wind. The water's edge was still icy in most spots. I'd say that this Mallard was doing yoga poses but that would be a... stretch.

I floated like driftwood in the ocean. I wasn't worried about sharks, because my bathtub is much too shallow. ~ Jarod Kintz

A somewhat weathered branch waiting for further melt to release it.

You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there. ~ Edwin Louis Cole

A different view of the icy shoreline.

Duck love is recognizable in any language. ~ Edmond Manning

Just a few feet away, at the edge of the dock, these ducks will have a much softer landing.

I'm good at exploring roofs. You never know when that kind of thing comes in useful. ~ Enid Blyton

As we approach Del Crary Park, we see the familiar red roof of The Light House Lounge and Grill - not quite ready for the upcoming summer season.

Distance lends enchantment to the view. ~ Mark Twain

Here it is again from a different perspective.

One scoop of ice cream can go a long way. Not to mending friendships, but it can get up to 40 yards in the air if you lob it just right.

~ Jarod Kintz

Same spot, up close. People will be lined up to buy their yummy Kawartha Dairy ice cream here, in just a few months.

I'm part wood nymph. I require mountains and warm, dense patches of moss to thrive. ~ Vera Farmiga

With the bits of greenery here and there, and the absence of ice, you could almost believe that this was taken during spring or summer but it was the same day - just a little further along the lakeshore.


There's a small walking bridge over the water where Jackson Creek rushes in to meet Little Lake. The waters were running rapidly at this point, on this day and I was about to take a photo of it when I heard voices coming from deeper within the tunnel-like setting.

When I must leave the great river

O bury me close to its wave

And let my canoe and my paddle

Be the only mark over my grave

~ Frank Oliver

Just as I focused my camera, these two came swooshing out of the shadows into full view. The water was still very cold as you can tell by earlier photos of the icy shores, and I was surprised that neither of the paddlers were wearing PFDs.

I run a tight ship. It's so tight, you could call it a canoe. ~ Jarod Kintz

I quickly turned to look over the other side of the bridge. Her hands looked very cold but her smile was warm.

A true Canadian is one who can make love in a canoe without tipping. ~ Pierre Berton

There was no doubt that they were having a great time. It was most likely their first canoe trip of the season. They headed under the railway bridge and disembarked around the next bend.

Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him. ~ Dwight D Eisenhower

And here's what that bridge looks like from up close.

That's it for this walk along Little Lake. I hope you'll join me again whenever my feet make their way back.

Love the Chase

You love the chase, but hate me for the run around ~ Sara Bareilles

The summer is proving to be one of minimal blogging. I'm snapping photos. I'm even uploading and sorting through them, from time to time. But when it comes time to actually creating a blog post, I am lagging behind. Similarly, I have been slacking off of the blog visits lately. As I type this, I have 386 unread posts in my Feedly list. And I'm not going to get to most of them anytime soon. Summer has a way of keeping me from spending a lot of time in front of the computer.

Here's some of what's keeping my focus, these days.

My older son, Jeffrey has been living in Cold Lake, Alberta (a four day drive) for the last couple of years. For the next few months though, he'll be closer to home as he is on course in Borden, Ontario (a three hour drive. He's figuring that he'll probably end up back in Cold Lake once he is done but from now until November, I'll get to see my boy every couple of weeks or so. He traveled across country with his cat, Hunter, who has joined our menagerie for those few months. That's creating a bit of a challenge for all of us. Hunter got along well with Benny, right off the bat. Zephyr (luke) warmed to him after a few days. Skittles is not impressed with this young (Hunter is 3 and my guys are 15), playful and at times, domineering cat, and he has turned this competition for top cat into a pissing contest - literally. Hunter is a very sweet, loving and gentle cat and I think that for the most part, he's just trying to engage him in play but he's bigger, stronger and far more rambunctious than my guys and it comes across as aggressive. It's a challenge but I think/hope that Skitty will accept him as part of the group before too much longer. Until then, buy stock in cleaning supplies and odour neutralizers.

Caroline and Lloyd are the best neighbours I've ever had. They lived next door to me at my previous home for over twenty years and losing them as next door neighbours was one of the hardest parts about leaving my street. They are up here visiting for a few days and have hit the lake fishing shortly after sunrise. They are out there in search of our lunch as I type. Frank is less of a morning person but we'll probably join them out there a little later on. I figured I could take advantage of some quiet time and get this blog post out.

This one is for all you Benny fans.

I have been keeping a list of the various animals I have seen since moving here. The mammals are many and the birds, even more so - several of which I'd never seen before.


But on this day, it was a pair of simple Mallards which waddled around on the grass near the water's edge. You can easily see the drake but the female is kind of hidden in the grass closer to the water.






Of course, Benny spotted them too and if there's something that a Jack Russell Terrorist must do, it's chase. Here he is, not so subtly sneaking up on them.






Quick as he is, ducks are even faster - particularly when their necks are at risk.






Plus they can fly.






Panicked birds can leave quite the wake. Bored with their easy departure, Benny turns back for home. His job is done.






Benny receives a good scolding from the safety of the water.

More photos coming up... eventually.

When Every Leaf is a Flower

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~ Albert Camus

I've only made a couple of brief pit stops at home over the past two months. I've been spending most of my time at Frank's and some of that time up north as the search for a home continues. On one of my stops at home, I snapped a number of foliage and other photos. I hope you enjoy them.



Behind the houses across the street from my own is where I find these trees, along the park path. They look lovely in any season but they're particularly pleasing to the eye in autumn.





Moving along the path, a bit closer toward home, the previous trees are behind me, and this is the view that Benny and I take in.





I like this view even better.





The dam usually attracts a fair number of ducks, geese, and the occasional heron, kingfisher and mink but just the mallards were hanging around on this day.





Though none were around at this time, this is a favourite spot for the herons. The Great Blue, Night and Green - they all visit whenever the water is not frozen over.





Frank and I couldn't help noticing that some maples are this brilliant yellow while others turn traditional (at least in terms of our own nation's flag) scarlet. We figure it's probably dependent on the kind of maple. Frank has a Red Maple which looks reddish in the spring, mostly green in summer and turns brown before losing its leaves in the fall. We'd love to have one that turns bright red in autumn.





This little red squirrel was watching me closely as I wandered around snapping photos.





Most of the Queen Anne's Lace have closed up shop for the winter. They still look quite pretty to me.





But there is the occasional rebel still clinging to summer.





One of my favourite autumn treats is the Spindle berry. It spends all summer as a green bud, growing slowly, fading into the surrounding foliage. When autumn arrives, it sports this brilliant pink colour just as some of the leaves begin turn red. The bud eventually splits open to reveal a vibrant orange seed. When all of the other colours of summer are fading, this wonderful plant comes into its own. The colours slowly fade throughout winter but they still offer a colourful contrast to snow well into the season.





Here's a small cluster of them after a rainfall.





Someone was tossing apple bits to the duck and these sweet mallard was enjoying hers very much. The peel almost makes her appear to be sticking her tongue out at us.





Shortly after a rainfall, browning leaves glisten in the newly-emerged sun.




Bright red Hawthorn berries contrast nicely against the orange leaves behind it.

More coming up sometime soonish.

Just Ducky and a Few Posts of the Week

Before anything, I'd like to wish a Happy 25th Birthday to my first born. I love you, Jeffrey.

A single feather floating on the pond. Who might it belong to?

Perhaps this sleepy mallard who kept a wary eye on me.

Or could it belong to his silly partner who seems to be in the habit of transporting them on her bill? In any event, how many critters do you see in this image? Just the one duck? How about the dozens of minnows swimming off to the left? (I'm sure Frank will correct me if that's not what they are.)


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




YOU'LL LAUGH

The Pencil Test
by Murr Brewster
at Murrmurrs

Summertime Pranks from Childhood
by Michael
at Michael Manning.TV




A GOOD READ

Lessons in Bicycles
by Lime
at House of Lime



A FUN POST

The Grand Tour (you might just have a staring role)
by Shrinky
at Shrink-wrapped Scream



JUST PLAIN GOOD

The Kind of Love That Won't Fly Away
by Chariskalee
at How My Song Goes



PHINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Just Steps from the Beach
by Tom
at A Pacific View



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.

Millie Mallard Says...

Gather around everyone. It's time for a rousing game of Milly Mallard Says.

The flock waddled in to share in the fun.

Delia Duck took the short cut.

Milly Mallard says "Flap your wings in the air."

Excellent. Now, stick out your tongue.

Devon Drake, you're out! I didn't say "Milly Mallard says.."

Milly Mallard says "Touch your bill to your tail."

Good enough, Mumford.

Milly Mallard Says "Look to your left."

Good work.

Milly Mallard Says "Show me your best side."

And so marked The End of the game.

Cold as Ice

We haven't seen much snow yet, but icy weather has arrived, and my local pond is mostly frozen over.

A light dusting on the surface reveals the paths taken by the local duck population in hopes of finding a bit of open water.

And they found it right by the intake from the area's storm drains. Let's hope that the water remains clean and we have no repeat incidents like we had this past spring.

Peering through the dock rails, you can see that weeping willow leaves continue to fall upon the frozen pond, while other have been trapped beneath its icy surface.

The shoreline appears cold and a little less welcoming, but always beautiful.