Walking on Water

For a change, I'm rather up to date with photos. These were taken a little over a week ago.




The day broke in pastel shades of loveliness.

My younger son, Alex was visiting for the weekend and was sleeping in the next room. I miss living, breathing, laughing and simply being under the same roof as this man child of mine. But for this weekend, my boy was with me and all was good. As the day progressed, we lingered over a hearty breakfast - something in which none of us tend to indulge but the occasion of his visit seemed to call for it.




It was a pleasant day, just as the dawn had predicted and Alex and I decided to take Benny for a walk on a path I'd never travelled before - at least not in winter.





Beneath our feet was the frigid waters of Lake Baptiste. Thankfully, there were a couple of feet of ice between our boots and the water. That's Blueberry Island sitting way across the bay, and it was our destination for today.





Benny was thrilled to be off leash for a change and spent his energy running ahead and then back again to greet us. Snowmobile paths made for an easy route to follow.






The water, snow, rain and wind have all done their part to smooth the bark off of these wood specimens.






I think my son also enjoyed the freedom of walking on water. He soon picked up the pace and sprinted across the bay, with Benny in hot pursuit.






It took us about a half hour to get there. Benny and Alex arrived before I did.





By far.






It would be cool to have their energy.







Once we got across the bay, it was lovely to see Blueberry Island up close and personal.






In other seasons, it's a popular spot for rock climbing. And for getting stuck. In November, the guys who are working on our house watched as a helicopter was needed to rescue a few climbers who were stranded on Blueberry's face. I was taken with the crags, holes, swirls, cracks and layers on this rocky beauty.






Snowfalls, melts and freezes resulted in enormous icicles in a few places.






By now, the wind had picked up and was blowing those clouds pretty quickly. It was time to head home.






We walked back against the wind and found it to be pretty chilly at times but our cozy home awaited our return. This is how it looks like from the lake. You can see that renovations are ongoing.

Thanks for walking with us. I'll be back with more photos before too much longer.

Light and Shade

Walking in the morning takes you to beautiful places where light and shade make love. 

~ Prof. Mohamed Shareef 

We had a few snowfalls this winter, which is more than I can say for last year. These photos however, were all taken before any of the white stuff fell from the sky - between late November and late December. Come take a retro walk with me.


You needn't awaken or head out too early to meet the sunrise in winter. It would stay dark until a decent walking hour. This is how the sky looked over the park as we venture out onto the path.





Very few things retain any vivid colour at that time of the year but the hair-covered crimson berries of the Staghorn sumac were brilliant in the winter sunlight.






The lake was only lightly glazed over with ice on this mid-December day. Sun, ice and sleepy mallards combined in such a way that we appear to be looking at headless ducks and their glassy reflections.






The squirrels (see.. we don't only have black ones) at this park are especially bold. A lot of people enjoy feeding them, and so they're not afraid to come very close in hopes of mooching a peanut. This guy was mildly disappointed that I only clicked my tongue to get his attention for a photo, and not to share any goodies.






Thankfully, somebody came along to the rescue with pockets of peanuts, and this little poacher appeared to be pleased with his treat. Next time, I'll be ready with full pockets too.





If you would have looked up a second earlier, you would have seen yet another squirrel peeking through these cedar fronds. Of course, if I had snapped the image a second earlier, you would still be seeing him right now. I like the way the photo turned out, anyway.

 



As we watched the sunlight twinkling on the water and the breeze blowing through the fluffy tall grass...





...we, in turn, were also being watched. Too bad he was too shy to allow for a scratch behind the ears.






Look up. This here was taken a couple of days after Christmas. What were we doing with green leaves clinging to life this late in the year?





Last but not least, one more evening look skyward revealed a full moon. This was November's celestial treat.

I hope you enjoyed our walk. I'm sure we will do this again sometime soon. Hopefully, it will begin looking like spring.

The Heart of Winter

Winter sure does change the landscape in a hurry, doesn't it? Bare branches, icy ponds and frozen hillsides are softened with a layer of silence.

Every mile is two in winter. ~ George Herbert

A section of the park pathway which circles around the pond.

Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again.
~Bill Morgan, Jr.

When the lake freezes over, there always seems to be an interesting pattern of bare patches. I imagine that the trees protected the lake from the snowy breeze in these areas.

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found? ~ J. B. Priestley

Look beyond this wintry picnic table, to the pond below. That's where I saw Woodrow and the other ducks which were featured two posts back.

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

I couldn't help but notice this feisty oak leaf defiantly flickering in the breeze, refusing to allow winter to bury it.

Of winter’s lifeless world each tree
Now seems a perfect part;
Yet each one holds summer’s secret
Deep down within its heart.
~ Charles G. Stater

This was just meant to be a photo shot more or less into the sun, of a peek at a park bench as seen between the trees. It was only when I uploaded the image that I saw this unusual sunspot (or something) which appeared to be glowing from the lower branches of the nearest tree. If you look at it closely....

... you'll see that it is heart-shaped and red, and it has me wondering what this tree might be telling me. Whatever it is, it's a comfort in the heart of winter.