One Touch of Nature

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

~ William Shakespeare

It would seem that the vast majority of my photos from summer can fall under one of four categories - winged things, furry things, flowery things and weather conditions. I also have images from a couple of weddings and a few other things but I guess I'll start with a mix of a few photos from each of the above-mentioned groups.


We have frequent visits from this little guy. And by frequent, I mean daily. And by daily, I mean that he's back and forth between our supply of seed and peanuts and wherever it is that he stashes the latter - all of a few feet away. In recent weeks, he's been hopping on the patio table and he makes himself quite at home skittering all over Frank's lap, reminding him that he is still around and just about passing out from hunger. He's a bit of a drama queen but adorable as all get-out. That's our Rufus.






Every now and then, he has to make sure the neighbourhood knows that he's large (he's really pretty tiny) and in charge (yeah, right). He lets out his warning call (it sounds like this) which Frank says means "Stand aside, everyone. I take large steps!" - a reference from the old movie A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.






Every now and then, when we toss a peanut for Rufie or one of the chipmunks, a bold-as-brass blue jay will beat them to it. Not much intimidates them. This guy is just learning his way around the goodie hour. He's a cute but goofy looking young one.






And an even goofier looking baldie. That seems to happen to a few of them (and other birds) sometime during late summer. It's just part of the moulting process though most birds don't lose all their head feathers at once. We have two of them in this state - this being the worse of them.






This is what a summer night looks like outside on our deck. This photo of the patio chair cushion was taken with a flash. Some of these itty bitty bugs get into our house and cling to the ceiling. By morning, they're part of the horizontal surfaces below. They don't last a night indoors. I wonder how many we inhale or otherwise ingest?






Here's a little guy we wouldn't mind seeing a little more often. We spotted him in the tree near our deck, one day and though the lighting wasn't great, I snapped a few shots, thinking he was a young Downy or Hairy woodpecker. It turns out that he was neither. We were perplexed, briefly, then Frank said "See what a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker looks like." And sure enough, that's who he is. Adorable, eh?






Our hanging pot of petunias look especially vibrant when they're back lit by the late day sun.






The Black-eyed Susans grow quite profusely around here. They're always a cheery sight on a summer day.






And the same goes for daisies. You can't have summer without these sunny charmers.






This is what early June looks like across the bay - just a little to the left. Those same spring greens are now showing signs of shifting over to autumn colours. Summer didn't last very long, this year.






Just three weeks later, across that same bay but over to the right, Blueberry Island glows in the setting sun. Funny how those fresh greens of summer can appear to be ablaze when the sun is low.






And rather than end with the sun going down, here's a mid-July sunrise, complete with the peachy hues of a misty morn. Right outside our window. Sigh!

That's it for this post. I'll have more critters and plant life for you soon. Or maybe something completely different. Ya never know.

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.

All in a Day or Two (Summer Shorts 4)

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a couple of days at Frank's place. I took the bus and commuter train from my town to his - a trip of three hours including the wait between both modes of transportation.

While the train stopped for a few moment at one station, I saw this man walking along the platform and thought he looked intriguing. I raised my camera to take his picture...



...and these seagulls helped make it a more interesting photo by taking flight at that precise moment. (please click to enlarge)




Our morning walk revealed this mother duck and her two ducklings. There had been many more of them on the previous visit, but nature can be cruel. The pond water was very still. The large rock where they rested, and its reflection reminded me of a giant walnut. (please click to enlarge)




Doesn't Mom look proud? (please click to enlarge)





And aren't the wee ones adorable? (please click to enlarge)




Further along the path, this moth caught my eye. Usually a moth's wings are colourful and its body rather bland, but this one sported a drab set of wings, with a beautiful, blue thorax. (please click to enlarge)





Wild Chicory is one of my favourite wildflowers. Can you see the tiny bug hiding among its petals? (please click to enlarge)




Another tiny bug crawls along Frank's hand. Its pattern and colours were kind of nice. (please click to enlarge)





This rusty set of gears sits in front of an old mill, a few kilometers from Frank's home. They make and sell the greasiest doughnuts there - rolled in sugar and cinnamon. I couldn't stomach more than a couple of bites, but everyone else loved them. (please click to enlarge)




On the highway back home. Dark clouds had gathered and were now spattering the windshield for part of the drive. (please click to enlarge)

In a few days, I'll post some more photos from around my own neck of the woods.

The Great Outdoors (Summer Shorts 2)

Summer is too lovely a time not to spend outdoors. Like last post, here are just a few photos taken over the past week or two.. and not a whole lot more. Please remember to click on each photo to enlarge.


With a car tire as a back drop, these yellow flowers seem to glow in the sunlight.



Tiger Lilies will soon bloom - but not yet.



These wispy, purple wildflowers however, are in full bloom.




The path back home. Reluctantly leaving the creekside cedar grove.



How long do you figure before summer's growth covers up this large branch?



A peek at the water fountain in Frank's back yard, though the lattice fence.



A tiny moth on the netting of the backyard tent. We sit there some evenings enjoying nature but avoiding mosquitoes. Photographed from the inside of the tent. The moth is on the outside.

Back soon with more Summer Shorts.