Cast in a Golden Light

First thing we'd climb a tree
And maybe then we'd talk
Or sit silently
And listen to our thoughts
With illusions of someday
Cast in a golden light
No dress rehearsal,
This is our life

~ Rob Baker/Gordon Downie

There truly is something bordering on magical about that time of day just before sunset (or just after sunrise). The super saturation of colour. The lengthening shadows. The depth of texture. They all make for an especially enjoyable time to be behind the lens. These photos were taken at various times during the past couple of months, at that wonderful hour, late in the day. I hope you enjoy them.


Flowers in the park seem exceptionally proud of their brilliant colours in the late-day sunshine.






Hopefully some rain will bring more water into the nearly-dry Jackson Creek. I'll bet that something interesting lives amid the roots and rocks at the base that tree.






Let's have a closer look. What do you think could be hiding in there?






A young artist was enjoying the lingering daylight while painting the lake in front of her.






This was a bit earlier in the day, in Omeeme, Ontario. There was still a slight amber hue to the light.







A few fuzzy berries basking in the sun's warming rays.






Saturation (whether by rain water or by golden sun rays) really adds drama to tree bark. This stand of trees in the park seems to be appreciative of that.






Colourful canoes look positively brilliant in this light.






A gardening crew are all ready to take on the next project.






I'm glad I'm not allergic to goldenrod as my mother was. I find it quite attractive. So do all of the little bugs you'll find if you look closely.






The sun sets on the city of Peterborough, and you'd think that would mean that the day is pretty much over.






But not if the date is August 20, 2016. And you're in Canada. And you know that this is the night that movie screens are being set up all over the country to simulcast The Tragically Hip's final concert.






Have a seat. Welcome the night. And see 'the constellations reveal themselves one star at a time.'
Thank you, Gord Downie. 'You are ahead by a century.'

What Children Like

I never get any protests from children. All you get are giggles of mirth and squirms of delight.

I know what children like. 

~ Roald Dahl

There is no shortage of adorable children in Peterborough. And of course, since kiddos come in all shapes, sizes and species, you'll find a few of the non-human variety here, as well.

I hope you enjoy.

Come away, O human child!

To the waters and the wild

With a faery, hand in hand,

For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

~ W.B. Yeats

These two siblings were having a bit of a tug of war on the dock, one evening. He wanted to stay and she wanted to return to the nearby restaurant.

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

~ Kahlil Gibran

She won!

Watch the littlest kids carefully; the biggest messages for the grown-ups are hidden there!

~ Mehmet Murat ildan

Closer to sundown on the same day, a younger pair peered into the water together while their mom watched over them from just outside of the camera's view.

I like dogs

Big dogs

Little dogs

Fat dogs

Doggy dogs

Old dogs

Puppy dogs

I like dogs

A dog that is barking over the hill

A dog that is dreaming very still

A dog that is running wherever he will

I like dogs.

~ Margaret Wise Brown

Bounding into the water just like a little kid, this dog couldn't be happier.

The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog. ~ Ambrose Bierce

And back out again with his victorious capture. He runs to his person to toss the ball into the river for another opportunity to swim and fetch.

A child's imaginary playmate just might actually be there. ~ Doug Dillon

Same river, different dog with his kidlet, having a late afternoon swim.

Your children will smash your understanding, knowledge and reality. You will be better off.

Then they will leave. You'll miss them forever.

~ Tibor Kalman

And then they moved on. The dalmatian was in a kayak with one of two adults (though only one of visible in this photo) up ahead.

A party without cake is just a meeting. ~ Julia Child

I'd hazard a guess that there were a bunch of kids enjoying a birthday party just inside this home.

Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.

~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Speaking of parties, the little cutie hidden behind the cup is one of Carol Anne's neighbours who recently attended her milestone birthday party.

A child is a curly, dimpled lunatic. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I suspect that this little guy has another pair of shoes much like this at home.

Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many ailments, but I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia. ~Joseph Wood Krutch

The only "kid" I have still living with me is my beautiful Zephyr.

The soul is healed by being with children. ~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky

This little sweetness was having fun exploring the sand and splashing in the water.

When a kid says "smell my hand," it almost never smells like cinnamon. ~ Brian P. Cleary

And finally, this exuberant little girl was feeling the evening music at an outdoor concert.

More photos coming up soon. I do also hope to get around to some blog visits before too long. See you soonish!