Musings on a Small Life

I had taken my little pocket point & shoot with me to work last Friday, something I don't typically do in the winter. But I decided to walk down to a nearby waterfront park at lunch time, just for some fresh air. I thought I might get a few of the usual snapshots of the sculpture and water, and I did get those, but unexpectedly, there were tons of ducks, geese, and even two pairs of swans! (Click to enlarge for best viewing, and keep in mind I was at full zoom, so losing image quality!) I think the duck below is a male gadwell. At least, that's what it looked like when I Googled for brown ducks. There were three of them out on the water, but I snapped pics only of this one. The weather has been so atypically mild for this region (and dreary and dismal!) that the lake isn't even frozen over yet, not even partially. There was a flock of geese as well, though some weren't too thrilled at either the approaching pair of swans or possibly some of the gee...

I went for a lunch time walk today, mostly because I need to burn enough calories to eat supper.  :-p It's heat-stroke hot out there and of course my hat is at home. I admit to feeling woozy now, with a slight headache, even though I was gone for only 40 minutes. However, I got some snapshots, so that made up for it. Heading across campus to the waterfront.   The perfect day to be out on the water, if sailing is your thing.     There were two more on the water doing this...a version of punting?   Ms. Duck was keeping cool.   This goose was busy grooming and ignored me as I crouched down and took several pics.   This dog did not want to get out of the water! Smart!   Love the colour of the lilies. These are all growing in front of a classroom building and I couldn't resist a few snapshots.     On a sad note, Ivy from Cats of Wildcat Woods , has crossed to the "Rainbow Bridge." Image...

Yesterday was one of those "soft" autumn days, warm with a breeze, more early summer-like than fall. I took a little lunchtime jaunt down to the water, the usual route. The usual snapshots too--the only thing being different, the season! The School of Theology, same building I used to snap weekly in the spring, on the way back from physio. It was such a lovely day I really didn't want to go back to the office afterward.  :-)           I had only the little Elph of course, so you can just barely make out the boat on the water, in the middle of the sculpture (below). There were a lot of geese enjoying the day too.     Heading back to the office...the long way around.  :-)   This maple is one of the few trees with glorious colour. Most just turn brown and crispy in our city.   The visitor centre for Bellevue House. They have a lovely lawn! It was a good mental break, to get out and into th...

These are from August 12th; I meant to post them ages ago. I did go down to the harbour again today--and darn it!--had only the little Elph with me, after carrying the old PowerShot around for the past couple of weeks. There was a boat race on, so I did the best I could, will download them this evening and see if any are salvageable. I could have stayed down there for the rest of the afternoon, it was so lovely. Hot and muggy, but with a terrific, strong breeze off the water. Bliss. However, you're stuck with the snapshots from two weeks ago right now.  :-)  This house is across the street from Belleville House A glimpse of Bellevue House through the orchard. One of the many homes that Sir John A. MacDonald lived in while here (he was the first Prime Minister of Canada). BTW, all those apple trees are varieties that were grown in the mid-1800s; none is a newer variety. I "snuck" in for a quick snapshot of the front of the house. I've posted...