Barney and Betty and Fred and Wilma

There is a creek, known as Rambo Creek, that runs behind my apartment building, which is rather nice.

Here are a pair of geese who have set up a home there











and here are their neighbours, who have also nested there









Yes, it is a bit noisy.

vanishing

Yesterday was the last day for the Vanishing Ice exhibit at the McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, so three of us made the excursion for a day's outing. You couldn't take photos of the exhibit - which really was a blessing - and anyway, there are examples of the pictures on their website which you can see here

Since it was a sunny and warm afternoon we thought about wandering through the woods after the gallery closed, but really it all still looked so brown and dull, that we just walked into the village for some coffee and dessert. That other walk could wait until there was more green on the trees.

That quaint village feel of Kleinburg also seems like it is vanishing with all the new construction going on. Even with new condos going up right at the entrance to the gallery.

It was dismaying to see this huge crane, but a little consoling to see this sign which shows that the two older buildings are to be incorporated into the development design.

I suppose it is a compromise for the necessary need for 'intensification' (as mandated by the government)

As we walk further into the village, there are still some of the old storefronts. Sadly, these particular ones are currently empty.

But,  there is the cutest Starbucks, ever...

that is so popular there is outdoor seating all the way around the free-standing building (of course no-one wanted to sit in the shade, though eventually some did)

and .......... flowers!

the Sugar Plum Children's Boutique always puts a nice display in their pram!

another Monday Walk for Restless Jo

with a few signs for Lesley

sitting in a tree, minding my own business

I went back to the park this morning, with the thought of looking for wildflowers, but really, I wanted to see those coyotes. Judging by the number of rabbits and squirrels roaming about, I figured the coyote family was still burrowed. Surely there would have been a lot of chittering going on if they were out and about?

In fact, it was strangely quiet. Except for a woodpecker I desperately followed with my binoculars, very few birds were making any sound. Then I heard a scritching noise, like nails on tree bark that raccoons make. 

When I looked up, I found this little guy.

He had found a nut.

and it was good.

at one point he answered a call to mama saying "I'm here" (or something along those lines; it was hard to tell what with his mouth full of walnut)

but mostly he just gnawed and sucked away and wasn't the least bit bothered by my presence

by this time, I had found the 'pets' setting on my camera and was able to really zoom in

aw, don't you love the bit of fur growing on his hand

and he can't wipe his mouth, or he'll drop his walnut

wild danger?

I get to see some wildlife while working very early in the morning, though mostly it is raccoons, rabbits, skunks and the odd possum and fox.  Now, it seems we have coyotes in the area.
The first time I saw one, I thought it was a dog and wondered where his owner was. He was walking along the circular driveway of an apartment building at 3am.  A couple of nights later, in the same area, I saw him again and realized my mistake. That was almost two years ago.  Now I see more of them than foxes, though it is still an infrequent sighting.  Every time the coyote was alone.




But, now it is spring, and that means babies, so off I went to find the family that have made a den in Paletta Park. Signs have been posted and a barricade put up, though it is mostly as a warning. I read an article in the newspaper (from Toronto) that said 

Burlington putting up barricades after coyote sightings

“For your own sense of safety, we urge residents to be aware and to follow the safety tips we suggest."

The 'barricades' seemed to me to be perfectly reasonable - no-one was stopped from using the trail, it was somewhere to put the sign and make you consider. The snarky comments were a bit much - did they even read beyond the headline? - I've not heard anyone complaining or whining, and they are in a ravined park afterall. Really, sometimes, I think should not read the comments section.

Anyway, I wandered in not at dawn or dusk and without a small dog or child, and saw a few other people, some like myself, hoping to catch a glimpse from afar.

I thought at one point, I saw something almost reddish and bigger than a rabbit running, but it was too quick to tell if it was one of the five pups.  This part of the trail is left in a natural state and there are lots of downed branches, some have been there for years, some are from the recent storm in December. As you can see, there is only a smidgen of green showing, even at this late date. 

but there was one sign of spring... very soon. 

Patience, people. Lots of patience.

signs,signs

May Day

Lily of the Valley is a favourite flower (still awaiting for them to bloom...!) and is often used for the May 1 holiday (in France, especially), but apparently the Russians like it, too.

the second card has a scene that could be from today which, I have just read in the news, is exactly what happened. for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1992, a parade was held in Red Square. Putin is trying to revive nostalgia for the former CCCP, though to many in Moscow, it was "just another spring day and a chance to celebrate" (according to a couple of people interviewed in the news source I read).

PostcardFriendshipFriday

jacket required

We had a lovely Easter weekend, and I thought I'd head out on Monday for a stroll and a visit to one of my favourite patios. 

unfortunately, it isn't in the town where I live, but no matter

except for special events, my town doesn't do banners, which is a shame as I think they liven up the streetscape.

there wasn't really much evidence of spring yet, either, 

though this planter at the cafe did a grand job

and the weather wasn't quite warm enough to sit without a second layer, but that didn't stop any of us. there isn't nearly enough outdoor seating and many people chose, or had no other choice, to sit inside. though, by the time I was ready to leave, so were a lot of other people. and then it clouded over and started to rain...

oh, I just realized that this is my 1000th post! 

it has taken me six years to get here.

signs,signs

spring has sprung

It is the first day of Spring, though it is hard to tell by going outside. The sun is shining but it is barely 1C. Much is being made of the memories of last year at this time when the temperature was 23C. One of 8 days when the temperature was over 20C. We have not had any days of 20+ temperatures in March this year.

But, I didn't care. I woke up this afternoon feeling 1,000 times better than I have for the past 12 days. The nasty flu is gone. The tendinitis is still there, but we can't have everything happening at once, can we?

And I actually felt like going out for a walk (rather than simply dragging my butt outside because I thought I should make the effort). AND I even felt like taking photos. I haven't done much photography for what seems like forever. Not sure why (the tendinitis made me a bit wary - I have dropped too many cameras in the past so know how clumsy I already am) but I just could't be bothered. Maybe it was too cold. Or too dreary. Any excuse would do. I crawled back into bed and wallowed in my laziness.

The fresh air was invigorating and I made my way to the marina to see how many swans were still hanging about. Many of them will have moved on to their northern habitat by now, but there were still quite a few in the bay. That was when I discovered the battery in my camera had died. I'm guessing from inactivity. Luckily I still had my point and shoot as a back up. I was hoping to get a shot of a bufflehead, or maybe a long tailed duck. Or a goldeneye.  Swans and mallards are lovely creatures, but, well they are around all the time and so get to be a little ...  dare I say it, boring. The migrating ducks are the exciting sightings. Buffleheads are adorable little things, but they are divers and their constant disappearing acts are frustrating when trying to photograph them.  

I did manage a goldeneye 

seen here with a swan for size comparison

and then I saw him

hiding amongst the mallards

my heart skipped a beat

I held my breath

while I quietly cursed my dead battery

a wood duck!!

surely the most colourful duck in the northern hemisphere

seriously,

I almost cried with delight I was so happy

my batteries have now been recharged

run of your life

Every year it takes me by surprise. Certain spring Saturday afternoons come along and suddenly an interest in horse racing takes hold and I want to watch those few minutes of a fast paced adrenaline rush.

I am in no way a horsey person. I don't dislike them. They are wonderful creatures, but I don't get all soft and dewy over a horse as I would over, say, a cat, or a duck, even. But, yesterday when I heard on the car radio the stunning news that I'll Have Another would not be racing in the Belmont Stakes and thus would not be a Triple Crown contender - possibly the first winner since Secretariat in 1973, an event I remember well for some reason considering I was only 15 - I had to pull over and catch my breath. I hope he has a good, long life out on the stud farm, but I was deeply saddened to hear that his injury would prevent him form running. Then again, I was also relieved that his owners made that decision not to risk his life.

When Barbaro broke his leg in 2006 at the Preakness, I followed his recovery process avidly, amazed that such a catastrophic injury would be treated and the lengths they went to help him. Sadly, it was all too much for Barbaro and he died of complications when his other feet developed laminitis due to his not being able to put his full weight on his unbroken legs. Still, for seven months there was hope.

I felt a sharp pain of regret in 2004 when Birdstone outran Smarty Jones and foiled another attempt at a Triple Crown. It was a surreal moment when a tearful owner of the winning horse apologized and said "I'm sorry, so sorry that Smarty Jones couldn't win".

Canada has it's own Triple Crown with the Queen's Plate, The Prince of Wales Stakes and the Breeder's Stakes. The last time a horse won the Triple Crown was in 2003. I had to look up his name (it was Wando). Okay, I admit I am one of those people who jump on the bandwagon at the last minute and get caught up in the rush.

What I know about horse racing, I learned from reading Dick Francis. I have been to a couple of races, though they were harness racing that was held at a racetrack a few blocks from where I lived. I have never been to see the Queen's Plate, which is being held next Saturday. Horse racing has been in a steady decline over the years and now the Ontario government is considering putting a stop to a profitable and beneficial revenue sharing program where slots machines and gaming facilities were put into racetracks to complement the gambling. Lots and lots of money from these OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming) machines has benefitted the government as well as the racetracks who received a portion of revenue. It sounds like a perfect mix. Now, the talk is of taking these slots out of the racetracks and building a new casino in a more densely populated urban area. Like the waterfront of Toronto. Seriously. Ruining a good waterfront location by building a massive windowless structure so people can sit inside with blinking lights. At least at Woodbine, there is the option of going outside and seeing some horses going through their paces. Or winning a race. A live win, not a fabricated one from a machine.

Still, I will watch the Belmont this afternoon and toast to I'll Have Another's health.

Sunday Stamps

It is time to celebrate Spring flowers - something we are doing with amazement here in southern Ontario! Apart from the forsythia, I have seen snowdrops, crocuses, tulips, daffodils, narcissus and even a hyacinth popping through the earth. At a garden centre yesterday, I overheard someone sounding annoyed that the outdoor bedding plants weren't out yet. I think she had a bit of heatstroke from that summer day on Thursday (when it got up to 28C or 82.4F) and forgot that it is still only March.

A couple of years ago Absynthe and I received this card from Vilnius Lithuania of an original watercolour by Postcrosser Lolita

I may have posted this one before, but it is cute enough for a repeat.  a Moomin from Finland picking wildflowers

a South African dandelion, which looks prettier than our variety (blooms August to September)

the well known Sakura of Japan

Lily of the Valley from Germany

a few flowers from Belarus - peony, tulip and rose

and a 

tulip and daisy from Germany

check out Viridian's Postcard blog for more visions of spring

sounds

I awakened to the sound of a lawnmower, one of those big riding ones. Interspersed was the lovely sweet sound of birds. Somewhere a cheery, brief conversation wafted up, only to be replaced by a bus rumbling past. Finally the riding mower stopped and for a few minutes there was only the birds singing. Until another mower, farther away, then the whine of a saw... I wondered at the loudness of it all before realizing that my windows were open. Wide open. And a warm breeze floated over me.


Spring has arrived at last. Oh, I know it has been here for awhile, but the feeling and sound of spring has been absent. As has the sight of spring. I was getting almost depressed at the postings of so many bloggers of their daffs and tulips... and now irises and roses when we had NOTHING. But, it seems as if suddenly this week it is all coming together. The flowers are blooming in the gardens, the trees are getting that bright lime green of new buds. The garden centres are opening. And the grass is green and long and needing mowing.


I am fortunate to live surrounded by many trees. They make a great noise barrier, far more than you might expect. So hurry up and fill out and block all this incessant mowing. Please.

forcing yellow

Did you know that if you cut the branches off a forsythia bush, and stick them in water, they will bloom earlier?

Now you do.

I needed a bit of sunshiny yellow.

They seem to be coming along nicely.

swans and spring

For a few harrowing days, it looked like the whole thing would be cancelled. Because the lake was still frozen. And indeed, by the time I left Stratford this afternoon, it was snowing. Again.

But, the swans were getting a bit antsy. They knew Spring was here and they were wanting to get out of their winter home and into the river to be free and frisky.

And no-one does swans quite like Stratford.

There are about 26 swans in Stratford, their numbers kept low so that they can be better managed. Swans are very territorial and the Avon River is not that big. In the winter, they are kept in a pen with a pond and fenced in outdoor area and a shed to stay warm. They also have a Twitter account for amusement.

But when it is time for them to be released into the water (or as we call it, "going outside" via Twitter), well, they are done so with a LOT of pomp and ceremony.

They are piped down to the river by the Stratford Police Pipe and Drum Corps.

Hundreds of people descend to the short (very short) parade route to witness the event. The walk is about 5 minutes around the corner and down the path to the launching point.

This guy was a little eager and perhaps thought they were in a race....

Then there is Nick who, as the local paper put it, "breached security" a couple of weeks ago, followed by his new paramour, Lacey. It is all the more poignant as Nick's partner, Angela, was brutally murdered by a drunk last year. She was basically defenceless as she was nesting and would not leave her eggs. (The attacker was found and charged) Nick mourned for months and spurned all offers of friendship. Until now.

Nick came by the launching area before the swans were paraded down, perhaps to greet his old buddies. Or to gloat....