Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Shelter/CDP Theme Day

Basic shell for a kid's playhouse - a crooked little house

October 1st is City Daily Photo Theme Day and the subject this month is Shelter.

This little red house sits outside an East Gwillimbury hardware store. Yep, it needs a door and some sort of window covering...or not. It would be up to the kid/kids/caregivers who owned it to decide on the details.

Looking in through the door

The walls are approximately 5' tall and the peak about 8' tall. Like most of you, I would have to scrunch down (or crawl) to enter through the doorway, but it would be perfect for little kids, the dog and the cat.

I am linking to City Daily Photo Theme Days  HERE

T/Alphabe-Thursday

 Clock tower - Peterborough, Ontario

T is for TOWER

Towers are fascinating and not just because Rapunzel was locked high up in one. I'm forever wondering what the owners do with the space inside the tower.

 Clock tower, Uxbridge, Ontario

I'm thinking most clock towers are filled with staircases to the top so someone can change the clock when Daylight Saving Time begins or ends.

 Tower on house, Alliston, Ontario

But what's inside THIS tower? Why does it have windows and curtains?

View of the house with tower

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Black-crowned Night Heron

 Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Although Black-crowned Night Herons are common across North America (and also many other places worldwide) I had never heard of them until I started birding a few years ago.

Standing  on a dead branch in a marsh

The require a habitat near water but are not fussy about what kind: fresh or salt water marshes, swamps, streams, brackish wetlands...

Hunting

Their diet is varied: earthworms, leeches, insects, fish, turtles, snakes, turtles, plants...whatever, including garbage in landfills.

Asleep

As their name night heron suggests, they are most active at night or dusk.

I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Monday, September 28, 2015

Back in Time

 Lawn ornament outside stable in Loretto, Ontario

There used to be a horse statue out in front of the horse-drawn carriage but the day I made these photos, it was gone.  Still I wanted to take photos of the carriage as I have never been so up close to one!

 A front view of the carriage

I cannot imagine riding in such a buggy - but it does sound kind of romantic...though bumpy.

 Cushy seat

A cushioned seat would help make the ride a bit more pleasant, methinks. In good weather on a smooth road the ride might be fun!

Convertible top

The top doesn't cover much so I wouldn't want to travel in this carriage on a rainy or snowy day!  I'm sure some spring and autumn days might be quite pleasant with the top down, though.

Please visit Through my Lens at Mersad Donko Photography.
More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Foggy Morning

 Dew still on grass

One of the joys of early fall is watching the light appear early in the morning over dew-covered fields.

 More dew on grass
 Light on part of  field

Lots of sunlight

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Fire Escape

 Shadows on the fire escape, post and on the wall

Another view

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.

Misty Morn

Enjoying a late September morning

The sun was just beginning to  burn off the mist on a warmish morning.

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Kayaking and Fishing

 Duffins Creek Marsh

Wednesday was a pretty day and a couple of kayakers decided to go fishing.

Another kayak

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Split Cedar Rail

 Country fence being reclaimed by Mother Nature

Weeds are dragging this split cedar rail fencing down.

Same fence, different view

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

September Wildflowers

 Fall aster

There are quite a few varieties of wild asters in Ontario and, truth be told I'm not sure which one this is.  Next time I take photos I MUST take good photos of the leaves and stems as well as the blossoms.

 Jewelweed or touch-me-not  (Impatiens capensis)

I love these blossoms because they attract hummingbirds, but others appreciate this plant because the juice in its stems is said to cure poison ivy.

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

This plant likes moist soil and some shade. I've tried to grow this showy wildflower in my gardens but alas my soil is too dry.

I am linking to Wildflower Wednesday HERE 

and because S is for SEPTEMBER

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 



Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Pied-billed Grebes

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) family in early August

I always feel privileged to find and photograph these grebes as they are quite shy and dive under water  when disturbed. This was the only decent photo I got. As soon as they saw me, they headed off, first sinking very low in the water so I could barely see them. Before they saw me they had been diving for small fish, insects and crustaceans. (I could just barely see them trough some shoreside shrubbery.)
I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE


Monday, September 21, 2015

South Simcoe Steam Train

Engine 136, the second oldest steam locomotive in Canada

My husband and I visited Tottenham yesterday to check out historical steam locomotive #136.  Since August 2011 during summer and early fall, #136 has hauled an excursion train along four miles of track between Tottenham and Beeton. But in 1883, #136 worked for Canadian Pacific Railway when CPR became a Canadian transcontinental reality.

Flagman at one of several road crossings

What fun to hear the old engine - running on coal - chugging along in the distance! The engine's horn gradually grew louder and a flagman appeared to stop cars and trucks from crossing the tracks.

Engine 136 crossing a road

South Simcoe Railway has run excursions since 1993. South Simcoe Railway is run by volunteers, all of whom have operational qualifications and must regularly re-qualify.

Locomotive engineer

South Simcoe Railway is the oldest operating heritage railway in Ontario.

At another railway crossing

We didn't ride the train yesterday but plan to do so soon!

Please visit Through my Lens at Mersad Donko Photography.
More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Mid September Nature Notes

 Butter 'n' Eggs

The growing season is definitely slowing down but there's still lots of colour. These photos were taken on a windy, overcast day.

 Fall aster


 Rowan berries

Staghorn sumac

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

Scavenger Hunt

 a. Bird

This red-breasted Nuthatch is a frequent visit to our peanut feeder.

 b. Beach

Taken in June, this photo is of a beach in New Hampshire.

 c. Bridge

I love the reflection of this bridge in Omemee, Ontario

 d. Bottom

Roots and soil at the bottom of a nearby forest walk.

e. Butterfly

A monarch is sipping a fall aster's nectar.

I am linking to Ashley Sisk's Scavenger Hunt HERE

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Kitchen Porch

Shadows of railing and geranium



I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.

Frequent Visitor

Looking dapper in his tuxedo

This kitty is a neighbour, shy but getting friendlier with time.

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Peterborough Storefront

On George Street

I have no idea why "sandwich" and "nougat" are on the window of a clothing store. At the time I was more interested in capturing the reflections of the buildings across the north-south street and as well as the east-west street.  (Yes, the building is on a corner.)

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Red Barn

 Barn  west of Peterborough

A pristine farm, really beautiful to see, I had to turn the car around to make these photos.

Longer view

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

R/Alphabe-Thursday

Original photo of McCormick-Deering tractor

R is for RUSTY.

It's no secret that I like rusty objects and this one was sitting out in a field, an ornament. How could anyone resist taking its photo?

Does anyone know what year this tractor was made?

 Cut-out version in PhotoShop

Poster edges version in PhotoShop

I am linking to NF Digital Art Meme  HERE.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.