Lake Ontario/ Watery Wednesday

Lake Ontario last Saturday

Winds were churning the lake making waves and murky water, and the light was eerie, all of which created a scene I couldn't resist taking a photo of.

You can find more photos celebrating Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

 

Erie Canal/ My World

Erie Canal, Bushnell's Basin, New York - looking westerly

Last Friday was a blustery, overcast day in Upstate New York where my husband and I visited relatives for the U.S. Thanksgiving. Out sightseeing (in spite of the weather) we crossed the Erie Canal.

Remember this song?

Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge cause we're coming to a town
And you'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If you've ever navigated on the Erie Canal

If you want to hear the tune, you can click HERE.

1905 map of the Erie Canal

The canal was completed in 1825, linking Buffalo to Albany and then on to New York City via the Hudson River.

Erie Canal, Bushnell's Basin, New York - looking easterly

The canal was built in sections and for a while Bushnell's Basin was a terminus for all canal traffic going either east or west, which meant warehouse workers, boat handlers, tavern keepers, and wagon drivers were kept busy here for years. Superhighways built in the 1960s have made the canal commercially unimportant.

Visit My World Tuesday  HERE to see tons of photos from around the world.

Mushrooms/ Macro Monday

Unknown mushroom(s)

I have no idea what kind of mushroom this is but it was growing underneath a pine tree last Friday. I think it's actually several mushrooms. I took the photo because I liked the quirky shapes.

  To see more macro shots visit Lisa's Chaos at http://lisaschaos.com

Echevaria/ Today's Flowers

Echevaria Setosa

This Mexican Firecracker Plant (Echevaria setosa) is mine for the winter. I'm babysitting it because I have a sun room and the real owner does not. I feel lucky because it's flowering NOW so I am enjoying its beauty.

The arching branch on which the blossoms flower

Echevaria are succulents so require very little water in winter especially in my sun room where the temperature may go slightly below 7°C (45°F) in the depth of winter as the room is unheated. I may have to rescue it in January and February when it gets really cold outdoors.

If you love flowers -- and who doesn't - check out Today's Flowers at http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Santa in NY/ SOOC

Santa being protected by two soldiers

Santa can never be too careful it appears. Here he is flanked by two well-dressed soldiers last Thursday on the southern shore of Lake Ontario in New York State. (My husband and I were visiting with U.S. family for a few days.) I think Santa was there for turkey as it was U.S. Thanksgiving. He does look a tad slim there so I imagine he also was hungry for all the fixings as well!

  To see more photos Straight Out Of the Camera (SOOC) visit Jan at http://www.murrieta365.com

Russell/ Camera Critters

Russel, Heinz 57 variety

What's not to love about Russell?  Doesn't he have a sweet face? And he's well-behaved too!

I met him out walking in the forest with his dog-walker and two other dogs. Russell hardly stood still a minute. There was so much to see and so much to sniff.

 Russell sniffing

  To join in the Camera Critter fun, visit Misty Dawn's site at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com

Fairy Lake/ Weekend Reflections

Bridge at the north end of Fairy Lake, Newmarket, Ontario

It was a brisk but partly sunny Saturday so pedestrians were out and about.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, click HERE.

Sunset/ Sky Watch

Sunset as the last leaves fall off tree limbs

This shot was taken looking over rolling hills north of Mount Albert (part of East Gwillimbury).

I hope everyone in the U.S. is enjoying a special day with friends and family!

  To see tons of gorgeous skies from around the world, visit the Sky Watch Website and click on the thumbnail photos: http://skyley.blogspot.com

Thanksgiving/ Nature Notes

November can be beautiful too!

When I think of November I usually think of dreary skies and landscapes with brown and more brown. BUT this year has proved me wrong. Yes, there IS a lot of brown. But wait! Not all browns are created equal! The browns have ranged from off-white to rich chocolate and even some gold. Plus, evergreens, ferns and some grasses are still offering various shades of green.

Moreover, the skies have not been nearly as dull as I had imagined...not ALL of them anyway. 

It's NOT Thanksgiving here in Canada (We celebrated in October), but I want to wish bloggers across the U.S. a very happy day with friends and relatives.

For more Nature Notes,  please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods by clicking  HERE.

Icicles/ Watery Wednesday

Icicles hanging onto some grass above a narrow creek in Mount Albert (East Gwillimbury)

This creek is moving a tad too fast for ice to form in it, but icicles have formed on the grass hanging over the creek.

You can find more photos celebrating Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

 

Elora Mill/ My World

Elora Mill Inn, Elora Ontario

Towering five storeys above the Grand River in Elora, Ontario stands the Elora Mill Inn, built circa 1840.  Until 1972, it operated as a grist mill but it is now an elegant country inn and restaurant. Many of its 32 guest rooms are furnished with antiques or period reproductions, and some offer fireplaces as well.

The inn is situated on the Grand River beside a ramp waterfall along the beautiful Elora Gorge.  (A ramp waterfall is where water slips over a steep rock face without losing contact with the rock surface.)

Looking at the inn from the other side of the gorge

A few rooms face the river where guests can view the falls and gorge. A fireside dining room overlooks the falls, which the mill still uses to generate its own electricity.

Canada geese enjoying a brisk swim above the ramp waterfall

No, I have never stayed there. But I did enjoy hiking along the paths on the opposite side of the river.

Visit My World Tuesday  HERE to see tons of photos from around the world.

Rusty Machinery/ Macro Monday

Close up of old rusty farm machinery

Old farm machinery is a common site along country roads in East Gwillimbury. This was found next to the driveway into an old but still active farm.

  To see more macro shots visit Lisa's Chaos at http://lisaschaos.com

Smoke Bush/ Today's Flowers

Hoar frost on purple smoke bush (Cotinus Coggygria)

This purple-green smoke bush is actually a lower branch on a seedling a friend gave me a few years ago. It has grown fast! Earlier this year it had purple-pink plumes that look sort of like smoke, hence the bush's name.  Unfortunately, I did not think to take photos of them at the time so hopefully I will remember next year!

Beads  of water on purple smoke bush

I love the way water beats up on the leaves.

If you love flowers -- and who doesn't - check out Today's Flowers at http://flowersfromtoday.blogspot.com/

Fields and Sky/ SOOC

Behind the East Gwillimbury Civic Centre

More fields slated to be built on very soon

  To see more photos Straight Out Of the Camera (SOOC) visit Jan at http://www.murrieta365.com

Hee Haw/ Camera Critters

Donkey in farmer's field at end of day

Donkey and wagon

  To join in the Camera Critter fun, visit Misty Dawn's site at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com

Private Pond #2/ Weekend Reflections

Pond on back road, Uxbridge

The snow on the trees, grass and cattails around this pond means there will soon be ice.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, click HERE.

Silos at Sunset/ Sky Watch

Glow in the west

The cattle had headed back to the barn to the left of these silos.. I can't remember,  but I suspect they just missed all this beauty.


  To see tons of gorgeous skies from around the world, visit the Sky Watch Website and click on the thumbnail photos: http://skyley.blogspot.com

I/ Alphabe-Thursday

Icicles over old bricks painted blue

Icicles from the past - last February, actually - spikes of ice that froze as water dripped off the roof. I'm guessing this house doesn't have enough of another I-word: insulation.

Icicles over newer bricks

OOPS! It looks like even this newer house could use a bit more insulation.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Mid November/ Nature Notes

 Browns, greens and off-whites

Here in Ontario, our plants don't have much colour now. But wait! Brown is a colour too! And mosses and some ferns are green.

The good news is our skies have been more cheerful than usual - more blue skies than I remember in past Novembers, which are often grey and dreary. No wonder some Ontario homeowners put up Christmas decorations so early. Their holiday lights will glow every evening from now through January when our nights seem so long.

For me, the best seasonal lights are the beautiful sunsets and sunrises we often enjoy in late fall and winter. My fingers are crossed that there will be plenty of these!


For more Nature Notes,  please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods by clicking  HERE.

Nonquon/ Watery Wednesday

Reflection of cattails, Nonquon Provincial Wildlife Area, Ontario

You can find more photos celebrating Watery Wednesday at http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com

 

Strand Theatre/ My World

Above the Strand Theatre, Beaverton, Ontario (in sepia)

Opened in 1940,  the Strand is the oldest surviving movie theatre in Canada.  In the theatre's lobby is a 1897 Edison Projecting Kinetoscope thought to have shown the first motion pictures in Canada. In those early days, movies were cranked by hand and shown in halls or in private homes.

Today the Strand shows oldies as well as modern films.

Visit My World Tuesday  HERE to see tons of photos from around the world.

Ice Crystals/ Macro Monday

Frost crystals on the edge of dried fern

Last Wednesday morning we awoke to find a heavy frost on everything outdoors. Of course my camera begged to see what it could see, and THIS is what it saw.  

  To see more macro shots visit Lisa's Chaos at http://lisaschaos.com