Happy New Year

ALL the BEST in 2011!

Hockley/ Weekend Reflections

Creek near Hockley, Ontario

This photo was taken a few days before Christmas, a day when the sun was peeking through now and then. Since then we have NOT gotten any more snow so I doubt that the trees have lovely puffs on them as in this photo.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, click HERE.

Hwy 27/ Sky Watch

Highway 27 north of Nobleton

Ten days ago, the clouds parted for just a few minutes to let the sun shine through over these farmers' fields.

  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

Going Squirrelly/ Nature Notes

Cold and snowy

Hungry squirrels are hanging out under our bird feeders, tidying up after messy goldfinches, house finches and chickadees.

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

Icy Creek/ Watery Wednesday

Creek between Hockley and Orangeville, Ontario

It was the shortest day of the year, December 21st and the creek was icy but not frozen.

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

 

York Regional Forest

A road into one of several tracts of the York Regional Forest

The day after Christmas is Boxing Day in Ontario, unless Christmas was on a Saturday. THEN, Boxing Day is on Monday! It's a holiday. Some people shop till they drop at after-Christmas sales. Others watch sports on TV. For sure the mall parking lots will be crowded!

No one seems to know why the day is called Boxing Day. The name may refer to the tradition way back in time of wealthy people boxing up gifts for their servants.

Me in My World? I would prefer to be in the forest than either at the mall or in front of my TV. But I might be blogging. :)

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

Merry Christmas

Sunset over East Gwillimbury Farm

And now a few words in song from Stompin' Tom Connors, a well-known (in Canada) folk singer:

Hope you're having a GREAT weekend!

Snow in creek/ Weekend Reflections

Reflection of tree branches with puffs of snow on it

To enjoy reflections from around the world, click HERE.

Horse Farm/ Sky Watch

Fields and fences under a subtle pastel sky

We'll definitely have a white Christmas this year!

Merry Christmas!

  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

Lunar Eclipse/ Nature Notes

Lunar Eclipse, December 21, 2010

We've had cloud cover for weeks with a few minutes of sun now and then. Monday night when I went to bed at 10pm, there were clouds overhead. I figured that no one in East Gwillimbury would see the lunar eclipse of a lifetime, the one that hasn't happened in nearly 400 years, the eclipse that coincided with the winter solstice.

But my husband is a night owl. He had gotten up to check the eclipse...and guess what! Although there were clouds still in the sky, there were also significant breaks.

After taking many shaky hand-held shots, my husband gave me a lesson in how to use my tripod. And this is what I got! By this time the eclipse was beginning to end. The sun's light was being reflected by the moon at the top where you see the brightest light.

And for those of you who are wondering just how shaky I was without using my tripod:

SHAKY!

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

Stoney Lake/ Watery Wednesday

Stoney Lake, Ontario - ten days ago

Stoney Lake near Peterborough, Ontario is aptly named as there are many rocky islands and shoals.

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

 

French Castle, Part 2/ My World

Overhanging dormers, top floor of French Castle, Old Fort Niagara, New York

This is more about the French Castle, which I posted about last week HERE.

French Castle

Reminder: The castle faces (on the opposite side of the building) the Niagara River and Canada. From 1726 to 1759, France controlled the Niagara River and therefore the major water route into the Great Lakes and the interior of North America.

Top floor window from the inside

The hole is for fitting muskets or swivel guns through.

Guard room, second floor

Beds on the left (which you cannot see) and benches here where approximately 20 soldiers ate and mingled.

Officers' Mess, second floor

There's room here for between three and five French army officers to eat and socialize.

Chapel

A chapel was an important feature in all 18th century French garrisons.

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

Frost on Metal/ Macro Monday

Frost on rusty nut, bolt and washer

I will be forever fascinated by frost!

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

Farmer's Field/ Scenic Sunday

Somewhere between East Gwillimbury and Port Perry in Ontario

It's a mystery to me exactly where I took this photo.  But for sure we were traveling some back roads east of East Gwillimbury.

To see more scenic photos visit Scenic Sunday

Snowman/ SOOC

Snowman in shop window

The sign says:

All are welcome
Friendly and flakey

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

Colour Purple/ Camera Critters

Posing (and maybe hoping for an apple or carrot)

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

Old Glass/ Weekend Reflections

Reflection in old church windows

Not quite as nice as stained glass...but almost.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, click HERE.

Greenbank/ Sky Watch

Pointing the lens under a pine tree

Confession: another photo taken a while ago when the skies were less overcast.

  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

L/ Alphabe-Thursday

Christmas LIGHTS, Port Perry, Ontario

Now when Ontario has so little warmth and daylight, Christmas lights are a  cheery way to end each day. Many people here will continue to turn on their lights throughout most of January.

Festive street with shops in Port Perry

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Mostly Cloudy/ Nature Notes

Some snow, some rain, some just plain overcast

Time to start popping vitamin D tablets here as we sure are NOT getting any vitamin D from the sun!

Environment Canada view of what the weather looked like over Ontario on Sunday

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

Seagulls and Reflections/ Watery Wednesday

The boats are gone till next spring but the gulls remain

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

 

French Castle, part 1/ My World

The French Castle, Fort Niagara, New York

This building - the oldest in North America between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River - has guarded the entrance to the Niagara River (between Lakes Erie and Ontario) for more than 280 years. It was built by the French in 1726-27 to withstand Iroquois and British attacks. But it was more than a fort, it was also a trading post.

Canada is on the other side of the river.

Blue (and striped blue/pink) shows territory once held by France in North America

Even though I "learned" it in school, I have recently come to realize how much of North America France had claimed before 1763. NONE of Canada was held by the British before 1713.

On the ground floor, part of the stone arch that strengthens the building and helps support the stone floors above

Here you can see stairs that lead to the second floor. Climb the stairs to find...

Stone walls and floor on first floor (which I would call the second floor)

a storage chest, a table and two chairs in front of a window and...

Officer's quarter

various rooms, including this officer's quarter. The room was chilly in November when we were there, and I could only shiver as I imagined what it would be like to sleep in this room in January and February. AH! The good old days, eh?

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