Revolution/CDP Theme Day

Penny-farthing Bike

May 1st is City Daily Photo Theme Day. This month's theme is REVOLUTION.

The 19th-century Penny-farthing's big front wheel made it possible to move forward faster with one revolution than the boneshaker, the earlier bicycle version. We've come a long way since then - today's bicycle gears are a BIG improvement over that huge front wheel.

I have no idea how you get up on one of these! Doesn't it look dangerous? 

I am linking to City Daily Photo Theme Days  HERE

White Crocus

YAY! The white crocuses are blooming!

Pasture Fencing

Fence and reflection, Kirkfield

I sure hope this photo looks better on your computer than it does on mine! Yep, still limping along on my ancient Mac Mini! Still don't know when I'll get my "real" computer back.

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

Pulmonaria

Pulmonaria (Bethlehem sage)

Although this is a photo from four years ago, Pulmonaria is in bloom in my garden at the moment. The blossoms are tiny so barely noticeable...especially since the garden still needs a major cleanup. (I have more than one garden and another one needs refurbishing even more , so that's the one I'm currently working in.)

I like the way the blossoms open pink and turn blue as they age.

Old Red Barn

Weathered but still in use

Another photo from my archives, this one four years old. Yep, my computer is STILL being fixed (at least I hope it's being fixed).  I'm anxiously waiting for the good news that it's ready!!

Kirkfield Lock

Kirkfield Lift Lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway

The waterway will open on May 15th so, as you can see, we beat the crowds. Truth be told, we drove to the lock in a car so didn't need to use the lock to be lifted (or lowered) to the other side of the waterway.

The Kirkfield Lock is  is one of two lift locks in Ontario and fun to watch when it's it in operation. Last Saturday I was happy to enjoy the reflections in the water and the blue sky above.

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Kirkfield Waters

 Canal Lake

Yesterday my husband and I were in Kirkfield, a lovely watery place northeast of East Gwillimbury. The water was high but not overflowing.

Creek on the east side of the village

We went to see migrating birds but we saw only a few. I guess most are still south of here but on their way. There was still lots of beautiful nature to enjoy though!

Swamp on the east side of the village

 Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES. 

Spring Stripes

 Outside my potting shed #1

  Outside my potting shed #2

 Outside my potting shed #3

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.

Chipmunk

Chipmunk

I love these guys! They are such fun to watch and photograph.

From my archives. My computer is still being repaired. I wish I'd known my computer might have a defective video card, which apparently is the problem. EW!!
 I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Face In Window

Face in old window glass

Trust me, the person that's being reflected is much better looking than his reflection.

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

Farm Fence

Fence across soggy field

Still too early to plough and plant here!

Added this morning: Sadly, we DID wake up to snow this morning. NOT a lot, but I did take photos of the dusting. I'll try to post one or two later today on my ancient computer as my newer computer took sick yesterday. EW!  I hope the "cure" won't take long and be expensive!

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

W/Alphabe-Thursday

 Windmill at a local farm

W is for WINDMILL

This is actually a windpump, a type of windmill used for pumping water as the blades spin in the wind.

In one hour, a 4.8-metre diametre windpump is capable of pumping more than 6050 litres of water from a depth of approximately 30 metres when the wind is blowing between 25 and 30 kilometres per hour.

Did you get that? Well the important to thing to know is they can pump a lot of water!

 Cropped

 Inverted

Angled strokes

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

I am linking to NF Digital Art Meme  HERE.

I am joining Geometric Friday HERE.

Long-tailed Duck

 Long-tailed Duck (Clanguala hyemalis)

Usually these ducks return to the Arctic rather early in spring, but a few Long-tails are still in the vicinity, not yet ready to return to the Arctic. Last week, I spotted a few in two different harbours on Lake Ontario and could hear many gregarious males "talking" far out in the lake. It's a melodious sound that I enjoy hearing.

Foraging for mollusks, crustaceans and small fish

Over the past 20 years,  these sea ducks have become increasingly more abundant in Lake Ontario during winter perhaps due to climate change.

Heading out into the lake

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

Swimming in Icy Water

 Police officer putting on his drysuit

Are you curious? I was.

 Pylons and police ribbon in water

Seems there had been a training mission here earlier and some equipment had been left behind. Notice there's still some ice on the lake!

 Taking out a pylon

The icy water didn't appear to bother him.

 Gathering up the police ribbon too

All cleaned up!

Back in for a refreshing dip and the backstroke

FYI: This officer and his partner (who did not suit up so stayed on dry land) were super nice guys to let me take these photos.

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Spring Has Sprung

 Coltsfoot

I keep thinking "Spring has sprung" but I've been wondering where all the flowers are. Finally last week I spotted some cheerful coltsfoot blossoms!

 Pussy willows

 I cannot believe I nearly missed the pussy willows in my area.

 Mink 

This is the second mink I've photographed this year. Although there's still ice around some of these rocks,  the mink have spring fever and are out & about.

Tree Sparrow

As of last week, the tree sparrows were still here. Soon they will fly to the Arctic to breed.

 Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES. 

Stairway Shadows

 Starway shadow, Petrocor Petroleum Corporation, now abandoned

The area is fenced off and I took these photos through holes in the fence.

A longer view

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.

Bufflehead Kerfluffle

 Bufflehead males last Wednesday

Most of the year buffleheads seem pretty laid back...but not now. It's mating season!

Get outta here!

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Jackson's Point

Jackson's Point, Lake Simcoe

Spring has arrived at Lake Simcoe but...

Boathouse, Jackson's Point

there's still some ice.

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

Lake Simcoe - Private

 Stairway down to the Lake's edge

Some of the land on the at the edge of Lake Simcoe is quite a bit higher than the lake. This photo was taken on Tuesday the 14th. Yes, there's still ice on the lake.

Private, so I did not walk down

FYI: The owner's house is on the other side of the road.

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

V/Alphabe-Thursday

 Wooden carving, Palmerston

V is for VERTICAL

I believe the carving is of a train conductor.  His left hand is on his watch as if it's almost time for the train to leave the station.  (Doesn't he look cold?) He's standing close to an old locomotive on display in a town park.

 Country mailboxes

The "bird" is standing vertically waiting for the mail to arrive.

Vertical Toronto as seen from a city park

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Snow Geese

 Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens)

This is the closest I've ever gotten to Snow Geese...and I used a long lens and cropped heavily...so I wasn't all that close.

A dull day with a few rays of sun shining through

There were only two in this pond with many, many Canada Geese. Here in a pond just north of Toronto if someone is lucky enough to see a Snow Goose, it's usually flying with a gaggle of travelling Canada Geese, which tend to be very alert and noisy if they see a human.

I wonder what they're looking at

I guess I was there long enough for the geese to forget about me. I was excited when I spotted the Snow Geese heading across the pond to a sand spit on my side. But they chose to stay at the far end of the spit, still quite far from me for great photos.

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

Mid-April

 Lake Ontario at Duffins Marsh #1

Yep, some of us are wearing light jackets and

 Lake Ontario at Duffins Marsh #2

 some of us are wearing heavy ones.

 Song sparrow in grapevine

Some of us are singing our hearts out

Red squirrel

and some of us are looking for some fun!

 Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

Light Standard

 Shadow, Rotary Park in Ajax

Rotary Park on the shore of Lake Ontario is a great place for cycling, hiking, enjoying nature and fresh air. And the day we were there was a bright sunny day.

The light standard that cast the shadow

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.