Upside-down/CDP Theme Day

Hands down, these two are fun to be around!

It's July's City Daily Photo Theme Day and lucky me, I had family members who "volunteered" to help me out. (Shhhh. Don't tell them I actually posted this on my blog. PLEASE!)

I am linking to City Daily Photo Theme Days  HERE

Barn Swallows

 Barn Swallow atop dead tree (Hirundo rustica)

Although Barn Swallows are the most abundant swallow worldwide they have been designated Threatened in Ontario.  Their numbers declined by 30% between 1999 and 2009.

 On wire fence

Scientists are studying the reasons looking at breeding grounds, wintering grounds and migration routes and focussing in on
- loss of flying insects which makes up the bulk of their diet
- changes in modern agriculture that have created loss of breeding habitat
- Competition from other birds such as house sparrows for nesting places
- insect pests such as blowflies and mites

Two on wire fence

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

Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion

 Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

My daughter and I  were driving along New Hampshire's Atlantic coast when we happened upon this stately home, now a part of a state park.  This mansion has 40 rooms and sits next to Little Harbour  just outside the town Portsmouth and across the river from Kittery, Maine.

 Closer view looking easterly

This is the clapboard home of the first royal governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth (1741 to 1767). It was a working farm, but Wentworth made most of his money exporting timber,  dried fish and other products to England and importing rum, olives and other European products.

The home is said to be an outstanding example of how colonial aristocracy lived  in Portsmouth during the 18th century.  Well, I cannot comment on that because, truth be told, I was more interested in the  ocean views. But hey! Next time I visit the area I may check out the mansion's interior.

View looking northeasterly

Both elegant and awkward, the building is made up of several pre-existing ones, the result creating three wings: one each for family, servants and entertainment.  Each wing had it's own entrance and staircase so it's not hard to imagine that this mansion may have been the site of 18th-century international intrigue. Or not.

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

Late June Blooms

 Cactus blossom

Every year I'm pleasantly surprised when these blossoms open. But why? They've done it every year for at least eight or ten - ever since a friend gave me a cutting. This cactus is a native of the Canadian Prairies. - a climate that is often colder than Ontario where I live.

 Perennial foxglove

Another much-appreciated garden bloomer!

 An annual fringed poppy

Although this is an annual it comes back every year. It seeds prolifically, which is GREAT since I love them.

Annual poppy with petals fallen off

 Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

Fancy Details

 Shadow of fancy details

I find it interesting that new homes in my area (maybe in yours too) have added details that look kinda Victorian...but not really.

A vertical view

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.

Emily

Sweet little Emily

Emily looks more like a kitten than an adult cat, even though she's 11-years old. Apparently her MEOW makes up for her tiny size...although I never heard it.  She knows how to get what she wants, I was told. Emily is a princess. Isn't she cute?

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Low Tide

 Pier on New Hampshire coast

Low tide on the Atlantic Ocean. I'm used to the Great Lakes, which have no tides and so no lovely low-tide reflections. I was pleased to see these.

A longer view

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

Beach Fencing

 Fencing on foggy day, Plum Island, Massachusetts

I was visiting the New England coast last weekend and my biggest request was to see the ocean. I LOVED that salty sea air!. So refreshing!

Slightly different view

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

Old New Hampshire Home

 Home of only Quaker in Puritan town (1600s), Portsmouth, New Hampshire - looking southerly

As Jack of Hartford/Naples would say, this photo is "out of jurisdiction."  I was lucky enough to spend last weekend in New Hampshire, made even better by my own personal tour guide (my daughter).  We did a quick look around Portsmouth on part of New Hampshire's 18-mile coastline on the Atlantic ocean. True that's not a LOT of coastline but it sure was picturesque!

 Front door

When this house was built (1642) most of the people here were of the religious group called Puritans.  But the owner of this house was Quaker George Walton - innkeeper, planter and tailor. The "exciting" part of his life was a land dispute in 1682, which he won. The loser was heard to say Walton would never enjoy the land...and sure enough, George Walton was cursed with a "shower of stones." Was the loser a witch? Who knows for sure whether there was a real connection or not...but the shower of stones DID happen.  (Apparently Walton was unpopular with the locals for other reasons besides the land dispute.)

George Walton House, looking northerly

I am linking to Black and White Wednesday HERE

Swans and Geese

 Reflections of Trumpeter Swans and Canada goose

Lots of water fowl like to hang around with Canada Geese! Maybe they feel safe since some (most?) geese are extremely noisy if they see anything that could mean danger.

Trumpeter Swan and three Canada Geese

Shattered Glass

 OOPS! #1 

It's hard to get good help these days, just ask my husband.  My allowance has been downgraded to 50 cents a week.

OOPS! #2

Yep, it was me. I was mowing the lawn when a pebble flew into a sunroom window. Hmmmm.

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

Pollen Gathering

 Beautiful day for working in the garden

The aroma has been fabulous. I love Rugosa roses....Mmmmm. And so do the local bees, only they are there for the pollen.

Can never get too much!

 Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES. 

Beaver

Beaver swimming towards me

This guy/gal seemed fearless until all of a sudden it realized I was there. It slapped it's tail making a loud noise and big splash, then dove under to get away.

Another beaver just out of the water

I've always thought beavers were nocturnal but these guys were out in broad daylight.

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Spatterdock

 In shallow marsh water

Spatterdock is a native pond lily now in flower and is fairly common here in central Ontario where water moves slowly, as in this marsh.

AKA Cow Lily

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

Corral Fence

A Wilson's Snipe on cedar rail fencing

There was a fence between me and the corral so I was not able to get in any closer to the Wilson's Snipe or to the lichen on the fence. Sometimes I wish I were invisible so I could sneak in.

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

Abandoned Barn 2

 Easterly end of abandoned barn in colour

This is the other end of the log barn I posted on Monday HERE   It was a very bright day when I took this photo and - looking in this direction - the weathered wood looks a bit "washed out." We were just traveling through so I didn't want to wait for less harsh light. When I darkened it a bit, the wood took on a bluish cast, which wasn't at all what I had seen with my naked eye...

  Easterly end of abandoned barn in black and white

so I decided to see what this end of the barn looked like in B&W.

Westerly end of the log barn

And this is what the other end of the barn looked like in B&W. The colour version is HERE .

I am linking to Black and White Wednesday HERE

Osprey Offering

 Osprey returning to nest with a stick

I have read that male osprey convince females that they'll be good providers by bringing home sticks to the proposed nest.

 She's waiting

Will she be impressed?

 Looking at the offering

Adoring eyes

What do you think? Will they have a family together?

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

Abandoned barn

 Log barn

In our travels around central Ontario,  my husband and I have discovered many treasures that may soon disappear. One of those is this old log barn, now abandoned.

 Long shot of barn

Although the barn is not in use, the land around it it still is. I walked up a bumpy dirt road to take these photos but clearly the road had recently been used by farm vehicles.

 Open door

I was curious. Would you be?  Yes, it was naughty but I confess I did venture through that open door.

 From inside

It was dark but not as much as I had predicted as...

Through the roof

lots of light was coming from above.

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

Blooming in Mid June

 Wild columbine

June beautiful June.

 Siberian iris

Lupins

 Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

Driftwood

 Shadows on sand #1

Ah! A bright sunny day on a beach!

Shadows on sand #2

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.

Painted Turtle

 Painted turtle crossing a dirt road

During May and June,  many female turtles in Ontario cross roads to lay their eggs. This one was slowly walking over a dirt road from a watery marsh to reach a grassy ditch and farmer's field on the opposite side.

Head pulled in

Luckily we stopped before we hit her! I picked her up and took her the other side. I hope she made it back after she finished her task.

 Turtle cage

"Smarter" turtles lay their eggs on a path closer to the water. Sounds dangerous, but a park worker after seeing evidence of digging and burying, places cages over the area and then ties a colourful ribbon and marker on the cage and places a colourful plastic flag nearby.  I hope these cages keep marauding raccoons out!

Partially crushed

OOPS!  You'd think pedestrians would see the cages or at least the markers, wouldn't you? (Especially since there's a sign at the beginning of the trail asking everyone to be careful of the cages.)

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.