Stained Glass

Shadows on stained glass

Hmmm. I concentrated too much on the shadows and didn't get very much of the red leaves that were casting the shadow!

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.

Green Thumb's Scavenger Hunt

 a. Question (What do YOU want?)

I do LOVE the challenge of a photo hunt and recently I discovered a once-a-month hunt hosted by Greenthumb HERE

b. Cream (coloured - trim and bricks)

c. Number (136)

d. Lattice (top of fence)

e. Familiar (the world over, I believe)

F. Ring

G. Today (HAPPY HALLOWEEN!)

H. Down

I. Writing (well, sort of)

J. Many

K. Broken

L. Whatever you want

Besides Greenthumb's Scavenger Hunt  HERE,

I am also linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Great Lakes Work Boat

Reflection of work boat in the harbour at Parry Sound

Exactly what a work boat does I am not sure. What it does NOT do is carry cargo, apparently.  This boat is owned by Trimac, a shipping company that operates on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

The light and wind were perfect for capturing colourful, wonky reflections.

A longer view

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

Yellow/Orange Entrance

Entrance to a handsome local farm

Another view of the entrance

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

X/Alphabe-Thursday

 X-tremely frail truck

X is for X-tremely

X-tremely rusty, run down, decrepit...whatever!

Cracked windshield

A peak inside 

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Parry Sound Colour

 Parry Sound on Georgian Bay last Sunday

Canadian Pacific Rail  engines crossing the trestle bridge

Juvenile Bald Eagle

High up on a dead tree branch

Although Bald Eagles are common in some parts of North America, they aren't here. So when a birding friend showed us fabulous photos he had taken on a Lake Ontario beach, my husband and I were eager to see if we could find the eagle too. Well, I did find the juvenile but it was perched high above my head and it was a very windy day. I had trouble holding my camera steady. I'm thinking I will try again on a calmer day...with my tripod!

This bird is quite young. It's bill is still black and it's head feathers have not yet turned white.

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

Parry Sound Train Station

 Parry Sound station still in use as a station and as an art gallery

Yesterday my husband and I were in Parry Sound and stopped by to check out the art gallery inside the train station...but it was closed.

 Seating between the station and the fence and tracks

Have a seat but...

be sure to  read the sign!

 Looking southerly along the tracks

No trains coming...but wait!

Canadian National heading northerly

That was close!

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

Green Barn and Trees

 An East Gwillimbury Farm

This barn is always attractive and especially so when the trees are orange and yellow.

Sadly, the leaves are falling

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

Shadows on Pumpkins

 Medium-sized pumpkin hanging from apple tree

A local farm and orchard has decorated apple trees with pumpkins and other gourds for the second year in a row (maybe more years than that, but I know for sure they did it last year too).

 White pumpkin and shadow

Last time I was there the sun was shining creating lovely shadows.

Another pretty shadow

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.

Egrets Still Here

 Egret and reflection

I'm always surprised to see egrets here in October because I think of them as being "exotic" visitors to Ontario.  After all, we have had a hard frost and there was a thin layer of ice on this water a few hours before I took this photo. They are hardier than they look!

Patiently fishing

Apparently they will stay in our marshes until they completely freeze over, or as long as they can find aquatic treats.
I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

Cranberries

 Harvested cranberries and tree reflections

Ten days ago my husband and I visited a Muskoka cranberry marsh. The weather and foliage were beautiful and bonus - the cranberries were being harvested.  In the photo above you can see cranberries ready to be cleaned, dried and sorted.

Sightseeing "train" and reflection

Busloads of tourists visit this marsh every October and part of the package includes a ride on this "train" to see the bogs up close and hear about the growing and processing of cranberries.

FYI: My husband and I are cheap frugal. We drove ourselves to the marsh, walked around the bogs and asked questions of the enthusiastic and knowledgeable workers in the marsh's store and various food kiosks.

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

Country Fence

Apples and fencing at corner of yard

 Out on a country road, many apples had fallen on the road side of the fence. I bet they would make tasty applesauce!

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

W/Alphabe-Thursday

 Wood carving outside Orillia Opera House, Orillia, Ontario

W is for WOOD.

Two stumps were carved into art by area sculptors Jimi McKee and Wayne Hill in 2008. As you can see, the carvings reflect the theatrical heritage of the opera house. To keep the wood from rotting, Mckee regularly applies preservative and hardener.

Another carved birch stump

The stumps were once dying weeping birch trees approximately 115 years old. Apparently there are three stumps but I missed one. YAY, another reason to revisit Orillia!

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Rusty Blackbirds

 Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)

Rusty blackbirds are headed south  for the southeastern U.S. but along the way a few stopped into one of my favourite  birding spots to refuel. It's a treat to see them as they have been suffering from a population decline. Now they are dressed in their winter plumage and - truth be told - I don't believe I would recognize them in their breeding finery,  Maybe I would notice their lovely yellow eyes, though.

Fall finery

A large percentage of them (some say 75%) spend summer in Canada's boreal forests. They are considered a keystone species because they build sturdy nests anew each year, so sturdy that other birds such as the Solitary Sandpiper have been known to use their abandoned nests the next year.
I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Vivian's Playhouse

 Cute Playhouse, right?

OOPS! Not really wordless: I don't know Vivian but this playhouse is in her front yard.

Cobwebs in window

I'm guessing: Vivian doesn't like  to dust (I hear you, Vivian), she isn't afraid of spiders (she is very brave!), or she hasn't played in this house for a long while.

I am linking with Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) HERE

Serendipity Princess

 Paddle wheeler on Georgian Bay (Lake Huron)

The day I made this photo, Serendipity Princess was docked in Midland and ...

 The paddle wheel up out of the water

judging by the mop hanging over the railing someone must have been cleaning it so it would be ship-shape for it's next tour - a 90-minute narrated cruise around historical Penetanguishene.  Note there are three decks, which includes a patio on the upper level.

Closer look at the paddle wheel

Apparently there's room on this paddle wheeler for 265 passengers!

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

More October Colour

 Looking across a sod field

Ontario sure is beautiful when the sun shines!

 Trees and mossy rock

 Cow out enjoying a great day

A fallen maple leaf

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

And please visit Through my Lens at Mersad Donko Photography.