G/ABC

Frost on sunroom window (February 2016(

G is for GLITZ, nature's glitz.

Nature puts on a show all year long, even in winter. Here are three examples of nature's winter glitz: two from this year and one from a couple of years ago.

Melting icicles (February 2016)

The sun is moving towards the spring equinox so the sun is getting warmer and  melting ice and snow that form icicles.

Ice storm, December 2013

Beautiful but scary was the ice storm that hit Ontario a couple of years ago. Isn't it amazing how icicles formed on each and every needle of this pine?

BONUS Scrabble two-letter word:

gi - a judo or karate costume

The same family member who knits socks (HERE) also teaches beginner karate.

I am joining ABC Wednesday  HERE

The Past Revisited

 An old-time gas station

I discovered these murals in my archives, the photos taken four-and-a-half years ago. I have no idea if these murals are still there. The first is/was over a former garage door in Flesherton (Ontario, Canada) and was painted in 2001 by Allen C. Hilgendorf, an artist who created many murals across Ontario. Sadly, he died about  two-and-a-half years ago...but he lives on through his paintings.

Markdale Station

Sorry about the ugly shadows!  This mural on the side of Markdale's old fire station was painted in 2000 by Hilgendorf.  He seems to have had a passion for vintage trains because I've seen several of his works that include trains and stations.

Left-hand side of the second mural

I am joining Monday Mural HERE
More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Clear Skies and Cold

 The light at Bond Head on Lake Ontario

It seems like our skies are mostly overcast these days. But on Thursday the sky was a clear blue so my husband and I headed towards Lake Ontario to see if any waterfowl have begun heading north.

 Floating ice

Well, I did see some ducks but they were  annoyingly way too far away to get good photos. But look! I did get some photos of "swimming" ice!

The Bluffs at Bond Head

I am  linking to  NATURE NOTES.  

Dairy Barns

Somewhere in south-central Ontario, possibly Clarington

This must have been a successful dairy operation at one time.

A closer view

I am joining the Barn Collective HERE

Fence and Snow

Shadows on clean snow

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.

Curious Horses

Hey, Mom. What's she got?

Once they figured out it was a camera, they turned around and headed for the barn. At least I got this shot first.

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

H/Friday Finds

 a. H, the shadow on the too-bright back leaf

H is the 8th letter in my alphabetography file. I hope the back leaf isn't so bright that it hurts your eyes.  Actually, I think a woods fairy was saying HI to me, but spelled it backwards.

 b. Favourite photo of the week

This is one of the roses I received on Valentine's Day. Isn't it gorgeous?

c. Family

A member of my family takes knitting with her wherever she goes. (I usually take my camera.) Here she's trying on the sock she's knitting.  I didn't see her put her shoe on over the needles though.

I'm linking to Teresa's Friday Finds HERE

Winter Magic

Fencing on a nearby country road

Winter is often very beautiful.

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

Beaver River in February

 Beaver River, Beaverton, Ontario (Canada)

This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago before we experienced a deep freeze.

Ice floating down the river

Further inland the river was covered with ice, but it was breaking up and floating downstream.

I am joining Wednesday Waters HERE.

F/ABC

 Ferry on Lake Simcoe

This is the ferry that runs from Virginia Beach (Ontario) to Georgina Island, the largest island in Lake Simcoe and a Chippewa First Nation reserve.

Keeping the channel clear of ice

Some years the ferry stops running during the winter months, but this year the ice wasn't very thick until a couple of days ago when the temperature dipped to -30°C. Until the ferry is running again, island residents can cross the lake in an air taxi.

"Mountain" of ice

Ferry ready for loading

Loading

Leaving the harbour

On its way

The fourth note in the musical scale

OR as the song (The Sound of Music) says "a long, long way to run."


I am joining ABC Wednesday  HERE

Jack Frost's Murals

Ice crystals on window

 It has been super cold here so Jack Frost has been painting "murals" on our sunroom windows.

Another window pane

Photo of another window and a little further away

Once the sun comes out, the frost disappears so I have to work quickly to capture the crystals.

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

I am also linking to Image-in-ing HERE 

Happy Vallentyne's Day

 RED barn,  a Vallentyne treat

Vallentyne, Ontario is a tiny farming community northeast of East Gwillimbury, a crossroads really.

Too bad the sign isn't red and white, right?

I am joining the Barn Collective HERE

Kisses and Hugs!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you remembered those special someones.

Cow and Hay

 Peeking at me and my camera

Most of the cows are out behind the barn chewing their cud. This one is still hungry. She's young and still growing.

Okay, she says. You ARE looking at me!

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

Friday Finds/G

 a. G

Hope you can see the lowercase G there!

 b. Favourite of the week

Light shining through two windows onto kitchen floor tiles. I regret that I was in a hurry and didn't take the time to check out what made these designs.  They could have been space aliens out for a walk. Well, MAYBE...or not.

c. In my kitchen

Looking through a window in my kitchen and then through a sunroom window

I'm linking to Teresa's Friday Finds HERE

Drama Out Back

A bit of action going on here!

Usually I see these horses nose to the ground eating grass.  Did you notice the the young'un peeking through the fence?

I am linking to Good Fences HERE

Swamp Shapes

 Creek in the swamp

This time of year it's easy to see where the creek flows. I like the shapes it makes in the snow.

 Curvy lines

The country road runs right through the swamp so...

The other side of the road

I also took some photos of the other side.

I am joining Wednesday Waters HERE.

E/ABC

 Eager skater - Elgin Pond (Uxbridge, Ontario, CANADA)

E is for exercise, eager and Elgin Pond.

I cannot believe these photos have been in a folder for six years!  They were taken on Family Day (February 15th) 2010.  I fear the ice may not be thick enough for Family Day this year...but hey! It might be.

 Fighting for the puck

 Hi, everybody! Sorry we're late!

Family Day is for everyone!

Eh is a word, eh?

Ask most Canadians and they will confirm that "eh" (pronounced "ay") is a word. Have you heard the classic joke about how to spell Canada?  C, eh? N, eh? D, eh?

I am joining ABC Wednesday  HERE

Beaverton Train Mural

 Mural on a main street in Beaverton, Ontario

By now frequent visitors to this blog must be getting the idea trains are/were important to Canadians. Yep, you got that right.

On side of vintage building

 This mural is placed on the side of an old building that now houses a pharmacy but I don't know if Ben commissioned this work or if the town did.

Right side of mural

I had to squeeze in behind the tall spruce to get this shot.

I am joining Monday Mural HERE

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