End of March

 Private Pond, no snow this time LAST year

Winter is still lingering on here north of Toronto but after a harsh winter it does feel and look a bit like spring. Night temperatures have been below freezing and a few days have risen above 0°C (32°F) but wind makes the days feel much cooler. In spite of this, much of the snow and ice has melted.

 Local creek, some snow and ice in full sun, yesterday

 Patches of snow in partially shaded areas

Patches of ice along the edges

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

 Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

Blue Skies & Melting Snow

Bond Head

I'm loving the sunshine and blue skies!

Pacing, waiting for the ice to melt

These two Canada Geese were walking back and forth in front of this branch. Geese are claiming their territories, honking ferociously to keep others away.

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

 Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

Not as Cold as it Looks

 Fishers enjoying blue skies and sun

Okay, it would feel cold to you if you live in Florida but the days here have been noticeably warmer to ME!  Daytime temperatures have been above freezing and ice and snow are melting!  It feels a bit colder right next to the lake, though. These fishers appear to be wearing enough clothing to keep them feeling toasty.

Ducks and gulls are finding fewer ice flows to stand on

Spring truly is just around the corner. But we won't be seeing crocuses and daffodils for a while yet.

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

 Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.  

Talbot Lock

 The dam at the Talbot Lock

Thursday was a lovely sunny day, still chilly for this time of year but the sun was promising that warmer weather and spring are getting closer. My husband and I checked out a few of our favourite places north and northeast of where we live. And one of the places was the Talbot Lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway that links Lake Ontario to Lake Huron.

Lock 38

During the summer months I enjoy watching boats pass through the lock, the door in the photo opening and closing to allow water into or out of the lock when boats want to be raised or lowered to the level on the other side.

Still lots of snow and ice!

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

On the Ledge

 Shadow sitting on the window ledge

Is it just me or do YOU see someone sitting there?

A view of the icicle casting the shadow

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.
I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

Frost on Windows

 Frost on sunroom windows #1

The temperatures went quite low this week, which sparked Jack Frost's imagination overnight revealing these lovely frost paintings on a few of our sunroom's windows.

 Frost on sunroom windows #2

It's amazing how many different designs there were!  It was a sunny morning so I had to grab my camera quick to take these photos before the frost melted.

 Frost on sunroom windows #3

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

Whitby Harbour Shadows

 Fence shadows

Some inconsiderate person  (Yep, you're right -  it was ME) walked through the pristine snow before she realized the shadows here were really neat. SHEESH!

A different view

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.
I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

Lake Hockey

 Getting ready to step out onto Lake Scugog

It was a cold day but Canadian kids - the ones who LOVE to play hockey anyway - are TOUGH.

 Truck and plow clearing the snow

 One player can't wait to get out onto the ice

Conversation with a girl hockey player

Proof that not just Canadian guys are tough when it comes to the weather!

I am linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2 HERE.
I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

Open Spaces

Rolling countryside, open space

February 1st is City Daily Photo Theme Day and the theme this month - If you had to leave forever the city from where you usually post, what would you miss most 

 What I would miss the most (I think) is the rolling countryside, the open spaces...

Farm overlooking Mount Albert, a growing community in East Gwillimbury

and sadly that is something we are slowly losing anyway as Toronto expands and turns many of our vistas into subdivisions, industrial parks and shopping malls.

Snowy owl surveying some of what's left of East Gwillimbury's open spaces

I am linking to City Daily Photo Theme Days  HERE

I am also linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

Sunshine, Glorious Sunshine

Gotta love it when the sun shines!

These photos were taken along a favourite winding country East Gwillimbury road. When the traffic is light, I can safely take photos.

Looking southerly, lovely shadows

Another southerly view

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

FYI City Daily Photo bloggers:  The  February 1st theme - If you had to leave forever the city from where you usually post, what would you miss most? 

Sunlight and Clouds

Hazy sun over icy water, Whitby Harbour on Lake Ontario

Last Tuesday it looked cold and it WAS!  But the sun was shining! (sort of)

In the above photo between the fence and the breakwater, it looked like the harbour was only partially covered in ice. Actually, it was ALL ice, some of which (the part that's blue) had melted in the past and then refrozen.

 Light at Whitby Harbour

The second photo was taken the same day to the left of the first and, as you can see, is further out into Lake Ontario where the air was hazier as well as cloudier.

Another photo of the light

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

FYI City Daily Photo bloggers:  The  February 1st theme - If you had to leave forever the city from where you usually post, what would you miss most? 

Sunny with Clouds

 Looking southerly at farmers fields in January

When I first looked at this photo taken last week I was totally surprised.  I had remembered taking this photo on a bright, sunny day.  But here I could see only clouds! But then I checked some more photos and discovered...

Same field with more sky showing

that low clouds were hanging behind this small hill. And most of the rest of the sky really was clear blue...

Looking northerly from the exact same spot

as you can see here.

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE


Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Sunderland Town Hall

Sunderland Town Hall

Afternoon sun through stained glass windows - seen from northeast side

I admit, that the town hall looked a bit interesting as I walked along the sidewalk on the the south side of this building (see the 3rd photo), but it wasn't until I saw the sun shine through the stained glass on the northeast side that I was enamoured with the building.

 Sun shining on south-facing wall

Looking at the south-facing side

FYI (added later): It DOES look like a church but, according to this Township of Brock website  (Sunderland is in Brock Township), the town hall here was built originally as a...town hall.  :)

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday HERE

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

Sunlit Cardinals

Female cardinals last Friday

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday Here.

I am Linking to Mosaic Monday HERE

Fresh Air 2

 Pooch out for a walk on a sunny day

Gull performing for peanuts in the sun

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday Here.

Blue Skies Over Canal

 Sunlight over the canal between Burlington and Hamilton

Sunlight over Lake Ontario at Burlington

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday Here.

Bridge and Blue Skies

 Burlington Canal Lift Bridge

It's the same bridge I posted on Friday but from the west side.

Burlington Skyway in foreground, lift bridge behind

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday Here.

Peek-a-boo

 Horse peeking around the corner

It was a cold day, but the sun was out. And so was this horse on the south side of the barn and...

Being watched

his friend on the east side. Both were enjoying fresh air and sunshine.

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday Here.

Sunlight and Shadows

 Gingerbread trim and shadow #1

Hooray for sunshine! And I'm a big fan of shadows too.

 Gingerbread trim and shadow #2

Skates and shadow

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday Here.

Spruce Bog Sun

 Sunlight on young black spruce tree

During the morning of a recent trip to Algonquin Provincial Park (two hours north of where I live), the sun shone for several hours, lighting up a popular trail through the Spruce Bog.

 Packed to go camping

Would you believe we met two campers? Yep, they were about to spend a couple of nights deeper inside the park. Brrr.

 Near entrance to trail

Clearly a few people had already ventured down this path to enjoy the fresh air and view northern wildlife such as the Spruce Grouse. I confess that I have walked this trail a few times and NEVER seen a Spruce Grouse though!

Light in field beyond trees

I am linking to Sunlit Sunday Here.

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