Open up your heart - let the Son shine in

When the cares of the world weigh you down, it's hard to be optimistic. But listen to the song in the link below the last photo - it's a little video I put together - and imagine the 5th Dimension singing about the Son (as found in Revelation 7:9-17, and especially v.15-17). And join me on my stroll continued from last week through a little part of creation, when the sun came out.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Slowing it down

I'm a visual person, I've discovered. What that means for me is that if I don't see it, it doesn't exist. Hence my desk tends to get somewhat 'cluttered' (my term, not my wife's) as I strive to leave things visible that I need to read or do. It also explains why I need lists.

So I recently (re-)discovered some lens filters and a stepping ring that had disappeared into the bowels of my camera bag. A couple of these were ND (neutral density) filters that allow slower shutter speeds in (relatively) bright light. Now that the filters 'existed' again, I had to put them to use, so off to another favourite spot not too far away.

I had been here before in the winter. It's a very peaceful, hidden place unknown to most people. I hope a sense of that peace and quiet comes through in these 2 photos.

How can I keep from singing

It's that time of year again here up north when the creation starts bedecking itself with a multicoloured coat. Like so many opportunities that come by in life, you need to grab hold of it before it disappears.

We were having a typical fall day of blustery winds pushing along threatening clouds alternating  with momentary flashes of bright sunshine and blue skies. I set out for what I promised would be a quick trip to a favourite nearby spot to check how fall colours were coming along. I pulled myself away after 'only' two hours, knowing there'd be more opportunities. soon.

It's amazing how such peaceful beauty can be found so close to home. Reminded me of a song from another of my favourite artists (yes, I have many), Eva Cassidy - click the link below the photos and sing along while you enjoy the good creation given to us by our faithful Father:

you might recognize this road if you've visited my blog before

we've had an abundance of rain this summer/fall and the wetlands were, well, wet ...

 as you can see from the first photo, there's still a lot of green, however, there's also lots of fall colour

 while leaves are starting to fall, the grass is still green

 looks like Monsieur Monet also stopped by

Harvest

"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." [Genesis 8:22]

This piece of nostalgia  from one of my favourite artists, Neil Young, came to mind as I pointed my camera skywards this evening (click the link below the photo to listen).

[I've been doing some harvesting of my own - more kitchen photos, which has kept me away from my blog and yours. Last kitchen shoot is scheduled for tomorrow.]

Quelle surprise !

I had always thought of Hamilton, Ontario as being a bit of a dirty industrial town, owing to the steel mills on the waterfront, smoke belching from their stacks, leaving a layer of soot everywhere.

Yesterday I had occasion to visit Hamilton to help my brother and his wife celebrate 40 years of God's faithfulness to them in their marriage. Before I made the 4-hour return drive home, I decided a quick side trip to a nearby conservation area (on a tip from a restaurant waiter) would allow me to stretch my legs first.

It had rained earlier in the day which must have discouraged other visitors and I had the muddy trail to myself:

After crossing a couple of bridges, the short hike brought me to this:

This wasn't what I had expected to find in the city. When I got home, I googled this place (named Tiffany Falls) and was surprised to discover that Hamilton lays claim to the title 'The Waterfall Capital of the World'. Check it out for yourself here.