Terror in the backyard

The calendar is marking time for me these days rather than the clock. I realized it's almost been a month since I last posted. My camera has not sat gathering dust, however - I've done a little commercial work and family shots at birthdays and soccer games: those important moments in life. My work as treasurer for the dog rescue run by two of my daughters, with the help of many volunteers, has also taken much of my time (more info here.)

And then there are those surprises that almost catch you off-guard. I discovered that a new resident had made our pond home. I thought I had caught a glimpse of him some time earlier, but when I almost decapitated him with the lawn mower (rest assured, he survived the experience with nary a scratch) I was finally able to identify him - a snapping turtle !

I quickly ran to get a shovel and pail - I remembered being warned as a youngster never to try to handle one of these ornery creatures - they have rightly earned their reputation. This one was about 8" (20cm) across and was capable of inflicting a nasty bite. In deference to his ability and potential to snap, I used a zoom lens to capture his main weapon - a sharp beak.

I released him after a short while back onto the lawn and watched as he quickly (well, for a turtle) made his way to the water. A while later as I walked past the pond I noticed some old leaves stuck near the edge. Normally I would have removed them by hand but I picked up a stick that happened to lay nearby and reached to flick them out. As I poked the leaves, a head lunged out with lightning speed from beneath them and a beak snapped hold of the stick momentarily. I quickly realized that my fingers could have been the recipient of that attack. Lesson learned - no more fingers in the pond !

Despite his nastiness, even creatures like these play an important role in God's creation, helping keep things in balance. Otherwise I'm sure that our pond would be overrun by a plague of frogs.

[I apologize if I haven't returned a visit to your blog - I shall make every attempt to do that before my next post. Please know that I read and savour every comment]

the business end

It's a beautiful morning ...

... or I should have said it was a beautiful morning a few days ago even though my wife interrupted my (much-needed) beauty sleep to tell me of a sunrise that I should see. Knowing that the lifespan of a sunrise is usually measured in minutes, I was outside in a flash, camera and tripod in one hand while trying to remove cobwebs from my eyes with the other.

You might recall the song (click link below the photos) which came to my mind - and stuck around - while I basked in the early morning sun (and those of you who've been around my blog for awhile know that that's a rarity).

I hope your new week is off to a similar auspicious start !

Summertime fun

[click on this link for some music to put you in the mood ... while you spend a moment or two here]



It's been a couple of busy weeks since I was last here - time spent making memories with our children and grandchildren. The camera got a good workout capturing just a fraction of the many moments we had together. The best moments, though, can't be displayed here - they're burned into our collective memories.

a hike through the forest (under the pretext of 'taking the dogs for a walk')

cooling one's toes on a hot summer day

a quick time out for a pose ("are we done yet ?")

anticipating a big splash at the water park

visiting a pioneer village to get a glimpse of life in the 1860's

seeing how water was used to provide power to the mill

but the highlight was a visit to the one-room schoolhouse (where I was 'reacquainted' with the strap ... much to the delight of our granddaughters !)

and where they saw how students dressed for school 150 years ago (note the absence of cell phones and iPads)

in between the visits to parks and playgrounds and beaches there was still plenty of time to catch frogs in our pond (here's Hailey, ably assisted by Sasha - both were equally obsessed)

and the end of each day was capped by a glorious sunset

I hope your summer has been equally blessed.

Let all things now living, a song of thanksgiving ...

We've been slowly creating a small ecosystem beside the house. Well, it's not quite correct to say that we are creating it since we just added what already existed in creation to what started out as a bit of a bare spot. A friend had donated a half dozen birch saplings which are now over 20' high - these have since pretty much claimed sole possession of the (former) perennial garden around the ponds. I 'liberated' some plants out of the wild (where undoubtedly they weren't being appreciated), including marsh marigolds and irises - they thrive near the edge of pond.

The marsh marigolds have already had their 15 minutes of fame this spring and now it's the irises' turn. The rain relented this afternoon, and although the wind was gusty at times, I was able to give them their due. I thought only Sasha and I were there, but it turned out that I disturbed another denizen who ended up playing a game of hide and seek with me (last photo). We have a symbiotic relationship - we 'provide' the ecosystem and (s)he in turn keeps the frog population in check.

Time ...

That was then ...

This is now ...

7 years gone by ... in the blink of an eye.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  Psalm 90:12

Day of Rest

One of the great pleasures we derive from having a pond (actually, 2) is to look at the amazing, almost artificial looking, water lilies which we've 'planted' over the years. Each day new ones open, and old ones close up and return to the bottom. The rhythm of life around a pond is fascinating to watch, but it can't be caught in quick glimpses as you rush by. Sundays were given to us by the Creator as a day of rest, in which we could cease from our daily labour and reflect on the rhythm of life.

"This is the day that the Lord has made,
Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
(Psalm 118:24)

(70-200mm  f11  1/160  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/320  ISO200)

Our talented but lonely pond denizen

Thought I heard some lyrics coming from the pond early this evening, so I got a little closer, and sure enough, I heard them quite clearly ...

"Long distance call I got today
She sounded lonely so I'm on my way
Hitchin' a ride, hitchin' a ride
Gotta get me home, keep her satisfied

Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride
Ride, ride, ride, hitchin' a ride ..."

(70-200mm  f8.0  1/15 sec  ISO200)

A marigold by any other name ...

Over the past number of years our lower pond has been gradually transformed into a partial marsh. It now contains some bulrushes (cattails), arrowheads, pickerel weed, wild irises, marsh grasses, and water lilies. But the star of the marsh, especially at this time of year, is the marsh marigold - the only name I've ever known this plant by. I liberated a few plants from the wild several years ago and they're thriving and helping the transformation.

I did a little research and was surprised by 2 things: 1) all parts of the plant and flower are poisonous, and 2) it has many names, likely due to its wide distribution around the world. Here are a few: Kings Cups, Water Blobs, May Blobs, Mollyblobs, Horseblobs, Bull’s Eyes, Leopard’s Foot, Marybuds, Water Dragon, Cow Lily, Soldier Buttons, Water Goggles, Gools, Drunkards, Mayflower, Pollyblobs, Water Bubbles, Gollins, Water Crowfoot, and the Publican. And there are likely more, but you get the idea.

I'm sure you're all aware of Blogger issues over the past day or so. I understand comments will be restored. I visited a number of your blogs but was unable to leave any comments - I will try again.Thank you for your comments - I was able to view them before they disappeared.

(60mm  f18  1/40 sec  ISO200)

(60mm  f11  1/125 sec  ISO200)

Reflecting on spring

The reality of spring in Canada set in today. While we experienced 22C/72F yesterday, high winds blew in a cold front and we awoke to 2C/36F this morning - but the change is not unusual for this time of year. Late this afternoon we got a fire roaring in the wood stove - something that had crossed my mind last week as we basked in Florida's heat.

But I was able to get dirt under my fingernails today since the weeds were already making headway. Here and there are little signs of spring's return - besides weeds - as some of the early perennials poke their shoots above ground. I cleaned last fall's detritus from the ponds and fired up the pumps yesterday. I noticed several huge bullfrogs that obviously survived the winter quite well, and also some tadpoles (aka pollywogs). Life is quickly returning after the deep freeze.

(18-55mm  f14  1/20 sec  ISO200)

Struck by the light

I was reviewing some of my photo folders tonight and I was struck by what the camera captured in one particular photo that I likely hadn't seen with the naked eye. Our pond yielded many photo opportunities while I was doing a 365 project last year, and there were days when I had more than enough raw material to satisfy the project requirements of posting one photo.

I thought I was capturing bubbles as they sailed across the surface of the pond, however, I was surprised by what I hadn't seen.

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/800 sec  ISO200)

click on photo to enlarge

(Day 336) Hanging out down at the pond

Remember a couple of weeks ago I told you about the unique landscaping being done around some of the malls here in the south (well, you probably don't so you can see the photo here). Tonight after dinner I set out to get a photo or two for my 365 project. I wasn't really sure where I would go - however, an opportunity always seems to come up, thank goodness. As I drove past that mall again something caught my eye so I got off the main road and headed back to the parking lot.

While everyone else walked towards the stores, Sasha and I headed off in the opposite direction, towards where I had made some photos before. The landscapers had also incorporated a large pond into the mall grounds - which I suspect serves as a rain runoff reservoir. We found a few fine-feathered friends there settling down for the night.

(both photos made with a 18-55mm lens at f9, 10 sec shutter speed, ISO200)

click on photo to enlarge

Oh, this is what caught my eye as I drove by initially.

(Day 295) Autumn's last hurrah

We're rapidly approaching what I call the calendar dead zone - no more autumn colours, days mostly gray and sometimes wet, trees barren, and blooms finished. The world around us seems to have already gone to sleep but has not yet received its blanket of snow. Sasha and I walked around a little this afternoon and ended up near the pond. A  maple tree beside the pond had just shed another leaf, and a water lily was trying in vain to open a flower one last time.

We await the next scene.

Note: we will be gone to Denver this weekend for a niece's wedding. Camera is travelling with me but I will be unable to post or visit till Monday (maybe Sunday).

(70-200mm  f14  1/200 sec  ISO800)

(70-200mm  f11  1/125 sec  ISO400)

(Day 158) Pond(er) this

Oh boy, that's a pretty lame title once you see today's photos. Hopefully the photos make up for it. I was out after dinner 'playing' near the pond with the 70-200mm f2.8 lens. A few months ago I had bought the 2x extender for it and although it reduces the amount of light available it's great to bring those hard to reach subjects in a bit closer. Have a look.

On a different subject, I think the blogger issues from last night are fixed. Thank goodness I had it to blame because it was the day I was honoured by Scott by being featured as his special guest photographer and my thank you comment on his blog was replicated 4 extra times! After that experience I decided not to comment anywhere else.

On to today's shots:

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/320 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/250 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/100 sec  ISO200)

(Day 143) Of dragons, and flying

There are many pluses to having a couple of small ponds near the house. They attract birds, frogs, and snakes and create a little habitat where the daily cycle of nature can be observed. However, they are also a breeding ground for prolific insects, or as we call them (scientifically) 'BUGS'! Thank goodness that swallows and purple martins have a great appetite for bugs, and we're glad that they've chosen to take up residence near the ponds. But we're especially glad that those voracious bug eaters - dragonflies - come here in abundance to keep the bug population down, otherwise we'd be forced indoors. Here are a couple that stopped long enough for me to capture them this evening.

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/60 sec  ISO200)

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/400 sec  ISO200)

While we were away last week, I was mindful of Scott's Sunset Sunday, so I saved a couple of sunset shots for today's post, even though I was provided another subject (above). Hope you enjoy them.

(50mm  f2  1/8 sec  ISO200)

(18-55mm  f5.6  1/125 sec  ISO100)

(Day 119) The amazing Caltha Palustris

Don't worry - I didn't turn into a brilliant botanist overnight, so if you didn't recognize the name, I didn't 10 minutes ago either. This happens to be the Latin name for the marsh marigold (which I googled). Two days ago, my marsh marigolds were being blown around and covered with snow by the blizzard. You can see from these photos that they suffered no ill effects.

I dug these up from a swamp, er, wetlands, near our house a few years ago and relocated them to the edge of the pond. All 5 plants are doing well . By the time they're finished blooming I hope my pond irises will be ready for their show.

(60mm  f8  1/25 sec  ISO100)

(70-200mm  f8  1/400 sec  ISO800)

(Day 118) The stalker

First off I can happily report that our brief winter interlude disappeared as quickly as hockey fans after an overtime loss. The sun appeared, the temperature climbed up to 13C (55F), and the universe continued unfolding as it should. The grass also reappeared as the mantle of snow vanished and it was obvious it needed to be cut.

As I trimmed the edges of the lawn around the flower beds by the pond, a sudden movement caught my eye. It was ... the stalker! It slithered stealthily along, using a rock to hid its presence from its intended lunch. It would pause long enough for me to get a few shots and then moved on, searching. This continued for some 10 minutes, when it disappeared under a rock by the edge of the pond. In a flash I saw it dive into the pond and grab a frog by the leg! The frog attempted a getaway by diving but the stalker hung on, writhing down to the bottom into the water plants. I could no longer see the drama and I waited about 15 minutes before I resumed cutting the grass. One can only imagine the outcome.

(70-200mm  f11  1/125 sec  ISO200)

(Day 116) "Lean on me ..."

I'm not sure whether that would be the appropriate song for this shot or whether it should be the theme from "Mission Impossible" :)

I had heard some croaking sounds coming from the pond, or perhaps if you were a frog it might have sounded like courting sounds. When I went to check it out, I found these two in a rather cozy position near the edge of the pond. I guess I'll know soon enough whether the courtship was successful if I find tadpoles swimming around. In the meantime we'll keep pets and small children away from the pond - that frog on the bottom looked big enough to be a danger to them. And the one on top, IMHO, has a face only a mother could love!

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/640 sec  ISO200)

(Day 115) Start of a theme

Part of the challenge of doing a 365 project I've found, and I'm sure many others have experienced, is the daily process of choosing and finding a subject. Some days it's easy and you come up with a week's worth. Then there are other days when the mind goes blank and little inspires. I have to admit that with the onset of spring the daily challenge has become a little easier.

We're lucky to have a couple of small ponds beside the house and I thought I would take the next few days to capture some of its denizens - some of whom live in it and others that like to live near it. I'll see how far I get with this.

Today's photo is of Mr. Chickadee. Now I had to infer his gender by his behaviour, but that was fairly easy. Mrs Chickadee was doing all the running (well, flying) around gathering the bits of grass and other raw materials to make a nice soft nest, while Mr. Chickadee kept a watchful eye out for anything that would require a warning for both to flee. Here he's keeping a good eye on me but I guess I wasn't considered enough of a threat.

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/1600 sec  ISO200)