….this month’s challenge is centred around the word bright
Thanks to Becky B. for hosting BrightSquare https://beckybofwinchester.com/2021/04/01/bright-square/
Bright Light
Day 1 of my Favourite Square Challenge
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Category Archives: spring
Wordless Wednesday – March 31, 2021
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Hilton Falls – Water, Water Everywhere #71
….thanks to Jez for hosting Water,Water, Everywhere https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2021/03/29/callendar-lake-water-water-everywhere-71/
Another trip to a conservation area with a waterfall.
Last week we took a drive to Halton Hills. We had to make a reservation and we were quite surprised at how many cars were in the parking lot for a Wednesday afternoon. The hike started with a steep climb up a rugged path but this was the most difficult part of the hike. After that the paths were wide and relatively smooth.
It didn’t take too long before we heard the sound of rushing water.
As the sound got louder the we noticed that the water moved quickly and before too long we found ourselves at the top of Hilton Falls. This waterfall is 10 metres high and at the base are the ruins of a 19th century sawmill.
The conservation area also has great picnic sites right by the falls and when COVID is over the fire pit will probably be open to the public again.
After our lunch we headed back on the path that we came on but there was a fork in the road and we headed toward the reservoir.
All in all we had a wonderful day. On the way home we took a side road instead of the highway and were impressed with the beautiful countryside so close to the city.
Silent Sunday – March21, 2021
….spring is officially here
Has Winter Left Us for Good?
….I can only hope but I’m not holding my breath
The last 10 days have been glorious. It started last week when we travelled to Niagara Falls for the day and the temperature rose to 20 degrees celsius. That practically t-shirt weather. I’ve seen signs of an early spring almost every day but in between we’ve had a few chilly days. Here are a few sure signs that spring isn’t far off.
People wearing shorts and t-shirts, enjoying the sun in the park, drinking coffee outside, daffodils in the markets, children playing in the park, wildflowers popping up through the brown leaves, beaver activity and grass turning green.
Lens Artists Photo Challenge – Spring
…thanks to Tina for hosting this week’s Lens Artists Photo Challenge
Lens Artists Photo Challenge – A Quiet Moment
…thanks to Patti for hosting this week’s Lens Artists Photo Challenge
Quiet moments are much easier to find these days but as things start to open up I’ve noticed that parts of the park are becoming hives of noisy activity with groups of families and friends who are gathering for the first time in months. That said there are still lots of quiet moments to share with you.
Morning Coffee
Deserted Beach
Quiet Highways
Breakfast on the Deck
Overlooking the neighbouring city from the top of the ski hill (man-made)
Neighbouring streets
In the Park
Chilling by the Lake
Dusk over Lake Ontario from the Park in New Toronto
The Beauty and Fun of Trash Collecting
…how can collecting trash be fun or beautiful?
On on our 30 Day Clean-up Challenge people have often commented that they couldn’t do what we were doing. I think one of the reasons why we were so successful and persistent on completing this project was because we could see that it was making a difference. The parks were definitely cleaner and ‘some’ people were making an effort to help keep it that way.
We also had fun while we were doing this. Sometimes it was like looking for buried treasure between the rocks and often we’d be amazed at the things we found. The lost wallet was returned to its owner and Trish also found a cell phone and was able to locate the owner.
After each haul we’d take a minute or two for photo ops. Trish loved posing in unusual stances, sometimes doing cartwheels and hand stands. I on the other hand was a little more conservative with my poses.
The beauty of trash collecting in the parks comes from discovering the nooks and crannies of the park that I would never have ventured to before. I had never walked onto the rocks before and there were areas around the pond that I discovered for the first time. We also met a lot of wonderful people and we really came to appreciate the beauty of our environment.
The Hazards of Trash Collecting – Part 4
….on our 30 Day Challenge Trish and I had a few mishaps
Collecting trash in the parks, along the beaches and in the rocks has its misfortunes. Luckily for us none of them were too serious.
Trash collecting can wreak havoc with your clothes:
Burrs were a constant problem.
Climbing over wire fences can cause tears in your tights.
The insects can also be problem. The midges were particularly bad. Thanks goodness for face masks.
Wearing proper shoes and gloves is very important. I learned both the hard way. On the rocks I pulled out a broken beer bottle and promptly cut my finger. Luckily I brought water with me and Trish had hand sanitizer. I put pressure on the cut and cleaned it out as best
I could. Once the bleeding stopped I put on my gardening gloves and continued to work.
On another trip I was wearing my sandals. It was towards the end of the challenge and a lot of vegetation had grown in on the pathways. Everything seemed fine until I felt a burning sting under my foot. I quickly looked down and saw a wasp fly out from under my toes. Upon closer inspection we didn’t see a stinger but I did notice red ants in the area and I suspect it was an ant that bit me and not the wasp.
Towards the middle of May as the weather warmed up it was important to wear sunglasses, hats and sunscreen. There were days when I felt I had been in the sun a little too long.
The final hazard of course is falling. There were days that I wasn’t comfortable on the rocks and I soon figured out it was due to my low blood pressure. If I didn’t have my morning coffee before we left I felt dizzy on the rocks and I would stay on the pathways while Trish did her thing diving between the rocks to retrieve treasures deep in the crevices. Even on the beaches the rocks were slippery and on the paths rocks jutted up and were tripping hazards. There were a few times that I slipped or tripped but luckily I always caught myself before going down.
Trish was more adventurous and one day she tried to jump to a large rock for a photo op but she slipped and ended up in the water (only her shoes got wet).
In the next segment I will talk about the fun and beauty of trash collecting.
Wordless Wednesday – April 8, 2020
Mama Cormier 