…more signs of spring as things begin to green
Macro Monday – April 5, 2021
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Category Archives: spring
An Unexpected Collection of Birdhouses
….on our walk this past week we came across this colourful collection hanging from the trees along the edge of the creek
Early into our walk I notice a flash of colour up ahead and as we got closer we noticed dozens of brightly painted birdhouses hanging from some of the smaller trees next to the creek. You could tell that a few were done by adults but the majority had to be done by children. I figured that some enterprising class from one of the neighbourhood schools did this as a spring project to beautify the neighbourhood and provide nesting areas for some of the smaller birds.
I was so impressed with these tiny feeders and birdhouses that I promptly went to the dollar store to buy some for my granddaughter. I also bought some small clear containers which I filled with craft paint and a variety of paint brushes. At home I put a prime coat of white paint on two of the houses and then packed everything into a gift bag. On Saturday we did a drive by visit in Hamilton to drop off our Easter candy and this special bag. Winnie was so excited that she wanted to start painting right away. When we got home her mom sent us photos of the ‘finished’ projects. I’m not sure if she’s going to add more detail but she’s pretty pleased with the way they’ve turned out.
Day 1 of my Favourite Square Challenge
….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
Wordless Wednesday – March 31, 2021
Image
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.
Mama Cormier 