Farewell to April

As a farewell to the month of April,I invite you to join me as we watch the sunset over Lake Minniwasta.

Typically,it is a quiet time,a time for reflection.Sometimes it is a time for me to commune with my God,but mostly,I just marvel at the beauty He has and is creating for me to enjoy.

As we watch the setting sun paint the sky in rich color,I hope you too feel the nearness of God,as I do.

The color seems to be fading,but still the beauty is very evident.

The last remnants of cloud are tinged a lovely color and bring interest to the sky.

We take a look at the lake itself.It is not a very large lake,but it reflects the colors of the sunset so well,even as the colors of the sunset fade away.

I enjoyed having you with me as we watched,yet another sunset over Lake Minniwasta.

Remember,at the end of the day,give your troubles to God,He'll be up all night anyway.

Feathered Friends

The long awaited season of spring has finally arrived.The temperatures are warming up and my yard is filled with birds.

Early in spring the Goldfinches begin to change into their summer coats.For a spell they look like this,not fully changed to the brighter color and a little mottled.

The Dark-eyed Juncos arrive in droves.These birds are not brightly coloured,but they fill the air with their cheerful twittering.

Purple Finches come back into this area.The brightly coloured male is a joy to see at the feeder. Before long this one will be joined by more makes and shortly after that the duller coloured females arrive as well.

I came home one day as the sun was getting ready to set and noticed the lichen on the Maple tree.The trunk was wet with sap and the late day sun cast a beautiful light on this.

Of course,I had to get in for a closer look.The intricate detail of the lichen is so pretty.

Closing Thought:

God bless you and utterly satisfy your heart with Himself.

Amy Carmichael  

Up,Up and Away

April 9,was a very special and exiting day.The weather was less than ideal with a cold north wind and not much promise of warming up during the day.All this did not keep people away from the annual Raptor Festival in La Riviere,Manitoba.Once again they had record attendance.

 One of the big drawing cards this time was the release of a rehabilitated Rough-legged Hawk.

This bird knew exactly what it wanted once that box was opened.

The sound of cameras clicking,or more like whirring was amazing.All eyes and lenses were on this one bird.

The shots I am showing are all taken within a minute or two.I focused and then held the shutter button down,hoping for the best.

Having cleared the box,the bird wasted no time in getting away from there.

In a very short time he was on his way north and we were left with pictures and memories of this event.I only hope that this bird will find a mate and be able to raise some young this year.

Mission accomplished and now it was time to head indoors and warm up.

This was a first for me.I had never before witnessed the release of a bird.

Another day filled with special memories.

This Old House and More

I am finally to the point of showing pictures taken this month.The days are getting warmer,for the most part and so it is fun to get out of town to see the countryside around us.

I may be living in a city,but I still love getting out closer to nature.

Earlier in April,a friend and I went for a long ride,just to see what we could see.No agenda,just drive and see what treasures we might come upon.One such treasure was this critter.I don't think he liked me very well,cause he is sticking his tongue out at me.

This old house was once home to some family.I am sure that those walls would have many stories to share,if walls could talk.I liked the old plow that stood at the driveway.

This is my kind of scene.A quiet stream and a blue sky with just the right amount of clouds to make it interesting.

Of course,I will never pass up on a chance to capture a Red-tailed Hawk in flight.This was taken the same day as the previous picture,but for this moment the clouds had drifted away.

Here is another Manitoba scene,slightly rolling hills,a stream and that ever beautiful sky.

Closing Thought:

Money can't buy happiness,

but it can buy you camera gear.

And that's pretty much the same thing.

I have to add a video hope you enjoy it.

This Old House by the Cathedrals

Hodge Podge

I have titled this post,Hodge Podge for a good reason.The pictures are from a few years back and cover several seasons.

Sometimes we take pictures,because we know that in the end we will have a beautiful shot,one worthy of printing,but at other times we take those 'just for fun' shots.This one falls under the category of 'just for fun'. I know we should not spend too much time looking back,but sometimes it is fun to see what the road behind me looks like.

When the grass is covered with an early morning dew,I know just what I have to do. Those little 'diamonds' need to be photographed before the sun dries them up.

As the summer winds down in September,the Mountain Ash is loaded with clusters of red berries.These are pretty on the tree,but they also supply some of the birds with a good source of food.

At that time of year the grasses turn into these rich shades of brown.

Even though,right now we are looking forward to spring and the warm weather it brings,we can still expect some cool evenings.A cool evening is perfect for a bonfire and a chance to roast some hotdogs.

Whether it is cool,warm or even hot where you are,I hope you will do your part to make each day a good day.

Details,Details,Details.

Everywhere we look there is so much to see and often the little details go un-noticed.

Join me as I look at some of those details.I hope you will see beauty in these simple things.

The edges of this leaf are subtle,yet so pretty.

The new seeds on the Amur Maples are gently coloured and a beautiful addition to the trees.

I hope that you have often taken a moment to see the delicate beauty of a new leaf.The freshness seen here is so pleasing to the eye.

Yes,I love seeing the birds,but sometimes all that shows up is one lone feather.Once again,it is the gentle and delicate details that caught my attention.

We all notice the large trees and big colourful plants,but it pays to also notice the little mushrooms that spring up,seemingly,overnight.

Closing Thought:

 I love this quote. It reminds me that sometimes stormy winds have a purpose! 

             The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. 

Maybe it's time to stop complaining, waiting for change, and simply adjust your sails!

I saw this post on a Page on FaceBook and knew that I had to use it here.

The Vibrant Greens of Early Summer

Once again I take you back to 2014.These pictures were taken in June of 2014,but the beauty is timeless.

A large,rolling pasture is home to a small herd of cattle.We can't see any in this picture,but I have seen them on other occasions.I think they have plenty of good food.

The Ferns growing on my yard look so pretty in their early stages.Unfortunately they lose some of that beauty as the summer rolls along.

Each new leave is bright and clean when summer begins.I love that time of year.

The dark trunk of the Maple tree is a nice contrast to the lush green leaves.

A summer shower means a walk around the yard to capture the raindrops clinging to the tips of the evergreens.

Closing Thought:

Happiness isn't about getting what you want all the time.

It's about loving what you have and being grateful for it.

Natural Nature from 2015

As the title of this post says,these pictures were taken last year,in April and early May.

On a walk through our small park in Morden,I was surprised to see turtles in the creek.I had never seen turtles here before,but they sure were there now.The added reflections made for a great photo opportunity.

On a different day and a different place I saw this.This was at Ft.Whyte Nature Centre close to Winnipeg.I'm thinking this gal or guy needed a manicure.

Right on my own yard I was able to capture this culprit.I think the red squirrel is kinda cute,but I really don't want them at my bird feeders.It is an ongoing battle,which at times I think I will never win.

About two miles west of Morden is a Bison farm.Last year I happened to be there when the babies were still quite young

These  two pictures were taken in May of 2015,so I need to remind myself to go back there around that time this year.

Closing Thought:

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.