Icy Beauty

It is May 28,but it is cool outside and even inside.I guess because of this,my thoughts went back to some pictures I got in the beginning of May. Usually by May 8th we have very nice weather,but this year the warmth just was slow in coming,because of that I got the following shots.

I drove to the lake just west of my town,hoping for birds,but there were none. As I was standing at the shore I heard a soft tinkling sound.I looked down and saw the following.

Small shards of ice were being blown on shore by the water and wind.

This was what I saw at first and thought it looked pretty nice.

As I looked just past the ice,I saw more ice floating in the murky waters. I thought it looked very interesting,so pictures had to be taken.

Zooming in a little closer,I was surprised by the beauty which was right before my eyes.

The pieces all look much the same yet different angles showed various patterns.

 I really liked how the sun created little starbursts on the ice.

I was hoping for birds,but was blessed to find a different kind of beauty almost under my feet.

All these pictures were taken with the Canon SX50 camera.

Thought for Today:

When you ask God for a gift,

Be thankful if He sends

Not diamonds,pearls,or riches,

But the love of real true friends.

Next post,I promise 'warmer' pictures. :)

Roses

A while ago I treated myself to a bouquet of roses.Now,what is a photographer to do with roses,but take pictures and lots of them.

So as not to bore you,my dear follower,I decide to make a collage of some of the pictures.

Today,contrary to what you usually see on this blog,there is only one picture.

I am posting this bouquet of roses for anyone who needs a rose to brighten the day and especially for those who are currently experiencing some difficult days.

This collage was made using an app called CollageIt Pro.

It is downloadable from the App store and is a Mac program.

Rainy iPhone Pics

This past weekend we had a lot of rain.I have heard reports of anywhere from 2-8 inches.

Considering that this came shortly after the spring thaw,the ground was not that dry yet and so we saw a lot of water.

I had to get a picture of this.Some of you may have already seen this on my Facebook page,but it is worth a second look.Two Baltimore Orioles took shelter under the railing of my deck.They sat there for quite some time. You can see by the raindrops on the window that is was raining hard.

This is a picture from just a few miles north of Morden.The little creek is usually no more than a trickle and often has no water in it at all. Plenty of water rushing along here at this time.

The lake which supplies our town with most of its water,spills out into what is referred to as the Dead Horse Creek.Don't ask me where that name came from,but that is what it is. All of last summer this creek had only a little standing water in it,which meant that our lake never filled up properly.This picture is from Monday evening and the creek is at the top of its banks. At a few places it spilled over,resulting in some streets being closed.

By Tuesday morning most of the rain was over,but the Snapdragons which are waiting to be planted,still had some lovely raindrops on them.

This leaf almost looks like the head of a small lizard.

Here is a macro of one of the flowers,or at least part of a flower.I like the colour and the droplets add a nice touch.

The forecast is for near freezing temperatures for tonight,so my flowers are all safely covered with blankets.

I know that losing a few plants is minor compared to the losses in Oklahoma.My heart goes out to those people and I pray that they will find strength to endure.

Simple Beauty

In looking through my pictures I have some that I took just for fun.Actually I take most of my pictures for fun,but these are ones I really like.

I took a walk at our local lake the other day and even though I did not see many birds,as I had hoped,I found other interesting things to photograph.

I noticed this piece of old bark on the ground.I liked the bright colour on it.

Then as I was walking along,surrounded by small shrubs,I noticed that some of last years leaves were still hanging on to the branches.The sun was hitting this one and making it shine.

Here is another leaf,a different shape but still pretty to me.

I then looked down and noticed a curled up leaf on the ground.Again,as the sun hit this leaf it looked pretty and was a bright spot on the woodland floor.

This picture is from a different place but also taken a few weeks ago.

No matter how many Mallard pictures I have,I can't resist a beauty like this.

It looks like he is swimming on a sea of silk.

Thought for Today:

If you can't go for a walk to enjoy the natural beauty around you,

then at least spend time drinking in beautiful scenery from a coffee-table book of nature that you keep for that very purpose.

Happy Mother's Day

On this special day,I want to give honour to the woman who helped to make me who I am today — My Mother.

My mother was not perfect,but she taught me so much.She was a hard working woman and made sure that my sister and I learned how to work.

She was a kind person,who always had extra food ready to serve to unexpected guests.

Our home was simple,yet the doors were open wide for family and friends alike.

Many a Christmas and other special day we had extra people at the table and always Mom had small gifts for each one.

Here is a picture of my Mom sitting on the right and my Mother-in-law on the left.

The occasion for this picture was a bridal shower for me,hosted by an Auntie.I could write a story about this Auntie as well,but for today the focus is on Mothers

I still miss my Mom,even after all the years since she has over to Heaven.

Both of these ladies have gone on to their heavenly home and both are in my heart forever.

Now on to the man who made me a Mother and the young lady who gave me the title of Grandma.

Steve and Kai are very special people in my my life.I trust that I can show them my love in little ways every day.I am truly blessed to have them in my life and to experience the joy they bring.

I just realized that these pictures prove that I once had darker hair and more hair as well.

These pictures also show a family that has a lot of love in their hearts.

God has blessed me beyond measure and for that I give Him praise.

Lake Minniwasta Birds

On Tuesday,May 7,I went to our local lake,hoping to find some ducks or geese to photograph.Well I was not disappointed. This is not a large lake,but it is the source of most of the water the town/city of Morden uses.

There was still some ice on the lake,but also lots of open water.

These Grebes are much too far away for a good picture,but I took it anyway.

On the right is a pair of Western Grebes and the two farthest to left are Red-necked Grebes.

It didn't take too long for a Pelican with his beautiful breeding plumage hair to show up.

This must be the new hair-do for 2013.

 I knew there was another small pond on my way out of the lake area,so I stopped in there,hoping to get a picture of some Mallards.Here is where my day went from good to very good.

A lone Common Loon was swimming and feeding on this small pond.I rolled down the car windows and sat quietly,waiting for him to move a little closer. I would still have liked to be closer,but these are the best Loon pictures I have ever had.

I had to shoot through some weeds so that is the reason for the blurred spots.I am particularly happy with this picture.The green sheen of the head even shows up.

Thought for Today:

If you want to know yourself better,get to know your Creator better.

For The Birds

Or should I have titled this,For The Bird Lovers?

I apologize to those who do not enjoy birds,but for the next little while I will likely be showing more birds than anything else.

A visit to a small local pond was successful as far as pictures are concerned.Here you see two male Common Golden-eye trying hard to impress a female.She seemed uninterested,but it made for good pictures.

This pair of Greater Scaup were oblivious to all the courting going on around them.They had likely already bonded for the season.

Back on my yard,I picked up the Canon SX50 and fired a couple of shots of this Crow,sitting on the neighbours tree.I am satisfied with the results. This is probably the best Crow picture I have ever gotten.

A male Hairy Woodpecker was eyeing the suet,but didn't like my presence.With the Canon SX 50 in hand,I got a nice shot of him. Unfortunately the branches are casting some shadows on him.

I have spent several days at the Pembina Valley,taking part in the Hawkwatch.This is the most common bird we see,a Red-tailed Hawk,but seeing it like this,its wings highlighted by the sun,is always a thrill.

Slowly more migrants are showing up on my yard,so I keep my cameras ready.

Thought for Today:

                                         No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.

                                                                   William Blake

Birds and More Birds!

Time to share some of my favourite bird pictures from this spring.

Even though the weather has not been very warm,the birds are coming back.Raptor migration is happening and the numbers are fairly good.I have spent  a few days there and been able to capture a couple of special images.

On Sunday afternoon I went to the Valley and was at first disappointed,because not very many birds were passing through.At one point someone shouted out, Peregrine, and all eyes went to the sky. I was able to get several shots of this bird.What a beautiful and swift flier the Peregrine is.

Of course every bird is special.By far the majority of Raptors migrating through this Valley are Red-tailed hawks,but I still get a thrill when I see one like this soaring hove me.I really liked how the trailing edges of the wings was highlighted by the sun.

This is an equally beautiful bird,the Rough-legged Hawk.

A special treat came,when I read online that someone had seen a White-faced ibis in my area. I went out looking for it,but couldn't find it,then on Saturday I took Steve and Kai for a short ride and low and behold,I spotted the Ibis.This is a Lifer for me,so I am thrilled to have gotten several pictures as well.

Back at home I captured this portrait of a male purple Finch at the feeder.This is a gorgeous bird and I hope that before they leave my yard,I am able to get some better pictures.My little Canon SX50 is doing a good job on this bird.I like all the detail in the feathers.

We have all been waiting for spring,so with that in mind,I share this thought for today:

After winter comes the summer.

After night comes the dawn,

After every storm,there comes clear,open skies.

Samuel Rutherford

Guest Photographer

Seems that I am busy,I don't get to post very often anymore. 

Today I will share with you pictures taken by a guest photographer. I trust you will enjoy these and see the skill involved.

My son Steve and granddaughter Kai and I went for a ride today,so being a good grandmother,I gave Kai a small camera and gave her free reign. We heard that camera firing shot after shot,but had no idea what she was capturing.What follows are a few of the images she captured.Remember,she is 7 years old.

Of course she had to get a picture of her Daddy.

Grandma got her picture taken a few days ago while out on a ride with Kai and her Mom,Anita.

Driving along Kai noticed a flooded field and was quite impressed by this.I think she did a great job of capturing this scene. All I have done to this shot is to crop it a little.

Being a young girl,she likes her shoes and here is a picture of her pretty Sunday School shoes.

This picture was taken last Sunday,on another ride.

Kai took this picture of her Mom on the same day as the one of her shoes.

Finally,a self-portrait.Again,I think she did very well,of course I may be a little biased.

Those blue eyes work their way into almost any heart.

I love you Kai.Thanks for taking these pictures and thanks for being my special girl.

Off To The Valley

For those of you who follow this blog regularly,you know that one of my favourite places to bird,especially in spring,is the Pembina Valley.

Today I invite you to pile into my car,and let's take a drive to and through this valley.

As we approach the valley from the south,this is what we see.It doesn't look like much,but hold on,we are moving ahead.

Now we are at the crest of the drop off.These pictures were taken from the driver's seat and yes I was driving,but very slowly and I know that there is not much traffic here.

Note also that despite the fact that it is April 19 when these pictures were taken,there is no greening of the trees and still snow on the ground. This is not typical,but this year winter is hanging on for too long.

As we continue we see this. What is going on here? Oh,you guessed it,did you? Yes,it is a typical day during the annual Hawkwatch. On this day there were only three vehicles,and mine was about to join them,but often there are many more.What do these people hope to see?

This is what they are hoping for and most likely won't be disappointed  Here is a Red-tailed Hawk soaring past,it's trailing edges of the wings highlighted by the sun. Standing at the side of the road with eyes to the sky is so worth it when we see things like this.But we are driving through right now,so we must carry on.

 The road is very winding as we make our way down.I don't ever get tired of these views and they change with the seasons.Some day I will take you through here again,perhaps in summer and again in fall.

Our final look,as we are almost at the bridge which crosses the Pembina River. You can see the road as it snakes it's way up on the other side.This is a beautiful drive and what I really like,it is only a half hour drive from my home.

I hope you enjoyed this little drive with me.Let's do it again,soon.

Have a beautiful day and don't forget to thank the Lord for creating such beauty,for us to enjoy.

Eagles and More

The time between posts has gotten way too long.Part of the reason is because as I am tired of taking snow pictures,so I think,others must be tired of seeing them.

Signs of spring are around and I like seeing that.I saw my first Mourning Dove today,but alas,no chance of a picture.

As I have mentioned earlier,the annual Hawkwatch at the Pembina Valley is in full swing.

The birds are migrating even during cold days.It does not matter how cold the wind may be,seeing an adult bald Eagle in the sky,like this,warms my heart and brings a smile to my face.

 Canon 7D,100-400mm lens 

This bird may not look quite as majestic,but it is equally as beautiful as a Bald Eagle.This is an adult Golden Eagle.These two pictures show some of the differences in these birds,besides colouring.

Notice the broad straight wings of the Bald Eagle compared those of the Golden Eagle.Of course there are other differences,but this is not a site for bird ID,but a place to enjoy the beauty of these birds.                     

 Canon 7D,100-400mm lens

At a place away from the valley the eagles have a free buffet of food thrown on the fields by the local Hutterite Colony.It is usually safe to say that there will be eagles here and on this day I was not disappointed. One adult and two immature Bald Eagles perched on one branch,making for a good photo opportunity.

 Canon SX50 IS

Walking out of my house one day,I spied a tree full of Bohemian Waxwings.As is often the case with Waxwings,I saw them that day and have not seen them since.

 Canon SX50 IS

This seems to be the year for deer.While driving around the countryside,I came upon a field with old hay bales on it and a lot of White-tailed Deer enjoying the free food.

Canon SX50 IS

Winter is hesitant to leave us this year,but we do know that spring and summer will come.

For those in the path of either winter storms or other severe weather,please stay safe.