Remember this – the snow is gone now, yesterday i went to clear out the dead wood
today I’m going back to meet up with a wildlife nature photographer who has a new idea for capturing what our forest friends are up to. He has invited me to join him to show me what he has been up to.. yeah! except I’ll have to cope with the mosquitos, Eliza has thoughtfully offered up what she uses… guess who is going to pause here to see if the product can be found here. We are on lock down, only essentials are open. fingers crossed.. (note to self, save to draft)
was introduced to a part of a trail I’d not been on before.. more to follow
Perceiving equals doing. Each time you notice something, it is a gift from God. don’t miss the opportunity to act.
Perfect Liberty 2021.15
Oyashikiri
every day is a new beginning
the OFF worked.. Thanks Eliza
no wild life nature photographer was harmed in the making of this blog =^_^=
Doors from down under – photos taken by Shirley Keen
When I saw these hobbit homes, that Shirley took when she was on a tour of Hobbiton NZ, I knew I would have to ask her permission to share them. She graciously agreed.
Have a wonderful Thursday everyone… enjoy all the fantastic and wonderful doors you will visit today!
Your surroundings are a reflection of you. a person who constantly worries will always find things to worry about. an optimistic person will attract happiness. A kind person will always be blessed with kindness in return.
This next picture was an awesome moment, unfortunately I was unable to get a good picture, I was frozen in place on a stump, the Mother and Father of these babies were coming along behind me, since I was sitting their heads and beaks would have been right in my face, back of head, or my neck. I was not going to chance moving.
these precious babies were right at my feet, their Mother called them away towards her, since I was sitting where they would have entered the water, they make their way through the brush around me.
I offered up a wish they would swim past me when they entered the water, but they went left instead.
No matter what the day was like prior to my arriving at Mud Lake, as soon as I stepped into the area, I was in a different zone. I love being out in Nature, but then I’m sure you’ve arrived at that piece of information already.
every time I meet up with this female duck I’m loving her more, her beautiful markings are exquisite. Her partner is more colourful, true but I find her pattern to be a work of art.
It was a sunny day, temperatures were balmy, next time I need to get their earlier, when I arrived, the cars were already lined up all along the road. However, altho’ the wildlife is plentiful, I think I prefer an environment with less human taffic.
LIFE IS ART PL Precept #1
PS I did get to see the muskrat, but he/she was on the move. I will share a picture of that muskrat soon. Stay tuned.
In behind the soccer fields, way down well into the woodlands
At first I was disappointed, my first stop was where the big hill is for tobogganing. (winter activity).. when I explored the possibilities along the trails close to the hill, I found them more suitable to “bikers”.. not the first time I’ve considered the idea of a trail bike, the kind with the big tires. ….. don’t worry the thought came, and went.. =^_^=
some sections today were very steep, I needed to craft a walking stick to help me balance when I started the upward climb.
found a carpet of dandelions – the bees love them
The sun stayed out for me .. it was a beautiful day, got my exercise, now I get to sit back and just relax.
If I can exercise every day, so can you !!
PL Precept #20 Live maintaining equilibrium between mind and matter.
New beginnings… a walk along the pathway showed me so much new growth, I was encouraged, after a long cold winter, the ground is thawing, photographers are showing us the wonderful blooms that are showing up all across the city. Coming out of church yesterday, the tulips were showing their happiness, looking up into the sunshine.
I actually wanted to stop an take all the golden yellow dandelions along the roadside too, but traffic wouldn’t allow.
For the sake of others, society and world peace. Always live keeping in mind everything you do is for the sake of others, society and World Peace
Perfect Liberty 2021.10
Have a great start to a new week. Tomorrow Tuesday 11th. 10 a.m. service Ancestors’ Day.. for those who can join in at the church, please let us know if you plan to attend at the church itself. We are still practicing social distancing.
Egret? I couldn’t get closer, I tried but she/he flew away
Listen carefully and speak clearly. A good relationship starts from truly understanding each other.
Perfect Liberty 2021.5
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else will affect its successful outcome.
William James
I was beyond happy at sighting this bird.. I so didn’t expect it. I had stopped to check a small area of water off a road, saw lots of geese, and was turning to go back to my car, when I saw a spot of white in what looked like a run off, that ran under the road. Its times like this I think I need a better camera.. thankfully the moment passed.
these were only some of the geese in this location, it obviously was a happy place for them
came across this duck while strolling, he was more interested in his grooming than in me
I had already realized that my Nikon was no longer going to perform having received the battery tired message. These were taken with my cell phone. I tried to capture him with his face towards me, but he just wouldn’t stop his grooming.
This duck was another one who visited, he actually started to come up to me, then the squirrel intruded. I possibly insulted him calling him a bird, and not recognizing he was a duck. I’ve never had occasion to call or converse with a duck before !!
The birds/ducks were all over the place today, I should have gotten there earlier, I would have had more time, as it was I only got to explore on the other side of the road, not the part of Mud Lake I had been on before.
This side of the road the walking is more difficult, a good pair of hiking boots would have been best.paths were rugged, rocky and wound up and down the landscape. I’lll add it was cold today, there were other photographers everywhere.notes on this Saturday’s adventure from Mud lake.
PL Precept #1 Life is Art…. Life is also an adventure… live it to the fullest.
The NCC is working at restoring the sand dunes in Pinhey Forest What a delightful discovery for me yesterday.
Do things joyfully instead of taking it easy. Enthusiastically engage with what’s in front of you. You’ll enjoy it more.
Perfect Liberty 2021.30
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
Aristotle
How fragile must our own beliefs be, if we resist even listening to opposing ideas. I have schooled myself that when I am ready to totally dismiss another person’s ideas our of hand, I stop myself and try to listen to what the person has to say. I still may not agree, but I will know something more about them – and of my own thinking. In the past year I have listened to another “perspective” on life .. as it is seen and lived in another part of the world. I have learned a lot, in some areas, my personal belief has strengthened, and to my surprise, I gained insight in ways I would not have guessed about myself.
PL Principle # 6, I will not be stubborn, being captured by my own thoughts
Friday everyone, the start of another week-end….
It is raining here today, I heard the forecast yesterday that it was to rain most of the week-end, I have wanted to return the wonderful fragrance of lilac to the backyard. When we bought here many many years ago, the neighbour in the back had a patch of lilacs all along the back fence. In the spring we would step outside to be greeted by their wonderful presence. When new owners came along, they ripped out an ancient old oak, some of you may recall my lamenting that from years back and most of the lilac. They left one .. that was old and weak, it soon died.
It wont happen over night, the plant I brought home is perhaps 3.5 foot high, but it is healthy and from a well established nursery.. I got it into the ground as soon as I got home, then surrounded it with wooden pieces from my various trips these past weeks and months. this will protect it, for its settling in period, Today’s rain, which will continue for the next couple of days, will help it to gently settle in. (Monge Lilac)
Tomorrow May 1. Service at 10: a.m. Day of Peace ceremony
PL Principle # 3 I will live with a mind of appreciation towards others and things.
This bird is so beautiful so majestic -I look forward to the day, I get to see one myself
last photo here, NumOttawa
Be careful about saying “It’s probably good enough” Wholeheartedly do what you notice, when and how you notice it.
Perfect Liberty 2021.29
I want to say how much I appreciate the above photographers who so graciously allow me to share with you their awesome captures. My heartfelt thanks Kevin, Num and Ed, you are “tops”. See Instagram for more of their work.
Agility not being on my side today, I did make noise as I determinedly made my way through the brush along the shoreline to try to make my way to the end of the peninsula.
I climbed over fallen branches, dead trees, slipped down the embankment into the mud, even crossed a car length of water on a tree limb and a make shift stepping stone with a wooden plank to get to more of the peninsula. I was tired and getting weary, but I was determined to get to the end of the bit of land I was exploring.
My reward was that as I went the last few steps, I saw a Canada Goose out in the water, using my zoom I tried to bring him in focus, while keeping my balance on the uneven terrain. I was having a bit of a time, it was very uneven and full of overgrown brush and vegetation. Something made me aware that I was not alone, I cautiously looked to either side of me, but didn’t see anything… then I saw that the Goose was heading back towards me, and I looked down, just a few feet away from me, sat his partner.. staring up at me.
The queen herself, watching me, wondering what this silly human was doing in her space.
I know I like to explore, and I like being in places where I’m not likely to meet any other person on a walk, I suspect that they had chosen this place because it was far from human traffic, for sure, it was not an easy journey through the overgrown vegetation and dead wood that was everywhere. but, this crazy lady came to visit. They were both actually very calm about it all. You can see, when he got closer and saw that I wasn’t a threat, he stopped to primp himself. Needless to say, I was thrilled to the bone. I felt like I had just won the lottery.
Happiness is, a day out in the world, being ONE with nature, yes, I had to scramble over logs, deep holes in the ground, watch for branches that reached out to block my path, stumbled over dead roots reaching up out of the debris that littered the ground, but I was alive, and I was focused on every moment of my experience. The memory of that moment where her eyes looked into mine, will stay with me forever. She was so close, so near, and so unruffled … her serenity in the moment, was a gift//blessing.
TAOIST Life is Art (Perfect Liberty precept #1)
contact info.- via blogs
--- there are two energies, Yin and Yang = ONE
---to have balance we must live each moment
of our lives.. with Makoto (sincerity)
The only constant in life is change. I am grounded in the reality of Living.
This is true, in all worlds. RL or virtual. I am me and only me.