L. W. flew a kite!

Some people never learn - and a week later return for more.

Now some people walk their dogs, while others go take a jump:

One for the money, two for the show:

L.W. also takes risks to photograph.

This has left the daft old bird "thinking" (?) - well, relatively, maybe.

Wise Old Bird

Friday went missing

Actually, we went to the play "Cottagers and Indians" by Drew Taylor - and if he can use the word, Indians, then it is OK with me. C. Columbus knew he had not travelled far enough but he had shareholders to please, hence the PR work of 1492.

I digress. My sister chose to visit us - so much for relatives not being able to chose relatives but only friends. I take her choice highly personal and find it very reassuring in this complex world. We went for a walk together and these images are from that occasion.

The lighting was that magical cool period around sunset. We walked the local ice highway.

that leads from Moose Beach to Wilson's Point, about 8km long.

Sounds - missing - and lights:

For those who have never seen a snow mobile . like a motorcycle in speed and noise running on a conveyor belt like a tank tread.

Makes one yearn for the peace and quiet of summer, and Sea-doos!

a little cold for the life guards.

W  O   Burrr d

It snowed today here on Atherley Road

Ok, I did not see the 45 flakes, and Vicki did not photograph any of them - and neither of us "smoke" the official Canadian national identity crisis.

I am going to take a walk back along the shores of Lake Couchiching on Sunday. First entry is about ring-billed gulls, I think? Maybe someone can correct this?

Very locally the birds go by the name of "Volker's friend" for no apparent reason(?) I think they show interesting stances and behavior - so I took my chance:

The scene opens looking across Moose Bay toward Tudhope Park. On different walks this week I have counted between 36 gulls and more than 70 - so I am showing only a few individuals. (And maybe 20% of all the images.)

Time to leave for another blog:

Any thoughts of migration?

W O B

Its a ill wind that blows no good.

The images on Monday were taken on Sunday. The images below were taken yesterday at various times. Let me start with the blowing wind bending an icicle; the warm air then caused it to melt, at times continuously - redirected rain, actually:

So much for the idea of wind - what about the "no good"?
Well, in the afternoon, Vicki persuaded me to work to work out down stairs. Around 2:30pm. I thought about taking the camera but decided against it.  We were just 10 minutes into our exercises when I saw thes 2 Canada geese flying low over the ice on the still frozen part of Lake Couchiching with a largish bird ahead of them landing on the ice. Maybe 150m away from us, looking like a Snowy Owl. I continued to work out because the Law of Nature and Camera-shy Bears states that this bird will fly away when I try to take a photo. However, as I neared my finish and the bird had not moved, I decided ... to go get the camera.

Not taking any chances I took the first shot from the balcony:

You have seen these branches in other blog entries - sometimes framing a boat, sometimes a kite or wind surfer. (Arni, clever how I arranged the branches to frame the owl - I learned this from you!)

With one Owl in the bag, I went down stairs and outside in my bare feet to see if I could manage a closer image. I might wish now to have a bigger and better "Canon" as well as my "Canon" insulating coffee cup! Or have NF here to take the proxy. My feet were beginning to hurt from the buildup of snow between my soles and my clogs.

I then went inside to capture the initial views we had from the fitness room - the treadmill view:

and then the closeups between the trees:

So nature comes to those who stand and wait.

W O Birrd

Saturday November 7

Lake Couchiching, lake of the laughing or smiling waters, lake below a lake - translate the name or the idea as you wish. Fortune smiles here any way you want to look. The following were mostly taken from on the balcony but I start with the view that caught my attention:

I cannot believe that it took so long to post - but then I have not finished with Knossos or Alberta.

I had the idea I could pursuade you to accept this as an Orillia aurora:

What do you think? Is it dark enough?

It really was close to us - near enogh to touch. I moved two, yes 2 steps to my right for the next shot:

It left me with a glowing feeling:

W O B