Summer Settles in

                         I am trying to stay positive waiting to get Covid shot #2 and waiting to 

                         hear that we can travel to Australia.  The Aussies are so slow distributing 

                         the vaccines, it is obvious that the family will not be here for Christmas.

                         

                         Mourning the loss of our good friend Jeff and helping his wife Linda pick

                         up the pieces of her life really shines a light the Carpe diem motto.

 

                         Ontario is partially open again after a series of lock-downs.  Happy to have 

                         my "Get out of Jail" card in my wallet.  At least the weather allows porch 

                         visits and patio dining again.  

                         It is great to live close to Lake Huron where the waves and light make magic.

                                               photo by Al Bossence

                        With not much to blog about I will post a few photos of the gardens, an update

                        on the family and share an account of a recent bike ride.  Many days have me 

                        pondering the words of a poem whose author is unknown. Pete Seeger

                        turned the poem into song lyrics "My get up and go has got up and went."

                                  No words can describe how much we miss these two darlings.

                                            Wow, preschool scholar Finn shows his handiwork.

                                              The McEachern Family vacation for two weeks.

                                              Flora celebrates Birthday #2 in Alice Springs.

                                                                Mini party animal!

                                            Created this 14 page book for Finn two years ago.

                                              Enjoyed making one for Flora for her 2nd Bday.

                                                          a few pages.....

                                                      

                                            

                                                    Spring treasures around the yard...

                        "Bleeding Hearts" for our wonderful friend Jeff Wilson and his wife Linda.

                                       Wrens are back, no peace in the yard until fall. :):)

                                             Male Cardinal likes to soak before bathing.

                                              Orioles only made a short stop here this year.

                                           Female Cardinal does a swan dive into the pool.

                                              "Yikes, it s freezing!"

 

Hubby presents a reward for her efforts.

 

 It's legal for gals to go topless in Ontario.

                                                       Mother's Day in Australia

                                                          Mother's Day in Canada

 

Chris and I clean out the pond, add fish and plants

                                        Bunnies are spoiled with their winter hutch still up.

 

"I see you!"

                                          "These hay pellets are delish!"

                                                     "Yup, we raccoons eat anything!"

 

 Benny stands guard over his bowl.

                                After a recent bike ride, I got home an wrote down a short account...

                                Swallows line a barn roof

                                preening metallic blue wings,

                                chattering like a morning coffee klatch. 

                                Distant haze of another scorching day

                                blurs the edges

                                of farm machinery combing the fields and

                                farms whose weather vanes point up to the promise of blue sky.

                

                                A delicate breeze ruffles the leaves

                                like the sound of light rain falling.

                                The fields reveal the sights and sounds

                                of Wild Turkeys, Flickers, Crows, Killdeer and Meadow Larks.

                                Bees and Dragonflies visit Vetch, Bindweed, Daisies

                                and patches of Phlox oozing subtle perfume.

                                Acres of corn that six weeks ago looked like green striped area rugs,

                                reach 1/2 meter high.

                                Winter Wheat's plump heads bow to me as I pass.

                                My tires squash shadows

                                of soaring supple grasses

                                who whisper and whoosh at the roadside.

                                I waved thanks to the driver of  truck

                                who slowed to pass me

                                at more than the regulation six feet.

                                Today's traffic tally was low with only two cars that raced by.

                                Some drivers are oblivious

                                to the jangled nerves of a cyclist

                                sensing the vibrations off the vehicle's mirror

                                almost touching.

                                Oblivious

                                to the clenching of the biker's chest walls

                                contemplating the power and acceleration screaming past.

                                Heading home,

                                I startle three immense Vultures

                                who scatter and circle above,

                                waiting to return to 'their' Racoon carcass.

 

                               If Snow White's Evil Queen was a Vulture,

                               she would have great difficulty training her "magic mirror"

                               to say 'You are the most beautiful in the land!'

                               Vultures may not be favourite avian friends

                               but without these important scavengers

                               our world would be a very malodorous place!

                

                      

                                          photo from google images

                     * Regular viewers will notice that a number of my photos are 

                               blurry. I have a number of issues with my camera so must 

                               send it off for repairs. :(

 

                           * If you receive notifications when my blog is published, they 

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                              as of July 1, 2021.