|
Gallery 59 |
Winter has been playing hard to get this year, but we recently had some
light snowfall. It was just enough to soften the harsh lines of a ravine
where the trees had been left bare by the winds of autumn. It was enough to
decorate the landscape and create a sparkling beauty that enticed us into
walking the slopes and capturing with our lenses glimpses of the scenes that
greeted us. The thing we couldn't capture though was the fairy-dust sparkle
of the snow on the tree trunks and branches. It was like elusive strains of
harp music, always ending just before I got close enough to see their
source. When I stopped trying to chase it down, and stood still for a
moment, it played its trilling harp notes inside my heart. |
|
Gallery 58 |
Labour Day weekend in Tobermory, the weekend that
tropical storm Ernesto spent the time crying over its spent strength … skies
painted in choleric tones of charcoal … raindrops pretending they were
crystal globes suspended from wildflowers and the tip of every leaf … a wild
beauty that will not be subdued no matter what the weather. Come and see. |
|
Gallery 57 |
L'ilot Fleurie! What an eyeful this is! As we were leaving
old Quebec city, we drove under a highway interchange and found the space
defined by the supporting walls and pillars had been taken over by a group
of artists who had made it their own in 1998. They mark their territory by
turning the drab supports into canvasses for their art. They invite anyone
of a like mind to find an empty space and make it into their own expression
of creativity. Some of the works are incredible. This one is really worth a
little of your time. |
|
Gallery 56 |
Make yourself a froth-capped latte before you settle down to
this one. Sip the warm brew while you view a breathtaking sunset over old
Quebec City. Stroll down a cobble stoned street of quaint shops and be
impressed by the Chateau Frontenac and the Citadelle. Spend a quiet moment
along the Way of the Cross at Ste Anne de Beaupre and finish it all with a
view of the thundering falls at Parc de la Chute Montmorency. |
|
Gallery 55 |
On this day the clear blue winter sky provided a jewel-tone
backdrop for the beauty of the Maple Leaf as it snapped about in a
fierce wind. My country's flag never fails to stir my soul. |
|
Gallery 54 |
Shots of the PANTRY SHELF, an absolutely delightful cafe in
Port Perry, that serves breakfast and lunch. Comfort food served here! |
|
Gallery 53 |
Just a teensy-weensy collection - some of the hardy souls
braving winter's cold out on ice-covered Lake Scugog , by Port Perry. |
|
Gallery 52 |
The first day of the New Year - my husband and I celebrated
it by donning warm layers and braving the cold to seek the beauty of the day
in Huntington Park, a nearby area that includes a ravine just waiting to
please visitors with its rugged landscape. I always find myself fascinated
by tree stumps and the other wood carvings that Nature amuses herself
with, and there were several waiting for my lens today. Come and see some of
Canada's winter. You won't even need your coat ! |
|
Gallery 51 |
It is endlessly fascinating to me how life will root itself
in the most unexpected places. You find a small blossom braving winds that
whip across the rock where it shelters in a small crevice. You see wild
plants descended from a wild lineage, and domestic cousins, lured by the
heady scent of freedom, who have thrown their seeds outside of men's
boundaries, to join their unfettered kin. All of them hold onto life and
treasure it, sometimes in the face of the wildest odds. |
|
Gallery 50 |
It's a sight I love, the play of light on water, the sun's
incredible ability to light the water ablaze with tones ranging from a
dramatic gilding of silver to an otherworldly overlay of bronze. |
|
Gallery 49 |
We came around a bend on the Britain Lake Road and found
this little marshy nook, replete with tree frogs and bird song. |
|
Gallery 48 |
Dyers Bay and the road to Cabot Head ... wild flowers and
wind-whipped water on an overcast day. Leaves cradling the last drops left
by a gentle rain, and birch trees standing tall together. There are no words
able to accurately describe the wild beauty you'll see here. You should look
for yourself. |
|
Gallery 47 |
Pictures that framed themselves along the Marr Lake Trail,
on the Northern Bruce. |
|
Gallery 46 |
Rugged and harsh, but beautiful nonetheless. Two hours of
hiking the Bruce Trail along Georgian Bay gave me these dramatic scenes to
share with you. |
|
Gallery 45 |
Horse Lake Trail, on the Northern Bruce Peninsula. |
|
Gallery 44 |
Here on Flowerpot Island, there are cedar trees older than
Methuselah, and a lighthouse perched on rocks that look ready to throw it
into the water. Come and see. |
|
Gallery 43 |
The breathtaking blue of water and sky, as seen from a
cruise ship sailing Georgian Bay near Tobermory. You can almost hear the
sound of the waves lapping the rocks.
Watch for an eight-legged stowaway braving the wind and the spray. |
|
Gallery 42 |
The Chi-Cheemaun Ferry; a Coast Guard vessel that can do a
three-sixty to right itself; and the shipwrecks of Fathom Five National
Park. |
|
Gallery 41 |
Georgian Bay shoreline, near Tobermory. Dramatic
crags, half-hidden caves - what an eyeful! |
|
Gallery 40 |
Gallery 36 shows you some scenes along Toronto's
harbourfront. The scenes here are from the harbour in Tobermory - much
smaller, but no less beautiful or busy, especially during the summer. |
|
Gallery 39 |
Heading north, the very best direction to drive in, as far
as I'm concerned! You'll see some beautiful wild blooms - including my
beloved Queen Anne's lace - and my beloved! |
|
Gallery 38 |
The design of the Music Garden on Toronto's waterfront
interprets in nature Bach's First Suite for
Unaccompanied Cello, with each dance movement within the suite corresponding
to a different section in the garden. One of the special features, the
Maypole, was designed especially for the Music Garden by Canadian artist
Anne Roberts. Take a look at the Music Garden, Maypole and all. |
|
Gallery 37 |
St. Jacob, Ontario nestles in among rolling hills and offers
captivating scenes of lovingly tended farms, and horse-drawn buggies making
their way along the highways and byways. |
|
Gallery 36 |
Come on board the "Oriole", a Toronto Harbour cruise ship,
and enjoy some beautiful shots of the skyline. |
|
Gallery 35 |
Take a stroll through some of the oldest buildings of the
University of Toronto, and view vaulting archways, magnificent stained glass
windows, ivy-covered towers and the hallowed halls of my Alma Mater |
|
Gallery 34 |
A feast for the eyes - Toronto's St. Lawrence Market. A
kaleidoscope of colours awaits you in and about the market, from luscious
berries and bright-hued vegetables to kitchenware and clothes with a
difference! |
|
Gallery 33 |
A couple of sights from Queen's Quay. |
|
Gallery 32 |
Hubby and I headed out to Sunnybrook Park, one of our
favourite haunts, to feast our eyes on the tender greens of spring. When we
got there, however, the first thing that presented itself to me was a fallen
tree. After that, everywhere I looked, there was wood with attitude, looking
back at me. |
|
Gallery 31 |
Rough winds may shake the darling buds of May, but not on
this beautiful morning, when I set out in search of the spring's promise of
glories to come. |
|
Gallery 30 |
Most call them weeds, but there is beauty in the glorious
yellow of a dandelion, if you will let yourself see it. Look for the
adventurous tulip who wandered out all by herself to live among her wild
relatives. |
|
Gallery 29 |
On April 16th, the love of my life and I drove up north to
spend a day in Bracebridge and environs. The sun's light was warm on our
faces and a gentle breeze blew at our backs as we strolled through town and
made our way to two of the waterfalls that grace the area. These pictures
will let you see the scenes we viewed through our view finders. |
|
Gallery 28 |
On April 10th, my other half and I went for a stroll through
Edwards' Gardens to enjoy the day's warm sunshine. We found a small denizen
of the park, out doing the same. Take a look at the little guy. |
|
Gallery 27 |
Come out to the paddock for a minute! |
|
Gallery 26 |
The simple act of washing dishes can become a study of grace
and finesse when done by the hands of a dear friend. |
|
Gallery 25 |
On Thursday, Feb. 17th, it snowed during the morning rush
hour, here in good ol' T.O. You'll see a shot of the line-up of cars heading
into the city. Mighty machines they are, all slowed down by a little bit of
white fluff! Check out the "snow fence" put up to prevent the snow from
blowing across the open parkground, and out onto the street, Some of the
very last leaves from the autumn are still clinging tenaciously to their
branches, and they're here, all wearing little crowns or shawls of the white
crystals. You can also look at the local park playground - the various
pieces of equipment all frosted with a coating of sparkling white
silence. |
|
Gallery 24 |
Port Perry is a small town we visit occasionally to have
afternoon tea in a wonderful little cafe there. Some of the pictures than
offered themselves up to my lens on the road back are here for your viewing
pleasure. The contrasts in lighting and colours were so crisp and clean, I
just had to brave the discomfort of snow packing itself into my boots as I
clambered through deep banks to frame these shots. |
|
Gallery 23 |
Take a look at some pictures I shot the day after our last
big snow storm. We went to Sunnybrook Park, a place you'll see framed here
in more than one of the galleries. It was a magic landscape that looked like
it had all been dusted with icing sugar. Check out the shadows dramatically
draping themselves across the snow. |
|
Gallery 22 |
A Sunday stroll through Fairy Lake Park in Newmarket allowed
me these glimpses of autumn holding its breath, waiting for winter to
appear. |
|
Gallery 21 |
Do you like ducks! Here are some great shots of ducks
strutting their stuff! |
| Gallery 20 |
On Saturday October the 30th, my husband and I were
out driving across the northern end of Toronto. All the while, great masses
of clouds were glowering down upon us. The wind was doing its best to shred
them, and every once in a while, it would make enough of a rip in the cloud
cover for the sun to shine through. Once in a while there was even a whole
patch of blue visible. |
| Gallery 19 |
I just want to show you a couple of points of interest on
the campus of my alma mater, the University of Toronto. |
| Gallery 18 |
I've taken you here before - Sunnybrook Park is one of
Toronto's most beautiful source-of-pride green spaces. Take a peek at how it
decks itself in autumn finery, and prepares for the winter ahead. |
| Gallery 17 |
Bullrushes! |
| Gallery 16 |
Come walk with me on a five hour hike that I took on
Thanksgiving weekend, around the area known as the Forks of the Credit
River, north-west of Toronto. The colours that the Earth garbs herself in to
celebrate the autumn are breathtaking. Vivid and dramatic, at times they are
almost unbelievable. Even a master painter would find themselves set an
impossible task if asked to duplicate these scenes on canvas. |
| Gallery 15 |
Every Thanksgiving weekend, we take a day to drive out to
the Niagara escarpment and visit the Ball's Fall Conservation Area, where an
outdoor craft show and sale is held annually. The pioneer buildings
maintained there, and the nature walks winding through the area, all
contribute to a wonderful day. The 'upside-down' tree is a reflection in
water so still that it was more like a mirror. |
| Gallery 14 |
Pictures here were taken in the environs of Lake Wilcox, and
Jackson's Point. The churchyard of St. Paul is where Stephen Leacock, a
famous native son, was laid to rest. Take a careful look at the yellow and
black traffic sign and see if you can figure it out! |
| Gallery 13 |
Spend a minute on my balcony with my furry wee
squirrel-friends. We have a love-hate relationship. I grow flowers out there
every year, and when the squirrels dig up the blooms, I hate them! One year,
I tried to grow marigolds, and the squirrels loved having them as salads. A
gardener told me to spray the flowers with a mix of water, oil for surface
adhesion, and cayenne pepper to repel the squirrels. Oh yeah? They just
figured it was tex-mex seasoning and chowed down! I always feel sorry for
them, though, when the fall begins and I know they are looking for food to
hide away for the winter, so I feed them unsalted peanuts. Look for the
little one who was brave enough to eat from my hand, and take note of
the shyer one who tried to pretend he was one of the poly-resin bunny family
on my balcony, so that I wouldn't see him! |
| Gallery 12 |
Make yourself a snack before you settle down to view this
one! Everything here was photographed at the Toronto Zoo. I remember when
the old zoo was still operational and the animals each paced about in cages.
Now, they all have areas which attempt to replicate the feeling of home for
them. It is much more humane a captivity, but nonetheless, it is still a
captive life. I know some of them are living here, safely away from the
poachers and other dangers they would face in the wild, but I still have
very ambivalent feelings about a zoo. Some animals I can not bring myself to
look at, let alone photograph, such as the orangutans. Still, I hope I have
been able to assemble a photo essay that will give you some idea of the
reason for the great pride Torontonians take in their zoo.
Look for the Canada Geese in many of the photos. While none of them are
actually resident here, they do make themselves at home nearly everywhere. |
| Gallery 11 |
The graceful guest appearances in this gallery were made by
the butterflies resident in the Conservatory near Cambridge, Ontario. They
have created a truly beautiful setting to compliment the fragile beauty of
the delicate creatures. |
| Gallery 10 |
Pictures in this gallery were taken in and about the two
small towns of Shakespeare, and Elora. Note the checkers game where I staged
a masterful defeat of my other half! |
| Gallery 9 |
These pictures were taken at Crawford Lake, a conservation
area west of Toronto that boasts an historic First Nation's longhouse. |
| Gallery 8 |
Take a little jaunt through southern Ontario farm country
with me. You'll see a couple of scenes from the small town of Markdale,
which is like so many other southern Ontario towns, in that it may be little
more than one or two intersections, but it still boasts a plethora of
Christian denomination churches. The bales of hay out in the fields, the
grazing sheep and cows, the barn - all these are common of the agriculture
here. |
| Gallery 7 |
In the last photo gallery, you met my husband, but this is,
after all, MY site, so it's time you met me, too! The "shadowy shot" of me
was taken in early September, on a bike ride through Sunnybrook Park, a
favourite haunt. |
| Gallery 6 |
In this gallery, you'll meet my husband, patiently waiting
for me while I run about Stratford, trying to be sure there was no flower
that escaped my lens. |
| Gallery 5 |
The images here framed themselves in the town and environs
of Southampton, on Lake Huron. Famed as one of the very best places in North
America to get great photos of breathtaking sunsets, we found ourselves
there on the night of a major thunderstorm. It knocked out the power and
left us without any chance to even see a sunset, let alone photograph one. |
| Gallery 4 |
These shots were taken in and about the picturesque, small
town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. They include the Brock Monument, a tribute to
the hero who beat off the Yanks when they cast covetous eyes northward to
British North America. |
| Gallery 3 |
#9661 and #9740 are both shots of sumac, taken in the fall.
Are you familiar with it? The leaves paint themselves with the most vivid
red tones to celebrate their joy at the turning of the season. These shots
were all taken around Niagara Falls. |
| Gallery 2 |
Everything you see here was photographed by the side of the
highway on the way up to visit an aunt who lives north of Toronto. The
flowers are all growing wild. #1352 is Queen Anne's Lace, called a
weed by many, but called beautiful by me. |
| Gallery 1 |
All of these shots were taken in May. Kortright is a
conservation area just north-west of Toronto, a wonderful place to go for an
afternoon walk . Cullen Garden and Miniature Village was my gift-destination
for Mother's Day. Sunnybrook Park is one of Toronto's idyllic green spaces,
where the bustle of the city can be left behind for a little while. |