(It's Mother's Day today and if you're alive you had one. I hope you are as grateful and as awed as I am of the woman who gave you life...)
The Nikon Coolpix camera was deteriorating into photos that were out-of-focus or otherwise poor. I go over the same argument every time I need a new camera. The best pictures come from larger camera bodies with interchangeable lenses and accessories. But I have always traveled ultralight and my last big film camera was in the '90's ---- too bulky and too vulnerable on the road. So for the 5th time, I had to go with a pocket-sized point-and-shoot (a Panasonic Lumix) online. The impressive thing was that the FedEx lady walked up our very steep hill to deliver, something the UPS guys never did!
This week had the usual number of unusual things going on. Thick fog and bright hot sun for example --- on the same day! But also painting the van hood, spotting the first asparagus shoots, wowing at the biggest salamander in the pond, and marveling at the annual colour show from the bulbs. Pat planted more raspberries, more for the birds than on our cereal!
Two crappy items, one of them literal! The classic Dakota convertible had to be towed indignantly to the shop: oil drip on the manifold causing smoke under the hood. Easy fix, new valve cover gaskets and ready to cruise. The other though was a pile of ?? near our yard work. Not a raccoon or dog, so bear? coyote? skunk? Anybody out there an expert on scat?
Almost like a tribute to my nature-loving mom, flowers and blossoms are at their best for the next while. From pin cherries to Bishop's Mitre, can you I.D. these?
But the REALLLLY big event this week is Peak Beak! All the rare/endangered/exotic birds are passing through on their migration, such as glossy emerald hummingbirds from Costa Rica to northern Ontario. Incredible journeys. Also too fast to snap were gaudy orange Orioles and regal red Cardinals. The rarest that actually held still were the indigo bunting, red-bellied woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, purple finch, and flickers. Fifty blue jays at a time gobbling the sunflower seeds. Goldfinches, grosbeaks, etc., etc. All outside the window, what a blast of colour!
The Nikon Coolpix camera was deteriorating into photos that were out-of-focus or otherwise poor. I go over the same argument every time I need a new camera. The best pictures come from larger camera bodies with interchangeable lenses and accessories. But I have always traveled ultralight and my last big film camera was in the '90's ---- too bulky and too vulnerable on the road. So for the 5th time, I had to go with a pocket-sized point-and-shoot (a Panasonic Lumix) online. The impressive thing was that the FedEx lady walked up our very steep hill to deliver, something the UPS guys never did!
This week had the usual number of unusual things going on. Thick fog and bright hot sun for example --- on the same day! But also painting the van hood, spotting the first asparagus shoots, wowing at the biggest salamander in the pond, and marveling at the annual colour show from the bulbs. Pat planted more raspberries, more for the birds than on our cereal!
Two crappy items, one of them literal! The classic Dakota convertible had to be towed indignantly to the shop: oil drip on the manifold causing smoke under the hood. Easy fix, new valve cover gaskets and ready to cruise. The other though was a pile of ?? near our yard work. Not a raccoon or dog, so bear? coyote? skunk? Anybody out there an expert on scat?
Almost like a tribute to my nature-loving mom, flowers and blossoms are at their best for the next while. From pin cherries to Bishop's Mitre, can you I.D. these?
But the REALLLLY big event this week is Peak Beak! All the rare/endangered/exotic birds are passing through on their migration, such as glossy emerald hummingbirds from Costa Rica to northern Ontario. Incredible journeys. Also too fast to snap were gaudy orange Orioles and regal red Cardinals. The rarest that actually held still were the indigo bunting, red-bellied woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, purple finch, and flickers. Fifty blue jays at a time gobbling the sunflower seeds. Goldfinches, grosbeaks, etc., etc. All outside the window, what a blast of colour!
Yeah spring!!!!
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