Goose Island State Park

December 29, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

It is a beautiful day, with sunny skies and a light breeze, and we are late getting away, so decide to stick close to home in our explorations. Goose Island State Park fits the bill. Just north of where we are staying, the park lies on the coast between the waters of Aransas and St […]

Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge

December 27, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

“What kind of camera is that?” “A Nikon.” “What are you doing?” “Taking pictures of the birds. Do you like birds?” “Yes. Which ones?” Our inquisitor is no more than five, a tiny boy in blue windbreaker, jeans and running shoes. He climbs atop a wooden bench to get a better look. “Whoa, there are […]

Royal Visit

December 24, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Unassuming mauveattracts royalty – delightscommon bystander. (For Cee’s FOTD.)

Packery Channel Park

December 22, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

Exploring is something Ric and I love to do. He will pour over the web for hours researching points of interest, and I happily follow along. Some places do not meet our expectations and others exceed them, soon becoming favourites. After driving along the beaches of Mustang Island we have come to The Packery Channel […]

Recipe For Renewal

December 21, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

Base Ingredients: 2 weather-weary and travel worn Canadians1 extra long motor homea site by the water Add: 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Anhinga 1 Great Egret and a Kingfisher Let set for several days until dust has settledand birds have become accustomed to featherless. Enjoy! (Submitted for my weekly challenge: recipe. All images are from […]

Rocks in Black & White

December 20, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

The Canadian Shield,where rugged pines stretch,reach for endless skies,taking root in rocky shores. We set boulders in our gardensto anchor us against untimely storms,or perhaps to remind us of endurancewhen everything else falls away. Even the satisfying crunch of stones on our pathfascinates – the varied hues and forms, like art,incite searches for undiscovered treasures […]

A Stellar Outing

December 18, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

A victorious screech greeted our arrival at South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. Overhead an Osprey toting his catch flew by landing on the rail of the nearby water tower. In the centre of parking lot a small garden played host to a number of different butterflies. Last year, they were just planting […]

I Spy…

December 16, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

…canoeists on the Avon river, Stratford, Ontario. …a family fishing outing, Muskoka, Ontario. My favourite birder in Bird Blind #1. (Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is: Catching people unaware.)

Orange

December 15, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Orange is the colour, I’d like to be –fiery as sunsets, bright as an oak leaf,brilliant even in the waning hours. (For Cee’s FOTD)

Wildlife Refuge Take Two

December 15, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

The sun is shining and as we pull into the office area, a flash of bright red catches my eye – a vermilion flycatcher. I hop out and aim my lens towards the bush where the bird has landed. A swoop of large, mottled brown wings cuts off my view. A kestrel settles in a […]

Of Trauma Born

Goodbyes tarnishfaith, like ashesscattered My heart grows dismissal,craves a balm of connectionseeks quiet harbour Remind me what it feels like to be safebreath nurturing life,love a rhythmic flow In meditationI reach for peaceimagine salvation But this wayward chaosunrestrainedcements me in doubt Tainted intentionsI lift up to the Universea tempest without hope My soul incubates malicea […]

Hawk (haiku)

Relevance of Story

Stories have power. Parents, teachers, public speakers, and therapists understand that the secret to engaging an audience or connecting with others is through illustration: storytelling. I see it in the eyes of the my grandchildren, who love to hear tales of family history. I’ve seen in the eyes of students, when recognition and understanding light […]