Tag Archives: nature

Wilderness Wednesday: Hello, Old Friend

07 Wednesday Jun 2017

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It’s funny. For years, I dreamed of the day when I could trade my small town for the wide world, but after a short time, I started to miss rambling down familiar streets. I missed the stars overhead at night, and the smell of the river in the Spring. Of everything I’ve come to love this town, I look forward to time near the river. I don’t know if it’s because it wends its way predictably and constantly in a world that is anything but constant. Or if it’s because it conjures up memories of bike rides to it in the summer, or McDonald’s picnics on a Sunday afternoon, or even stolen kisses with a sweetheart, the rushing water covering the pounding of my heart.  Whatever it is, its draw is unmistakable, and whenever I see it, I feel like I’m visiting an old friend.

On the long May weekend, I packed the boys (and the guinea pig because who doesn’t like driving for 3 hours with a small barn in the back seat) and visited my folks. We went for a walk along the river to see if the water, which had been overflowing the banks earlier in the week, had receded. In most places it was, except along the western edge where the mouth of the river widened.

I wish I had appreciated the beauty and character of my small town more before I moved away, but I’m thankful that I can always come home to say “hello, old friend”.

So old friends you must forget what you had to forgive
And let love be stronger than the feelings
That rage and run beneath the bridge
Knowin’ morning follows evening
Makes each new day come as a gift
– Rich Mullins, Hello Old Friend

Wilderness Wednesday: Walk in the Park

24 Wednesday May 2017

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Nature says thou shalt keep the air, skate, swim, walk, ride, run. When you have worn out your shoes, the strength of the sole leather has passed into the fibre of your body. I measure your health by the number of shoes and hats and clothes you have worn out. He is the richest man who pays the largest debt to his shoemaker.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1851

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Happy Wednesday!

Z is for Zuma

30 Sunday Apr 2017

Posted by in Foolishness, Photography

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My parents live in the country and are serenaded each spring and summer by tree frogs.

One evening two years ago, we noticed a little green frog enjoying the big cushy chair. We named him Zuma.

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After posing for photos, Zuma worked his way to the floor of the deck and tried to squeeze himself down a crack between the boards, head first. He succeeded in making a fool of himself, legs flailing hopelessly in the air. My Dad sat closer to try to take his picture while in this ridiculous pose. Humiliated, Zuma crawled under Dad’s boot to hide…

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…where he stayed for close to an hour. I took pity on my Dad (the gentle giant) and made a temporary frog shelter (NB: these cups also make great mousetraps).

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By sunset, Zuma had left his house to regale his friends of his near-death encounter with the “giants”.

Last year, Little Guy enjoyed playing with Zuma II in the pool!

(We encountered Hogarth last October, and he was not impressed with me).

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I’m looking forward to Summer more than you are looking forward to the end of this post, and for those who participated, the end of the a-to-z challenge. It has been a LOT of fun!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit, and especially to those who took time to comment. I appreciated the feedback an encouragement! 🙂

 

G is for GPS

09 Sunday Apr 2017

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Last May, a 23 year old Ontario woman made national news when she drove her car into Lake Huron one night. While poor visibility played into it, her sense of security and trust in her global positioning system (“GPS”) resulted in a scary and soggy ending to her journey. She isn’t the first, and certainly not the last!

I named my GPS “Gloria” (short for Glorious Patronizing System). I feel more secure with a paper map!

Scientists aren’t sure how, but most birds, including Canadian Geese, seem to have an internal that permits them to fly the same routes pattern year after year. Geese are monogamous, and mate for life,often returning to the places where they were born.

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I’m not sure how secure I’d feel trusting my own internal GPS. That being said, I’ve made several off-road trips to the homestead, and I lived through them all! 🙂

To see more “Security” photos, click here.