Tag Archives: Spring

nature, Photography

Prairie Cloud Beauty

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I have always loved the beauty of prairie cloud formations. Although they can grow into very damaging storms, most of the time they drop their wind and rain load and then dissipate.

The triangular cloud on the left is what is known as a “cloud with vertical development.” These are the ones that can cause storms, especially thunderstorms.

Its lower half was dropping a lot of rain near the Calgary area.

Although this one was showing a lot of vertical development, it was also on its own, not interacting with other clouds.

Southern Alberta seems to have recently received a lot of rain – courtesy of these thunderheads – a good thing considering that there were lingering drought conditions from last year.

Happy Tuesday.

Photography

Toronto Scenes

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The lights at two complicated, major intersections in downtown Toronto went out, and motorists quickly adjusted to treating them like four-way stops. This operated well up to a point, but police officers soon arrived to help out.

We visited the Art Gallery of Ontario where I was fascinated by the roof architecture. I vastly enjoyed many of the art exhibits, too, but I found that ceiling amazing!

From a window in the gallery, I could see apartments across the street that are about 150 years old. Many of these older buildings now have heritage status, and I love the juxtaposition of old and new.

The blue and grey building is the AGO’s exterior, again juxtaposed against a much older building. The plain wall was being prepped for an art display.

And last but not least, another view of the Toronto tower.

Happy weekend.

nature, Photography

Mindemoya Lake

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We very much enjoyed our rambles around Manitoulin Island where we discovered beautifully clear, lovely lakes.

Walking along on well-worn footpaths near the lake was delightful. It was wonderful to be able to admire the water quality, the birds and the utter tranquility.

We experienced a few black flies but there was a light breeze that kept them down on that day!

Happy Friday.

nature, Photography

Big Lake, Manitoulin Island

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We stopped to wander around Big Lake, which is on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, Ontario.

It’s an incredibly lovely, clear lake, popular with campers and boaters. A wide range of water sports such as windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, swimming and paddle boarding are also common but I understand that anything with an engine isn’t allowed, so if you’re in a boat, you’re also getting your arm exercise!

Summer cottages, many of which can be rented, dot the lake’s beaches.

We had a lovely ramble around the water’s edge and saw this mother loon with eight very little ones!

The birch trees were wearing their new pea green leaves and we enjoyed walking inside their canopy. We encountered a few blackflies but nothing much, really. At a stop the next day they were terrible, but that’s another story!

Happy Thursday.

nature, Photography

Tobermory

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We drove from Markham (near Toronto) to Tobermory for our ferry trip across the mouth of Georgian Bay (off Lake Huron) to Manitoulin Island.

We had a restful evening at a very comfortable inn before our early morning departure. The ferry was in port in preparation for the next day.

After our evening meal and walk back to the inn, the sun began to go down.

The next morning dawned chilly but calm.

We passed the light house as we departed for our two-hour ferry ride to Manitoulin Island.

After a very smooth crossing, we continued our road trip, stopping often for rambles and photos.

Happy Wednesday.

Reblogs

Im tiefen Waldtal – oder Wie man sein erstes Polarlicht (fast) verpassen kann

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Die Idee, nachts noch einmal spontan hinaus zu gehen und “unser” idyllisch im tiefen Waldtal befindliches Häuschen unterm Sternenhimmel zu …

Im tiefen Waldtal – oder Wie man sein erstes Polarlicht (fast) verpassen kann

Beautiful Aurora photos from Radelnder uHu. Please click the link above to see more. The title translates as “In the deep forest valley – or How to (almost) miss your first aurora.”