A BUSY WOODPECKER - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

Just to change things up a little bit, I decided to go for my long walk today. So at the bottom of our driveway, I took a ‘right’. This route is much more exposed along the shore with wide open vistas, but usually worth it. Once again I only came across one other person and they were heading in the opposite direction. I felt like I had a little more energy today too. The snow didn’t come to anything last night but definitely made up for it this afternoon!

It was so quiet as I walked that you could almost hear a pin drop. That was soon interrupted by a loud knocking sound which I soon found out was being generated by this busy girl (I think). I’ve identified her as a Pileated Woodpecker. This is the largest of the common woodpeckers and was such a treat to see. I’m not sure how these and a number of other trees in the area are going to fare as there was bark flying in all directions at lightening speed. You can see from this picture how much bark has already gone and exposed the lighter colour underneath.

I really like to see the punctuation of colour against the snow with these chairs…hopeful for summer days to come.

You already know from a previous post how much I love this rope fence. It adds a lovely texture to this image I think.

This is a favourite spot where I stopped walking, realizing how far I’d come and would have to walk all the way home again. This is ice as far as the eye can see albeit quite thin further out. I watched a couple of bald eagles flying along the edge of the thicker ice. It wouldn’t surprise me if they could see fish through the ice surface and break through, although they didn’t attempt that on my watch.

This is looking back towards Snake Island. I’d walked a couple of miles to get to this point…so two miles home again…brrr.

SNOW ON THE WAY - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

It was a relatively mild walk this morning which was all the better for having the company of a couple of friends and a ‘pup’.

The lake is continuing to freeze but is not yet ready to support any weight; that will be a little while yet.

There has been a definite change in the light over the course of the day. The northwest sky was becoming pale indigo in colour as the afternoon continued along…which made sense when I heard the weather forecast.

There is apparently quite a fall of snow on the way for us during the overnight hours…a proper winter storm by the sound of it.

FROZEN - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

I have had zero energy today and after some thought, decided to embrace the fact for a day. It’s important that we all recognize days such as this and if at all possible listen to your body and let it have a little rest.

I did however get out for a walk this afternoon and feel so much better for it. There were a lot of cars out on our scenic stretch of road and sadly many were oblivious to pedestrian traffic i.e. me. It’s a shame they miss the beautiful scenery around here in their haste.

The ice now completely fills the channel between Snake Island and the shore. I don’t know if this is ‘it’ for the foreseeable or if there will be yet another thaw.

After the War of 1812 , this lake island, along with Fox Island (which sits just behind Snake Island from my vantage point) and Georgina Island were purchased by Chief Joseph Snake (Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation) from the British. It is uncertain if the island was named after him. The Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation are an Ojibwa (or Anishinaabeg) people located in this area.

There are no roads on the island, only unpaved tracks that connect band members’ homes that are on the shoreline. The only way to get there is by private boat or the ferry when the water is open or by snowmobile, ATV or walk/snowshoe when the lake is frozen over.

A CRYSTAL BALL - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

I was outside today running a couple of messages, but didn’t get for my morning or any other time of day, walk. I caught a glimpse of the sun going down about an hour or so ago and felt like a breath of fresh air before settling in for the evening. I had my crystal ‘lensball’ in my pocket; this is one of three and is my favourite at 80mm.

I think they can be used so creatively and frame a composition in such a unique way…light refraction is fun; they should teach things like this type of application in school!

I feel frostbite was so close after spending just a couple of minutes with my gloves removed and whilst kneeling on the dock in a pile of snow. But it was worth it, definitely.

Now I’m happily back in the warmth enjoying a glass of wine before getting dinner started. All the better for having spent a few minutes in nature. Night night from the lake.

Coorie in - a lake for all seasons

A little bit of everything today. The snow has been falling, albeit sporadically, for the best part of the day, it looks like a snow-globe rather than a blizzard. I was out this morning for my usual walk and I have to say it was a bit of a slog. The ‘WinterTrax’ on my boots help a great deal, but still!

It was lovely seeing the snow clinging to the various roadside flora. Fauna was represented by bunny, squirrel, fox and racoon tracks on the surface of the fresh fall. The bulrushes are one of my year-round favourites.

The beautiful red of the sumac is always a welcome sight with the contrast of the snow. These ones are still looking particularly good compared to many others I’ve noticed over the past few weeks.

After arriving back at the house, I usually have a quick check in the back garden just to make sure everything is as it should be…and as expected, it was. I can’t wait to sit in these chairs again. They are placed around the fire-pit and we had great plans of sitting out around a roaring fire, toasting marshmallows and all that other fun stuff on a snowy winter evening. The idea is as far as we’ve got so far.

I popped along the lake to take the wee laddies to the park for an hour or so this afternoon. It was not really windy, so it wasn’t too bad. I was surprised to see the kite surfers out on the ice and others getting ready to head out. I suppose when they’re out in the open space there’s more wind current. It looks like such fun!

We caught a glimpse of another ‘mighty eagle’ soaring along the shoreline, probably looking for rabbits or ducks and then watched it head out to the open water…perhaps having better luck with a fish.

So now after a day outside in the fresh air it’s time to coorie in by the fire and enjoy a well earned cup of tea before I get started with dinner.

Look to the sky - A lake for all seasons

‘The sun always shines above the clouds.’ – Paul F. Davis

I was mesmerized by the movement in sky this afternoon. It was a bitter, bone chilling wind coming off the lake this afternoon. The clouds appeared to be full of snow awaiting its release.

I was with the grandbabes hanging out at the park for some fresh air and trying desperately to stay warm. Have I mentioned before that I’m not a huge fan of winter? If not, I should let you know, I’m not a huge fan of winter!

It was yet another grey day, but within the span of about twenty minutes after our arrival, the light began to dramatically change.

A band of light began to open up in the heavy cloud cover.

And then it was as if the heaven’s began to open and illuminate the desolate lakescape…we were awestruck in our silence just watching the great canvas before us being created.

Birdies - A lake for all seasons

And there was me thinking yesterday that there was a definite lack of birds about, what a difference a day makes! As I approached a round in the bend, I could see a huge number of birds sitting in the lakeside shrubs, a meeting of sorts, planning their day perhaps. I knew as soon as they saw me they’d instantaneously take flight, so I was one step ahead of them and set my phone camera to be ready. The flock in this photograph is about a quarter of the whole. It was an incredible sight as they all took to the sky together in the blink of an eye. The collective energy of all those wings was truly palpable and a sight to behold.

Before beginning my walk back home, I sat at the edge of the water for a few minutes just listening to the ice as it was nudged towards the shore with the waves gently urging it on. It was only about -8 degrees celsius today, I’m sure had the lake been a little calmer, the ice plates would have connected once again.

There are quite a number of larger docks dotted along the shore, but the one in the photograph below is one of my favourites. It’s probably only 14 feet by 8 feet…but what a view! Because it’s about 12 feet below the edge of the road, it is interesting to see the shadows cast on the ice by the plants clinging to the side of the slope above.

On this dock sits a rickety old rocking chair that I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to sit in now for fear I would break it. I can only imagine how many beautiful sunrises and sunsets it has been witness to and the folk that it has offered respite to at the close or dawn of a new day.

Simple pleasures - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

I’m amazed at how few people I see on my morning walks sometimes, apart from my usual guys and gals. Today there wasn’t even anyone walking their dog. There actually wasn’t much discernible activity, human or otherwise…not even a birdie chirping…hmm (well I’m sure there probably was but it didn’t seem audible.

On the way home I stopped at a small public dock and thought to myself that this part of the lake should really be more frozen than this by now. It was actually a VERY scary thought…global warming is here and now!

Later on in the afternoon I pootled down to see the wee laddie and bairn for another park playtime. These opportunities feed my soul. The weather was definitely looking a bit dodgy; but what’s a bit of a blizzard between friends and grand-babies? It is just wonderful to see the wee one let off some of that endless energy and let his imagination run free. He’s often remarked that winter is his favourite time of year. Why little boy, why? Still though, it was SO good to get out into the fresh air again.

We had a blast sledging down the ice, all twelve feet of it, on our snow pants; forget a plastic bag or sled and the fact that the ‘proper’ slide was six feet away. We must have done this thirty times while the bairn slept peacefully in the pushchair. Oh my gosh; what fun we had together and the wee laddie screaming at the top of his voice ‘Go Gran GO!’ Simple pleasures…MAKE MEMORIES!

The pools created by the ‘ice monks’ yesterday were completely frozen over once again today. We didn’t venture onto the lake today and didn’t hang around to see if they would be taking a dip today. This photograph was taken just before we couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces as a massively strong flurry picked up off the lake. The ice fisher-folk were still out on the edge of the ice, I’m sure hanging on to their flimsy huts for dear life, hoping to catch dinner I guess. Apparently the perch are what they are seeking. I truly can’t believe how different this part of the lake is compared to where we live a few kilometers away, the lakescape is totally different!

It was a bumpy ride back home for the bairn as we travelled through a cleared forest area. The four wheels of his stroller are not nearly as much fun as an ATV negotiating all of the icy ruts. We stopped by an old tree that had fallen many years ago and now thrives as an arch, framing a perfect vista of the lake. Just because something isn’t deemed as perfect by the masses anymore doesn’t mean it isn’t just absolutely perfect!

The Ice Monks - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

Each day at the lake holds something different and sometimes unexpected…today was one of those days. It started with my morning constitutional and the gratitude I hold for this being an important and sacred part of my life. It grounds me and sets me up for the day.

I took a few photographs with my phone that I’d planned on using for my post today. The lake was calm on this chilly, crisp mid-morning. I could have created my post upon returning to the house, but thought I’d hold off until later.

I decided to pop along the lake to take the wee laddie and bairn out for a play at the park by their house this afternoon, so that my daughter could have a bit of time to get dinner ready. We played together for almost an hour before anyone else came along.

As we were about to leave, a couple showed up in shorts and headed out onto the lake and checked on an area then walked back to shore. I was curious, so asked if they were planning on taking a swim not expecting that they really might be contemplating that…after all it was about -6 degrees celsius! They were soon joined by another chap wearing shorts and a toque. We chatted for a moment and I mentioned about my journal and asked if I could take a few photographs for a post to which he agreed.

So with the ice fishermen in the background, they began breaking up the ice about 20 feet off shore in the marked area I had noticed previously to have been cleared. They were joined soon after that by another man with a Scottish accent, which of course I had to find out more about. It turned out that he was the husband of an acquaintance I’d met last year at one of the pre-school programmes I used to take the wee laddie to. We chatted for a bit about what they were planning on doing.

The wee laddie and I were watching, completely fascinated. The next thing I knew, the man with the toque, who I now know as Victor, began a breathing technique and then descended into the freezing cold water and sat down in it up to his neck. He was then joined in the next ‘ice pool’ by the Scottish fella that I now know is Mark, who was explaining to the original couple about the techniques used for breathing in these conditions.

Mark and Victor stay in the icy lake for a 13 minute session most days and various other people join them for varying amounts of time building up over time to this threshold. This practice is based on Wim Hof, something I had heard of previously. Many people liken this to something similar to a polar bear dip which is not the same as these water immersion techniques. It is something that has sparked my interest regarding the potential benefits in building mental resilience, among a multitude of other positive outcomes to explore. Something we could probably all benefit from, especially in these uncertain times.

Mark and Victor have a new website, which I gather will launch any day now at www.icemonks.com I think it will be interesting to learn more about this philosophy. Whether I’m up to participating in something like this I’m not sure, but I’m open to learning more about it. This truly is ‘A lake for all seasons’ and you just never know who you’ll meet.

Take a closer look - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

We had a covering of light snow in the overnight hours leaving everything looking nicely refreshed for morning. After the black ice of yesterday, I decided to put the ‘WinterTrax’ back on my walking boots again before I set off. The wind was blowing off the lake with some force, so a walk along the golf course I felt was in order.

I’d always noticed a bit of a dugout by one of the streams I pass by every day, but it pretty well disappears into the landscape until it snows. Then you really start to notice paw prints and that regular activity takes place in the area. Not sure what creature calls it home, perhaps one day I’ll find out.

Just around the corner the wind began to drop as it became more sheltered. This area very much reminds me of what I imagine Maine and areas of New England to be like with its little community enclaves, dips and bends in the narrow roads. In winter it’s very quiet here as it’s the back of the properties on our road.

You have to be aware of where you walk when the area is snow covered for fear of breaking through ice and landing in a puddle…it’s not really a big deal if you don’t mind wet feet.

I love the stark appearance of the naked trees against the snow. There is something comforting about knowing they will awaken once again in the Spring.

I love the colour of this simple arbour against the winterscape. A simple structure announcing an invitation to the space beyond.

Heading back towards home, I came across this old plough that sits out in the open near a sand trap. Snow punctuating its form and once again amplifying its existence.

…and I just love this old farmhouse! So although I didn’t walk along much of the shore this morning it was still lovely to be out and about in our neighbourhood enjoying everything it has to offer.

Black ice - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

I set off this morning with all good intentions. The sun was shining along with a gentle breeze, but I should have known better! Days like this can sometimes present challenges and this one was no exception.

I usually walk with one of my snowshoe poles to provide me with a bit of confidence. I am not particularly sure-footed in winter weather as a result of a brain injury after a life altering car accident three decades ago. Weird as this may sound, I always have a sense in snow and icy weather that I’m walking about a centimeter above whatever surface I’m walking on…and it is quite disconcerting.

Long story short, black ice! So after valiantly giving it my best effort, ‘home again, home again, jiggety jig’.

I spy with my little eye - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

Wow, in the blink of an eye January is half over! A hint of sun for a few moments this afternoon and then back to the grey colour story. I was out for my usual walk this morning but didn’t see anything in particular that I wanted to capture on my phone, so thought I’d wait until collecting the post this afternoon.

Passing the ferry dock it was hard not to notice that the ice that was out to Snake Island has completely disappeared again from what I can tell. It’s definitely been milder, but blimey, all gone!

I headed over to a little swim spot just past the wharf and thought I’d take a shot of a bench, positioned to take in a pleasant view of the docks and keep an eye on anyone swimming in the better weather. It’s a nice spot to sit on a summer evening and watch the gorgeous sunsets, but after collecting the post, I wasn’t feeling it today. Just as I was about to leave, some movement in the water caught my eye. I’d just put my phone camera on ‘burst’ and there it suddenly came into view. I’m guessing a mink judging by it’s size and tail colour, it could have been a marten, but I’m sticking with mink. I think it realized I was standing there as it swam out into the water. Then as I raised my phone, it quickly turned tail, reversing course, quietly slipping under the overhang of ice at the shore. Another magic moment at the lake.

This Heart’s for you - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

This is one of those misty mornings at the lake that leaves me awestruck surrounded by the beauty of nature, that so many of us simply take for granted. A quiet, early morning at the public dock has to be my favourite time of day at any time of year.

This gnarled old tree below quietly ‘speaks’ to me each time I pass by, with its heart in plain view if you happen to catch the perfect angle in the branch formations overhanging the water. I wonder how many people have passed it and even noticed the love that it is silently sending out? Well, we all need a little love and support during difficult times or just a gentle reminder of the beauty that surrounds us, so this heart’s for you!

Walking onto the dock and looking out towards the vast open expanse of water, the horizon is often blurred. Where does the sky meet the lake? The chevron pattern forming with the reflection of the clouds on the glassy surface…another moment to savor.

We do not live directly on the water but enjoy a fifteen second walk to it with our beach access being shared between a few homes. So this is our little bit of beach where in the summer we can swim, launch a kayak or the wee laddie can paddle in his wellies until it freezes. In winter this is where the snowshoes are put on once the ice is frozen. This morning looking out to Snake Island, it is definitely super chilly.

The photograph below is a favourite spot of mine for the gorgeous sunsets that this side of the lake is known for. I think it’s pretty special in the mornings too.

Connect - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

Somewhat milder today at 0°C but still a dull, grey day. It is the first new moon of 2021, known as the Capricorn moon. I think the odds of us not being able to see it tonight are probably pretty high…sigh.

The lake was calm again today and I think that provided a chance for the ice to connect in the channel from the shore of Snake Island to us here on the mainland in our little community of Island Grove. Perhaps I’m the only one that finds this evolution fascinating. I think so many of us take these sort of occurrences for granted as we’re mostly conducting our lives on auto-pilot. There is something to be said for authentically living in the moment and being present.

Here you can see the open water to the left of the photograph and the icy crescent forming to the right. I’m looking forward to snow-shoeing out to the island once I see the ice fisher-people out in their huts. It’s about a mile away, so good exercise.

In this second photograph I was trying to capture these incredible two inch thick shards of crystal clear ice that form when the water temperature is just right while the lake is perfectly calm. They then start to break up at the shore as the winds pick up, gathering in clumps by the docks. Sometimes closer to April when the lake starts to thaw, there is a phenomenon that causes massive ice floes to break up and come ashore. It’s almost an ice Tsunami moving with such force, crushing any structure in its path. I have some photographs of this from previous years that I’ll share with you in a couple of months.

All creatures great and small - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

Our day started with a visitor in the back garden and for once a healthy looking individual. We have quite a few fox in the area so it’s not really unusual seeing them walk through the property. We’ve had problems in the past with people feeding them seemingly unaware that it is not a good idea to do so and that in turn has fueled their confidence around people. Last Spring we had a particularly mangy chap that was being treated by the local wildlife sanctuary, deciding our front porch furniture was a lovely spot to rest. I got the fright of my life, when with wine glass in hand and ready to enjoy a nice sit down, I was greeted. He looked at me, I looked at him, I backed up (careful not to spill my wine) and off he went on his merry way. In the summer we installed a gate at the porch steps…touch wood, no further concerns.

Here are a few photographs (taken with my Canon camera) of a family that visited us over a few weeks two summers ago…again, they seemed to like our patio furniture but were at least wary of people.

All creatures great and small…at the lake.

a One man band - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

I’m just back home from a very chilly hour and a half of fresh air at the park with the wee laddie and bairn. Oh to be a child again, excited by the snow and running around and generally having the best time. We always make a point to cross this wooden bridge with the rusty metal slats to get to the swings and slide when we could quite easily take a different path. If we had gone the other way we would have missed an opportunity to use the bridge as a percussion instrument. A quiet afternoon on a frozen lake, the sound of banging and stomping across the bridge resonnates with crystal clarity and evokes such joy and imagination in a little boy. I don’t think the babe was too impressed though!

I was surprised at the amount of activity on the ice this afternoon. Further along at the southern most bay of the lake, we could just make out five or six kite surfers through the slowly building snow flurries on the horizon. Much like the eagle in yesterday’s post, trust me they were there.

Here’s another winter activity that I have never understood the appeal of…ice fishing. The little dots on the horizon are small portable fishing ‘tents’. They’ve been pitched along the edge of the ice near the open water. I suppose these sportsmen must know something I don’t. I hope they caught something good for dinner!

One foot in front of the other - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

As I began my walk this morning, there were a few small flakes of the white stuff beginning to fall. I wasn’t sure how far I’d make it along the lake before ending up looking like a snowman, but if I didn’t set off I wouldn’t know.

This little marina seems to close down for a few months once the ‘visitors’ have departed as the summer draws to its close. The only footprints I see in the snow on the docks must belong to the local wildlife; raccoon, squirrel, fox, turkey, goose, duck, loon, marten, mink, deer and such. I often photograph this spot throughout the day and think of it as quintessentially ‘lake’.

As I continued on my way I noticed how when the water is calm at the shoreline of Snake Island , it’s much easier to see little Fox Island behind it. One of these days I’ll perhaps get out there in a kayak to explore a little more. Once the lake has completely frozen, I sometimes walk or snowshoe out to Snake Island. It’s actually a lot further than it looks.

Along this part of the shore is where the lake is temptingly accessible even though the land is not public access. There are so many different types of barriers discouraging passerby from venturing forth, some are more visually appealing than others. This is one of my favourites, it makes a point but is not ‘in your face’.

Fox Island is the little raised bump in the middle of the photograph on the horizon with Snake Island the next bump, sitting to it’s left. The large trees just to the left of the picture are on a point at the shoreline. I love the way when you view this in person, how the visual layers of the depth of field are so much more apparent.

Well, you are going to have to trust me on this one…a bald eagle once again following the shoreline on the look out for lunch perhaps. They seem to just appear from nowhere and disappear almost as quickly. I feel almost speechless when I see the grace of these magnificent birds of prey. I always feel it’s such a privilege to catch a glimpse of any of the creatures that call this place home.

Remember when - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

Another beautiful day with plenty of sunshine. Although it was freezing outside once again, the coming week promises to be a little more forgiving. It’ll be interesting to see the progress or lack thereof with the ice filling in over the next few days.

This is a storm water management pond about a mile and a half from the house. It’s on the opposite side of the road to the lake. As you can perhaps imagine, it’s usually the first body of water to freeze in this area. This morning, before it came into view, I could hear a familiar sound of a winter in Canada...skates on ice! There was an older chap skating around and I have to say, he had some rather fancy moves.

I never did learn to skate; I suppose that could be from growing up in the United Kingdom. I only remember one winter where we had enough snow to play in and build a snowman. We did use to head over to Nottinghamshire on a few occasions for roller skating, I couldn’t manage that either. In the late 1970’s I lived in Sweden for a time, just outside Stockholm. I was a nanny to three amazing children (who are now grown with families of their own and to this day, I count as part of my family). We lived on a lake then too and I recall on winter afternoons, us all clambering up ‘the rock’ in the back garden to get to the lake. I tried to get the hang of skating there too, but to no avail. My memories of those adventures were of the incredibly loud booms of ice cracking as the children skated and I seemed to be the only one concerned.

When living at our previous home where our two children grew up, we did the skating rink thing in the back garden for a number of years, which also happened to back on to a storm management pond. Our first rink was created in the mud of the garden it was eventually to become. It had little mud mountains that the children expertly cornered and at some speed I might add. The love of this activity eventually lead to our son becoming enthralled with the sport of figure skating. As a pre-teen he practiced for endless hours either on the ice at the indoor rink or on roller-blades on the driveway and he became good, in fact really good. His coaches felt he had the potential to aim towards competing in an Olympic Games, he was driven and focused at such an early age.

And then before we knew it everything changed. His hockey playing peers got wind of the sport that had claimed his heart and began a relentless barrage of bullying. Long story short, our son felt that he could not continue on. It sickens and saddens me to this day that a child could be subjected to such an awful experience. I sometimes wonder what might have been had he felt he could continue on. I think it was such a traumatic experience that even to this day, I think he might have lost sight of the raw talent he had and very rarely skates now. Wow…that was tucked away in a memory drawer.

Now I need a little sunset love after that. The ferry dock is just a few seconds from the house. This is almost the same view as last night, except that I included a corner of one of the rafts used to transport building equipment of other heavy items out to one of the two islands just opposite our home. The ferry has long since been taken out of the lake for the season but I’m guessing these will remain.

All about the ice - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

It was another beautiful freezing cold but sunny walk again this morning. Today it’s been all about the surface ice beginning to form along the shore by our home. This is a favourite mid-walk rest spot to take in this narrow part of the lake.

There is a sound unique to the lake at this time of year as it begins to ‘thicken’ with the small frozen particles slowly coming together to eventually cover the whole surface.

It fascinates me watching the seemingly small changes in the ‘lakescape’ each day that will cumulate in the birth of a completely frozen world.

I’ve spent most of the day on the computer preparing for some upcoming projects. Before I realized it, 5.00pm was staring me in the face and I felt the need for another breath of fresh air before making a start on dinner. So off I went to the post box to pick up the mail…that’s one good thing about community mailboxes; they get you outside. And because I was passing one of the docks and there was the makings of a beautiful sky, I had to stop once more.

The sunny side - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

The sun came out today and it was a welcome sight! I took a different route and walked the opposite way today…it was bitterly cold. The shoreline is more level with the road, rather than the 15ft drop in places when I head down the lake. I think that’s why it always seems colder this way. There are less trees and more chances of being splashed.

Waves were crashing against the ends of the docks and the ice was building at the shore. There were few clouds in the sky and the sun felt almost warm against my skin.

I often wonder how the ducks and loons put up with the constant bobbing about when they’re out on the water. There were many gulls flying overhead and not a goose in sight. Oh, and I saw an owl too.

There were even a few old alligators…pretty rare in these parts!

Best of all, a magnificent bald eagle flew along side me for a few minutes. Because it was so cold my phone battery was already drained so I was unable to capture its beauty in flight. I was lucky to be able to see one with the wee laddie yesterday as we walked over to the public dock…”Gran look, a mighty eagle!”…indeed a sight to behold…and two days in a row! I’m sure they’ll stay while there is open water.

Later on this afternoon I went further down the lake to take the wee laddie and his baby brother, ‘the wee bairn’ to the park for a while. As you can see, same lake very different scenery from this vantage point.