Retired and tired

Moving Time

2010-01-10T19:27:00.003-05:00

I have decided to make a few changes in my blogging. Till now I have been working in blogger at “Retired and Tired”, but all the cool kids tell me that Wordpress is the way to go so I’m switching over to that format. I have started a new blog there at Dave 1949 You should be able to get there if you click on the name.
I also thought a few days ago that one of the blogs I read regularly, “Miles and Madness,” attracts me in particular because Judi is more open about her life than I have been about mine. Till now I have stayed pretty much behind the camera in my net life but have decided to try and be a bit more open.
Part of the reason I haven’t written much about myself of course is that like most people I don’t often feel I have anything very interesting to say about myself. This year however that changed somewhat.
On October 26 2009 I went to the local hospital to have an inflamed tonsil removed. This is something by the way you should consider doing in your childhood rather than waiting till you are 60. Three days after the surgery I was informed by the doctor that the tonsil had in fact been cancerous and they would set up an appointment for me with the Juravinski cancer centre in Hamilton Ontario.
Now a couple of months and several tests later I’m about to start going through the treatment programme they and I, have agreed on in order to eliminate the cancer.
I intend to continue to publish some of my pictures at the new blog. I also intend to write a bit more about other somewhat more entertaining stuff like our political situation in Canada which is about as entertaining as I have ever seen it.
Any comments you might wish to make will be welcome as long as you aren’t nasty to anyone but myself.

To all of you who have been kind enough to comment about my work here, Thank you very much. I hope some of you will find your way over to the new place.

Sunny Toronto Dec 22 2009

2009-12-27T17:44:00.002-05:00

That little puffy cloud above the white building is actually condensation from its Heating and ventilation system.

This is actually the same two towers but the white one is now reflected in the bronzed glass of the smaller of the two towers

Abilify Side effects

2009-12-27T00:12:00.002-05:00

This is a list of possible side effects of the drug sold as Abilify.
I sure hope it makes you feel better.

Headache;
nausea;
constipation;
anxiety;
restlessness;
weakness;
nervousness;
rash;
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness; insomnia; unable to sleep; (what the heck)
vomiting;
weight gain;
akathisia (sense of inner restlessness or need to move);
Blurred vision;
coughing;
fever;
runny or stuffy nose;
sneezing;
tremor
Convulsions;
difficulty in breathing;
fast heartbeat;
high fever;
high or low blood pressure;
increased sweating;
loss of bladder control;
severe muscle stiffness;
sudden loss of consciousness;
unusual tiredness;
unusually pale skin;
impaired memory

St Catharines Dec 20 2009

2009-12-21T18:03:00.011-05:00

They were stacked up on the fire escape

Then a Zamboni came down the street handing out Coke Samples

Then the crowd started filling the street

There were local police

National police

A fake antique Coke truck

Pretty girls to help sell Coke

Then people dancing on the side of an RBC truck.
Cause what says RBC more than dancers

And then the cops and commercialism didn't matter at all.

Canada Obstructionist On Climate Change Deal

2009-12-18T13:26:00.002-05:00

Looking to the future.

Windmills near Lowbanks on Lake Erie.

Looking to the Past.

I have never been so ashamed of my country.

Christmas Yoga

2009-12-10T18:13:00.002-05:00

As anyone who practices yoga seriously knows, one of the major concepts is the control of and use of breathing.

Here we see a yoga class after a long exhalation. The participants are flabby and sagging with very low energy

And here is the same class after a deep inhalation. Now they all have improved posture and you can literally see them glowing with health and energy.

During the holidays, no matter how hectic, always remember to stop now and then and take a deep breath.

Niagara Super Hospital

2009-12-06T17:15:00.002-05:00

Not Whooping cranes but hospital cranes.
The new Niagara hospital is little more than excavation and foundations yet but the construction cranes are up and the building is progressing.

Recall

2009-11-29T14:18:00.002-05:00

Now that everything is drab and gray I thought I'd recall what it was like just a month ago

Dunnville Bridge

2009-11-27T22:06:00.003-05:00

Dunnville Bridge Over the Grand River.
A dull day in November with the sun just managing to peek out of the clouds.

Mudcat Madness

2009-11-24T13:08:00.003-05:00

Beaverlodge Alta. Has the world's biggest beaver. (insert appropriate joke here.)

Morse Sk has instead of the world's biggest code, huge cattails.

Of course everyone knows about the Wawa goose, and the Sudbury Nickel.

If you've driven the Trans Canda Hwy then you should have seen the 40 ft high Muskie in Kenora.

And now Dunnville On. has joined this unique fraternity of cities with huge statues with the world's largest Catfish.

The pure majesty of it all just sort of brings a tear to my eyes.

Stoned Rodents

2009-11-22T19:07:00.006-05:00

Some days when you're out trying to get some pictures the animals just don't seem to co-operate. This little squirrel was in the tree here in the shade and wouldn't come out in the light so I could get a better shot.

In the blowup here, you can see what I eventually saw. The little bugger was leaning against the tree trunk and nibbling on something which I couldn't identify.

Once I got close enough he bolted and then I saw what he was after. I is a mushroom growing out of the tree trunk. I think it is one of those "magic mushrooms" that I hear all the kids are doing. Damned druggies.

Ladybug Grapes

2009-11-16T20:19:00.002-05:00

Even the Ladybugs like Niagara wine grapes but unfortunately they spoil the juice if they get crushed during the harvest.

Handsome Devil Ain't he.

2009-11-06T15:35:00.002-05:00

As usual he can be embiggened by clicking on the picture.

Hawk On the Hunt.

2009-11-05T00:38:00.001-05:00

I said you are too close. #%& Papparazzi!

2009-11-02T13:41:00.003-05:00

Inevitable

2009-10-21T10:58:00.002-04:00

Martindale Bridge R.I.P.

2009-10-20T19:06:00.004-04:00

Lots of big jackhammers.

Knocking down the deck of the old bridge

This is what's left of the north end about 2 hours after they started.

The bridge built in 1939 was torn down so they can widen the QEW which runs under it. The work was all finished in one night from midnight to about 10 am the next day.
Now I hope they can just finish the widening to 6 lanes before they need to go to 8 lanes. After all the only possible solution to traffic congestion is more paving.
Oh the old bridge by the way, used to contain a lane for the rail trolley that used to run from Port Colborne through the peninsula to Port Dalhousie.

White Clouds Blue skies Leaves just Starting the Change

2009-10-14T22:58:00.002-04:00

Head of the Trent Regatta

2009-10-13T17:20:00.005-04:00

Two guys from Guelph University

Women from Western you may find several of these women on Canada's National team.

Men from Leander Boat Club

Crews heading up to the start before their race.

Crews racing along the Trent Canal on a beautiful fall day.

The Birds

2009-10-12T12:48:00.005-04:00

If you ever wondered where Hitchcock went to film The Birds it was here in Niagara in the fall.

Starlings congregating in large flocks making sure there is no excess food left in the fields to rot over winter.

The pics can all be embiggened by emclicking them.

Niagara Wine Festival 2009

2009-10-10T10:46:00.005-04:00

First Band in the Parade, The Hamilton Police Band cause it's not a parade without the pipes

Niagara Artist Center float showing a typical wine festival patron.

Laura Secord HS junk band now a tradition at the parade.

In an effort to boost production local wineries are now using horsepower to stomp the grapes.

The End

University Sports has started.

2009-09-20T19:54:00.005-04:00

Brock tackling Laurier in women's rugby

Brock defender clearing the ball away from the line against Wilfred Laurier.

Brock right fielder making a fly ball out against Waterloo.

Brock Forward in red Scoring against Waterloo.

Little Things

2009-09-16T19:52:00.026-04:00

All these little things can be "embiggened" by clicking on the pictures.

Bee On Purple Flower

Bees On Goldenrod

Snail On A Stem

Snail In A Flower

Ma Nature designed this to be like velcro

Ladybug

Spider

SPider's Dinner

A great day for Birds.

2009-09-06T21:44:00.005-04:00

I went to the lagoon at Confederation park in Stoney Creek. I had seen a bird there a couple of times while cycling and was trying to get a shot of it

This one is a Great Blue Heron. He's not the one I wanted.

This one is Great Cormorant. It's not him either.

And this one is a Great Egret. He's the one I wanted. I've never seen any of these around here before.

And these Killdeers aren't great but they are pretty neat checking out their reflections

Quiet Night At The Lake #2

2009-09-02T20:27:00.005-04:00

Lake Ontario is often not a very nice place for small boats. Even a good day can often have too much wave action to be much fun but on Sept 1 it was as calm as a millpond.

The first 2 shots are of paddlers close to shore at Charles Daley Park

This guy was out off shore about a kilometer or so and just having fun calmly playing in his canoe. That dark horizontal line near the top of the shot is actually the north shore of the lake about 30 km away.

As usual the pictures can be bigged up by clicking on them.

Quiet Night At The Lake

2009-09-01T21:07:00.004-04:00

Going

Going

Gone

These Boots

2009-08-27T21:32:00.000-04:00

I think it might have been Nancy.

Summer Scooter

2009-08-25T21:29:00.001-04:00

Cool vintage Italian scooter. Famous trademark German shoes. Stylish multicultural Toronto street corner.

What Wrong with this Picture.

2009-08-24T10:19:00.003-04:00

Seen in Toronto Aug 21.
What is going on there, and why haven't they told anyone about it.

Do one thing

2009-08-23T14:57:00.004-04:00

I think she's working on the hair flip and I think she's doing it very well.

It's impolite to Point.

2009-08-22T17:19:00.003-04:00

Mail Box.

2009-08-19T16:40:00.003-04:00

Have you ever wondered why the postman never stops at your mailbox?

Work Boots

2009-08-17T10:43:00.003-04:00

These boots were hung on the fence at the John Deere plant in Welland. They were left by some of the men when they were going home after their last shift.

Luckily Tony Clement was not there to explain that workers had to give up some of their frills in these hard economic times. I'm sure he was probably having very stern words for the company which was closing this plant to move production to Mexico.
Personally I think these workers have given up enough.

2009-08-16T20:45:00.002-04:00

This is a plaque put into the wall of the old St Catharines Public utility Building.

Home Decor Decision.

2009-08-13T20:40:00.001-04:00

Too bad it cost so much it would look so cool in the living room.

God Loves you.

2009-08-12T14:34:00.003-04:00

If you drive along the QEW just west of Vineland you can see this cross and sign from the road. It is on the property of St David Greenhouses who grow peppers hydroponically in the structures. While passing the other day I noticed this Red tail Hawk had perched on the sign and was struck by the devotional message and the fact that a raptor was there to help protect the greenhouses from birds which often fly in the open windows and ruin some of the crop.

On closer inspection though I saw that even though the owners know God loves them they weren't above helping him by putting up a dozen or so of these plastic owls to aid in the cause.

Charles Daley Park Beach

2009-08-11T22:46:00.004-04:00

This is pretty much the first really hot week of the summer. And yet there didn't seem to be anybody interested in going swimming today to cool off.
I can't figure it out myself.

As usual you can biggify the picture by clicking on it.

Bunnys Gone Bad

2009-07-27T17:47:00.005-04:00

At Casablanca road and the QEW in Grimsby they opened up a big box grocery store a year or so ago. Since then it has been joined by a home improvement store and inevitably the local environment has suffered. Now around this plaza gangs of rabbits wait for unsuspecting customers and then attack robbing them of their provisions.
Note this one lying in wait in the weeds, he looks on with complete disdain on the victims with his hair slicked back to try and hide his mowhawk haircut.

And then note this one. See his glassy eyes as he recovers from his binge. There in the grass behind him is the evidence of his pillaging. Somewhere another shopper has been taken down by Bunnies gone bad.

If you go out to the store today, be vewy vewy careful.

I think I'll ab-stain.

2009-07-25T20:35:00.003-04:00

I like it when a business has a bit of a sense of humour.

One to go. One on Final Approach.

2009-07-22T17:35:00.003-04:00

XUP has a post today all about bees. I'm not sure if these are bees or wasps but they were definitely working this flower

Clicking on the pic brings up a larger image.

Pornography and Jesus

2009-07-17T11:40:00.002-04:00

If the churches had offered this sort of thing when I was young I might still be attending service. I wonder if the feature is the Devil in Miss Jones.

Blue Trotters

2009-07-15T18:34:00.000-04:00

Moonlight

2009-07-10T02:43:00.002-04:00

A teacher asked his class once which was more important sunlight or moonlight. As you would expect everyone said sunlight was more important, except me. He asked why I thought the moonlight more important so I told him.
The sunlight is available during the day when it's already bright outside but the moonlight comes at night when we really need the help.

If you click on the picture you'll get abigger moon to help.

Grapes In the Mist.

2009-06-30T16:12:00.002-04:00

A newly planted grape field soaking up some mist trying to grow another few bottles of wine for our enjoyment. Niagara Wine Festival which you can find out about HERE is only 3 months away.

World's Biggest Woman

2009-06-28T17:50:00.001-04:00

Do Not Pick.

2009-06-19T21:59:00.001-04:00

But you can click if you want a bigger view.

Water Lily Reflection

2009-06-17T18:02:00.002-04:00

Toronto Naked Bike Ride. Second try.

2009-06-13T21:57:00.012-04:00

Today was one of the naked bike days around the world. This group rode in Toronto to help promote riding.

Now personally I think this sends the wrong message. as some of the riders weren't wearing helmets.
If you would like to see some more pictures of the event they should be available if you click here.
Well don't bother clicking that because apparently the great god Google master of Picassa has deleted the pics .

"Please be advised that we have recently received reports that inappropriate content has been posted to your Picasa Web Albums account. One or more photos displayed in your gallery violates our Program Policies and has been removed.

Our Policies state that images displayed on picasaweb.google.com cannot contain obscenity, pornography, promotions of hate, incitement of violence, or spam, malicious code, or viruses. Please note that if you continue to violate these Program Policies, we may suspend your Picasa Web Albums account.

To read more about our Program Policies and Terms of Service, please visit http://picasa.google.com/web/policy.html

Thank you for your cooperation."

I have tried to find some way to complain about this but so far have been unable to find any way to contact them to ask about the decision.

The offending images are here. At least they are till someone censors them.

I can't help but think that it is probably the picture of the iguana that is causing all the fuss as a lot of people really don't like lizards.

Recycling day.

2009-06-11T21:21:00.011-04:00

Another day out for a ride and finding some interesting things to look at.
The first pic is of a deer in a hay field. He's a bit hard to see cause the hay is pretty much up to his back and his head is about all that's visible

This is the same deer running across a lawn. I'm afraid the camera focused on the gate but you can see it's actually a full grown deer. Both these shots were taken just beside Beamer's falls near Grimsby.

Then out on Caistorville rd farther south I came across these vultures doing their bit for cleanup of the roadway. That is a mink by the way that hey had found and were beginning to devour.

And as I got the shots of the vultures I had to smile cause beside me about 30 yards from them it became obvious that for man or beast it was recycling day in Caistorville.

2009-06-10T16:16:00.002-04:00

First off I just want to say that I do not believe that Lisa Raitt is in fact a man trying to become a woman in a confusing world. Nor do I think that that is why little Stevie likes her so much. His taste in women or the transgendered has nothing to do with this.
This is about the fact that I might have a chance to get lucky.
Lisa it seems thinks that a lack of medical isotopes is sexy. These are her words not mine and I have to say that on hearing this my tight little heart skipped a beat. Unlike most of the men in Canada I personally have absolutely no medical isotopes and as far as I know have never had any. Now I find out that a hottie like the minister of natural resources finds this sexy enough to tell her assistant about it, and believe me I have already sent her message outlining my lack and asking about a possible date.
Now I know a lot of you are probably thinking that this isn’t much to forge a relationship on but to be honest I’m sort of just looking for a bit of a fling nothing too serious so I think it might work. Meanwhile I certainly hope that that cute little mole thing growing on her chin isn’t cancerous cause it might take her a while to get any testing done. Oh well thats not really a problem, surely if it was Harper would have been upset by her leaking to all the world how hot this all made her.
It is odd though that when her assistant forgot the secret documents Lisa felt she should offer her resignation but when she herself screws up on tape she doesn’t think anything is wrong. It’s almost like she and Stevie had worked out that little bit of remorse beforehand as a way to call off the dogs.
Oh well too much worry about trivial things. I’m waiting to hear back from her about the date so I’ll try to concentrate on that and the obvious sexiness of my situation.

Out to Pasture

2009-06-08T18:58:00.003-04:00

Have you ever felt that you've been forgotten.
This crane has been sitting in the field west of Niagara Falls for at least 4 years now.
Even as scrap steel it would be worth a few thousand bucks so I don't know why the owner doesn't get rid of it but meanwhile the birds and bugs love it.

Growing up

2009-06-05T22:38:00.002-04:00

They grow up so fast.
These ones are already starting to show the white chin straps.

Preowned?

2009-06-04T18:54:00.001-04:00

Maybe it's just me but when I buy an employee I like to get a brand new one.
I guess in "these tough economic times" though you might have to scale back and buy used.

In it for Himself?

2009-06-03T13:43:00.002-04:00

I really wish the people who run this country would stop calling elections without telling me. I assume there must be an election going on because every single day I am informed that Michael Ignatieff is not in it for Canada but just in it for himself.
This I think is reprehensible. to think that someone would use the political system for his own selfish purposes is just too ugly to consider.

As a help to my fellow citizens I have therefore checked into this man’s background to see exactly what it is he has been doing.

Michael Ignatieff
Born 1947
volunteered for the liberal party in 1965 election
worked for the liberal party in 1968

professor UBC 1976 -78
senior research fellowship Cambridge 78 - 84
84 - 2000
writer and journalist primarily in Britain
teacher, Oxford, University of London, London school of economics, University of california. France.
2000- 2005 harvard university.
2005 university of Toronto.

2006 to the present elected Mp

from this we can see he has in fact since 1947 been feeding at the public trough for 3 years full time and possibly more in 65 and 68 this is disgusting.

Stephen Harper
Born 1959
work for Imperial oil.

Chief aid to Conservative Jim Hawkes 1985
Reform Party Chief Policy officer 1987
Executive assistant advisor and speech writer for Deborah Grey till 1993
1993 to 1997 MP for Calgary
Resigned Jan 14 1997 and appointed vice president of National Citizen coalition the same day.
Head of National Citizen Coalition within a year.
Mp for Calgary Southwest since 2002

Here we see the man who always puts Canada first.
He has worked for political parties for the last 24 years. I suppose that in theory the National Citizens Coalition time is not actually officially at the public trough but it certainly isn’t far from it. Lets say however that there was a gap there of five years when he wasn’t taking money from the people of Canada. Then he has only been sucking it up for 19 years.

Now remind me again who is it that is just in it for himself.

National Cheer up Parade

2009-06-02T18:05:00.002-04:00

Blondes march in Latvia 'to cheer-up nation'

Just when I think I've seen everything I am once again reminded that the world is much stranger than I believe.
The story shown HERE is just too good to believe.

Now I'm not in favour of blondism so I think that maybe we should have a march in Canada of all the women regardless of their hair colour to "cheer us up".
After all they only earn about 70% as much as the men so they are obviously not doing enough. This would be a way they could make up for some of their slacking.

3 more

2009-06-01T21:25:00.003-04:00

It seems 3 more people have returned their order of Canada.
At least one, an archbishop in the Catholic church has said it was because the honour was bestowed on Dr Henry Morgentaler.
Luckily the good archbishop wasn't already upset to be included in a group with a convicted felon who renounced his Canadian citizenship to become a lord

Bird Photography

2009-05-30T23:40:00.004-04:00

In order to take good pictures of birds I had to learn to overcome my naturally nervous and twitchy mannerisms and learn to watch intently in order to find the birds. I studied for years with a wise llama in Tibet to be able to do this. This was my guru Lorenzo. As you can see he is very alertly watching all that goes on around him.

Furthermore I had to learn how to get close to the birds so Lorenzo taught me how to sneak up on them without being seen.
I know you probably won't believe it but he is still here right in the middle of this picture but is in his "stealth mode". It's amazing the way he just dissapears when he does this.

Natty Bumpo's rifle

2009-05-28T10:27:00.000-04:00

As the world Terns

2009-05-26T23:47:00.005-04:00

First you dive in the lake

If you're lucky you get a fish

If not you just get wet and make a neat reflection.

And after a time you just get fed up and fly away.

Hare today Gone today.

2009-05-22T13:54:00.002-04:00

This is where the Rabbit pretends he doesn't notice me.

This is where The Rabbit admits to seeing me.

Canola I think.

2009-05-21T21:26:00.005-04:00

Niagara Classic Bike race

2009-05-20T17:27:00.002-04:00

Men's Peloton first Lap.

Women's Peloton top of Effingham hill.

Symetry and Ballance

2009-05-18T23:12:00.004-04:00

Secondary school rowing in Welland last weekend. Canadian championships will be in St Catharines May 29,30,31.

Alive and well in St catharines.

2009-05-17T23:49:00.000-04:00

Sniper?

2009-05-14T18:49:00.002-04:00

Perhaps not quite sure of the concept of a hidden killer.

The Jockey

2009-05-13T22:18:00.000-04:00

Pram

2009-05-12T17:55:00.002-04:00

I haven't seen one like this since my kid brother was in it.
Convertible top, folding handle, spring suspension, chrome and brakes. They just don't make perambulators like this anymore.

Busy man

2009-05-11T20:32:00.000-04:00

Street Fiddler

2009-05-10T01:28:00.000-04:00

Sidewalk Biking

2009-05-08T18:46:00.002-04:00

Sidewalk Biking PASS

Sidewalk Biking FAIL

At least they stopped for the traffic light when they were there.

Bike Salmon

2009-05-07T21:45:00.002-04:00

Bike Snobnyc has termed cyclists riding in the wrong direction Salmon.
Here is one in St Catharines Ontario.
The vehicles to his left are parked and the ones to the right are traveling in the correct lane on the street.
The really silly thing about this is that it's a two way street and all he had to do was move over to the correct side.
Stupid riding like this angers drivers and eventually ends up harming cyclists.

Shoes

2009-05-06T20:47:00.002-04:00

Practical

Pretty

Cherries in the making.

2009-05-05T21:25:00.000-04:00

More Flower Porn

2009-05-04T18:57:00.001-04:00

Spiders do it and bees do it? I need to find a better line for that.

Spider On a Flower

2009-05-02T23:43:00.000-04:00

Dog tooth violet

2009-05-02T08:37:00.000-04:00

Showing Off for the Ladies.

2009-04-29T16:17:00.001-04:00

Personally I think he's used too much mousse but maybe it will work for him.

White throated Sparrow

2009-04-28T21:49:00.001-04:00

After the storm.

2009-04-26T20:01:00.002-04:00

I went out today and found this poor guy. He obviously had a bit of a night with all the rain and wind and was sitting on a wire looking quite disheveled.
Unlike most local hawks I got within a few yards of him making me think he was too tired to bother flying away.

Nuts to you

2009-04-23T18:30:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you gotta blow the diet and just stuff your face.

Flowers

2009-04-21T14:34:00.005-04:00

Just because today is rainy and dull I have got some pics from last week of wild flowers just starting to come up around here.
After much effort I have been able to identify these 3

Violet Flower.

Yellow Flower.

White Flower.

Bonaparte's Gull Port Dalhousie.

2009-04-21T08:59:00.000-04:00

Whitetail Deer in St Catharines.

2009-04-17T20:13:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I wonder who is looking at who when I'm out trying to get some pictures.

Lunch time on the River

2009-04-16T23:17:00.003-04:00

If I wasn't so old and slow you could have seen him actually grab the fish.

Knowing I had missed it he circled around to give me a good view of his lunch.

click on the pics for a closeup.

Eastern Phoebe.

2009-04-14T13:37:00.001-04:00

This photo is courtesy of the Houston Audubon society. After extensive ressearch and thousands of hours I have come to the conclusion that the little bird I saw last week is in fact the Eastern Phoebe. Now I'll be able to get some sleep.

Chipmunk and Blue Jay

2009-04-13T22:02:00.004-04:00

I always assume that people know if you click on the pictures you usually get an enlarged version.

New Spring Festival name.

2009-04-13T10:00:00.002-04:00

The political committee to make sure everything is correct has come to the realization that Easter is not shared by many non Christians and is therefore exclusionary and incorrect.

To fix this and help in these financially distressed times they have decided to allow companies to bid for the rights to rename the holiday and the winner is Pfizer, who were happy to point out that their product also has to do with renewal and resurrection.

Easter Hijinks

2009-04-11T14:09:00.005-04:00

When Santa and the elves have been drinking in the off season they often do stuff just to piss off the Easter Bunny.

Today's Photos.

2009-04-09T16:07:00.011-04:00

I went out behind Brock University today and found all these little beasties.
The weather was about 10 degrees C and sunny. First nice day we've had in about a week.

I'm not too good at identifying plants but I think this is Dog tooth violets just starting to come up through the last years leaves.

I think this is Dogwood poking through he litter.

Horned Lark.

Chipmunk.

Garter Snake. Might have been looking for the chipmunk but there were lots of frogs around making noise today.

Blue Jay.

Can't Identify this one yet. It's about Sparrow sized. If anyone has an idea what it is please let me know.

Cardinal in Mating Plumage.

Mourning the Last Kick of Winter

2009-04-07T21:44:00.002-04:00

Misty Field Sentry

2009-04-06T15:54:00.002-04:00

Beamer Falls Grimsby Ontario.

2009-04-05T20:55:00.001-04:00

Cottage Colour

2009-04-01T22:07:00.002-04:00

There is a section near the beach in Grimsby with a bunch of wonderful multicoloured cottages. Most have now been converted to year round homes but they still maintain their joyful paint schemes.
I think the whole city should be decorated like these.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

2009-03-30T15:05:00.005-04:00

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia-

Fear of long words.

Now that is just cruel. Funny but cruel.

Its not all Bluebirds and Butterflies.

2009-03-28T14:34:00.004-04:00

A Garter snake out sunning on a lovely spring day.

Spring time Confirmed.

2009-03-28T09:39:00.005-04:00

The Spring arrival committee has now confirmed that it has, in fact, arrived in Niagara.
The vote was close but on observing this somewhat blurry picture of a moth I can't identify we concluded that since we could actually see its shadow, it must be spring.
Cavorting and general good feelings are now allowed. proceed as desired.

So you think your Week Sucks.

2009-03-26T09:12:00.006-04:00

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 24, 2009

TOKYO (AP) — A 93-year-old Japanese man has become the first person certified as a survivor of both atomic bombings by the United States, officials said Tuesday.

The survivor, Tsutomu Yamaguchi, had already been a certified hibakusha, or radiation survivor, of the bombing on Aug. 9, 1945, in Nagasaki, but he has now been confirmed as surviving the attack on Hiroshima three days earlier, in which he suffered serious burns to his upper body. Certification qualifies survivors for compensation, including monthly allowances, free medical checkups and funeral costs.

Mr. Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on Aug. 6, 1945, when an American B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He returned to Nagasaki, his hometown, before the second attack, officials said.

“My double radiation exposure is now an official government record,” Mr. Yamaguchi said, according to The Mainichi Daily News. “It can tell the younger generation the horrifying history of the atomic bombings even after I die.”

Now get back to work and quit bitchin about how tough your life is.

Safe

2009-03-25T15:15:00.002-04:00

In spite of the sign, it wasn't. This is on the side of a metal recycling plant that has gone out of business.

Impressing.

2009-03-24T14:34:00.003-04:00

Forget the gym and the hair removal and the AXE scent products.
If you really want to impress the ladies get yourself a shiny green head.

Ice Cream

2009-03-23T17:41:00.001-04:00

It's spring. It's ice cream. It's convenient.
what's not to love.