Peter Hallman Ball Yard, June 21-23, 2013

Duncan & I put in a full week-end at the Legends Fastball Tournament here in Kitchener this past week-end so there was no relaxing by a campfire. We did however get to camp at the diamond so it was a week-end away. We were running the concession for the tournament so Duncan was doing lots of grilling. I set up & helped in the kitchen and Anne and I were looking after the finances for the week-end. A big thank-you to Drew for spending most of the week-end helping us. It was wonderful having you there and we received compliments from people who enjoyed your company and all your hard work. It was a very hot and humid week-end so I am sure Duncan and  Drew sweated off a few pounds working at the bbq. I was able to take a bit of time to try and get a few pictures. I spotted a pair of Cedar Waxwings building a nest in a tree behind the motor home so I enjoyed some time watching them work away together. It was a successful week-end so all the hard work was worth it. The local Children's Wish Foundation supplies a number of volunteers and will get a donation for all there hard work. A special thanks to Anne from Children's Wish. It was a pleasure working with you and your wonderful volunteers. Duncan & I are both looking forward to a very relaxing long week-end at Awenda.

I was able to get a picture of Anne. 

She is always taking photo's of all her volunteers.

Mushrooms growing on a straw bale by the creek

Schneider creek runs through the park

A hawks nest high in a tree by the creek

A Red Tailed Hawk flying over

Spotted Sandpiper beside the creek

Cedar Waxwings Building Their Nest

The Mrs. adding another twig

Mr. Waxwing bringing in supplies

They worked together most of the week-end

I think she is calling our for more supplies....

 

 Taking a rest from all the hard work

Mr. Waxwing basking in the rays of sunlight

On The Cover Of The ............

What a thrill to have a photo of mine put on a cover for the Ontario Parks Guides. The photo was taken last fall at the beach when we were at Inverhuron Provincial Park for the week-end. Unfortunately they forgot to include the photographers name as they usually do. So, my name is not there but I know who took the picture and that is exciting!!

Original picture cropped to match the cover photo

Point Farms, June 14-16 2013

This was a week-end full of memories and firsts. After arriving Friday afternoon we headed into Goderich to place our order for donuts to be picked up Saturday afternoon. Good luck we did that because by the time we arrived there on Saturday the donuts were all gone. They had lots of other goodies but we got our donuts just as we ordered....YUM!!! We drove down to the harbour just in time to see a big ship coming in to dock at the salt mine. We had never watched the tugs go out and assist a boat into the harbour so it was neat to watch. After a yummy pasta supper we headed down to the beach for a walk and to enjoy the sunset over Lake Huron. We enjoyed the remainder of the evening in front of the campfire.
Saturday was going to be a full day. All of the Matheson gang were meeting at 11am in Lochalsh to say our final goodbyes to Duncan's dad (Wm. R. Matheson) and lay him to rest in the family cemetery on Father's Day week-end. Bain did some readings and Bill's friend Charlie from his childhood shared a few stories about Bill that we had not heard before. It was nice to hear those memories as well. After leaving the cemetery we did a 7 car convoy past the family homestead, up to Pine River Cheese which was a regular stop for Bill when he was in the area. We then travelled into Goderich to do a few loops around the main square and a stop at Culbert's Bakery in memory of brother Charlie. We then all headed for a late Chinese lunch and time to visit before some of the family headed home. The rest of the gang joined us at our campsite for a visit, some laughs and time at the beach. It was a wonderful day spent with family even under the circumstances. After everyone had left, Duncan and I vegged at the campfire and had a late light supper.
Sunday we had a bit of rain in the morning so we just hung out and enjoyed the sounds of the rain. After a late breakfast we headed to a pond to see if we could enjoy the company of a Blue Heron. To our surprise we got that and more. It was so foggy that our usual plan of hanging at the beach in the afternoon was off so we headed home early.

Three tug boats going out to assist

Working hard to turn the boat

A goose family at the harbour with only one gosling.

Growing up and loosing its down

A feather left from preening herself

Speak up I can't hear you.........

This is one way to get rid of the wind turbines!

A seagull at sunset

Seed puffs and a spider

Spotted Sandpiper at the waters edge

Sunset from the waters edge

Sunset from up on the cliff

Thanks for the memories and good times

Lane way to the family homestead

This was the Matheson homestead for many years

Raelynn, the youngest of the Matheson's

The air was very still on the beach 

as shown by the campfire smoke

Ian & Brittany at the beach

Brittany found the perfect piece
of wood to use as a rifle toss

Time at the Pond

Female Belted Kingfisher (A first for me)

Up in a tree in the fog

Blue Heron doing a fly by

Wings in the down position

He loves me, he loves me not.........

Rain on a spider web

My first Green Heron

Duncan spotted this one off on the side crouched like this

Diving in for a fish

About to enjoy the catch

Shaking to dry off after eating the fish

A rear view with the neck fully extended

A frontal view of this beautiful Green Heron

What a thrill it was to spend an hour watching this bird

Presquille, June 7-9 2013

This was our first adventure to a park in the eastern part of Ontario and we survived the trip down the 401 to Presquille. I have to admit that the drives to our usual parks are much more scenic as we travel the back roads where ever possible. There were highs and lows to our first visit to Presquille and the rain didn't help either. I was able to get some up close and personal photos of a raccoon and there were a few families of swans that I was able to photograph and enjoy watching. One of the main trails for viewing birds and wildlife was under boardwalk renewal so we couldn't take advantage of that part of the park. We did hike a few of the other trails and the marsh trail was full of lots of life. We had a quiet Friday as it rained most of the evening. Saturday was spent out exploring and enjoying a wonderful evening at the campfire. Sunday we did some more hiking and I was able to spend more time with a family of swans. This family was all together and there were 5 baby cygnets to enjoy. They are so soft and cuddly looking. While Duncan rested for the drive back home I took another trip through the Marsh Boardwalk area and was able to enjoy the sights and sounds as the sun had finally come out on Sunday morning. We will travel back to this park in the future but either earlier in the spring or in the fall to take in the migration of the birds and butterflies. We had a good week-end and thank goodness we invested in a bug light as the mosquitoes were very much alive and looking for victims.

Life at Presquille

Most of the roads through the park are tree lined

This Caspian Tern just dove in and caught a fish

Raccoon up in a cedar tree by the park store

Up close and personal

A view of the top of the lighthouse

This was the lighthouse keepers cottage

A Chickadee fledgling out by the lighthouse getting

covered in cobwebs as it tries to get back to a tree

I made it to a tree and now I want mom to feed me

This Song Sparrow was singing his heart 

out in the sun and Sunday morning

A chair cut into the remains of a tree stump 

along the main road in the park

Lichen growing on a fence

A face in a tree near the beach

Fungus that looks like a head with a hat on it

Enjoying a peanut on the rope that held the peanut feeder

Washing his hands when he finished

This fella is missing parts of his ears.....aww

Papa Mute Swan enjoying some quiet time

 

Male (cob) Mute Swan 

 

This floss is just not working........

Female (pen) Mute Swan and her 4 cygnets

I want to fly.......

 

Let's Walk The Marsh Trail

Marsh flowers in full bloom

Male Swamp Sparrow

 

Look close for the bugs on the leaves

A beautiful pond lilly

Sunlight on a fish in the marsh

Ribbit

 

Baby Red-winged Blackbird waiting for food

A Woodpeckers work on a Cottonwood Tree

Horsey Tree near the end of the trail

 

Mrs. Wood Duck and her 8 ducklings. Female Wood Ducks raise their 

young on their own as the males fly north for the rest of the season

 

Another Family of Mute Swans

A family portrait

 Photo of the five children

Another Awwwwwwww moment