A Gray Jay..

sometimes called a Whiskey Jack also !! These were taken the other day also.

A favorite bird of mine...

Was out at Hershey Lake today and managed a few shots of this male Pileated Woodpecker,
he was quite comfortable with me in front of him and I enjoyed every minute of it. I did get
other bird pics today too, which I will post over the next few days..

Merry Christmas to all and the best in 2011 !!

Have a safe and merry Christmas and the best in the new year !!

The big and the small of it...

Our Kashu had a play date yesterday with our neighbors pooch, I opened the patio door and yelled to them and they stopped playing, Frankie, 'the big' sat down behind Kashu and this is what I got !! haha!
I could have called it 'A lot of White' also eh!! Yes that is the top of their picnic table, just showing..

A beautiful winters day...

We took a short drive before going shopping this morning...this creek scene caught my eye..

A week from today...

I took this the other day, it is just a decoration, I took it outside, set it on the snow-covered barbecue and Voila !!

Another Timmins Tradition...

One of Timmins' most recognized landmarks is this metal wreath on the McIntyre Number 11 headframe, each Christmas.
It weighs 1,500 pounds, is 24 feet wide and is erected 180 feet off the ground.
It was constructed about 5 years ago by a grade 12 welding class from Timmins High and  Vocational School. under the direction of the teacher, Dino Colasacco.
I have mentioned before, this spot is one of my favorite to shoot summer and winter, and when the lights are lit for the Christmas season, it is extra special !!

A snowy afternoon...

It is a mild -7 C. which is the normal for this time of year, there is a soft snow falling and all is quiet.
A quick shot of a few of my feeders today...I have a few chickadees at another area of my yard...

A star is born...

Some of you will remember this annual star, which is erected at the top of a crane, at a local, business

Gord's Rental, each year they hang this star for all to enjoy !!

At feeding time...

Busy time of year, and we are having alot of snow and cold winds this past while. Not getting out as much as I would like. Caught these ' old favs' today, on our way home, at feeding time. Love the rack on the big guy !! He has quite the 'harem' !!

G B house making day..'10

What a great afternoon we had !! Once Ethan got the idea, there was no stopping him !! He enjoyed it so much and so did we...

Baby Ethan and big brother Ryan...

Ethan and big sister Jess...

Tuuudaaaaa, the finished Gingerbread House for '10........a few rough edges, but boy, did we have fun and laughs....and that is the fun of it....

Annual Gingerbread House making day...

with 3 of my 6 grandkids !!! This year will be Ethan's first time, he is 2 1/2 and loves candy!!
Should be a fun afternoon...pics to follow !! I started doing this each year when the older two
were probably 3 and 5....now they are 12 and 14 but still enjoy it !! They go home full anyway. ;)

Another snow day....

and our pooch is loving it !!!

And so it begins....

How low will the mercury go this winter...

A snowy morning in my yard...

Just went out in the yard this morning to see what I could find...we have had a fair bit of snow the last few days...

was surprised to find this 'snow sheep'....do you see it? .... :)

A step back in time...

My daughter, who has developed an interest in old cameras, and photography from the past, has been after me to give her my old brownie junior for awhile now. Initially I said no, as I had this sentimental connection with my mom, whose camera it was, and I can still see her, I, as a young child, taking pictures of me with it. She has been gone for 11 years and this little piece of history sat on my bookcase, collecting dust. When my daughter first asked me if she could have it or borrow it, back in the spring, I couldn't part with it, but I did lend it to her, I still have a few things of mom which remind me of her, and this was one of them. Well Jo asked me this week again to borrow it, and I was surprised at myself that I had made the decision to
pass it on to her, she would get it eventually anyway, so now is a good a time as ever. She wants to take pics of her kids with it now, and seems like a perfect time to do it!! I know it is in good hands!!

Another Feathered Friend...

At Hershey Lake yesterday, the Red-breasted Nuthatch, is another cute little fellow, who flits from tree to ground and spots in between...there were 3 or 4 of them to enjoy my peanut feast!

a day with the Chick...adees...

Out at Hershey Lake today... Took some peanuts out for these fellows and they had fun trying to open them (I did crush them a bit to make it easier for them)

Haha, love these two shots, not sure if it is the same bird, but not at the same time, notice the different peanut, he just plunked himself down, got comfortable and opened the peanut...

A Squirrel's life...

Hmmm, what do I do next?...

Any more peanuts, lady?

Feathered friends...

Caught a few birds today, it was a cloudy, damp day, but the rain held off,
Haven't done birds in awhile, so much else to shoot, these fellows were very hungry and active today..
Red-breasted Nuthatch... Black-capped Chickadee...

a Male Hairy Woodpecker..

Searching for 'ore bodies'...

Caught this helicopter this morning, coming in from doing a geophysical survey.. only had my point and shoot..but neat anyway...

A few from this week...

It is cool, no it is cold in the mornings, but nice by afternoon, we will take it though.. My favorite spot with my new camera...

Mist coming off the lake...

On a clear day...

Blue skies... weeds passing...

not a cloud in the sky...

Hint of ice on the pond...