Busy Bee...

Out and about this morning, seems to be breezy every day, but our nice days are numbered so must get
out when we can..

A busy Hummer...

While trying, in my yard today, to get a butterfly, with my canon 100mm macro lens, this gal, kept flitting by
me to get to the feeder, so I finally got a chair, sat down and waited, never did get the butterfly!! :)

Meet Thumper...

Special Constable Thumper is a 14 year old Standard Bred Mare,
shown here with Constable Brad Palmer of the Timmins Police.
With the advent of the 100th anniversary, of both the City of Timmins and the Timmins police service,
it was decided to have a mounted officer at various community celebrations and events this year.
So a partnership was established with the Timmins Therapeutic Riding Association and the Timmins
police service.
Formerly a harness racer, she has also been used as a therapeutic riding horse since she was two.
Being very gentle and accustomed to crowds and children, she will be used in strictly a ceremonial role
It was a real treat for me to catch up with her at the Kayak Challenge along the Mattagami River Park on Saturday.

Ruby-Throated Hummer (F) and American Goldfinch.. (F)...

I took the Hummer last evening, just before dusk, and the Goldfinch this morning as I was sitting out with my morning coffee. These two will be leaving my yard soon for the 'sunny south'..and I will miss them so much. They are a constant at my feeders all summer...

A chance meeting...

While on a walk around the park we were staying at in Wheatley, On, in June,  came upon this meeting of the 'Hares'..it was cute to watch, happened so quickly, no time to change settings but I still like the outcome,

Then they went their separate ways....

Grey Squirrel..

in London, Ontario, when we were on our June getaway...

Calico Pennant Dragonfly..

taken in Parry Sound, On, back in June. We always stay in KOA's when we travel with our trailer (if there is one in the city we are visiting) This one in peticular is a great campground and area for nature photo buffs like me..

A rose for your sweetheart...

It is trying to rain today, in our fair city, so just ran out to grab a pic of my roses, they are doing well this year, considering I have basically ignored them..its been a busy summer!

Busy as Bees...

Caught these fellows enjoying the warm day and collecting pollen while in Bellevue Park, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario..
This one was just lifting off of the Coneflower..

 Notice the Pollen Sac on this guys leg..he was busy..

What am I??

Got back from S.S.M. on Friday and headed out to the camp for the weekend, it is my sanctuary!
This fellow was crossing the lot yesterday, no idea what the heck it is, no legs, only an inch long, so different and only a face, a mom could love...any ideas anyone??

 He is on his side on this one...

A few days away...

We are on a short visit to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, it is a beautiful city and has lots of photo ops. Today we visited Bellevue Park, got a few shots to start my day..
A Canada Goose, notice the tongue is showing..possibly hot, it was a warm day here..
actually they are a nuisance in this park, according to the signs, and you must 'watch where you step'!! :)

 Coneflower amongst the Black Eyed Susans..

 Black Squirrel, native to this area..

A few visitors this weekend...

at the camp. Have no idea what kind of spiders, these fellows are, but they were cute (as cute as spiders can be) and were on our deck, begging to be photographed... both were in a hurry, so best I could do hand held..

 This one was quite small..

Juvenile Ring Billed Gull...

Caught this fellow as he took off from atop a light standard at one of my favorite haunts, Gilles Lake.

Walking the Wire in Wheatley...

Ontario...this Mourning Dove was trying his best to get away from me and my camera, when we were on
our June get away. It was cute!!

A Spit Bug...

This is the 'nymph stage' of the Froghopper insect. We have these on some of our Balsam trees behind the camp, quite neat actually. ( I have mentioned this before in '09, and Elaine of Artic View, helped me in the
identification of it) :)

Never seen the actual bug, I am only assuming, that the bug caught in the foam, is possibly food for this nymph.

"The froth serves a number of purposes. It hides the nymph from the view of predators and parasites, it insulates against heat and cold, thus providing thermal control and also moisture control. Without the froth the bug would quickly dry up. The nymphs pierce plants and suck sap causing damage, and much of the excess filtered fluids go into the production of the froth, which has an acrid taste, deterring predators. "

from Wikipedia.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar...

This fellow was headed across our deck at the camp, the other day, so neat looking and different.
I believe it is a younger one as the more mature adult one is green.
So amazing to see creatures like this to me, really makes my day and to be able to photograph too..bonus !!

 He even stood up on his 'honches' and looked right at me, lol

Morning surprise...

This 'Snowshoe Hare' (I believe) visited and stayed awhile this morning, at least long enough to get a few captures of him. We do have quite a few rabbits at camp, but you have to get up early to catch a pic of them. I was pleased to finally get him!!

 Notice the size of his feet...he was about to take off..

Baby Mallards and more...

A visit to Gilles Lake yesterday was worth the trip. I managed a few cute ones of a new set of ducklings, the others in the first pic are getting big quickly, these juveniles were playing a game of "hide and seek"
"Okay Ready, come find us"..lol

 This baby seems to be saying "whaaaaaaaat"...

 What a little furry ball..they are..

 and Mr. Cool Pigeon, with the 'straw' in his mouth..

Mom Spruce Grouse...

This is 'mom' giving me the eye, the day I was taking photos of her baby a few weeks back.
I must admit she was quite patient with me!!
(I corrected her name to a Spruce Grouse, as I believe it to be, thanks to a flickr friend) :)

Mom Loon and babies...

We had my hubby's 100th anniversary home town reunion this weekend, met many of his old chums from school, and he managed to see some, whom he hadn't seen for 45 or more years, pretty amazing. We did sneak away after the Sunday brunch, though and went out to our camp to relax.
Took the boat out for a quick ride, as I have heard the loon babies are growing fast and wanted to catch a few of them before they are 'adults'.. It was a beautiful sunny day but did manage a few decent shots.
(Taken with my Canon sx30IS camera)

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird...

and she is ready for lunch...

Baby Partridge..

or Spruce Grouse as some call it. While on a bike ride behind our camp a few weeks ago, came upon a
mom and five or six babies. This one poses for me before mom wandered off and they followed.
He wasn't squawking, more of a 'yawn'...so cute.

Beautiful Butterflies...

These Great Spangled Fritillary Butterflies were busy munching on something gross, but they are sure beautiful!!

Toad..

We spent the past while at the camp, got a few nice pics to post.
No internet out there, so some catching up to do.
Thanks again to everyone for your nice comments during our loss, much appreciated...

This fellow came to visit the other day...

Our little Champ...

Baby Brayden passed away on Wednesday, I am having a hard week, will be back later this week...
He had us all wrapped around his little finger while he was here, loved him to pieces... :)

Robin babies...

I took this first pic on June 16/11. Our son discovered a Robin had built this nest under their deck, so of course I had to take a few quick pics while mom was away.

 This one is taken on June 30/11, only one chick left in the nest, he jumped out that day too..

:)

Our special angel..

Baby Brayden came into our lives on June 19, our first great-grandson. He is a very amazing little boy and so special to us. He has a few major problems and is pallative. It breaks our hearts, we are all loving him and keeping him comfortable. Although his little life will be short, he will know he was loved and always will be. He is our special angel.
He is the reason I haven't been on much, hard to take pics with tears in your eyes, a few of my contacts are
going through saddness right now, life is not fair some times but with God's grace we will get through it.
The doctors at Mc Master hospital in Hamilton sent him home with special instructions, "keep him comfortable, talk to him lots, tell him you love him and take lots of pics" well he is in the right family for all of those orders!!
Thanks everyone for all your prayers and thoughts over the last 3 weeks, I truly appreciate it!! :)

Green Nettle Weevil..

I took these a few weeks ago when we were in London, On.
I am assuming they are everywhere as I have photographed one, a few years ago at our camp, here.
He is walking along my 'plastic' glass and then he took off just as quick..
Here is what I did get..

 Also a Shadfly and his reflection on our trailer window..

For the love of ...cows..

Taken in a field outside of St.Jacobs, Ontario..these fellows were both friendly and curious..came right over to the fence and were very comfortable with me taking their pics..