The things I do for this blog

Here I am stretching out to get a close up of a sundew plant at the Beaver Pond Trail in Algonquin Park 

Forest Halls

Crisp air - wood scented
Blades of sunlight, cut shadows
In the forest halls 

More Crawford Lake

 

Gabe at Crawford - not quite a sillouette

 

Crawford Lake Conservation Area

Using my pass for the 3rd time, I dragged my family to Crawford Lake via the still rural backroads of Halton and over the escarpment. (My brain is bursting into song... "Somewhere over the escarpment, way up high, birds fly over the escarpment - why then do I still drive :D)

I think Gabe got some more exciting pictures, but here is our local Meromictic (read that as deep and uninhabitatly limited in oxygen near the bottom) Lake. They've done a lot of work on their Iraquois village display and clearly have expanded their outdoor ed. facilities since I was last there (quite some time ago). Oddly, I also had the pleasure of watching native dancing yesterday - when there was a kick-off to aboriginal week at University of Guelph. I also (having slept in and lacking a lunch) was in luck to try numourous native foods such as fried rabbit, venison stew, blueberry bannock and dumplings, pemican soup and strawberry juice. Yum!!!

Anywho, it was a beautiful day - unlike the weather forcast for the rest of the week.

Cheers,

Jennith 

Gramma Is Great

Well, if you ask me, I've also been fond of my Grandma - however it was Jack that technically made her great (tee hee hee).

Jokes aside, we had a lovely time celebrating her birthday this weekend, although we didn't get as many picture as we might of - at least not on my computer.

Congratulations Gramma on being greatie years old!

:D

Jennith 

Bear's Head Fungus

Well, it was a dark and rainy day when my plans to do field were scuttled and I decided to work from home. This is actually not a bad thing, save that I'd really like to get my field work done before it starts snowing. I'm currently transferring files between computers while simultaneously working on an award application and a watershed design assignment. I've been blogging from my new computer, so I've only had recent photos to draw from lately - and blogger seems inclined to upload 80% of the minitures. Again... if you double click on these you'll see the whole page.

I had a surprising flurry of comments yesterday - especially since I haven't posted since Friday. Thanks for you thoughts, compliments and greetings. Its always nice to get comments because its a concrete proof that someone is actually reading all the nonsense that you write or at least checking out the pictures.

Gabe seems to be excelling in his photography course. At least he's having fun. It looks more exciting that reading journal article at any rate.

Everyone else is hanging in. I'm hoping that my Uncle Stevie feels better soon.

Lets see if I can post the rest of my story with appropriate pictures.

See the blog above for a continuation.

Jenn 

Lets see if persistance works

 

 

Maple and Blue Skies

This was also taken on the road between Kingston and Perth. There is this stunning, but hard to photograph little lake behind it and we are standing on a big rock outcrop overlooking the water.

This leathery little maple was very eye catching and it was warm enough to just wear tshirts last Saturday.

I still don't know what is with Blogger. It seems to be having some serious issues still. I guess I should be glad that it is working. I'm trying to see if waiting longer to post (AKA writing something other than a blurb will help with getting the full picture to upload... altough it'll be hard to judge.

Cheers,

Jennith 

Tree on 10 to Perth

 

Green and White

Guelph under flurrious attack 

Even the vegetation is starting their christmas decorations

 

Snoak in Wintober

Another snow picture from Guelph yesterday. Although we didn't get hit like Buffalo did, there is still a smattering of snow on the ground today (unfortunately my camera is still charging).

I want to wish a special Happy Birthday to my Grandma.... and I'm looking forward to the party this weekend.

Driving home from school yesterday, we took the backroads from about halfway, hoping to get a last glimpse of escarpment country before all the leaves were gone. It was a beautiful drive especially when we came down steels just as the sun was setting.

Myself, I have lots to do... reading about ecological flow assessment, learning ArcView, HEC RAS and refreshing my brain on SWMM. I also owe about 2 months of birthday cards and it is nearly time to start on christmas cards.

With the coming of the cold weather, I'm definately feeling the itch to start knitting again. Yesterday night, Gabe and I pulled out our mitts and hats to walk the dog and it was -1C this morning. I baked banana bread last night, which turned out pretty edible considering the fact that I completely forgot to add 2/3 cup of sugar. I like to think of it as diet banana bread without the risk of cancer from aspartane... although the 1/3 cup of margerine (calorie reduced at that) may take away from its health benefits.

Anywho, its time for me to get back to doing work stuff, unless I want to spend the entire weekend reading.

Cheers,

Jennith 

Brrrrr...A cold wind blows in Guelph today

Taken just moments ago this photo captures the wild dance of snow and wicked fridgid wind on Guelph Campus in October??? So much for Global Warning. I can't remember seeing snow in October in Southern Ontario in my lifetime - I'm sure its happened, but not while I was looking.

You have to love the Residence student in shorts...

Cheers,

Jennith 

Blogger on the fritz

Blogger has been down a bit this morning, maybe they are fixing the half-picture thing (hopefully)

Here is Gabe in the Gatineau

Tree Crossed Photographer

I seemed to have a rediculous number of pictures of Gabe taking pictures. He's so cute!!

I also had a relatively thought provoking if depressing conversation with my mom about the world, violence, child rearing, values and possible solutions. Sigh.

Somewhere between the rash of school shootings, a defiant nuclear test, ongoing bloodshed in the middle east and 8 year olds dressed for the bar in Fredericton - there has to be a better way to have a civilization, a better way to pass on coping skills and civil values, a better way to raise our children and protect ourselves and others from the ravages of status revengeicus. I just can't figure it out off the top of my head. The best I can offer, whenever I determine I have the experience and ability, is to become a politician. Not exactly what I had in mind for a career, being naturally averse to confrontation and not keen to ask for verbal abuse, but willing to endure as a civic necessity. I can produce maybe 2-3 children and love them and hopefully raise them to be caring and kind people. I suppose I can set a good example of kindness, thoughtfulness and responsibility. But at this point in my life, I don't have a huge sphere of influence.

Anywho, back to cleaning my bedroom and exercising.

Cheers,

Jennith 

South Facing Slope Oak

Here is a leathery white oak leave turning rich shade of green, crimson, yellow and rusty orange. We also saw some red oak nearby.... excitement. Well drained upland forest ecosystem. 

Gatineau Escarpment

Glorious view from the south side of the escarpment in Gatineau park. Perhaps not far from here my best friend is wandering the hills with her family, unbeknownst to me and Gabe. Alas. Everyone else I knew in Ottawa except Manda went to Toronto for the weekend or Saint John.

So, I still have a lot of people I'd love to see or at least talk to on the phone. It may happen one day. Sigh. In the mean time, I'm busy trying to learn stuff and learn more stuff. Hopefully I'll learn enough before it gets too cold to do field work.

I'm still not sure why this program is only inserting partial pictures. if you double click on the picture. You will get the whole photo in fancy format.

Cheers,

Jennith 

Bursting Milkweed Pod

Taken on the 10 somewhere between Kingston and Ottawa this field of milkweed gave us much amusement watching the amazingly floaty seeds blow off into the distance.

As for blogger/picasa, I"m not sure why it is posting half pictures, but perhaps one day I'll be able to fix them.

Jenn