Wordless Wednesday

wordless wednesday

Skywatch Friday

The sky over the village on Tuesday


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Wordless Wednesday

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Bonfires and campfires

A fine Canadian thing  to do. Just sitting round the campfire chatting with the neighbours.

They had an effigy on the bonfire which was an old scarecrow that the kids had made. It reminded me of the tradition of the British Bonfire Night which is held on November 5th to celebrate the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot. This was an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London in 1605. One of the conspirators was Guy Fawkes and effigies on bonfires in Britain are called  'Guys'. It used to be that kids would make their guy and then parade down the streets asking for money - 'a penny for the guy'. This doesn't happen very much now, it's seen as begging and children are no longer allowed to buy fireworks. It's also been replaced pretty much by Halloween trick or treating.

 
There are private and organised firework displays with  food, jacket potatoes wrapped in foil and cooked in the fire- they always burn - sausages, apples, beans, ginger cake. It usually a cold and wet November evening but it's fun. Our neighbours liked the sound of it all so we are going to have a Bonfire Night Party in November. I'm looking forward to that.

Now This is Sad, and Not for the Faint Hearted

Driving into Peterborough this morning I saw something dangling from an osprey's nest. Sadly it was an osprey. Its leg caught in some string or binder twine and, unable to get away, the bird died.

This morning the nest had two other birds in it and I wondered what would happen. Was that the male bird who died? Would the female fish and find food for the young? It's almost time for the adult birds to be on their way so would the female leave? Would they all leave?


On my return journey I couldn't see any birds in the nest at all. It's very sad. These birds have been helped by a man-made platform for a nest and this one has been killed by mans garbage.

Visiting

Yesterday's drive and walk took me up north of Highway 7 near Cordova Mines. The scenery changes from the rolling hills and farmland in this area to dramatic rocky outcrops surrounded by conifers and silver birch trees. This is the start of the Canadian Shield, a huge swathe of land covering much of eastern and northern Canada. It's mostly forest with thin top soil covering ancient granite. The rocks have many minerals which have been and are mined. Gold and silver were mined at Cordova.

The buildings and land of my friend's house were previously an fish hatchery but are now a gorgeous home with riverside walks and cabin.

This is the view from the ice house where the fish were stored

A good spot for fishing, or just contemplating

Camping at home

Sharing a stick

The house and outbuildings, with beautiful gardens

The lake at the end of the road

It's Starting............ Skywatch Friday

I saw these leaves today, a hint of the fall, let's hope it's slow to arrive

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Edit, added for those doubters who think that it was a sick tree...........