I expect the call will always be there

You know me well. When I know the Giant Blue Cohosh has yet to green, and its flowers barely seen, when the Wake Robins, Bellwort, Hepaticas, Spring Beauty, are out there in the woods with the Dutchmen’s Breeches running on granite and coursing down ridges I will be there. I have no choice really. It simply has been an imperative in my life for as long as I remember: to be there.

This, however, I expect will be my last spring in the Township of Rideau Lakes. As excruciatingly painful as it was to make the decision, pondered for two years, I have decided to be with my daughter Kate in Nova Scotia. It will take me awhile to sleuth the black spruce there, to learn where the wildflowers run, to know the shorebirds, to “sing the song”, but I shall. I shall cherish the memories I have had here: of dear friends and inspirational teachers and leaders, of great musicians, of beauty forever unfolding.

 If you would like musings from the maritimes I will be happy to send them. Just let me know, for perhaps by August, Alanagh, Molly, and I will be full sail on the eastern shore.

Dutchman’s Breeches

Giant Blue Cohosh

Dog Tooth Violet

Hepatica

Wake Robin about to open

opening

Blood Root

Wild Ginger

Bellwort

Spring Beauty

Trilliums are starting

Sedge is Lovely really

And It's off to Amherst Island

The West wind was high and rolling swells on Lake Ontario rocked the jammed wee ferry as we crossed from Millhaven to Stella on Amherst Island. That ferry is an intriguing bit of steel: The only one I have ever had to back on to, and back off of! It holds 15 vehicles. 

 We three in the Hyundai, headed straight to the south shore and spied on rafts of scaups and buffleheads in the lake, mallards in pools, killdeer in fields, and swallows on wires. There is a marvelous stretch of road that has dozens of swallow houses and watching the pairs outside the boxes proclaiming residence was truly delightful. We would have stayed longer but our appointment for the sheering was 11:15 and I did not know we had lots of leeway either side of the designated moment! Those who know me, know that being punctual is as deeply ingrained in me as the "course of red that flows the veins”. So we hastened.

I was surprised at how calm the sheep were. They stood quietly watching their flock members become relieved of massive fleece, and once freed of their lanolin ladened load literally bounced out of the barn cleaner and lighter.

I had shared with my companions my admiration of  Irish stonework on the island, and last year, Ian Murray and Sally’s Bowen’s son Jacob went to Ireland to study the art. So after the shearing we went stoning. While all are wonderful examples of stonework there, Jacob’s is the best we thought, “hands down." 

Days that fill the car with laughter and learning have a special resonance with me. This was one of them.    

Tree Swallows

Kildeer

Male Mallard

Waiting to be sheared

Beginning

Ending

Product

Jacob’s fence (photo by Diana using my iPhone!)

at home in McNally’s Lane: A Red Tailed Hawk

"We Are Not Amused"

April 9th and the snow plough went by! The upside is that it brought many locals back to my feeder and surrounds. There were lots and lots of goldfinches and chickadees but this morning seemed to be about the woodpeckers.  

The gorgeous Red-Bellied Woodpecker

And the loveable Nuthatch

The Downy Woodpeckers (Female)

The Hairy Woodpeckers

Male Hairy

Male Hairy and Male Goldfinch

Female Hairy

and the little guys

American Tree Sparrow

Junco