May 29 – New Oak Leaves

As my dear friend, Geoff Hayes, says, colours in nature never clash.

May 28 – At Evening

It was that time. The light was even – without modelling, highlight or shadow; the drive wound through the lush new growth. The End.

May 27 – Frizbee, Fercos & a Very Gray Day

May 26 – Marsh Marigold Glade

May 25 – Grosbeak & Evening

May 24 – Fall Colours in Spring

A trick of the light: the setting sun turned the Balsam Poplar leaves the colour of September in late May.

May 23 – A Morel Lesson & Many Happy Returns

While walking Fercos this afternoon, I saw a couple in our neighbour's field. On our return, they were preparing to leave. I asked if had permission (yes) and if they'd been successful finding mushrooms (no).

As I started up our driveway, I saw a tiny brown Morel in the leaves immediately beside the drive. Then, while mowing the upper portion of the ridge, a black Morel – about 2" high – showed itself.

Meanwhile, Baltimore Orioles are slowly becoming a presence here.

And, I'm pleased to report that yesterday's ill-fated Grosbeak has returned and was in full voice this afternoon.

May 22 – The End of Rain

The rain, while welcome for the new sod, was gladly seen departed. It also assisted in the blossoming of dandelions in every available corner of our world.
A bitter-sweet moment was finding that our first Grosbeak this year had hit one of the windows. Happily, as I was nudging some water under its beak, it came around and flew off – hopefully to return again with kin.

Fercos, meanwhile was as happy as Ian Smiths hogs as he munched on some rooty item in the west field.

May 21 – Lovely Birds, Feathered & Otherwise

Granddaughter Kate made up to stay with grandparents while her Mom & Dad go out for dinner. And an evermore comfortable RHW. Two welcome bits of colour on a gray, rainy day.

May 20 – Another Day for the Birds

The Redheaded Woodpeckers have been around for a few days now but, today, one pair spent hours in courting flight over the ridge. Unfortunately, the space was too tight to get a good shot of them chasing each other.

Then I caught a couple of male Goldfinches duking it out.

May 19 – End of a Day of Driving

May 18 – Goldfinches & a Woodpecker

May 17 – Snakes Alive!

Well, this was an eventful day. By 10 a.m. I had finished installing the second set of verandah stairs... just as my buddy, Jim Rodger, pulled up in the pickup truck for our Big Boys' big morning out. About 20 minutes later we had rolled through Teulon and Inwood. Jim turned onto a nondescript potholed side-road, along which we bounced for about 5 minutes. There, overlooking a massive limestone quarry pit, we removed and dumped the two snake traps full of Garter Snakes onto the grass. This was the majority of the contents of one of the traps.

Jim & Johanna discovered, shortly after having built their idyllic rural home, that Garter Snakes were particularly abundant during migration and breeding seasons. Today's release of perhaps 200 snakes was a small haul. We wandered down to one of the main den openings, where we saw snakes like I'd not seen them before.

Then, as we departed, we came across what looked like a scene from the West Bank, Gaza or Palestine: a gutted bunker-like building ornamented in the currently typical adolescent male form of demonstrated their virility.

Then, just before supper, I headed up to the small stream crossing our property to make sure I got at least a few photos of the Marsh Marigolds this year.

It was a very good day.

May 16 – The Perfect Spring Evening

After a second day of crunching away on the verandah stairs, I didn't think I had energy for more than a record of my day's work. Turns out a walk up Ruth's Ridge after supper added some options.

May 15 – Lucid in the Sky with Dash Dots

May 14 – Because it's Finally Here & Because it's Unusual

The green of the Aspen Poplars is finally here.

Perry Nodelman's Little Nipper recorded storybook awaiting transcription to digital format so he can actually listen to it. It's one of the stories he best remembers from his childhood. I look forward to hearing it for the first time as my second childhood thunders toward me.

May 13 – Sunset Light

A couple of variations on the sunset... one with a Sandhill Crane flying back to its home in our marsh.

Also, a happy face for Friday, the 13th.

Again, shot with the 85 mm f 1.2.

May 12 – Playing with the 85 mm f 1.2

Barb Whymark, the photos of Fercos are especially for you. Thanks for a great pooch.

May 11 – Teen no More

Yesterday was Sara Blanchard's 20th birthday. Cole's fiancée is a teen no more. Happy birthday, lovely lady.

By the way, the very tiny halo over Cole's head is earned and entirely appropriate.

May 10 – Do it to Redo it

Spent the day installing the laundry cupboards only to learn, upon Ruth's arrival at home, that Ikea had shipped the wrong doors and side panels. Sigh. So nice, I'll do it twice.

This photo exemplifies neither artistic or technical merit. But it is a photo made on May 10th. Besides it was another gray spring day up on the Ridge and all of Manitoba.