Category Archives: Observations

Upriiiiight

Not really sunset, but an evening sun (around 7 pm) over MacKinnon Bridge looking west

Hard to know if this should be under the heading of: a day in the life of Donna or; you can’t write this stuff.

Tom and I were out for an evening walk, and I tripped. Didn’t hurt myself too much, a slightly scraped hand, broken sunglasses, a sore boob. The usual. The funny part was that an hour prior, I had put on some fake tan stuff on my legs. As we were walking, I said to Tom, “this is great because I just put some self tanner on my legs so I need to stay upright.” Actually, more like, …upriiiiiiggghhttahhh. Literally, I tripped as that word came out of my mouth.

I usually trip once a year. I guess considering the number of walks I go on and the amount of territory I cover, it’s not a surprise that I trip every now and then, but I do seem to trip more than others. The other thing is that I always fall forward, other than that spectacular fall backward on black ice in 2020. I think I need to work on my core strength.

Tom o’er MacKinnon Bridge

Other than that, a really beautiful evening walk. 23C. Doesn’t seem quite as humid.

Other side of the MacKinnon Bridge, looking east
A familiar sight, and sound. The fountain in Alexander Circle, Glenora.

The (Baby)Magpie Show

Found a peanut, found a peanut, found a peanut last night…

I was weeding this morning and a juvenile magpie popped over and posed for some photos, mostly from her perch on Earth Pig — prime hunting ground for peanuts (or so I’m told). Very calm. Ludicrously gorgeous. I edited down from about 100 photos.

Earth Pig is ground zero for peanuts
Shake those tailfeathers
Helloooooo

Perfect Summer Day

Whitemud Creek meets the river

Gorgeous late afternoon walk with Tom through Whitemud Ravine North from Rainbow Valley Road to the river. We left at 3:30 to beat the heat and for the most part, it was not too bad (in the shade). Not even that hot compared to last year’s sweltering summer.

It’s been awhile since I’ve been in this part of Whitemud. For one thing, I was avoiding the green leafroller caterpillar infestation of June, and also, I have less time for walks like this, at least during the week. It was supposed to be my ‘Donna solo walk day’, but since we were going to Sharon’s, I invited him along and we both had a great time.

The old utility bridge in Whitemud Ravine north

Although the creek seemed low in places, the foliage was full on jungle. All the rain we got in May/June helped. We could use some rain again.

Whitemud Ravine Creek looking rather sun-browned and bubbly
Curvy
Paddling away…

24C/3:45-5:30 pm.

Nice to Meet You, Crab Spider

Nice to meet you

As I may have mentioned once or twice in this blog, there is very often something that happens on every walk that makes it stand out in some way — like, this is the thing I was meant to see, or hear. I always know that moment. Today, it was a crab spider blushing pink inside a wild rose blossom. I’m not a huge fan of spiders in the house, but outside they can be quite interesting. I’ve seen the odd crab spider in my lifetime, and they are always white, but in this case it had taken on the colour of the flower, which it can do given the right circumstances. Lucky me.

I had gone off trail to be closer to the river and when I was finished drinking in the delirious sounds of Whitemud Creek rushing madly toward the river, I looked around at the damp woods and spotted something in the yellow filaments of a wild rose. Behold, a pink crab spider (which I later identified). This is what I had come to see, apparently. Once I photographed her and thanked her for not moving, I couldn’t wait to share the news.

Lately, my introverted self has been suffering from lack of alone time, so I tearily proposed to Tom that once a week I head off on my own for a walk. This was one of them, and it was spectacularly eventful, at least in a quiet and sweetly personal way which is my favourite kind of event.

Whitemud Ravine Creek South
Sorry squirrel, you’re not the cutest thing I saw in the ravine today, but damn close…

24C (but cooler in the ravine)

Oh no, it’s the rapture

What a beautiful evening! Slipped out for a walk while Tom was napping. Tomorrow, more rain, but tonight we feast on sunshine and green, green grass.

On the way home just past MacKinnon bridge on the north side, there was an entire wardrobe of clothes draped sporadically around the rails and pathway, including a pair of pants. The rapture? Don’t tell me those bastards were right.

The bridge over MacKinnon Ravine – the site of the latest rapture episode?

About 20C