THE DAILY GRIND

DUCKS AND BIRDS


The shy green heron that visits regularly did a dramatic chandelle up and around the giant pine in front of the house, then landed on one of the tree’s branches. As I rushed to the window with my camera, he winged off and landed on a tree across the harbour. I took a photo, but my dinky digital camera can’t do him justice.

The ducks won’t let me sneak up on them. The moment I focus the camera, they either quickly skitter across the water or simply pop under the water in unison. And I hope they will come up feet first like synchronized swimmers and do a little routine.

Today it looks like there’s a group bathing, I’m guessing, by flapping their wings and stirring up the water. Can you see the red canoe?

The birds around the house are varied. Little chickadees and finches duck in and out of the branches and then zoom to the feeder which is the worse for wear by either small squirrels or raccoons which somehow get the top off and help themselves to the seed mix. Then there are these no-seeum birds which hop from under and around bush to bush, sometimes sailing along the ground if I accidentally stir them up. No way to get a photo, much less a good idea what they look like.

A magnificent bald eagle landed on the green heron’s tree outside and sat regally for only a moment. The other day a red-tailed hawk spread its wings and flew around the same tree to show its great red tail. Too bad I’m not a nature photographer.

ON THE ROAD WHERE I LIVE



One day a monsoon. When the sun came out, I did, too. Here's glittery rain on the trees and sun on the deck. I'm doubling up on Vitamin D.

















The road I live on is a typical Salt Spring Island road, unique and beautiful being typical here. I'm sure there's some way to become enured to this beauty, but I haven't found it yet.



I decided to take advantage of this rare sun to walk along and shoot some of the sights on my winding road.










There's a nice policy of the honor system roadside stand selling all sorts of goodies to take home: you choose what you want and then put the $$$ in the box. David suggested I explore all of the stands on the island and see what I can buy to eat so that I don't have to go to the Country Grocer or Thrifty Foods or Nature Works. Here's some eggs, flowers and beans -- Iron Chef Masters project.


Down the road there is a vineyard with a red house and mossy-roofed shed, and usually smoke coming from the chimney.


The vineyard in winter allows me to see the working equipment here and there and the Chinese temple gate in the middle of the field. This land used to be a sheep farm so you could see all the baby sheep before they go to . . . camp.





Some things along the road are simply too huge and magnificent to catch on camera, you know, like trees, giant trees glistening in the sun. So here's some mossy rocks that look spectacular in real life.












There is a lovely red and white house right down the road that sits down near the water. Each time I pass by, I want to run down the drive and knock on the door and see who lives in this cute little place. And it has two driveways!

And then there's this:



The neighbors probably call him "The Jerk," the guy who owns this sliver of land that runs about 150 feet along this forest road. The photo is of the beginning part of his property, a view to alert you that something is not all right here. The great thing for me is that I can see it all as I drive down the road and take a random inventory whenever I want. Here's a small list: two dilapidated travel trailers; artfully leaning collections of white plastic paint buckets; those round, black buoys, ones you have seen in the Gulf of Mexico, jauntily sitting on several sizes of fishing nets you might bring a large shark into the boat with; the shed with windows so you can see in to what looks like hundreds of tilting chairs stacked on one another; six aluminum ladders (I'll build a stairway to paradise?); assorted sizes of saw horses, none of which have moved one inch since I arrived. This is a little too close to a "Deliverance" look, so I won't knock on his door.

I'm gonna hit the road now.