Our city has a river running through it. Two in fact. Today was a beautiful sunny day so I took some time to walk around the river near my home.
I sometimes see people riding their bikes down to the river with fishing lines tucked under their arms. Things get left behind.
Wildlife.
All images © Karen McRae
photography
A Favourite Place
I am fortunate to live just a short distance from a world class cross country ski area with over 200 km of ski trails. Gatineau Park in Quebec is a gorgeous hilly park with all levels of cross country skiing, you could never get bored there. Of course it doesn’t look like this just yet, but soon I hope! We spend quite a lot of time there skiing in the winter and a bit of time climbing in the summer. These pictures were taken during a previous ski season. I hope we turn white before the holidays!
All images © Karen McRae
A Light Dusting
It’s December, I’m ready for more. I love how the snow softens the landscape and makes everything slow down. The sounds are a little bit muffled, the world is a little more still. I’m romancing the winter now.
Bring it on.
I’ve loved this poem since I was a child. Mom, Dad, if you’re wondering where your Robert Frost book is, I stole um, borrowed it years ago.
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
All images © Karen McRae
Barn Stalking
Yup, I was barn stalking. A relatively slow-moving subject and really, who doesn’t like an old abandoned building?
And crows, there’s always a crow. I’m sure they’re taking over the world. I’m okay with that.
We had just a little snow today.
All images © Karen McRae
The Coming Season
I have a kind of love/hate relationship with Winter. I always dread the shortening days and biting cold and the fact that it tends to drag on and on. Once the snow is here I start finding it tolerable, even magical. Everything is brighter and fresher. It’s more the anticipation of winter that gets me, once arrived I have discovered that if I embrace winter for what it is I can get lost in the beauty and possibility of it. And that means spending a considerable amount of time outside. We often move from mountain biking season into ski season within just a few days but winter has been slowly inching towards us this year, slowly enough that now I am just eagerly awaiting a big snowfall. Itching to get out on my skis. Until then here is a little glimpse of one of winter’s magical possibilities. Tomorrow we welcome December.
Upper Nicholson’s Locks, Merrickville ON
All images © Karen McRae
Late Day, Late November
November is almost gone and it’s been a kind one. Warmish with more sunshine than usual and the snow that came a few days ago is all melted away. Today was mostly grey but the late afternoon brought some interesting light, and with it orange fields and purple-blue skies.That orange field has been beckoning me for a while now.
All images © Karen McRae
Snowfall
The first snow fell overnight. It’s melting away already and the light is flat and almost shadowless. Sometimes that kind of light is perfect.
All images © Karen McRae
Have Nest Will Travel…
The little nest has found a home for now. It’s in a small tree sculpture I did years ago made out of wax and copper. (Click on images to enlarge)
It’s got wheels, you never know when you might have to relocate.
All images © Karen McRae
Avian Architecture 2: Bird’s Nest Shavings
Ages ago a friend of mine gave me some metal shavings for the purpose of remaking them into a bird’s nest. These shavings are actually called “bird’s nest shavings” because of the way they look and bunch together. I finally got around to weaving one together. It was trickier than I thought. The little shavings are very delicate and break easily if bent. It took me quite awhile to weave them into a decent shape. I’m sure the birds wouldn’t be impressed with my efforts but it made me appreciate even more what a work of art a true bird’s nest actually is. I think I might give it another go. You can see the real thing here. (The little egg-shaped rock is from my trip to Newfoundland this summer).
Click on images to enlarge.
All images © Karen McRae
draw and shoot 