life

Brassia

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You may remember a post of spider orchids that I did here. These are photographs of those same orchid blossoms which have obviously been aging awhile. The light was changing and shifting with the clouds as I was photographing these so the colour tones shifted also. They make me think of little dancers or insects. I had a hard time choosing which images to share and also I’ve been “dissecting” the little moth orchids so you may be subjected to another orchid post in the near future. Bear with me…
(click on images to enlarge)

All images © Karen McRae

If you were a kid…

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Wouldn’t you just be itching to explore these little structures?

I came across these little out-buildings when I was taking a “road less traveled” the other day. Maybe it’s because I spent many idyllic hours as a child in similar rickety old buildings that I find these so intriguing. Of course they don’t look very safe, but that’s part of the attraction.

Cousins

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We had the most amazing weekend weather and I had an opportunity to spend some time with these three lovely ladies. A extra little dose of summer right before days and days of grey and rain.
All images © Karen McRae

A Summer Reprise

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We managed to get out for some gentle climbing yesterday for the first time in ages (due to my partners elbow injury). The weather was an incredible 25°  Celsius. It’s the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and the entire long weekend the weather looks to be stellar. The fall colours are not as vibrant as some years but the tree canopy is still beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians!

Phalaenopsis

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This is a Phalaenopsis  Orchid or Moth Orchid as they are sometimes called. It had been blooming for well over 6 months and I’ve been watching the bloom age because it’s just getting better all the time. Thin and papery with delicate veining and lovely subtle colours. Some things age ever so gracefully.


All images © Karen McRae

Newfoundland, Those Ocean Blues

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I had the opportunity this summer to spend a week in Newfoundland and what a gorgeous place.  We didn’t get to see as much as the island as we would have liked but I fell in love with the beautiful east coast. We hiked part of the East Coast Trail which meanders along a coast of  rocky cliffs and stony beaches with spectacular views around each corner. The movement and blues of the ocean are mesmerizing. I’m longing to go back.

All images © Karen McRae

Avian Architecture

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So I have a little nest collection. Yes, along with collections of rocks and decaying leaves… but you have to admit they are pretty cool. And all so different. I don’t know what birds built all these nests but everyone does it their own way. Little architectural gems.  (Click to enlarge images.)

This nest is partially built with cigarette filters, lots of them...city dwellers.
A little heavy on the insulation...synthetic fibres.

Oriole Nest, plant fibre weathered and greyed. All images © Karen McRae

Delicate Decay

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Fading Magnolia Leaves
I’ve been collecting gracefully decaying leaves. It seems that magnolia leaves are ideal for this. They fade away slowly leaving behind a beautiful structure of veins. They photograph very nicely and today I was photographing them in the late afternoon with the sun streaming through the window. The tangle of leaf skeleton makes for amazing shadows. (You can enlarge each image by clicking on them.)

While the leaves are gently fading away the magnolia trees have already put on their flower buds for next spring. All images by Karen McRae