The Printery of William Lyon MacKenzie
This building in Queenston was the home for the Colonial Advocate, a reformer newspaper which was an early enterprise of William Lyon MacKenzie after he immigrated to Canada from Scotland
Mackenzie is a famous and controversial figure in Upper Canada prior to the establishment of present day Canada. He was often elected to various levels of government and almost as often, thrown out of office by the upper class powers who ran the colony. At one point he became Toronto’s first mayor.
After becoming an organizer of the failed Upper Canada Rebellion which advocated separation from Britain, he fled to the U.S. This was not the end of his political adventures and you can read more in the Wikipedia article on William Lyon MacKenzie.
If you would like to be informed of future posts, Click Here.
After the flood
It had rained for a few days before the town of Argenton-sur-Creuse flooded. This is the day after and the skies are finally beginning to clear.
Argenton-sur-Creuse is a beautiful town in the Loire valley region of France.
I processed this in what I thought of as a painterly style. A bit of HDR to bring out shadow detail, especially of the trees, and a find edges filter to provide lots of contrast.
If you would like to be informed of future Nature posts, Click Here.
Hamilton Falls: Vermont Waterfalls
This is one of the best waterfalls in Vermont. To reach it, Route 30 to West Townshend and go north on Windham Hill Road about 4.3 miles. Turn west on Burbee Pond Road for a a mile and west on West Windham Road. Drive for about 2.8 miles and look for a a small sawmill on your right just after a sharp bend to the right. The short trail is on the other side of the road.
This falls slips between a worn channel in the rock in a spectacular fashion. Be very careful, this can be a dangerous place as evidenced by the sign which is there. (See image below).
GPS Location: N:43.13677 W:72.76350
Warning: It can be dangerous to view and photograph waterfalls. The footing can be wet and slippery, and an accidental fall can result in serious injury or death. Note also that many sections of waterfalls are on private property. Please respect these rights.
If you would like to be informed of future Vermont posts, Click Here.
The Color of Music
Mixed Senses
To view the air instead of merely hear
it. See it wrap its arms around my waist
and brush its slender fingers on my face
and hair. If I could hear the colors, how
would red or blue appear? Would one be round,
the other having sharpened edges? (I
think blue would be the less abrasive.) Just
to taste the sound of trumpet, strong and with
a little tang of vinegar. To feel
the smell of mud, that musky memory
producing scent! And fragrances of thought;
would hatred smell as ugly as it feels,
and love as clear and crystal clean as I
suppose? What could I write with thoughts like those?
A wonderful poem from Patricia Emerson Mitchell at the pattyo
Borers Falls; Ontario Waterfalls
Borers Falls can be reached by taking Dundas St. (Highway 5) west off of Highway 6 just north of Hamilton. Turn left on Rock Chapel Rd. and go for about 1 mile (1.6 km.) You will come to a bridge with small parking lots on both sides to the left. There are trails on both sides.There are no guardrails, so please be careful.
These falls are close to nearby Websters and Tews Falls which are both better known but Borers is spectacular in its own right.
GPS Location: N:43.29272 W:79.93655
Warning: It can be dangerous to view and photograph waterfalls. The footing can be wet and slippery, and an accidental fall can result in serious injury or death. Note also that many sections of waterfalls are on private property. Please respect these rights.
Go to the Index to Ontario Waterfalls
If you would like to be informed of future Ontario Waterfall posts, Click Here.
Kidder Hill Covered Bridge, Vermont
When Built: 1870
Builders: Unknown
Description: On a quiet road near the village of Grafton.
GPS Position: N:43.16894 W:72.60523
This is part of a series on Vermont’s Covered Bridges. You can find an index here.
If you would like to be informed of future Covered Bridge posts, Click Here.
Decew Falls: Ontario Waterfalls
To reach Decew Falls from Highway 401 (Niagara) take exit 49 southeast and merge onto King’s Hwy 406.Take the St.David’s Rd/County Rd-71 exit, merge onto St David’s Rd. and turn left at Merrittville Hwy.Take the 1st right onto Decew Rd. There is a parking lot and it is well signed. View Larger Map
There is a great looking mill at the top of the falls. The bottom of the gorge can be very difficult to get to. It either involves a dangerous decent near the falls or a long walk along the trail behind the mill to a point where it is safer to descend, and then making your way back upstream to the base of the falls.
GPS Location: N:43.11051 W:79.26444
 Morningstar Mill |
 Decew Falls: Ontario Waterfalls |
Warning: It can be dangerous to view and photograph waterfalls. The footing can be wet and slippery, and an accidental fall can result in serious injury or death. Note also that many sections of waterfalls are on private property. Please respect these rights.
Go to the Index to Ontario Waterfalls
If you would like to be informed of future Ontario Waterfall posts, Click Here.
In eastern North America, this is one of the most common hybrids. This may be due to the fact that the two species are considered close genetically, in fact some have suggested that the Amercian Black Duck is merely a color variation of the Mallard.
 |
 |
 Mallard X Black Duck Hybrid |
If you would like to be informed of future Nature posts, Click Here.
Intersex Mallard
I saw the bird above in the Hamilton harbor area, here in Southern Ontario. It is a wintering area for waterfowl and it is not unusual to see hybrids of Mallard and American Black Duck. However this bird seems to show only Mallard characteristics, although some male and some female.
A little research shows that this is not unknown and that is probably a female Mallard with decreased estrogen.
Joseph Morlan was kind enough to send me some links to information on this.
http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/feb00.htm
http://users.utu.fi/hlehto/photo/color/anapla_koirasnaaras.shtml
If you would like to be informed of future Nature posts, Click Here.
Hall Covered Bridge, Vermont
When Built: About 1870
Builders: Unknown
Description: The original was destroyed by an overloaded truck in 1980. The replacement was completed in 1982, built in the authentic manner.
GPS Position: N:43.13720 W:72.48749
This is part of a series on Vermont’s Covered Bridges. You can find an index here.
If you would like to be informed of future Covered Bridge posts, Click Here.
