Sylvia's Simple Shots

Easter Monday I headed out to Lois Hole Provincial Park to see what birds I would be able photograph.

I needed to out of the house today because the inspection of my condo was taking place to finalize the sale.

I found this pair of Golden Eye ducks on one of the ponds.  

It was very busy on the board walk because many had the day off.  Not so great for taking pictures.

I headed over to my aunts for tea and a warm up after my walk in nature.

I gave up a chance to attend my brother in law's birthday party in the city to the south so that I could get my taxes done.  My regular online process did not work so I booked an appointment with a tax preparation company because they just had to be done in a short amount of time.

The appointment went well and in 20 minutes I was on my way with a considerable charge for the work and a bill to pay on Tuesday.

It is done!

I called my sister for her birthday and I had just received the news that my condo was sold.

It's been one step after another.

I now need to find a place to buy and I can tell you that I have put a full effort to prepare my place, leave it immaculate for potential buyers but some of the places I am viewing are not left in great shape.  It is amazing.

The Way Life Should Be by Christina Baker Kline is the book I finished this week.

Angela is stuck in a job she does not like in New York.  She has a photo of a cottage by the sea tacked to her bulletin board - the dream. She has warm memories of spending time in the kitchen with her grandmother and learning Italian cooking along the way.  

Rich is a guy who lives in Maine and runs a sailboat operation.  Enjoys the sea, the sun and a rugged outdoors lifestyle. 

Angela is fired and decides based on one hookup with Rich that she is heading to Maine and her dream cottage. Well, the reality is not what she expected. Things don't work out with Rich but she finds a job in a cafe and a small old dilapidated cottage to live in.  

She offers cooking classes through her connections at the cafe and that goes well. With the help of new friends she creates a life more in line with her values and priorities. Nice read.

The pussy willows are out which means it is spring.  Some are white and some a puffy yellow already.

The song birds are back as well. 

I did not get a great shot of the black birds.

I think this is a sparrow but it managed to hide well enough not to be photographed or identified.

Next time.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

The Siberian Squill are in bloom in the neighborhood.

Several front yards have these tiny beauties.

Beautiful blue color hanging on this delicate stem very close to the ground.

I have not see the white ones this year. 

I squeezed getting my taxes down to the last day.  It really did not take as long as I anticipated.  

Now, that I have retired there a very few pieces to collect and plug into the calculations.

I did manage to get to the bank to pay the bit I owed.

It's been a good week for photography.  I have visited several of my regular water spaces to see what I could find for birds and flowers.

Here's are a few shots from Beaumaris Lake.

The Ruddy Duck with it's bright blue bill.

The Golden Eye which in the sun shimmered its green head.

The Red Wing Blackbird which is a staple of many wet places.

The Common Grackle was showing off its blue head and yellow eye.

The St. Albert Botanic Park was starting show color.  The Pasque flowers are always early bloomers.  The pink flowers are apple blossoms and the small purple flower was very close to the ground.

It's that time of year.  The waterfowl have arrived and trying to sort out a place for a nest and raising the next generation.  

The American Avocet is always a treat to see. We are on the northern edge of their breeding area.

The Beaver was very curious to see what I was up to and then went on it's happy way.

The Canada Geese were defending territories and there was much posturing, chasing and honking going on.

The Lesser Yellowlegs were scoping the area for food.

The Northern Shoveler duck was there showing off his bright head.