Ahhh...The Cottage Life!

Belfountain - A Winter Walk

2013-03-24T11:56:00.005-04:00

The records indicate that the Hamlet of Belfountain (Village) was first settled in 1825. As time passed, the Hamlet added a blacksmith, wagon shop, school, post office, church and a public water pump.The cold, spring-fed waters of the West Credit River provide ideal habitat and ample angling opportunities for brook and brown trout and other fish. Freshwater springs flow from the steep valley walls that enclose this tranquil oasis. Heavily treed woodlands of cedar, oak, maple and birch are alive with wildlife – songbirds, rabbits, flying squirrels, ruffed grouse and white-tailed deer.

Falls created by Charles Mack

Close to the picturesque village of Belfountain, this 8 ha site once belonged to Charles Mack, inventor of the cushion-back rubber stamp.   Mack and his wife Addie purchased the property in 1908, where he developed his version of a miniature Niagara Falls (above) and Yellowstone Cave (below).

The "Cave" below. There is a wonderful hearth in here. I can only imagine the fires it has held.

It started out as a dull cold day with flurries. By the time we got to Belfountain the weather had changed to a gorgeous sunny, mild day.

Suspension bridge over the Credit River

Mr. Mack had a suspension bridge built downstream from the dam (above) and created a fountain topped with a bell honouring the town(below). He also added stonewalls, footpaths, scenic lookouts and a guesthouse. The couple lived in a small house deep in the park.

I never tire of this wonderful spot. There wasn't another soul around. Just my granddaughter, her friend and I.

Magical!

SkyWatch Friday

2012-11-22T21:17:00.001-05:00

Just a couple of weeks ago the skies were blue and the colour was fantastic!

All the leaves are down now and we have been getting a lot of foggy mornings.

The forecast is snow for the weekend! Have a happy SkyWatch Friday!

Happy Halloween!

2012-10-31T11:36:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween

My Favourite Halloween Treat!

But... No adult treats until the kids are all home and safe! Don't Drink and Drive.

Watch out for the Kiddies!

Let's keep all the animals safe tonight. Keep them indoors!

(There will be lots of traffic on the roads)

Everyone enjoy a safe and Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween for Seniors

2012-10-29T08:03:00.005-04:00

Rules for Halloween for Seniors !

You know you are too old to Trick or Treat when:

10. You keep knocking on your own front door.

9. You remove your false teeth to change your appearance.

8. You ask for soft high fibre candy only.

7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag,

you lose your balance and fall over.

6. People say...'Great Boris Karloff Mask,'
And you're not wearing a mask.
.

5. When the door opens you yell, 'Trick or...'

And you can't remember the rest.

4. By the end of the night,

you have a bag full of restraining orders.

3. You have to carefully choose a costume that

doesn't dislodge your hairpiece.

2. You're the only Power Ranger in the

neighborhood with a walker.

And the number one reason Seniors should not

Trick Or Treating...
*
*
*
1. You keep having to go home to pee.

No matter, have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN anyway...

Welcoming Autumn

2012-09-19T16:27:00.001-04:00

The days are noticeably shorter. The nights are cooler.On the first day of fall—the autumnal equinox—day and night are each about 12 hours long (with the actual time of equal day and night, in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring a few days after the autumnal equinox). The Sun crosses the celestial equator going southward; it rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west.

The barns have been filling up with hay, straw and the last of the corn to be harvested.

We start into our Autumn months on the weekend. Sneaks in on September 22, 10:49 A.M. EDT in North America. I am really sad to see the end of summer this year as I did not get to really enjoy it all.. Sigh! Too much work and no play. Here's hoping for a glorious, long and warm fall!!!

Praying Mantis-Ready to lay eggs.

2012-09-16T17:09:00.000-04:00

Found this little beauty on the garage. A female Praying Mantis with her belly swollen with eggs and in labour. You can see the thorax pulsing. Lots of little Praying Mantis for next year.

This is the back view. She seemed to be getting the sun. It has been cooler and it was wonderful in the sun.

These are great to help keep the mosquitoes and other bugs down. I encourage them to habitat.

Wind Power

2012-09-16T10:42:00.001-04:00

Every once in awhile I just go touring in the car, no where in particular. Just off to see new things. I am seeing many more of these popping up in the farmland area. On barns especially. Good for them!! A nice green way to supplement electricity. I like Wind turbines. I know there is a lot of controversy about them but since I have been on site for Safety compliance at both Wind turbine sites and Coal fire plants, I will tell you I will take wind turbines hands down!

I prefer these over...

These! Coal fired plants!

The Ontario government hopes to phase out all coal-fired plants by 2014, replacing that capacity with wind power and other clean energy sources.

"Ontario is on the edge of creating one of the greenest and cleanest electricity profiles anywhere in the world. Delivering on our government's key commitment to eliminate coal, along with the Green Energy Act, will cement Ontario as a leader in renewable energy and conservation. "

– George Smitherman
Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure

The Nanticoke coal-fired electricity generating station on Lake Erie is Canada's single largest source of air pollution. This gigantic coal-fired power plant -- the largest in North America -- produces a toxic brew of pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, lead, cancerous heavy metals and arsenic. (Nanticoke is owned by Ontario Power Generation -- formerly Ontario Hydro -- which, in turn, is 100% owned by the Government of Ontario.)

Cleaner sources of electricity:

Wind power -- zero air emissions
Solar photo voltaic -- zero air emissions
Hydro -- zero air emissions (can have other impacts)
Landfill gas/bio-gas (e.g. from municipal composting facility) -- varies depending on technology and source
Natural gas --The smog-causing sulphur dioxide emissions of a modern high-efficiency natural gas power plant are 99% less than those from existing coal-fired plants. Emissions of nitrogen oxides (also a source of smog) are 90% less and emissions of greenhouse gases are 60% less. Gas-fired plants emit no mercury, lead or heavy metals, all of which are emitted by coal-fired power plants.

Todays theme- Water

2012-09-15T11:17:00.000-04:00

Dark clouds rolling in to cover the sun and a a blue sky reflected in the water.

Can you see the Black Bird in the water?

Still lots of boats on the water at Belwood Lake. This is a man made lake and in the fall they open the dam and reduce the lake back to the river only. Belwood Lake was created in 1942 with the construction of the Shand Dam, the first dam in Canada built solely for water control and flood purposes. It is amazing how different this water body looks in the late fall and winter but Belwood, being a reservoir lake, does more of a transformation than any others I have seen. In the winter you can walk out on the very shores that are normally well under water.

Here is hoping you all have a peaceful and enjoyable weekend!!

Weekend Reflections- pond

2012-09-14T15:11:00.000-04:00

Cattails and rushes mingle with the clouds in this pond.

Weekend Reflections show great reflections from all over the world. Go take a look!

SkyWatch Friday, Scenic Sunday

2012-09-14T13:26:00.003-04:00

Summer days are almost at an end. Soon these trees will all be orange and red and the field plowed for next year. Fall is in the air already. I took this photo a couple of weeks ago when summer was in her best attire. I love the mustard coloured fields. Such a gorgeous colour!

Go see all the wonderful skies at SkyWatch Friday! Scenes from all over the globe a t Scenic Sunday.

Weekend Reflections

2012-09-07T14:01:00.000-04:00

The Deloitte Building in Mississauga
Walking to my car at the end of the day I looked up to see this crazy reflection of the building beside it!

For more Weekend Reflections click here.

SkyWatch Friday-Marilyn Monroe Towers

2012-09-07T12:37:00.000-04:00

Marilyn Monroe Towers, Mississauga Ontario

Yansong Ma is the Beijing architect behind the Mississauga’s celebrated Marilyn Monroe building, now actually two buildings, each a "curvaceous" skyscraper twisting its way to the clouds.

I have a client whose building looks out onto these Twin Towers. When I was leaving the other day, the sun was lined up so nicely I just had to stop and get a picture (or 5, lol) Too see more SkyWatch Friday click "Here".
These towers are at the corner of Hurontario and Burnhamthorpe in Mississauga for those interested in seeing them.

Love Surveys!

2012-09-05T16:45:00.000-04:00

I love surveys- especially if it gets me things and especially if one of those things is MONEY. I joined this site below a couple of days ago and have already earned! Looks like it will do well by me. Check it out.

Join one of the largest online opinion panels. Be rewarded for answering online surveys and inviting friends! You can also change the money you earned into Air Miles or you can donate it to a Non Profit Organization.

Open to Canada and America.

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Go to:Legerweb.com

The Pits! Outdoor Wednesday

2012-09-04T15:53:00.003-04:00

I live beside a "clay pit" or mine. It has grown quite a bit since it started but it is only a three man operation. It was only about a third this size when I moved in 30 years ago. This whole area is clay. The red clay that factories love to make brick out of. They are relatively quiet neighbours.

I walked there yesterday being as it was a holiday and no one was around. (Yes, I snuck in!) It ends abruptly as seen here in this pic. My family used to take many walks back in the forest here and there were lots of hills for tobogganing in the winter months. Now every one is grown and no one but me is interested. Once in a while I still walk back there, mostly for old times sake now. It is still quite pretty past the pit. I see Wild Turkey back here. They were re-introduced to Ontario about 25 years ago and are in massive numbers now. Seem to like it here.

There is a bulldozer and an excavator down there. I believe that the same man who runs these also takes the load in a large transport to the bricking factories. If you were to walk straight through the pit and up the hill in the back you run into my back yard.

There has always been ponds in the pit but they have moved around over time. There was a bigger pond and lots of flooding in the winter which froze and family and friends would skate down there. There was no one around and no operation in the winter in the first 20 years. Now it is all year.

Love Cat Tails! Or Bulrushes, whatever you wish to call them. There are so many prints and scat down by the pond. Deer, turkey, raccoon and coyotes prints that I could see. There were Turkey Vultures flying over head that have been coming back to this area ever since I moved here. Offspring of offspring I imagine.

To those that know the area, you can see lots of change. Lots more of the great outdoors here at Outdoor Wednesday!

Random Pics of Nature

2012-08-28T17:08:00.000-04:00

Walking Stick
Strange how their natural colouring is camouflaged but I always seem to find them on something white. This little guy stuck around all day.

The rivers are really low this summer. Next to no rain is the culprit.

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Whilst having a little day trip , just to get away from the house, I saw this wonderful nest!

I stepped out of the car to view and take a picture just as this bird took off and let me know it was very upset with my presence! Pretty sure it is an Osprey. So nice to see. There was a great decline in the Osprey for many years due to pesticide use.

I am enjoying the cooler day today and have a couple of days off. I am going to spend some time on other peoples blogs and catchup! Today post is in Outdoor Wednesday. Go take a look at other outdoor posts. If you like birds go see Wild Bird Wednesday!

Hide and Go Seek?

2012-08-02T13:18:00.000-04:00

Who is that with the camera? Should I come out and see or stay so well hidden here?

I really should let them see the beauty that is me!! Here goes.

I'm so sexy!

Doing the dishes and looked up through the window to see this Buck eating the grass in the back lot. He stayed around for more than an hour and didn't see me hiding in the kitchen taking his picture. I love to see these lovely creatures visit!

Tree tough!

2012-07-07T17:53:00.001-04:00

I saw this tree the other day. I am always so surprised when I see a tree full of ants and termites in the centre and yet in full foliage and living as though nothing was going on. We should be so tough!

Fresh for me, what do you think?

2012-07-06T12:10:00.000-04:00

This is one of my secret pleasures. I love freshly mowed hay! I get great pleasure out of seeing the bales and rows waiting to be baled. The smell is wonderful too!

Does anyone else agree?

Cottage fun!

2012-07-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

Shortly after the fireworks on Sunday a family of ducks came swimming in looking for food. I don't usually encourage the granddaughters to feed them as I prefer they stay self sufficient but this was a special night and such a surprise to see them.

Spooky eyes!

Wishing everyone a great weekend.

SkyWatch Friday

2012-07-05T20:41:00.002-04:00

Finally made my way up to the cottage. Sunday night the sky lit up over the lake with fireworks to celebrate Canada Day .

My son and his cousin like to be where the action is. Thanks Son, for the great display!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. For more skies of the world go to SkyWatch Friday.

And then the Rain came!

2012-06-23T11:27:00.002-04:00

Finally the record breaking extreme heat has lifted with a wonderful thunder storm and very heavy rain.

The next day was much cooler and gave us a lovely sunset view from the back porch.

Finally, I can breath once again!

Hope everyone has an amazing weekend. Happy Summer Canada!

Weekend Reflections

2012-06-08T15:17:00.005-04:00

This is a triple reflection of old buildings in the window of a beautifully restored boat (The Bigwin) sitting in the channel in Dorset Ontario. Looking in at the helm there is a refashioned steering wheel.The background shows buildings off to the side and a second set of buildings across the narrows of which it sits.(middle left). You can see the new mahogany used on the cabin enclosure.

For Reflections form the world over go to Weekend Reflections here.

A Challenge to You on a Thursday!

2012-06-07T08:43:00.000-04:00

A little fun today. Can you find the cat in the photo?

You will need to look very closely. Now that i have found it it is easy but definitely tough to find. Don't post where it is in comments. Don't want to spoil it for others!

What do you see?Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday

2012-01-25T08:43:00.001-05:00

Unusual winter so far this year in Ontario.We are seeing milder temperatures than usual and in central to southern Ontario more rain as precipitation than snow. What little snow we have been getting has melted quickly. 1 1/2 hours north in the snow belt area, they have been getting snow. Good for the ski hills but even they opened late and have had a few too many mild days. Hard to make snow when it is above freezing so the base isn't as good as it may be.

So I am wondering...

What is the winter (or summer) like where you are? Do you notice a change or is it the same as it always is for this time of year? Worse? Better? I am curious to see the results from around the world. Leave me a little comment and I will write about the responses!

More Watery Wednesday here.
For more Outdoor Wednesday here.

End of the world

2012-01-15T12:49:00.001-05:00

Thought this may cheer a few up!

So much for the end of the world predictions!

Happy Sunday!