No Games

Snowballs

2012-01-29T11:07:00.002-05:00

The combination of wind and wet snow has created these whimsical snowballs in fields.

That is more like it

2012-01-13T18:49:00.004-05:00

You know that all this mild winter weather was just a teaser for the real conditions we are used to. And, of course, the biggest blast of the season so far arrived on Friday the 13th!

Simple pleasures

2011-12-28T14:11:00.002-05:00

They may be intelligent, but occasionally even cats take pleasure in the most simplest diversions.

White Boxing Day

2011-12-26T12:52:00.004-05:00

So, now that we have had a white Christmas and a white Boxing Day, the snow can all leave now, right?

Morning Glow

2011-12-01T07:28:00.001-05:00

One of the advantages of the time change is that we have more chances to catch some sensational sunrises.

Fall scenes

2011-11-12T11:33:00.003-05:00

Fuzzy and foggy landscapes are all part and parcel of the transition between fall and winter.

Going, going

2011-11-08T07:17:00.002-05:00

Fall is not for everyone but it does provide a chance to look at different colours, eh?

Salut, summer

2011-10-26T19:48:00.004-04:00

Summer departed while the computer was fried, so this would be a good time to wrap up some warm weather memories now that we have new and improved connectivity.

Of course, we saw fire in the sky often as we basked in hot mid-summer nights. We had to get ready for winter, so we did some splitting.

And we learned about the literal meaning of the "fog of war" during a War of 1812 battle re-enactment.

Light rail

2011-10-24T17:59:00.002-04:00

It is amazing how the sun can seem to illuminate even the most mundane subjects, eh?

Refreshing dip

2011-10-13T18:27:00.002-04:00

Ah, Thanksgiving: A time for turkey, sweet potato pie and waterskiing?

Every square tells a story

2011-08-15T21:54:00.004-04:00

A quilt display is one of the attractions of the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo that will be held just down the road, in East Hawkesbury, in September.

Quilts can tell a story, such as the one about the Underground Railway, herald accomplishments, such as the ribbons won by the Kirby family, and they burst into a fabulous display of colours.

Jungle cat

2011-07-31T11:12:00.002-04:00

Millie takes her job seriously, venturing into her jungle even on long weekends.

July Colours

2011-07-25T21:03:00.005-04:00

All creatures, including horses, enjoyed a bit of a romp in the midsummer landscape, where peas were hanging on and wheat was peaking.

Shades of green

2011-07-07T20:42:00.004-04:00

Everywhere you look, everything seems to be green at this time of year, eh?

Team work

2011-06-15T18:10:00.002-04:00

The strong and quiet types, Tiny and Rose work as a team at a recent plowing demonstration, one of the many events promoting the International Plowing Match in East Hawkesbury in September. This team shows why so many horsemen believe that horse-power on the hoof is the real attraction of plowing contests.

What is it?

2011-05-26T18:37:00.002-04:00

One of the best things about this newspaper racket is that you get to do stories on specialty industries.

This is the key to a Hawkesbury company that has a connection with everyone.

Can you guess what this object is?

Honk for geese!

2011-05-04T18:48:00.004-04:00

OK, so you expect to see geese in the middle of a field, but in the middle of the road?

Some feathers were ruffled but nobody was injured in this close encounter with a flock.

April ice

2011-04-20T20:23:00.004-04:00

Standing out

2011-04-14T22:13:00.001-04:00

Political turf

2011-04-07T18:48:00.003-04:00

Well, it is nice to see political rivals sharing turf, even though the Liberal is leaning to the right and the blue candidate is a bit of a blur.

Down the road, trees have taken a stand, on a wagon.

Geese on ice

2011-03-29T07:27:00.003-04:00

So, after a long flight, you finally land in the summer place, only to find it frozen!

What bird brain was responsible for this?

Cavity

2011-03-22T07:04:00.003-04:00

One person said that this hole in a road near St-Eugene, southeast of Hawkesbury, was the size of his bedroom. Well, we do not know how big his bedroom is, of course, however when water washed out a culvert, and a section of a road, the ensuing cavity was large enough to force a detour.

Mother Nature -- do not tick her off!

Craters

2011-03-19T07:59:00.005-04:00

Ah, spring, the time when sap runs, geese return and potholes swallow cars.

Occasionally, the craters will reach out and remove hub caps, depositing them on the side of the road, in a macabre ritual symbolizing another victory of Mother Nature over Man and his pitiful machines, and that cold patch.

Even Elvis is Irish

2011-03-14T20:23:00.004-04:00

Everyone was Irish when Vankleek Hill held its St. Patrick's Day parade.

A delight

2011-03-02T07:19:00.003-05:00

So, a red sky at night is a supposed to delight a sailor, even though we do not get many sailors in these ports at this time of the year, if you catch my drift. In fact, we keep getting more and more drifts lately as Old Man Winter is not about to set sail anytime soon.

Signs of the season

2011-02-16T19:07:00.008-05:00

Snow fell gently on an array of solar panels while Percy stood out last week awaiting a two-legged snack. Flakes also came to rest on a well-rested shovel which was soon put to use on a snow-clogged driveway.

Eastern Pyramids

2011-02-09T07:23:00.002-05:00

One of our best kept secrets: We have pyramids in East Hawkesbury!

Composed of chipped trees, the natural wonders stand on a bleak landscape where a forest has been cleared.

Snow fun

2011-02-04T07:21:00.004-05:00

Although we have had a mild winter, Groundhog Day saw us get a squall that reduced visibility and gave those lucky kids a snow day.

Minus 28

2011-01-25T19:09:00.003-05:00

We have survived the coldest night of the winter -- so far -- but the frigid conditions did not faze these birds that were out on the Ottawa River as usual.

Moon shadows

2011-01-19T19:32:00.003-05:00

OK, so there is a sort of night-time shadow trend here, but the moon was bright and the shadows were intriguing, and the landscape mode on the camera was there waiting to be used, so what is a person to do?

Hivernal hues

2011-01-06T18:39:00.004-05:00

You can never get cabin fever if you get out and enjoy winter, at all times of the day and night.

Photo developments

2011-01-04T19:33:00.002-05:00

Came across this old-fashioned contact sheet recently.

Hard to believe that at one time this was a fixture before the photo industry developed.

The dawn of a new year

2010-12-31T11:11:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year and Bonne Année!

Settling in

2010-12-21T21:13:00.004-05:00

We know that Old Man Winter has arrived when the frost and snow begin to cover everything, such as bales in a field, spiky leftovers from summer and a lone tree that survived a clear-cutting operation.

Bright lights of a small town

2010-12-12T11:09:00.005-05:00

The town of Alexandria puts on a free light show during the festive season in its park.

Every colour in the spectrum is used, as well as imaginative use of logs. Those carolers are whimsical, but critics may say that the performance is wooden.

Not big on sharing

2010-11-30T07:22:00.003-05:00

Birds of a feather are not always good at sharing, particularly when the seed is running low, and the number of feeding spots is limited. It can create some peak-to-peak confrontations and leaving some hanging in midair.

The colours of the moon

2010-11-24T20:23:00.002-05:00

I shot this in colour but it came out in black and white. Or, put in another way, the moon was dancing on a frozen patch of water, and it was in fact a high-contrast composition. Or, a most astute observer may note that the image does in fact attempt to capture the period of transition between the liquidity and sombreness of Autumn and the cold and rigidity of Winter. But who cares? The cats loved it!

Going, going....

2010-11-16T20:01:00.005-05:00

Memories of fall will soon be just that -- memories -- as Old Man Winter is just around the corner.

But -- touch wood -- we still have some sweater weather left before we are obliged to batten down the hatches.

Breakfast guests

2010-10-31T09:55:00.002-04:00

The snow brought, among other things, a flock of evening grosbeaks to the feeder.

Lyrical trip

2010-10-21T07:04:00.007-04:00

Just like that song, when we were walking in Memphis, W.C . Handy (the statue) was looking down over us, we were walking on Beale, we walked through the gates of Graceland and there was some gospel in the air. The firearms sign was a bit of a jolt, though.

Birds in the hand

2010-10-11T18:11:00.004-04:00

During our trip through Algonquin Park, we encountered these gray jays, which have become accustomed to eating out of the hands of visitors.

I do not know who was more thrilled -- the birds who got a free meal, or Ronna who wanted to share all our worldly goods with the friendly creatures. But both emitted noises of delight.

Southern comfort

2010-10-05T20:13:00.006-04:00

We just got back from a great week in Tennessee, where we enjoyed that proverbial Southern hospitality, great barbecue, an installment of the famed Grand Ole Opry radio show, and a new appreciation of the Civil War. And that was just the beginning!

At the Ryman Auditorium, we posed with a statue of Minnie Pearl, with her famous price tag, and enjoyed a typical country show -- one moment we were laughing at a beer-swiggin' song, and the next we were almost sobbing when violonists played the mournful Ashokan Farewell, better known as the theme from The Civil War TV series.

Tennessee is stepped in history, much of it tragic. We visited Franklin, a tiny community where on November 30, 1864, one of the bloodliest battles of the Civil War was waged. Bullet holes remain embedded in buildings at Carter House. At Carnton Plantation, the McGavock family's fields became a Confederate Cemetery.

But the visit was far from grim. Stay tuned.

Juggling acts

2010-09-12T09:24:00.003-04:00

The Festival de la poutine in Drummondville is all about juggling, on so many levels.

There is entertainment provided by some stilted performers, and in the case of the Poutine Chronicles correspondent, the responsibility of sampling wares and taking notes at the same time, without a net.

Populist pawns

2010-09-10T17:19:00.002-04:00

In Drummondville, the locals can make some really big moves on large-scale chess boards.

I guess you must be cconfident, because if you tank here, you do it big-time.

Exchange

2010-09-09T19:55:00.002-04:00

At the Festival de la poutine in Drummondville, Ronna had a chance to offer cooking tips to famed Montréal chef Martin Picard, who co-hosts the Wild Chef on the Food Network. Actually, she was complimenting him on his lobster poutine, and his hair.

Web postings

2010-08-31T07:22:00.002-04:00

This is a great time to catch a glimpse of spider webs, which give a different twist to the term "web posting."

The Spirit of Stan

2010-08-24T20:33:00.002-04:00

A few months before our beloved Chicago Blackhawks ended a five-decade drought and won the Stanley Cup, Ronna gave me this Stan Mikita action figure, which has since been perched on my computer while I have kept track of Hawks' happenings on the internet. As you all know, Stan was a small, classy playmaker who only in the latter years of his career donned a helmet. He was one of the best in the game, but, alas, he never hoisted the Cup. But he is now an ambassador for the Hawks and his spirit helped keep our spirits up during the many tense moments we experienced in the drive that ended in springtime delirium. OK, so the Habs had a good run, too.

Brief encounter

2010-08-22T10:40:00.004-04:00

This heron did not seem to mind sharing the road until a camera appeared and the creature decided to take flight.

Landmark lost

2010-08-17T21:32:00.004-04:00

When the phone rings at 4 a.m. and somebody mentions "fire," you know this is going to be a long day. When fire consumed the Long Sault bar in Grenville, just across the bridge from Hawkesbury, fire fighters hosed the 100-year-old building down, oblivious to the danger posed by propane tanks. Some people got bricks as souvenirs from the landmark, which contained two businesses and lots of happy memories.

Sweet jam

2010-08-01T08:55:00.003-04:00

Ronna and I had a chance to enjoy great company and great music at a Saturday night hosted by Terry and Kathy Gillespie. The evening featured some high-end talent and food, a fabulous combination.

Low levels

2010-07-20T20:58:00.003-04:00

The Ottawa River has revealed many submerged objects this summer as levels have been abnormally low. With clouds reflected in the glass-like surface, it may appear that this deadhead is a wand floating in the sky, or maybe not.

Summer hummer

2010-07-13T06:28:00.002-04:00

We know that we have reached the peak of summer when the hummingbirds are flitting around.

They are fast, beautiful and territorial, as we have learned from witnessing some high-flying skirmishes between two opposing hummers.

Diving into summer

2010-06-27T21:46:00.003-04:00

Only an hour north of New York City, bliss can be found in a small lake, where youthful laughter signals the beginning of another season of lazy, hazy days.

Wonderfully wicked

2010-06-14T21:00:00.004-04:00

They say you are wicked, and I believe them for I have seen your painted women under gas lights luring farm boys...

That lad Card Sandburg had a way with the words, eh?

Ronna and I spent the weekend in Chicago, our kind of town, for a double celebration -- her milestone birthday and the Hawks' long overdue capturing of the Stanley Cup.

We arrived downtown in time for the aftermath of the parade and rally.

We discovered that even at the Art Institute, hockey fever had gone to the heads of art lovers.

And we vowed to change the medication after checking out the Cloud Gate, better known as The Bean.

A good time was had by all.

The drought ends

2010-06-10T07:36:00.004-04:00

A few years ago, we many long-suffering Chicago Blackhawks fans could barely find team merchandise to purchase, let alone display. The 49-year drought is over, and now summer can begin.

A child's view

2010-06-06T13:26:00.003-04:00

There was something compelling about this child looking through a window as the world passed by him outside. In fact, although he seemed isolated, he was watching the crowds of bargain hunters converge on the Trash and Treasure sale in Vankleek Hill.

A fallen hero

2010-06-01T21:08:00.003-04:00

Sylvie Lormand takes a sneak peek at the memorial dedicated to her son, Corporal Patrick Lormand, who was killed at the age of 21 while serving in Afghanistan last fall. The newly-created playground at Pleasant Corners Public School, midway between Hawkesbury and Vankleek Hill, Ontario, has been named Patrick Lormand Park. Since Patrick's death, we have all in our own way been sharing his family's grief and their celebration of his life as a fun-loving, caring daredevil whose motto was "Share The Luv." When I look at this shot I took of Mme Lormand, I wonder if her first instinct was to return the blanket to its original place and bundle up her son.

Unhappy landing

2010-05-18T19:05:00.002-04:00

Yeah, well you might ruffle your feathers and squawk if, at the end of a long flight, you come in for a landing only to find out that some greedy members of your flock, when there are not taking up prominent positios, have gobbled up all the hand-outs.

(You can insert your own politically-charged metaphors here.)

Just ducky

2010-05-12T07:32:00.003-04:00

Being a duck is not all what it is quacked up to be.

This plucky fowl was making like, well, a duck to water, despite an apparent handicap.

In fact, although the creature seems to be lacking a leg, appearances can be deceiving.

Belated

2010-05-11T07:15:00.002-04:00

My Mom is 92, and, although she has had her rough patches lately, I always remember being in a good mood.

I don't know why, but I find her smile to be infectious.

Surviving

2010-05-11T07:05:00.001-04:00

Early-emerging plants have had quite a shock lately, eh?

Spring apparition

2010-05-02T09:45:00.002-04:00

Seems that everything is bursting to life when the weather shifts. This particularly excitable species (fuzzicus inditchinatus) tends to demonstrate its seasonal colours after a warm, breezy day, and then opts for a more sedate look for the rest of the year.

One happy cat

2010-04-25T09:24:00.003-04:00

When you see a happy cat (and when are cats not happy) taking in some rays, you just have to feel happy, too. Barny had a rough start, but after Ronna rescued him in the dead of winter, he has had it pretty good. And yes, this photo accurately reflects his sunny disposition.

The 3Rs on RR3

2010-04-22T07:21:00.004-04:00

There are still many abandoned one-room schoolhouses in the boonies. They do tend to look lonely at a wide-open crossroad.

Luck is holding

2010-04-15T18:04:00.004-04:00

It seems that these horseshoes work -- this abandoned house is weathered, but it is still standing after all these years.

Fading frost

2010-04-13T07:39:00.003-04:00

We look at Old Man Frost a little differently in April than we do in October, eh?

Keep moving

2010-04-07T07:23:00.002-04:00

You never want to stand still too long whenever a vulture is patrolling.

Greening

2010-04-06T07:30:00.002-04:00

Hair-like moss begins to appear on a fallen log as the forests seem to almost overnight shrug off the blanket of winter.

Earth Hour observance

2010-03-29T18:17:00.002-04:00

We observed Earth Hour again by stopping all non-essential energy consumption. So, as usual, we lit some candles, and watched the Habs on TV. Our personal overall drop in electricity use had to better the provincial average, which was a reduction of only about four per cent in hydro use during that hour.

Honk for spring

2010-03-19T07:23:00.002-04:00

Another sign that we have almost said adieu to Old Man Winter -- the wild geese have returned.

Tagged

2010-03-16T19:47:00.002-04:00

Ronna tagged me, so I found this photo of a singer, doing a Bon Jovi thing, at the 2008 Auto Expo in Hawkesbury, where throngs converge on the main drag to rev engines, kick tires, and contemplate the role of the automobile in the evolution of civilization.

Alexandria on the map

2010-03-16T07:14:00.003-04:00

Good news, sports fans. Alexandria population 3,100 (on a busy Saturday), has advanced to the final 12 in the race for the 2010 Hockeyville title. The town has been showing its passion for the game over the last several months, gaining national media attention.

Immersion

2010-03-08T23:32:00.002-05:00

One of the many duties performed by the Hawkesbury Fire Department is the rescue of unfortunates who fall through thin ice. This "victim" voluntarily broke through the ice of the Ottawa River and waited for his colleagues to rescue him during a drill on a warm Sunday morning in early March. Often, firefighters are called upon to save people who run out onto the thin ice to bring their pets back to shore and to reel in anglers who literally get wet feet when they retrieve ice-fishing huts. Ice rescues -- just another sign that spring is just around the corner.

Winners

2010-02-25T07:34:00.002-05:00

The town of Alexandria has already won national exposure in its bid to win the 2010 Hockeyville title. A CBC TV crew visits this weekend to capture how hockey fever has overtaken the community. Next month, the 12 finalists in the country-wide contest will be announced in mid-March. The winner gets a $100,000 arena facelift and will host a NHL pre-season game. It just goes to show what can be accomplished when 3,300 people work together for a good cause --- the celebration of hockey.

High and low

2010-02-23T19:30:00.002-05:00

In our part of the world we often encounter two speed limits.

This because

a) There are many pranksters out there;

b) Senior citizens like to race their scooters on rural routes;

c) Traffic sign people have too much time on their hands.

d) All of the above.

Six more weeks?

2010-02-04T19:07:00.001-05:00

Well, there is one thing to be said about frigid winds -- they can occasionally carve out some interesting shapes.

Brr!

2010-01-29T06:43:00.002-05:00

So, in a matter of days, we can go from plus 8 to minus 30. Only in Canada, eh?

Horse blanket

2010-01-13T18:44:00.001-05:00

If you had a thick hide, a little dusting of snow would not bother you either, eh?

Cold cobs

2010-01-12T23:21:00.003-05:00

A frozen stand of corn poses many questions, does it not?

Survivors

2010-01-05T07:46:00.005-05:00

Contrary to that disastrous promo on WKRP, the turkey can fly, in its own special way.

These fowl were no doubt in high spirits after they discovered that they had survived another Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Cold casing

2009-12-31T11:22:00.004-05:00

Incredibly, about a week after an ice storm hit us, we are still covered in a chilly casing.

Frosty morn

2009-12-21T17:53:00.000-05:00

It is that time of year, time to get some frosty morning shots.

Olympic moment

2009-12-13T10:18:00.002-05:00

The Olympic flame came to Hawkesbury Friday, attracting about 1,000 people, despite a strong, frigid wind. This was the second time an Olympic flame camee to town. It was here in 1976, prior to the Summer Games in Montréal. The best thing about the relay's stop in Hawkesbury was that for once the town was making news, for a good reason.

Floridian trio

2009-11-24T18:41:00.002-05:00

We spotted this trio craning to see how other Floridians live.

It is a small world, after all

2009-11-18T18:29:00.006-05:00

At Epcot, we encountered a local, St-Eugene native Carolane Wylie, working at the Canadian pavilion. The many attractions include Japanese drummers and a fireworks show.

Island of contrasts

2009-11-15T20:55:00.003-05:00

The Bahamas is an island of contrasts. Although it is independent, its capital, Nassau, retains tradition, such as the traffic cop in the midst of a bustling narrow street, and some obvious, sharp signs that some areas are off-limits.

End of the line

2009-11-07T08:05:00.004-05:00

After the last windshield was made at the Pittsburgh Glass Works in Hawkesbury last week, the workers held a mock funeral for the firm that had been providing work for as many as 600 people over the last 40 years. They hung up their safety books, some of which were creatively enhanced, and released black balloons.

Ready for winter

2009-11-05T07:16:00.002-05:00

Well, it is time to put away the canoe for another year. Forecast calls for snow, for the next six months.

Line on a line

2009-11-04T20:55:00.002-05:00

There was something compelling about this line on a line suspended over a creek. Guess you had to be there.

She is in the slot...

2009-10-29T07:27:00.003-04:00

Milly, who along with Percy popped up in my garden recently, is quite the hockey fan, playing the role of armchair coach.

Into the unknown

2009-10-27T07:31:00.001-04:00

One of the many advantages of living in the boonies is that the short, and unusually stress-free, commute offers the chance to appreciate colours and foggy vistas.

Lost and found

2009-10-22T06:48:00.004-04:00

Hey, anybody out there missing a boat? This craft, spotted beside a creek near Hawkesbury, sort of blends in with the fall colours.

Duck blind

2009-10-13T18:23:00.003-04:00

A duck bobs happily on a shiny Muskoka lake while observers are blinded by the setting sun.

Eden

2009-10-08T07:06:00.003-04:00

OK, so it is not a bumper harvest, but my first-ever apple (shown July 1 and at the time of picking) to grow on my apple tree, planted too many years ago, is very special.

The war hits home

2009-09-29T07:25:00.004-04:00

The war in Afghanistan hit close to home when a 21-year-old soldier from Chute-à-Blondeau, east of Hawkesbury, was killed near Kandahar September 13.

The death of Private Patrick Lormand touched our community. Many citizens attended his military funeral last week.

At Remembrance Day ceremonies, veterans speak of their fallen comrades in philosophical terms, saying the departed never had the opportunity to grow old.

Sadly, too many of the casualties of this conflict will also remain forever young.

Lucky driver

2009-09-24T07:03:00.002-04:00

You know you are going to have a bad day when....

The driver of this school bus escaped unscathed after it flipped into a ditch on a country road north of Cornwall last week. Fortunately, the bus was carrying no passengers when it collided with a tractor trailer.

Tree gum

2009-09-22T07:19:00.003-04:00

A gum-covered tree in a New York State park is proof that some people heed the sage advice about not daring to swallow chewing gum, because it will stick in your innards for 17 years and will contribute to climate change, or something like that.

Spectrum

2009-09-21T07:28:00.003-04:00

One of the joys of shopping at a farmers' market, such as the fantastic one in Ithaca, New York, is the ability to buy directly from the source. As you can see, although all products on sale must have been grown within a 30-mile radius of the city, the variety is extensive.

September morn

2009-09-15T19:29:00.001-04:00

Summer is on the wane.

And you can drive them, too

2009-09-09T18:43:00.004-04:00

The age-old love affair with the automobile has not petered out. One of the most popular events in Hawkesbury is the annual car show, where all sorts of shiny vehicles are on display. And, of course, there is the obligatory fuzzy dice.