Shiny, heavy metal

One of the best things about this newspaper racket is that occasionally you get to wear special protective gear as you tour a steel-making plant. The scene at times resembled an Elton John retro convention or a bad sci fi-heavy metal mix on roids. But actually this was serious stuff -- we taxpayers are spending $10 million to help a local industry invest a total of $80 million in an expansion that will create jobs, increase efficiency, and -- get this -- reduce the foundry's impact on the environment.

In these parts, the colour of money is a bright red, as in sparks created by an arc furnace.

Support

Whenever you are trying something new, it is helpful to receive some support.

Promising

There are more and more signs that spring may soon be on the horizon. But we know better -- Old Man Winter is a persistent sort and is bound to hang around for at least another six weeks, eh?

Snowballs

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

That is more like it

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

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

White Boxing Day

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

Morning Glow

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

Fall scenes

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

Going, going

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

Salut, summer

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

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

Refreshing dip

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

Every square tells a story

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

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