Niagara Glen

One of our boys took my camera to Niagara with him recently, and came back with some great shots of the autumn colours at Niagara Glen.

Niagara Glen is along the Canadian side of the Niagara Gorge, at the site of the Niagara Whirlpool.  The gorge and whirlpool were created about six to seven thousand years ago as the Niagara River slowly eroded its way through the Niagara Escarpment.  Erosion resistant bedrock forced a right-angle turn in the river's path at the site of the Whirlpool, where the rushing waters are forced into a deep counter-clockwise spin.  Despite being a few kilometres downriver from the Niagara Falls, there is still a considerable amount of mist in the air.

He also captured these shots of our dogs a few weeks ago.  I think he's going to be getting a camera of his own for Christmas!

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A Boy and his Dog - and his Sister

It's the perfect time of year for exploring local trails.

And for realising that you're never really too old to climb trees.

Month of June, I have high hopes for you.

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Leaves and Pumpkins

We're more than halfway through autumn, and there are now more leaves on the ground than on the tree branches.

Pumpkins.

And more pumpkins.

Teenagers that love having their picture taken.

Cornstalks and bruised fall skies.

I almost didn't bring my camera to the pumpkin farm... I'm glad that I did.

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Snow Days

So far the kids' Christmas vacation has been extended by two days.  Words like 'frost quake' and 'polar vortex' have entered the weather conversation.  We do love to talk about the weather, and as conditioned as we are to the extremes of winter, the state of affairs these past few days warrant more than a casual mention of wind chills and snow squalls.  

It's been COLD, bitter cold.  It's been snowy, and windy, and downright wintry.  I woke up in the middle of the night one day last week to a loud boom, when the overnight low was well into the -30's, colder still with the wind chill.   At the time I had no idea what it was.  Turns out if was a frost quake, something I'd never heard of before.  

We've been under a blizzard advisory for two days.  In all the years that I've lived here, I don't ever recall a blizzard warning.  Snow squall warnings are common, given our proximity to the Great Lakes and all the lake-effect snow they create.  Wind chill warnings aren't news either.  But a full fledged blizzard?  Those only happen on the prairies, or the maritimes, or the northern territories... not here.  Until this week.  All thanks to a pesky polar vortex.

The forecast is for warmer temperatures by this weekend, but we still have a lot of winter ahead of us. Plenty of time for more winter weather conversations.  Maybe even a few more snow days.  Cabin fever is great incentive to get crafty and make, oh, maybe a solar system or something.

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First Snow

This shift in weather was a subtle thing.  Rainy days, sunshine.  Mild days, cold nights. Waking up to morning frost on the rooftops.

And this morning, snow.

It's not much, but it's enough snow to make me think of hot chocolate, gingerbread, peppermint, and Christmas decorations.  And Christmas cards.  

Which leads to thinking about photos for the Christmas cards.  I have to confess that it's been a few years since I mailed anyone a Christmas card, but I have resolved to change that this year.  I contributed to a post at Shutterfly recently about holiday card photos.  You can read it here:

http://blog.shutterfly.com/15485/holiday-card-photography/

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Photo a Day Monday, Branches Bared

Mama Papparazzi is back.  My camera issues have been resolved, and just in time to catch some newly bare trees.  All those gloriously coloured leaves are now littering the ground and the landscape is suddenly bleak.  

And some dog love.  His favourite spot, at the window, keeping an eye on the neighbourhood.

And some weekend breakfast.  Overnight oven-baked French toast.  I may just have to share this incredibly easy recipe with you.

And because I spend so much time at the rink, hockey shots.

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