The Marsh at Lake Erie

If they ever paint this old shed I will be devastated.

 The marsh

 Could this be a muskrat lodge?

 Not a good picture but this heron kept flying over

 Part of our trail (COD)

 I love this tree...will make an effort to find out what it is.

Swans swimming and feeding at the lake.

Lower Huron Metropark

Trying to find something to keep me busy!

 Searching all over the house for somethings to photograph......I'm running out of subjects. Wish that my grandkids were still little....I would love to hover over them with my camera.

Fresh Air

 Yesterday was a beautiful, spring like day and I couldn't resist getting out of the house for awhile. It felt so good to feel the breeze (a lot warmer than normal) and just smell the fresh air. I drove down to  Lake Erie Metropark where I was discouraged to see a very drab landscape. It wasn't until I got to to the lake that the sky and the lake looked a wonderful deep blue. All the photos that I took, were taken from my car or very near my car, by the way.
The lake was teeming with water fowl....swans, geese and ducks. I think that trump should build a wall between Canada (make Canada pay for it) to keep out all the illegal aliens..... those pesky Canada geese....there were hundreds of them. But, what can you do when Canada is right across the water and they can fly...lol

 Mute Swans hanging out in a little inlet. (enlarge to see the windmills across in Canada).

Ducks all in a row, well,

 not really as these are geese and one swan.

Waiting for Spring

St. Patrick's, Dublin

Comfort Station on Belle Isle

Still Life

taken with gardening book as a backdrop.

Chester

 Lake Windermere 

 Chester

After a tour of Scotland, we saw the Lake District....unfortunately we never went to see Beatrix Potter's farmhouse which was a great disappointment to me. We stayed in Chester one night. As you can see it is a very old city (established in 1541). Some things in England are so old that it is hard to wrap your head around. The city is on the River Dee (love that). Next was Wales and then on to Holyhead to catch the ferry to Ireland.

 Honestly, it rained almost everyday for the whole 3 weeks we were there. Some days it was torrential. In fact, I was watching a TV show recently and they were mentioning a river in England that flooded and said that the last time it reached that level was 2007. This was June into July...ugh!

Just Like Spring!

Although this photo does not represent, it feels just like spring today........bright, sunny and around 40 degrees. Most of the snow is gone. Before we get too excited, we have to remember that it is still January. A lot more cold and snow yet to come. Can we call this the January thaw?

Vintage Glasses

Years ago I used to collect things...from ebay, antique and junk stores and so on. It was a real addiction. I collected world globe banks, salt and pepper shakers, anything Anchor Hocking or old Pyrex, cheap crystal stuff, frogs for flower arranging and striped glasses. I still love these glasses. I can remember them from my childhood. I especially liked the small juice glasses. Of course, I never use them. Every spring I take them out of the hutch, wash them, admire them and put them back.

Old Police Radio Dispatch, Belle Isle

 I love this old Victorian...the historic marker below is an interesting read.

Empty

I'd like to live here (after an extensive remodel, Mr. Holmes)

Signage Overload

This is just a 4 way intersection on Belle Isle (very little traffic even on a summer Sunday afternoon) with a statue in the middle. I'm counting 12 traffic signs! Really? We need that much direction just to get around this 4 way? Otherwise it would be an attractive area.

Travels With Carol

 Wales

I happened to come across some pictures from a trip that I took over 10 years ago. Used a Sony point and shoot at the time and no editing (although I just did a little editing now). Some pictures were taken out the bus window, hence the reflection. What a fabulous trip this was...my last to Europe. Note the stacked stone wall. I think that England is noted for stone walls.

 Snowdonia 

 A group of young people getting ready for some mountain climbing.....there is one of our group walking through the shot. I can assure you that none of use were tempted to do any climbing.

Caernarfon Castle, built by King Edward the 1st around 1283. Wonderful castle and I love the Welsh flags blowing in the breeze. There was a nice little town around the castle and because of the ancient castle I was so surprised that I could buy a card for my camera there.

Betws-s-Coed

I loved this town and the manor house....beautiful setting.

St. Joseph Oratory

Feast of the Holy Family

Old Stables Belle Isle

 This is another wonderful Victorian style building on the island that is not in use. A dilapidated banner is hanging up announcing that the building is going to be restored but it looks like it's been there for years. This building and the Carillon tower both deserve to be shored up and repaired. There are several of the old pavilions that are being worked on now (covered in plastic) and they are two of the more ornate historic pavilions....they should be done by next summer and I can't wait to see them. It a shame that everything was left (by the city) to rot. You should see the zoo....a real mess and beyond any repair I think.