First of the Month: July

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First of the Month Meme

As time goes on this is getting tougher! I want my subject matter to be the same, the lighthouse, but I also want each month to be unique. This month I took a ton of photographs! Each one looked like another month. Oddly enough, this was the first shot I took as I walked on the path towards the pier. I barely stopped as I snapped it. Funny how it wound up being my pick because of it's unique perspective. The next photo was a close second. I love how it screams July with the crowd on the pier, sailboat and jet ski on the water.

Next month is gonna be tough!! See you then.

[If your new here, view my other "First of the Month" Lighthouse photographs from Jan - June]

This Week's Critter Visitors

A baby, red squirrel that chatted up a big story with us

Not at all bothered by us or the dogs

This guy on the other hand was! Kodee was not impressed with this intruder.

Please click the Camera Critter badge and have some more fun
visiting more critter photographs posted in this weeks meme

Stomp'n Through the Zoo!

Zoo animals are ambassadors for their cousins in the wild ~ Jack Hanna

So all winter I whined over the cold weather. Can you believe I had the gull to whine over the unusually warm weather earlier last week? If you hadn't guessed yet, I am a woman :) However the last 3 days of the week turned out to be the best weather days for me! I am a person who likes sunshine, summer clothes but a nice cool breeze; and that is just what I got. So Thursday I headed out to the Toronto Zoo as it a perfect day for a long hike. Cooler weather also means more wakeful animals and I am really pleased with a few photos. 

Well except this these two sleepy heads.

Every time I go to the Zoo I learn a new fact on another animal. This time I learned that girl giraffes have tuffs of hair on top of their head and boy giraffes are bald. Fits with my experience on a few of my friends... 

No Hair Means It's a Boy!

The other fact I learned is probably logical to everyone but me! I didn't know the snow leopard is the only animal at the Toronto Zoo with an air-conditioned den. For some reason I would have thought the polar bears would have had one too.

A very vocal Snow Leopard Today!

So you see! There's no end to the things you might know.
Depending how far beyond Zebra you go ~ Dr. Seuss

Not a Friend Insight For This Little Guy

The main attraction of the day was the Endangered African Penguin. Seriously the cutest new addition to the Toronto Zoo in a long time. These guys are small, black and white playful animals.

[Toronto Zoo African Penguin Fact Sheet]

At the end of the day the choice was made. This year we are going to get an annual family membership. It's such a great location to go and work off a few miles in an enjoyable atmosphere, a camera buffs dream and only a short drive from our house.

Click to read about other blogger's Sunday in the City adventures from all over the world.

First of the Month: June

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First of the Month Meme

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover ~ Mark Twain

Wow does June's First of the Month capture scream SUMMER!! I decided to take a closer view of the lighthouse at Whitby harbour. I am glad I did as I think the lingering people, the sailboat gracing the back of the photograph just scream summer is here! Keep that sunshine happening!

Looking forward to visiting all the other participants in the meme group "First of the Month". I really love this meme idea and group. I think its fun to follow all the changes in the photos over time. I also find it challenging to make sure my photo has a little bit of something new to offer you even though its the same place, same time but different month. See you in July... oh no, that will mean summer is half way over! 

[If your new here, click my label below titled "First of the Month to see my Lighthouse in Jan - May.]

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day ~ May



~ Lilacs in Canada ~

View Other Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day For May

Each month on the 15th I have started joining in the meme group "Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day". Enjoy a few photos showing the progress of my garden for the month of May! Things are finally greening up, buds bursting, fragrance lingering and the sun is peaking out a little bit more each day.

I think I mentioned last month this lilac tree originates from a cutting from my husbands Grandmother's tree. It is about 5 years old in my garden but the original shrub would be over 50 years old. I love the fact this tree carries our own families past. Ontario has mapped "notable" Ontario Heritage Trees which I also found interesting. Who'd have thought to map that!

Muscari, little grape shaped mini hyacinths that pop with such colour for a little plant! My only complaint is they do not stay long enough.

An over done garden bulb that still manages to bring such colour to almost every house. My tulip varieties are in desperate need to be dug up, separated and given a good dose of bone meal.

My absolute favourite flowering tree. We have had a Kwanzan; Flower Japanese Cherry at every house we have owned. Like most flowering trees they only live about 10 years. This one had a mate that died a few years ago. Unfortunately this one has lost over half and it a bit of an odd shape now but I just can't bare to cut it down.

Hosta Fever. Just beginning to uncurl. This year our hostas are so abundant we are going to divide them and trade a few for new perennials at the garden centre. Always exciting to trade and be able to add new varieties each year.

Birch tree information

Blue Violet Information

Like clockwork on my birthday our Magnolia bursts open!

And last, a great new garden art, rock bug that was a gift from my daughter for my birthday this year. A few years ago she also gave me the little lantern in the background. I guess I brought my children up right; they know the way to my heart!

See you next month on the 15th of June!

Waves Of Oceans Crash and Roar

Waves of sound bounce in echoes…

Repetitive, soothing,

Filling the void of loneliness,

Placing the spirit in touch with…

Other people…Other places…Other times

 

Waves of light create sight…

Recognition and appreciation

Of surroundings comforts the

Troubled heart with the salves of

Beauty and sunlight’s warmth

Waves of oceans crash and roar…

Ebbs and flows of inspirational rhythm

Filling each observer with…

The sights and sounds

Of the human soul’s rebirth

~ M.E. Gaines

View more Watery Wednesday participants posts.

First of the Month

MAY
The First of the Month Meme

"I have always preferred the reflection of the life to life itself."

~ Francois Truffaut

This month the lighthouse angle is slightly different. Overall I am not that pleased with these shots but I do love the reflection of the sign in the puddle. For a bit of added fun, here is a close up of the lighthouse as an alternative photograph.

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"The goal is to capture one thing repeatedly on the first of each month.  It can be a landscape, a person, an animal, a project; whatever your focus is.  It can even be a record of where you are each First of the Month.

Linky opens each month on the 1st, and remains open for a week"

View All My "First of the Month" Lighthouse Photographs

Focus52: April Showers

I have whined and complained all winter about needing to see sunshine! Why is it then this week I kept looking outside in anticipation of rain? Just can't keep me happy!

This weeks Focus52 prompt was "April Showers" and my skies were looking mighty blue this past week. Today, finally rain graced my garden! I had the perfect opportunity to capture raindrops dripping off my flowers.

Sometimes overcast skies mixed with a light rain can give the most interesting colours in a garden.

Visit Focus52 Week and see other's interpretations of "April Showers".

OK Mother Nature, you can bring back my sunshine now!