Hanging On To That Last Bit of Fall Colour!

You know your a slightly obsessed dog owner when your supposed to be composing your photo but instead your head can only think "how many ticks and fleas are in that tall grass?" My dogs are nicely trained but I am not going to pretend they were up on that hill all alone just waiting patiently for me to take a picture. The end result just looked better with my husband and leashes cloned out!



So thrilled we are still in a blanket of  fall foliage here. The last few years were not very showy so I'm thrilled this fall is making up for it. We need this long, colourful fall because if the weather report is bang on then we are in for a brutally cold and snowy winter here.



This path is one I have yet to venture down - so still lots to explore here. I just need my weekly hike - my world never seems right without it.



I look at this photo now and have to laugh at how tense I was when I took it. It was a windy day and my patience was wearing thin as I gripped my camera and held my breath trying over and over to click at just that moment the wind settled for only a split second.



It has to be the most popular spots in our region for fall family photos.



A pull back of the same tree and a rare moment to find it empty. Usually you fine a few photographers lined up - some with their battery powered light boxes in tow.



One reason I love hiking here is because it is the best kept park in Durham Region - the Town of Whitby needs to step up because Ajax Conservation and Waterfront trails put ours to shame. Greenwood has the most immaculate trails even in the thick of the woods.  They also have nicely paved trails if easier walking is needed for strollers or wheelchairs.





There is still a small amount of colour left here so we might squeeze in one last fall hike this weekend. My bones tell me winter is just around the corner though.





I attempted to roll leaves to make a crown for the girls. It did not turn out as planned! Instead I made a nice bouquet of fall roses from the leaves.The iphone photo is on my instagram.
~~~~~~~~~~
Joining in Kim Klassen's "Friday Finds"
"Friday Finds…..that we stop …. pause…..simply…. cherish life’s simple pleasures……"
This week's Friday Find for me is the simple pleasure I get from hiking - it just balances my world.

Moulin Rouge Halloween

 

 Happy Halloween! May your night be filled with more treats than tricks!

 

Storm clouds may gather and stars may colloid but I will love you till the end of time. ~ Moulin Rouge

   

 The greatest thing you will ever learn Is to love and be loved. ~ Moulin Rouge

   

 Actually these are really Mad Hatter hats but Becky and Kodee's eyes were giving off more of a Moulin Rouge feel to me. I can tell you one thing, the dogs are not as amused as I am this evening! 

~~~~~~~~~

Participating in "Spooktacular Blog Hop"

Four Seasons One Location ~ Fall

Easy seasons

Spring's all buttercups

and breezy.

Summer's hot and

bumblebees-y.

Autumn's bright with

colored trees-y.

Winter's snowy,

sniffly, sneezy.

Alan Benjamin

~~~~~~~~~~

Four Seasons One Location ~ Winter

Autumn Wonders

You can't hide your true colours as you approach the autumn of your life. ~ Anonymous 

 

I turn over a new leaf every day. But the blots show through. ~ Keith Waterhouse

As the bloom's colours die down - autumns splash is just beginning. Still sorting through my photos from our trip to Alogonquin Park. Love these single leaf reflections. The lake was so peaceful and cheerful with the colourful reflections. Winter though is approaching much too fast! They say in Southern Ontario it will be a brutal one... Betting on the weather man being wrong again on that one!

~~~~~~~~~~

Participating in Kim Klassen's Textured Tuesday

Algonquin Park Adventures

Algonquin Park ~ Tea Lake

Fall! My absolute favourite season followed closely by spring! Call me crazy but I rate summer right up there with winter. We kept watching Friends of Algonquin Fall Peak Colour Report for the perfect day to visit the park for the showiest leaves. We arrived at the Park at it's peak colour for 2014.

Oxtongue River ~ Ragged Falls

I had better love this photo because I  crawled through some little string webs that had tiny worms hanging off the tree to capture this slow shutter shot. I like how the orange leaf colour is reflected very subtly in the waves.

Oxtongue Lake ~ Algonquin Outfitters

The word breathtaking was meant for this view. The most amazing colour, light and reflections I have ever been lucky enough to view.



Lake of Two Rivers

Just as we were calling it a day and heading back to Huntsville we spotted off the highway a thick fog along the shoreline.



Lake of Two Rivers is the oldest and best known campground at Algonquin. A little bit of mystic moon :) to end our day.



Hidden Valley Resort

Tired, cold and hungry we headed back to Huntsville to arrive at the Holiday Inn where we had a pre-paid room. Not too happy to find out they overbooked and we were room-less. They arranged for us to stay at the  Hidden Valley Resort. We drove back out of town and then down a twisted and dark road with not a clue what sort of place we would end up. Turned out to be the best mess up! When we threw open the curtains this is the spectacular view off our balcony! Great dining room, outdoor pool to side of lake, indoor pool and pet friendly.

Hardwood Look Out

I heard Algonquin is the best spot to be for fall colour viewing - but THIS, exceeds any expectations I had. By day two I conceded I was getting old and broke down and bought a walking stick. Love it and not sure what took me so long to loose my pride and get it. It folds up small and fits right in my photography bag. It's hot pink of course ;)

There will be a part II  to this post because I have loads more to share, so watch for it.

~~~~~~~~~

Participating in Friday Finds, and Weekend Reflections.

National Black Dog Day

Meet Becky's first set of nephews,Calvin, Loki and Bucky!

In honour of "National Black Dog Day" I'm flooding you with these cute black and tan Cavaliers. Becky is a proud Auntie to every single cutie pictured here.

 

Statistics show black dogs are the least wanted dogs. It is thought because they are hard to photograph they do not stand out as much as the other dogs.



They are a challenge to photograph but with a few tricks not too hard. I tend to stay away from midday sun and opt for a slightly overcast day or a bit closer to the golden hour. When editing I opt to warm up my temperature and if the black has a blue tinge to it I sometimes reduce the blue tint slider. 

 We recently got together with a few.. OK MANY family members of Becky's. I was asked to help out with a few photo booth type shots for the "Embee Fam Jam" day.
 


Calvin wearing the smart tropical hat, flew all the way up from Utah to visit! I actually first met his owner through our blogs before she got him. That is the fun of writing and sharing our photos - sometimes great friendships are built!

Anyone who visits my blog more than once knows that my dogs are my main subject matter. They are are reason I took up photography as a hobby and also the reason I developed a love of hiking. (Algonquin Park fall photos coming up soon!). I stalk a few pet photographers for inspiration. Here is a great article on how to photograph a black dog from Brighton Dog Photography.

Wordless Wednesday - Darkness & Light

~~~~~~~~~

“When darkness falls, beauty is lit from within.” 
~ Jonathan Jena

UnBEElievable

So picture a hot summer's night. The golden hour is just beginning. The dog's are up to their necks in clover so really do not want to pay attention to me. Seriously they think I plopped them in a giant salad bowl just so they can eat.

It takes a brave woman to lie on the grass [and who knows what else is there] at the park frequented by a zillion pooches.

I'm on my tummy shouting "cookie, treat" anything to get their attention. Then I roll over... yup right onto a bumble bee. Man that hurt! All for the shot right?! Well worth it though to stop and take in the gorgeous golden hour casting it's glow on the clover field, capturing another fond memory of my girls being their naughty selfs - simple "finds" that make my days :)

QUEEN BEE

I am no ordinary bee.
I’m royalty, a queen, you see!
I don’t just raise a family – I rule a whole society!
Each day I lay two thousand eggs.
Believe me – that’s tough on the legs!
My doting daughters feed my belly,
And I was raised on royal jelly.
My princely sons are known as drones – Not one of those boys ever phones!
When it’s too crammed, then I take wing.
With such a life – who needs a king?
~ Author Unknown

~~~~~~~~~

Joining the fun at Camera Critters, Kim Klassen's Friday Finds and 12 Months For Dogs