Fall Foliage

This has been an absolutely gorgeous weekend in Eastern Ontario and in fact throughout most of Canada from what I've seen.

Anyway, yesterday and today Gordon and I went out to enjoy the beautiful Fall colours.

Yesterday we went south and west of Smiths Falls. Here are some photos.

Today we were late leaving since tai chi only ends at 1:30 and we had to stick around to lock up then go home and have lunch. So we headed north and west today to one of our favourite roads, Fall River Road. We like this road because of all the zig zag rail fences but today the colour was beautiful. In some places it looked like the trees were on fire. Here are some photos.

This has been one of the most spectacular years for colours that we've seen in quite some time and we haven't had a lot of rain and wind to knock the leaves off the trees so it's been very enjoyable.

Some Photos and What We've Been Doing

Little Blue Church, Prescott, ON

On Sunday we headed to Prescott as Gordon wanted to visit Fort Wellington and Windmill Point Lighthouse as his birthday trip.

First we went to Windmill Point Lighthouse. It was supposed to be open on the weekend through September but although it was a beautiful day, it was closed.

Then on to Fort Wellington, he did the tour, I waited in the car. History isn't my thing.

This Little Blue Church was my father's favourite church in the area so we stopped and took some photos there.

After that we headed back home.

Today (Thursday 22 September), it was a lovely afternoon so we decided to go for a drive to see if there were any Fall colours.

We didn't see a lot of colour. It may still be too early.

Fall scene

Wetlands area 

More wetlands

And still more

Dead tree

As we were driving along a back road we saw this huge turtle crossing the road. When he saw us coming he turned around and went back the way he had come.

Crossing the road the way he had come

Once he got across the road he stopped in the grass along the side and looked like he was going to pull into his shell but he didn't.

Really big turle

Traveling the back roads

We decided these were cypress knees

 They are not cypress knees as we have no cypress trees in this area but we can dream.

The sumac has turned red

Curvy back road

Great blue heron enjoying his spot on the lake

Cove Road is very pretty with it's canopied trees

We had a lovely afternoon and I had put some pork tenderloin in the slow cooker this morning so dinner was ready when we got home.

Another Birthday!

What a beautiful day for my birthday. It was sunny, warm with a slight breeze and a clear blue sky. My very favourite kind of day.

We decided this morning to go to Kingston about 1 1/2 hrs away. We had gone with Dee and Jim in June but it was way too busy, no parking spots, too many people....


First stop was Lower Brewers Lock. This is the last lock on the Rideau Canal System that Gordon hadn't seen and photographed. While there we found this Great Blue Heron. He was being very nice and letting us photograph him.

Here he doesn't look so nice but he was scratching.

 Then he took off but didn't go far.

He just started walking around the grounds and by the locks.

 Then he landed on the bridge that crosses the lock.

 And then he went down by the water looking for fish. All this time he wasn't far away from us. We had enough photos of the heron by this time.

 From there we went to Swiss Chalet on Bath Road (not the same one we went to with Dee and Jim) and had our chicken fix.

This is the main buiding at the Collins Bay Institution (Penitentiary). It's such a nice building. Looks like someone's castle.

On to downtown Kingston.  The Kingston Penitentiary is located right next to Portsmouth Harbour so it looks like the inmates have their own fleet!

 This is a photo of the sun shining on Lake Ontario for Dee.

 While we were there the Coast Guard came in.

 This is my absolute favourite shot of the sailboat.

 We stopped downtown and took a photo of the old railway station that is now the tourist bureau. It was under construction when we were there with Dee & Jim.

 There is a pretty fountain behind the tourist bureau.

 Next stop was Wolfe Island. We're getting on the ferry.

 Old Fort Henry taken from the ferry.

 Heading toward Wolfe Island. You can see all the wind turbines on the island.

 Our arrival.

Many, many wind turbines.

We had a great day. Thanks for all the birthday wishes!

Updates

Yesterday's goose photo described it as being a cross between a Canada goose and a white faced goose. The Birder's forum that Gordon uses to identify birds says it is  a feral Greylag (barnyard) goose.


After my research yesterday on the cause of my headaches, I remained off dates since yesterday morning. Today the pressure behind my eyes is gone although my eyes are tired. Hopefully I've solved my own problem. I should know that most of my physical problems are food related!

Egrets in Ottawa!

We had to go to Ottawa today for an eye appointment for me. I've been having really bad headaches for about three weeks almost migraine like.

So, we went early. We had heard that there had been Great White Egrets at Andrew Haydon Park and Mud Lake. And they were right!

Here are the ones at Andrew Haydon, actually there were three.

It's so exciting to finally see egrets up here! We haven't seen these beautiful birds since early spring 2009 at the Texas Gulf Coast.

On to Mud Lake. The ones we spotted there were too far away to get any good photos and it started to rain so we didn't try to get closer but I think there were at least three there. I sure hope they keep coming back!

While there we saw this different looking goose. Gordon thinks it's a cross between a Canada goose and a white-faced goose. It was quite comical.

Looks like it's doing the Texas two step!

The eye doctor checked me thoroughly and couldn't find anything that would cause my headaches. He suggested I contact my family doctor so that's next on the list.

In the meantime I did some research. I've been eating a lot of dates in the form of purchased larabars and home made ones and apparently that's a migraine trigger! Another possibility is a sinus infection but right now I'm thinking it's the dates. Larabars have become quite a treat for me.