Mink in a Backwater of the Ottawa River

The second mink of my life spotted within a week of the first.  

Big shake every time it came to the surface after a fishing dive.

Soft Explosion

Rainbow Falls off Tooley Pond Road

Tooley Pond Road south of Canton and north of Cranberry Lake is a wilderness paradise. There are several falls, this being the biggest, paths for skiing and hiking, canoe-able water in several parts of the Grass, and practically deserted throughout. Choice! 

Dog and Steel Grate Bridge Don't Mix

Forlorn Joli waits for me to take a picture and come beck to her, asked not to try the hazardous bridge surface. This bridge crosses the Grass River.

Wintergreen by Grass RIver

Wintergreen plants are green throughout the year. The berries are edible; oil of wintergreen has a refreshing smell and taste. It is a heath, Ericaceae [Eri.case.a.e], a large botanical family, along with other tough species such as blueberries, rosemary. mountain laurel, leather-leaf.

This specimin was by the Grass River along the Tooley Pond Road in St. Lawrence County.

Ice on Tooley Pond Road

Imagine the tinkling of broken glass but look, it is suspended ice occasionally defeated by gravity in a small pond in an otherwise quiet forest. Isolated and  unpredictable sounds, clear as bells, hard to see exactly where each collapse just happened. 

Mink by Grass River in Degrasse

This was an extremely lucky catch for me. The mink was crossing a wide expanse of riverside rock when I happened along. It ran back out of sight. I backed up, sat down and waited. In two minutes the mink reappeared, and hurriedly continued across the rock and into a lair.
It was dark brown and shiny, and still wet, the small fish just caught.
I have never seen a mink in the wild before.
I'm going with Paul Jamieson's spelling of the river's name.

Progress on Onondaga Creekwalk

Florence Shelly Preserve

A large Nature Conservancy site with several distinct habitats from bogs and a pond to hillside soft and hard woods in northeastern PA. For more information and directions, go to:

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/preserves/art827.html

Joli and I spent the day here recently and saw many wonderful things, cleared a culvert (me), went swimming (Joli), and slept on the way home (Joli).

Autumn

View From Bald Mt. Toward Fourth Lake

On an overcast and rainy day.

Joli and Fire Tower on Bald Mt. near Eagle Bay

Gas Station: Modern Design

At the intersection of Rts. 12 and 28 in Alder Creek.

Theme Day: Public Transportation

This thundering herd was in Bath NY in August at the oldest county fair in the  Universe. Brilliant morning, lots of energy to burn, just waiting to take little riders on great adventures.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in City Daily Photo's November First Theme Day: Public transportation

Happy Halloween, You Pumpkinheads

Proof of Wind

Ginko in Lower Onondaga Park

Court House in Binghamton

Solo Brant Traveling With Canada Geese

Oak Leaves in Front of Our House

Nothing added, nothing taken away...just orange.

Kasey and Jimmy - October 23, 2010 - Congratulations!

My Newest Cousin

Or first cousin twice removed, to be more exact. What a sweetie is Gavin!

Black River at Watertown

This rapids at downtown Watertown is the first challenge on any Black River rafting trip. When we went a few years ago there were several kayakers playing at this spot. Our raft leader demonstrated that even a raft can surf, ferrying sideways and balancing in the disturbance right at the foot of the falls shown here. 

That July day was cool but the water was warm, and we swam and were able to enjoy the gorge of the Black River all the way out to around Dexter. The river is swift and there is enough white water to be interesting for thrill seekers. The gorge is very beautiful and deep; often the walls are vertical.

Stillwater's Beaver River, along with the Moose River, flows into the Black, and all that Adirondack water proceeds to Lake Ontario.

Shorty's Place in Watertown

St. Lawrence River at Clayton

Chaumont Barrens Preserve

Chaumont Barrens Preserve, north-west of Watertown, is a Nature Conservancy site. A very thin layer of soil sitting on a bed of limestone has created a prairie-like environment rich in birds and flowering plants in springtime, becoming draught-like during the summer, and full of golden light in the fall.

You can find more information and how to visit at:

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newyork/preserves/art11823.html

Rap-Shaw: The Next Time We See You We Will Come Over the Ice

Rap-Shaw: Jerry and Marie are Married!

The day before was so rainy and windy that the plans seemed almost hopeless. Saturday broke calm but still socked in. The sun arrived just as the wedding got underway. Ed married Jerry and Marie, his first wedding and a very pleasant experience for him. 

As for Jerry and Marie, they were grinning from ear to ear! All the best to you both in the many, many years to come, congratulations and good luck. And lots of hugs!

Richard Golding's Glass at Corning Museum of Glass

Richard makes unique and lovely glass pieces in England. We have known the Goldings since we were all children in Kenwood. 

View From Sugar Hill Toward Seneca Lake

Sugar Hill is state forest west of Watkins Glen.  The stairs up the tower, but not the cabin at the top, are open