Toy Tales

Here are two of Tuckers toys, safely perched on the piano. On the left is Orange Bert so named because of his orange sherbet colour. He replaced Pink Bunny who is no longer with us because my brother's Labrador, Jesse, eviscerated him. Orange Bert hasn't got much stuffing, nor has he a sqeaker, so he should be safe from Jesse. On Orange Bert's right is Squirrel.....Squirrel's fur has become rather stiff and matted from being chewed on so much. But so far, at least, he is intact.

Can't say the same for Earless Bunny. Earless Bunny was One-Eared Bunny until yesterday when he lost his second ear to a Tucker attack. Sorry Bunny but better your ear than my pillows or oven mitts.

And this is Headless Puddy. Puddy, as she was once known, has been around for a long time. It was a gift, for me, from cousin Elaine many years ago. Then along came Cali! Puddy was chewed and shaken and much enjoyed. Puddy kept her head until Jesse got at her one day. Poor Puddy. Now nobody knows if she is coming or going!

My Energetic Dog

I often comment and sometimes complain that Tucker has an over abundance of energy. He also knows how to relax.

I rest my case!

Trout River Pond

Now that we are officially into autumn I thought it would be a good time to reflect back on the summer. I had such a nice time this summer. I stayed on the rock but had so much company that the time just flew by. One of the highlights was spending time with Paula. While she was home visiting her mom, we visited and did some hiking. One of our favorite hikes is Trout River Pond.

The first part of the trail takes you through a boreal forest. Most of the time you can also see the pond.

Its a twisty, sometimes hilly trail that crosses several small brooks. Here my knapsack is taking a short break by the brook.

Paula taking a break by a brook........

And me......by a brook. Why must I always pull my hat down over my eyes!!!




The second part of the trail comes out behind the Tablelands. Its so beautiful with the rolling hills.

And always the amazing view of Trout River Pond.

The Tableland Mountains can look quite barren at first glance. But there are actually some very beautiful flowers. If you look carefully amont the rocks you can find Round Leaved Sundew, an insectiverous plant with sticky, hairy leaves that attract insects.

There are lots of Pitcher Plants.....another insect loving plant.

I think this is Mountain Saxifrage.




And there are clusters of deceptively frail looking Harebells.

This is a 14 km hike, 7 in and 7 out and worth every step.

ABc Wenesday ~ G

ABC Wednesday ~ G

G is for Gulls. These Herring Gulls are diving for treats in Lomond Campground in Gros Morne National Park. A fisherman was sitting in his small boat, cutting up fish and throwing it to the gulls.



























This little Gull was taking a stroll down Shallow Bay Beach on the Great Northern Penninsula of Newfoundland.

And this little gull was enjoying the photo op!

Please join the fun by visiting ABC Wenesday.

ABC Wednesday ~ F

F is for Flower.
The latin name for this flower is Fragaria Virginiana Duchesne.
The common name is Wild Strawberry which blooms around here in early June.

Please visit ABC Wenesday for more fun with the letter F.

ABC Wednesday ~ E

ABC Wednesday ~ E

Evening

This picture was taken in Trinity, Newfoundland. My friend Pat and I had just finished a lovely meal at a restaurant called the Twine Loft, just as the sun was getting low in the horizon. I was lucky enough to capture the reflection on a shed near the water.

For more ideas brought to you by the letter E, please visit ABC Wednesday.

ABC Wednesday ~ C

C is for Cow and Calf

In this case its a Cow Moose and calf.......

....which on closer looked turned out to be a Cow Moose and her twin calves. I was lucky enough to see this sight in Gros Morne National Park, just south of Rocky Harbour. These were the 3rd, 4th and 5th moose I saw on a recent road trip.

For more fun brought to you by the letter C, please visit ABC Wednesday.

ABC Wednesday ~ B

B is for......

Beautiful Blue Sky

Boats

in Bottle Cove

These pictures were taken on a glorious day in May in Bottle Cove on the South Shore of the Bay of Islands on the West Coast of Newfoundland.

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ABC Wednesday ~ A

A is for Alpaca

These are recently shorn Alpacas on an Alpaca farm on the Port au Port Penninsula, Newfoundland. The farm overlooks beautiful Bay St. George and is on the French Ancestors Route. They have beautiful, gentle looking eyes, but are rather comical looking with their long wooly coats clipped so short. The black one was particulary funny looking as his neck looked too skinny to support his big head.

Their wool is extremely soft, very similar to angora.

For more fun with the Letter A, please visit ABC Wednesday.

Canada Day

Canada Day~ 2009

This picture of Tucker wasn't actually taken on Canada Day. It was taken on the weekend at my brother's cabin. I've included this picture in my post because of the very Canadian red background and because I think its a rather fetching picture of my handsome dog......I could have said a handsome picture of my fetching dog....but I didn't, because he doesn't.

On Canada Day, July 1, I took a morning walk on the upper Corner Brook Stream Trail to see what was blooming this week.

I found some Showy Ladyslippers.....


Labrador Tea

Partidgeberry blossoms

A single Pink Ladyslipper

....and a cluster of Yellow Ladyslippers....which are near the end of their blooming.

In the afternnoon I took another walk, minus Tucker as by now it was nearly 30 degrees. There were celebrations in Margaret Bowater Park. I saw a gentleman with his Newfoundland Dog......

A family on a ride.....they look like they're in a tin can.

A very small ferris wheel...

A Tuba player.....

....and a band!
Alas! It was much too hot for me. So I went back home and relaxed for the remainder of Canada day.

ABC Wednesday ~ W

ABC Wednesday ~ W

W is for Waterbottle. This is my favorite waterbottle that I take with me on my daily hikes. Its in this particular picture to show the relative size of these lovely Wild flowers. These are wild orchids that we call Yellow Ladyslippers and are in bloom right now. They can be twice this size. They grow out in the open in rocky soil.



Here's a closer view, You can see that the rim of the "slipper" is tinged with red. I am a big fan of Wildflowers and these are one of my favorites.

For more alphabet fun, please visit ABC Wednesday.

What's Blooming?

On a nice sunny day this week, I decided to go for a walk on the Gorge and Pipeline trails to see what's blooming these days. I saw lots of these Mountain Sandwort growing in the gravel by the pipeline. They are very tiny. Each Petal is somewhat heartshaped and they have 2 or 3 flowers on each stalk.

Crackerberries ( You may Know them as Bunch Berries ma'am.) are in flower in the woods.

A few late blooming May Flowers. Most of them are gone now. A couple of weeks ago you could smell their sweet perfume in the air.

There are lots of Pin Cherry trees in bloom.

..and wild strawberries a plenty.

Pretty much all the wild flowers that are in season right now are white. I am looking forward to seeing some Pink and Yellow Lady Slippers next month.