Monday, September 26, 2005

Life on the Lake

When I first started this blog, it was to be mainly about my knitting, but also about life on the lake. There are times when it almost feels that one day flows into the next and there really isn't much new happening on the lake. Throughout the summer, we were inundated with tourists, lots of motorboats, houseboats, sailboats, water skiers and jet skis on the lake. Now it's autumn.

The majority of the tourists are gone and the locals are back on the lake. There's an occasional jet ski out when the weather's gorgeous (as it has been for the last few days); a few houseboats go out on the weekends; the last chance boaters take advantage of the perfect weather. There are other changes.

All summer, there was a wealth of birds to watch. There were ducks raising their young, sheperding them along the waterfront. We saw mergansers with their flotilla of juveniles. There were loons and grebes diving for fish and calling over the water. There were kingfishers chattering. Osprey fished all along the shore. A family of beavers feasted on weeds between our dock and the neighbour's. Watching the fish in the water calmed and soothed. There was so much to see, to watch.

Autumn is bringing different creatures. Over the last two days, we've seen a pair of herons land on the dock. They've visited both in the morning and the evening. As well, this creature has been putting in an appearance over the last couple of days.





The first time we saw him, I recognized him for what he was. He was sitting on the corner of a retaining wall and everyone else was convinced he was a cat. One very big, fluffy cat. I knew by the way he turned his head that he was no cat. When John got the binoculars out, he realized I was right. Then, he flew into the tree. That was Saturday. The owl came back last night and John got the camera.

I love owls. I love life on the lake.

4 comments:

  1. That's one gorgeous great-horned owl you have there. How nice of him to live nearby and take care of the small rodent population for you. I absolutely love these birds. Fabulous.

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  2. Oh he is absolutely beautiful. How lucky you are to be able to see him so closely. I am a very content person, but the one thing I do envy occasionally is a place on a lake. We are very close to Lake Michigan and it is beautiful! If I could afford it, I would have a house there in a heartbeat. I guess I will have to live vicariously through your posts.

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  3. John takes a great photo. I also live on a pond and enjoy the frog song at night in the spring and the toad/cricket sleep symphony in the fall. Life here on the water edge is grand, I agree.

    p.s. Where's the baby???

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  4. Love that owl picture. How wonderful that you were able to see it and get close enough to take a picture.

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