Where the Fence Ends

Where the Fence Ends

Where the fence ends, a doe with her yearlings and fawns cross into my yard, over the crusted snow. Inside, I grab my camera. The doe looks at me, ears to the side, turning, listening. She stamps, huffs air and flags. Then leaping, they all disappear, leaving photos of brown blur.

I learn to be still; to wait by the window.

If they notice me now, I think they must know: I mean no harm, so they continue browsing, crab-apple, cedar, needles of yew. But, as I see their dark eyes seeing me, I feel such longing to escape this barrier of window and walls, to burst outside, breathe winter air, and run where the fence ends.


Photos and words are copyright 2011-2014 Carol Steel

What We See in the Yard

 

Each day in winter, we feed the ducks.

  When the snow is too deep for them to forage on the river marsh,

it is essential to remember to throw

the cracked corn out for them.

Our biggest problem is to avoid attracting pigeons.

 

 

However, for the ducks, the larger issue

is avoiding becoming lunch.

 

 

In the past week, hungry Bald Eagles have patrolled

the tallest evergreens near our home.

 

 

We don't always see them as their heads

look like snow in the trees and their dark bodies blend

with the branches.  Can you see two?

 

 

Once we spotted them and began to take photos,

the eagles moved to another tree. 

We'll stay inside from now on;

we don't wish to disturb them.

 

 

We feel lucky to live in a place where we can enjoy

 such magnificent birds from our kitchen windows.

 

 

I wonder if we could entice the eagles

to eat the pigeons.

 

I can live with that.

Happy New Year 2014

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

May every dream come true.

They will, if you work to achieve them.

Happy Holidays

 

Happy Holidays from Our Home to Yours

Merry Christmas 2013

 

Merry Christmas 2013

The Mother of Us All

 

 

I'm back, was away for a time because my Mum's been ill.  What was diagnosed as flu, morphed into perforated bowel and emergency surgery, late Saturday.  She's still in Intensive Care but should be allowed to move to the surgery recovery floor soon.

When a parent is ill, family dynamics launch into intense versions of themselves.  As in all families, this is good and bad.  Anxieties get out of control.  Everyone scrambles to be helpful in whatever ways he or she is able.

We are a large family, wide-spread across generations and geography.  Mum is a mother of five, grandmother of seven, great-grandmother of eleven, plus all the in-laws and ex's. 

She is "The Mother of Us All."  And in crisis, we draw near, holding Mum in love and prayers, journeying with her toward her healing.

The healing may take awhile, so I may not be here as much as usual.  For now, it is more important to draw near and to accompany Mum.

Harvey Bank Heritage Shipyard Park, New Brunswick

 

 

With relatives visiting from England, we toured the area around Harvey Bank, Albert County, New Brunswick. 

The Anderson Hollow Lighthouse (EST. 1889) with its wooden salt-shaker tower is an historic landmark.  Originally located on the Waterside Wharf, it has been re-located several times.  Currently, it sits at Shipyard Park, Harvey Bank.

 

Shipyard Park was built in 2006 as a monument to this area's ship building past from the 19th century.  The "Revolving Light" is a nearly full scale replica. (Click on the ship's name to read an informative article about its history, written by well-known author Deborah Carr.) 

In photos, you see Gary, his brother Ron and sister-in-law Margaret.  For information on how the replica was created, click on this link to Stone Metalworks.

 

 

We were fortunate to have had perfect autumn weather for our jaunt out to the wetlands in Shepody, and then around to the wind-blown look-off at Cape Enrage. 

We hope our relatives enjoyed the area, as much as we always do.  Perhaps, it will bring Ron and Margaret back again.

Words in colour will take you to another website with additional information, if you click on them.