“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread,

places to play in and pray in where nature may   

heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul"

                                                                                     

                                    John Muir

I have combined the photos from two trips to

a duck pond in the park. The ducks are quite tame

a lot of people seem to be feeding them. Even

thought it is not really a good idea to get them so

accustomed to people you can get close enough

to really see the beautiful patterns of the feathers.

The raccoons here are also quite tame one year

on a quiet evening Helen and I sat on a bench

we saw one then another until a small group of

raccoons sat in a semi circle in front of the bench

like family dogs. This raccoon came down because

a young man was feeding the ducks once the raccoon

finished some bread the fellow produced an egg from

his pocket, from the egg shells scattered around it

seems they are old friends.

Mallard

 

I had never appreciated the lovely colours and

beautiful feather patterns of the Coot until now.

Lesser Scaup, male and female

Common Merganser

American Wigeon

" Hold your hands out over the earth

as over a flame "

        from  The Outermost House

Henry Beston

“The world is big and I want to have a

good look at it before it gets dark.”

                                     John Muir

I went to the pond by the office last week.

Before work and again a lunch, the usual gang

was there.But there was also an unexpected addition,

I have never seem a shore bird there before.

Spotted Sandpiper

These American Wigeons came a considerable distance

across the pond when I sat down waiting for a handout

I suspect. The odd thing was the male had his eyes closed

a lot of the time. At this point he has just bumped into her

and a received a look in response.

As always the Mallards put on a show.

"I heard the spring wind whisper

Above the brushwood fire,

"The world is made forever

Of transport and desire.

"I am the breath of being,

The primal urge of things;

I am the whirl of star dust,

I am the lift of wings."

from

          

 Earth Voices

                        Bliss Carmen

One day last week Spring came to the research park.

"Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right"

                  Here ComesThe Sun

                         The Beatles

"From you have I been absent in the spring,
When proud pied April, dressed in all his trim,
Hath put a spirit of youth in every thing."

                             Shakespeare

                                  Spring Sonnet 98-1-3

Monday was a nice day, mostly without rain.

But it has taken me a long time to get to my photos.

On a trip to the pond at lunch I found that

the Mallard ducklings were out and about.

People were of course feeding them bread.

The American Widgeon pair were still around

they have also learned to eat bread.

Sharing it with others is still a work in progress.

My wife and I decided on supper at the

University of Calgary. For some reason the

university has developed a tilt.

Once there we meet the usual suspects.

The young white-Tailed Jackrabbits appeared

about two weeks ago once they were big

enough that the magpies would leave them alone.

My wife pointed out this flicker which has decided

that a drainage pipe makes a great home.

   

"Let us be much with Nature; not as they
That labour without seeing, that employ
Her unloved forces, blindly without joy;
Nor those whose hands and crude delights obey
The old brute passion to hunt down and slay;
But rather as children of one common birth,
Discerning in each natural fruit of earth
Kinship and bond with this diviner clay.
Let us be with her wholly at all hours,
With the fond lover's zest, who is content
If his ear hears, and if his eye but sees;
So shall we grow like her in mould and bent,
Our bodies stately as her blessèd trees,
Our thoughts as sweet and sumptuous as her flowers."

On the Companionship with Nature

Archibald Lampman