Midnight Rain

Rain Geese

My "artsy" pictures of the day night.

One of those hot, humid summer nights when you could sit outside until sun-up if you wanted to. It was raining as the geese paraded through the reflection of a street light shining on the water from the condos across the canal.

Rain Goose Cameo

Wendy and I stayed dry, sipping a nightcap as I took a number of pictures from under our patio umbrella on the balcony. A flock of a dozen or more of these magnificent and sizable birds cooperated by swimming slowly through the shimmering light as rain drops added texture to the scene. The pictures were not adjusted for colour but they look like they were taken in black and white, don't they?
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A Bit Dry As Far As Photos Go.

Inverted reflection of the condos across the canal from ours.

 I can't say we haven't been busy for the past week or so because we have. It's just that there has been very little in the way of photographable events. Erin and Jake were here for the weekend and Gary and Ann were back here in Canada from Tennessee, staying at their river home down in Corunna. Wendy and I have enjoyed entertaining and being entertained and lately the weather has turned very hot and humid. I don't know where the summer went, but now Gary and Ann have left to return to Tennessee and Erin and Jake are off to Quebec this coming weekend.

A Sunset From The Deck At Gary And Ann's River House.

Does anybody know what the above spears are that stick out off the bow of the freighters?

Massive lake freighters are always worthy of a photo or two.

I love all the reflections when the winds are calm.

I've mentioned to the condo board several times that this plant will eventually destroy the chimney on W23 but it really is quite pretty. Click pic to enlarge.

The market is photogenic this time of year.

Hot weather is Martguerita time. Cheers Erin.

Before

 Above, my friend George got a new top to replace a dated turquoise one and Brad launches his own brand of stand-up paddleboards. (below)

Harold gets good use out of "Final Purchase IX" but even he is back now.

The Fairmile Second World War mine sweeper (previously the Duc D'orleans" tour boat) sits desolately on shore, ready to be chainsawed and dumpstered in an abandoned attempt to restore her to her former glory.

The ducks and geese seem to have found another dock far away from mine.

A kitchen sunset.

Meanwhile we're keeping busy.
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Floating Down The River On A Sunday Afternoon.

With the big Port Huron Float Down set to commence at 1 pm, there were hundreds of eager floaters waiting for the starting gun. The area was "crawling with cops" as I guessed at over fifteen various police boats, seadoos and a helicopter.

Up on the lake by the Point Edward lighthouse I spoke with some young people who were intent on creating the Canadian version of the Float Down.

.You may recall that Erin and Andrew embarked on their own Canadian event last year. You can CLICK HERE to go back to that blog entry.

Even the freighters had to wait at anchor 5 miles off shore.

Wendy and I left to go up to Grand Bend so we didn't get to watch this group go down the river but we later met them at Stokes Bay Restaurant. Wendy and I went there via our "Wing Dinghy". They said they had a great time and although greeted twice by the authorities, they were not hassled like Erin and Andrew were last year.  Maybe this will lead to a larger, concurrent US/CDN Float Down next year.

As usual, the wings were excellent, even if they weren't on sale today.

Video found on You Tube taken from Port Huron at Vantage point
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Visiting Linda

We took a drive up to Grand Bend to visit our friend Linda and deliver 3 new burners for her gas grill. She had emailed me that the burners in her BBQ were shot. I found the new burners at Home Depot in USA for $15 ea. (a saving of $55 ea. over CDN price)

 Upon examination of said grill we determined that the burners were not too bad, but the heat plates were rusty and one completely gone so we decided to delay replacement until next year or as required. If corrosion causes the grill itself to crumble, new burners won't help. In the mean time I'll return the burners and keep an eye open for for some new heat plates. Mostly we enjoyed an excuse to visit Linda up around the Bend.

Linda is a skilled and gifted artist and she has a hobby of painting beautifully intricate images on things like Muskoka lawn chairs and antiques. Her work adorns articles and furniture over a large area scattered around Southern Ontario.

She showed us her most recent project. A child's table and chair set. The "fairy" theme was selected by the little girl client herself.

Linda's artistic ability is also reflected many times around her beautiful lakeside home and as shown here in her creatively dramatic patio garden arrangement.

Click to enlarge

 Here's an "Artsy" pic I did. Notice I removed the light cords from the view.
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A Summer Weekend

There are a few things going on this weekend but we are playing it a little low key. The Bridgeview Marina Barbeque was last night but most of our friends were occupied with other things so Wendy and I just went for a ride in the "Wing Dinghy". Other events this weekend included the huge  Woodward Dream Cruise  where hundreds of antique, classic and hot rod vehicles parade the length of Woodward Avenue from Pontiac to Detroit. Some year I might go and see this event, but not this time.

It was a beautiful, calm night on the water with a nearly full moon. Just before dark we encountered a very large beaver and our old friend the great blue heron.

On Sunday the Port Huron Float Down starts at 1 pm with an expected 4000 participants jumping into the St. Clair River in pool floats and inner tubes. The authorities in both US and Canada will be out in great numbers making sure that no boaters or ships transverse the river between the Blue Water Bridge to north of Stag Island from 11 am until 8 pm. This "performance" by the police is calculated to cause the most possible annoyance in hopes the resulting negative public sentiment will bear pressure on the government to ban the unsanctioned event. Click here to hear the official BS.

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Stroll The Waterfront

Click the pic to enlarge

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Venetian Village - A Nice People Place

Only Nice People Live Here.

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What Did You Say - Deer?

Even though we live in the city, our yard is quite isolated from the rat race. We were favoured by a visit by a doe and her two fawns just before sunset.

Our son Tim had been pruning and raking so there were little treats around the back yard.

Mamma finds a tender branch to chew on.

Living in the city isn't so bad if you back on to a golf course like we do.
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