The larger, comfortable fishing boats have all been trailered back to their owners' garages for winter storage. This little 14' aluminum with a 6 HP motor stays at the cottage year-round. It's about as plain a craft as can be but the October sun prettifies it.
This oak leaf was tumbling gently an inch or two below the water's surface -- nudged towards shore by a soft breeze.
Thar's gold in that-there stump!
Although not well focused, I couldn't resist adding the splash of colour offered by these shore-hugging plants.
Okay, "gold" is a stretch but this snails' graveyard, located near shore and under about a foot of water, is interesting. Besides, I said "& Other Pics." So there.
I shot this earlier in the summer. Golden ants are rare in my experience. I'm not sure I've ever seen them that colour before. Have you?
Brother Karl shows off a very nice golden-sided walleye. I'd say I caught it and let him hold it for me. But that would be a lie. And, as we all know, fishermen never lie.
That cute little raccoon washing her hands is Binky. (And yes, they really are more like hands than paws.) Binky is one of three young raccoons that my sister Theresa fostered this summer (along with a dozen or so squirrels.) Binky is the youngest and smallest of the raccoons, too young to be released into the wild this winter. The Binky & Benny Show provided a lot of hilarity this summer. They're not exactly friends. Nor are they enemies. Ben always wants what Binky is eating. Binky would rather not share. Hijinks ensue.
This little critter landed on my right middle finger. I'm right-handed but decided to try to take a pic with my left. It was very awkward manipulating the camera with one (the wrong one) hand. But I'm pleased enough with the result. Except for the insect, it might make for a good "before" picture demonstrating the efficacy of dry skin lotion.
If you click the pic and have the eyes of a hawk, you just might espy a tiny black blob about 2/3rds of the way across the lake. There. Now you can say you've seen a loon. (Hilary would say I see one whenever I look in a mirror.)
19 comments:
Quit using my punchlines! ;)
Pretty shots. That old boat looks great in the late-day sun and October sunsets are every bit as beautiful as in earlier months.
It was a pretty golden season all around. I hope we can make it back there for one more stay. I miss that little Binkster!
Frank,
The picture with the golden ants is incredible--what amazing colors!
Lisa
I always look forward (except those years I've fallen off the planet) to your autumn shots - always stunning as are your comments, well maybe not always, but often enough:) Have a tumble in the leaves for me!
Frank, those are beautiful. Love the richness of the stump.
Glad to know you are seeing what you are seeing. The floating oak leaf would go for top dollar around here . . . but that's not why we're artists :) Pam
I hope we can too, Hil. We'll see what the weather gods have in store. :)
Lisa, they sure were striking, nearly other-worldly.
Will do, MG. Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for letting me know. :)
Thanks Leah. Happy you liked them. :)
Right Pam. It's not the money. It's the glory. ;)
Oh, so that tiny dot is a loon!
Wonderfully golden shots. Wonderful!
That is better than 99% of my loon shots. I had a loon shelter between two open flat bottomed metal boats during a terrible Canada storm once and with lightning everywhere, rain/hail pelting us I still regretted I did not have a camera!
Nature's first green is gold, and it would seem, so is her last. There's a stillness to the early morning and evening light, some evanescent quality that sets it apart from ordinary daylight. Thanks for the loon shot ;)
Jes loverly, Frank. Whilst I loves the scenery around my place, it is a bit lacking in colour this time of year. I do miss the autumn palette from back east.
lovely light indeed, I really like the leaf floating in water!
Lovely photos Frank. The sunset is beautiful and the snail bed is very cool.
Fun post - thanks for the chuckles.
A loon in the mirror - that's a good one.
Thanks, ladyfi. :)
Tabor, I've had them surface within 10 feet of me and either didn't have a camera, or by the time I fumbled it into my hands, the bird had disappeared. One of these days....
Pauline, I think those golden moments are when magic is almost palpable.
Charlie, you've got scenery to die for - but I hear you. There's something special about those maples and oaks.
Me too, Tammie Lee. Thanks for the visit. :)
Glad you enjoyed, Reb. Thanks for taking the time. :)
And thank YOU, GQ. :)
these are all delightful!
the light is, as you said, golden and it just washes over everything
I love the way Binky is washing her hands but she is looking right at Benny
The Binky & Benny Show. It'd probably be better than 100% of 'reality TV' programming ;)
Glad you enjoyed, Dianne. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know.
Got that right, Skunky! ;)
The golden ants are a trip. All the photos make me dreamy and want to curl up in an afghan and sip hot tea.
I'd pay to see the Binky and Bennie Show. (And is Benny okay with not getting first billing? Just sayin.)
Terrie, luckily Ben has no ego. He'd be totally insufferable. :)
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