Cornelius takes Josephine for an afternoon skate...

Cornelius and Josephine's story...
There is nothing quite as peaceful than a river on the edge of a farm. 
Add a quiet yellow sky in the late afternoon in winter and there you have it…
Cornelius’ favourite time to go for a skate!
This alone would keep him happy for the rest of his days but if he has the accepted invitation of Josephine in his corner, then THAT my friends, is true bliss!

Pulling on his woollen winter coat, wrapping a scarf around his neck, Cornelius pops the little red Josephine into his hood and off they go!

The frozen water meanders amongst the trees and the sound of a tiny flock of pine siskin flutter by…”bird wedding!” Josephine calls out. Something her mom always said when little groups of birds flew overhead.

It is these times that Cornelius and Josephine love the best.
The scrape of the blades carving patterns on the fresh ice, the sky on the edge of evening, the promise of snow during the night…and then home to mugs of tea and a fire...what could be more perfect.

Cornelius and Josephine...now in my Etsy shop here

Still wondering whilst wandering...

(forgive the photos but my real camera is in the shop so the iphone will have to do for now)

I suppose I will always be a wanderer, dog or no dog.

With my wandering, hand in hand, is my wondering.

Late this afternoon, even though the weather is grey and drizzly,

I still feel the urge to get out.

The time for another dog is creeping up but hasn't quite caught up to me yet

so out I go anyway.

I'm fortunate to have found, in this new home, many places to walk...

You see my neighbourhood was once home to vast farmlands, of which some still remain...

In the shadows of development lie forgotten remnants of the fences

which once bordered many fields...

I wonder what this rotten wood kept in......or out.

I have yet to search the local archives but will one day venture into the files

of photos of days gone by. 

Our house was built in 1925 so perhaps it may appear in its early days along

with some other rural scenes of the area.

There was a family named Layritz who owned a very large parcel of land here...

At one time it became too much for the farmer and his wife they so graciously 

donated their property for parkland.

So many future generations have reaped the reward in the form of baseball and soccer fields, 

walking trails, bike trails and big wide open spaces, much needed in the throws of

land grabs for development.

And the birds...

...as well as the tiny mice, rabbits, reptiles, insects and woodland snails can call this place home.

Today I was lucky to find an empty shell in the field.

So I thank those who thought to be stewards of the environment.

They committed a most gracious act of conservation.