Four Mêmes in One

On Saturday morning, we drove my sister downtown to catch her flight to Vancouver Island.

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As she’d booked a floatplane, we made our way to the waterfront terminal just down from the Trade and Convention Centre.

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Though the day

hesitated between

cloudy and clear, I

happily grabbed my

camera to record the

early busyness as we

waited

for boarding time.

 Boats of all sorts dotted Coal Harbour...everything from sleek, compact skulls to a massive cruise ship docked at the Convention Centre.

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Coal Harbour: North Vancouver Sulpher Works in the background and a marine gas station just off Stanley park.

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Once we'd seen Nikki off, we climbed up to the overview of the Olympic Cauldron, immediately reminding us of 2010's wonderful  Winter Olympic Games.

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This calm, clear morning little resembled the rainy, hectic evening we'd lined up to see the glow of our Olympic torch lighting up the  night sky.

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Promenade to the convention centre with cruise ship in background.

 I wil be linking my post to four wonderful mêmes this week. If you get a chance, do check them out...

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My World Tuesday http://www.showyourworld.blogspot.com/

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Watery Wednesday http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

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Skywatch Friday
 http://skyley.blogspot/.

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 Weekend Reflections

 http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

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Weekend Reflections and SkyWatch Friday: B.C.

 Some time ago we motored north up the coast of Vancouver Island to spend an afternoon with a much-loved aunt.

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On this cold and drizzly weekend, I took uncommonly few shots, deterred by the dampness that settled into my bones - and my camera - each time I stepped outside.

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I expected little of the photos, but once copied to the computer, decided they told a tale of life on our rainforest shoreline and might be worth sharing.

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 Artists like Onley and Markgraf have used the same cool grays and blues to depict our mountains, so often enshrouded with cloud...water reflecting back the weak sun as it attempts to break through.

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While I in no way liken my work to theirs, I do hope these shots impart at least a little of the mystery and magic this province weaves around the hearts of those who love it.

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For more skies from around the world, check out this link:
http://skyley.blogspot.com/
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And for wonderful reflections, stop in at the site below:
http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Skywatch Friday, Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday: Colorado to Utah

After visiting Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado last year, we passed through Four Corners, where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona come together, then made our way back up Utah to continue our exploration of the state.

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 Along the way, we passed stunning rock formations as the topography changed with every turn of the road. I was hard pressed to capture the ever-shifting scenery.

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All the while, clouds scudded above us, building and releasing in turn

to toss undulating shadows over the striped hills.

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I've previously shared the enchantment which Utah wound about my heart...these big skies go a long way toward showing why I was quite unable to resist its lure.

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I'm linking this post to Skywatch Friday, a great meme hosted by Klaus and the rest of the team...I definitely suggest you stop by to enjoy many skies

from around this world...:)

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http://skyley.blogspot.com/

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And though there is only one reflection photo, I will link to Weekend Reflections hosted by James at Newton Daily Photo, always a beautiful place to visit...

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http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

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I'm also taking part in Shadow Shot Sunday with Tracy at Hey Harriet. Do check out her wonderful posts...
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http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/
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White Rock Skies and Reflections

We are blessed to have lived near the hamlet of White Rock in B.C. for over thirty years, yet each time we walk on the pier or meander alongside the railroad tracks, I find myself charmed by it all over again...

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 My favourite time to visit is late afternoon, when the crowds thin out as people head home to cozy up by the fire after their wind-swept walks.

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We've had an inclement spring so far in our part of the world, with more rain than usual and very cool days.  Disliking the heat, this has been perfect for me...more importantly, I love that the lingering clouds we seem unable to escape provide endless photo ops.

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I was very glad I'd thrown my camera in the trunk for this recent visit, as was my husband...I've been known to whine horribly when glorious sunsets appear before me and I have only my eyes with which to record them!

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 I recently met two of my favourite blogging friends here for afternoon tea and had a splendid visit with them. Longtime lovers of White Rock, Kay and Penelope are only too familiar with the radiance that so often paints the sea and sky with a light that's almost magical. I took these shots with them in mind...I know they will nod in recognition upon seeing them and say, "Ah yes...that's our wonderful beach".

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I am participating in two memes today, and you might like to check out these sites...

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Weekend Reflections...

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http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

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Skywatch Friday...

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http://skyley.blogspot.com/

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And if you get a chance, drop over and visit

Kay @
http://unfittie.blogspot.com/

and Penelope @

http://penelopepuddle.blogspot.com/

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I know they will make you feel right at home...:)

The A - Z April Challenge: Z...and Reflective Weekend & Camera Critters

You may know by now that a very special corner of my heart is reserved for Africa alone. This challenge has allowed me to share with you just a few of the reasons I love it so.....

I'm going to miss my daily visit.

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Z is for Zebra

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The distinctive black and white stripes that characterize zebras come in patterns unique to each individual. Unlike their closest relatives, the horse and the ass, zebras have not been fully domesticated, though humans continue to try, capturing them for display in zoos all over the world.

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Plains Zebra

Africa is home to three species. The Plains or Burchell's Zebra, and the Grevy's Zebra are found in East Africa, while the Mountain Zebra is native to southern Africa. 

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The Mountain and Grevy's Zebras are on the endangered list,

 as over time, their numbers have been drastically depleted by drought, poaching and competition from livestock. 

 On the other hand, the Plains Zebras shown here are so plentiful that permits are freely sold to hunt them. The Zebra skin you see in furniture and rugs generally comes from this species. Nonetheless, one subspecies, the Quagga, has already faced slaughter to the point of extinction and poaching for meat and hide is an ongoing threat to their numbers.

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Although adjusted to semi-arid conditions, these grazers are in constant search of green pastures, joining in the Great Migration north come dry season. We frequently came across zebras at waterholes, especially in the morning and evening when they're most active.
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Zebras are highly social, living in groups comprised of a stallion with a number of females and their foals. Foals develop as strong a bond with their fathers as they do their mothers.

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These family groups remain close over many years, mutually grooming and nibbling each other's necks as a form of bonding. Family members look out for each other, even adjusting the herd's pace to accommodate the old and the weak.

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When one of their number is hurt, the group encircles the injured animal to keep it safe and will defend it to the death. The earth would lose much were these intelligent equids to be wiped out..
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Grevy's Zebra

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 For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter Z...
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http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting

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I'm linking this post to Weekend Reflections, hosted by James at Newton Daily Photo. Drop by for a visit...you'll be glad you did...

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/
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I'm also linking to Misty Dawns's Camera Critters, always a page worth checking out!
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http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/

The A - Z April Challenge: F ...and Weekend Reflections

F is for Flamingo

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Standing on the edge of a lake
that’s ablaze with pink from
thousands of Lesser Flamingos
 is truly one of the most
vibrant things one might
 ever hope to see. There is
constant movement and
noise as birds land
and take off again…squawk
loudly to one another…and
poke about eagerly
 for food at water’s edge.

These beautiful creatures reside principally in Africa’s Great Rift Valley. We saw large flocks both at Lake Nakuru in Kenya, and again at Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park.

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Lesser Flamingos are

small and feed primarily

on Spirulina, a

blue-green algae that grows

only in highly alkaline lakes and synthesizes to give them

their pink colour. Shrimp

are a further source of

food for them.

The principal breeding ground they all return to is the caustic Lake Natron in northern Tanzania. As is the case with so many species, African flamingos are classified as near-threatened due to human encroachment that pollutes their lakes and robs them of nesting sites. Heavy metal poisoning from nearby factories is the suspected pollutant at some of these lakes.

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Although numerous at present, flamingo numbers will continue to decline if preventative measures are not put in place…

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For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter F...
.http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting
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I am also linking to Weekend Reflections hosted by James at Newton Area Photo. Do stop by for more fun reflections...
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http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Desert Reflections

To my great delight, we had daily storms on our road trip to Utah last year. They would arrive suddenly and pass just as quickly, leaving behind rivulets of water rushing down the arroyos to form small pools where none usually lay.

Eagerly, I would take as many shots as I could before the hot sun dried the soil and turned it to soft red dust once more...

  

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I'm linking this post to Weekend Reflections, hosted by James at Newton Daily Photo.

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Drop by for a visit...you'll be glad you did...

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http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/