Midsommar 2016

It’s time to raise the maypole! Midsommar is the most important holiday of the Swedish calendar. On Midsummer’s Eve businesses close early and people rush home. The celebrations are organized in an open-air museum. People are decked out in their folk costumes, with flowers garlands in their hair, hopping around the maypole doing the “Frog dance” (Små grodorna dans)  and the maypole has a pagan phallic symbolism.

Midsummer is about traditional food - the perfect time to load up on fresh potatoes (with dill, naturally), pickled herring (not as bad as it sounds), sour cream, and strawberries. And don’t forget snaps. It wouldn’t be Midsommar without snaps. That of course means lots of song singing, with every song demanding a round of snaps.

Here’s the Midsommar meal: 

Potatis – potatoes  Inlagd sill – pickled herring  Gräddfil – sour cream  Dill – dill  Jordgubbar – strawberries

The focus is on heritage and tradition. There’s much flatbread baking, fiddle playing, and tradition folk costume wearing. But no matter how sophisticated the celebrations, the “frog song” must be sung and the “frog dance” MUST be performed.

Here are the lyrics in Swedish and English:

Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.

Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.

English translation:

The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to watch.
The little frogs, the little frogs are funny to watch.
No ears, no ears no tails do they have.
No ears, no ears no tails do they have.

Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.

Now imagine grown men, women, and children of all ages hopping around a huge green “you-know-what-I-mean” symbol and singing “kou ack ack ack kaa…” 

Evolution of AI

 

The Winter Ducks are here!

lime

what's better

than a sunset paddle
in a shiny new kayak?
.
.
.

Goslings

This morning we had a surprise on the island ...

Look closely in the shrubs

 5 brand new goslings emerged from their nest

The new family on top of the rock

Wood Ducks !

first time 

spotted 

today 

in Whiskey Cove 

-- a pair of wood ducks

The tide is high
and rain 
drumming on the roof
a dismal day
made brighter
with the 
wood duck's visit

Osprey in the Cove

It's not often we see 
an osprey on the inlet
but today was 
a real bird day - 
loons in the morning,
a grouse in the afternoon
and an osprey before dinner
swooping over the island
scaring the geese
looking for a meal
of goose egg omelet
which he didn't get
...yet

Grouse Message

we hiked today

up Sugar Mountain

along the ridge trail

climbing 

talking

in the spring mist 

as rain threatened any moment

and stopped for lunch

at the lookout

as you do

above Sasamat Lake

Bedwell Bay and Indian Arm

and as we sat on the mossy forest floor

we heard a rustle 

in the underbrush

sat still

watched 

and along came a grouse

pecking at the huckleberry leaves

he looked at us

we looked at him

expecting him to take flight

but no, he came closer 

tipped his head 

wondering what we were 

I suppose

and then closer again

and within two feet of us

he circled

pecking and poking 
at the underbrush

peeking at us

listening it seemed 

as we talked

and then came 

around the front 

and stood 

and looked at us 

quite curiously

as if he had something to say

a message perhaps

or was listening for one

or both




Here's the link to the trail map: http://g.co/maps/2pn4p

four fat loons

four fat loons
swimming by...
today in Whiskey Cove

Duck Tail 2012

In Whiskey Cove today  

I saw one of the goldeneye ducks

with its transmitter tail.

He was in a large flock of goldeneyes

headed north at the end of our winter.

Can you spot the duck with the transmitter tail? Hint: front right center...

Diving for mussels under the dock

Male goldeneye duck with transmitter tail April 2012

Flock of goldeneye ducks - Indian Arm BC 2012

The goldeneyes are late leaving the coast this year...but should be gone any day now.
For more information on the ducks with transmitter tails, read previous post and also visit the Sea Duck Joint Venture.

River of Crows

photo by Barbara Beck 2012

there’s a river
of crows
streaming
from Vancouver
to Burnaby
silhouetted black
against
a twilight blue sky
every day
at four o’clock

day’s work is done
streets are cleaned
turf beetles found
garbage checked over
and sorted

they fly
and follow
each other
eastward

then pause 
and rest 

on treetops
wires
street lights
and traffic lights
along the way

heads bobbing
wings flapping
they lift
and continue
east
to their roosting spots
high in treetops
along Still Creek
near Grandview
at Boundary 

all night 
clustered
protected
chattering about the day
companions
a social group

and in the morning
a commute back
to the east end
the west end
shaughnessy
main street
kits

they poke
and prod
and clean
the city

and then…
again …
at four o’clock
lift off
and return
to their
nightly roost



Colleen MacDonald 2007

Morning on the Fjord ~ October 16 2011

mist shifts

boils up from waters edge

the shoreline peeks

and disappears

the fog sways

lifts

softens and rolls back

trees reflected

silhouetted in the glass

I lift the camera lenses

try to capture the scene

but the picture cannot show

it’s a feeling

to me ...  it is heaven

a seal pops up

circles radiate

and dissipate

it looks around then disappears

swims along the shore

disturbing the reflection of the trees

above

the sky is blue

promise of a sunny day

late October

sun so warm yesterday
I took my socks off

and sat
face up to the sun

gathering it’s last rays
before the rains come

Vancouver’s never ending rains

but today is perfection

magical almost

but that sounds so cliché

(cliché -- I love that word)

I sit with coffee in hand

warm by the fire

Diva jumps on my lap

curls up

I sip my coffee

a morning of perfection

an unfolding tapestry out my window

then into the picture

drift ...

three ducks

~ could they be?

~ are they?

I jump up

the cat lands on the floor

with a meow of exasperation

I lift the binoculars

and there they are…

the goldeneyes

are back

merganser parade

there's a parade

in the cove

today

led by red-headed

momma merganser

twelve chicks

three days old

follow behind

and climb on 

momma's back

Oystercatchers!

visitors 

on the island

this morning

four 

oystercatchers

orange beaks

loud shrieks

and then 

they flew 

away

Oystercatchers!

heron

there's a heron
  in the tree
    outside my window
I tiptoe around
   hoping he'll stay
he sits for awhile
I make coffee
    and watch him

        gaze at the world

Queen of the Olympics

Guess who had the most fun at the Olympics?

Most PotLuck Dinners +

Most Out-of-Town Guests in Condo +

Most People dropping by Quatchie House on Seymour Street +

Most Beer in Fridge +

Queen of the Olympics = Josie Cowan

Olympic Reflection

today
we who live
in Vancouver
are back at home
sitting still
realizing
how tired we are!!

looking back over
the blur that was the Olympics

17 fantastic days 

of celebration 

and partying 

and learning something new
about ourselves

I was in the river of people

on Granville Street Sunday 

after the hockey gold medal win

and it was something 

never seen

before on Vancouver streets

A throng of people

families with strollers

kids on their shoulders

A sea of red and white 

flags waving

People of all ages

teenagers

old folks (like me)

cheering

wahoo-ing

 pushed along

jostled to Robson
a tide of people
moving and swaying

we carved our way

out of the crush
and headed to
the Closing Ceremonies

feeling sad
does it really have to end?

The Olympics was so very 

very 

very much fun!

We Vancouverites 

have just had 

THE BEST party ever!

And looking forward 

to more ...

Olympic Family Photo

Kyle Colleen Scott Ian

bundle up early

 catch the Olympic bus 

see Scott on Ski Patrol at Cypress Mountain

watch Alex Bilodeau win the gold

what a start to the Olympics

Olympic Torch comes through Belcarra

This morning

we woke up 

just before our alarms

as often happens

when one is getting up early

and grabbed some toast

and coffee

donned our red mittens

and scarves

hopped in the car

and went to Belcarra Park

where the torch was lit 

way out on the pier

and one of our Villagers

George McRae

who looks quite like

Santa Claus

with a real beard

ran through the park

in the dark

calling out

Good Morning Everyone
What a Wonderful Village We Live In

and I ran after him

not wanting the good

feeling to end

and I see it didn't

as my friend emailed to tell me 

she caught it along 

Ioco Road

and then we all 

went back to bed

and got the rest of our sleep

and guess what

right now as I look out my window

I see

It is SNOWING ON THE MOUNTAINS!!!

books...of course

oh yes
I have a few books
ready to go
on blurb.com

check them out
if you like...

Minnekhada Walk December 2009

December Minnekhada walk

P1210906
Originally uploaded by youwhocolleen

a heron sits
at creekside
reflected in the
still water

belcarra morning

big log just sailed by

loaded with

seagulls

the aquarium boat
is on its way to

train sea lions

there's a big raft
of winter ducks
out front

crow is coming
for bread

such a great Belcarra

morning

morning moon

the moon's

still awake

this morning ~

good morning

moon

Goldeneye Ducks back in Vancouver November 1 2009

like clockwork,
the Goldeneyes are back
in Vancouver

It's November 1
and the Winter Ducks
have returned to Burrard Inlet
and Indian Arm

We cycled around Stanley Park today
and discovered a huge raft of winter ducks:
Barrow's Goldeneyes
Common Goldeneyes
and Scoters
putting on a show just off
Siwash Rock
circling
flying
diving
doing all their duck things!

come on down and see them!

three crow babies

here's our resident crow

with three babies

this year

dug the clam

out of the sand

flew to the rock

dropped it

pried open the shell

and fed

the squawking babies

then went back

for more

Diana's Seagulls

High on a rooftop

somewhere

in Vancouver

there are seven nests

and lots of seagull chicks

Here's a few pictures

of them

ps - click on picture to see the whole set in Flickr

seagull chick

Newly hatched

and ready

to fly

Cycling in Turkey

top of the hill

an exhausting climb

looking down over the bay

our boat awaits

cruise down hill

we did it!

(click on pix to see the whole set)

gossip

went for a walk
today
got caught up on
all the
gossip

there’s a great horned owl
near the tennis courts
spotted last week
might have a nest

the Barred owl is about
this year’s eggs
might be hatching
any day

there’s a couple of
house finches
watching the walkers
along Marine Avenue
you might see them
when you go past

two kinds of chickadees
are up there
in the cedar tree
looks like they’re fighting over
a territory

--what was that noise?
oh – that’s a crazy bluejay
quite unusual
(I wonder if that’s
politically correct these days)

the chickadee stump
seems to have disappeared
maybe came down
in that last wind
big one, wasn’t it?

there’s a seagull nest
near Twin Islands
and a pigeon guillemont nest
further up the inlet
and there’s the goose nest
on Whiskey Cove Island
and others about
and don’t forget the eagles
looks like the juveniles
are building this year

yup –
lots going on
in the neighbourhood
these days

keep your eyes open
for that owl
won’t you?

swans on the bay

there's a flock of swans

across the bay

sixteen of them

bright white

against the charcoal water

we stand at the window

watching

through binoculars

their long necks stretch

heads wave

as they float

clustered together

surrounded by seagulls

it's the first time we've seen

more than two swans

on the inlet

a whole flock 

-- do you think they're on 

their migration north?

-- they must be

a whole flock

sixteen

-- wow

--that's a lot

the flock lifts and turns north

- there they go

-- they're on their way

they lift

higher

silhouetted against the mountain

they turn

-- looks like they're making a V

-- there they go!

and the they sift

and head back 

towards the cove

mirrored against the still water

they land again

we watch for awhile

then get busy

making toast

pouring coffee

a dash of white

catches my eye as

the flock lifts again

and heads north

we watch

until they're out of sight

and then

they are gone.

23-03-2009

cormorant

cormorants dive deep

to catch fish

and need to 

dry their wings

Indian Arm, BC

follow your dreams

farron's snowflake

Farron looked out her window at the snow-covered world. Her eyes followed a large
snowflake as it swayed and circled

down

down

down

and disappeared into the icing sugar lawn.

"Where do snowflakes come from?" she asked her mother.

"Well,” Mommy began, "they come from the clouds. The clouds gather moisture and . . . "

Farron wondered what was on top of the cloud. Mommy's voice went on "... and when it gets
cold rain turns to snow..."

Maybe someone lives up there, Farron thought. She closed her eyes and snuggled deeper into her pillow as Mommy's voice faded.

Farron opened her eyes and sat up. Where was she? Everything was white. In front of her, beside her, above her. Everywhere. A face peeked out from behind a white tree: "Hello Farron. My name is Serena. I hear you want to learn how we make snowflakes."

Farron nodded her head -- yes.

"Well, come on!" Serena led the way through the cloud. Faces appeared in the mist.

"Hello everyone. I’ve brought Farron to see how we make snow."

Out from the clouds popped workers covered in snowflakes. They had snowflakes on their
clothes, snowflakes on their heads, and even their boots were covered in snowflakes.

“Farron,” said Serena, “everyone is busy today making snow, but you can watch them work
and ask questions."

Farron went to every part of the snow cloud. She watched as raindrops burst into snowflakes. Each one was different. There were double-diamonds and pointed stars, small clusters and large lacy snowflakes. Buckets of snowflakes were stacked at the edge of the cloud ready to be tipped and scattered. Farron watched the buckets tip and snowflakes fall over the side of the cloud.

Farron peeked over the edge. "Mommy, I'm up here," she called out.

"I don't think she can hear you," Serena said to Farron, "but you could send a note to tell her
where you are."

Farron reached into a bucket and picked a snowflake. She wrote her name on a piece of paper and tied it to the snowflake with gold thread. She threw it over the edge andwatched as it fluttered and swirled

down

down

down

to the ground.

Feeling tired, Farron sat down and rested against the white cloud bank. It reminded her of her big white pillow at home. Her eyes closed. She felt like she was floating

down

down

down

just like a snowflake.

Her eyes opened. She sat up. There was Mommy, right beside her. "Where's Serena?" she asked.

"Who's Serena?" asked Mommy.

“From up on the cloud. That's where they make the snow. Serena took me there. I saw it.” Farron jumped off the couch and peered out the window.

"Mommy, where's the snowflake I sent you?"

"Snowflake?" Mommy asked.

"The one with the note," Farron frowned. "Oh, it must still be outside,” she jumped up. "Let's go get it."

"Farron, you must have had a dream when you fell asleep. A snowflake can't have a note on it!"

"Yes there is! I wrote it. I saw how they make snow!"

Farron pulled on her boots as her mother got their coats. They went out onto the front lawn. They looked all over.

"Where is it?" worried Farron.

"Well, Farron, I really don't think we're going to find a note."

"No, no, it IS here. I wrote it. I threw it down."

Mommy started walking towards the house. Farron plunked down in the snow. She rolled on her back and looked up. On the sagging branch of a cedar tree weighted with snow, a sparkle caught her eye.

"Mommy, come here." She reached her hand out towards the glint. It sparkled again.

Farron pointed, "Mommy -- LOOK!"

It was tiny and hard to see, but there
... tied with a glint of gold thread to a snowflake was a note:






...............................................................................................................................© Colleen MacDonald 2006

seabus seagull nest

Now that's prime real estate -- right beside the Seabus at Lonsdale Quay