poppy

in my garden
poppies grow

spider sprawl

a batch of spiders
arrived today
on the window
beside my desk

sleepy
lazy
tiny
spiders
they wait for the wind
to send them
on their journey
the cluster spreads
wider
as they tumble
away

the next day
I look
and
they’re

gone
.
.
.

Duck Tails !

Have you spotted any Barrow’s Goldeneyes with a transmitter tail?



There's a new fashion statement this spring for the Goldeneye ducks on Indian Arm. Twenty of our winter residents are sporting radio transmitters.

Drs. Sean Boyd of Environment Canada and Dan Esler at Simon Fraser University and Pacific WildLife Foundation, are leading a research team studying Barrow’s Goldeneye. In February twenty birds were captured in nets in Belcarra and Bedwell Bay. They were fitted with a radio transmitter, and released back into Indian Arm. Over the next 1-2 years the team will study the data from these transmitters to learn more about the migration and geographic distribution patterns of these interesting winter residents.

Scientists concerned about declining sea duck populations are working together to describe abundance trends and migration patterns, identifying coastal and freshwater habitats and determining what contaminants, disease and developments might affect these ducks. For more information, visit the Sea Duck Joint Venture at www.seaduck.org


... Male and female goldeneye ducks in Indian Arm - March 2007

and two male Barrow's Goldeneyes in Whiskey Cove - March 2007

Two kinds of Goldeneye Ducks winter on Indian Arm. Common Goldeneye males are black and white and have a quarter moon-shaped patch below the eye. The Barrow's Goldeneye male is the same coloring, but has a full moon circle patch below the eye. The female goldeneyes are brown. They are named for Sir John Barrow, an English explorer who traveled in the Arctic.

Their fast wingbeat makes a loud whistling sound in flight, giving them the nickname Whistler. They make hoarse croaking sounds -- “krawk” as they cluster along the rocky shore and around docks feeding on mussels, crustaceans and plants.

Sea ducks are a large and diverse group including Mergansers, Scoters, Harlequin Ducks, Bufflehead, Eiders, and Goldeneyes. There are fifteen North American species and 4 distinct races -- Pacific, Northern, Hudson Bay, American. Adapted to sea and land, they winter along marine coasts and return to breeding grounds in freshwater lakes and rivers in northern latitudes. They nest in tree cavities or on the ground.

Sea ducks are biologically different from other groups of waterfowl. Scientists don’t know much about them yet, even some of the most basic biological facts. Several species have been declining for years, and they want to know why.

...Goldeneye Duck with the sporty transmitter tail- March 2007

March 15/2007 Update Sean Boyd says, "The birds transmitting are still in the Indian Arm area. Some birds have moved a bit (10km or so) but most are still around the area of capture. Interestingly, we marked a male goldeneye at Riske Creek (near Williams Lake) in May 2006 and that bird has been in Indian Arm all winter and lately in the same area as our more recently (winter) marked birds, perhaps hanging out with other birds with antennae."

The Barrow’s Goldeneyes will be leaving our area in the next few weeks. If you see a duck with an antenna like a long tail, you will know it is one of the ducks that are part of this study. If you get a good photo of the ducks, please forward it to colleenmacd@gmail.com. I will continue to keep you informed about the study.

May 2015 Update: Barrow’s goldeneyes (BAGO)

Barrows goldeneyes from Indian are (BAGO) are nesting in the BC interior between the Coastal Mountains and the Rockies or east of the Rockies in Alberta and the Alberta-Montana border.  It appears most birds have returned to their regular nesting sites.  There is a close connection between Indian Arm and Cardinal Lake, Alberta -- just west of Lesser Slave Lake.  Scientists have discovered that Cardinal Lake supports the highest number of molting male BAGO in North America with 6,000 ducks each fall. 

february storm

clouds dash
  against the mountain
  painting it white
rain smashes
  at the window

on the rock
  waves crash
  dash into tidepools
  and swirl back
    into the pounding waves
whitecaps dance
the wind howls
  in hemlock boughs
a dock creaks
  straining against the constant sea
a busy
gray
day

spring weather

a splash of sun
warms my back
then cools as
a cloud slips over
the house
darkening the room
hail pings on the roof
then pounds
drumming on the deck
a covering of white
but
it stops
and
a burst of sunshine
lights up the cove
a dash of blue
parts the clouds
above
the jet black mountain ...

... spring weather


...

oozing...

slip off the sandals
and step in
up to my knees in mud
squishing between toes
oozing
oozing
mud
in a rice paddy

walk along
carefully
sure don't want to slip
and fall
in the murky water
with polliwogs swimming around

workers laughing
crazy cycling tourists
no one ever climbs right in
a rice paddy!
they laugh
we laugh

and then we get to work
picking sorting placing
rice seedlings
ready to replant
in the next waterfilled field

now that's not
something
you do
everyday...



(click on the pix to see the whole Thailand set...
choose Thailand 2007, Slideshow, set time to 1 second)


...

what's in a name?

oh my ...
I'm in Mueng Thai
bet you don't know
where that is?
Neither did I
'till I got here

Flew into Krung Thep
and spent a few days
before heading to Koh Phanang

Which brings me to a recurring question...
why don't we call places what the
people there call them?

I think we need to change that!
(Since our family is in a name changing phase)


So, from now on, no more anglizing
or francaisizing, or anykind of -izing..
Let's call places by their proper name.

In this, I will need help from
you
who are
somewhere
in the world and
know what the true
name is...

Please email me at
worldnames@gmail.com
and tell me
where in the world
you are!

Where you really are...

Check out the new website: http://worldnames.blogspot.com/
...



...

high five

20090 days
of breathing
so far




...

looking back and looking ahead

2006
a year of surprises
and fun
oh my goodness -- it was fun!
what a year what a year what a year
thank you for being part of our lives
again
and listening sharing being with us
we wish you
good health
happiness
and FUN !
in the New Year
lots and lots of love
Ian Colleen Scott Kyle Dom
2006

and then...

the phone rings
and you say
let's go for a
walk
the up and over trail
through the forest
the trees
the trail
our words
and being with
people like you
fill me with energy
and then all
is great
again

.

.

.

...

snow in the hammock

not every day
is a good day
sometimes things
don’t go my way
birds don’t sing
the phone doesn’t ring
lines start to rhyme
no, not all the time
things run

amok…
why some days there is
just
snow

in the hammock

...

rainbow

I write and write
and lift my head
look outside the window
and there’s a rainbow
touching the rock
lighting up the cove
it lingers and brightens
I run for the camera
and catch it
so I can remember -
then the light changes
the rainbow fades
and disappears.

gecko

there’s a gecko
on the railing
with a moth
in it’s mouth
wings crushed
half in
half out
gulping
slipping
a bulge
as it swallows
the moth
down whole
he turns
looks back in the hole
for more insects
to eat

photo by Teresa Coulter
taken at Kona Hawaii Dec 2006

...

a not so average morning

.

.

.

woke up early
sun just emerging
over Kealakehua Bay
put on a pot of coffee
and sat on the deck
gazing at the cove
spotted a few black fins
.............dolphins!
swimming
jumping
chasing fish
circling the snorkellers
gotta get out there
slide the kayak into the cove
slip out between the rocks
paddle hard
there they are!
drift
watch
so many!
must be 25 or more
arching
swimming
spinning
here they come
towards us!
masks on
snorkels up
slip into the water
dolphins around us
under us
jumping beside us!
!!!!!!!!!
baby dolphins
mother dolphins
et moi
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

did this just happen?

seagull waiting

its tail slaps
on the water’s surface
the seal twists and splashes
a salmon clutched in its flippers
on top
a seagull rides the wake
waiting
for a piece of fish

The Crazy Man

just finished reading
"The Crazy Man"
by Pamela Porter

couldn't put it down
read it from start to finish
cried three times
sitting there by the fire
on a wet November day

written in free verse
not a word wasted
it paints a picture of a life
of a young girl
in Saskatchewan in the 60's

Dom says:
But there is whole lot more...
Everybody should read this book.

Hope you enjoy it
as much as I did...

Colleen MacDonald

The Winter Ducks ~ Goldeneyes are Back!

They’re here!

as the last leaves
fall into the ocean
the winter ducks arrive
on Indian Arm
a November blast of wind
ruffles black and white feathers
the Goldeneye ducks
are back

every day is a show
a gathering
a raft of ducks
one or two
a few
clustered in the cove

they put on a show
a water ballet
making gentle wake patterns
forming a V
trailing in a long line
around the island
rising up with a flapping of wings
strutting across the sand

along rocks and docks
it’s a feeding frenzy
diving
popping up
disappearing
resurfacing
submerging
looking for mussels

startled, the flock lifts off
wings whistling
flying low over the water
they turn and as one
skim the surface
landing feet first
like a troupe of water skiers

on sunny days
foggy mornings
in the wind and rain

the winter ducks perform
until
a warm April breeze
calls them
elsewhere
then they’re gone
to hidden nests
in mountain lakes

I’ll look for you
next
November!

Just a Cat

It’s just a cat
I’ve heard
you say
But was he --
just
a
cat?

In the door
out the door

laying upside down
on
the
floor

curled up under a tree
stretched out on the catwalk

in the door
out the door

sitting beside his dish
waiting (for food to appear)

a little buddy
curled up on your lap
at night
as you watch tv

in …
out …

pawing at my thigh
as I type
walking across the keyboard
-- pay attention to me

orange fur everywhere
on our clothes
in the car
on the bed

tucked up
asleep
inside the suitcase
before every trip

calling out at night
-- is any-one home?
silly cat
we’re trying to sleep

walking across our heads
snugging between the pillows
purring us awake

Mr. Moe
Mr. In and Out
Moey
McOrange
Nacho Moe

our favourite
orange cat
and after
all of that
was he only
just
a
cat?


...

welcome to the world

.
.
.

we drive
for an hour
catching up
on our busy lives --
going to see
Anne’s world

I glimpse
a part
of her passion
and meet
her new baby --
Ambition

a sunny fall morning
and richer for it

...

Kayak Sisters

There are days
when you just have to
stop
and go
kayaking

today was one of those

Cheryl and I
paddled across the inlet
to Strathcona
drifted along edges
ducked under docks

pulled up on the beach

at Deep Cove
carried the paddles to

Honey's for lunch
had a rolly polly donut (of course)
then into the kayaks
along the other shore...
back to our cove



hot hot sunny weather

late in the year
water so clear
we could see 20 feet down

like kayaking in a glass bottom boat

watching crabs clawing along the sand
purple seastars dotted the ocean floor
and spread out on rocks
fish swimming below
like kayaking in an aquarium

very fun!

Smoochin in Munchen

who is that...
smoochin
in
Munchen?

Tour de Hrvatska 2006

limestone houses
red tile roofs
turquoise water
barren hillsides

villages nestled in valleys
church bells ringing
narrow alleys
rocky fields
lavender growing wild

climb the hills
straight up
higher
hotter
keep going
we re going where...
up there...
stop for water
catch your breath
peddle harder
lower the gears
can't believe I'm climbing this
mountain

reach the summit
WAHOO
and down the other side
cruising
flying
riding
and gliding
down
down
down

watching the boat slip
into the port
tucked into a tiny blue cove

I DID IT !!!!

dinner bell rings
laughter
stories
about the climb
and the descent

looking forward to tomorrow

wish you were here !!!!

(click on any of these pictures to see the whole set in Flickr)

One Warm House

words

can’t tell

how much fun

we had

at Saskatchewan’s

BIGGEST

Housewarming party

-- ever

but pictures can help

so here’s a start

and more to come

(click on the picture to link to Kyle's Flickr set)

every picture

has a story behind it…

and in front of it

beside and around it

so maybe one day

I’ll tell you a

story

or two

Thanks to everyone

who made the day

special !!!

love, mom!

...

On Top of the World

Cathedral Lakes
hiking along the mountain ridges
on top of the world

........................................................................ (click on any pix to see the whole set)

hours of walks


like a pocket of Switzerland
tucked inside British Columbia

wildflowers
blues
red paint brush
yellows
and who knew daisies came in mauve?


sitting in a meadow
watching mountain goats

as they ate and wandered
right alongside us

dipping in a glacial lake
fireworks of fish
jumping
leaping
splashing
(of course they're splashing - fish do that!)

Smokey the Bear
marmots
deer
a buck or two
grouse and grouselings
startled in the woods
chipmunks galore

campfires
wearing all our clothes to bed
and still
being cold
but lots of laughs

and
can't wait
to go back
there

again

(click on any pix to see the whole set in Flickr!

and then choose Cathedral Lakes Slideshow...)

Go Dutch

who knew
Holland was
only
one hour away
in Lynden Washington

giant windmill
dutch architecture
wooden shoes
flowers galore

cycling through
raspberry fields
forever
drinking in the scent
as the harvester
picked
raspberries
for
market

fresh blueberries
for lunch

an old farmhouse
kitchen
painted blue !

listening to
calves
lowing
in the fields

a horse
called Ivy

Frankenstein?

and Mount Baker
on the horizon

another great cycle day !

(click on any pix to take you

to the Flickr set)

one red paperclip house Kipling Sask

If a picture is worth a thousand words

then these pictures are billions of words

Click on the picture and that will

take you to

Flickr

and you can scroll through the whole set!

Kipling2 080
Originally uploaded by youwhocolleen.

IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

Shoe Shopping in Shanghai

shoes too small for my big feet

laundry at the back of a barge

old carts and straw brooms

staying in the highest hotel in the world


baskets full of fruit and eels and frogs
kids play while parents sleep

narrow alleys and

birds of a feather at the mall

a monk’s robe drying at the temple

Colonel Saunders look-a-like …

fireworks wake us up...

having fun,

wish you were here!