Dom & Kyle's Tree

Here's

the first

very Unique

and useful -- I'd say

Christmas Tree from

Dom

...

I like it!

o christmas tree !

a

fun

crazy

unique

modern

creative

different

humorous

kind of tree!

I'm searching for different kinds of Christmas trees. Maybe you can help?

If you see one, please send a picture to colleenmacd@gmail.com and tell where you saw it

or found it.

I'll post the best on this blog.

Fun!

.

.

.

another day, another hawk

I see hawks
often
surprisingly
a reminder
I think

hawk

a hawk sits
against the setting sun
watching
waiting

moss

bent trees
downed in storms
covered in moss
like an old man's beard
sixty years of growth
hugs branches

think

I type
and type
and type

don’t push
send

just don’t push
send

I
pushed...

send

stop
drop
roll

gone

they’re cutting down trees
today
hundred year old firs
and hemlocks

the steady buzz of the saw
annoys
upsets
dismays me
like the constant drone of a bee
persistent
never ending

trees that have stood here for years
reduced to a pile of rounds
pierced open scent in the air
an empty space
where once stood
a presence
majestic
it’s boughs almost touching the ground
swaying
bouncing in the wind
gone

why –
so the tree won’t fall
on your house?
the house that was built long
after the tree stood there?

why --
so it won’t fall
on the telephone wires?
we can live without a few hours of power

and what if the tree wouldn’t have fallen?
what if it stood for another hundred years
long after you and I were gone
what if it stood for generations yet to come
for our children
and their children
to look up at
and marvel at its height
and the fact that it could live longer
than any of us.

but it’s too late.
it’s gone.

ducks coming home

As the last leaves
fall from trees along
the inlet's shores,
the winter ducks
are leaving their summer
nesting grounds and heading
for Indian Arm

I look out the window
every day
hoping to catch
a glimpse of the black and white
Barrow's goldeneyes...

any
day
now.

One Red Paperclip Kid

Here's Kyle's Vancouver book signing schedule and a bit about the book for all you have asked. Yes, it is fun being Kyle's mom! (and Scott's mom, too!) Hope you enjoy the book!

One Red Paperclip

Kyle MacDonald will be in Vancouver signing books at
Chapters Coquitlam 7:30 pm Fri. November 9
Chapters Granville 2:30 Sat. Nov 10
Terry Fox Library PoCo 7-8pm Thurs. Nov 15
hear him on CKNW with Christy Clark 2:30-3 Fri. Nov9

Books are available at most bookstores and online (Christmas ideas ???)
or you can reserve signed copies by emailing colleenmacd@gmail.com

more information: oneredpaperclip.com
......................................................................................................................

About the book (from Random House):

One Red Paperclip
or
How an Ordinary Man Achieved His Dream
with the Help of a Simple Office Supply

by Kyle MacDonald


Kyle MacDonald had a paperclip. One red paperclip, a dream, and a resume to write. And bills to pay. Oh, and a very patient girlfriend who was paying the rent while he was once again "between jobs." Kyle wanted to be able to provide for himself and his girlfriend, Dominique. He wanted to own his own home. He wanted something bigger than a paperclip. So he put an ad on Craigslist, the popular classifieds website, with the intention of trading that paperclip for something better. A girl in Vancouver offered him a fish pen in exchange for his paperclip. He traded the fish pen for a doorknob and the doorknob for a camping stove. Before long he had traded the camping stove for a generator for a neon sign. Not long after that, avid snow-globe collector and television star Corbin Bernsen and the small Canadian town of Kipling were involved, and Kyle was on to bigger and better things.

In One Red Paperclip, Kyle takes you on a journey around the globe as he moves from paperclip holder to homeowner in just fourteen trades. With plenty of irreverent and insightful anecdotes and practical tips on how you can find your own paperclip and realize your dreams, he proves it's possible to succeed in life and achieve your dreams on your own terms. Quirky and inspirational, this story of a regular guy and a small, red, now-legendary paperclip will have you looking at your office supplies-and your life-in a whole new way.

a mink ... I think !

look who’s living
in the rocks
at the water’s edge…

it’s a mink !
this I think

(click on any pix to see the Flickr set - Mink)

Three mink at Whiskey Cove, Indian Arm, Belcarra BC August 24 2007

one red paperclip

once upon a time
a little boy was born
and lived with us
and grew up
to find a paperclip

which he traded for a house
where he lives with
the best girl in the whole world

... did you say he traded a paperclip for a house?

and he wrote a book about it
a very funny book

... did you say he wrote a book?

uh-huh!
and you can get a copy
and read about it for yourself
... if you want!

Here's the link to Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307353168?tag=oneredpapercl-0&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0307353168&adid=0PXHSFJYBK3R6331G3Z4

and you can also ask your local bookstore to order one for you.

Happy Reading...

(proud) Mom!

.

.

.

merganser momma

there’s a new family
in the cove
this morning

they clamber onto the rock

dig for mussels

dashing
darting
swimming
diving for fish
riding on momma’s back

a brand new dozen
fluffing downy feathers

shaking off the rain
hiding under

umbrella momma

.

Between Forest and Sea: Memories of Belcarra

Belcarra lies between forest and sea on Indian Arm, a fjord near Vancouver. Like Raven, poking on the seashore, we sought to find and tell the stories about the area. More than a history book, Between Forest and Sea tells of the people and changes in Belcarra from the early days of the Coast Salish, to Judge Bole, Baron von Alvensleben and Wigwam Inn, Harbour Navigation boat cruises to the Belcarra picnic grounds, summer cottages, and the emerging village community. Loaded with a wide collection of photographs and maps, the book brings the history of this community alive.

To order an author signed copy send $22.43 plus $1.57 GST (Total: $24.00 per book)


Drop by the Belcarra Village Hall (604-937-4100) and pick up a copy or please add $6.00 for shipping.

Send cheque or money order for $30.00 to:

The Village of Belcarra

4084 Bedwell Bay Road Belcarra BC Canada V3H 4P8

.

.

.(ps - Jamie we have been trying to reach you!)

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...)