Machias Walk January 30, 2011

Machias Walk January 30, 2011, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

The Pathfinders walk today was along the abandoned rail bed in Machias. The rail bed is now a multi-use trail for hikers, skiers, snowmobiles etc. It was a nice walk in the light snow not too cold and no wind. We saw one lonely Snow Bunting along the trail which is unusual because they are usually in flocks.

Chilly Bench

Chilly Bench, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

A great day for a walk mild and sunny. Took this picture in front of the school there is a wall of snow behind them now but I never see anyone use these benches.

Pysanky - Ukrainian Easter egg

The Box, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

This is the beautiful package that my Pysanky, Ukrainian Easter egg, arrived in. The package and the egg are both very special. The Eggs is a tiny Quail Egg and as you can see beautifully decorated.



I bought it from www.dandylioneggs.esty.com

Mill Cove Stream

Mill Cove Stream, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

We have just come through a week of minus 22 weather but this stream never freezes over because it is tidal, twice a day with the rising tide salt sea water rushes up the stream.

Snowflakes

Snowflakes, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

It was snowing lightly when I took this picture . Click on the photo then if you select View All Sizes then view the original size you can see individual snowflakes around the edges.

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Minus 22 degrees outside today and I didn't have the heart to drive the poor little squirrel from my bird feeder. There were two of them one eating on the snow below the feeder and this little guy who spent a long time shelling out sunflower seeds.

Machias Walk January 23, 2011

Machias Walk January 23, 2011 - 2, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

The Pathfinders walk was in Machias yesterday. A sunny but cold afternoon we were all dressed appropriately for the weather and were quite comfortable once we got going. We usually have a snack after the walk but yesterday we returned to the parking lot half way through and had coffee, tea and delicious homemade brownies before setting out on the second half of the walk.For three mornings in a row it had been minus 12 degrees and it actually felt a bit warmer in Machias. Not so warm today though minus 22 this morning, glad we are not walking today.

After yesterday's storm

Surf's Up 3, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Back out to my favourite beech this afternoon to take a few pictures after yesterday's storm. Too windy and cold to hang around fro very long it was minus 12 here this morning and high winds.

Scones

Scones, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Another Snow Storm 20 CM plus forecast. A good day to bake.


Scones


Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Ready In: 25 Minutes
Servings: 8
"A simple scone recipe that can be customized in a myriad ways."
Ingredients:
375 g all-purpose flour
100 g white sugar
25 g baking powder
3 g salt

170 g butter
1 egg, beaten
235 ml milk
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter. Mix the egg and milk in a small bowl, and stir into flour mixture until moistened.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly. Roll dough out into a 1/2 inch thick round. Cut into 8 wedges, and place on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2011 Allrecipes.com Printed from Allrecipes.com 1/21/2011

Diamonds in the snow.

Diamonds in the snow., originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

I've been trying to capture the sparkle in the snow and so far this is the best I've come up with, still not satisfied maybe I will get it before the winter is over.

Yellow Birch, Reindeer Moss , Lichen and American Bitter Sweet

Yellow Birch, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

I'm having fun discovering the beauty of things in their minute detail we walk by and see the overall view but we miss the beauty that is in the close-up detail. I took these pictures of Yellow Birch , Reindeer Moss, Lichen and American Bittersweet not far from my front door.

The Drip

The Drip , originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Look at the reverse image in the water drip at the end of this icicle do you see the sky and the trees upside-down ?

Nature's Velcro

Nature's Velcro, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Nature's Velcro - I think I read somewhere that the inventor of Velcro got the idea from looking at a Burdock. Well if you look closely you can see where he got the idea each little barb has a hook at the end, one of natures clever designs.

Do you see the face in the ice?

Ice 3, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

I'm stuck in the house with a head cold but this afternoon I just couldn't take it any more so I bundled up and went for a walk around the property. The sun was shining through a large melting icicle so I took a few pictures. A friend in Spain pointed out the face in the bottom photo she says it's a Dog and one of my nieces also found it and she says it's a horse, do you see it?

Alder Cones

Alder Cones, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Another 20 CM of snow and another $20 to get the driveway plowed. Too much slush and ice on the roads to go for a walk so I strolled around the property and took a few pictures. I like this one of the alder cones. A couple of weeks ago I was out on the back of the island and a large flock of Red Poles were picking the seeds out of them, so they are a winter source of food for at least some of the birds.

The photo below is my heritage variety Pumpkin Sweet Apple Tree I'm always amazed by it, the apples stay on all winter even though they have frozen and turned soft and brown. So far this winter I haven't seen any birds eating them but if there are any Robins overwintering they will find it and pick away at them.

Snow Dune

Snow Dune, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

I think I should make up a story about the big blizzard that went on for days and days. However the truth is we only have a few inches of snow. I was on a walk today and went into a gravel pit and saw these piles of sand and gravel covered in snow.

This is a photo of the same place without the snow.

Dog Sledding

Dog Sledding II, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

How cute is this little guy. The Pathfinders walk today was in Cobscook State Park and this chap's "Parents" had him out cross country skying. They said he is 13 years old and gets tired now if they spend too long on the trails so they built him a sled.

East Quoddy Light-Head Harbour

East Quoddy Light-Head Harbour, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

The big snow storm that was predicted for this weekend didn't amount to much just a few centimeters of wet snow and today it has turned quite mild, plus 3 by mid afternoon. Still lots of cloud around so I took the opportunity to drive down to the Lighthouse and take another stab at HDR photography. I like the effect especially with a lot of clouds in the sky.

Great to have friends in France with great Taste

Great to have friends in France with great Taste, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Received a Christmas gift from Ivan and Pru in Sevres today, a wonderful box of very special French Chocolate. They are so good I don't think they are going to be around long, I can't stay out of them.

Mill Cove II

Mill Cove II, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Back out to Mill Cove in the cold this afternoon to try to get three photos that I could stitch together into a panorama of the cove. I did one yesterday but didn't think it went together very well. My friend Carole suggested that it might work better if I used a tripod instead of doing the pictures hand held and this worked the result was a much smoother transition.

While I was there I noticed some very interesting ice formations in the Mill Pond. There is a tidal stream which runs through the pond so even though the pond freezes the ice is lifted and lowered twice each day on the rising and falling tide. It was high tide when I took this picture but I think what is happening is at low tide there is a large bolder that is pushed up through the ice.

Mill Cove Rock Island High and Low Tide

Mill Cove Rock Island High Tide, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

Brrrr....the weather is getting colder down to minus 7 this morning and the forecast is for minus 13 tomorrow. Froze my hands out taking a few pictures. Beautiful bright sunny day though. the high tide photo was taken today the low tide one was taken on New Years day.

After the Storm

After the Storm, originally uploaded by Campobello Island.

We had one of those special winter storms over night. Not much snow just a few centimeters but it was the heavy wet kind that sticks to everything and creates a winter wonder land. Took this picture as the sky was clearing, now it is so bright with the sun on the fresh white snow that it hurts to look at it.