Chateau de la Bourdaisiere A Magnificent French Castle

An image of Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in the Loire Valley in France.

An image of the main entrance gate to Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in the Loire Valley, France.

One of my hopes on our trip to France was to spend a night in a “real” castle like Chateau de la Bourdaisiere.  By happenstance we learned about this castle when we came upon a little tourist information booth along a country road in the Loire Valley.  It happened to be staffed by an English-speaking young woman.  Read more

Snowy Owl Sighting At Frenchman’s Bay in Ontario

Snowy Owl sits on icey Frenchman's Bay - Ontario - Canada

After one failed attempt, Bob and I made our way back to the shores of Frenchman’s Bay in Pickering, Ontario, to see if we could spot the Snowy Owl that has been making its stay there during the past winter.  We drove to a little park on the east shore of the bay, and started scanning with our binoculars. Read more

A Red-Bellied Woodpecker at Lynde Shores Conservation Area

A Red-Bellied Woodpecker at Lynde Shores Conservation Area

Red-bellied Woodpecker - takes a break after eats snow - Lynde Shores - Whitby - Ontario

With a gusty northwest wind blowing, Bob and I headed to Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby, Ontario.  We wondered if the Red-bellied Woodpecker was still lingering in the woods there, and sure enough, I heard its repeated chiff-chiff and rolling churrr before actually spotting the Woodpecker on a nearby tree. Read more

Ice Sculptures and skating at Winterlude in Ottawa

Ice Sculptures and skating at Winterlude in Ottawa

Capital Hill at night - Winterlude - Ottawa

Bob and I once again returned to Ottawa, the National Capital of Canada, to take part in Winterlude.  Our favorite activity at this winter festival is skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway, which is actually the world’s largest skating rink and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read more

Sharp-shinned Hawk Suffers Through Toronto Snowstorm

Sharp-shinned Hawk Suffers Through Toronto Snowstorm

Sharp-shinned Hawk takes a break in snowstorm -Toronto - Canada

As another winter storm hit Toronto, many of us were, without a doubt, contemplating how we would weather the onslaught of another heavy snow.  Well, this poor unfortunate Sharp-shinned hawk ( Accipiter striatus) was not faring very well in my backyard as it looked for some unsuspecting prey.  Birds seem to know when nasty weather is brewing, and this bird has been visiting my property frequently, likely hoping for an easy catch to sustain him while the blizzard unfolded. Read more

Touring The Palace of Versailles Royal Grandeur

An image of the Palace of Versailles in France.

An image of the Royal Courtyard at the Palace of Versailles in France.

After spending a few days exploring the streets and life of downtown Paris, Bob and I were anxious to leave the hubbub of the city behind.  The Palace of Versailles was our next destination and is actually located in a suburb of Paris.  It is a massive complex…800 hectares of gardens, buildings, water fountains and even a man-made lake called the Grand Canal.  For both Bob and me, it was a given that we would visit the Palace of Versailles considering its history and what happened there before and during the French Revolution. Read more