The World Through Our Lens
Many different types of animals live in the forests of Ontario, but size aside, you most certainly will come upon the smallest four-legged animals that call the forests of Ontario home. Those would be squirrels. This chipmunk is a member of the squirrel family, and this little guy lives in the trees around my parents’ home at Oxtongue Lake, in Ontario. Read more
It has been over 750 years since the City of Delft was granted city rights. The name Delft comes from the Dutch word meaning delve or digging. As we soon learned firsthand, Delft is still surrounded by canals. Read more
On a hike at the Milne Dam Conservation Park in Markham, Ontario, we came upon this Red-tailed Hawk sitting in a tree above the hiking trail. Read more
On a windy, snowy day in Ontario, Bob and I headed north towards Algonquin Provincial Park on one of our frequent treks in that direction. It was a particularly stormy day as we navigated the highway, and, as always, we were watching for wildlife. But suddenly we came upon a group of Eastern wild turkey’s on the road. Read more
After taking two days to tour the fields where tulips are cultivated, and to revel in the show of spring flowers at Keukenhof Gardens, it was time to make our way to the village of Zaanse Schans to view the large collection of windmills that still stand there in the Netherlands. Back in the 17th and 18th centuries, Holland had over 10,000 windmills; today, that number has dwindled to near 1,000. Most of the 10,000 original windmills were used to power industries, but that ended with the industrial revolution. Those that survived were either grinding grain or draining fields out in the country. Read more
On a sunny morning, Bob and I drove south out of Amsterdam towards the village of Lisse where we planned to visit the world famous Keukenhof Gardens. Read more
Bob and I went for a walk one afternoon in Milliken Park, here in Toronto, Ontario, and by chance, we spotted a Northern Saw-Whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) at rest in the thick brush. I had never seen an owl in the wild before, and certainly not one in such close proximity. We have frequented this park for years, and this was the first time we were lucky enough to catch sight of an owl. Read more
On a cool, damp morning, Bob and I hit the streets of Amsterdam early. Long lineups were already in place at Anne Frank Haus, so we proceeded to the Rijksmuseum, a gallery where Rembrandt’s works are on display in the Netherlands. Read more
After landing at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, Bob and I boarded a train for a 25-minute ride into Amsterdam. At the downtown railway station, we inquired about catching a cab to our hotel but were told that it was located nearby. And so, with bags in hand, we set off through the streets on our short walk! We needed to stretch our legs in any case. Read more