The winter might not be over yet in Ontario, but the last couple of days have been sunny, letting us hope the spring is around of corner. Canadians are pretty much used with harsh weather, but this winter especially was generous in snow, freezing rain, ice pellets, etc. But that is over, and who wants to remember tough moments, when the birds are out, chirping, and calling out for spring time?

I was overjoyed this morning when I could hear the birds in the whole neighbourhood, even though the snow sits generously on the sides of the street, waiting for higher temperatures to melt away. I couldn’t see the birds, but I could hear them singing on different voices from different directions. Pure bliss!

Spring is coming soon, so a great time for a summary of idyllic pictures I took in the past couple of months.

Late December we went up North to Blue Mountain resort, about 170 km North of Toronto. That is a small resort where most people go to ski, but what is the most amazing about that place, I think, are the surroundings, the country roads with enchanting views.

One weekend in January, we went to the cottage country, and we were lucky with some sunny days as well. I was wondering how the birds survive through a harsh winter, and put some seeds on the deck handrail. A black capped chickadee came up quickly and grabbed hungrily the sunflower seeds.

Later on, a gang of blue jays came to feed themselves as well, couple of them fighting over territory. Or over food?

We tried some ice fishing on Family day, in February. That was a first for myself, and a fiasco. But the experience was more than thrilling!!

Busy family day on Chemong Lake – tents, sheds, and many holes in the ice

Winter sports on Chemong Lake

The owner of this little hut has graciously let me take a couple of pictures – there is a wood stove on the left, and the rectangle hole on the yellow floor. This is the same hut where the smoke was coming out from.

Beside snowmobiling, ice fishing is the most common hobby on the frozen lakes in central Ontario

We had to chop through the ice, using an existing fishing hole. The water has frozen for about 10 cm in 24 hours on this old hole with a 15 cm diameter.

After catching a pic of a red tailed hawk perching in a tree, 3 days ago,

I was all curious to see what my favourite park The Riverwood Conservancy has to offer today. Please walk with me along, and hope you enjoy the views at least as much as I have enjoyed myself.

Hope you have had a wonderful Sunday!