Do you have a favourite body of water?

Do you have a favourite lake or pond?  This Nature Canada blog post inspired me. I've sat on it since November, 2011, waiting for spring.

I do have a fave. Long Lake, where we cottaged for 50 years! Knowing it intimately, I canoed every inch, and even the surrounding beaver ponds which fed this lake.

I loved spring, when the ice began to thaw, and eventually sank in the warmth. Lakes have a constant temperature of 4 C., down below in winter. This lake is 200' deep.



I loved the fog dancing on the water.

The sunsets.

One of my favourite shots.
Juxtaposition of late winter, early spring!

I loved the ducks, who would do fly-overs, searching for open water.

I captured the sunlight dancing on the waves.

In September, things quieted down!

Once the ice melted, everything began the frenzy of procreation.

Mallard male duck

Not true, as we enjoyed all 4 years
that we lived there full-time.

We did grow tired of the disrespectful sledders, jetskis doing figure 8's, fireworks every night for two weeks on a work night, and the poor treatment of the loons who tried to share our lake. Snowmobiles on thin ice, leaving behind pollution. Melting ice is an accident waiting to happen!

I think this was Eddie and Eva, and off-spring.

Eddie and Eva, who visited every year!

The heron visited often.

We left with no regrets, but some tears.

Here is why we moved closer to Ottawa!
Granddaughters, Isabelle, born May, 2010

Farewell, ducks! Caitlin and Josephine.

Farewell lake!

They trusted us and knew we loved them.
I hope the new owner respects wildlife as we did.

Incoming mallards!

Still as glass in September