The Grasse doesn’t need mowing
Duck – Duck – Duck – Goosebumps
Jeeze it’s cold out. Temps are hovering around zero after dropping to -12 F last night. If the cold continues even the rapids on the Grass River will freeze over.
I stopped at the Morley bridge to take a couple of photos. To my surprise I spotted a group of Mallards hanging out on the ice.
The winter landscape doesn’t offer much in the way of color. But blue, white, gray and brown mixed correctly makes a great scene. This is looking upriver from the Morley bridge.
Looking downriver from the bridge it’s surprising to see how close the rapids are to freezing over. Looking beyond the rapids you can see the river already iced over.
Trees and brush along the shore have been sugar coated by rising fog from the ‘warmer’ water. Best not to taste unless you want your tongue stuck on a branch.
An unidentified wildflower takes on new beauty when encased by frost.
The ducks did not appreciate my presence on the bridge and swam to the center of the river to get away from me. Finding the current too swift they hesitated at this spot.
I’m sure the quacking heard at that point was a profusion of 4 letter words in ‘duck’ aimed at me.
They never gave me a chance to answer and flew off.
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January 10th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
The blue of the scenery in some of these photos is absolutely beautiful. I’m sure they’re just fine out there, but I don’t understand how those daffy ducks don’t freeze their feathers off.
January 11th, 2009 at 12:10 am
It looks like a place for shoveling and or snow blower but I’m not willing to give our up.
Coffee is on.
January 11th, 2009 at 9:18 am
While look at your river I am thinking of mine. Both are under the blue sky. Yours is close to freeze over; mine is now flowing along with the warm breeze.
Nature bears many faces at one time….
January 11th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Beautiful winter pictures.
Will be interesting to see your work you will do on the raffle winner.
January 11th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
The veines in mallards’ legs are vired in a way that makes blood flowing from the body to the feets heating the incoming blood (while being cooled in the process). Needless to say mallards do have cold feet but this way they can survive -20¤ C ie -4¤F.
January 11th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I FINALLY figured out why I have such a problem with your website, John; I have to look at it in Firefox rather than Safari, and then it sorts itself out nicely. This is a beautiful post, making me feel much less hostile towards winter. But if you need more snow, we’re having some and I’ll gladly share.
Good to know that you’ve found similar exasperations with nurseries of late too. I don’t have to go quite as far as you to find plants I want; usually within an hour of any direction from here will do the trick, a little further (1.5 hours) to Truro for a couple of great ones. The secret to all of them is that they’re small, family owned operations where the owners LOVE plants. Makes a big difference.
Love the raffle idea you’re doing. If I lived in the same country/state, I’d be deeply tempted to buy tickets! But Nova Scotia is a helluva commute for you…;-)
January 12th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I don’t like the cold, but when I see your photos I can certainly appreciate the beauty of winter!
December 7th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Love the glitter and vapor in #6 !