Friday, May 31, 2013

Canoe This



Few things in life match the smooth quiet release of a canoe as it is maneuvered away from the shore to glide smoothly past the Memorial Day fishermen hanging patiently on the dock.  It takes little effort to move swiftly across the river between a few holiday boaters and the noisy ski-doers into the quiet marshlands where only the shallowest of floaters can go.  Some may find the mud and the prehistoric water plants too strange for beauty.  But, of course, I know that all you have to do is keep your eyes open for treasures along the way, like this gaggle of butterflies playing in the mud...



...or this Red-winged blackbird that gave the most piercing call above us as we scooted beneath his tree.  The whistle was so loud and clear that at first we did not recognize the normally familiar song.
Soft grasses in bloom
Fragrant honeysuckle that takes your breath away
Wildflowers across the pond



Now aren't you glad you came along and you didn't even have to paddle, or wear sunscreen, or spray on insect repellent!

19 comments:

  1. mmm we were messing in the honey suckle the other day...even sent some home with a visiting friend...have seen those gaggle of butterflies as well...it is cool what you can slip up on when you are in a canoe as well...

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  2. Yes, yes I am!

    Thanks

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  3. As Joe said, yes I am. I took the trip a couple of times.

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  4. I always worry that you won't have a good enough grip on your camera. Surely you have a strap around your neck.

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  5. Yes! You've reminded me of floating out in the bayous here. Some may be bored, but there are so many interesting sights!

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  6. Yes, peace and quiet with a canoe. I wish the noisy guys wee banned. On a sad note I am selling my canoe. It's almost like putting the dog down.

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  7. Such a lovely collection of sights and sounds. I especially love the butterflies.

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  8. Ahhhh... This reminds me of being back in the Midwest. I had honeysuckle in my backyard. Thank you so much for your kind messages while I was gone to China and cut off from the blogging world. I didn't expect blogs to be banned there. Your messages always made me smile.

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  9. I am totally glad...your photos were absolutely stunning.
    Hugs
    SurAnn

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  10. Beautiful! And I LOVE the red-wing blackbirds' song. It is one of my favorite. That trill. Love it. :)

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  11. Beautiful! And I LOVE the red-wing blackbirds' song. It is one of my favorite. That trill. Love it. :)

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  12. Lovely! you can get so close to nature as you glide quietly along.

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  13. Oh, yes. But I love to paddle. I prefer rivers over lakes but being on the water, poking around. I miss it.

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  14. LOL And I always thought paddling was too much work. Once I dumpt a senator in the water of the Tijuana Sloughs, and from then on tried a dryer kind of politics.

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  15. Anonymous12:26 AM

    I am so glad I came along! Beautiful!

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  16. Thank you for allowing me to float along with you in this paradise. The butterflies in mud is quite a juxtaposition!

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  17. I was always glad I came along. It was worth it this time for the butterflies alone - and for the reminder of what it is I've been missing for so long... My K1!
    Thanks for.

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  18. Everything down your way is so much further along than it is here. Thank you for the canoe ride...... it's been ages!

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Glad to hear from you once again. I really like these visits. Come sit on this log and tell me what you are thinking.