I often borrow books at our local public library.
The last time I was there, I paused to look at the musical instruments that one can borrow...
And free COVID tests and face masks one can take. (Now l know where to go if I run out!)
Public libraries aren't just for borrowing books anymore!
The sun sets early in Ottawa these days. Before 6 PM, the clouds turn pink.
Less than half an hour later, it gets dark.
Time to rush home...
It feels like midnight - but it's only supper time!
Terry and I planned to head out for a "day trip" yesterday - but rain modified our plans.
Glad we have beautiful trees in our neighbourhood, too!
I still hope we'll get out for a day trip - before all this beauty disappears. But it's a short season.
Sunsets are beautiful - whenever they happen!
Sundown is arriving earlier these days...
In mid-June, Ottawa enjoyed its maximum - 15 hours and 40 minute of daylight ...
And now, two and a half months later, we're down to just under 13 hours, a daily loss of 2 hours and forty minutes... and decreasing...
But - as we experience another heat wave this week, I'm hoping that less sunlight will soon translate into cooler weather as well!
For the first time, I'm happy to see shortening days.
Terry and I - and our daughter - recently went walking in a new development near the Rideau River. (We parked nearby in this older neighborhood... More my gardening style!)
The new buildings are sprouting up near St. Paul University, on former monastery property.
When we first moved to Ottawa, Terry was a student at St. Paul's...
... so there's always an element of nostalgia when we return to the area.
We walked along a path that led to the river...
... admired the flowers...
... and birds (which always managed to elude my camera).
Looks like a peaceful new place to live - in the heart of the city.
A few days ago, I drove over to Andrew Haydon Park in the early evening.
I hadn't been there in a while.
The air was a little cooler than it had been - with a slight breeze - so there were lots of people out walking, enjoying picnic suppers, or sailing on the river.
A perfect summer evening. I'm so glad we have public parks by the river to enjoy!
Yesterday we woke up to a smoggy day. Forest fires about 100 km west of Ottawa - as well as some in northern Quebec - created this unwelcome weather.
Wear your best mask, our two sons messaged us.
One was already at work - wearing a mask.
Coming to work, I couldn't see the other side of the river, he said.
Wear an N95 mask, if you go out, the other messaged: When the level of fine particulate in the air reaches 60 micrograms per cubic metre, Environment Canada issues an air quality warning. Ottawa is at more than 220. (Ottawa is normally 0-4.)
What did we do before Covid? I asked Terry as we headed out with our masks. Now we have a supply of face masks. Did we just go out into the smoky air? We probably just tried to stay indoors.
Times change - and we have to change with them.
Last weekend Terry and I attended an unusual art show - unusual in that it was held in stalls that normally house horses!
The art show filled about half the stalls - the other half was reserved for horses participating in one of the qualifying competitions for the Pan-Am games.
One of the artists - who was in last year's show as well - commented that if the wind blows from the horsey stalls to the art show's - the smell in the air was very noticeable! This year, there were no barnyard scents.
We enjoyed walking around visiting various art displays. (Two of my former art instructors were displaying their work.)
There was lots of flower art - and bird art - but I didn't notice any paintings of horses!
I watched this horse practice. His handler was sporting a few blue ribbons. Not sure which competition they were from.
For me, it was interesting to do something so different from what I normally do. Can't say I've ever attended an art show in a stable before! But why not?!!
Last spring, Terry and I saw a Canada goose sitting on her nest (from about two feet away) as we stood at this lookout, watching the river below near the old mill in Manotick.
This year we returned. Would we see the same nesting mother again?
But no! The nest was empty - though it looked recently vacated. The soft down that the mother had sat on was still there. It hadn't yet blown away.
We noticed another difference as well... the river was running high. Its rushing water had - this year - covered the island where the father goose had kept watch - together with a large heron. He had even honked a warning at us when we got too close to the nesting mother last spring.
So interesting! No two years are exactly the same! Higher water levels this spring are affecting a lot of things. I wonder where the father goose kept watch this year...
The Ottawa River is running high these days. Our heavy snowfall over the winter - now melted - plus the rain we've had, have made the river overflow its banks in some places.
Yesterday our daughter sent us this photo from her morning run - part of the path covered with river water.
Terry tells me that Point Gatineau, where I love to walk, also has some flooding.
I hope the rising water ends soon.
A bed of red tulips was already blooming (above) - next to a large bed of yellow daffodils...
Nearby, other large beds, next to stately homes - were just beginning to bloom.
Trees are developing leaves. I guess spring is really here!
Yesterday when Terry and I were out walking, I saw this interesting old tree.
As sometimes happens, I saw facial featured in it. I don't know if Terry did...
Here... I've added eyebrows! Can you see it now, too?!
My daughter, out for her evening run, sent us these photos on Sunday night.
The river is running high!
Hopefully we won't get rain - which would make things even worse... But I think there's some rain in the forecast - "April showers"!
A few evenings ago, Terry and I headed over to Andrew Hayden Park for a stroll.
This park is always beautiful!
We noticed a few trees with damaged branches, from our recent ice storm.
We were hoping to see a few turtles or muskrats, but no luck!
Maybe next time... We'll definitely be back!
