For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Hello everyone! Here I sit today looking out my window at a rather blustery scene before me. It looks so very cold, a little light snow is falling, a strong wind is blowing, and it is a cold out there that eats right through a person. It’s hard to dress warm enough to spend much time outside on a day like this. However, I remember a different day which I have written down in my journal. Let’s have a look at that day…
As I look out my cabin window this morning, a very early morning, it’s 5am right now and it’s a beautiful, sunny morning. The lake is like a mirror, reflecting the scenery all around. This picture out my window is captivating, the edge of the lake is hidden from view as the real, and the reflection, blend so perfectly together providing such a memorable scene, one not to be forgotten over time. Not even the tiniest ripple to break up this reflection. As I venture outside on this early summer morning everything is so remarkable, so still, so quiet, but it’s not the audible quiet I mean, but the quiet of the scene before me. And then there is the chorus, such a rousing chorus as each species of bird adds his echoing song to the whole. It all blends together, providing a symphony that builds throughout my whole body, my whole being.
This is my summer morning and what a morning. I decide to get my canoe out and head around the lake before breakfast. It’s not a big lake, about half a mile across in any direction. But not exactly round either, there are bays and a point of land sticking out into the lake in one spot. There, the canoe is in the water and I’m off, just slowly moving along the shore, dipping my paddle in the water so quietly, then keeping it there so I can glide along without making any noise. I leave the shadows and enter the sun drenched areas of water and land. I can tell it’s going to be a hot day, just like yesterday, it’s already 79F and it will likely hit 95F today as well.
As I move through the water silently I see a great blue heron along the short walking ever so carefully, it’s feet rising out of, and then into, the water without barely a ripple being produced. No doubt in search of some minnows, which are abundant in this lake, or perhaps a frog, for his breakfast. And likely also he will take some back to the young ones waiting in the nest for their breakfast as well. I pass by the section of the lake that is alongside the highway. Not even one vehicle passes by while I’m there, which is odd, even for an early morning. Across the lake I hear different birds than the ones around home, so many warblers and vireos, plus familiar birds like flickers and thrush.
Suddenly a loon pops out of the water close to me, very excited since I am a little too close to it’s nest. That nest, right by the water’s edge has two large eggs and hopefully both will hatch this year with healthy young. I continue along the rock lined shore and pass a large beaver lodge. I spot one beaver still swimming around after a night of work. I see a newly cut down aspen tree right along the shore which had toppled right into the lake. Suddenly a familiar and very loud “smack!” My friendly beaver must have spotted me and smacked it’s tail on the water’s surface to warn everyone that I’m coming. Oh well. I continue past the point of land which this year is actually an island due to the higher water level. I turn and I’m back in the shadows again as I head toward home. There, I pull up to the dock and pull the canoe up onto shore. A perfect summer morning. Now it’s time for my breakfast….
I hope you have all enjoyed today’s journal entry and our quick trip around the lake. Have a wonderful day and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
Amazing!
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Thank you so much Rossana!ππΊπΆ
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I really enjoyed the scenery and your description of the lake ! And the enchanting music from the loons ! Thanks for sharing ! βοΈβοΈππ»
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So happy to hear you enjoyed this Sharon. Hope you have a good night!ππΊπ
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Seems like a lovely place to be anytime of the day. Thanks for sharing! βοΈβοΈπ π¦ 𦨠π¦‘
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It really is beautiful and was a nice place to live, but a bit isolated. Nice and peaceful though. Glad you liked it Eugenia!ππΊββπ»πΏπ¦π’
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π
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Thank you for the great trip around the lake! The early mornings are the best time to be on the lake. Everything is so still and quiet.
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Thanks for reading Dusty! Yes indeed, I always like those early times on the lake, something I sure do miss now.ππΊππΆ
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Especially in January!!π₯Ά Warms the heart though.π
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Yep, for sure!ππ
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I am imagining sitting on the end of the dock in the morning just as the sun rises watching the ducks swim past and the Eagles fishing from their perch high in the trees
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Yep, there was ducks and a pair of loons always. And there was Daisy duck who was very tame and would come to me when I called her so she could get her food. No eagles there though, they stayed out on the big lake, called Eagle Lake, very fitting name, there was always lots of eagles nesting on the lake.
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Daisy Duck does she eat quackers?π€π€π€
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Never tried her with quackers, but she sure devoured bread!πππ¦
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They do like bread! Are you alliwed to feed them up there?
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We were allowed to, now it’s a bit more complicated due to people feeding for hunting purposes.
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Yeah it can be abused easily. Too bad cause it’s fun to see them up close.
Were you able to get out and stretch the lens today?
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Only for a short walk, kind of cold, but mainly I just didn’t have the time. Some things I need to get done by the end of the month so I’m trying to work on that the next 3 or 4 days and get it done and out of the way. Going to be very cold anyway until Tuesday.π
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Sounds like a good plan. You are a great planner!π This cold has really set in to my back. Looks like it will be a little warmer this week.
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Yes, after this blast of ice it should be nicer for awhile.π The cold is hard on my back too, not fun.π³
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Looks like more snow on the way for here tomorrow. 6 to 7 inches possible.
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That much??π€£π€£π€£π€£I’m not laughing, well, maybe a bit. We might get 1 or 2 inches.πββ
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I’ll set up a few fans and blow some up your wayπ
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You wish! Face it, you’re stuck with it!πππ€£π€£ππ
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Or I’ll be stuck in it is more like it!π€ͺπ€
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You can make little snow homes for the squirrels, I’m sure they would appreciate it.π€ππΉ
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Im sure they would.. I’m just not sure they will trust my building skills!π€π€π€π€π€
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I’m sure they would, just make them close to your house.ππ‘π π‘π π‘π
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No way! They get igloos on the ice!
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Hey, that’s not nice. And after the nice job they did with housesitting for you.ππ
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Uh huhππ They left me some nice holes in the lawn π
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Minor detail. They’re just helping aerate the lawn.
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Looks like the face of the moon with all them craters!!ππ
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There you go, put little lights in them and sell tickets to see the light show.ππΉ
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You can be my first customer!! Great Idea!!πππ
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Perfect. I will gladly pay you next Tuesday.π
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That would be great Wimpy… since I wasn’t gonna light it up until year!πππ
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How about that, I couldn’t remember his name. I meant the Tuesday after I see it.π€£π€£π€£
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Nice try!! May the squirrels will give you creditπ€π€π€π€
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They just told me I never have to pay since I helped them while you were away.π€π
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Uh huh..ππ helped them find new places to dig!
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No, I sure did not do that, nope, not me.π
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Are you sure??π€¨π€¨
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Yep, 100% sure.
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πππ that’s alot!
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I’m not even that sure I’m me.
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π²π³
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Which part of the day gets longer first in the Spring? Morning sooner or sunset later?π€
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Yes, that’s actually correct, it’s sunset later that is first to be noticed, but after March the sunrise catches up and passes it. Speaking of sunset, it’s time to set me down on my bed. Good night Dusty!π³ππ΄π΄
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Good Night π Will you be able to chat tomorrow?
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Yep, I’ll be here except between 11 and 1.
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Sounds good! Good Night rest well!π
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You too.π
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Thank you.. I will give it my best effort..π€π€
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Have you been sleeping better recently?
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My sciatic nerve doesn’t bother me when I’m laying down now, and yep, I think I’m sleeping too good lately! It’s so comfortable I don’t want to get out of bed!ππ΄π΄
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That’s a good thing!
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Yes and no, soon I will need to get up earlier once the days get longer. Maybe I will have to get to bed earlier.π€
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Any earlier and you won’t need to get out of bed!ππ
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Nope, I never hit my head today either.π
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I just saw a Valentines day add on tv! Thats crazy!!
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Yeah, it is kinda late, stores here had their Valentines stuff out before New Years.
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No-way….. Christmas?
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All their Christmas stuff is out by the end of September.
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Crazy Cannucks!π€ͺπ€ͺππ
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We do like to start early. I know people who decorate their homes right after Thanksgiving, and our Thanksgiving is the second Monday of October!
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Well, I suppose they would need to as early as winter comes there.
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Yep, it helps to brighten things up a bit.
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That it does!!
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It sure does. Positively. Absolutely. Jumping up and down right.πππ
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That’s pushing it a bit… I like Valentines day and all…. well mostly the Chocolates I guessππ
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Yep, the chocolates are the best part. Yum!πππ
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Mmmm hmmmmππ
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A man of Adventure π so amazing Steveβ¨πΊ Enjoyed the pictures and the way you explained ππ€
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Hey Simon, glad you liked it!π And here I thought you read this one already.π€ Now I’m starting to imagine things.π³π€ͺ That’s bad. But happy you liked this!ππΊ
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No I haven’t read and it happened yesterday πyes I liked it and will be excited to read the next chapter βΊοΈ
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Thanks Simon, have a good night!ππ΄π
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Have a good Night Steve π₯°ππ€
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Good night Simon! and Good morning too!π
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You supposed to be sleeping now π³πdon’t stay up late π take care…π€π€
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I’m off to bed right now actually, good night!πππ΄
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βοΈβοΈGood Night βοΈβοΈ
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