A Summer Evening Stroll

Photos: June 19, 2016

The air lost a bit of its heavy heat and we ventured out to move a bit. Neither of us are hot weather people and we tend to hibernate during the heat of the day.  The evening air suits us more. The rising moon cast its gentle light.



I always stop to admire new blooms. While I don't love the heat, I do enjoy its offspring - the abundant flowers.

This dog was being treated to a ride in its new doggie seat. We learned that it was 14 and being treated for cancer. No longer frisky itself, I imagine it enjoyed feeling the breeze as its owner pedalled along.



Higher the moon rose on the last spring night. And then the solstice.

Rising Over Montreal

Rising Over Montreal, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

We stood at Westmount lookout, waiting for the moon, looking east. It rose over the mountain in the distance, hazy at first, but becoming clearer as it rose higher in the sky. Photographers stood with their tripods and long lenses snapping away at the perigee moon.




How different is it from a regular full moon? It did appear large, but once it was high in the sky the slight difference in its apparent size was minimal. Nonetheless, every full moon is captivating and on a clear spring night, this one hovered over the city.




As it rose higher, the city lights blinked on, while the moon's shimmer could be seen in the river.

Bald Eagle Squeaking

Bald Eagle Squeaking, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

I was astonished to hear what a small voice this eagle has. Nearby, the golden eagle sang its raucous song which could be heard through much of the zoo. This eagle squawked back in high-pitched notes.

 

There are a number of raptors at the zoo. 

This barred owl sat quietly on its perch. A nocturnal bird, it may wait until evening to become more vocal.

This red-tailed hawk obligingly turned its back to us to let us admire its rusty tail feathers. I had to keep reminding myself that these birds could not survive in the wild. I hate to see birds caged.

When I got home the moon was rising -almost full. 

Mammal pictures to come...

Moon Rise

Moon Rise, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

How do you capture the moon. So often I am enchanted by the moon hanging low in the sky. I reach for my camera, but the image in my brain is so much clearer and majestic than my camera can capture.

I never seem to have the right camera or right lens to share the scene I am seeing. I guess that is a major difference between me, the casual hobby photographer and the professionals. They check for nature's phenomena - times of sunrises and sunsets, times of moon rise. I just happen upon these things unprepared.

Moon Rising

Moon Rising, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Last night I was driving home and saw the most incredible moon. It was hanging low in the sky, huge and golden. I got off the highway to chase the moon. By the time I found a good spot for a photo it was higher in the sky.

With just my point and shoot I tried to get a good photograph -no tripod. I should keep one in the car. This photo doesn't do it justice, but here is the moon, caught in the branches. The water in Lake St. Louis has not yet frozen, so the lights are reflecting on this bay.

Slightly post-processed and cropped from another photo - lots of room for improvement.

Moon Rise

Moon Rise, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I looked up to see the crescent moon and I was brought back to my childhood. I loved to listen to stories on the radio. Every Saturday morning I would sit by the radio and listen to a storyteller. One of my favourite stories was Many Moons by James Thurber. The story was about a princess who was languishing. She said she would only get better if someone brought her the moon. The wise men each tried and failed, but the court jester succeeded. He asked the princess about her perception of the moon. She said that the moon was only as high as the tree because it sometimes gets caught in the branches.

Last Saturday I was privileged to be part of a storytellers event in honour of a friend of mine. There were three storytellers. I added music to the stories as well as between them. We plan to try this again. Maybe I can convince one of them to tell Many Moons...

Mar 2/10: Moon over the City

Mar 2/10: Moon over the City, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I tried to catch the moon tonight. As I drove home from rehearsal I saw it hanging low. I changed my trajectory and headed up to Westmount lookout, but the moon had already risen higher. My night shots still need work.

I have always loved radio and remember as a child, listening to Saturday mornings on CBC when there was a show for children. Each week a new story was featured and one Saturday it was James Thurber's Many Moons. I loved that story and have thought of it often over the years. Stories stick with us and sometimes colour the way we see the world. As I saw the moon caught in some branches I remembered Princess Lenore from the story and how she wanted to have the moon. And for a moment I was back in the living room of the house I grew up in, listening and imagining and time stood still.

Day 68: Lights in the Sky

Day 68: Lights in the Sky, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I walked out this evening to see a beautiful moon, crisp and bright in the evening sky. This photograph does not do it justice. Just to the side, the lights of an antenna flashed and two thoughts went through my head. ET where are you? the antenna seemed to be calling out to the moon. My second thought was of the many people who were hunkered down in their dwellings receiving the signal from the television antenna, oblivious to the magnificent moon.
We live in a world where the virtual becomes more real to many people's lives than the physical world. People talk of their television "friends" as if these were actual friends and discuss episodes of shows. I suppose we have always escaped into forms of fantasy, whether through books or storytelling. But television shows come along with a whole ideology, presented through the advertising, product placements and the story lines.
The moon is often a symbol of romance - a television antenna is just that and nothing more.