Saturday: morning rain / cottage density

[OT from cottage renovations]

Saturday began and ended with rain. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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the Circle

this treeline is what I see first thing in the morning, looking to the N from upstairs. 

the sightline was opened up by the loss of a couple of large trees over the past few years. 

density

with a lower elevation and an azimuth a little further to the W one can look along and across 6^th Avenue; with the leaves still down this time of year it conveys a better idea of cottage density. 

8

similarly, this view looking W across the Circle shows the façade of no. 8, framed by nos. 13 (L) and 15 (R) in the foreground. 

17

one more, before going back inside: no. 17

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later in the morning the rain stopped but the puddles lingered as the sky lightened up. 

13


13 (L) and 15 (R)

Saturday: texture and protection

[OT from cottage renovations]

the interval after the rain spatters out and before the sun can break through presents a highly diffuse light. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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East Woods

after it's rained the East Woods get pretty soggy.  this attribute helps explain why in the past lots were laid out there but never built upon: eventually the subdivision was abandoned and the land is now zoned for forest. 

conditions warranted wellies but I had settled for the customary hiking shoes, limiting the amount of time it made sense to spend there. 

[image crossposted to texture]

even when clay has been kiln fired to become brick it still isn't the same as igneous rock.  it is, however, nicely porous and a wonderful medium for moss as these, discarded who knows how long ago, demonstrate. 

this cluster of daffodils manifests both readiness and caution.  with overnight lows in the 20s their time hasn't come, not just yet, but when it does they will be ready to burst straight into bloom. 

Saturday: crocus meadow morning

[OT from cottage renovations]

Jackson Park's crocus meadow had come into bloom late the previous weekend but the last day's waning light had not provided much in the way of opportunities to view or share the phenomenon.  the following week and its run of cold blustery days did do much to raise hopes for how things would be and not knowing the duration of the gap between the morning's and the afternoon's rains it seemed like a good idea to get over there early. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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Jackson Park

one risen, one fallen

solitary or in clusters, lovely either way

a double treat


tightly wrapped, covered with droplets and just starting to open up


even the ones that fall over and die
bring a sad grace
to the spot where they land

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Grove Avenue

this small white crocus, outside the front fence of an outer Grove Avenue cottage, was bejeweled with an astonishing number of drops. 

Saturday: texture

[OT from cottage renovations]
[crossposted to texture]

(click through this thumbnail for higher resolution image)

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3^rd Avenue

a split rail fence runs the length of 3^rd Avenue on the N side.  its broad wire mesh, designed to contain a large though friendly dog, catches the occasional blowing leaf to create compositions like this: 

leaf in fence

Saturday: crocus meadows afternoon

[OT from cottage renovations]

when morning turns to afternoon and wet overcast yields to sunlight, what better time could there be to revisit the crocus meadows? 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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Jackson Park

there's nothing like a few hours of warmth and light to open things up. 

... and to bring out the texture of the petals. 

fully extended they catch the sun and paint interesting effects of shadow in settings where everything seems to curve into arcs and circles. 

this cluster was receiving an airborne visitor, demonstrating pollinators at work.  was this too far across the Grove to have been operating out of one of betsy_beekeeper's hives? 

translucent petals with finely traced veins can be perfectly stunning in strong light. 

the delicacy of shading and the intricacy of detail just keep on getting better. 

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Grove Road

another crocus meadow, equally well established, can be found over on Grove Road, across from the athletic field.  with a complete disregard for property lines it has spilled over into a neighbouring lot.  who wouldn't welcome such an invasion? 

with full sun streaming down these images became more about colour than form. 

Saturday: beginnings and ends

[OT from cottage renovations]

this time of year it's not just about new growth and beginnings.  an end must come to all things great and small. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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Zöe Wadsworth Park

a grove of trees surrounds the lawn in front of the gazebo and over the past few years it has been thinning out.  when Music Weekend comes and the baroque breakfast is held on Sunday morning the progression will continue of a little less shade and a little more sun than the year before. 

seen from Center Street and Grove Road


seen from the gazebo

Saturday: head for cover

[OT from cottage renovations]

the day's respite from cold and rain lasted for only a few hours.  the reversion to cold and wet was abrupt. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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Chestnut Road and Acorn Lane

these images were taken only a few seconds apart.  immediately thereafter Meg and I scampered back under rapidly darkening skies, though not quickly enough to avoid being pelted by the first of the drops as the front moved back in. 

Sunday: one neighbour's cat on the steps of another

[OT from cottage renovations]
[crossposted to doorwindowwall]

cats always seem to find a way to make brilliant morning sun warm up even the coldest of days. 

(click through this thumbnail for higher resolution image)

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the Circle

Maple

Sunday: hydrangea light

[OT from cottage renovations]

dried up don't mean done for, not by a long ways. 

(click through this thumbnail for higher resolution image)

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2^nd Avenue

hydrangea

Sunday: Meg

[OT from cottage renovations]

complaints have been coming in that there haven't been enough cute kitten pictures in this space lately, and we know who that means: Meg. 

(click through these thumbnails for higher resolution images)

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the Circle

of course she gives no more thought to cooperating as a photographic subject than to any other fool notion put forth by her human -- meaning sub-feline -- staff. 

Meg

now and then, however, an opportunity comes along and when it does there's no point in hesitating.  *click*