Abraham Lake , Alberta,Canada: Frozen Methane Bubbles

As scary as methane gas is for the environment , there is a rare beauty in the winter ice of Abraham Lake.

Visit the lake through a photographer's lens at this link.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/14/abraham-lake-in-winter_n_4442292.html

In the article is a link to beautiful photos and a more detailed explanation.

Sea Circles Wonder

I couldn't help but share this amazing video about an unlikely critter and its beautiful creation.

Who would think that something so unattractive could do this?

Well you know the old adage - you can't judge a book etc etc

Japan's Underwater Crop Circles

Can You Identify The Tidy Egg Layer?

It is a mystery to my husband and I.

Hubby was splitting firewood ( poplar) last week and discovered something which he has never come across before. And he has split a lot of wood in his years.

When he halved a log, it separated neatly along a channel bored into the wood. Inside, he found a tidy row of little green packages about 2cm (an inch) in length . The packets were formed with leaves that lined the channel . Each leaf was perfectly fitted to the diameter of about .25 cm ( 3/8 ") and the ends were all neatly tucked and folded shut.

There is no way an ovipositor can be a foot long is there?
I doubt it is a wasp. I think. I'm pretty sure. Well maybe there might be.

Five of these little packages wrapped in identically-sized leaves were butted up to one another at the bottom of a channel that was about 30 cm (a foot) deep . The channel entered the cut end of the log and continued in an angle to its end.

We know of wood borers and wood-boring wasps but the neat little packets that deep into the log meant female took took exceptional care to wrap each egg carefully in a leaf to ensure its survival. And whatever insect went that deep had to be able to back into the channel quite a way to deposit the eggs.

Or is it a type of caterpillar's work ? Hmmm!???

What can it be ?

Do you have any idea? Let me know.

Bear 71

This is probably the most profound film about the Grizzly Bear that you will view...ever.

It starts with a film segment of conservation officers tranquilizing and collaring a female grizzly: Bear 71.

From that point on , you are in a landscape far removed from reality.
 A map . A sort of moving screen filled with bleeps and icons showing what is the environment of Bear71 in impersonal form.

But it is an interactive screen which allows you to catch video cam glimpses of that environment.

All the while you are wandering , Bear 71 tells the personal story of her journey from 2001 , when she was collared , until 2009 _the end of her journey.

" There aren't a lot of ways for a grizzly bear to die. At least that's the way it was in the wild."...Bear 71

                                        The documentary Bear71

 Leanne Allison and Jeremy Mendes have created a poignant experience for us. Take the 20 minutes to watch this National Film Board Interactive film once . I guarantee you will need to watch it again.

  Where you are in Bear 71's story?

This should be interesting to watch. Live from a thorn bush in Africa.

http://blog.wildearth.tv/2013/05/thornybush-game-drives-to-start.html

Ships at Sea

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/716960main_iss_calendar_2013.pdf

On November 21,2009 , this many vessels were active in the worlds oceans at one time. The Vessel ID System on the International Space Station can track every active vessel.

What if every one of them spills one spoonful of oil?

What if every one of them disposes of the days garbage into the water?

What if every one of them empties the day's sewerage?

Something to think about.

Sing and Dance Your Way Through

http://blog.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/blog/posts/canadian-winter-songs/

There is a great collection of winter songs put together by the Canadian Encyclopedia that give a variety of reflections on winter in Canada. Some are metaphors for other aspects of life.

Enjoy the music and scenes in these videos.

Follow the link.

Remember Winter

There is a Facebook page I follow for the beautiful photos that people around the world take of extraordinary things.

Today while having a break from drought and heatwave , my eyes were treated to these photos.

Winter Kayaking

Lake Geneva in Veroux , Switzerland

If you would like to visit the pleasures of That's a Perfect Pic Magazine go to www.facebook.com/ThatsPerfectPic

Sarah Harmer's "I'm a Mountain", illustrated by Canadians

BC's Huge Gamble

To  Anishinaabe ( one of Canada's aboriginal nations), the bear takes care of the Earth. There are 4 colours of what is called the blackbear , each representing one of the directions and qualities. The 'Spirit Bear' , Kermode Blackbear, sits in the North and represents honesty.

Slowly over modern time , this bear's land/home is threatened to extinction...that's inevitably means the bear is threatened to extinction. It follows then that 'honesty' is also threatened to extinction.

To the people in this video , honesty is what they are depending on to let others know what is happening to their land/home and them.

Canada Writes - Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, "How the Thaw Creates the World"

Canada Writes - Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, "How the Thaw Creates the World"

Sweetman's Secret Garden

My niece reminded me of a magical garden that I haven't seen in years and which she discovered recently. It is the product of a man who dedicated his time and money over years to reclaim barren waste to beauty. Please visit this site to see what has happened to this quiet love.

www.sweetmansgarden.com

Life Returns

photo by D.H.Lauzon - citizen of the north

Water and a few days shows the roots that survived fire under the protection of the earth erupting . The challenge of survival conquered . The labour of recovery begins.

Thank You to the Fire Fighters

Timmins 9 ...one of many fires in North Eastern Ontario.

Still Extreme

There are many readers who want to keep abreast of the fire situation in Northern Ontario . They are still fighting these fires, and will be for some time yet.

The rains allowed for a few of these fires to be brought under control. But the nature of  'under control' is that under the right conditions , these fires can start again. Lightning that came with the rains also started new fires. There is a long , hard summer ahead for the fire fighting crews in Northern Ontario .

 If you want to keep closer to the news on  forest fires and the battles fought everyday make theses sites your source of information.

Ontario Fire Ranger

Northern Fires

Grass or Food

During the hard times of the WWII , victory gardens were a patriotic duty. Now the concept has been revived as an economic and environmentally responsible action with a healthful benefit. How committed are you to doing it right?

www.homesteadingsurvivalism.com

Fallen Chick

I came across a Facebook page that has some interesting items on Homesteading/Survivalism . Perhaps you would like to take a look-see. This is what caught my attention.

It is true that Mothers don't reject their returned young. First choice should always be to return the baby to the mother if humanly possible.

  I have only ever experienced  that 'rejection' in domesticated animals....most particularly dogs. The thing that worked for me was using vanilla . A drop on the nose of Mom and a drop on the baby. I don't know the science or lack of science behind it , but it worked twice for puppies that mother wouldn't feed. The purpose fulfilled with no harm done. Go figure.

 Perhaps the initial rejection could be put down to several reasons such as New Mother anxiety , or sensing an inability to survive that we can't see. I really have no idea. What do you think?

Animalarium: Hummingbirds

Animalarium: Hummingbirds:   Carmen Cardemil Abigail Brown Tiffany Bozic   Eileen Mayo , The Story of Living Things and Their Evolution , c. 19...

One Little Beaver

photo from Lovely Timmins , Ontario

One forest fire fighter saves one little beaver. Amid all the destruction, there is always room for a little compassion.

Wild Fire

 Over 29 000 hectares of forest are burning in Northern Ontario.

The Timmins fire has consumed 27000 hectares. Most of the focus has been on the Kirkland Lake fire ( 2400 hectares) because it has threatened people directly.


This video shows how quickly a forest fire moves . In 9 minutes it was able to jump a four lane highway under its own power. This video was taken three days ago near Timmins.