Steve Smith

  • As winter returns in Ontario, most porta potties at picnic areas are gone due to the problems with the contents freezing…except in Goderich near the salt mine. What better way to avoid ice than to use salt! Oh, what a relief it is!

    green port potty with a Great Lakes freighter in the backgroundsalt-filled urinal in a porta potty

  • blog.timokoola.com @SteveSawczyn would you be able to direct us to a resource for this?

  • I’m working on a little something for Christmas. Shhh

    a digital slr camera on a tripod beside a christmas tree, aimed at a green chair with small santa figures on the floor in front of a woodstove. stockings hanging from a stand

  • I’ve followed Covid 19 news from sources around the world. Each provider has a slightly different perspective. I feel it’s important to see and learn from all sides. The one news source I continue to use for international information is Channel News Asia. It’s worth checking out.

  • I noticed a strange pattern on one of the windows this morning and realized the snow was melting off it along the lock side - because it wasn’t locked. Nice windows by Inline. They are 225 x 170cm but we can sit beside them and not feel cold. Triple pane, fibreglass frames.

    snow on outside of a window. the snow has melted away from one edgesnow covering the outside of a window.

  • Sure glad we have stained glass birds on our windows. Otherwise, I don’t know how we’d see many birds today. Lots of blowing snow.

    window covered in snow with a stained glass, red cardinal and a ruby-throated hummingbird hanging on them

  • Today I am very grateful for many things. The first snowstorm of the year has started and the prediction is for 30-50 cm. I have a warm tractor with a snowblower, the tools to prepare it and repair it as needed and the skills to make it happen. Let it snow. I’m ready.

    orange tractor with cab, front end loader and a snowblower on the back. it is sitting on a wet, muddy driveway with some tools sticking out of the bucket

  • Started decorating for Christmas today. Can’t forget the eggnog!

    an unadorned, tall christmas tree with a glass of eggnog sitting on a footstool in front of it

  • I’ve been building our house for almost four years and my workshop for about seven. Completeness is near.

  • I was wondering what would astonish me today. I’m watching the election results and that gives me my answer. I really don’t understand how the American system works.

  • It’s hard to concentrate inside when there is so much action outside the windows. Today, a small flock of Robins stopped by on their late flight south amd two raptors hung out in the trees before disappearing.

    sode view of a robin sitting in a treetwo large raptors on different tree branches. there is some snow stuck on the tree trunk

  • Dreary but again, fascinating day.

    dark snow cloud over hilly landscape

  • I have a wonderful collection of tools, including these wrenches. Why then, did I need a 15/16” size today - the only one I don’t have smaller than 1”. Oh well. I probably won’t need one for a long time but I’ll get one anyways!

    series of wrenches hanging on plywood. Labels say, 13/16", 7/8", 1", 1 1/16"

  • We had a visit again today by a raptor. This one was much bigger than most. He made a very quick swoop at the back of the house and soon landed in a distant tree out of sight.

  • This morning’s sunrise is beautifully reflected in the front window. It’s funny but I’ve never seen it this way. Sometimes, to see beauty, you just have to look around.

    sunrise in a house window. the house is a golden colour with cream trim.

  • Multiple Birds Today

    Blue Jay in silhouetteBlue Jay leaving the feeder with a peanut in its mouth

    4 evening grosbeaks on the ground3 grosbeaks on a feeder

    Female cardinal in the grassMale cardinal in the grass. The base of a tree is on the left side

    Woodpecker on a tree. There is a feeder on the left sideWoodpecker eating from a feeder

    Junco in the grass

  • What day is it? Why it’s Toque Day!

    man in grey toque

  • A little wet snow today didn’t stop us from draining our RV. It’s ready for winter and with a little luck, we’ll have it sold soon. It’s been a lot of fun and provided us with a roof over our heads while we built our house but it’s time to move on.

    White pickup truck pulling a large fifth wheel RV down a driveway. the ground is wet from the rain snow mix.

  • Grasshopper and flower

    yellow flower sitting inside a yellow flower

  • Thunderstorms, tornado warnings and a rainbow this afternoon. It’s been a fascinating show.

    dark storm clouds over a circular driveway and garden with yellow flowersa rainbow over a line of trees with coloured leaves. a grey patio in the forefront

  • We love living here. It’s beautiful every day.

    fluffy clouds in a blue sky with the sun shining. green grass on a slope with golden leaves on the trees. a house is below and the sun is reflecting off part of the black roof. there is water and hills in the distance

  • Another day, another beautiful sunrise. It was very red today and the waning moon and Venus shone above it. (Thanks to @rnv for the support)

    red sunrise over dark land and water. a crescent moon and bright star visible in the upper right

  • Exploring a local back road for A Day In The Life. This Niagara Escarpment outlier was lit perfectly by the setting sun and begged to be photographed. Near the Bruce Trail, St. Vincent-Sydenham Townline, Meaford, Ontario, Canada. Oct 13, 2020, 6:22 PM EDST (22:22 UTC)

    a tower of stratified limestone is lit by the sun in front of 2 cedar trees surrounded by more stratified rock in the shadows

  • Life’s simple pleasures. These photos were taken last night during a walk along my driveway - apples, maple leaves and sumac. We are certainly grateful for the privilege of living where we do.

    apple tree loaded with small yellow and red applesa small maple tree with orange leavesseveral sumac trees with red leaves

  • Happy Thanksgiving everyone who is celebrating this weekend 🇨🇦. Smaller table but delicious food nonetheless. Sure miss family.

    bowls and plates of turkey, dressing, sweet and white potatoes, corn and peas

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