In order of Interestingness, Flickr

Hope that all of you who celebrate Christmas are enjoying all your preparations. Less than two weeks now, so you'd better get busy : ) On a long, cold morning's walk in the park yesterday, we came across a tree that had been decorated with coloured baubles and ornaments. Loved the blue of this bauble and the reflection of the park - couldn't figure a way to exclude myself, LOL, so there I am, wearing T-shirt, sweater, fleece jacket, my bulky winter jacket, hat, hood, long-johns, jeans, two pairs of gloves, two pairs of socks and of course, my winter boots (plus ice-grabbers)! And it was only -12C!!! It's snowing again today - the beautiful, light, fluffy kind where you can see all the individual snowflakes. Light is so poor, so no use to try and take photos. Thank you to the person who spent time adding a little colour to the white landscape: ) I hope the birds enjoy it as much as I did.

Much of its time was spent in this tall, upright position. What a long, lean animal! Wow, just noticed that this made Explore #4 today, 28th December 2006!! Thanks everyone - very much appreciated! "Counting its tail, a large Long-tailed Weasel male, the largest of the three species in Canada, stretches nearly half a metre (20 in) in length, yet can slip into a hole just 3 cm (1.25 in) across. This enables it to enter small rodent tunnels used by mice and voles. In summer, it enters ground squirrels burrows in search of its favourite food. Average males measure 406 mm (16 in), their tail is 135 mm (5.25) long and they weigh 225 g (12.6 oz). Males are approximately 25 per cent larger than females, which on average weigh only 102 g (5.7 oz). When winter approaches, within 30 days it grows a coat of white, giving it perfect camouflage against the snow -- all except for the tip of its tail, which stays black. A hungry predator, such as a hawk or owl, aims for that black tip, enabling the weasel to escape. Towards spring, between late February and April, in only 25 days, it reverses the process, acquiring the cinnamon-brown topcoat it will use all summer. This includes brown feet, unlike the other two species which retain white feet. The underside is usually buff-coloured." (Taken from the weaselhead.org website).

The actual quality of this photo is far from good, taken in really low light, but I still like it : ) I think this little fungus was something like 1" diameter. Found on 12th August in West Bragg Creek, Kananaskis, west of the city. Thanks, Sandy! Just a reminder of the tiny miracles of nature's beauty! What we can find if we don't just "look", but really "see".

The sun has finally come out, late afternoon, but it has been a cold day today, with an unpleasant cold wind (which has just started to pick up). Had a routine dental appointment this afternoon and when I got back home, I noticed that the first flower on my little Christmas Cactus had fully opened. Thought I'd make the most of it - after all, a day without using my camera is not my favourite kind of day, LOL! Hope it sends out lots of cheer : ) Rebecca (Red-Star) - this is to celebrate your successful, but bittersweet, house sale.

Was so happy to come across this little Long-tailed Weasel (who has lost part of its tail to a predator!) after lunchtime today! Such a treat to see them - love their white winter coat and I think they look so funny when they stand up like this, stretched tall. He did this behind a huge log, hence I missed his feet, LOL. Not sure if it was the excitement of this sighting or maybe staring at so many beautiful ice crystals in bright sunshine along by the river all morning, but I've now got Migraine. Only had it maybe four times in the last few years (after having it severely for something like 20 years!). So, my eyesight is even blurrier than usual just at the moment. Will be relieved when those horrid, flashing lights and partial "blindness" have cleared! Of course, I had to go and get a twig in the way, LOL! Didn't notice it at the time - a bit too far away.

Argggh! I was hoping to get a description typed here before anyone looked at this photo and commented!!!! Sorry, Machel, Patricia and Rebecca - I wish I could say I was lucky enough to see this magnificent creature in the wild, but she is one of three female Timber Wolves at the Calgary Zoo. I would LOVE to see a Wolf in the wild some day! All three were howling to echo a distant siren (ambulance?), just as wild Coyotes do here in the city.

Another photo of one of the three Bohemian Waxwings that were hanging out in a large shrub out at Lake Louise in the Rocky Mountains. I normally only ever get to see these birds when they fly in a huge flock to the top of a very tall Spruce tree, so this was an absolute treat. I was so happy that my photos turned out OK. Seems strange to see such a round Waxwing, as they are usually very sleek. However, it was COLD!

Some of my favourite photos taken this afternoon were of little House Sparrows. They flew into a bush near a seed container at the Calgary Zoo. You can put in 25c and get a handful of seed to throw to the ducks on the stream. These little birds were SO puffed up against the cold and almost seemed to be pleading with me to feed them. Guess who didn't have any loose change on her! House Sparrows usually are constantly on the move, but these little guys and gals seemed too cold to flit around all the time.

Though not my usual kind of photography (wildlife, wildflowers, and so on), the roses I treated myself to have given me lots of pleasure with my camera.