A tree for Lucy.

The veterinary network that our vet clinic is in sponsors a tree planting event for people who let go of a pet during the year. The municipality allows the network to plant trees in a public park, with the win-win-win of people honouring their pet, increasing native plant cover, and increasing shade over a largely unshaded park. Today was the day, a sunny and warm-ish morning, kind of a bittersweet day.

You can choose a specific tree from the available ones, all of which are native to southwest Ontario. We chose a Tulip Tree because a tulip tree seed sprouted unbidden and unexpectedly in our yard about the time Lucy also unexpectedly came into our lives.

Handsome and friendly.

Fitzi is a handsome and friendly senior statesdog from his kind – four-footeds – to our kind – two-footeds.

A close-up head photo of a senior black Labrador Retriever mix dog with a relaxed expression.

Early one morning.

I was out early one morning this week and made a point to stop for this marvellous sight of the full moon above this barn.

Can you resist this face?

I thought not.

Criss-crossed.

Morning sky ablaze and criss-crossed.

First sighting ever.

I was puzzled by this bird because it certainly wasn’t a Downy Woodpecker or a Red-bellied Woodpecker. After visiting allaboutbirds.org and consulting my Sibley bird guide, it seems this was my first sighting ever of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a female, an infrequent (as best) feeder visitor. That was two weeks ago and I haven’t seen it since.

Favourite.

The Forget-me-not is one of my favourite flowers. Our yard has several clumps which reseed every year and have for years.

From the archive.

Shortly before sunrise a few weeks ago.

Softly lit.

On a marvellous late winter morning, this tin barn was softly lit by pre-sunrise light, with the moon setting above it. I was blessed to come across this scene.

A metal barn softly illuminated by morning light, with the full or nearly full moon setting above it.

Tucked in.

Lucy, tucked in for an afternoon snooze.