Sharing Early Literacy Learning Journeys

Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Weekly Photo Challenge: In the Background

Water is the common background in these contrasting photos…

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Water lilies in pond water for the dragonfly and…

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the Coral Sea for this table setting.

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Nature, Photographs, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Escape

My great escape is…

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 a morning walk on a freshly washed beach
to see a sea of blue

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or a slow saunter in the woods
to see a sea of green…

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and with camera in hand
there are always surprises.

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Photography, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge, Writing

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Patterns

Patterns here, patterns there,
Patterns, patterns everywhere.
Patterns in nature and patterns man-made with care.

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I like the simple 4 leaf pattern on this plant…

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and the circular leaf pattern on this plant.
Are you tempted to count the leaves?

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A fascinating, tightly structured pattern on a… Travellers Palm
which is not a palm
– but Ravenala madagascariensis
and related to the banana plant.

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This man-made pattern of pavers and stones appeals for its
simple design, stark colours and contrasting textures.

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And now… take a welcome rest on this solid, wooden bench
with its gently curved patterns and symmetry.

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Nature, Photographs, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge, Writing

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A Turtle Takes a Walk…

A sunny morning walk from a pond at the edge of a woods… across a gravel road… towards a lake, reveals spring contrasts and camouflage…

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My dark, shiny shell contrasts with the grey/white gravel.

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A tulip stands alone, in new,
green growth on the forest floor.

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Bright, yellow daffodils dazzle midst old, brown cattails.

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Green and white trilliums make a spectacular ground
cover in contrast to the brown earth and rotting leaves.

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A motionless green and brown Leopard Frog is cleverly camouflaged
against old, beige grass of winter and new, green grass of spring .

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I bask in warm, morning sun on an old, black tyre by a dock.

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I stretch my neck as far as I can above the surface to see
if another Midland Painted turtle is nearby in the lake.

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Language Experience, Nature, Photography, Travel, Writing

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Trillions of Trilliums

Today I feel like Heidi may have felt when she discovered masses of wild flowers in the Alps – except I am in the woods when I come across masses of trilliums.

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Trillions of trilliums!

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One superbly formed flower… after another…

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But I don’t ‘gather great handfuls of flowers and
stuff them all into my apron’ like Heidi.

Instead, I photograph the brilliant white trilliums.

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When I get home, I learn three very good reasons for not gathering the wild flowers. One, trilliums bloom in April/May – a short time to enjoy their beauty. Two, a trillium takes up to 11 years to … (read more)

The trillium is Ontario’s Provincial flower or ‘floral emblem’.

Spyri, Johanna. (No date). Heidi: A Story for Children. London: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd.

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Children's books, Language Experience, Literacy, Nature, Photographs, Travel, Writing

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Beyond

Beyond
What is beyond? What is in store? What will I see?
Beyond the creek…
Beyond the gate…
Beyond the shore…

B creek

O

O

and beyond…

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Photography, Travel, Writing

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Illuminate

Illuminate. A tropical beach.
Spectacular. Inspirational.
Morning and night.
Wake to the sun. Sleep to the moon.
Both illuminate.
O

O

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Photography, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge

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Grab, split, burst, crush, mince

A female Pine Grosbeak gobbles plump, red, nutritious, almost transluscent, highbush cranberries for breakfast. The shiny, bright berries, like tiny, taut balloons about to burst, glow midst the greyness.

The skin splits. Pink pulp and pale seeds burst sideways as she crushes the berry with her powerful beak. Like a child devouring every bit of sugar candy, she methodically minces the berry not wanting to lose any of its fruity treat.
Another berry: grab, split, burst, crush, mince.
Another berry: grab, split, burst, crush, mince.

Pine grosbeak

Must be like eating an apple without using hands. She makes it look easy.
Another berry…

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Literacy, Nature, Travel, Writing

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