Cover Photo Publication ~ Canadian Geographic Magazine !!

Canadian Geographic Pets Photography 2014 - Special collectors edition

We are members of The Canadian Geographic Photo Club and also subscribe to this well-known magazine.  I submitted this photo of our cat Philly for the "Your Pets in Focus" photo contest!!

I received an email a couple of months later from Canadian Geographic senior editor, Aaron Kylie informing me that my photo was shortlisted from hundreds of submissions, and that a special upcoming magazine collecting the most adorable photos of Canada's pets was being published.  He said my image was being reviewed for inclusion by their editorial team.... (that was exciting)

I just found out that my photo has been selected for the cover!!  I am honored to have my photo chosen for the feline category and am looking forward to receiving our copy in the mail!!!! This special collectors edition is available on the newsstands Oct 29, 2013 or can be ordered online here

Old Man's Beard

This hanging shrub lichen is also commonly known as ''old man's beard''.  It is a species of Usnea and it grows world-wide.  It resembles coarse hair and is a combination of algae and fungus and grows on branches of trees.

Did you know:

There are health benefits of Usnea
(Old Man's Beard):

• It has antibiotic properties which is effective against the tuberculosis bacteria
• Usnea has activity against fungi and is an anti-inflammatory
• It is an immune system enhancer
• It can be used the same way as Echinacea and is very good in treating respiratory infections (pnuemonia and bronchitis)
• Usnea can be used as a wound dressing in the wilderness by compressing it and applying it to the wound

Mourning Doves ~

This adorable pair of Mourning Doves are waiting patiently for the backyard feeders to be filled....

A Mourning Dove in the morning sun....

Mourning Doves are not very easy to photograph as they are shy birds.... They can fly very fast and their wings make a whistling noise after taking off... Their call sound resembles oooo-OOOOO-oooo-oooo-oooo

After the Rain ~

Many species of mushrooms appear overnight and this one sure did... pretty color too!! Did you ever hear of the expression "to pop up like a mushroom"?

Here is another form of a mushroom, except these ones were growing out of a rotten tree stump ~  If you look really close at two of them, It looks as though an early morning visitor may have been there consuming some of this fungi for breakfast!!

If you like mushrooms and would like to see some giant ones, I found some here!

Fall is Here ~

Fall is our favorite time of year and the time

when mother nature spreads a little magic all around us...

Chicken Photobomb !!

“Really, get the heck out of MY picture!!”

I was in the process of taking a snapshot of our four year old Rhode Island Red chicken (left) and someone (our feathered friend to the right) decided to play a joke on me and jump in at the last minute!! For those of you who don't know what ''photobombing'' is, this would be a good example!!

Yellow Butterfly ~

Butterflies are nature's beauty.... Yellow butterflies symbolize energy and growth, and to some people, serenity. The color yellow reminds me of calm and peaceful.  In this photo, the butterfly's proboscis (or feeding organ) is clearly visible as well as the shadow of her abdomen against the approaching sunset.

Where the Smurfs Live ~

These images I captured of very large mushrooms, about three apples tall, took me back in time to the 80's when the popular Saturday morning cartoon, ''The Smurfs'' was aired....

Some of these photos reminded me of the little mushroom houses that they lived in....

Up close.... you can see the gills collecting the morning dew....

We didn't see a smurf but we did find a little ''bunny ornament'' that hopped in for a quick photo!!

Did you know....?

• that mushrooms keep your lawn healthy and promote forest growth
• are high in protein and vitamin B (the edible ones)
• that mushrooms can be used for dyeing wool and other natural fibers

Some mushrooms are edible and some are very toxic and poisonous!! Know and identify what you are picking before consuming.... When in doubt, throw it out!