There is something that feels very Canadian to me about a cabin by the pond such a s this one. It is not in a row of summer resorts but is by itself next to a pond that feels like it was created just for the cabin.
(image available for purchase HERE)
Old fences seem to be part of any pond where there are or have been livestock.
But one is never very often really alone at a pond. They frequently places of much bounty and shared living such as this feathered friend.
(image can be purchased HERE)
The flight was short and the landing one of humour propelling feet and tail dipping…
These photographs were taken with the permission of the landowner. Please do ask before venturing on to private land to take even photographs. You wouldn’t want someone coming into your apartment and snapping photos of your kitchen counter with the explanation “I was admiring your teapot from the street. It is so amazing! I didn’t think you would mind if I just slipped in to take a few photographs.” I know it sounds silly to image someone doing this in your kitchen. But often it seems harder to remember to ask before stepping into a forest or large field. However, if we remember that large tracks of private land are the owner’s kitchen counter then it is easy to remember to ask permission before entering.
These photographs were taken on the certified organic Deacon Vale Farm which also has my very most favourite local and find foods grocery store in the world Farm Gate Store. If you ever come to Mayne Island you MUST stop by the store and make a few selections for tasting your way through local fair.
SPROUT: What is your favourite story about pond life?
© 2012 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.
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Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.
From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
Terrill Welch online Gallery at http://terrillwelchartist.com
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Creative Potager 
I love the one of the bird taking in flight. Amazing picture!
Thank you afewclickslater welcome to Creative Potager and I am glad you enjoyed the goose taking flight photograph. It was a lot of fun to make that click!
Very good storytelling to go along with your photo study…I often spend Friday afternoons going over artists sites and enjoying the view – it makes me feel good to just do that
We have a number of watershed ponds around the area to hold on to water that the trees can not absorb….They are interesting as they often cover up baseball diamonds and picnic areas as they expand with the rain.
I remember one time being by a pond called Hazard Lake and cutting through the trail around the pond to get to my friend’s house on the other side. A very small field mouse ran onto my sandaled foot and just sat for the longest time washing his face and whiskers. I was afraid to move. Then I bent down to touch the little guy and received a nip that drew blood but the mouse stayed put on my toes not ready to take off. I studied the lake and then the trail to attempt to figure out what to do next. I was going to be late to my friends and the bite really hurt, so I began walking. I got to the far side of the lake with my passenger and then tipped my foot over trying to “let it go” … then I stamped my foot ( firmly) down and the rider bounced off. I thought it was an omen or sign but did not know how to figure out what it might be about. I did not tell any of the adults because I might have had to have a shot and because I would not be allowed to walk myself to my friends again to avert such a reoccurance.
I think I will go look up mouse in my Native American Spirit Guide book…another distraction to my morning of paying bills 🙂
Thank you
Did I tell you Patricia that I finished THE SWAN THIEVES? Yes, I think I did send you a note. Most excellent read. You do much better than I at getting around to read the contributions of others. I seem to have a hard enough time getting to the computer long enough to even do the essentials. But this is a good thing in some ways. I am out taking photographs and painting and being in our natural world. I am loving your story about the mouse. David has heard me laughing and asked I read it to him.
Again, a lovely, eye-filling look at a tranquil place so far away from the hustle and bustle. In my childhood I visited the home of my maternal grandfather in rural Hurley, New York, outside of upstate Kingston for weeks at a time during the summer. In the back of his home flowed a pond/lake where all kinds of small fish and water creatures lived. It certainly was a proper introduction to the concept of co-existence, and it led to summers I waited for. There was also a cabin that looked just like the one you feature here, which could be reached by wading downstream as I recall.
Thanks Sam and another great story! I am going to have to ask more story questions I think.
Terrill – I can easily picture myself writing in that wee cabin. By the looks of it, there’s a chimney for a fireplace or wood burning stove.
SPROUT: What is your favourite story about pond life?
For a brief period of time we lived in Oklahoma on some acreage next to a pond. We’d been told that the pond had quicksand. We had 1 pony, 1 cow, 2 ducks, and 2 geese — a small and manageable amount of “livestock.”
For about two days running I saw the same duck paddling from the same exact spot in the pond. On the third day I got to thinking the poor thing was probably caught by a snapping turtle. Not wanting to actually give up the ghost for a duck, I called the local fire department and explained the situation. I did NOT say it was an emergency.
When they arrived, sirens blaring, lights flashing, one of the crew put on a chest-wader type outfit. He used a really long pole-gizmo with scissor-looking things at the end. Apparently the duck’s webbed foot had gotten caught in some fishing line. The fireman snipped the line, the duck gave an indignant honk, took off to beat the band, and never once turned around to say thank you.
It was funny UNTIL we got a BILL from the city for the COST of the rescue. At that point I’m pretty sure Len would have preferred that I given up the ghost 🙂
Oh my Laurie that was one expensive duck a l’orange! Now I have read all of your tales to David. It has been like a mini book of short stories 🙂
Thoreau would love this! Great pictures, Terrill. I grew up with geese. Well, not literally, but South Dakota state capitol, in Pierre, has a heated lake nearby and many, many geese winter there. It is quite a sight. Steam rising from the surface, geese covering the water like a blanket. Beautiful creatures. We see them in spring and fall as they migrate in massive numbers … dark kites moving swiftly across the sky. Thanks for a wonderful post. Have a great weekend! ~ Daisy
Sounds beautiful Daisy with the steam and the geese. A great weekend to you as well.
Terrill,
for 3 1/2 years I lived along side a beaver pond in the lower Mts of NY… you could and I often did walk all the way around, those walks were my early photographic journey’s … I had a little 10×10 cabin I helped build, the bare, no electric, bare space, on the edge of the pond marsh…
You photographs reminded me of this days… Beautiful!
Glad to bring back such a precious time Jeff and yes this cabin is about the same size and I am guessing about the same amenities.
I wish I could live there. When it comes up for sale, let me know…wonderful pictures!
xx
This cabin is part of a very large organic farm Gwen and I do not expect to go up for sale anytime soon 🙂 But is a wonderful dream and thank you for your comment about the photographs.