What's It All About, eh?

Cape Breton evokes deep memories and strong emotions for me as well as a deep appreciation for the beauty of my adopted island. My hopes are that you too might find the photos evocative - maybe a view you've not enjoyed before, or an 'Oh I've been there', or if from away that you may be encouraged to visit this fair isle so that you might come to love and breathe Cape Breton as I do. One word about place names that I use - some are completely local usage while others are from maps of Cape Breton that I've purchased over the years. I frequently post travel and other photos that are of interest to me - and hopefully you.

On the right hand side bar find my take on Single Malt whiskey - from how to best enjoy this noble drink to reviews (in a most non-professional manner) of ones that I have tried and liked - or not. Also musings, mine and others, on life in general.

Photographs are roughly 98%+ my own and copy-righted. For the occasional photo that is borrowed, credit is given where possible - recently I have started posting unusual net photographs that seem unique. Feel free to borrow any of my photos for non-commercial use, otherwise contact me. Starting late in 2013 I have tried to be consistent in identifying my photographs using ©smck on all out of camera photos I personally captured - (I often do minor computer changes such as 'crop' or 'shadow' etc but usually nothing major), and using
©norvellhimself on all photos that I have played around with in case it might not be obvious. Lately I have dropped the ©smck and have watermarked them with the blog name.

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Oak Leaf - (Willow Oak Quercus phellos)

05 June 2013
When I decided a little while ago to post this photo I did not bother to get out my Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs as I knew the name of this since I was a young kid - Pin Oak!  But as I put it up I remembered that that was the name my father had always used (and although only educated through part of the fifth grade he knew the names of every tree and shrub in our wooded land of my youth).  Ii was only later when I showed a forester one of 'my' Pin Oaks that I was corrected in a casual way to the correct name of Willow Oak  Quercus phellos.  So whether my dad had used the incorrect identification or my young mind remembered that particular oak wrongly I'll never know.  However I did want to explain the post a little better for those of you that know the oak family and it's more familiar leaf shapes.

Cardinal Nest With Eggs

09 June2013
I was trimming dead branches from my Lilac bushes and as I reached into the thick new growth to lop out the dead branch at its source I realized that there was this nest with three eggs.  Cutting the dead limb quickly, I went in for my camera and got this photo - but was hoping that my intrusion had not driven the parenting birds away for good.  After about 5 minutes in the house I fetched my binoculars to the porch and focused in onto the nest area of the Lilac cluster.  There seemed to be a bird but the shadow was deep and it was difficult to be certain.  Then a bit of orange color caught my eye and by shifting my position I was able to see what seemed to be the pale dun of the female Cardinal.  So all seems well for the time being.

[the plethora of dead branches in my Lilacs was caused I'm sure by the great number of Italian Hornets last year that ravaged the thin bark of the Lilac.  See post "European Hornet - Vespra Crabro of 12 September 2012" for a photo of this great hornet]

Ducklngs II

06 June 2013
I am fairly certain these are the same mother and ducklings as the ones posted 20 May '13