Porte Photos Daily Quote: September 13, 2022

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Be what you are.
This is the first step toward
becoming better than you are.

~ Julius Charles Hare
English – Clergyman; September 13, 1795 – January 3, 1855

Porte Musings:

This week is full of birthdays in our family, today my niece, born 1 day after my grandson in the same hospital, celebrates her 11th birthday. I think we just wanted an excuse to eat cake everyday the first week of September. 😉

Familial Cholesterolemia type II runs in our family as well. Although diet does play a small part in high cholesterol levels, our DNA is a much bigger contributor. My mother had her first cardiac arrest at 38 and died with her second at 43. Her Cholesterol and triglycerides were high, but there were very few options to reduce it. Her father died with his first cardiac arrest at 36 after a short walk to his brother’s house (with no previous indications that he had a cholesterol problem). My younger sister had a DNA test to confirm she has the gene, so at 57 after taking cholesterol medications, she was prescribed Repatha, an injectable to help lower her LDL numbers. Since I have a significant family history; high levels even with 40 Mg Crestor and 10 mg Ezetimibe; and I have a confirmed immediate family member; I will also be starting Repatha. Hopefully my LDL will go below 0.5 and I can reduce the other 2 medications. I hate needles, but today and every other week I’ll be taking this shot to help reduce the effects of high cholesterol.

Porte Photos Daily Quote: September 12, 2022

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The thing generally raised on city land is taxes.

~ Charles Dudley Warner
American – Journalist; September 12, 1829 – October 20, 1900

Porte Musings:

Happy Birthday to my first Grandson, turning 11 today going on 40. Enjoy all the adventures life has to give you. ❤

While we were kayaking on the Old Ausable Channel the Cormorant in todays pictures swam beside my grandson and then climbed onto this branch to pose for us.

In the summer of 2020 the Ontario Government introduced hunting seasons for the Cormorants. Not based on science or the preservation of birds in Ontario, but because of a general fear that cormorants fish. I’m not against hunting for food but this is just killing for sport. Contact your local MPP and demand they stop this slaughter. There is no scientific proof that Cormorants are dangerous to the environment and no justification for the daily numbers of kill permitted. See this article for further information: https://euc.yorku.ca/research-spotlight/ontarios-cormorant-hunt-and-what-it-means-for-its-future/

Porte Photos Daily Quote: September 11, 2022

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God sleeps in the minerals,
awakens in plants,
walks in animals,
and thinks in man.

~ Arthur Young
English – Writer September 11, 1741 – April 12, 1820

Porte Musings:

Today is my oldest son’s birthday. Just a little more than a week after my greatest sorrow of loosing my mother, my greatest joy was born. He brought us hope and a reminder of the circle of life. He has always enjoyed living on the edge and doing the unexpected. He has grown into a hard working man, a father and husband.

Porte Photos Daily Quote: September 8, 2022

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I know my strong points:
I work hard,
I have talent,
I’m funny,
and I’m a good person.

~ Pink
American – Musician Born: September 8, 1979

Porte Musings:

Daily affirmations should include the same ones as Pink.

Yesterday’s adventure was a trip to Point Pelee National Park, Leamington Ontario with my sister and my kayaks. The launch there is beautiful, easy to access and easy to use. You can do a short 1 hour kayak along the boardwalk or branch out into the adjoining “lakes”. But be careful, once you get out into one of the smaller lakes, everything can start to look the same with tall reeds all around you. We had a small panic moment, but found our way out and back to the boardwalk for lunch after an almost 4 hour kayak.

Our adventure started with a guided tour along the boardwalk by a beautiful pair of Mute Swans. In the larger Lake Pond we were shown their 4 babies, now adolescents.

The kayaking was wonderful so we thought we would go on the tram to the point. However, we didn’t bring long pants and the flies were biting, so we cut the trip short.

Testing

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Prior to a photo session I like to set-up and test the lighting as well as the types of shots I will be taking. Here are some lighting tests with my favorite models. I start with the stuffed toy then used my dog Rickie. I found out that my lens was set to DX and was able to change the mode to Full Frame before shooting with the live model. Lens cleaned again for dust, batteries ready, and everything is ready for my time with the guest of honour.

Porte Musings: Kayaking Season 2022

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Provincial Parks are open and back to almost normal use. Kayaking season is well underway. The Ontario Government was kind enough to extend my Provincial Park Pass until the end of the summer 2022. I aim to go Kayaking at least once a week to make sure I get the most out of my 2021 Provincial Park Pass. At least this year all the washrooms are available (you don’t have to pee in the woods). I’ve learned to get out of the kayak at the far end of the Old Ausable Channel at the Pinery and use the facilities before heading back downstream.

I also bought a 2nd kayak so I can take friends with me. My husband rigged my trailer to accommodate the 2 kayaks. My first outing with the new setup was with my Sister. We counted 159 painted turtles and 2 snappers. I’m certain there were more turtles, but I kept loosing count and need to buy a manual clicking counter. We also were lucky enough to see 2 muskrats, turkey vultures, Blue Heron, King Fishers and King Birds. The slide show below includes photos from my last 2 trips on the Old Ausable Channel. I loved seeing the Juvenile Bald Eagle. The new to me kayak is a fishing kayak and is a bit more stable for taking photos.