Mystery spheres

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Originally uploaded by amkb

Anna: Can you guess what these are? This was taken with the macro lens and they are about a centimeter across.

Ah, the wonders of nature...

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Originally uploaded by amkb

Anna: ... and the joys of mollusk reproduction.

This morning I noticed one of our 2 aquarium snails out of the water again. Typically, this means eggs. For the first time, though, it was right under where the lid opens, and we could see what actually happens! Out came the tripod, and I took photos using both the 90mm macro lens and my usual 18-55mm lens. I even set up the video camera for a while, but I have to figure out how to modify it into something shorter that I can upload.

In this photo, you can see a new egg that has just emerged from under the shell. Undulating muscle then guide the egg up the snail's body, just under the ... skin? ... before laying it into the cluster.

This is the 6th batch of eggs the snails have laid since we got them (one of the clusters fell off from the underside of the lid, though). From what I've read, they take 2-4 weeks to hatch. At the time of this writing, 2 clusters have reached the 4 weeks mark. So far, we've had a successful hatching rate of 0%.

Which may well be a good thing!

Frosty spikes

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Originally uploaded by amkb

Anna: Last night, a deep fog rolled into our city. This morning, we woke to a sparkling wonderland of frost. What struck me, however, was the wild spikes the frost formed into.

This photo is taken directly in front of our townhouse steps. It's getting to be that time of year when the birds are discoving the frozen berries. The chickadees have been the first to show up. It shouldn't be much longer before the waxwings return to finish off the rest of last year's berries.

Art Gallery

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Originally uploaded by amkb

Anna: Here we have the newly opened Art Gallery of Alberta. The design for this - and the accompanying price tag - was quite controversial. I think it's neat. We haven't gone in yet. Saving that for a quiet, weekday. I look forward to seeing how it looks on the inside!

Ah, Amore

Philippe - The snails are at it again....

Winter wonderland

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Originally uploaded by amkb

Anna: I just had to get some shots off our balcony this morning! Not only where the trees beautifully covered with crystilline frost, but the air itself was glittering in the sunlight. You can sort of see how it was glittering on the right side of the photo.

Quite lovely!

Keeping me company

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Originally uploaded by amkb

Anna: My younger daughter's cat likes to keep me company when I'm up late at night. She's taken to sitting behind my monitor (on my husband's work laptop) and peeking at me. Sometimes, a paw will read up and start batting at the webcam, and every now and then, she'll pop up for a better look.

Quite entertaining! *L*