Almost every property my parents have owned over the years has had a water source of some kind - lake, river, stream, creek, pond. And if not directly on the property, then there was one close by. Growing up on the water provided many opportunities for exploration and adventure.
Playing ice hockey on a frozen pond. Learning to fish. Canoeing and kayaking. Water skiing and wake boarding. Rinsing off vegetables plucked straight from mom's garden and eating them outdoors. Catching frogs and tadpoles. Wading in creeks. Swimming in rivers. Polar dips in frozen lakes.
Over the years, it's been fun to capture images of the younger generations enjoying many of the same activities. The Pine River, running along the property boundary, was a favourite swimming spot on hot lazy summer days. Deep in areas, shallow in others, it was the perfect river. Jumping off high banks or sliding into its cool depths for endless hours of fun - so many sights and sounds.
The changing colours of the water, reflecting the time of day and season of the year. Dragonflies by the hundreds, fragile and strong, as drawn to the water as the kids. The bubbling, gurgling song of the river as it passes over and through the rock bed. The sparkle of fish as they jump and dive, moving quickly away from the splashing and noisy children. Dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.