This is the first Monday and the first Moose Monday post of the year 2012.

My 2012 if off to a great start (it promises to be a moosely wonderful year) and I hope yours is too.

Happy New Year to all those who come across this Moose Monday post.  :) 

Want to see more photos? Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.

Bon mercredi de Montréal, Québec!  Happy Wednesday from Montreal, Quebec!

Last Wednesday, I was astonished to see the following scene in Montreal and in the backyard!

For those that regularly visited my blog during my days in Montana, I have created a group called Moose Monday on ActiveRain where photos of moose were featured and shared on Mondays.  I have actually made a few Moose Monday posts from Montreal.  Now, with the latest sighting, how about a group called Woodpecker Wednesday?  Just kidding, Wordless Wednesday is sufficient enough! But it does sound fun and it would be interesting to see and know where else in North America these wacky and wonderful red-headed woodpeckers make appearances especially on Wednesdays, doesn't it?   :-)

As I watched these two woodpeckers last Wednesday, I could not help but imagine the sound that Woody Woodpecker (see the link to his website at the bottom of this post to hear the actual sound) made as an animated cartoon I watched on TV when I was young.

One would not expect a woodpecker sighting in Montreal let alone two woodpeckers in action on a tree (they were at it for at least 15 minutes before they flew away, plenty of time for this photographer to capture some amazing pictures).  I have heard the sound of a woodpecker in the morning in Red Lodge, Montana but I have not actually seen one.  Luck had it such that I saw two of them (it gives seeing red a whole new meaning, lol) up close in a backyard in Montreal.

Here is another photo (out of the many photos I took) of the woodpeckers to leave you with.  Want to see more woodpeckers on Wednesdays?  :-)

Want to see more photos? Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

If you want to see Woody Woodpecker in action and hear the wacky sounds he makes, check out his website at http://www.woodywoodpecker.com/

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.

 ... even on the wall, in a locker room at the gym at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM)!  :)

I snapped the above photo when no one was around to not raise any suspicion on my motives.

I mean, who would expect someone interested to take a photo of an ad from two Quebec government agencies related to the forest?

Well, if you are visiting this blog post, you will be happy to know that this ad informs that the year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests by the United Nations. It is to raise awareness and strengthen the sustainable forest management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

The title of the ad translated in English is "THE FOREST, Source of Life".

Now, you must admit that what better way to capture someone's attention (at least mine, lol) by having a moose in the forest!

The forest is indeed a source of life and this ad is a great source and photo to be featured on Moose Monday!  :) 

Happy Moose Monday from UQÀM (Montréal, Québec)!

Want to see more photos? Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.

Moose Monday - Moose See!  Moose at Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park 

Do you see the moose in the photo?  Then it must be Moose Monday!  :-)

Yes, it took me over two months to get another post here on ActiveRain (and I am content to make sure I get one post in every other month to keep this mainly photo blog accessible to the public). For all my friends here on AR, rest assured, I am doing well in Montreal, Canada. Life sometimes takes unexpected turns and you just need to accept them, move on and get stronger from the experience.  

I am grateful to still be able to share moose photos, and in this case, thanks to the many webcams in Yellowstone National Park. The above webcam picture was taken from the webcam located at Old Faithful (yes, the most famous of the geysers in Yellowstone). No one expects to see moose at Old Faithful, so this captured photo from the webcam is a rarity. Like I said, life is full of unexpected events and perhaps the appearance of this moose at Old Faithful is a symbol of strength, courage and keeping your head up high regardless of what you can and can not control and a sign to make sure to explore uncharted territories, go after your dreams and make the most of life despite the only thing constant in life: change!

I moose go now but see you on AR again in a couple of months from now. Carpe diem.

Want to see more photos? Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.

 A couple of weeks ago I visited Ottawa, the capital of Canada and little and behold I found moose.

It is not the real kind which I was lucky enough to photograph in Montana but I was very surprised to run across them...

 ... at the entrance of the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Here is a closer look at two moose (on the wall) between the entrance doors to greet visors.

So naturally, I decided to take a peak inside and what is the first thing I noticed in the lobby of the museum?  Another moose this one on the mosaic tile floor!

Here is a close-up of this impressive bull moose.

I guess nothing can be more welcoming to the Canadian Museum of Nature than CAPITAL moose!

Thank you for visiting and seeing moose!  :)

For more info on the Canadian Museum of Nature: you cna visit their website at www.nature.ca   .

Want to see more photos?  Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian. 

Stay tuned in the next Moose Monday post for an unusual Moose appearance in Ottawa!   :-)

If you had not heard of Moose Monday before it is an unusual but moosely fun group in AR with over 140 posts with photos of a variety moose taken in the United States and Canada.  Check it out and feel free to join!

Here is a favorite post of mine or a moose see post: Moose Monday - Sitting and Chilling by Rock Creek in Red Lodge, Montana

Gerry Khatchikian

Want to see more photos?  Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian. 

Moose Monday - The Hungry Moose in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec 

After heading to Saint-Sauveur to grab a bite to eat prior to returning to Montreal from our getwaway in Val David (Feels Like Montana in Val David, Quebec), I ran across some interesting moose...

At a corner of a street on Main Street (rue Principale) in Saint-Sauveur was a restaurant very decorated for the holidays and a subject just calling attention to be photographed for an apparence in today's Moose Monday.

Now, how often do you see a hungry moose carrying a fork with them? :)

 This was my first moose with fork sighting!  :)

As I mentioned this restaurant was well decorated for the holidays.  In the balcony, they were deer, an angel, a snowman and guess what?

The name of the restaurant in Saint-Sauveur is very easy to remember... it is called restaurant le St-Sauveur... 

If you are ever in the area and are hungry as a moose, you now know where to go... Bon appétit!

Gerry Khatchikian

Want to see more photos?  Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian. 

Feels Like Montana in Val David, Quebec

I was lucky to get to spend 4 days of the first week of 2011 with my brother and nieces in the beautiful Laurentians (North of Montreal).   We rented a chalet by the lake at Val David, a beautiful quaint town that reminded me of the peaceful winter setting also found in Montana.

Here are some of the photos I took to share with you.

The sunset view of the frozen lake from the chalet.

The chalet with lots of amenities including sauna and hot tub (also included was a snowman!).  

A beautiful day was spent downhill skiiing at nearby Mont Blanc.

Another day was spent snow showing.

Here are some icicles along the way.

This was the view (credit goes to my niece Aline who took the photo) of the village from the highest point we reached that day. 

I was wondering if I would encounter some wild animals to photograph while in Val David.   Sure enough a few came across my path.   A squirrel visited our balcony at the chalet.

And a woodpecker was spotted by my nieces near the end of our snow showing experience and I had to backtrack to capture the following photo.

Where is the moose in Val David?   :)    I leave you with a moose vision of the lake (Lac des Truites) in Val David.

For me, this was by far a time very well spent with family in a long time.  

2011 is off to a great start.   A New Year and new beginnings for me... 

Carpe diem

Gerry Khatchikian

Want to see more photos?  Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian. 

Wishing everybody mountains of joy during the holiday season.

Here are some photos taken at a nearby park in Montreal, Canada.

Happy Holidays!

Gerry Khatchikian

Want to see more photos?  Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian. 

Moose Monday - Moose Vision from Saint-Adele, Quebec

The following photo was taken on the grounds of the Hotel Le Chantecler.

Le Chantecler is a very good ski resort in the winter time.   The Hotel Le Chantecler is great for the apres-ski and it is also a very good spot to have brunch on weekends with family and friends. 

Here is a view of the Hotel Chanteclerc on a beautiful fall day (a reminder that today is the last day of fall).

For more on this popular hotel and resort.  You can check out www.lechantecler.com for more info (in French or in English).

Happy Moose Monday on this last day of fall!

Gerry Khatchikian

Want to see more photos?  Check out my other photos by visiting my Photo Blog Book .

Photos and/or written content produced by Gerry Khatchikian. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Gerry Khatchikian.