A few more from last weekend’s shoot.
From left to right: coyote, canvasback, northern pintail

Today’s Photo Shoot. These photos and a few others have been added to [ Slide Show ].

Top row: left to right: raccoon, coyote, raccoon
Bottom row: left to right: fox, wood ducks (male and female), fox


        

Old rockers never die.

The Rod Stewart Rockin’ In The Round Tour 2007 was in Montreal and we were there – at the Bell Centre where $9.25 buys you a small cup of beer. Seating: reds, section 120, row D, seats 3 and 4 – almost within spitting distance of the stage (I tried a couple of times but fell short).

I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m a fan of the old Rod, the classics, but I wasn’t looking forward to the “new stuff” and didn’t think Rod at 62 would have much gasoline left up his alley.

But I was pleasantly surprised on all counts. This was vintage Rod Stewart and he gave us all a reason to believe – trademark raspy voice, high energy level, and just an awesome show overall – one of the best concerts I’ve seen over the past few years.

After a Highland band played their pipes, the audience was treated to a new movie trailer for the The RodFather (as in The GodFather). Then Rod started out the 2 hour evening with You Wear It Well.

I lost track of all the songs (anyone have a set list?) but they included classics such as Hot Legs, Forever Young, You’re in My Heart (a tribute to the Celtics football team), I’m Losing You, First Cut Is the Deepest, Tonight I’m Yours, Infatuation, Rhythm of My Heart, Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison) and Reason to Believe. I almost forgot: Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? (not me, the song).

He also played some of his new material – actually old material covered from others – but enjoyable just the same: Have You Ever Seen the Rain (John Fogerty/Creedence), Fooled Around and Fell in Love (Elvin Bishop), It’s A Heartache (Bonnie Tyler), and Father and Son. The Cat Stevens tune was accompained by a photo/video montage of Rod’s own family (parent, siblings,and his kids).

Rod even picked up the guitar for an acoustic rendition of Dirty Old Town.

The band was great – even without old band mates Jeff Beck and Ron Woods – all polished professional musicians. They featured the sexiest sax player I’ve ever seen – she really fit the bill for the song Hot Legs – hot pants and very long legs. She’s Katja Rieckermann.

If you got past the sax player you might have noticed two drummers, two guitarists, 1 bass, two keyboard players, 1 female violinist/electric mandolin, and another female electric banjo/slide. If you count ‘em all up that’s a nine piece band (1 percussionist also doubled on keyboards at times).

Three excellent backup singers (The Rodettes?) sang and danced and delivered a good (not great) rendition of Joplin’s Piece Of My Heart – nobody should cover Janis.

The crowd was older but still with plenty of kids. Rod joked about how cold it was in Canada and got laughs out of the audience with his “ass freezing weather” remarks. The audience seemed to love the show.

The encore? what else but Maggie May. It had 17,000 fans on their feet singing, screaming, and dancing.

If I listened long enough to you
Id find a way to believe that its all true
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe

Someone like you makes it hard to live without
Somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give
Never think about myself

If I gave you time to change my mind
Id find a way just to leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe

If I listened long enough to you
Id find a way to believe that its all true
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe

Someone like you makes it hard to live without
Somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give
Never think about myself

This beautiful creature waited patiently as I adjusted my camera settings and took his photograph.
Look at those front paws!
As always, click on the photo for full view.

Brand new gallery displayed as a slideshow – all photos were taken today in light snow.

From left to right: male timber wolf, female red fox, Mr. and Mrs. Redhead.
Today I also adopted 2 wolves – the sleeping wolves – for $300 annually!
Worth every penny too.