Fall Crocus

as I was practicing depth of field I needed to catch these flowers at the Festival Theatre...nice on an October afternoon

Sunday Afternoon

For some reason I have not been out with my camera in the last few weeks. The weather has mostly been cool and rainy which is not the best for the camera. There was a reprieve this afternoon which I decided to take advantage of. My mission was to get a great fall pic of a lone tree...there was not one to be found so I just played. In spite of my cold hands and a little rain I had a great time!

After viewing the pics on my computer I decided to photoshop to get a black and white version of the river pic. Not sure which I like best!

Three Sisters

Last night I attend Chekhov's play Three Sisters at the Tom Patterson Theatre here in Stratford. First of all let me say I enjoyed the play, had never seen it before. Lots angst, kind of philosophical, bits of humour here and there.

I am not going into a review here but just want to record my experience.

During intermission the lady sitting next to me asked if I had read the play. I said no but I planned to read it in the near future. She then proceeded to tell me the whole rest of the story...what happened to each and every character...I was hoping she would stop...I did not want to appear rude so said nothing. I then asked her if anyone ended up happy. She proclaimed "Oh no it is Russia after all!" I did enjoy the last act even though there were no surprises...oh and this woman had an American accent!

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my fathers 81st birthday! Last year we had a big celebration when he turned 80. This year I won't see him until Thanksgiving weekend when we will celebrate again. Sad that we live 3 hours apart but that is the way of families today.

I took this pic during a visit, when I came into the dining room he had taken his watch apart with a little knife to rewind it because the stem was missing, just sitting there so patiently in the morning light.

My Fabulous Grandchildren

One of the marvels of getting older is the timely arrival of beautiful new members of your family...Grandchildren...little people to love and nurture and who love you unconditionally. I am thankful everyday for Melaina, Gabrielle, Isaac and Madeline!

music I am loving at this moment

http://www.paolonutini.com/

I love this fellow!

promises

Today is actually a work around the house day...more known to me as domestic drudge...so I do a few house things then get sidetracked with music, journal, papers etc that I should be putting away...but then again who said I should!

Dinner

I am very lucky that my husband likes to cook! This salmon was yummy with a jerk sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes and asparagus sauteed in olive oil and garlic. Also Italian Ciabatta bread...lovely

me and my cat named Boo

This is an old pic taken at Niagara Falls probably the summer of 1972, the year I was married. We had a march wedding and of all the crazy things for our honeymoon we went to Moosonee on the Polar Bear Express...yes in MARCH!!! So in the summer of that year we decided to do Niagara Falls and of course I had to bring Boo! I guess being in Niagara recently made me want to share this memory.

my current read

One of the greatest pleasures in life is the joy of reading. I love everything about books...the content of course, the feel of the book, the cover, the scent, notes on the author, bookstores and libraries. As a young child growing up in Whitby Ont. one of my aunts was a librarian at the Whitby Public Library, I spent many joyous hours in that lbirary surrounded by books!

Currently I am reading Margaret Atwood's The Year of the Flood. I never cease to be amazed by her books. Her wit and imagination fascinate me. This book is dealing with a future gone bad but somehow includes a wonderful sense of humour. It is not a sequel to Oryx and Crake but there is some connection. I loved that book as well. I met Margaret Atwood at a reading in Bayfield a few years ago, she was delightful!



Also you can go the website of the book, events and a link to Margaret's blog at

www.yearoftheflood.com

Labour Day

When I had children at home I had a love/hate relationship with labour day. I was always sad to see them head back to school after lots of family time all summer, slower pace, holidays, picnics, beach time etc. On the other hand it was fun to send them off with expectations in new clothes carrying a new bag with new pencils and books inside.

Now that it is just the two of us I still feel strange when labour day arrives...the end of summer...sad...feel that I need to start something new, almost like a New Years resolution...make improvements of some kind. This Sept I think I will take a breather,sit back and just be and not worry about improving anything unless the mood strikes but I will not try to force it.

Niagara Falls

last weekend of the summer...we went off to Niagara Falls to meet up with Jenny, Steve, Melaina, Isaac and Maddie, missed Gabby who was uable to join us. Have not been to Niagara in at least 20 years. It has changed, exceeded our expections, loved our hotel deal at Doubletree by Hilton, beautuful hotel, very clean, nice pools and hot tub, outdoor lounges and an not too busy. Great dinner at Antica Pizzeria, yummy wood oven pizza, ribs at Tony Roma's, oops have fallen off the veggie wagon! Clifton Hill glitzy, rode the Sky Wheel, walked and walked, gambled at the Casino, no winnings, small loss but worth the people watching. Fashion must if you are young and thin...short... tight and black!

Street Photography

While sitting reading The Photographer's Eye by Michael Freeman I came across a chapter on street photography, it so speaks to me. I love it in so many ways, to try to capture and also to enjoy the work of others. Life...that is what it is all about...so I will post a few from the past

a beginning not an ending

Today is the first day of September...I have a love/hate relationship with this month. For me it has always seemed an ending, an end to what I enjoy most of all...summer...my love of sunshine and warmth, picnics, the beach, reading on the patio or porch, storms, clouds, night noises and on and on. Recently I have tried to turn September into a beginning but it usuallydoesn't quite make it for me. It certainly did in the two Septembers that my children were born...bliss. I will try harder this year. My problem really is the dread of winter so that fall is just a step into that long cold claustrophobic season.

On a brighter note I decided to create a journal page, have a nap in the sun and read on the patio. Now for a glass of wine, dinner and perhaps some star gazing as the darkens into night.

three bottles

Tom has been working on this wine for months now. He inherited all the equipment necessary for winemaking at home... last week we bottled and today Tom labeled...we now have 90 bottles of wine in our cold room!

my mom

We spent the last four days in the Port Hope area visiting with my parents, my mom has MS, is in a wheelchair, just closed her retail shop in Port Hope Dec 31th. Imagine my parents are finally retired at the ages of 80 and 75! I speak with them weekly and see them about every 6 weeks for a few days...they are 3 hours away from us...too far...

Beach Day

Finally yesterday...a beach day...off to Port Stanley...28 degress...summer! Read and napped on the beach, it was warm and windy, the beach was packed, no swimming for us though, red flag, riptide, strong undertow and bacteria...yuk! Well that is southwest ontario...funny though ran into my brother and sister-in-law as we were leaving...what are the chances of being in the exact same place at the exact same time!

after Julie and Julia

Last night Tom and I saw the movie Julie and Julia. We both loved it. If you have not seen it...go see it. It is such fun, it will make you laugh and it will make you hungry and it will make you want to visit Paris. After returning home Tom had to cook so he whipped up a batch of French Onion Soup, opened a bottle of wine...great way to spend a Sunday evening.

julieandjulia.com

Cheers

on a city street

This fellow asked me for some change, I gave him the little that I had...I had already given away what was in my wallet. He was so appreciative. I just had to ask him a few questions...he told me his story...it was quite a story...after chatting for about 15 minutes I shook his hand and wished him well.

A Good Read

If you saw and enjoyed the movie Revolutionary Road or perhaps have read the book you may also enjoy A Special Providence by Richard Yates as well. I like his writing, his stories are a little gritty but full of the human condition complete dysfunctional family dynamics. I always seem to care about the protagonist in his books.

my guy

I have been married to this man for almost 38 years...oh my gosh that does not seem possible! Together we have 2 grown children, a son in law and 4 grandchildren...we are truly blessed. More about our family later.

The Goderich Celtic Roots Festival

Yesterday we attended this festival and it rained and rained and rained...exactly the same as last year but in spite of this we had a wonderful time. The music was great. This is the 17th year that Goderich has hosted this festival...what a class act it is! They should be very proud!

Mallory and Ryan's wedding!

My niece Mallory was married June 27, 2009. I was asked to take pics while the girls were readying for the day. Now this will be fun! To my surprise I was asked also to take pics at the wedding and after. Yikes! I don't know how to do this...but it was a fabulous day and I enjoyed every moment. I did manage a few good pics. I will post a few now and later.

Windows

There is something I absolutely love about store windows at night. I love to walk around downtown Stratford as well as any other city I am visiting and take a few pics of window displays that speak to me in some way. One of my fave windows is The Green Room in Stratford...this window often makes me think of New York. I took the pic of the red shoes last night at The Green Room. The Mannequins were down the street.

Hollyhock

Had a great visit with my parents this past weekend. My father has then best flowers, I just cannot help taking flower pics while I am there.

Sleeplessness

How can sleep be so elusive...I have no answer for this but know that many ofyou spend many hours trying to fall alseep. It does not seem to matter how tired you are...it just doesn't come. Whatever happened to those delicious sleeps of our younger days. Oh I can sleep all morning, just have falling asleep issues. Sometimes I will read, sometimes toss and turn with a tortured mind, sometimes I will get up and play. This is how I end up with journal pages. I have 2 journals on go, one with just text and the other..the one above where anything goes.

A Good Read

I cannot imagine life without the love of reading. As I always told my children,if you have the love of reading you will never be totally alone unless you choose to be. Reading has enriched my life in so many ways. Learning, entertainment, compassion, understanding are just a few.

Today I finshed Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. 534 pages of immersion in the life of another soul, another culture....pure bliss, a first novel, a great writer.

Definitely worth a look if you are in the mood for a book!

slice of life

my nephew posted this site on facebook..."http://www.davidlynch.com" Definitely worth a look! Interviews with REAL people.

York St Kitchen aka YSK

My favourite sandwich spot in Statford, eat in or take out, the line ups are long at times for take out but it is worth it. This is a funky little place with painted brick walls and fabulous sandwiches on yummy breads. One of my faves is Thai Chicken Salad and be sure to order a side of dill pickles!

Photo Safari at the Farmers Market

Lovely rainy Sat morning in June, off to the Farmers Market with my photo class, who knew that a market in the rain could me so much fun!

Faded Bloom

This week I attended the first class of my intermediate photo course and promptly forgot everything that I learned in the beginner session...must be my Adult ADD...cannot remember a thing, cannot follow orders...yikes...thankfully I have my good pal Lori to keep me grounded

Love of Trees

Today I attended an opening of Edward Burtynsky's amazing work at Gallery Stratford, while there I wandered around outside with my camera...one of the many places in Stratford that I love to wonder...took a few pics. Next on my agenda is to watch the documentary Manufactured Landscapes which is about Edward Burtynsky's work. I recommend seeing his photographs if you get the chance. If I knew how to post a link I would...

flower love

Love the Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning, just roaming by myself, lovely foodie treasures are to be found...

Trees by Sophie

I spend time with the sweetest young lady named Sophie. She has many challenges but one of the many things that we enjoy together is art...this is one her beautiful watercolour paitings

June 1st

June is my favourite month...lots of green, warm sunny days and a whole summer ahead. Today is the first of June, I always love turning the calendar to a new month...it is very cool and rainy today so I thought I would post a pic of cosmos that I recently planted in my garden...love the flower and the name Cosmos...

I took a few pics in to be printed today...this is one of them...not sure how it will work out. It will be 5" x 12"

It was taken near Gallery Stratford...one of my favourite places to stroll.

I came across this pic on The Satorialist( a fab fahsion blog) a few months ago. I have saved I because I hope to look like this woman s I get older...she is so earthy and classy at the same time.

Well I have been a vegetarian (mostly) for a year now. I was quite motivated after watching a documentary depiciting the conditions that animals are housed and slaughtered in. It was fairly easy at first but does get challenging at times, too many carbs seems to be a problem. It is easier in summer when there is an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies available.

This is one of our recent barbecued dinners which I loved.

photo walks

Since taking the photography class I have mixed feelings about taking pics. On one hand I need to get out there and explore, on the other hand I am becoming more critical of the pics I take which I suppose is a good thing. I am resisting auto mode and using setting more. At times I forget than I can actaully use auto mode if I am having trouble getting whay I want...a fine balance I guess. All in all this is fun and keeps my brain engaged. These a few pics I took last night on my walk around the Stratford Festival Theatre. I am happy to be getting soem depth of field!