A new baby

My other friend Amanda (not the one who just got married), but another teacher-Amanda just had her second baby.  He is so tiny and perfect and cute.  We went to see him last night.  He’s big (for a baby) at 8 and a half pounds, but that’s still so small.  He has tons of blonde hair, and his skin is so soft.  I took photos of him, and his tiny perfect feet. 

Now, in my opinion, FEET ARE GROSS!!!!  They are weird and nasty.  (Mine personally included)– Toes are bent and crooked, dry skin, bumps, cracks YIKES.  But not new baby feet!!!!  These little puppies were absolutely perfect.  They are soft and smooth. 

It’s so weird to think that these tiny toes have never touched the earth yet.  Soon they will be dirty and grass-stained and running all over, (like Sam’s big brother John), but for now, we all can enjoy perfect baby feet!

My summer, so far

Two weeks without a post–I know I am sorry.  I have already been put in my place by my #1 Fan. So to her, and to you all–I apologize.

What have I been doing???  I will tell you some highlights.  I have gone to a BlueJays game,  Note that this is #19 –the Shortstop–MarcoScutaro    Jeremy went to driving school and I helped Megan buy a new camera before her 3 week trip to Ireland.   On Canada Day we went to mom and dad’s–’cause its what we do.  Phillip and I took Nan to the hospital.  Phillip files his EI claim, we went to the Beaches for a day and had pie in this cut little cafe, cute until we realized that all the pies have a layer of almonds (phillip is allergic), but all was well.  We did gardening outside. Since EQAO marking was out by the airport, I stayed with mom and dad for almost a week.  Meals were cooked for me and we watched “SPACE”.  My aunt was featured in the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, so we went to Nathan Phillips Square to see her.  We wanted to steal two tiny Shi-tzu puppies in the stor, but we didn’t.  The next nan visit I was at, was the fastest EVER!!  Our lawn mower broke and the only place that will fix black and decker is in Toronto,  at this tiny, little repair shop like you’d see in the movies or in a Stephen King novel–so cool.  We visited the CN Tower with my cousin Gabe and his girlfriend Katie–both visiting from Florida.  I love my cousin of course, but Katie was great–and we share common interests like photographing  graffiti, and checking out the fixtures in all bathrooms.   Phillip and I spend hours talking to a NEW DISNEY CONVERT, a former co-worker who will be a current co-worker soon, just came back from a disney trip with her daughter and LOVED it.  She said to me “I get it, I know why you go back”.  Woo hoo, got another one.

That is all the photos to share (although there are more), and there have been many wonderful things not mentioned–dinners at the Tin Mill, and the Keg, visits with friends from St James, from high school, watching movies outside with best friends, baseball games in the park (just watching, not playing).  Visiting friends, adn seeing where they will be getting married (and where I am taking photos)

Now I have to get ready for a busy few days before our trip to Florida.  I promise to share more with you.

 

ITS ALL OVER!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer!

Oh yeah, can you feel it??!!??

I am already starting to plan my days away, and then in late August, I wonder where the free time went. 

This year I am photographing my summer vacation.  (Which I usually do), but this time with a difference.  Usually I take photos of exceptional things (WDW, birthdays etc).  This year I am keeping a photolog of even the normal things.  If today’s plan is being lazy on the couch, then I will take a photo of it, just to have a record.

Now, I will not be photographing every moment (or each trip top the bathroom), but each visit with someone, or choice to see a movie, go to an event or just relax will be documented.  I have tried keeping a diary before–didn’t last two days.  But I’m thinking this might give a great record and I will remember a lot of little “gems” that happened this summer.  It will be fun to look back through the photos and have at least one photo from each day.  There will be photos of my garden, Phillip, Jeremy, baseball games, around the house, taking nan to the hospital, staying over at mom and dad’s, seeing friends, going to restaurants and shops.  It will be great!!!

Woo hoo, summer time!!!!

I’m a garden voyeur

I love looking at other people’s gardens. 

 I feel like I am breaking commandments or sinning or something, as I gaze upon the properties of others.  I think evil thoughts like “Wow, what are those purple things, I have to dig them up in the middle of the night, and plant them in my garden”.  I have a long list of plants I want to steal under the cover of darkness.

Is coveting your neighbour’s hostas the same kind of bad as coveting their wife????

I really like looking at the variety of colours, shapes and textures that I see in gardens.   Coral Bells, with the long stalks of flowers, and funky leaves.  (I like the plants that are brown/red leaves).  Ferns, Hostas, anything that flowers like iris or lilly–LOVE IT!!  Black eyed susans, daisies, poppies, dahlias, phlox, cosmos, bleeding heart,  roses, can’t get enough!

When you are digging up stuff in your garden–save me a piece, I’d love to plant it!! (and that would save me sneaking into your yard at night)

If  you know of a great garden (public or private) let me know, I want to take a look (and probably a photograph)

On a nice day …..

Hmmm  well today,

• I pulled out all of my photos that are printed/framed for the ARTFEST (Still need Megan to tell me what to bring)
• I cleaned the van (still not vacuumed, but hey)
• did a ton of gardening (with Jeremy’s help) –weeds pulled, grass cut front and back
• went to Walmart– $80 for damn printer ink
• printed a couple  more photos for a “Portrait” album
• hung a load of laundry up
• defrosted shrimp
• showered

Now I have to make dinner before we go and see a play tonight!  All in all a good day!!!!

Upcoming Art Show

I need stress to get anything done.

Next weekend is my art show in the park.  (Saturday May 23, Esplanade Park in Pickering, Behind City Hall–Which is across from the Pickering Town Centre,  Outdoors, no admission, 11-5pm— contact me for more information)

I haven’t even thought about what I need, what photos I have printed, framed etc.  I know I don’t have enough cards made.  I have amazing Ottawa photos that haven’t even been to Costco yet, they are on my SD card still.  I don’t know how to set up the tables, I don’t know where the tent is ……… and Phillip, who is one my biggest fans, fiercest supporters and strongest stuff-lifter, will be IN VANCOUVER and not even around to help.

The other problem is that the “gallery” is still full of costumes and props from Cinderella.  (Fairies didn’t clean it for me) and the Dryer is not working so it will be hard to clean the costumes before I store them.  So to get ready for the artshow, I have to take peasant blouses and knicker pants to the laundromat.  Hmmmmm…. my life is weird.

I always feel stupid at these shows.  I am very proud  of my photography, and I love it when people make a comment, or enjoy a piece of my work.  But to stand there like on display makes me feel like an idiot.  More than once, I have said I should just stay home and let Phillip, mom and Megan work the booth for me, because they can talk about me and my work so much easier than I can talk for myself.

Grrrrrr…… so much to do and running out of time… I guess I should get started.

A Missed Opportunity

Last week I missed a chance to take a fantastic photo, and now, even a week later I am still thinking about it.

I was driving east on Rossland, almost at AllSaints and there is a farm on the north side of the road.  It has an old barn and usually a cow or two in the field.  Very picturesque.  Well last Friday the area around there was filled with fog–So much fog that I was concerned driving.  (I’m a nervous driver–blog for another day).  I looked over at the field and the fog had covered it so beautifully.  The two cows looked posed, like they were waiting for me.  The fog washed over the barn, and the cows and the field.  I always have my camera in my purse, and my thought was STOP!!!  That is so perfect.

But, I didn’t.  There was traffic behind me (in the only eastbound lane), and people were waiting at the restaurant for me.  I couldn’t think fast enough to pull over and then look like a weenie and walk back with my camera.  Oh, well, I thought, the fog is thick, it will still be there in a couple hours–Wrong!  As I drove back past the field, the fog had burned off and the cows had moved on.  The field and barn are still beautiful and I still want to shoot the area, but in my heart I know that I missed a magical moment!!!

The World in a Rose

The beauty of a rose is unmatched

The soft layers of petals unfolding, opening, telling us their secrets, leading us into a world unknown, a world unlike the harsh one that we live in, a world apart.

There we would be safe, protected and warm, free to be ourselves, without care and worry, without judgements, without chaos and self-doubt.

There we would dream and create and love, we would sing and dance the music in our hearts.

Safe and beautiful in a rose.