Donna's Week 17 - Better late than never for my friend Diane Van Dooran

Week 17

One of this week's topics reminded me that my friend Diane asked me to send her pictures of Elk Falls in Campbell River BC.  Diane and Blake and I had a great lunch in Victoria and I told her we were off to Courtenay, Comox and Campbell River.  Diane had lived in Courtenay and told me to send her pictures of the new swing bridge at Elk Fall's.  Well that was almost an entire year ago, so sorry my friend.  You have probably been back to Campbell River and seen it for yourself, but if not, the waterfall pictures below are for you, my friend.

Vegetable

These carrots were at the Farmers Market in San Francisco

Made of Wood

The dock and harbour in Comox, BC

Raindrops

I think these raindrops look like little jewels on the branch.

Starts with "O"

One of the first trips Rob and I did together was to Smith River in northern California.  We flew to Portland and drove down the Oregon coast.  Just over the border into California is Smith River.  We stayed at this little hotel right at the mouth of the smith river and the ocean.  Rob went to work and I walked around taking pictures of birds.  It was then that I saw two of the most playful and amazing adult river otters, in the wild.  they were fishing and eating and swimming.  It was really special and since then otters and especially river otters are my most favourite animal!!

Portrait of a Friend

This is Rob's dad, OPA, and he is everyone's friend!

and finally

"waterfall"

These are for you Diane!!  Miss you!

Pam's Week 17: Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls....

Since Sharon informed me yesterday of her planned blog title, I decided to venture into the lyric archives of my brain to find a new one.  We couldn't both use the Sound of Music and since she has cats and I don't and my memory for lyrics (or words in general for that matter) is better than hers (just kidding, Sharon - I had to bug you since you stole my title), I found another suitable choice.  The other raindrop one that occurred to me at first was "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head".  The problem with that one is that when we were kids and didn't know any better, my friend, Terri, and I liked to sit in our treehouse and change the lyrics to songs and sing them at the top of our lungs.  One of said remixes was "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Brain Tumour".  I now know how awful that is but it escaped us when we were 9 or 10.

Anyways, as Sharon already pointed out, this has not been a particularly motivating week.  The skies have been grey and overcast, it's been bitterly cold and windy, and it's rained.  I still walked the dog every night and tried my best to find photographic inspiration, though, even when Sharon bailed on me.  The "Human Remains Found on Whitefish Island" kept me away from our favourite walk for a couple of evenings, especially since Riya and I had been there the evening before all by ourselves in the rain (Sharon pointed out that we were likely suspects; luckily the "remains" were discovered to be a fake blood-covered plastic hand so we're off the hook!).

Of course the Canadian dollar has taken a huge nosedive one week before our big vacation, but I'm determined to have fun anyways.  Sun, sea, sand - sounds heavenly (looking at everyone else's vacation pics right now is killing me....I'm talking about you, Christine, Renee, and Sherri).  Like I said to Robert this evening, it will cost us more to head back to California when the dollar is better than it will to just enjoy our time while we're there!

But, I suppose I should get on with the show....

Vegetable

I really wish I knew how to do vegetable carving because I otherwise did not have any creative vegetable ideas this week.  I contemplated just posting a pic I took of the Creamy Spring Tortellini I made last week with all its asparagus and peas and spinach.  Instead, after joking to Sharon that I would just take photos of the roasted red pepper hummus, asiago artichoke dip, and spinach dip that Kathy left at my house after Games Night last weekend, I decided to build on that idea and.....

Voila...

Made of Wood

We used to have loads of wood carvings on our waterfront but it seems they've all but one disappeared.  I hope they've just been removed for the winter and will return to their happy perches come summer!  Of course, it is possible that they're gone forever thanks to some drunks who thought climbing the big moose for a photo op, thereby knocking off his head, was a good idea.  While walking in search of raindrops the other night, the colours in this wooden bridge caught my eye so in spite of the overcast, rainy dreariness, I found beauty in this photo.  (And yes, this was the night before the not so human remains).

Raindrops

You would think with all the threats of rain we've had this week, this picture wouldn't be hard to come by.  The problem was that it was mainly short, misty showers which don't really "drop" per se.  Luckily, we were able to find a few hanging from branches on Whitefish Island.  I was even rather happy with how a couple of them turned out since I have a point and shoot compact camera, not fancy equipment and editing software.  I liked how I was able to actually see through this raindrop to the trees behind it.

Starts with O

There are certainly plenty of "o" words, but many of them are not particularly photographable, or photogenic if you can find a way to photograph them.  All week I was on a quest to photograph the "ominous" sky but my pictures ended up more "overcast" than ominous.  Last night, when Sharon and I were freezing our patooties off in spite of the tea she so kindly stopped to buy for us at the mall, she pointed out that this statue that Riya is so interested in is of "Billy O".   To quote the accompanying plaque, "Billy "O" was a well known citizen, musher and legend in this area. Over the years he entered many dog sled races, including the 1992 Alaskan Iditarod, not to win, but to compete for himself and his dogs. Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, October 13, 1943, Bill met his untimely death February 19, 1994, doing what he loved best. Bill went through the ice in Little Bay De Noe in Escanaba, Michigan, attempting to save his 9 beloved dogs. He managed to save 2 before he succumbed to the icy waters of Lake Michigan."  I was too cold at the time to realize I didn't have the entire statue in the photo; it was hard to get Riya and the statue without getting Sharon, who was so kindly holding Riya.

Portrait of a Friend

Maybe this isn't exactly what Sharon had in mind, but in my mind, this is how I picture Sharon - examining the beauty of the world through the lens of a camera.  

Waterfall

I honestly just thought I would find an old waterfall photo in the archives for this one.  After all, I've visited two waterfalls this week but Sharon has taken pictures of both of them so it hardly seemed fair that we may post very similar pictures.  Instead, I decided to look at the waterfall at Hiawatha from a different angle.  My original plan was to climb up to the bridge that spans the top of the falls, forgetting that the stairs end and a scramble up the muddy embankment completes the trek.  Having just come from work and having no desire to go back there so soon, I decided to stop at the platform at the top of the stairs instead.

I think those rocks I am looking down on are the ones people used to jump from into the pond below, as Sharon mentioned.  I was never one of those brave (or stupid) souls.  

Wildcard

I just liked this picture because until recently, I've been one of the few people who walk at Whitefish Island regularly who had never seen the beavers there.  And there are an abundance of them!  The other night, I was lucky enough to see a few of them again.  One of them dove right under the bridge we were walking across!

I haven't checked out this week's weather forecast but I'm hoping it's better than this past week!  I have a crazy busy week ahead and still have to find time to finish packing and cleaning the house!  I better get back to muffin baking right now.  Have a great one!

Sharon's Week 17: Raindrops on Roses...

I wish I had whiskers on kittens for you but the cats are being uncooperative this afternoon.  I also don't have a bright copper kettle but I certainly could have used some warm woolen mittens while out walking last night.  We are having quite the cold snap here.  It has been a gray, rainy, cold week that has made me want to just stay inside a read a book or two.  I even stood up Pam the other night - I had suggested a walk but then I didn't want to get up off the couch.  As it turned out, she got caught in some cold rain so I was happy to be inside.  

Speaking of books, I am listening to an audiobook called The Hotel on the Roof of the World which is the memoir of a fellow who moved to Lhasa, Tibet to work at the Holiday Inn there.  It was recommended by a fellow who will be on the China/Tibet photography tour with me as a fun read to get into the proper frame of mind.  It is quite amusing but at the same time alarming.  Some of the stories the author tells are not for the faint of heart traveler.  I am keeping my anxiety down by reminding myself that his story happened almost thirty years ago and surely some things have changed since then.  For example, there's no possible way I can sit through the announcement of my flight from Chengdu to Hong Kong because I don't understand the language, right?  RIGHT??

Ah well, I am sure it will all work out.  People travel to places where they don't speak the language all the time.  I am sure that I can too.

The photos...

a vegetable

It's called a Taco Turkey Spaghetti Squash Bowl and it is so yummy.  I found the recipe floating by on Facebook a month or so ago and really liked it.  Since the meal is also quite photogenic, I decided to make it again just for this photo.

made of wood

A beaver lodge is made of wood...soon the bush surrounding this lodge will no longer be made of wood.  I think the beaver population has multiplied in the past two years...there are significantly more dams and lodges in the water around the islands and significantly fewer trees standing on the islands.

raindrops

Although it did rain quite a bit this week, I never had an opportunity to photograph it.  Yesterday when I was planning my day I decided to spritz the daffodils at Bellevue Park (since it wasn't actually raining at the time) and use that for raindrops.  Unfortunately, the daffodils are not yet out so plan B was born.  Since the song was already in my head, I bought a miniature rose bush.

starts with O

Pam had another fun filled week coming up with O words for me but I thought of this one all on my own.  It is now officially called the Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site but it will always be the Old Stone House to me.

portrait of a friend

Since we walk together all the time, it was an easy choice.

waterfall

This is Hiawatha.  If you can believe it, people (including my brothers) used to jump off the rocks into the pool below (during the summers when the water was much lower).

wild card

I chased Cissy around trying to get her to pose her whiskers for me but no dice.  This appealed to me this afternoon - the green was so pretty with the blue sky reflected in the water.

And another week is complete.  My apologies to Pam for stealing the most obvious song lyrics this week.

Donna's Week 16

I love Niagara!.  We are blooming, apricots and sweet cherries are nearly done and peaches are just starting, then plums, pears and apples!  We put out our lawn furniture and my hammock this weekend and found a long line leash to hook Shadow onto for our front yard.  So glad we are not on the sidewalk side of the street!!  Enjoy!

In the Middle

Here we are in the middle of a huge traffic jam in San Francisco.  The best part - we were on the top of an open topped bus and got to just sit and watch the amazing chaos and San Fran skyline views!

8

Cool, an amazing yellow "8" walking down the beach in Courtney BC

Makes me Smile

This oil and water picture catches my eye every time I scan by it.  I think it looks like a females reproductive parts, and it makes me smile.  Want to know what makes me laugh out loud?  When Blake is at grandma's and my husband comes downstairs at 7pm freshly shaven!!  LOL!!!

Fingers

I love the element of suspense in this photo of a near miss, taken at Whitefish Island in SSM.  I can hear Blake sighing.

 Awe, Success!

Umbrella

The sun coming out after a rainy morning at the Farmers Market at the Ferry Building in San Fran.

Fragile

Nothing looks more fragile than this amazing purple lion's mane jelly fish in Campbell River BC

 Wild Card

I have so many bird pictures, I will include this eagle shot as this weeks wild card photo.

Have a Great Week.

Sharon's Week 16: Happy Earth Day To You

🎝🎜🎝🎜🎝🎝🎜🎝🎜🎜🎝🎜🎝🎜🎝🎜🎝🎜🎝🎜🎝🎜🎝🎝🎝🎜🎝🎜🎝🎝🎝🎝🎝🎜🎝🎜🎝🎜🎝🎝

Okay, is everybody singing the Happy Birthday song now?  Then let's begin.

I just googled the origins of Earth Day.  Was anybody aware that it has been around since 1970?  I feel like I am coming rather late to the party.  I have participated in a few organized events over the years (planting trees and clean up activities) but mostly I just make an effort to appreciate the Earth.  That's not really difficult for me since two of my favourite things to do are hanging out at Whitefish Island (which I did at sunrise this morning) and hanging out in Lake Superior Provincial Park (which I did with Pam and her kids this afternoon).

Apart from appreciating the Earth this week, I have been thinking about imagination.  One of my students made me laugh the other day when he carefully placed his sticker on his homework book in order to continue with the story he was creating using all of the stickers I have given him.  I listened to him create his story then I told him that one of my favourite things about working with kids is that I get to experience their awesome imaginations.  He wondered why that was so special and I replied that sometimes adults don't use their imaginations nearly enough.  He stared at me and again asked why.  That stopped me in my tracks and I didn't really have an answer for him.  Busy-ness? Too many real needs competing for our attention?  Brain shrinkage?  Thankfully he is a kid and he moved on to another topic quickly but it made me think.  I still don't have any answers but perhaps I can use my imagination to come up with some hypotheses.  Feel free to share any of your own.

This week's photos...

in the middle

There are several decorative cats adorning my parents' and sister's sun room.  Last Sunday Anne and I were playing dice out on the patio and when I went in the house one time, Kahlua (Anne has positively identified this cat as Kahlua) was perched perfectly in the middle between two sets of other cats.

8

This comes from a fake plant also in the sun room.  I did have to move the flowers a bit so the 8 was more obvious.  I believe that I forgot to put things back.  Sorry.

makes me smile

I guess this could have been so many things but I am nothing if not opportunistic so I am going with bird photos that came to me this week.

First we have a lady cardinal at Ojibway park in Windsor.  The male was hanging around as well but he was even more camera shy.

The feeder in front of the house attracts all kinds of birds but only when I am not there.  When I am sitting on the front steps pointing my camera, very few appear.  Here is a little yellow bird - it may or may not be a goldfinch.

The red-winged black birds were very noisy this morning.

This bird also may or may not be a gold finch.  I will have to get Levi's birder friend over to confirm.  Oh wait, Donna will know!

fingers

Use your imagination (!) and consider this pigeon's toes as fingers.  The photo doesn't really show how beautiful it was this morning so you can use your imagination again.  The sun had just come up, the boardwalk was shining with frost and the long shadows from the railing were really eye catching.  The pigeon strutted back and forth demanding that I take his photo.

umbrella

We did have rain this week but only when I was at work.   I considered faking rain with the hose but I lost interest in that idea and decided that I would make a rain umbrella look like a sun umbrella while we were up in the Park this afternoon.  My idea was great (I think) but I couldn't make the picture in my head work out in real life.  So here we have an umbrella out on a sunny day for no reason at all.

fragile

Levi really wanted me to use this.  The funny thing is, the chocolate was not all that fragile.  It took quite a bit of force with a hammer to get it to this state.

wild card

I have a variety again this week...

This first one is my mother feeding the deer in front of the sign that says "Do not feed the deer."

Levi almost caught this snake.

This morning at Whitefish Island, the beavers were out in full force.  I liked this photo because of the sunrise colour reflected repetitively in the water.

Another one done...

Pam's Week 16: Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right....

This song seems so fitting for the week I've had...I don't even know how to describe it.  It's been busy but that's usually par for the course these days.  I'm not sure what it was - is it a full moon?  Are the grey skies and the unpredictable temperatures getting to people?  I don't know.  All I do know - people have been driving me bonkers.

As you are about to see in this week's photos, however, it started out wonderfully with a nice, albeit cold, walk with the family at Bellevue Park.  It ended today with a lovely Earth Day spent with the kids and Sharon (Robert had to work both jobs today).  It's what was in the middle that seemed problematic...

Here I am Stuck In the Middle With You....

Like what I did with the song lyric this week?  Instead of giving the rest of the line to you right away, I let you stew over it and become anxious with anticipation wondering how it was going to fit into this week's topics....

I'm not sure these photos truly capture "in the middle" but I was in the middle of Robert and Riya who were ahead and Duncan and Danica who were behind (playing Pokemon Go) while we walked around Topsail Island last weekend.

8

There is a section at Bellevue Park with new playground equipment.  It was initially billed as the "Sensory Playground" but while we were there last weekend, I noticed it seemed to now be called the "Adventure Playground".  It does have accessible equipment which is nice.  My kids love the zipline.  This spinning "8" caught my eye...

Makes Me Smile

You know, there are a whole lot of things that make me smile.  I think these photos capture a few of them at once - my kids, nature, water, the sun....Of course, a couple of these make me cry sometimes too....

Umbrella

I happened upon the inspiration for this photo accidentally.  I was checking in with my friend, Google, for some ideas for one of the other topics this week and lo and behold, there was a picture of a cocktail umbrella.  Instead of replicating that photo, I decided to buy myself some cocktail umbrellas and a pretty beverage, which I later forced myself to drink (the sacrifices I make for art!).  This was a one shot deal, though, as the wind kept catching the little umbrellas that then ended up in Riya's mouth.

Fingers

This was the picture I was googling ideas for.  This was also the picture I completely forgot about and as we sat at Katharine Cove taking photos this afternoon, I was trying to do something else and Danica put her little fingers in the way saying she was doing "Finger Rock Parcour" for the "fingers" picture I needed.  Good thing young brains are like sponges that remember things you don't recall telling them!

Fragile

Oh I was wracking my brains trying to figure out what to photograph for this one when I got home tonight and then Sharon so kindly suggested I use one of the pictures of this strange pussy willow type thing we saw on the beach.  They were much longer than the usual pussy willow and fell apart in the breeze.  Thankfully I had snapped a photo I kind of liked of it!

Wildcard

We also stopped at Alona Bay on our way home tonight to see all the ice that was still on the water there.  Of note, it's also one of the places that apparently put Sault Ste. Marie on the list for "Top 34 Most Breathtaking Places in North America", just behind Tofino, BC and ahead of the  Mexican Riviera!  While there, there was this beautiful Golden Retriever who just happened to pick up this large branch (it would not be classified as a "stick" in my books) and bring it over to me.  I tried to capture a photo of him but then he dropped the branch and walked away.

I've decided to include 2 wildcard photos as I just found it interesting how 2 different beaches on the same lake have such wickedly different shorelines on the same day.  The first picture is of the beautiful sandy Katharine Cove beach (named one of "10 Awesome (and Secluded) Northern Ontario Beaches).  The second is of the ice-covered beach at Alona Bay.

Just check out the stunning blue skies we had to suffer through this afternoon....

I may have started taking photos for next week's assignments today too....Here's hoping the clowns and jokers have disappeared and I am able to tolerate people this week!  If not, it's only 2 more weeks until vacation.....Have a great one, everyone!