Toronto, My Beautiful City

07/13/2010 at 11:06 am | Posted in Facebook, My Portfolio, Nathan Phillips Square, photography, Photos, Social Media, Summer 2010, Summer Life, Toronto, Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2010 | 2 Comments
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In today’s wide array of social media, I find myself overwhelmed by the exchanges and sharing of tidbits of one’s life happenings.  I have explored several and mostly to get input from my two hobbies which are photography and writing.

With our very busy lifestyle, it is impossible to catch up with family and friends news.  Since my niece from Denmark opened up an account for me in facebook, I am slowly learning all the ins and outs about this site.  I first read everything about their security rules.

As days go by, I feel more and more bold in sharing a little bit of info to share with families and friends.  I was very skeptic for many years but it proves to be quite a tool.  I read one of my old friend’s post that day and lead me to our mini-trip to Toronto within a couple of days.  We lost touch for a few years, although she is only a block from me, somehow life has a way of getting too busy.  She was kind enough to open an invitation to the Toronto Art Show and I accepted the invite.

I proved to myself that being a little open to new technology and the many different purpose it serves is quite fun.  That lead to a phone call and of course to the drive to Toronto.

I feel like a tourist in my own city after living in the suburbs for so many years.  Sometimes a trek to the city seems more like a chore than an adventure.  I somehow lost my patience with our highway traffic.

My moral in this short story is to learn to really get out of our shoe box existence and explore your own city, town and country.  It offers so many interesting things to do especially in the summer months.

I was equipped with my digital camera and off I went with my friend capturing this truly very metropolitan city that I live in.  The Art show was held in the Nathan Phillips Square.  They had around 150 artist displaying their works in so many varied media.  The works of arts were phenomenal.  I’m glad I left my credit card at home because I could have done a great damage since some of their works were also available for sale.  Instead I satisfied the urge by getting permission to photograph some of the beautiful works of art.  I was so pleased to have met several photographers and talked to them about their work.  I got inspired once again to really pursue my photography at a much deeper level by taking some more classes this fall.  I got some ideas on book making to show my portfolio and how to frame them for shows down the future.  I just read that this year was their 49th year and it was my first time visiting the show.  How sad is that.  I am definitely hooked.  I will be including this venue every summer of things to definitely do every summer.

So I learned something from using the social media for the very first time.  Don’t be afraid to be bold and if you want to do something or go and explore your city,  I will now try and post an invite to my friends.

Go

Explore

Toronto

http://www.torontooutdoorart.org/

Help! My raspberry plant is out of control…..

07/07/2010 at 10:38 am | Posted in beginner blogger, Beginner Gardener, Carefree summer Days, Creation, Gardening, Gardening Projects 2010, Helpful hints for amateur gardener, I need help with my raspberry plants, Just an amateur gardener, My Portfolio, photography, Photos, Raspberry Plants, S.O.S., Summer 2010, Summer Gardening | Leave a comment

I admit to one thing.  I am not a gardener.  But this does not stop me from pursuing my new hobby this season, which is gardening.  Yes, I even started all my vegetable garden from seeds last April.  Even with all the strong winds and tons of rain in June, they thrive in my three little plastic urn purchased from Canadian tire at a mere cost of $7.99 each.

I had to create a new vegetable garden section off my already very small backyard because of one thing, which was my raspberry plants.  Three years ago, my friend gave two one foot tall raspberry plants to my middle son to give to me for Mother’s day.  I was thrilled of course.  Now three years later, it has over taken on-third of my garden patch.

I was complaining of course to my family about not having enough space this summer to plant all my vegetables seedlings.  My husband said that I should prune it.  But I protested and said I like it that way.  This of course was to hide my lack of knowledge in pruning such plants.   Honestly, I just do not know how to begin fixing this type of garden invasion.  I do love how lush it looks but I’m afraid if I don’t do anything this year that by next spring, it would completely take over my whole backyard.  Help!  How do you start?  what month is the best month to prune this type of plants?  How much do you cut off?  I really do not want to kill this beautiful gift.

So as you can see from the photos, this year I am totally enjoying a bumper crop from my beautiful raspberry plants.  But in all honesty, I really need help in controlling this plant.

So If you know anything about this plant and you happen to come across my blog,  I would really appreciate some helpful tips.

Happy gardening!

May your hands be dirty from gardening and may eyes feast with delight from your labor!!!!!

Summer’s Symphony

06/29/2010 at 10:56 am | Posted in beginner blogger, blog, Carefree summer Days, Creation, Life with adult children and teenagers, My Portfolio, photography, Photos, Raising teenagers, Summer | 2 Comments
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It was the first summer weekend.  The house was peaceful.  The boys were camping with their friends.  Just enjoying the weekend with really no specific plans and the phone rang.  It was our old and dearest friends.  They have the same scenario in their house.  They invited us for a bar-b-que and gladly accepted.

It was raining when we left our house but since they were in another city, it was still quite sunny and very pleasant were they were.  We were able to enjoy the patio and a most welcome and relaxing conversation with another couple who has the same dilemmas with their youngest, still a   teenager.   It was so comforting to be able to share all the little things about our grown kids.  Each time someone mentioned a topic it was welcomed with a unanimous nods.

We just tried to reassure ourselves that it is just a stage our kids are going through.  Since we already saw it with the older ones and witnessed how they have grown up into wonderful and responsible adults.  But it seems the younger ones are really challenging us as parents through their last years of teenage-hood.  It’s funny but somehow it all works out.

It seems that the youngest ones are the hardest to let go.  Personally speaking, I find it quite difficult to really say “No.”  I guess all we can ask of them is to be safe while being so adventurous in the many fun things in their lives.   I know we cannot locked them up and expect them to learn the many things in life through experiences with their peer groups.

I think this past weekend was one of my most challenging weekend in my life so far.  It simply entails 17 years old driving three hours on our crazy highways and camping with all their graduating class which happens to be the weekend before their graduation day.   I was really not very good at this type of challenge.  I was just so happy and that they all came home safe with 15 minutes to spare before their Graduation Mass were to start.

I was blessed because the weekend did offer me some of the most wonderful and calming summer symphony  for the mind and the soul.  It’s funny how when you find yourself stuck in a mind challenge that it is when your senses are in the most sensitive and open stage.

It seems that I heard sounds that I would have probably missed out on a typical day.  While enjoying our diner with our friends, now indoor since it rained non-stop for several hours through the night,  it was funny to hear their next door neighbors children laughing and giggling while still playing in their family swimming pool.  It was the most glorious sounds.  Children giggling.  This really brought me back when my kids were a lot younger.  I was a bit shock since the weather was quite disagreeable.  Thank goodness there were no lightning at that time.  I’m assuming that the kids were being very stubborn in coming into  the house.  this only lasted a few minutes and glad the parents won this battle which is just one of the many they will find themselves in.

Their air conditioner was broken so she had all their windows open and the sound of the rain was quite pleasing to the ear while we continued savoring all the dishes they had prepared for us.   The symphony continuous with the many meowing of their two cats.  The rustling of the trees in their backyard added to our diner background music.  To top of this symphony was the most beautiful conversations we all shared.  It was a beautiful night indeed.

Life is Life.  Live each day as if it were your last!  Try find beauty in all the many little things in your daily life because these are what counts and truly priceless.

Good Bye Sweet Whiskar

06/19/2010 at 12:57 pm | Posted in cat, friend, Pet | Leave a comment

It was very hard to say good bye to a sweet dear friend. It took three months before we finally decided to give him a much better place to go to. He had been a very beautiful companion for 17 years. It was a very sad day for my family to say good bye to him. I remember the first morning we brought him home with us. He was a very demanding kitten. We adopted him from the Humane Society at the age of 9 months old. He would wake me up at 6am for his breakfast. Then when he was about three years old, he decided he wanted to party every Friday night. So we gave him his freedom. But when he decided to stay out all night and kept us worried and lose sleep, well I guess we had to just let it be. After three weeks of this very bad behavior, he finally accepted the confine of our cozy small backyard. He was a very beautiful cat and a clean freak. He kept that white fur very very clean. We will miss you dear friend but thankful you were a part of our family for all those many years.

Thanks

06/04/2010 at 11:48 am | Posted in Creation, My Portfolio, photography, Photos, spring, Spring 2010, Thanks | Leave a comment
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thanks for today

my heart sings with joy

just to see sunshine through my window

witnessing the lush greenery of the garden

accompanied by the symphony from the feathered friends

the peacefulness overlooking all the uncertainty of this life

so dwell not on the things we cannot control

but pursue only solutions

with our very best

Smile……. it’s a beautiful day!

“Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be” – Duan Michals

Welcoming June

06/01/2010 at 11:13 am | Posted in beginner blogger, Creation, everything pretty, Floral Photography, Flores, flowers, My Portfolio, Nature, photography, Photos, plant species, roses, spring, Spring 2010, Welcoming Spring | Leave a comment
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Yesterday  gray, today bright orange.

Yesterday  fierce  cold, today  heat  warming my heart.

Yesterday was January, Today welcome June.

Yesterday wintry white for miles,

Today only green luscious canvas with splashes of yellow, red and pink.

The earth beneath my feet screaming with delight

As the carpet of green and drapes of new season surrounds me.

How can one not be with nature

when the scream of renewal can be heard so loud for miles.

My heart fled with glee as I visit my garden each morning.

To touch the new blooms of white roses,

To see as each plant greets with new growth,

I must truly be insane but simple joy in my heart

is a million dreams revisited!

“Happy Spring to all!”

It’s spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you’ve got it, you want – oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!  ~Mark Twain

What is in your list?

05/26/2010 at 1:25 pm | Posted in Life Candies, My Portfolio, photography, Spring 2010, Still Photography, What's on your list? | 2 Comments
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Will you have any regrets once you leave this world?  Have you done the things that makes life delicious?  I’m not thinking of material things you’ve accomplished.  I’m not talking about things.  I am more interested in the little things that really counts.  Here’s a list that I find truly care about.

1)  Cooking a dish right out of a cookbook.

2)  Planting from seeds and really seing the plants grow.

3)  Learning all I can about photography.

4)  Self-publishing another book and another and another……. not for sale but for pure self indulgence.

5)  Walking everyday no matter what the weather is.

6)  A phone call to a friend or relative at least once a day.

7)  Sitting on my deck and just keeping my mind silent for at least 15 minutes everyday.

8)  Reading more books.

9)  De-cluttering for 30 minutes everyday.

10)  Listening to music.

These are just a start of my list and I will continue to add as the days go by.

Adventure 1

04/20/2010 at 1:07 am | Posted in 5584 | Leave a comment
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I always said that I will never eat raw fish.  Ever!  Well.  Never say never.  Hubby took me to this Sushi Place.  First, I was in total awe at the culinary art.  The food was so pretty.  I just wanted to look at it.  Then  I got brave.  Took a nibble and then another.  Voila!

I am now a convert.  I cannot have enough of these  food they call sushi.  It simply melts in your mouth.  The salmon sashimi was to die for.   Oh gosh, totally embarrassing myself.  This photo is of the “Dragon Roll.”

Now, I MUST have sushi once a week.  Evil isn’t it?  I am so hooked.  I have my hubby to Thank for this new addiction. hahahah

Ok.  I’m glad I confessed this addiction in here.  I promised no more talk about Sushi.  Until the next time that is.

Now folks, listen to me.  As a challenge………… I dare you to try something new each day.  Whether that be food, clothes, go for a walk or anything at all that will take you totally outside your comfort zone and I guarantee you will only reap the benefits.

Till next time.

Memories

04/19/2010 at 3:08 pm | Posted in Spring 2010, Today | Leave a comment
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As I go through my archives, I run across this photo from last summer’s Carabana Festival in Toronto.  I was so excited to finally have a chance to watch this extravagant parade of floats from different countries.  I lived here all my life and never had the chance to see this amazing parade.  Since we had several group of relatives that visited, we were obliged to show them what Canada has to offer in terms of tourism.

So to me this photo is very symbolic of that summer’s fun memories.  Now thinking back, I know for sure that everyone had the most amazing time here in Canada.

I’m glad for the memories of those days.  I’m grateful my sons met their  Aunts, Uncles and cousins.  I’m thrilled that my husband had this family re-union with his relatives.

So now looking forward to another summer full of mystery and adventures.

Happy Canada Day

07/01/2009 at 11:48 am | Posted in Canada Day, Cultural, Lake, My Portfolio, photography, Photos, Summer | Leave a comment
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Happy Canada Day09

This year Canada Day falls in the middle of the week so for a lot of us there is no long weekend.  But it is still a very important and significant holiday in Canada. The people across the country will be celebrating whether at home with families and friends or joining in the multitude of festivals in many cities.

On July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain and a federation of four provinces: Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Ontario; and Quebec. The anniversary of this date was called Dominion Day until 1982. Since 1983, July 1 has been officially known as Canada Day.

In many towns and cities, municipal governments organize a range of events, often outdoors. These include pancake breakfasts, parades, concerts, carnivals, festivals, firework displays and citizenship ceremonies for new Canadian citizens. The celebrations often have a patriotic mood. Canada’s national flag is widely displayed and a lot of people paint their faces red and white, which are Canada’s national colors. The celebrations in Ottawa, which is Canada’s capital city, are particularly exuberant.

I found this cute feathered friend yesterday.

06/29/2009 at 10:44 am | Posted in Duck, Feathered Friends, Mallard, Nature, photography, Photos, Summer | Leave a comment
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feathery friend

This is like most duck species, there is a big difference in the way males (drakes) and females (hens) look. In order to attract a hen, the drake is much more colorful. For most of the year, he has a shiny green head, a white-ringed neck, brown chest and grey sides. The drake mallard also sports a brown back, black rump and tail.

The hen, on the other hand, is much less colourful. Her feathers are white and brown, which helps her blend in with her wetland surroundings. However, like the drake, she does have white and blue colouring on the speculum of her wings.

Welcoming Summer

06/22/2009 at 11:32 pm | Posted in Bruce Cockburn, Canadian Artists, Festival, photography, Photos, Port Credit Waterfront Festival, Sam Roberts | 2 Comments
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Summer was welcomed by the Waterfront festival held annually at the beautiful Port Credit park grounds last night.  Though the predicted weather was not the best, Mother Nature decided to change her mind instead gave us one of the most beautiful evening to end spring.  I look forward to this annual festival because the city always very generously gives us, the spectators and locals alike, a collection of many famous talent collections of Canadian artists and this year is no exception.   Although they raised the gate ticket price it was worth it.  As a result of this favourable combination, hundreds turned out to take advantage of this local festival of Stars.

The festival opened with the Multi Juno Award winner the Sam Roberts Band and ended with Bruce Cockburn’s collected work from his 26 albums.  Other performers such as Kathleen Edwards, The Spoons, SKYDIGGERS, 54 40, Catherine Maclellan and numerous other performers contributed for another one very successful festival.

Bruce Cockburn

Kathleen Edwards

Sam Roberts (2)

fire eater

IMG_7384a2

IMG_7541a

something blue

06/19/2009 at 10:03 pm | Posted in blue, Floral Photography | 2 Comments
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something blue

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

if I only have june in my life

06/17/2009 at 2:21 pm | Posted in Floral Photography, roses | Leave a comment
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sometimes I wish it was june all year round
have you ever wondered what it would be like
just to bask at the warmth of the new spring sun
to walk barefoot in one’s garden
and witness all of nature’s glory
oh so sweet, so sweet my rose garden shows
for not one but an abundance of white
parading against the lush green canvas
but then I will miss the red, yellow, blue and purple
for they soon will show in July, August and September

first blooms

first bloom 2009 03

first bloom 2009 02

first bloom 2009 04

My rose garden is now three years old.  I am glad now that I heeded away from all the horrors I’ve read about the hardship of maintaining a rose garden.  My hobby of photography led me to this new passion.  I never knew how I have been captivated by floral photography until now.  It’s funny isn’t it how one passion can lead us into many others.  As a result of this new obsession, I thought I’d share the beauty of these white roses before it’s demise.  What can I say?  It simply takes my breath away.  I will be posting the other colors as the new season progresses.

here is a quote for today:

Where flowers bloom so does hope.
-  Lady Bird Johnson, Public Roads: Where Flowers Bloom

Do you know the name of this spring flowering plant?

06/15/2009 at 1:38 pm | Posted in Floral Photography, flowers, photography, plant species | 2 Comments
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growing wild up north

As I was walking my dog Sandy, I saw a glimpse of yellow by my feet.

As ussual, armed with my handy Sony Cyber-shot, I simply had to take a photo

of this beautiful spring bloom.  I have no idea what it is called.  If you know, I would

really appreciate a note.  The plant is only about a foot in height with one bloom.

They grow in cluster near the lake, more specifically by Georgian Bay.

Here is a quote for the last week of spring:

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors,

there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.

by:   Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

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