Sure Signs of Spring

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Mama Cormier

……March 20th marked the first day of Spring

The snow has melted in this part of the world but the east coast of Canada has been hit with more snow storms and we’re talking about a lot of snow.

I’m thrilled that Spring has finally arrived even though the signs aren’t always obvious to the naked eye or to exposed skin. This morning when I woke up I could see that it had snowed last night. Nothing significant but enough to know that winter isn’t done with us yet and if that tiny bit of snow didn’t convince you, the cold wind certainly did.

Later in the day the sun did warm things up a bit but walking into the wind did make the trek a little uncomfortable. I, however, was on a mission to find signs of spring that I could record with my camera.

Much of the plant life still harbours the brown tones of decay but the sun added a certain warmth and brought out a richness to some colourful naked branches.

One of the signs of spring was the hidden treasure that lay inside the snow all winter and now appeared everywhere. Hardly photo worthy though. On our way home we looked up and I saw my first robin of the season. I have noticed that the birds are singing more brightly in the morning when I wake up and the squirrels are more active in the backyard.

I was hoping to see signs of new growth coming up through the ground but It wasn’t immediately obvious. When I returned home I walked up to the front garden and pushed aside a few leaves and lo and behold I found my crocus starting to push up through the ground. Spring is definitely here despite the cold and gloomy forecast for April.

Well at least it’s warm inside and my husband has brought Spring indoors with his gift of fresh tulips. I’m a lucky girl.

Cheers!

New Flower (March 22, 2015) – Tulips

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..nothing says ‘spring’ like tulips

Sunday Trees – 175

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Becca Givens for introducing me to Sunday Trees

Even though we are officially into Spring I could not find a single tree that has started to bud.

Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge – Music

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….Cee’s Black and White photo challenge this week involves anything to do with Music

A Word a Week Photograph Challenge – Float

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks to Sue Llewellyn for this week’s word ‘float’

This week’s photos use the word float as a verb and a noun, from floating in the air, on water and marching down the street as a parade float.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Abstract Photography

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Mama Cormier

…..last summer Carla Sonheim’s husband assigned a photo shoot project where we were suppose to shoot everything up close and out of focus

I thought that the photos from this assignment were perfect for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge.

Can you tell what they are? Lights from my car, chicken wire, fabric screen, garden hose, lantern and cross-section of a tree.

New Flower (March 18, 2015) – Yellow Lily

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….always the last to open in my bouquets

Share Your World 2015 – Week 11

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Mama Cormier

……thank you Cee for some easy and some thought provoking questions this week

List 2 things you have to be happy about?

I’m happy to be on vacation. I have time to get a few things done around the house, time to spend with family and friends, time to read and time to make art. I’m also happy for reasons that I cannot share but will in the near future.

Do you prefer ketchup or mustard or mayonnaise?

I like mustard on my hotdogs and sausages, ketchup on my burgers and fries and mayonnaise on my BLTs, turkey sandwiches and sometimes with fries (something I picked up when we were in the Netherlands).

If you were to paint a picture of your childhood, what colors would you use?

I would choose happy and calming colours like blues, greens and yellows with just a dash of red for excitement.

Do you prefer a bath or shower?

I always prefer a shower. Long hot ones in the winter and cooler showers on hot summer days. I have a hard time with a bath because I find that the water cools too quickly and the thought of sitting in dirty water isn’t my idea of relaxing. I guess that’s why the Japanese wash before they get into the tub.

If I wanted a bath it would be in a nice deep tub like this one.

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m grateful for the warmer weather and that all the snow has melted away. I’m also happy that the last week of school finally came to an end and I’m looking forward to a week of rest and relaxation.

New Flower (March 17, 2015) – Hypericum with Carnations

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….more and more I’m seeing hypericum in bouquets

Places – The Beach, Hands Down

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Mama Cormier

……the beach, mountains, forests or somewhere else entirely?

Today’s Daily Post asks us to choose where we would like to be.

I’m happy anywhere where I can relax, explore and learn. I worked for a summer in the Alps in southern Germany, skied in the Rockies and drove through the mountains in Yosemite and up Mount Washington. There is something magical about waking up in an area where you are surrounded by the majesty of these beautiful mountains but it can also be somewhat claustrophobic.

I love the coolness and freshness of being in the middle of a forest. I’ve hiked through the forests of Vermont and New Hampshire and camped in Quebec and Ontario. My cottage is nestled inside the forest but I’m only 100 steps from the beach and that is where I prefer to be.

I seem to be naturally drawn to water. According to Chinese astrology I am a water dragon. My home in the city is only 50 metres from the shores of Lake Ontario and I feel blessed to be able to walk down to the park by the lake and look over the entire city. I love how it changes with the seasons. It’s always a little cooler here in the summer and slightly warmer in the winter.

I’ve been on the beaches of Hawaii, the coast of Maine, the wharfs of San Francisco, and the east and west coasts of Ireland. I haven’t travelled extensively but the places I remember most fondly were bordered by an ocean or a Great Lake.