…..this week’s fun foto challenge needs the letters o and u in the word
Focus
Fish Eye Focus Indoors…..
….through the back window
….and outdoors
Can you guess what I got for Christmas?
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Letter U
4
Category Archives: About Me
365 Days of Art – Day 4
….decided to switch it up a bit
Today I found some leaves pressed in one of my sketch books and I decided to use it as a collage element. I was also inspired by Herma from Studio Mastarre who draws very whimsical portraits. I haven’t tried to copy her style with today’s post but at some point I’d like to try my hand at it. I did use pencil to start with and I added some watercolour to finish.
365 Days of Art – Days 1, 2 and 3
…..meditative and fun to do
I’m loving my personal challenge so far. Three days in and I’ve managed to produce three pieces of abstract art. I won’t always do the same type of art and I will eventually move onto larger pieces. I may even take some of these smaller pieces and use them as inspiration for a larger piece using a different medium, perhaps acrylic or ink.
January 1st, 2018
January 2, 2018
January 3, 2018
Time for New Beginnings
…..I’m not a believer in New Year’s resolutions but I have set a challenge for myself for 2018
With all that went on last year in my personal life I felt that my art suffered. Once I stopped teaching I found little time to pursue my art. Ironic isn’t it that retirement was the reason for not making art but rather than go into all the details as to why that happened I want to focus on the now and how that will change.
Recently I complained to one of my followers that I couldn’t find time to make art because my studio space was still in a shambles from the renovation. This very wise woman suggested that I take my sketchpad and just start drawing anywhere in the house. So that’s exactly what I did and when everyone had gone to bed I would open my book and start making marks. Then I added some watercolour. I’m loving the process and have decided to make art every day, even if it’s just a doodle.
I started the challenge on New Year’s Eve. Here is my first piece of art made on the last day of 2017.
I will try to post a work of art every day or if I start on something larger I will post the progress on a daily basis.
Action at the Hockey Arena
….you were where??????
Most of you know that both my husband and I are not huge hockey fans. Sometimes during the playoff season, if our home team are in the finals I might take in part of a game or at least watch the last 10 minutes. My Dad thinks that we’re both very un-Canadian because we don’t get excited about the hockey game. None the less he tells us about every game that he watches and we listen politely.
Last weekend my daughter came over to help me put together a wall unit and I promised to drive her to a hockey game afterwards so that she could see Josie’s nephew play hockey. My husband agreed to come with us and we experienced first hand the hockey culture that so many Canadian families endure at least once a week if not more during hockey season. For some hockey season goes all year, with summer training camps and off season tournaments.
The arena that we drove to in northern Etobicoke has five rinks and parking can be challenging. The game was well under way when we arrived. I brought my telephoto lens with me and played around trying to get action shots, not an easy task when the boys are moving so quickly.
If you haven’t guessed, Josie’s nephew is number 00. Here’s our favourite shot of the day.
Unfortunately, Dante’s team didn’t win that day but more importantly the boys played well and Dante’s family was out there supporting him.
Getting Close to a Pigeon
….unless there’s food involved most pigeons don’t let me get close enough to take a picture
Last week, while visiting my daughter and her family in Hamilton, we took a walk to pick up some lunch. On the way back I saw this lovely iridescent pigeon in a bird bath. It was bitter cold so I have to think that there was food in the bowl. I didn’t have my telephoto lens with me so I kept inching closer. I was amazed that this little guy didn’t fly off.
Then with a little cropping it became clear that there was food in the bath.
As always when I stop to take photos my family continues walking and I have to run to catch up. Here they are with lunch in hand, eager to get home to eat.
Thursday Doors – December 7, 2017
Hamilton’s Children’s Museum
….thanks to Norm for hosting Thursday Doors
Earlier this week I drove to Hamilton and took my granddaughter to the Children’s Museum. Housed in an 1875 farmhouse in beautiful Gage Park, the museum was once home to Hamilton’s Gage Family. It has been providing family-friendly learning opportunities to the public for more than 30 years.
Unfortunately we went on a Tuesday and in the winter the museum is closed on Tuesdays. I half expected Winnie to have a meltdown but she surprised me and started to run around on the grounds through the leaves and climbed on top of the giant anchor that is prominently displayed in the gardens.
When she got tired of doing that she wanted to sit in the car and play with the buttons on the console. I finally convinced her to go back into her car seat and we drove to Denninger’s Fine Foods.
Denninger’s is a wonderful family owned deli that sells delicious European delights. Winnie loved the samples and she was intrigued with the very large Nutcracker that guarded the front door.
Share Your World – Dec. 4, 2017
…thanks to Cee for coming up with new questions for Share Your World
What household chore do you absolutely hate doing?
I really do not like cleaning the bathroom, any bathroom but I don’t like a dirty bathroom, either.
At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
I think I feel most passionate and alive when I’m doing things for other people and when I’m celebrating with friends and family. Last summer I never felt more alive when we travelled to Italy with the family to celebrate our son’s and daughter-in-law’s wedding.
How many times have you moved in the last ten years?
I have not moved once in the last ten years. In fact, I haven’t moved in over 38 years. I have, however, moved my father three times in the last two years.
What inspired you or what did you appreciate this past week? Feel free to use a quote, a photo, a story, or even a combination.
This past week I’m grateful for time spent with my friends, Liz and Michele, and my granddaughter, Winnie. I normally travel to Hamilton at least once a week to spend time with my daughter, Gaelan and granddaughter, Winnie. Last week our plans changed slightly and I ended bringing the two of them back to Toronto. We went for a long walk to the library and had dinner together here at the house.
As you know from my recent posts, I made an advent calendar for Winnie and her family. When I picked them up I dropped it off at their house and Gaelan has send me photos of Winnie with some of her gifts. I think it’s been a bit of a challenge for Gaelan to keep Winnie from opening all the gifts in one sitting.
Last week I also spent time with Michele. We met at Sherway Gardens where we did a bit of Christmas shopping together and then I treated Michele to lunch at the Keg to celebrate her birthday that took place earlier in the month. Later in the week, Liz and I drove downtown to the CBC to take part in Sounds of the Season. We lined up to see Tom Power (host of CBC’s Q) and were thrilled to hear Lydia Persaud, Ruth B and Whitehorse perform. After the show we walked over to The Canteen and had a great lunch.
This was also a very important week for our son. The project he has been working on for almost three years has finally come to fruition. In his own words:
Kaboom!!!! 3 years of work, a deep dive into the V&A’s collection of 2.5 million objects, 16 trips to China, working with the dream team of Sam Jacob Studio, with Fraser Muggeridge Studio and Alice Masters, and here it is: A glorious V&A Gallery in Shenzhen, full of strange and wonderful things, materials, and spaces.
Advent Calendar #2
….another calendar for my other two girls
When I saw the jewellery organizer with pockets I knew I wanted it for another advent calendar. The only problem with this piece is that the pockets are a little on the small side and and there are only 21 of them. On the plus side there are more hangers on the back of it and it can be used after the advent season is over. If the girls don’t need a jewellery organizer they can put it in their bathroom and put small toiletries and make-up in the pockets.
I would highly recommend gathering items for this kind of organizer well in advance. I’m debating whether to wrap each individual item or just place them in the pockets as is. My fear is that the wrapping paper might make some of the items too large for the small pockets. Part of the fun of these types of advent calendars is unwrapping a new item each day. Maybe I’ll wrap some and leave the rest unwrapped.
Here is what it looks like before it is filled and after it’s filled. I’m already 3 days late giving this to my daughter and her wife so I’ll have to decide tonight how to present it. I’m hoping to drop it off tomorrow. 
Mama Cormier 