…thanks to City Sonnet for hosting the August Photo a Day
Today’s prompt is sandy beach.
Our sandy beach on Big Sand Bay has receded considerably over the last 30 years. As water levels rise the beach on parts of the north shore have disappeared completely. In the middle of the beach and to the east we can still claim to have a sandy beach.
….thanks to Snow from The Snow Melts Somewhere for this week’s Friendly Friday Photo Challenge
I know that tourism is good for the economy and that many communities around the world rely heavily on tourism. When possible we try to travel in the off season to avoid large crowds. There are times, however, when that is not possible. One time was the summer our son got married in Italy.
I loved Italy but we did avoid some areas because of the heavy foot traffic from tourists. Most of the places we visited were very popular and the crowds were unavoidable. Two of those places were Venice and Rome. Despite the large number of tourists, we thoroughly enjoyed both cities.
….recently featured at MOCA
Several weeks ago my daughter, daughter-in-law and I went to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto. My daughter wanted to check out the zine show and I wanted to see the gallery. I’d never been to MOCA and the entrance fee was free that day….BONUS!!!
The zine show was packed with young entrepreneurs, displaying and selling their tiny self published magazines.
In the main gallery, the show that was featured was called ‘The Life of a Dead Tree’ and it consisted of sections of a dead tree that had been taken down here in the city. There was an on going study of the tree and there were experts around the room that could answer questions that you might have about what you were seeing. I’m glad we took the time to ask questions because it made the display that much more interesting.
The part that I found most interesting were the insects that inhabited the tree and were eventually the demise of the tree.
When I saw the patterns on the next two photos I thought that they were done by humans as part of the art project. To my amazement the guide explained how the emerald ash borer had made these marks….beautiful but deadly.
….turrets is what Winnie calls the playscape in High Park
Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my granddaughter so that her mom could spend some time with her father in the hospital. She was very excited when she found out that I was taking her to High Park.
The Jamie Bell Adventure Park was a community built playground and very popular with families. In March of 2012 the place was torched by a suspected arsonists. The community quickly rallied and raised enough money to rebuild the structures and the adventure park was reopened in August of the same year.
When Winnie and I arrived there were ‘hordes’ (the word used by Winnie) of children there enjoying the space. Even though Winnie is not yet four she didn’t let the crowds deter her from having a good time. I got quite the workout running after her so I wouldn’t lose sight of her.
The only way I could get her away from the turrets was to bribe her with ice-cream.
Afterwards we headed over to the zoo to see Fred the peacock. She calls all the peacocks Fred but unfortunately none of them were displaying their tail feathers. She did like this goat standing on the rocks overlooking his harem.
Like the goat Winnie wanted to sit up high above the rest of us and she convinced Oma to lift her up onto this massive stump on the walkway.
After a very long walk back to the car she collapsed onto the cool grass and had a wee rest.
These are the special moments that grandparents live for.
By the way, my husband was released from the hospital and is now resting at home.
….amazing how much a garden can grow and go wild in the space of a few weeks
Now that our daughter and son-in-law are living at the camp up at Sparrow Lake they have to rely on family and friends to mind the garden in Hamilton while they’re away. I brought Gaelan home for the weekend and we were amazed at how much the garden had grown despite the efforts of well meaning family members.
In all fairness to everyone involved I have noticed, even here at home, how quickly the weeds can go from 0 to 5 feet in a matter of days.
….thanks to Xingfu Mama for hosting the Pull Up a Seat Photo Challenge
….thanks to Rag Tag Team for hosting Foto Friday
Of all the places I’ve visited the place I’d like to return to is Venice. I loved everything about it.
….thanks to Travels and Trifles for hosting this week’s Lens Artist Challenge
Last week my daughters and I took a break from city life and spent four days at the cottage with our dogs. Frances (my dog) and Olive get along very well despite the large age difference (10 years). I’m very much a water person and love living by large bodies of water, both at home and the cottage. The cottage is on Christian Island in Georgian Bay which is part of Lake Huron. We had a wonderful time swimming, playing with the dogs and trying to put together an impossible 1000 piece puzzle of the moon.
During our stay these two lovely ladies put together the new barbecue while I read the instructions. After it was completed Josie made us a fabulous dinner on the barbecue. I do all my cooking outdoors when I’m at the cottage. Great food, lots of wine and spirits (but not too much) and time spent with friends and family; I can’t imagine a better way to ‘take a break’.
When it was all over Frances needed ‘a break’ from all that running and playing on the beach. She is after all 12 1/2.
….thanks to Becky B for hosting the month long challenge, July Blues
I’ve been off and on to the cottage this month and it makes it difficult to post daily because I have no electricity or internet access. So I’ve saved up a batch of blue photos to share with you. The challenge is now over but Becky has compiled a gallery of blue photos that she’s worked hard to put together. Go check it out.
Mama Cormier 