….thanks to Debbie Symth for hosting Six Word Saturday from Travel with Intent
It’s too pretty to pack up!
Six Word Saturday – Excuse
4
Category Archives: Memories
WPC – Favourite Action Shots for 2017
….I promise that these are the last of my favourites for 2017
Playing with a telephoto lens is new for me and this year I loved experimenting with my new toy. One of the things that I enjoyed doing was trying to catch action shots. I found it tricky timing the shot. So often I would take the shot too early or too late and only get part of the subject or none of it in the photo. Here are two shots that I’m particularly fond of. I’m sure they are far from perfect but it’s a work in progress.
WPC – Favourites of 2017
….I couldn’t help but include photos of my granddaughter
My favourite photos of my granddaughter were the ones that she didn’t pose for. I love capturing her in her quiet and inquisitive moments.
Two more of my favourites for the WPC challenge – favourites
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.
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Letter P – has to have at least 5 letters and start with the letter P
….thanks Cee for hosting this week’s Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge
Pollinating Purple Flowers
Parents
Pumpkins
Parade
Produce
Advent Calendar #1
…every day, from December 1st to the 24th a new surprise to unwrap
Years ago my daughter and husband collaborated on a project where I was given a small gift every day from Dec. 1st to the 24th. Each gift was carefully wrapped and placed in a take away container and set before me at the breakfast table. I was so touched by this gesture that I’ve wanted to do a similar ‘advent calendar’ for someone special in my life. This year I finally got my act together and did just that. In fact I created two different ‘calendars’ for my two daughters and their families. Today I’ll share the first one with you.
At first I was just going to create a calendar for my granddaughter but then I decided to include presents for my daughter and son-in-law as well. In fact I even threw in a gift for their dog, Lucy. The hard part of this project was choosing what to put the presents into. I decided to use an over the door shoe organizer that had 24 pockets. After searching the internet and several stores I finally found the perfect vessel. After Christmas, I thought that the organizer could be used to store some of Winnie’s toys.
Apart from buying things that would be fun to open and be somewhat practical and not break the bank, the next most difficult part was wrapping each gift.
I won’t kid you and say that this project is simple and quick to put together. If I were to do it again I would start buying small gifts months in advance and wrap them as soon as I bought them. It was, however, fun to do and now that December 1st is here I’ve been blessed with photos of my granddaughter’s reaction to the first gift that she unwrapped this morning.
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Letter O – Needs to have an O anywhere in the World
….thanks Cee for hosting Fun Foto Challenge
Otters at the Toronto Zoo
Orangutan at the Toronto Zoo
Jack-O-Lantern
Cows at the Royal
Hog at the Royal
Olaf at the Hamilton Santa Claus Parade
Black and White vs Colour – November 27, 2017
…join the fun and change your colour photos into black and white
Thanks to the Maine Paper Pusher for hosting the Black and White vs Colour photo challenge.
Which of the two do you prefer?
Standing in the rain, waiting for Santa.
Dogs, Dogs, Dogs…..
….what’s more entertaining than a dozen super energetic Super Dogs?
In the summer I saw, for the first time, the Super Dog Show at the CNE. I was sitting pretty far back from the arena and I didn’t have my zoom lens with me so most of my shots were distant and often not very focused. It was also very dark in the arena and the dogs were highlighted with special lights and spot lights.
A couple of weeks ago when I went to the Royal Winter Fair with my father, he really wanted to see the Super Dog Show, so I went again. It was very different this time. It wasn’t dark, we sat much closer and I had my zoom lens with me. It was, however, still difficult to get clear shots of the dogs because they moved so quickly through the race course.
Here are a few shots that I managed to get that I’m somewhat happy with:
These last two shots are probably my favourites.
Share Your World – November 6, 2017
….thanks Cee for hosting Share Your World
Would you rather take a 2 week vacation with an organized tour or take a cruise of your choice?
Sometimes I think I would like a two week vacation with an organized tour, especially in an exotic place where I don’t know the language. China and India come to mind. On the other hand, I’m far too spontaneous and I’m somewhat adventurous and I think I’d like to organize some of my itinerary. I see benefits to both ways of travelling.
Did you like swinging as a child? Do you still get excited when you see a swing?
I did like swings but I was wary of going too high. I still get that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I see children soar to the max.
What is the most important thing that you ever learned ? (I bet it’s not something you learned in school)
In my 20s I learned that not everyone will like you and often the reasons are not clear. The hardest part is to except it and get on with your life. Focus on those who love you and don’t try to change for people who don’t.
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.
Last week I went to a wedding and met up with old friends of the family. When we first came to Canada my parents knew few people but my father’s good friend and his wife, along with their 4 year old son arrived before us. As their family and ours grew we were almost like cousins. Carlo was my godfather and my father was godfather to their third boy. In my family there were three girls and they had four boys. On the weekend the second son’s youngest boy married and we were invited. Everyone still calls my Dad, Onkel Heinz and they were thrilled to be able to finally introduce their children to us. It was so nice to put faces to all the names we’ve heard over the years.
The next day we celebrated my oldest daughter’s birthday. It was actually the day before but because of the wedding we delayed the celebration by a day. We met at Barque’s for brunch and then went back to Andrea’s and Josie’s place for cake.
On Monday my 91 year old father wanted relive some memories of his past by visiting the Royal Winter Fair. As a boy he grew up next to a farm and helped tend to some of the animals. Last year I went there with my youngest daughter, Gaelan and her daughter Winnie who was only one at the time.
It was wonderful seeing the joy my father got out of such a simple excursion. We started off watching the horse jumping competition and then walked through the barns where we saw cattle, sheep and pigs. We strolled amongst the prize winning vegetables and fruits and then we went to the food court and had some lunch.
After a meal of fish and chips we headed towards the President’s Choice Theatre to watch the Super Dogs show. We arrived a bit early so we also took in the Medieval Times presentation. My dad loved both shows and was so impressed that he felt that it should have been televised. I explained to him that the Royal wants you to go there. If it was on TV people wouldn’t need to attend.
Mama Cormier 