….thanks Cee for hosting the Black and White Photo Challenge
Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge – Any Animal
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Tag Archives: animals
Reflections of the Past
….fond memories of the High Park Zoo
When I was very young, about three to be exact, I remember going to the High Park
Zoo with my parents and little sister. I loved feeding the ducks and seeing what I thought at the time were exotic animals. Those exotic animals would have been bison, deer and camels. I remember bringing bags of carrots and I can still feel the pull that the deer exerted when nibbling on the these treats as I held them through the wire fence.
I recall going there quite often because we lived fairly close by. I loved walking on the stone ledges pretending to balance on a precarious cliff. In the warm weather my parents would dress us in our Sunday best and we would walk down by Grenadier Pond and around the beautiful gardens. It was also a favourite place to take visitors.
Last Sunday my husband and I drove to High Park (it’s a bit far to walk to now), parked the car and started to walk along the pathways. When we got to the top of one hill I made a request to head down towards the zoo. I felt like a kid again. The camels are no longer there but the deer and bison still reside in this zoo. Feeding the animals is now completely forbidden.
Do you visit a place that brings back fond memories from when you were a child?
WPC – Favourite Animals in 2017
…these are my favourite photos taken with my telephoto lens of animals
This week’s theme for the WPC is favourites
Roda’s Critter Connection Challenge – November 27, 2017
….thanks to Roda for hosting The Critter Connection Challenge
I went back to my photos from my last Toronto Zoo visit. I loved this amazing Red River hog. They can be found in west and central Africa, as well as Madagascar.
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.
Roda’s Critter Connection – Turtles at the Zoo
…Roda has brought back her Critter Connection on Mondays
A Few More Portraits and New Animal Sketches
….the grade 2s can’t seem to get enough art assignments
After Easter, when some of my students returned from extended holidays the last of the artist portraits were finished and I promised that I would post their work on my blog. So here goes:
For the students who finished earlier I introduced them to to doing line drawings of animals and then filling them into with pencil and erasing parts to highlight light areas, markings and fur or skin texture. I had learned this technique from Carla Sonheim. I like to challenge this class because they are so open to trying new things. I showed them my samples of the elephant drawings I had done using this technique and then I provided them with photos of a variety of animals that they could choose to draw.
We started this last week and it was suppose to be a filler activity for those students who had finished all their work but at the end of this week’s class almost every student had made at least one of these drawings. Can you tell that Easter just passed when these were finished?
Share Your World – 2014 Week 22
…..I may not be able to answer one of these questions
Regarding animals would you prefer not having them around or having domestics pets, farm animals, or seeing them in nature or the zoo?
I love animals and love having them around. I’m very much a dog person but we have owned a cat, gerbils, hamsters and budgie birds. I also enjoy seeing wild animals on my walks or seeing them in my backyard. 
I know that a lot of people don’t like zoos but I’ve always had a soft spot for zoos. Over the years they’ve become better and for some the only way they would ever see some of the exotic animals that only a zoo can house.
Are you a collector of anything?
I used to collect teddy bears but the collection became too large so I stopped asking for them. In the last few years I’ve been giving away some of my least favourite bears.
If you could know the answer to any question, besides “What is the meaning of life?”, what would it be?
Hmmm, I really have to think about this. I’ll come back to this one. Later…..How do you answer this question?
If you were to treat yourself to the “finer things” what would you treat yourself to?
I would treat myself to extra fine sheets made from the best Egyptian cotton, the loftiest down comforter, and the best bed money can buy. I must be tired because I’m thinking only of sleep.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Last week I was grateful for my oldest daughter helping me put some finishing touches on the grade 5 project so that it would be ready for the silent auction. I’m also happy that my girls’ soccer team won the West Conference Finals and are now moving on to the City Finals. Lastly I’m grateful for the support from the kids and their parents for our annual Jump Rope for Heart fund raiser. So far they’ve raised over $6000. this year.
This week I’m looking forward to working on my report cards …..NOT. Actually I am looking forward to finishing them for the last time this school year.
For more Share Your World posts check out http://ceenphotography.com/2014/06/02/share-your-world-2014-week-22/
Mama Cormier 