Webster’s Falls

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Mama Cormier

….one of dozens in the Hamilton area

Hamilton is not only the city where my youngest daughter and her family live but it is also considered the Waterfall Capital of the World. Hamilton sits on the Niagara Escarpment and the region surrounding this large urban area has over 100 naturally occurring waterfalls; there are so many waterfalls in fact that some call Hamilton the “City of Waterfalls”.

Webster’s Falls is one of the first falls I have visited in the area. It is 30 metres wide and 22 metres high. I took the following history of the falls from http://www.waterfalls.hamilton.ca.

The waterfall and surrounding land was purchased in 1819 by the Webster family. Their family manor still stands on the Webster’s Falls Road and family gravestones have been preserved in a small area near the parking lot. A story of native folklore also surrounds this site. In the area now known as Westover, lived an Attiwendaron chieftan and his princess daughter. Although the princess had fallen in love with a high-ranking Indian from the Seneca Nation, she was promised in marriage to a young chief of the Erie Nation. The cheiftan threatened to imprison the princess unless she agreed to marry the chosen chief from the Erie Nation. The young lovers, realizing the hopelessness of their situation, locked in each other’s arms, jumped over Webster’s Falls to meet their death in the rock pool below. Legend has it that whenever the water level is high and the air is filled with a silvery mist from the full moon, the princess and her lover can be seen to rise to the edge of the cliff, where they again pledge their endless love to one another.

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Silent Sunday – October 15, 2017

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Mama Cormier

….a hint of fall colours

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Silent Sunday – October 8, 2017

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Sunday Trees – 208

Posted on November 8, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Becca Givens for hosting Sunday Trees

New Flower (November 7, 2015) – Red Yellow Black Eyed Susan

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….on our walk through my daughter’s Hamilton neighbourhood I found this lovely Black Eyed Susan proudly displaying her bloom in autumn colours

Sunday Trees – 155

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Mama Cormier

….check out Becca Givens site for more Sunday Trees

Sunday Trees – 154

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Mama Cormier

…..join Becca Givens and post pictures of your favourite tree.

The Colours of November

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Mama Cormier

….the contrast between the grey skies and remaining flora is stunning

The Visit is Over, the View from my Room and a Project for a New Week

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Mama Cormier

…. my son is on his way back to the Netherlands

When I woke up this morning I was in awe of the beautiful golden colours from the crabapple tree outside my bedroom window. It was a sharp contrast from the cool fuchsia pink blossoms of the spring.

Despite the beautiful day It was somewhat sad. I had to say good bye to my son. His short visit was over and it was time for him to return to the Netherlands. There is a possibility that he’ll be back at Christmas.

Heading out for the bus station. B had to get back to Montreal to catch his flight back to Europe.

After dropping B at the bus station I did some shopping for school and home. Sunday is my least favourite day of the weekend because I always find I’m getting ready for school or trying to complete chores in the house that I didn’t get done earlier in the week.

Friday night I did work on a sample for one of our next art assignments. We’re working on how dark and light tones of colour add depth and dimension to objects using chalk pastels. I’ve already introduced the concept to one of my grade 3 classes and they’re very excited about drawing pumpkins.

There are many variations of this theme on numerous art blogs. I needed to move away from paint and have the students experiment with a new medium.

The blog that I used for this project belongs to Gail Bartel. She does some amazing projects with her students. Check them out at A Faithful Attempt

It’s going to be a crazy week. The library is going to be shut down for 2 days so that library services can come in and ‘revitalize the space’ (weed outdated and damaged books) and Scholastic Books is dropping off the cases for next week’s Book Fair. We also have to sit down and organize the Remembrance Day assembly, write report cards for the progress reports and get ready for our big district review (all classes will be inspected to see what kind of learning takes place).

Of course that means there will be more stress in my life and we all know how stress affects my weight loss. I’m thankful that I’m at least maintaining my weight loss. I’m contemplating joining a gym again. The one I used to go to has just reopened in a new location, closer to home, and is cheaper and offers more for less. I’m tempted. What do you think?

Colours of Autumn

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Mama Cormier

….. summer left by the back door

It seems like yesterday when we were experiencing warm sunny days. I was still wearing my sandals to work and by noon sweaters and jackets were abandoned because of warm temperatures.

Today, cold winds and grey skies firmly established that summer is no more and that winter is not far behind. On our daily walk we now step over smashed walnuts and chestnuts and push through multi-coloured fallen leaves. The dog’s tail is picking up burrs and she’s finding the most disgusting things to roll in.

It’s the colours of autumn that I am enchanted with. The red of the sumac leaves against purple wild flowers and fading green to yellow grasses excites my senses and makes me want to get out my paints and play with colour washes.

Today, on our walk, I purposely looked for colours from foliage not often photographed when one thinks of autumn. The soft textures of tall grasses and milkweed pods to the spiky thorns of burrs and seed pods is like a magnet for my imagination and camera lens.

Enjoy!