A Photo a Week – Endings

Posted on May 26, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….thanks to Nancy Merrill for hosting A Photo a Week Challenge

I think I can safely say that winter has come to an end. Here’s proof.

New Flower (May 22, 2017) – Newport Flowering Plum

Image

Sunday Trees – 283

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Mama Cormier

…..Happy Easter Becca Givens

Easter greetings to all. So happy to finally share some colour for Sunday Trees.

13 000 More Steps to a Healthier Me

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Mama Cormier

….after work I treated myself and my good friend L to a manicure and pedicure

I’m going to a wedding tomorrow and I really needed to get my toes done. It was L’s birthday last month so I decide to treat her to a manicure and pedicure after work today. Of course it made no sense to sit and watch her being pampered so I had to treat myself as well. Besides I’ve been wearing sandals to work for a few weeks now and it was a little embarrassing when my kindergarten students pointed out that my nail polish on my toes was chipping.

: Coca Cola Red on my toes

: Gel Polish

After about an hour of soaking, filing and applying colour we headed over to Marshall’s to try on some clothes. I chose nine tops to try on and left with two. When I got home my husband had just pulled out one of his homemade pizzas from the oven. Yummy!

After supper Frances was eager to go for her evening walk. Even though I was tired I knew that once I got going I would really feel better for it and I do enjoy it. The rain had stopped and it looked like it would stay away for awhile. I brought along my iPhone to snap a few pictures. Before I left I checked my Jawbone Up to see how far I had walked up to this point. It registered at just over 6000 steps.

Tonight we headed towards Col. Samuel Smith Park. I’ve been letting Frances dictate how far we walk and the direction she wants to go. When we got to the park I thought for sure she’d want to turn back but no she proceeded to head towards the lake and the naturalized area of the park. I kept my eyes open for some interesting shots and I think I managed to catch a few good ones. Here are a few things we saw on our walk tonight.

When we finally got home I checked my Up bracelet and discovered that I had walked almost 13 000 steps. This is the third day in a row that I’ve walked over 10 000 steps. Last week I averaged over 11 000 steps a day. I’m hoping that this increase in movement and watching what I eat will help me lose the pounds that I put back on. Luckily I didn’t put it all back on but more than I should have. I need to learn to get right back on track as soon as the first five pounds return.

Spring is in the Air

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Mama Cormier

….how wonderful

Yesterday the boys and girls at school, along with a group of parents, cleaned up and replanted the garden in front of the school. It was a beautiful day and every class in the school took turns pulling weeds, raking debris and leaves, turning soil, planting new flowers and covering the beds with mulch.

The children had a wonderful time. They put their hearts and souls into the work. A few mistakes were made. Sometimes tulips were uprooted when they were mistaken for weeds but all in all the garden was turned around and is now something to be proud of. Here are a few pictures of the activity that took place.

Signs of Summer in My Neighbourhood

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Mama Cormier

…..on my evening walk with Frances

Who says you can only decorate trees at Christmas?

As we entered the park I noticed a lot of bird activity. It’s clear that there’s a lot of nesting going on. The pond has a pair of resident swans. The female was on a reedy little island in the middle of the pond, probably sitting on her eggs, while the male was enjoying a leisurely evening swim.

The shrubs and trees are almost completely green and flowering species are near the end of their blossom cycle.

One of the most obvious signs for me that summer is just around the corner is the reappearance of the boats from the yacht club back in the water.

Everything is Blooming

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Mama Cormier

…..except my flowering crabapple tree

Tonight I took a quick walk around my neighbourhood to get a few evening shots. At the park, 100 feet from my house, the reflection of the setting sun on the city skyline was spectacular. This is when I wish I had a better camera.As I approached the water I noticed that the swans have returned to our shoreline. Such magnificent birds. There was a bit of a wind tonight and I seemed to have trouble holding the camera still but I got at least one good shot.

On my little walk I couldn’t help but notice how the shrubs and trees have all of a sudden come to life with colourful blooms. The forsythia shrubs and magnolia trees are an explosion of yellows, whites and pink. As the cherry blossoms start to whither we are treated to new beauties to enjoy.

….and then there’s my poor tree. Of course I complain about this every year but because of the proximity to the lake our flowering crabapple tree is always the last to bloom in the neighbourhood. I’m particularly worried this year because in the fall the city came to trim our tree and ended up scalping it beyond recognition. Oh well, here’s hoping for the best.