Capturing Life and Facing the Unknown

2/100 - Sebastien

2012-02-05T18:46:00.001-05:00

Sebastien was another Apple Distinguished educator presenting during our session at Apple. Sebastien is a principal but prefers to think of himself as a pedagogical leader. He taught for 15 years before taking on his newest role as leader. He, like Jacques, is passionate about teaching and technology. He works at a private school where only 30% of his clientele can afford to pay the full tuition. The balance is paid by the community. Hence, is has a very strict budget and must be careful how he spends money. When he talks about the projects going on in his school, he cannot hide his enthusiasm. Like Stone Soup, he has made a lot out of a little.

He talked about the importance of having a vision and looking ahead when making decisions today. He also explained the importance of leaders leading by example. It is very clear that Sebastien leads by example and models the skills and attitudes he wants his team to have. He makes himself available to his staff for professional development or support. He has a blog, website and is active on Twitter. Sounds like a pedagogical leader to me! Thanks for sharing your vision and knowledge, Sebastien.

After my first experience (0/100), I have to admit I was rather gun shy or should I say shutter shy. I didn't realize just how much until it was time for me to ask Jacques if I could take his picture. Trust me, it had nothing to do with him. He was more than accommodating. Fortunately, after breaking the ice it was easier asking Sebastien. I didn't get overly creative or technical with either photo but I'm hoping with each new 'stranger' the asking will get easier and the photography will improve.

1/100 - Jacques

2012-02-05T18:44:00.002-05:00

Earlier this week a colleague and I attended a workshop at Apple in Montreal. The session was called, "Learning and Teaching with the iPad". It gave teachers and technology consultants a chance to see what is being done with the iPad. We not only shared apps but experiences and solutions. During the first part of the day, three educators presented their 'story'. One of theses speakers was Jacques.

Jacques is a musician and teacher. He not only plays the double bass but he teaches music at Mother Teresa Junior High School in Laval. He also has the title of Apple Distinguished Educator. He talked about his journey and how he brings technology into his music classes. It was easy to hear and see his passion for music, technology and of course teaching. In the background you see part of the video he produced to promote his school.

Jacques was familiar with the 100 Strangers project and willingly let me take his picture. He even gave me some photography pointers. Later that day I saw him helping a music teacher who wanted to do composition and recording with her classes. Thanks for being so generous with your time and knowledge, Jacques. It was a pleasure meeting you.

0/100 - The 1 that got away

2012-02-05T18:42:00.001-05:00

Yep, this was the 1 that would never be. After all the necessary material arrived, camera and mini cards, I decided it was time to get started on this new project. I chose to begin close to home. On the return trip from work we stopped at a quaint boutique that we go to quite regularly. We know the store and the products but not the people. I thought a portrait there would make an interesting beginning.

I brought my camera in and we started looking around for the purchases we planned on making. After chatting a minute or two with the young lady who served us, I told her about my project and asked if I could take her picture. She said sure but she'd have to ask her boss first. When she came back downstairs she said it wasn't a problem but her boss told her she'd like the picture to be taken in the other part of the boutique. Fortunately, the other part actually made a better backdrop. Anyway, I was about to start taking pictures when I realized I had forgotten to put my battery in the camera. DUH! I asked Peg if she would go out to the car and get it for me.

While we were waiting I thought it would be a good time to get to know a little bit about my subject. I asked her how long she'd been working there and what made her decide to work there. As she was answering the questions her boss came down the stairs. She asked me if I was doing an interview. I told her I was just asking her some questions. She then wanted to know what I was doing so I explained the 100 strangers project to her. She started asking things like if I had a license, where were the pictures going. She said she would rather I contact the owners and get their permission. I said, no problem.

However, she continued talking about how I could get into trouble and how they got into trouble letting a friend of theirs take pictures there. I have to admit, this was about the time I was wishing my French was a bit stronger. She stayed polite, as did I, but she then mentioned that I could get into trouble because Quebec was a village and word would get around fast that someone, me, was taking pictures. In the end, we payed for our purchase, thanked the young lady and left. I do hope she didn't experience any downfall from this incident.

Needless to say, I was disappointed, confused and a little frustrated. As soon as I arrived at home I started researching photography laws in Quebec to try to understand how she felt I was somehow doing something wrong. I was discouraged by her reaction and was even rethinking the project. After all, if this was the reaction I was going to get I wasn't sure I wanted to continue. From what I read all I need to take and post the pictures is spoken permission from the subject. Since we were in a boutique she did have the right to refuse having the picture taken there. While I completely understand and respect that right I still don't fully understand why she felt I would get into trouble.

After doing some research, talking to people and reflecting, I decided to accept the challenge and continue with the project. I'd be interested if anyone has some information that would shed some light on my understanding. Thanks.

New Year, New Challenge

2011-12-27T22:20:00.000-05:00

As you've all noticed, I haven't been posting much during the last six months or so. Yes, I was busy but then who isn't? Truthfully, I've been less motivated and really felt like I needed a new challenge. While searching for tips on taking portraits, I found a link to a project called 100 Strangers. The goal of this project is, you guessed it, to take pictures of 100 strangers. But there are rules. You must talk to each person and get permission to take their picture and post it on the internet. You also need to post a little write up about each stranger.
After reading some interesting entries, I decided it was just the inspiration I needed. Not only will I have the opportunity to work on my portraiture skills but I will meet people, hear their stories and no doubt be inspired. I've ordered my mini cards (recommended to use with the project) from Little Moo. On the front I have one of the 20 photos I've chosen and on the other side is my name, my blog address, my flickr address and a little thank you/merci message. They are scheduled to arrive in January so I'll be ready to go.
I'm a little concerned about approaching that first stranger. I will definitely be venturing outside my comfort zone. But that's what learning's all about, isn't it? Here's to a new year and a new challenge!

Update 14 - Sarah's Lilies

2011-09-05T22:52:00.003-04:00

While visiting with our friend Sarah I couldn't resist snapping a few shots of her lilies. I'm not sure what her secret is but her lilies always seem to look so beautiful. I chose these two shots because of the softness and the colours.
I realize that I only posted a portion of the pictures that I would have had I blogged every day over the last few months. However, the task of posting these seemed daunting enough to keep me procrastinating for awhile. Now that I'm somewhat caught up I will attempt to return to blogging regularly. I also plan on visiting my fellow bloggers to see what they've been up to. Thanks to all of you who have continued visiting despite my lack of posts. I have missed blogging and missed visiting my fellow bloggers even more.

Update 13 - Garden flowers

2011-09-05T22:46:00.004-04:00

Although I haven't taken many pictures over the summer, I did manage to get out to the front garden to snap some flower pictures. I know I've posted daisies a time or two before but they're one of my favourites and I can never get enough. I did try some different angles and perspectives though.

Update 12 - Will of the Wisps

2011-09-05T22:35:00.004-04:00

Quebec is so full of culture and there are so many things to see. When we have visitors from out of town one of the places we like to bring them to is Atelier Pare. Atelier Pare is a museum that tells the legends of Quebec through wood sculptures. There are many beautiful sculptures and Scott and Francoise, the owners, are amazing story tellers. The above picture is a collage of the Will O the Wisps. These sculptures are mounted on tall poles and set in a semicircle in behind the museum. If you click on the picture to enlarge it you can read the legend.

Update 11 - Sunflower

2011-09-05T22:32:00.003-04:00

Sunflowers are so happy. This cheerful fellow sprouted out of our back vegetable garden this summer. It seems that a few of the seeds from the bird feeder managed to find their way to the garden, resulting in this flower.

Update 10 - Storm Clouds

2011-09-05T22:25:00.002-04:00

One afternoon we were out in the pool. It was a warm sunny day. At one point we looked up and saw clouds approaching. We decided it was best to get out of the pool. As we were standing on the deck we chatted with our neighbours. They were laughing because the clouds were over our house and it was still sunny at their place. Although the clouds looked like they might bring some nasty weather, they merely dropped a few raindrops and then went on their way.

Update 9 - Secret in the Garden

2011-09-05T22:20:00.002-04:00

One of our friends came over with her children, Zef and Oceanne, to visit and swim in the pool. Once chatting, swimming and snacking were done it was time for them to head home. While her mom was saying goodbye to us, Oceanne was hiding in the garden. She wanted to surprise her mom when she came out. I noticed her there when I walked past the bedroom. I quietly got my camera and snapped this shot from the other side of the window. She looks so peaceful and content. It's hard to imagine she was planning something mischievous. I guess looks can be deceiving.

Update 8 - Bad Petal Day

2011-09-05T22:09:00.005-04:00

We have a small garden behind our house. It's right under the kitchen window. One of the flowers we planted there is Monardia (Bee Balm). The flowers are very colourful and their pollen attracts hummingbirds. I actually saw one hovering over this flower. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera at the time.
I love how the petals of this flower stick out every which way. If only I could look so good when I'm having a bad hair day.

Update 7 - Soccer Sara

2011-09-05T22:02:00.004-04:00

Our goddaughter Sara has LOTS of energy. She takes swimming lessons, goes to Circus School (You've already seen some pics.) and this summer her parents enrolled her in soccer. Peg and I joined her and her dad one evening. It was quite comical to see the little guys chasing the ball. Some were definitely more interested in drinking their water or chatting than dribbling the soccer ball through cones.
I took this picture AFTER her practice. She was running up and down the hill. As you can see, she still has LOTS of energy. Oh to be young again.

Update 6 - Raindrops

2011-09-05T21:57:00.002-04:00

Overall, we had a pretty nice summer but we had our fair share of rain. I caught the rain 'in action' in the picture above. The rain was coming down rather hard on the deck. I opened the door and took the picture from inside.
After the rain stopped I ventured outside and took some more pictures. The one below was my favourite. I like the different sized droplets and realized afterwards that I could see my reflection in them.

Update 5 - Canada Day in Streetsville

2011-09-05T21:49:00.003-04:00

After a long overnight drive from Quebec City, we arrived in Streetsville, near Mississauga, Ontario, just in time to partake in the Canada Day festivities. It was a great atmosphere with singing, dancing and lots of Canadian spirit. This handsome RCMP officer allowed me to take his picture. Later, I put my camera on the tripod and took numerous pictures of the fireworks. I decided to combine them using Photoshop. Overall, I'm happy with the results.

Update 4 - Battle on the Plains

2011-09-05T21:41:00.005-04:00

Our final outing of the year was a trip to the Plains of Abraham. Here the students were greeted and instructed by guides posing as Montcalm (French Army) and Wolfe (British Army). Once strategies were discussed, students were brought outside to learn some maneuvers. Once both teams had a chance to practice they executed their routines in front of the judges (parents and teachers) and we had to pick a winner. Both teams did an excellent job and the decision was not unanimous. The red (English) army came out ahead but only by one vote.
The students had a great time and learned a lot. If only all history could be taught in such an interactive manner.

Udate 3 - Water Fun

2011-09-05T21:17:00.005-04:00

On one of the last days of school, we went to the park with our PreKindergarten learning buddies. The kids painted t-shirts in the morning and then played on the games in the park. After lunch the water games were turned on. The kids, big and little, had a wonderful time running in and out of the water. At one point I had to put my camera down as one of my guys decided that I should get in on the fun.
I had my back to the water games, my first mistake, and suddenly felt cold water running down my back. When I turned around, Jay was holding a sponge ball in his hand and smiling. Once the electronics were safe I 'helped' Jay get wet under the games. I felt it was only fair to return the favour, right?
Once everyone had a chance to dry off a bit we headed to the parking lot to meet up with the ice cream truck. Everyone had a cone and then headed back to school. A great day was had by all!

Update 2 - Professional Olympics/Olympiades Professionelle

2011-09-05T21:05:00.003-04:00

Every two years the Olympiades Professionelle Quebec are held in Quebec City. This year the Canadian championship was held here and we took our Cycle 3 students. These Olympics allow students in trade programs to compete with other young people from across the country. Our students get to see the many possible trades that are available to them. There are also workshops where they get to test their skills at various trades. It's an amazing outing that is both educational and enjoyable. I captured a few of our students working on plumbing and electrical projects. Their skills were pretty impressive.

Update 1 - Renos: Before and After

2011-09-05T20:35:00.006-04:00

YES! The renovations are done and we LOVE them. As you can see in the pics above, we lived in chaos for awhile but it was well worth it. In fact, considering the conditions that some people have had to live in due to severe weather I'd say we'd have no reason to complain about such a minimal inconvenience.
We were very lucky through the whole process. There were no major 'surprises' that often come with renovations and all the people who had a part in the work did a wonderful job. I'd still like to try and get some different pics, maybe a video would show more, but I think even with these you can see how much lighter both rooms are. Like I said earlier, we LOVE it! If any of you need cupboards, tables, or other wooden furniture I'd highly recommend Chez Ti Pere, impeccable work and service.

May 28th - Circus Show

2011-05-29T18:34:00.003-04:00

Our goddaughter continues to take her circus courses. She LOVES it. Today we took a break from renos to attend her second annual show. It's mostly little guys but in between they have a few young adults performing. We're not allowed to use flashes so I had to adjust my ISO to 1600. The show was amazing and the little ones were adorable. It was definitely worth taking the break.

May 26th - Renovation Chaos

2011-05-29T18:25:00.002-04:00

This is the scene Peg and I came home to today after school. Apparently, Pierre and his son had a very busy day. We expected the bathroom to look as it is but we didn't think they'd get to the kitchen as well. They're very efficient. We have no water upstairs. Thankfully, we do have a washroom downstairs. Our laundry basket is our new dishwasher. We load up the dirty dishes, take them downstairs, wash them in the bathroom sink, dry them and put them back in the basket to go upstairs. Our living room is filled with the cupboards. Thankfully, our electrician will be taking them tomorrow so we'll have more room. The microwave and toaster are in the spare bedroom and we've converted the armoire in that room into a temporary pantry. It's a bit inconvenient but we won't complain. We know it'll all be worth it. Also, when we hear about those people who are losing their homes due to flooding or fires, our inconvenience becomes rather insignificant.

May 24th - Portraits

2011-05-29T18:22:00.002-04:00

I've been taking portraits of my students for a project I'm working on. I took these while we were outside today. I've been doing my best to get candid shots. I don't want them posing for me. It's tricky at times but I'm managing to get a few done each time we're out. However, I still have quite a few to do so hopefully we'll get out a bit next week.

May 22nd - Some colourful Spring flowers

2011-05-29T18:18:00.003-04:00

The renovation pics are a bit depressing right now so I figured I'd changed to colourful and happy flowers from the front garden. We haven't had much sun lately so it's extra nice to have these to look at. I hope everyone's having a blooming time in their part of the world.

May 19th - The Demo continues

2011-05-29T18:11:00.003-04:00

The demolition stage of the renovations is coming along. I managed to remove all the ceramic out of the washroom except for the bit under and behind the toilet. The doors are off all the cupboards in the kitchen and bathroom and we've managed to take down some of the cupboards in the kitchen. As you can see, I've started removing the ceramic from the kitchen wall. It comes off quite easily. I moved the fridge close to where it will be when the kitchen is completed. The handyman will be arriving soon to do some more demolition before the rebuilding begins. The kitchen is still functional but we both keep forgetting that someone moved the fridge.

May 18 - New windows

2011-05-29T18:07:00.003-04:00

Peg stayed home today while the window company came to install the new windows in the back. It was very hard for her to let go of the beautiful cedar windows that were there before but everyone assures us that PVC is much easier to maintain. She snapped this pic just after they took the first part of the window out of Christopher's room. She finds them very white and is looking forward to when our handyman puts in the stained wooden casings.

May 16 - Pool or pond?

2011-05-29T18:03:00.002-04:00

Between the renovations, school and the rainy weather we haven't had the time to get our pool up and running. However, these ducks don't seem to mind. They stopped by this morning and took a dip in the pool. I noticed them as I was eating breakfast. I grabbed my camera and headed outside. They didn't seem to mind getting their picture taken but decided to leave when Dexter joined me. Hmmm, I wonder why?

Monday, May 9th - Final Crocuses

2011-05-09T18:18:00.005-04:00

After all the rain we had last week the sun has been a very welcome sight these last few days. The plants and trees are happy and colour is popping up everywhere. I spotted this bunch of crocuses and decided I would post one final shot. Hope the sun is shining at your house too.

Sunday, May 8th - The Demolition Begins

2011-05-09T18:13:00.004-04:00

With most of the choices made and the shopping done, we figured it was time to start the demolition process. We thought it easiest to start in the bathroom. We managed to remove most of the ceramic tiles around the bathtub. It was a bit tricky to get started but went quite smoothly afterwards. It was actually quite cathartic, a good way to release any frustration or anger. We expect that removing the floor tiles won't be quite so easy. It was a messy job and Dexter isn't too keen about the changes. Unfortunately, he has quite a few more to encounter before the whole process is done.

Friday, May 6th - More Crocuses

2011-05-09T18:10:00.002-04:00

The crocuses are opening nicely. Here are a couple more pictures. I took them with my macro lens.

Tuesday, May 3rd - Thoughtful

2011-05-09T18:07:00.004-04:00

Snapped this picture of Em as he was deep in thought. Not sure what he was thinking about but it looks pretty serious. I decided to add a few dancing leaves in front of him. Not sure if I like the effect but . . . Em is a student and a loyal blog follower. He informed me that's it been quite some time since I've posted. Hmmm, who knows, maybe he was thinking, "I wonder when Mrs. Longney's going to post on her blog again?"

May 1st - They're opening!

2011-05-09T17:56:00.004-04:00

Was very happy to see the crocuses opening today while working in the yard. Of course I had to run in the house and grab the camera. They're a bit dark but I like the contrast between the open and closed flowers. Hope you like these flowers too because I plan on taking a few more pictures of them.

Thursday, April 28th - The wonder of pictures

2011-05-09T17:48:00.005-04:00

Woke up bright and early this morning and went to Montreal with my students for the book launch, Quebec Roots:The Place Where We Live. Before the book launch we visited the McCord Museum and saw this amazing exhibition by Andre Cornellier. It's a panorama of Montreal inspired by Wm. Notman and Son's panorama which was done 100 years before. Cornellier took approximately 5000 photos, 1300 of which make this panorama.
In the afternoon, the students got to see another amazing piece of work - their own chapter in the book. It was a long but gratifying day.

Tuesday, April 26th - Before

2011-05-09T17:40:00.004-04:00

No, I haven't died or fallen off the face of the Earth. I won't bother making excuses because I know everyone is busy. I guess you could say I just sort of fell off the bandwagon for a bit. I will be doing a number of posts today but not one for every day. I've given myself permission to ease off since it's my second year doing the project. I will do my best to post a few times a week for now. Oh, and my sincerest apologies to my fellow bloggers. I not only haven't been posting myself but haven't been checking out all your wonderful pics. I do plan on catching up on all the great pics.
As I mentioned a few posts a go, we're renovating the bathroom and kitchen. I decided to post a couple of before pictures before the demolition starts. I will be sure to post pictures throughout the different stages. Wish us luck.

Day 114 - Sadie

2011-04-24T21:02:00.005-04:00

After a very rainy day, the sun was a welcome sight today. We took the dogs out to the farm for a run. They had a wonderful time and so did we. I decided to take my camera along, something I haven't done in quite some time. I snapped this picture of Sadie as she was standing on the hill and watching Dexter. As you can see, there is still a bit of snow around. The good news is they're announcing warm temperatures and rain for the week ahead so there shouldn't be any left by this time next week. YES!

Day 113 - Let the renovations begin!

2011-04-24T20:50:00.007-04:00

Peg and I have had a pretty busy weekend. On Friday the gentleman from Chez Ti Pere, one of Peg's favourite places, came to take the measurements for our kitchen and bathroom. We're redoing both rooms upstairs and upgrading the downstairs bathroom with a new toilet, sink and vanity. The thing with renovations is that one job inevitably leads to another. Since Friday we've visited the ceramic store and picked out our tiles, ordered new windows for the bathroom and kitchen, and purchased the following: kitchen and bathroom faucets, bathtub, bathroom and kitchen sinks, lights for the bathroom, two toilets and a microwave with a built in fan.
Now that most of the shopping is done we have to start the demolition and make sure we book the plumber and electrician. All the jobs are quite entertwined (or braided) so we hope we're able to choreograph it all. I'll be sure to keep you posted with the process with pictures and posts containing some complaining, excitement and no doubt some blunders. Oh, by the way, this picture is of the hoses that are contacted to our new bathroom faucets.
Let the renovations begin!

Day 112 - Welcome Weeds

2011-04-24T20:45:00.002-04:00

Spotted these yellow flowers while walking out at the farm. They are a type of weed. They look a little like dandelions. I know weeds aren't always welcome but these happy flowers brought a smile to our faces today. We still have patches of snow here and there so ANY colour is more than welcome.

Day 111 - For the Birds

2011-04-24T20:40:00.004-04:00

We have a bird feeder in the backyard and these little guys seem to empty it almost as fast as we can fill it. They must have been pretty hungry because they let me get quite close today to snap some pics. I know one of them is a male and the other a female but as I've mentioned before I'm no bird expert so I'm not sure what kind of bird they are. Any ideas? I do love the touch of red they possess. Also, do they shell the seeds before eating them? The seeds seem to be big for their little beaks and I'm amazed that they don't choke.
Okay, I've done my research. These little guys are Common Redpoll finches.

Day 110 - Nice day if you're a polar bear.

2011-04-20T20:38:00.004-04:00

Well today definitely was a first; we had to close the school at 2:00 because of a snow storm AND it's April 20th. We've had to do this process before but never this late in the year. We've had about 15 cm of snow so far and it's not over yet. It was a slow drive home as most people no longer have their winter tires on and were slipping and sliding all over the place. Being a procrastinator actually paid off today as I haven't had the tires changed on the car.
Of course when we got home we had to shovel. I shoveled the deck and then Peg took over for the stairs. I managed to capture the polar bear 'enjoying' the snow. Now I do love polar bears but enough is enough. I want flowers!

Day 109 - Wild Canary

2011-04-20T20:31:00.002-04:00

We had sun and blue skies today. According to the weather forecast it's the calm before the storm. While in the backyard checking on the dogs, Peg noticed a bunch of birds in the bushes. I brought out my camera and snapped a few shots. The lighting was great but it was tricky getting the camera to focus on the birds rather than the branches in front of them. I got as close as I could and my feathered friends were quite stationary. I managed to capture this little guy through the branches. Hopefully, filling the bird feeder will bring them closer so I can snap some shots minus the branches.

Day 108 - Business 'Ring'

2011-04-20T20:26:00.003-04:00

A few teachers at school enjoy making jewelry in their free time. A couple of them even sell pieces. Part of the creative process is sharing ideas between them. I was asked to take some pictures of their samples so they could compare colour combinations. I took a hundred pictures or so for them to keep on record. There were many beautiful samples but this one stood out for me. I like the soft colours used.

Day 107 - African Adventure

2011-04-17T20:40:00.002-04:00

No, unfortunately it's not me that's going on an African adventure. However, my stepson Christopher is and he's taking my old camera so I guess you could say parts of me are going. Christopher is going to Malawi with a group of students from Bishop's University. He's just finished his Psychology degree and was invited to do some research on community. He's excited about the experience and is ready to have his eyes and mind opened. He's promised to take pictures so we can see part of the adventure through his eyes.

Day 106 - Tulips

2011-04-17T20:34:00.003-04:00

Although the snow is slowly disappearing here in Quebec, the flowers have yet to start blooming. Feeling impatient, Peg purchased a bouquet of beautiful tulips. They have stayed hardy for the week and add a beautiful touch of colour to the room. I liked the way they looked against the blue wall, almost like they were outside with the blue sky in the background. Can't wait to be capturing these colourful creatures outside.

Day 105 - Student Portraits

2011-04-17T20:28:00.002-04:00

It's Friday and a Day 1, which means Walk Around the World. We've taken a bit of a break due to the weather and yucky walking conditions. My students seemed to be pretty happy to be back walking. We spent the time walking, running, chatting and taking pictures of course. A few of the students borrowed my camera and took some shots. It's fun to see that they still have the photo bug. Lau took this pic of her two buddies, 'K' and 'J'.

Day 104 - Ice Cold

2011-04-14T20:32:00.003-04:00

I drink a lot of water and I like my water COLD. The above picture is the top of a pitcher filled with water and ice. Yep, you guessed it - really cold water. I snapped a picture before pouring myself a drink. While Peg and I were looking through today's pics this one caught her eye. To her the ice kind of looked like rocks. I played with it a bit in Lightroom to make the ice cubes look more like rocks. Although the water was not moving the water does seem to be running down stream.
Well, all this talking of water has made me thirsty so I'm off to get a nice cold class of water before bed. It also makes me very grateful that I have the luxury of having such a valuable resource so readily available.

Day 103 - Pussy Willows

2011-04-13T21:48:00.003-04:00

While Peg was on bus duty after school she noticed some pussy willows just outside the gate. When she came in she told me she had found a possible photo for the day. When we were ready to go home I took out the camera and snapped a few pictures. It was pretty tricky as the wind was blowing making it difficult to get a picture that wasn't blurry. Since it was Peg's idea I had her help me choose today's photo. The one above was her favourite because it revealed the softness of pussy willows. I played with it a bit in Lightroom and Photoshop and the result is above.

Day 102 - Fellow Blogger

2011-04-13T21:15:00.004-04:00

While at the workshop in Montreal I ran into a fellow blogger, Susan. It's always nice to see each other outside the virtual world. It was fun to chat together to compare notes and catch up on day to day stuff. Of course, we both had our cameras with us so we decided to snap a few shots. There weren't tons of photo ops within the room but we still managed to find a few interesting shapes, textures and lines. Taking photos is always fun but doing it with someone who shares the same interest makes it even better.

Day 101 - Resilience

2011-04-13T21:11:00.005-04:00

On the way to Montreal we stopped to let a freight train go by. While we were stopped I looked out of the window and noticed an area that had very few trees. I realized this was part of the area that was devastated during the ice storm in 1998. This stump is one of many that were left behind. After almost 15 years, new growth can be seen. I admire nature's resilience and ability to regenerate but I fear that we often forget the time necessary for this process. As a society we too often take nature's presence for granted when we should be taking care of it.

Day 100 - Tracks

2011-04-13T21:10:00.003-04:00

Off to Montreal to help give a SMARTboard workshop to teachers. As you can probably guess from the picture, I'm traveling by train. I always enjoy riding the train. I find it very relaxing and it's nice not to worry about traffic. It also gives me the opportunity to get a little work done or watch a movie. While we were waiting for the train I decided to go out on the tracks and take some pictures. I would have liked to stay longer and try some different angles but I was worried if I stayed too long I might be getting a closer look at the tracks than I really wanted to.

Day 99 - Time

2011-04-09T20:20:00.003-04:00

Today's assignment of the Daily shoot was to illustrate time in a photograph. I decided to capture the spinning pendulum of the clock Peg bought me for my birthday a few years ago. I've always loved this type of clock. My parents and aunt and uncle bought one for my grandparents' anniversary. I remember admiring it when I was young. I was mesmerized by the spinning pendulum and found watching it quite calming. This type of clock not only represents time for but family, memories and comfort.

Day 98 - Spring has sprouted

2011-04-09T20:12:00.005-04:00

Spring is FINALLY starting to sprout in our yard. We have a small garden in the backyard next to the house. The snow has melted in that spot and the irises, tulips and hyacinths are starting to sprout. I believe this is a hyacinth making its debut. I like the contrast between the green and the darkness of the soil. The light seems to be coming out of the leaf tips. Such a welcome site. YES, spring is really here!

Day 97 - One last one

2011-04-07T21:31:00.005-04:00

I know, another butterfly but I couldn't resist. When I was looking through my photos in Lightroom I realized that I hadn't posted this picture yet. Besides, I didn't have an alternative - busy day. I really like the pattern on his wings. He kind of makes me think of tiger tiger ice cream, a pleasant childhood memory. We won't be seeing any outside around here for quite some time so I promise this is the last butterfly picture, for a while anyway.

Day 96 - Robots

2011-04-06T21:26:00.005-04:00

One of our Kindergarten classes is discovering the wonders of robots. They spend their days exploring, experimenting, questioning, creating and reading about robots. They've also started working with the primary Lego robotic kit, WeDo. These pictures are examples of their robot creations. As you can tell from their paint and crayon illustrations, their teacher has taught them a lot about background and filling in a page. As I was taking this pictures I overheard them discussing what makes a good picture. They really seem to know their stuff.
Some of my students will be visiting the class to share what they've been learning about robots. They'll also demonstrate some programming.

Day 95 - More Flutterbyes

2011-04-06T21:22:00.004-04:00

Had some more butterflies that I wanted to share so I made a collage. The variety in nature is amazing. I guess variety is the spice of life.
The pics are a bit smaller than I'd like. I have to figure out how to fix that. If you click on the image you will be able to see a larger version. I've been using the Mac program 'Collage'. If any of you use this and have advice please share. Or if you use another software for your collages I'd like to hear about that too. Thanks.

Day 94 - Which wing to wear?

2011-04-06T21:12:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was the last day of the butterfly exhibition at the local Jardin Hamel. Peg and I went in the morning to visit. There were many butterflies but even more people. Next year we'll definitely go earlier and maybe on a weekday. I did manage to get quite a few pics but one of the guides told us there were fewer varieties than when the exhibition first opened.
Believe it or not these two pictures are the same type of butterfly. Sorry, I can't tell you what kind. When their wings are closed they're beautiful but designed for camouflage. When the wings are open a stunning display of blue and sometimes violet appears. It was magical to watch them fly around as their wings open and shut.

Day 93 - Mega Strawberry

2011-04-06T21:08:00.004-04:00

Often on the weekends Peg makes me french toast. I know, I'm totally spoiled. Anyway, as she was cleaning and cutting the strawberries she found this fellow in the batch. It was the size of about 3 or 4 berries. She kept it aside so I could snap some pictures. Once the 'photo shoot' was done we had breakfast. Yes, the strawberry did taste as good as it looks.

Day 92 -Happy Memory

2011-04-02T21:51:00.003-04:00

April is Cancer Awareness month in Canada. Part of their campaign is to sell Daffodils. These are Peg's favourite flowers. For her they are a happy sensory memory. When she was a little girl, her mother volunteered as a member of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (I.O.D.E.) to sell these for the Cancer Society. She remembers being in the room where they had cases and cases of these waiting to be sorted for sale. She can never resist buying bouquets of these at this time of year. I often catch her sniffing them with a big smile on her face. To her they smell like spring.

Day 91 - Future Engineers

2011-04-02T21:42:00.004-04:00

Today I accompanied our school's robotics team to the regional competition at the Museum of Civilization. Elementary and high school teams were challenged to complete challenges simulating water clean up. The elementary teams had to avoid the obstacles and then remove the robot crab that was infesting their waters. The high school teams had to clean up the water by removing black and white containers and placing them in the designated areas. It's a great opportunity for students to work together. They learned how robots have changed how we study and clean bodies of water. They were also exposed to the various careers within the area of robotics. From what I saw today, I'd say there were definitely a few future engineers participating in today's event.

Day 90 - Walk?

2011-04-02T21:38:00.003-04:00

Peg wore this pin today. It's one of my favourites. I liked how it looked next to her red polar so I snapped some pics. I was lazy and used the flash instead of getting out the tripod. As a result, there's more glare on the pin than I'd like. If nothing else, it does demonstrate the rule of thirds.

Day 89 - That's Mr. Potato Head Vader to you

2011-04-02T21:30:00.004-04:00

It's that time of the year when the snow is dirty and there isn't a whole lot of colour to capture outside. To top that off I left my photo until later in the day. I searched around the house and found these two characters in Christopher's room. We bought these for him a couple years ago as a joke gift. He's a big Star Wars fan and although he was 21 at the time, we knew he'd appreciate these guys. He didn't bring them to university with him but they have a spot on the top of his bookshelf. I took them down, posed them and then added a plastic wrap filter in Photoshop. I've seen some beautiful use of filters on the blogs I follow. Now I just need to sit down and play around with them a bit more. I especially like the ones I've seen with flower pics. Thanks to all for your inspiration.

Day 88 - Blue Bubbles

2011-04-02T21:25:00.002-04:00

I was looking at Peg's flowers today and noticed the bubbles on the stems below the surface. As I was trying to get pictures of the stems this lonely floating petal caught my eye. The petal is from the infamous 'blue' flowers that 'E' picked out. I find it interesting how the bubbles form on the bottom of the petal. You can also see the surface of the water. The tricky part was getting a clear shot through the vase. I would have liked clearer but this was the best I could manage.

Day 87 - Monochrome Polar Bear

2011-03-28T20:19:00.003-04:00

Today's assignment was to make a black and white photograph and go monochrome. I was 'bearly' able to complete this assignment today. After searching around the house for possibilities I spied this fellow on the shelf in the office. I like the speckles in the stone and the smoothness of the surface.

Day 86 - Birthday Blooms

2011-03-27T19:07:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, we had a birthday supper with our godchildren and their parents last night. To celebrate the occasion, they brought flowers for Peg. They were very special flowers because 'E' picked them out. Although his mother tried to convince him otherwise, he insisted that they get blue ones. Along with the bright blue flowers were beautiful gerbers, roses and astromeria. I snapped this pic this afternoon. I like the contrast between the orange and the blue. I tried playing with some presets but I wasn't patient enough to create something I liked. Guess it'll have to wait until next time.

Day 85 - Birthday Candles

2011-03-26T23:05:00.002-04:00

Peg's birthday is tomorrow but we celebrated it this evening with two of our godchildren and their parents. We had yummy lobster (Well, I actually had cod.), a delicious spinach salad, french bread and of course birthday cake. It was no ordinary birthday cake. It was a Dairy Queen ice cream cake with crayon candles. Peg wasn't too excited about having candles but 'E', our godson, insisted. He helped me put the 8 candles (no significance to the number) on the cake and then assisted in the extinguishing. Of course as godmoms we felt it necessary to teach him how to lick off the candles and stick his finger in the icing to make sure it's safe.

Day 84 - Algonquin Village

2011-03-26T23:00:00.003-04:00

The Grade 3 class next door to us has been studying the Algonquin Tribe. They have learned a lot about their housing, clothing, and culture. As part of their portfolio presentations, they created Algonquin village for each season with an emphasis on how they had to adapt to the climate. Above is a spring village.

Day 83 - Monochrome Painting

2011-03-26T22:53:00.003-04:00

We've been learning about colours in Art lately. This week we focused on value and students learned how to make different tints and shades using one colour along with black or white. Their assignment was to create a monochrome painting. There were many great paintings added to our class art gallery. One that stuck out was Lydia's blue tree. She blended her paints in such a way that she was able to create texture and various values of blue. When the students did the gallery walk and evaluated each other's paintings, this one was one of the most popular.

Day 82 - Let it melt!

2011-03-23T20:28:00.005-04:00

It was a sunny day here in Quebec. Some of our classes decided to head outside a bit early to get some fresh air and exercise. Students were walking, playing soccer, throwing the football around, climbing the Spiderweb and yes, you guessed it, watching the snow melt. This drain is in the middle of the asphalt in the backyard. All the melted snow ends up here. This area is a kid magnet. One of my students asked if she could take pictures so I handed her the camera and off she went. Jade took some good ones but I liked this one because it speaks so loudly of the anticipation for warmer days. It also has a timeless quality in that it could have been taken a year, five years or ten years ago. It might even conjure up a few memories for you.

Day 81 - Rule of Thirds

2011-03-22T23:50:00.006-04:00

Today's assignment was to illustrate the rule of thirds in a photograph today. I decided to go back into my archive and retrieve the dinosaur picture I snapped at learning buddies earlier this month. It seemed a bit bright so I used a preset to make it look more 'dramatic'. Well, that's the word Peg used. I then decided it was too dark so I went back to the brighter version.

Now that I'm caught on my posting my next goal is to go visit all of you and see the great pics you've been taking.

Day 80 - Robotics

2011-03-22T23:43:00.005-04:00

The regional robotics competition is coming up on April 1st. A couple of teachers and I decided to organize a friendly competition for the elementary teams from our school board. The students had 2 mini challenges and then the finale. I was pretty distracted so the pictures aren't the greatest. Above my group is working on the final challenge. They have to program their robot to avoid the obstacles (cones), find the crab (actually a plastic cube) and push it off the mat without leaving the mat. In the above picture they're doing their measuring and diagramming to prepare for the programming. They had some difficulty but there are still a few days left to practice. One team managed to complete the challenge. The kids learned a lot and enjoyed cheering each other on.

Day 79 - Frozen

2011-03-22T23:39:00.003-04:00

Another branch seen on one of our walks. The frozen water caught my eye. I like the way the blue of the sky is reflected in the ice. I also like the small frozen droplet. Talk about being suspended in time.

Day 78 - Circus Show

2011-03-22T23:30:00.004-04:00

We signed our goddaughter up for Circus School last year and she's now just completed her third session. She LOVES to move and looks forward to going to Circus School every week. This Saturday they had a small show. Her father invited us to come see Sara 'make a spectacle of herself'. It was lots of fun to see the little ones do their thing. We were very impressed with how much Sara has improved and how comfortable she seems with the equipment. You can tell by her smile that she's having a wonderful time and isn't the least bit worried about being up on the trapeze. Cirque de Soleil look out!

Day 77 - Snapped

2011-03-22T23:26:00.002-04:00

This photo symbolizes how I'm feeling during this hectic time. As you may have noticed I haven't posted in a while. It's been pretty busy with report cards, portfolios, teacher/parent meetings, workshops, etc. Fortunately, I'm just feeling a bit frazzled. I haven't quite snapped, not yet anyway. Here's to things settling down so I can get back into my blog routine.

Day 76 - Where's the Leprechaun?

2011-03-22T23:23:00.002-04:00

We had fun making little leprechauns with our Pre-Kindergarten buddies today. There was a lot of Irish spirit in the air. This is one of my leprechauns hiding under his hat. He saw me taking pictures and decided to take cover. Don't worry Mathieu, I still know it's you. Happy St. Patrick's Day. May the luck of the Irish be with you all year long.

Day 75 - A Little Less Snow

2011-03-22T23:20:00.004-04:00

Due to the time change and the slightly longer days, we can now make it out to the farm during the week if we leave right after school. It's a nice way to decompress after a busy day at school. We went walking in the woods again today. I decided to take another picture to show that there is a little less snow, on the trees at least.

Day 74 - Shy Cardinal

2011-03-15T20:22:00.005-04:00

This little guy has been visiting our bird feeder a lot the last couple of days. When I sit at the dining room table I can see this tree through the french doors. I have the camera at the ready and as soon as I see him I grab it and head outside. I move as slowly and quietly as possible but I can't seem to get as close as I'd like. As soon as he senses my presence he takes off. Maybe he's shy. Even with my zoom lens (70-200mm) and some cropping, this is the closest I could get. I will keep trying. I like the complimentary colours of his plumage and the berries in the tree.

p.s. It's report card time so I will probably get a bit behind in my posting and commenting. Don't worry I will catch up asap.

Day 73 - What a difference a year makes

2011-03-15T20:12:00.004-04:00

I was cleaning up files on the computer when I came across the above picture. I was amazed at the difference in the accumulation of snow from last year to this year. I decided to go back to that stop when we were in town today to take another picture to compare. Quite a difference, eh? Perhaps the bus stop should have had the tuque on this year instead of last. Spring will be later this year for sure.

Day 72 - Perfect combo

2011-03-15T20:08:00.004-04:00

Today's assignment was to make a photo of two complementary objects arranged in a pleasing composition. Had many ideas for this one but seeing as the snow was PERFECT for making snowballs I went with this one. Peg helped out by posing. Of course I had to give her a stern warning about throwing the snowball at me even after the pictures were done. Fortunately for me she's not nearly as mischievous as I am. I of course would have thrown it as soon as the camera was out of site.

Day 71 - Technology through the ages

2011-03-15T20:00:00.005-04:00

Today's assignment was to make a photograph that illustrates a role of technology in your life. I have an iPad on a trial basis from the school board. My job is to find various apps that can be used at the elementary level. While doing this I've also found some great apps for preschool (We do have preK at our school) and have tested them out on the godchildren. This is little Sarah's hand. She loves the Whimsy app. When you finish putting all the pieces of the puzzle together, a real-life picture appears of the animal and it plays its sound. The trickiest part of the app for Sarah is keeping her touch light.

Day 70 - P.S.

2011-03-11T21:22:00.003-05:00

Today was a Pretty Slothy day here at home. It was a gray, rainy day and both Peg and I were feeling Pretty Sleepy. Feeling Partly Sick we didn't really feel like venturing out for a Photo Shoot. I decided to Post Some home decor. These letters are hanging on the wall in our basement bathroom or otherwise known here as "The Pooh Room".
P.S. All this laziness is exhausting. I'm off to Peruse Shows from the couch.

Day 69 - Milkbone

2011-03-11T21:16:00.003-05:00

Today's assignment was to make a photograph of a beautiful simple shape, such as an egg. Utilize lighting and focus to make it sing. While we humans may not think this shape beautiful, it's a favourite for many K9's. In fact, it was rather tricky getting my pictures taken with the excited tails wagging around the table. I used my iPad Photo Soft Box once again. I actually used the red light but when processing, thought it looked better in antique - more natural. Once all the shooting was done Dexter and Sadie were given the photo subject to eat. Yummy.

Day 68 - Para skiing

2011-03-09T21:43:00.004-05:00

Another attraction along Highway 20 is para skiing. We saw the colourful sails from the highway and figured this was another photo op not to be missed. The skiing takes place on a huge open field. The field was filled with people of a variety of skill levels and ages. I parked the car on the side of the road and took pictures. I'm not sure how the skiers were staying warm because after about 3 minutes outside I had very cold red cheeks(both sets) and was ready to seek the warmth of the car.

Day 67 - BIG Dog

2011-03-09T21:32:00.003-05:00

We're about to embark on kitchen and bathroom renovations. The good news is that it involved going to one of Peg's favourite stores (Antique Chez Ti Pere) and pick out a new dining room set. The store is about 20 minutes from the bridge on Highway 20. After a fruitful albeit expensive trip to the store we headed back into town. We passed this not so little fellow on the way. We've passed him many times before and I often say that we should stop and take a pic. Since we're on March Break we decided today would be a good day. This guy is at the entrance of a dog sledding place. They also have a sugar cabin and paintball facilities. Interesting combination??
When I was editing I zoomed in and noticed that the little yellow plaque was there to let me know that I was being surveyed by a camera. I guess I wasn't the only one taking pictures.

Day 66 - Got mail?

2011-03-07T17:54:00.003-05:00

Another incredibly snowy day. I promise never to complain about the lack of snow again. Today's theme is red. Red hot? Red paint? Or something else? You decide. I thought that red would contrast nicely with all the snow outside. I took our mailbox stamp holder and put it on the deck. Fewer and fewer people actually use mailboxes and stamps but sometimes it nice to receive a letter that's been hand delivered. Yes, it costs more and it's most definitely slower but somehow it seems more personal.
It was still snowing but I was able to set the camera up close enough to the house so it was safe. I know mail is supposed to be delivered no matter the weather but I think the only mail we'll be getting today is e-mail.

Day 65 - More Snow!

2011-03-06T18:14:00.002-05:00

The rain ended in the morning and was followed by more snow. We headed out to the farm again. This time we ventured into the woods. It was so calm and quiet. We had a beautiful walk and a very good workout. It was funny to watch the dogs when they went off the path. There were times when they looked like they were swimming in the snow. Since it was snowing I left my camera at home once again. The iPhone sure does come in handy. We're supposed to get another 20-30 cm in the next 24 hours so I may have to take an indoor picture tomorrow if I want to use my camera.

Day 64 - Snowy Trails

2011-03-05T22:18:00.003-05:00

Well, I guess somebody heard all my complaining about the lack of snow in Quebec. We had a snowstorm on Monday and then received another 10-15 cm this morning. They're forecasting 25-40 mm of rain between this evening and tomorrow morning and then another 30-45 cm of snow between tomorrow evening and Monday evening.
We did manage to get out to the farm before the rain started. It was snowing pretty hard so I decided to leave my camera at home. I snapped this picture with my iPhone. The larger path was made by Peg and I in our snowshoes. The smaller paths are from Dexter and Sadie venturing under the trees where the snow wasn't quite so deep. We had a great walk. We worked hard and the weather was mild.

Day 63 - Challenge Day Faces

2011-03-05T22:12:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Cycle 1 and 2 (Grades 1-4) had participated in their Challenge Day activities. Today the other 2 activities took place. It was a day for the oldest and youngest students to get moving. Cycle 3 (Grades 5 & 6) participated in the morning and then Kindergarten and PreK finished the day off. Phil, a Cycle 3 student from one of the other classes, hurt his arm a few weeks ago and wasn't able to participate. He volunteered to be the official photographer so I gave him a quick 'how to' lesson and he went off to snap the kids in action. Since yesterday's collage focused on the activities I thought today's would be focus on the many happy faces. One of my favourites is the grin with the missing teeth. I'd say from these faces that a good time was had by all.

Day 62 -Challenge Day

2011-03-03T21:34:00.003-05:00

It was a VERY busy week for Peg. When she wasn't cooking up a storm, she was planning our annual winter challenge. Due to unpredictable weather we've decided to have it indoors the last couple of years. Maybe we'll move back outside next year.
The kids spend two hours rotating through twelve stations. Depending on the theme of the year, the kids work on their cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility in theme activities. Last year we did variations on winter Olympic sports. We usually collect donations for the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation. Each cycle is divided into 12 colour teams. The stations are run by student leaders from each cycle. The leaders spend a day with Peg prepping all the stations, equipment and learning how to lead the fun. The collage I put together from this year's event includes pictures that my photo assistant Em and I took. We couldn't get all the events but included aerial jumping, snowman circle tug-of-war, snowman tag, a suspicious picture of sock tag (which looks a lot like wrestling. Hmmmmm), summit race and curling. A great time was had by all.

Day 61 - Brillant Buddies

2011-03-03T21:29:00.003-05:00

Day 3 is one of my students' favourite days because it's 'Buddy' Day. They love working with their PreK buddies and it's so much fun to see them together. Our buddies have been learning about dinosaurs and today they were making decorative dinosaur heads. One of the decorations was sequins. I snapped a few shots with my macro. I like all the colours and how they shine. There are also some interesting lines. I did snap a few pictures of toy dinosaurs playing in the rice but I'll save those for another day.

Day 60 - Food and Fitness Fun

2011-03-03T21:19:00.005-05:00

As part of our initiative to increase health and fitness among our students, especially in the older grades, Peg organized a Food and Fitness Club 4 years ago. They meet after school once a week for a 6 week period. Each week they have a theme like quick breads, soups, salads, pasta, etc. The students are placed into 3 groups and each group works on a different recipe. Once the slicing, dicing, mixing and cooking is done the students help do the dishes and then they go and play in the gym. At the end they return to the kitchen and each student is given a portion of the three recipes. They taste all three and give their opinions. Students then take their three full containers home to share with their families. It's a great project and it's free!
This year, they added a special event at the end of their 6 week session. Students prepared a meal and invited a guest for supper. One of my students was kind enough to invite me. Not only did the students prepare the meal but they served us. We started the meal with a delicious Spinach Salad with strawberries, grated carrot and a citrus dressing. It was served in baked tortilla shells which the kids thought were really fancy. Then we moved on to some yummy chili. We finished off with chocolate cups filled with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with raspberry coulis. The food was great and the company even better.

Day 59 - Snow Day!

2011-02-28T19:59:00.004-05:00

We got 'the call' at 6:20 this morning. The call I'm talking about is the, "School is closed today. It's a Snow Day." Although we do have to make up for this day later on this year, it's always nice to get a surprise day off. We had a lazy day. Even the pooches were pretty mellow. In the afternoon we decided to shovel off the deck. The dogs went outside but didn't seem to be happy about the big fluffy snowflakes landing and melting on their fur. I had the camera, trying to take pictures of snowflakes. You'd think it'd be easy with big fluffy snowflakes. Not so. Anyway, I decided to step inside and a few seconds later Dexter decided he wanted to be inside as well. Talk about sad puppy dog eyes.

Day 58 - And the winner is . . .

2011-02-27T16:15:00.006-05:00

The theme is to make a photograph of something that is glowing today. Use any meaning of the word you like. I thought with the Oscars on this evening I would take out my own and snap some shots. I felt a little like a paparazzi :-). One of my students gave me this statuette last year. She told me it was a teacher Oscar. It's not made of real gold but the sentiment behind it is priceless.

Once I took the picture I did some processing in Lightroom. I used the Dark Horse preset and did some playing with exposure. In Photoshop I copied it and put a smaller version up in the right corner but I didn't like it so I took it out. I have to remind myself that sometimes less is more.

Canon XSi
Lens: 100 mm
Focal Length: 100
F/stop: 2.8
Exposure: 1/500
ISO: 200

Day 57 - Connections

2011-02-26T22:12:00.005-05:00

Six years ago, Peg and I went to Scotland for 3 weeks. We saw beautiful landscape, met kind and interesting people, visited enchanting castles and made memories that will last a lifetime. Peg decided she absolutely wanted a genuine wool sweater as a souvenir from the trip. Getting that sweater was quite an adventure. I'll share that story with you another time. The Celtic ring above was my chosen souvenir. I often tease Peg that I have the better souvenir because I can wear my all year round AND it doesn't make my skin itch.
Today's assignment was to take a photo of something that shows connection. The knots are connected or interlacing. They symbolize the Celtic belief in long eternal love and life. This ring is one of my cherished possessions and definitely connects me to Scotland and the many memories that were made there.

Day 56 - Love Blooms

2011-02-25T22:17:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Kristy's inspirational 'light' photo I decided to try my hand at capturing light. She wasn't kidding when she said it's a lot more difficult than it looks. I turned off all the lights and got out the flashlight. I had Peg making all kinds of objects. We chose the flower you see above. I decided I wanted some red so I took the cover off my iPhone and used it as a filter; kind of felt like McGyver with his gum wrappers and duct tape. I discovered it isn't so easy to draw when you can't see what you've done or where you've been. Definitely a case of trial and error. Anyway, we chose her flower and my heart, I opened them up in Photoshop, did some duplicating and merging and voila, you get blooming love.

Day 55 - 'Hi'-acinths

2011-02-24T21:56:00.003-05:00

Peg needed some spring in the house so she picked up these Hyacinths at the local grocery store on Monday. They were closed tight but started opening yesterday. Seeing all the different flower pictures on fellow blog sites gave me the urge to take some of my own. I took this one this evening. I tried using the light from the room but it washed the colours out. I decided to go to my handy iPad and the Photo Softbox app. I set the colour to pink and found it intensified the colours. As a final touch I sprayed it with water. Who says spring doesn't start until March 21st?

Day 54 - Get a Grip

2011-02-24T21:53:00.003-05:00

Cycle 3's are working on a striking unit in Gym. They're learning about and practicing the skill with various implements and grips. Peg wanted to show them right and wrong examples. I decided to join my kids for their class and take some pictures. Can you tell which are the right examples?

Day 53 - Individuality

2011-02-24T21:49:00.004-05:00

In a world that often promotes sameness, it's always nice to capture uniqueness. One of my students brought this apple to school. Before eating it she brought it to show me. It was sort of an apple for the teacher. No, I didn't get to eat it but I did get to capture it. Thanks, Sara.

p.s. Behind once again. I do promise to do my best to keep up to date from now on. Thanks for your patient following.

Day 52 - Warm Comfort

2011-02-21T20:11:00.003-05:00

One of my favourite meals is spaghetti. It's definitely a comfort food and was just what I needed on this chilly and hectic Monday. Peg makes it with whole wheat noodles. The sauce is homemade and is filled with veggies, soya burger and some turkey sausages. Of course we can't forget the touch of Parmesan cheese on top. It was delicious and just what I needed. I must say living with a superb cook has definite bonuses.

Day 51 - Scale

2011-02-20T20:29:00.003-05:00

Today's assignment is: work with scale today and make a photograph that features a subject either larger or smaller than expected. Technically I didn't really use the camera to play with scale. Instead I put two Crocs together. The large one is one of my slippers and the other is a keychain. I used the red dress (can't remember exact name) preset in Lightroom. It brings out the red in the photo and makes everything else black and white.

Day 50 - Winter in Quebec

2011-02-20T20:15:00.004-05:00

Today's assignment is to make a photograph of something that captures a small bit of the flavor of where you live or your culture. Quebec City is FULL of culture. I could have chosen from a number of things but decided to go with two less known/traditional pieces. I took this picture while walking the dogs at the farm today. Just outside the fence there is a snowmobile trail with road signs and all. Due to our rather long winters, snowmobiling is a very popular activity here. I chose this picture because the vehicle is an interesting variation from the traditional snowmobile.
You'll notice that I chose to frame this picture. The frame is a piece of a picture I took of a railing. In Quebec a number of older homes have this railing around balconies, stairs and decks. If you look carefully you'll see that the parts that are cut out look like skate blades. During World War 2, metal was in great demand. Rather than throw the remnants in the garbage, the metal bands were saved and used rather creatively. These are becoming rarer as more people are opting for newer, low maintenance materials. They are a neat reminder of the resourcefulness of our ancestors.

Day 49 - Yellow is 'knotty'

2011-02-20T20:11:00.003-05:00

Today's assignment is to make a photograph that features the color yellow in some way or another. I tried t-shirts, wall decorations, bananas, shirts and earrings. I decided on this picture of yellow gold earrings. They're sitting on one of my yellow shirts. I like the earrings because they're kind of 'knotty'.

Day 48 - How are you feeling?

2011-02-20T20:05:00.002-05:00

Today's assignment was about feelings. Happy, sad, frazzled, or joyous? Make an abstract or literal photo that expresses how you feel today. I caught 'R' having a little rest outside. He's much cutter than me but his he looks like I feel - tuckered out. February is always a busy month and this year is no exception. March break is in two weeks so we should all be able to recharge our batteries so we can get through to the end of the year. Take care of yourselves. Get fresh air, spend time with friends and don't forget to nap.

Day 47 - Kitchen Flower

2011-02-16T20:07:00.005-05:00

Once again Peg came to the rescue with this idea. Today's assignment was about looking for form and colour. Peg likes the colours of kitchen tools and decided to put them together in a form of a flower. She finds it interesting how manufacturers try to make tools fun by making them colourful. Gone are the days when stainless and wooden-coloured tools monopolize the kitchen drawer. As long as they do a good job I guess that's what's important!