Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Saturday August 4, 2012.
In Their Element - 
134/365

Sunday August 5, 2012.
Cousins -
Finding a new brother means that he and I are beginning to build a relationship.  But it's not just our relationship that needs to be established.  I would love for his son and daughter, and my children to build a relationship as well.
135/365

Monday August 6, 2012.
Grace -
She's not the graceful swan, nor is she the familiar goose.  She doesn't have flock in which she can blend into.  I don't know who or what she is, and yet, even without fitting into the mold, she still is able to fly.
136/365

Tuesday August 7, 2012.
Rewards -
My Little Man and I went on a mommy son date to Baskin Robbins.  I splurged, and let him pick the chocolate dipped cone and extra toppings.  He felt special and let me snap away with my camera phone as a reward.
137/365

Wednesday August 8, 2012.
Pieces of the Whole -
I have decided to make a quilt.  As I cut the fabric and stack the squares into neat piles, I am thinking about how each piece will fit back into the whole.  I am also thinking of my Grandmother.  She was a quilter, and the inspiration for my desire to make a quilt.  She quilted, for each one of her children and grandchildren, a matrimonial quilt.  As I worked, I wondered if Grandma ever thought about the pieces that make up the whole her quilt and maybe even compared them mentally to the individuals that made up her family as she hovered over the table in her living room and created our treasured heirlooms.
138/365

Thursday August 9, 2012.
Ice Eggs -
I'm bored.  He hasn't said these words yet, but I know he is.  He misses his friends and the routine of school.  This summer it has been hard to get Charlie hooked up with friends to play with.  I haven't had much luck coordinating our schedule and his friends schedules.  To keep his spirits up, I've tried to find fun activities for us to do.  One of these activities was Ice Eggs.  I froze trinkets in a water balloon for the Little Man to melt away.  The idea was that he would put his Ice Egg out in the sun to reveal his prizes, but of course, it rained that day.  So, instead, I let him excavate (smash and dig) into the ice with tools.  I think he liked destroying the egg better anyway.
139/365

Friday August 10, 2012.
There goes another -
Get ready for the cute toothless stage, followed by the awkward nub of new growth, and finally, the equally awkward Chicklet stage.
140/365

Saturday August 11, 2012.
Traditions -
Every family has them, traditions that ties us to our past.  Growing up, Uncle Murry always held a annual corn roast on his farm.  Sadly, both Uncle Murry and the farm are gone, but a few years ago, my Mom renewed his tradition.  Mom's corn roast is not in a rural location; there are no tractor rides or visits down to the pumpkin patch.  Over the years, time has moved on: faces have changed, hair has become grey or fallen out, children have grown into adults who now have their own families, and yet, as different as Mom's corn roast is to Uncle Murry's corn roast they are remarkably similar.  At both you'll find children playing, excited to learn that their new friend is also their cousin.  You'll find the awkward teens who are at the edge of the group, not quite wanting to play children games, and not yet feeling grown up enough to talk with the adults, and adults of all ages will tell stories that start with, "Remember when?"  It is through seeing our children interact as we once did, sharing stories of the past and honouring traditions that strengthen the ties of our family's bond.
141/365
Sunday August 12, 2012.
Cloud porn -
142/365

Monday August 13, 2012.
Anxious -
I have a new job.  A few weeks ago I interviewed for a part time retail position and was offered management.  I took a big breath, talked it over with my family and decided to take the plunge.  Because the management position involves out of town training, my family will be on their own to take care of each other.  I know that they are capable of this, but I wanted to leave them with ideas and things to do together while I was gone.  The boys were anxious to do the craft I bought them and made it before I even left the house.  
143/365


Sunday, October 16, 2011

October 8, 2011.
Keep It Simple - The Picture Fall prompt was Keep It Simple.  Simple pleasures is what we were all about Thanksgiving weekend.  We went camping and I couldn't have been more thankful for the  blessings in my life.  Over and over I said to my guys, "We are so lucky, we have such a good life." 
199/365

October 9, 2011.
Strengthen The Things Which Remain - Summer is holding on a little longer.  When we saw the weather forecast, we just couldn't resist going on one last camping trip.  While we were away, The Little Man found a lonely caterpillar.  One of the things that Charlie and Kenzie like to do together is build small scale survival structures from Les Stroud's Survivor Man book.  A perfect place for a caterpillar to live for a couple of hours.
200/365

October 10, 2011.
Preparations - My Picture Fall prompt was Preparations.  We were asked to spend some time photographing our kitchen preparations.  I definitely didn't feel like cooking.  Instead, we got take out, but I did set the Conversation Starters on the table.  It's been awhile since I put them out and everyone enjoyed them.  Made take out night feel like a big family dinner.  Goes to show you that most times sitting together, talking and sharing is just as important as what gets served.
201/365

October 11, 2011.
Growing Brains - Thankfully, The Little Man likes homework.  No kidding.  I think he wants to be like the big kids so badly, that he embraces homework as a chance to grow his brain.  I love how this picture captures his concentration. 
202/365

October 12, 2011.
Father's Pride - Another homework shot, this time with Charlie trying out his Devil costume.    I love the look of pride on John's face. 
203/365

October 13, 2011.
Good Day Sunshine - Actually it's been raining here the last few days, but Picture Fall's prompt had us looking for sunshine today.  The wind and rain washed the leaves off the trees and made the sidewalk glow a golden yellow.  Using this one as my BAM, self portrait for the week.
204/365

October 14, 2011.
Champagne Birthday - Today is Josh's fourteenth birthday.  Fourteen on the fourteenth - a special year for him.  To celebrate, we had the family over for a party.  Party preparations took up most of my day - I always get a little worked up whenever I am entertaining.  Anyways, at one point during the party I stepped outside and noticed the pink sunset sky, and felt the hair on my arms raise a little.  Exactly a year ago, on his birthday there was another beautiful sunset.  A gift from the heavens, to a sweet special boy. 
205/365

October 15, 2011.
Mid Month Message - Going into the second half of October I know that my family is going to be pushed to the limit.  Both Kenzie and Charlie are getting their tonsils out.  Shouldn't be a huge deal, but the anticipation of my kids going under general anesthesia has me a little stressed.  I'm trying to be calm, but inside I am a wreck.  I have a few days of playing nurse maid to the kids, then it's back to work.  I will finally be starting the new job I blogged about a couple of weeks ago.  I know once the ball is in motion, we will be fine.  I will be fine.  It's the thought of all our upcoming stress that has me stressed!  My mid month message for myself is to "chill."
206/365

Friday, October 7, 2011

September 30, 2011.
Running For Terry - Tried to get a picture of The Little Man at his school's annual Terry Fox Run, but he wouldn't "pose" for me.  I think I like the action shot better anyway.  Terry would be proud.
191/365
  October 1, 2011.
Sweet Boys - Josh and Sam sharing quiet moment Saturday morning.
192/365
 October 2, 2011.
Curled and Cozy - I joined Picture Fall, an online photography workshop by Tracy Clark.  Today's prompt was to take a picture of the quintessential fall leaf. 
193/365
 October 3, 2011.
Hang On - Today's Picture Fall prompt was a beauty challenge.  We were asked to go looking for beauty beyond the brilliant fall colours.  I shot this vine on my rusty back fence.  The vine is hanging on as if to cling on to summer a little longer.
194/365


  October 4, 2011.
Morning Light - Charlie's Hot Wheel left on the deck's railing reminded me of spring days that we spent here together.
195/365
 October 5, 2011.
BAM - Who's That Girl? - I had my hair done last week, and went a little darker with the colour than I normally do.  I just can't get used to the new shade.  It's been almost a week, and every time I look in the mirror I am shocked.
196/365
 October 5, 2011.
Little Reminders - For today's Picture Fall prompt, we were asked to photograph a word or a phrase, a little reminder of how you want to be living your life.  I choose PLAY.  Remember a couple of weeks ago, when I said we had our last camping trip?  I lied.  The weather is going to be so nice, we decided camp for Thanksgiving.  The one word I want to sum up our weekend is play.
197/365
 October 7, 2011.
Subtleties - I collected all the different shades of red, orange and brown I could find to put together a monochromatic vignette.
198/365

Friday, September 30, 2011

September 23, 2011.
Hot Nuts - It was such a busy day.  I spent the day getting the family ready to go on our last camping trip of the season.  You would think that by the end of the season, I would have the packing thing down pat.  But it's not just about packing.  The reason that pack day gets so crazy is that I always pre-cook our dinner for the first night so that we can set up camp and eat right away.  Also, I always put off grocery shopping until the day we leave.  So on this crazy day the sole picture I captured was while grocery shopping. 
184/365

September 24, 2011.
Me Time - They called for rain all weekend, but on Saturday morning the sun came out.  I grabbed my bike and my camera and went for a ride around the campsite.  I took so many great pictures Saturday, it was tough to choose just one.  When I can't decide which image to choose, I ask myself, how do I want to remember this day?  I wanted to remember the stillness of the morning and the warmth of the sun after the promise of rain.  I wanted to remember exploring by myself camera in hand.
185/365

September 25, 2011.
The Camp Gang - A family (+ the outlaws)  portrait from our last camping trip.   
186/365

September 26, 2011.
Hungry Boys - My boys are such sweethearts when it comes to getting their picture taken.  Almost always, they will stop what they are doing and strike a pose for me.  I probably should have waited for them to finish their snack before I took their picture.
187/365

September 27, 2011.
Extreme Crop- Who doesn't love looking through a button box.  As a girl, I remember going through my Grandma's button box that she kept in a basket in the sewing room.  My Mom's button collection wasn't as impressive.  Mom stored her buttons in a old Cheese Whiz jar kept in the bottom drawer of her sewing machine.  These blue buttons are from John's Gramma's collection.  Her buttons were stored in a cool old candy tin. 
188/365

September 28, 2011.
A Big Day - Two things made Wednesday a big day.  The neighbourhood was a buzz when we woke up to find a huge sink hole at the end of the street.  The second reason that Wednesday was so exciting was that I was offered a job.  For the first time in so long, I am officially employed.  With a paycheck and everything!  I will be working at the local greenhouse, assembling Christmas arrangements.  It feels like it is going to be a great fit for me and my family.  I can't wait to start.
189/365

September 29, 2011.
BAM - One Hand In My Pocket - I wonder if Alanis has it all figured out just yet.  I know I don't.  In my twenties I thought I did.  I thought that it was all so clear.  It was so easy to judge everyone - including myself.  Thankfully, somewhere around my early thirties, I realized just how much I had to learn.  So much more to figure out, and it's going to be fine, fine, fine -'cause I've got one hand in my pocket...
190/365

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

August 16, 2011.
For Life -   Did you know that morning doves mate for life, and return to the same spot year after year to nest?  I caught an intimate moment between these two.  Old married couple or young love?  Both. 
146/365

August 17, 2011.
Crime Scene - The mess under Josh's bed looks like a crime scene.  A Lego riot, with some minifigs horrifically dismantled. 

147/365
August 18, 2011.
Symmetry - Last week's Picture Inspiration prompt was about balance and symmetry. Capturing balance in a photograph was tough for me. I don't see the world this way.  My eye tends to be drawn to asymmetrical compositions.  I did eventually get this picture of The Kids running shoes, but I don't know if it screams balance or symmetry.  Maybe I will identify better with next weeks prompt. 
148/365
August 19, 2011.
Tilt - A busy day getting ready for a weekend camping trip left me frazzled and my nerves frayed.  I only shot one picture - this one of the fence.  I was uninspired by it so I played around with the editing.  Tilting the fence added interest.  After, I googled tilt - from wikipedia :
Tilt is a poker term for a state of mental or emotional confusion or frustration in which a player adopts a less than optimal strategy, usually resulting in the player becoming over-aggressive.
Yup, that was about how my day was going. 


149/365
August 20, 2011.
Learning to Fly - This cute little guy was tossed from the nest, landing right beside our campsite.  Mama bird watched as he hopped around a little and then made his first tentative flight to a low branch.  Way to go buddy.
150/365
August 21, 2011.
Back to Reality - We arrived home from camping to find our front window broken.  Good thing that my trip left me relaxed, refueled and able to breathe through life's little hiccups. 
151/365
August 22, 2011.
Uncertain - The Graduate statue stands outside the high school where two of my kids will be going in the fall.  I went there to meet with staff about my son's resource support.  I have my fingers crossed for a successful September, knowing that, even with all the preparations and plans put in place, it remains uncertain.
152/365
August 23, 2011.
TaDa! -  Nothing feels better than a project completed.  I finished my shower gift with days to spare.  The hard part will be giving it away. 
153/365
August 24, 2011.
A Day Without Colour - A collage of images from my morning photo walk, all captured in black and white. 
154/365

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Runaway Road

In 1980, my mom signed me up for the book of the month club.  I was part of a club - the Book Club.  I felt privileged.  I had bragging rights that a younger sister doesn't often get.  I was a brat.  But could you blame me -I was just so excited to get my books in the mail. The fact that they were hardcovers made them all the more special. 

Sadly, I was never really a book of the month club member.  Mom must have signed me up for the free, no obligation trial offer.  Two books were all I ever got to read. I remember the outrage when a third book came in the mail. 
"I bet they think that the books come and you will feel you have to keep them when your kid sees them.  That's what they are counting on."  Mom said to one of her friends on the phone, "Well, that's too bad, because it's going back!"   I thought she was all talk.  I believed that she would at least let me keep the third book, and cancel after that.  Nope, true to her word the mystery book was returned.  The third book was never taken out of the packaging.   

But it's the second book that I've been thinking about.  The second book I received in the mail was The Runaway Road, by Stan Mack.  The story is about the Puddle Family who are packed up and ready to go on their annual vacation to the mountains.  Just as the Puddles began their journey, the road had other plans.  Instead the road runs away and takes them in a new direction.  The road, who was  sick of the mountains, decides it wants go to the beach.  Metaphorically teaching The Puddles that life doesn't always goes as planned, sometimes even the deepest engraved routines change with life's winding road. 

I can relate to the Puddle family, change is constant.  And I can also relate to the road.

Just like the road in the story, I ran away this weekend.  I made the list, packed the clothes, the toiletries, the first aid kit, the grocerys.  I planned the meals and prepared dinners and salads, then I made a bee line out of town. 

I ran away because in order refuel for life, I needed to separate from it.  I left behind the distractions  - the drama, Gramma's half empty messy apartment, the uncertainty of what September will bring.   I left it all behind and found peace.  When we returned Sunday afternoon I could breathe again.  Ready to handle whatever changes the road may bring.


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

August 6, 2011.
Him - My husband and best friend, all dressed up for a wedding.  I am a lucky lady. 
136/365


August 7, 2011.
Dried - One expected growth, change; without it, the world was less, the well of inspiration dried up, the muses fled.  - Charles de Lint
137/365
August 8, 2011.
Sad Pickle - At the dinner table Charlie took a bite into his pickle and discovered a sad face looking back at him.  "Mom, look at my pickle.  I found a face."  he said, "You should take a picture!"  Of course I should. 
138/365


August 9, 2011.
Worker Bee - Did you know that aerodynamically a bee shouldn't be able to fly.  It's body is too big and heavy for it's wings.  And yet a worker bee flies from flower to flower all day long, his leg growing heavier with pollen at each stop.  Just a random thought, from a random picture.
139/365

August 10, 2011.
Tall Shadow - If feel small on the outside, then step into the light.  You will cast a shadow who is tall and impressive.  Find the light and see yourself in new ways.
140/365

August 11, 2011.
Pocket Knife - We gave The Little Man his first pocket knife.  It was one that John found when cleaning out his Grandpa's room.  The knife is old and dull, but I was still worried Charlie was going to cut himself or worse poke his eye out.  Turns out he did get a tiny cut on his finger.  I found him hiding in the bathroom, his finger wrapped in toilet paper.  He was more upset that I might take his knife away than he was about the cut.  Secretly, I was happy.  The tiny wound taught him so much more than my warnings.  Some lessons can not be taught, some lessons we have to learn on our own.  Pain included.
141/365


August 12, 2011.
Another Beach Day - I can't believe we are halfway through August.  Four times while writing this post I have typed June, instead of August.  Summer is winding down.  Days at the beach will soon be replaced with early mornings and homework.  I want to press the pause button.  I want to hold on to days like this. 
142/365

August 13, 2011.
Birthday Girl - Today was Mom and Paul's annual corn roast/Birthday party.  This year was a special milestone number for mom -65!  My brother, sister and I gave her a train trip around the Credit Valley.  I think she was tickled with her gift, which came complete with a engineers cap and a train whistle.  TOOT TOOT!
143/365

August 14, 2011.
Messages to Heaven - At Uncle Gary's 10 year remembrance gathering, the family released balloons to heaven.  It was bittersweet watching the younger generation set their balloons skyward, sending messages to the man they never had the chance to meet.    
144/365
August 15, 2011.
Counting Rings - You can count how old a tree is from the rings on the trunk.  Today my mom adds another ring.  Happy Birthday.  xoxo
145/365