April 30/11

The windstorm we had a couple of days ago must have loosened this bird's nest enough that I found it on our back patio today.  Also a broken egg :(  It makes me sad for the mother bird.  All that hard work on making the nest that she thought would protect her eggs.  I'm not even sure what kind of bird it is with the spotted egg.  If anyone knows, comment and let me know!!

Broken

April 29/11

The sun was setting and it cast a beautiful shadow on our fence of a dogwood tree we have.  I love the way it replicated the tree exactly.  The colours are very much the same as the candlelight picture, but because of the sun...cool.

Sunset

April 28/11 Finally!

Well I got home last night around 8pm fully expecting to be able to post my pictures.  We were home for about 10 minutes and the power went out again!  Still wasn't on when I went to bed.  So...this morning I can finally post my pictures from the last couple of days.  This one is from Thursday, April 28th as we sat in candlelight for the night.  I have to say that not having any electronic devices for a couple of days definitely put me in withdrawal...

Candlelight

Power Outage

Well...our power has been out since 7:15 am yesterday morning.  It was still off when I left for work this morning (I am posting this from work).  Because of the wind storms in SW Ontario there are many areas with no power.  So...I couldn't post my picture yesterday, but I did take one!!  Hopefully the power will be on when I get home and I will show you my picture from yesterday and today!  Have a great day!

April 27/11

This picture is special to me...my ancestors built this huge stone home in the town I live in.  I have always felt that it's a part of my history, yet now it is in major disrepair.  I have been taking some pictures of it lately as I'm sure it will be only be a memory one day.

The Bowlby House

April 26/11

In honour of Earth Day this past week, I went and bought this beautiful, reusable, to go mug for my coffee each morning.  I have been using cardboard cups and thought this would be much better.  Earth Day started in 1970 and now includes many countries.  It led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act are all products of the 1970 Earth Day.  I'll do my very small part...

My pretty reusable mug

April 25/11

It's another rainy day and it made me feel like baking.  I made butter tarts out of a book I have had since 1979.  I have made these many, many times and they always turn out.  I'm posting the recipe they are so good.  If you don't like raisins, substitute nuts like I did today.  Mmmm, can't wait to have one!!

BEST EVER BUTTER TARTS  (yes that is the name)

Line muffin tins with pastry (I use frozen tart shells)
In small saucepan melt 1/3 cup of butter (no substitute for best results)

Remove from heat and add:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup syrup (corn or maple)
1/2 cup or more currants or raisins
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg slightly beaten

Fill tart shells and bake at 400 degrees until brown and bubbling well.  Enjoy!!

Best Ever Butter Tarts

April 24/11

As you all know, I love cats!  This is Steve (last name Yzercat)...such a cute cat but with a lot of attitude!!  He belongs to my son Tyler and Dayna.  He loves them, but not so much other people.  But he is so good looking!  I think it's great for people to have pets as it teaches them patience, kindness and love.

I dare you...get closer....

April 23/11

This is a huge swing shovel...probably 4 or 5 people could fit in the shovel itself.  I thought this picture in black & white would be cool.

Wanna Play in the Sand?

April 22/11

I had this flower in an arrangement outside all winter long.  I took the arrangements apart and thought it would look great as a picture.  I put it on a black background which I love, as it makes things appear as though they are floating.  I think I'll put these back in next year!!

Floating

April 21/11

This was a view I had on my way to work today and I just had to pull over and take a picture!  The sun was on the back part of the field and I liked the way the trees closest to me were casting shadows on the ground. The colours just really appealed to me.  And it was nice to finally see the sun through the clouds :)

Sunny Fields

April 20/11

I'm on my way to pick up my daughter's wedding albums...she got married last September.  So a quick picture today.  I love texture as I've said before, and I really like close-ups.  So here are both of those in one picture!!

April 19/11

My town is surrounded by small ponds, and I realized today that we often take things for granted.  I can't remember the last time I walked around one of the ponds or even just went and sat by one.  We get so hurried in life that at times we neglect things that can be so beautiful and relaxing.  So next time I get a coffee I think I will go park by one of these pretty ponds and just take my time and reflect...and maybe go for a walk!

Time for reflection...

April 18/11

It snowed again today!!  This has been the longest winter ever. These flowers at work were bent over by the weight of the snow.  Yet, just minutes later all of it had disappeared and the flowers had perked back up...most likely looking for any sign of sun.  Please spring...you can come anytime now.

The Weight of Snow

April 17/11

I have to admit that Mark & myself have become DIY fanatics.  We have always liked doing things ourselves (Mark can do anything).  We decided last week to update our ensuite washroom.  Remember the antique dresser I talked about?  We used that for our vanity and I love the way it turned out.  We put a vessel sink and new taps in...a very inexpensive update.  What to do next??  :))

Updated

April 16/11

Yaaayyyy...I got my camera case back (after being stolen in San Francisco) with all my accessories and my 18-55 mm lens.  Thank you Cindy & Russell for making the trip to the SF Police Department to pick it up.  So I had to take a close up!  This is a bud on my standard spice viburnum tree.  Absolutely the most beautiful smelling blossom ever!  I can't wait until the flowers come out!

Spice Viburnum

April 15/11

I really like adding texture to a room.  It can be in a pillow, fabric, a brick wall, baskets and many other things that add interest.   Texture is the interior design technique that brings a sense of depth and interest, and decorating with texture is the decorating element you see and touch. Texture doesn't come from just what you feel (tactile) but also from what you see (visual).
This picture is a vase that I have...obviously not for flowers that require water...I have dried hydrangeas in it.  I love the weave.

April 14/11

We have been feeding the birds at work and it's so nice to see so many birds.  Today we saw Redwing Blackbirds, Cardinals, and lots of little birds.  There was even a mallard duck which was unusual...not sure what he was doing there. It was a male and he was just sitting in the grass by himself as far as we could tell.  There is also a coyote around our work that we think may have pups.  I would love to get a picture of them!!  Anyway, we have our own little sanctuary...nice to see all this wildlife during the day.

Friends at Work

April 13/11

I love the texture on this garden piece.  His paint is peeling, but I think it makes him more interesting.  I'm pretty sure he was supposed to be for a fountain, but I put bird feed in his hands and the birds love him!
He is very generous...

Garden Winds

April 12/11

I went to my Mom's today and saw these crocus out in bloom...love the purple!!  Another sign of spring...finally.

Spring has Sprung...

April 11/11

Ever since I was a kid, I have always loved pictures of seagulls over water.  I'm not sure what it is about that kind of picture but it always seems so peaceful.  Here is my own picture of the same subject.  Nice when you can capture them in flight and the picture is not blurred!

In Flight

April 10/11

Well, spring/summer has arrived!!  And how do I know this?  We have a tradition every year of going To Port Dover and getting a "footlong" hot dog at The Arbour... actually we do this quite a few times in the summer :)) It was so busy with people on bikes, in shorts and just generally in a good mood.  That really marked the beginning of good weather for me.  It was such a nice day!  While we were there we went down to the lake and I got this wonderful picture of a mallard duck.  I did not do any editing on this picture except to crop it. The colouring on them is just beautiful!!

Beautiful Colours

April 9/11

Spring weather has finally arrived.  I'm not sure for how long, but today is gorgeous.  Had to go outside and take a picture!  I have a flower pot full of "hen's & chick's"...pretty sure that's not the proper name for them but regardless, the snow is gone and I can finally see them.  I love the burgandy colour of this one...

Hen's & Chick's

April 8/11

I love the look of black & white photos and the contrast it brings to pictures.  These are some outdoor candlesticks that I have that were outside over the winter.  I like the way the ceramic has crackled and just the whole way this picture came together with the sun on the right side of the objects.  Nothing staged, just the way I found them...

Crackled

April 7/11

I was at my daughter Ashley's today and it was finally a nice sunny day.  I put her cat Jet outside and he loved it!  I thought the way he peeked over the side of the tree was cute.  His eyes are amazing...so gold!
I think I like this picture so much because of the texture of the tree and the moss...very nice against Jet's smooth black coat.

Gold Eyes

April 6/11

It rained again this afternoon, but it was a light and made everything just drip with raindrops.  It seemed very fresh, like it was just what the trees wanted before they bloom in spring.  Very pretty, and if you look closely at some of the raindrops, (you can enlarge the photo by clicking on it) you will see some reflections on the drops of water.  I still don't have my smaller lens or I could have gotten really close, but I think the pictures still turned out nice.

Raindrops keep falling...

April 5/11

I was out and about today trying to get some interesting pictures.  But honestly, I think everyone is staying inside because of the unusually cold temperatures for this time of year.  Everyone that is except those fisherman that will fish in any kind of weather.  We have ponds that surround our town and there is always at least one person you can find fishing.  Unless it's warm, sunny and I'm in shorts and a T-shirt, I won't be catching anything...and then only if my husband puts the bait on the hook :))

Cold Fisherman

April 4/11

Today is a rainy, windy day outside.  So I had to find something inside to take a picture of.  This is a pillow that I have in my living room.  The colour is actually cream but as I've mentioned before, the fun part about taking pictures is playing with them after.  The pillow reminds me of flowers and I wanted them the brightest colour I could find since it is such a dreary day outside.  So, I ended up with "sunny yellow".  Hope it brightens your day!!

April 3/11

I really like the way things can be reflected in photography.  It can be on water, glass or anything that will reproduce what you are looking at.  This picture was taken at dusk, when the water was nice and calm and could give off a nice reflection.
I was thinking of "reflections" and those that we have...how we give thought and consideration to certain things.  I found this website ( http://www.motivateus.com ) that gives a daily dose of wonderful inspiration and reflection.
  One of my favourites is "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." Author Unknown

April 2/11

Mark & I went for a drive last night looking for houses or lots for sale...Yes, we are STILL looking.  The sunset was absolutely beautiful and the way the tree is silhouetted against the sky is amazing.  If you look closely you can see the birds at the top of the tree.  There was still blue in the sky which made it look very cool.  Sunsets are nature's art...

Natures Art

April 1/11

I was telling a friend the other day that once you start taking pictures, everything you look at is like you are picturing it in a frame.  You have a whole new perspective of things.  Today I am posting a picture of the knobs on my oven.  I know... it doesn't sound very exciting, but I love the way they look!  I might even frame it and put it in my kitchen.  Everyday things become art...

Kitchen Art