September 28/11

As I get older I am getting more aware of what my body needs.  About 3 months ago I decided not to eat meat any longer.  That decision was based on how it makes me feel, I don't mind if anyone else eats meat or not.  Anyway... it can be challenging thinking of interesting things to eat.  After being at the fruit/vegetable stand yesterday, I came up with this sandwich.  I grilled eggplant, zucchini, peppers and topped it off with avocado slices.  I made up some flavoured mayo and I can't wait for lunch today!!
Who says not eating meat is boring?  I loved all the colours...they say you eat with your eyes as well as your mouth and I agree!!

MMmmm

September 27/11

I stopped at a local fruit stand today on my way to work, to get some apples.  It made me think of how fortunate we are in this part of the world for the abundace of food available to us.  In this picture alone there are apples, peppers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, apple cider....love them all!!

Another thing I'm learning doing this blog is to not be afraid to ask people if they mind me taking pictures.  
I asked the lady at this fruit stand and she said definitely yes and we had a great conversation!!

Abundance

September 26/11

I went to a local park today looking for a picture.  This was one of my favourites as I like the angle of this one.  I've finally learned that pictures don't just always happen, you have to go out and find them...

Fall Trees

September 25/11

This muskrat didn't care at all that I was getting close to him to take his picture.  He was so much more concerned with eating!!

Hungry...

September 24/11

It's another beautiful Fall day in Ontario...I just love the colours in this photo and it's such a simple subject but still nice.  That makes me think that uncomplicated things are sometimes the best.  I'm on a quest to simplify my life.  :)

The aspects of things that are most important to us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Leonardo da Vinci

Simple

September 23/11

It's raining today, so I'm posting a picture I took a couple of days ago...on a bright sunny day.  I put my star filter on the camera which gives you the stars on the water where the sun is reflecting. (If you click on the picture it will enlarge and you'll see what I mean)  This is only the second time I've used it, but I really like the effect.
This is one of the ponds around our town, something that I really don't take advantage of as I've said before.  So pretty...I think I'll take a walk around it this fall.

beautiful waters...

September 22/11

Today was an absolutely beautiful day for a game of golf with good friends...

Golfing Friends

September 21/11

I took this picture today before it started raining...one of the first dropped leaves of Fall and such a nice red colour!!  I was going to wait until tomorrow which is officially the first day of Fall to post this picture  but I'm in a golf tournament tomorrow and thought I would most likely post that.  Where does the time go?  It seems like summer just started...we closed our pool yesterday as well  :(  which really marks the end of summer for us.

So I did a random draw for the My Memories scrapbook software and the winner is .... Donna B...Congratulations!!  I will contact you with directions and the code to download it for free!

The random draw was done through www.random.org

September 20/11

Just a few days until the first day of Fall, but already the colours of the trees are beginning to change.  This has to be one of my favourite times of the year.  Today it is a picture perfect day... This picture was taken on one of the small ponds that are around our town.  You can see the colours just beginning to change...

Beginning of Fall colours

Just one more day to make a comment on my September 14th post and win a free digital scrapbooking software program.  I will be doing a random draw tomorrow!!

September 19/11

I can't tell you how much I love taking pictures of children.  Their expressions are priceless.  Hailey was on the floor at the wedding and I just asked her to look at me.  Very candid but the expression is adorable.

Too cute...

Don't forget to go to my September 14th post to win a free download of My Memories digital scrapbooking software.  A $40 value.  Just follow the directions, post a comment and you could win!  It is great for family pictures like this...

September 18/11

Today our son Chad got married.  It was a beautiful day for a beautiful wedding.  I didn't get a great picture of them as we were too busy being in the pictures ourselves!  But my mother in law did make a request for a picture of these 3 gorgeous girls, Kate, Kristen & Ashley.  The only 3 grandaughters...so beautiful!!  I will post a picture of Kyla & Chad when I get one...she was a stunning bride!

3 Grandaughters

Ok...so I just couldn't finish my September 18th post without adding a picture of Kyla & Chad.  This is actually a picture that my sister in law Jill took...it turned out so nice.  I couldn't find one of them alone, but as you can see Kyla was beautiful today...
And Ashley & Braden, happy 1st Anniversary today.  It's so nice to share special days with family...

Kyla, Kate & Chad

September 17/11

So last night we babysat our niece Kate for a couple of hours.  I forgot how busy little people can be...we had so much fun!!  She was so good when I asked if I could take some pictures of her.  So we got out a fur wrap I had and a cute little headband and this is the result.  So cute!!

Dressing up...

Just a few more days to enter to win the free giveaway.  See my September 14th post!!

 

September 16/11

I took this picture because it reminded me of my wedding.  I held Gerbera's when I got married.  They are one of my favourite flowers.  We have our son Chad's wedding this weekend and it's Ashley and Braden's first wedding anniversary the same day.  With so much wedding stuff going on it brought back memories of my own...

Wedding Memories

Go to my September 14th post and comment what paper pack you like from My Memories and win a free My Memories digital scrapbooking software program.  A $40 value!  With this program you can make scrapbook layouts, photo books, cards, videos, you name it!

The discount code I talked about in my September 14 post is STMMMS78858. Anyone can use it!!

September 15/11

I saw this feather on the ground and it reminded me of those movies where they have the feather floating through the air with beautiful music accompanying it....most likely one of those chick flicks I love so much!

Don't forget to comment on yesterday's post to win a free giveaway of My Memories digital scrapbooking software.  A $40 value.  You can print off what you create as well.. Very cool site.  I also decided to post the code tomorrow that provides the discounts I talked about.  See you tomorrow!!

September 14/11

FREE Giveaway...yes, I have a free giveaway of a My Memories Suite v2 software program.

All you have to do is go to their site, choose your favourite digital paper pack or layout and then come back to my blog and post a comment letting me know your favourite.  Just make sure you leave your name on your post if you are doing it anonymously.  I will post the winner next Wednesday, September 21st.

It's that easy.  Look back next Wednesday and if you see your name as the winner contact me and I will provide you with the code that provides you the access to download the free software.  Their digital scrapbooking software  is fun and easy to use.  I made my picture today using it.

Next Wednesday I will also post a code that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software (for those of you who don't win) and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store.  A $20 value!!  Thanks My Memories!!

September 13/11

We went to my mother in law's tonight for dinner.  She lives right next door to a couple that raise these red deer...

September 12/11

I usually don't eat sweets...I would much rather have something salty like chips.  But these cupcakes were so pretty I just had to try one!  I actually ended up taking off the icing, but they were really good. The colours were so nice...

Yummy...

September 11/11

Today Mark and I attended a BBQ to meet new baby Maya.  There were lots of children there and these two caught my attention.  How cute!!  You just have to wonder what this little boy was thinking...
Haley the little girl kept running after him and finally caught him.  I'd love to show them this picture in about 16 years...

What do you want?

September 10/11

So I was walking past this birdhouse today (it's in my craft room), and what I remember about it was that my daughter Ashley thought it was creepy (which is why it was designated to my craft room). At first I thought that was kind of a weird thing to say, but after taking a close look at it I can see why she thought that...the vines covering it and the iron covered windows.  Really...if you saw an actual house like this, it would be creepy...Ok Ash, you were right...

Creepy Bird House

September 9/11

My friend Danielle dropped off this zucchini relish and I can't wait to try it.  I loved the colours in it...

That's the thing about homemade stuff, whether it's food, crafts, cards, anything...it's so great to share with others...

Homemade is best!

My Memories Suite - Digital Scrapbooking Software

Also don't forget that next week I will be giving away a free My Memories Suite v2 courtesy of My Memories.  Just look for the post next week where I have created a page using their easy to use software.  There will be instructions on how you can win!!

September 8/11

I wanted to post this picture today, because these kind of pictures are still some of my favourite.  The subject doesn't have to be something wild or crazy.  Just a simple fence row can be interesting.  I love the way it goes off in the distance...

Simplicity

September 7/11

It's such a dreary day today, I thought this was a good day to post a picture I took of a sunflower.  My friend Barb (my daughter Ashley's mother in law) let me know that the sunflowers they planted were out in bloom. It brought back memories of Ashley & Braden's wedding day last September. Barb and Randy had planted part of a field in sunflowers for the special day. And they were beautiful as they bloomed just in time for the wedding...

Sunshine

September 6/11

Have you ever had a friend where you don't have to see them for months or even a couple of years and yet when you do see them again it's like you were together yesterday?  I have the best friend that I saw today and it's like we didn't skip a beat.  We laughed, we spa'd, we shopped and we ate.  What a great day today.  I'm blessed to have such a wonderful friend...thanks Ruth.  I took this picture with a phone, so it's not the best quality, but one of my nicest pictures :)

BFF

September 5/11

I love train stations...they remind me of when I was a teenager, I travelled on them a lot.  And when my kids were younger they would take the train to go see their dad.  This train station where I took this picture has a cute little coffee shop where my friend Peg did an art show this past weekend.  Very cool little spot!

Next train to...

September 4/11

Most of you know I love cardmaking and scrapbooking...I always have little bits of paper left over from one project to use on the next.  I liked all the colours in this photo.

ALSO, I will be hosting a free Giveaway from MyMemories.com.  Any of you who love digital scrapbooking software will want to look for a picture I post in the next couple of weeks that I've done using their software.  You will have a chance to win a free download of My Memories Suite software.
Stay tuned!

p.s.  Thanks Tyler for the suggestion on my new logo.  I love it!!

Lots of Colour

September 3/11

The other day I photographed some horses and when I posted that, it was a toss up between 2 pictures.  I decided I really wanted to post this one as well.  Last night I was watching television and came across a program that highlighted the photography of Robert Dutesco and his pictures of "The horses of Sable Island".  They are absolutely breathtaking and well worth looking at.  Sable Island is a Canadian island — with 400 horses, 500 shipwrecks and no people living on the island.  An incredible story and photographs.
http://www.dutescoart.com/

**PLEASE COMMENT ON MY PHOTOS...I LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK**

September 2/11

This may seem like an odd posting, but I love the design of these when you look up close at them.  And I'm not alone...Wikipedia says that "Although the covers are too large to be collectible, their ubiquity and the many patterns and descriptions printed on them has led some people to collect pictures of covers from around the world." Hmmm...I'm not that odd at all...

Manhole Cover

September 1/11

I was on my way home tonight and saw a field of horses, but this time I had an opportunity to get a picture up close!  I love horses...not that I ride them or anything, I just like the way they look.  They always look friendly...  This horse in particular was just wanting some attention so I made sure I pet him. I wish I had of had something to give him to eat :)  I went out for supper with my son Tyler tonight, and no Tyler I wasn't giving him my leftover gnocchi...

Friends

August 31/11

Our friends have an apple orchard and I was driving by it today and just had to stop to take a picture.  Here in SW Ontario the apple season is just starting and the trees are loaded!!  There is nothing better than a fresh apple off of a tree.  Can't wait to stop at their barn where they sell apples to the public.  When apple season begins you know that summer is nearing it's end :(

Apple Season

August 30/11

I know this is another flower picture, but I just had to show you these hydrangeas.  The cool thing is that they are white all summer and then as soon as it starts to get cool at night they change to this awesome lime green.  I bring them in my house each year for a pop of colour.  And they dry beautifully, staying the same lime colour when they dry.  Just pop them in a vase and leave them.  No need to hang upside down or anything like that.  They are one of my favourite flowers.  Oh...and it's called a snowball hydrangea.  Just cut them back each fall to the ground and they come back in the spring!!

A Pop of Colour

August 29/11

It's been a really busy day today, so just a quick post of a picture I took at work.  We have lots of yellow daisies on our walking path.  I love them against the blue sky.

Against the Sky

August 28/11

The beauty in nature is always amazing to me.  No matter where you look, no matter what season, no matter what country, there is always something, somewhere, that can bring happiness and peacefulness.
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."  ~John Muir 

 

August 27/11

We had a great day today...played golf with 6 of our wonderful friends and came back to our house for Chinese food.  I haven't played golf in quite a while and I am playing in a Fire Department Tournament in September.  I thought I should go out and hit a few balls, and I was right...definitely needed the practice!!  It's so nice to get together with friends and have such a relaxing day.  Will have to do it again soon :)

Golfing with Friends

August 26/11

So I found the coolest blog the other day called Selfie Magic.  It's all about taking shots of yourself!  What better way to get pictures that you and others will appreciate in the future.  It's true that when you are the one taking the pictures, there are not many(or any) shots of you...I have so many trip pictures where I have to explain that yes I was on that trip as well!!  Anyway, check the site out at http://selfiemagic.com/.  Very interesting site.  And here is MY picture for August.

August 2011

August 25/11

There was a huge storm last night...high winds, lots of rain and tornado warnings.  I know a lot of people probably got shots of the lightning, but I was too scared!!  I took a picture this morning of the leftover raindrops on the top of my car.  It's not as dramatic as lightning shots but I really like the colours.

August 24/11

My son in law found these old wood fruit baskets at the property he bought.  I'm not sure how old they are but I love anything antique!  Apparently years ago the previous owner had a fruit stand at the property.  I tried to look up the name on the basket, but couldn't find any information...I'm going to keep looking though.

A story behind everything...

August 23/11

I love white birch trees...my favourite.  Especially in the winter, they look amazing against the white snow. I liked the way the bark was peeling in this picture.
Something new I'm also doing is I've also decided to start putting my name on my pictures.  I figure if I take them, I should take credit for it!!

Bark

August 22/11

So I decided to play with my SB 600 flash today.  It really does make your pictures crisper and clearer.  I have so much to learn about it...
I love teddy bears...not that I'm a big collector of them or anything... but certain ones just draw me to them. This little guy sits in my window in my craft room with one of my favourite pins on him.

Favourite things...

August 21/11

This picture was taken at the old Waterford Train Station.  It's no longer used as a station, but I love the architecture on it.  I remember this station as a kid, running and playing around it.  Mark & I actually looked into buying this a couple of years ago. We would have loved to have been able to move it and transform it into a home.  That didn't happen but it's still in the back of my mind...

Possibilities

August 20/11

I love pictures where the focus is on what is closest to you...like the wire in this fence.  And focusing on something that you would think would not be that interesting... I just like the way it looks.

Wire Fence