First Birthday

Yesterday my husband and I attended our granddaughters first birthday party.  The house was alive with little ones having a fun time of running through the house.  Kenzi wanted to join it but they kept knocking her down as they sped past her.  She is a trouper though.  No tears as she got back up and tried to go with the flow again.

The hitch came when she was to participate in the smash the cake ritual that all of my daughter-in-laws family do at the first birthday.  Her maternal grandmother had made the smash cake and Kenzi was supposed to get down into it with both hands and get covered in cake.   Kenzi was having no part in it.  She cried as her hand was pushed into the cake.   Oh well maybe next year. 

It was lovely to see all the little babies born at the same time as Kenzi and how sweet they all were.  Kenzi’s cake was an Elmo cake.  He is her favourite character. 

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.  I can feel spring in the air even though we have quite a bit of snow left but the sun when it appears seems stronger and warmer and I can’t quite put a finger on it but it has that essence of spring. 

Violet in Bloom

 

 

Recently I took an African Violet that had sprouted more than one root and divided it into 4 complete plants.  I have read that you are supposed to take off all the old leaves and I did sort of.  I put three plants in this greenhouse that I bought a few years ago at Homesense.  The other I put back in the kitchen with a plastic bag over its head.  It had blooms on it but I removed them.  When I took the bag off last week there were several more blooms forming.  I guess it had a notion to bloom and it was going to do it.   I have heard that African Violets are the easiest plant to grow but over the years I have killed my share.  I like to see them in bloom as they do have a pretty flower. 

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.   Have a wonderful week.  If enough of us think spring maybe we can make it happen.

 

Getting the Jump on Spring Display

 

Yesterday I attended Get the Jump on Spring at the Toronto Botanical Garden in Toronto.  This event is for all the Garden Clubs, Environmental organizations and Horticultural Societies to display information about themselves to the general public.  There were also presentations, specialty vendors and artisans and a floral design competition.  One of my own Society members Moira Sanders wrote a cookbook with her sister and cousin called the Harrow Fair Cookbook and is about to launch a new cookbook was there showing us how easy it is to make delicious jam in one pot over a small portable burner.  It was raspberry jam yesterday and it was so good. 

My mosaic to day is just a few of the floral designs that were on display.  I am always in awe of the talent and the thought that goes on in making these designs.  The winner was a fellow who made the slice of cake in the bottom right of the picture.  It was a marvel. 

I enjoyed the day and the idea that spring is coming and will be able to get out into the garden again.

Joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.   Have a great week.

Pink in High Key

 

Lately I have been working with a photography mentor to see if I can improve the quality of my photos.   During our sessions I have discovered that I have a love of high key photography.  That is photos that are taken with a white or bright background. 

I bought a pot of ruffled pink cyclamen that I spend a lot of time photographing.  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner I though I would share these with you.

Joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.  Enjoy your week.  We have snow so highly piled in the drive way that I hold my breath backing out.  You can not see what is coming down the road until you are quite a ways out.   Come on spring.

Valerie

Images from a Winter’s Walk

 

I know many of you are experiencing some terrible winter storms.  The news has been showing us all the mishaps that have been going on on the roads.  Our news has been full of horrendous fires of people’s home and even a Nursing Home in Quebec.  It makes me sad.

This week I looked back at some photos taken in winter in other years.  I found these images from a walk in Scanlon Creek, a Conservation Area near here, from back in 2012. The snow did not seem so deep.

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.  Keep comfy and warm this week.

Valerie

Add A Little Colour to Your Day

 

In theory I have created two diptychs and not mosaics but it is all I have today.  The world around is mostly white now in winter so a little colour purchased from the grocery store is what I surround myself in to perk me up.

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.  Hope your world is a little colourful today too.

 

Backyard Portraits

 

After all the snow storms, freezing rain and frost quakes we are now having a thaw.  The downspouts are pouring with water and the sidewalks are a skating rink.   I wandered out to the pond this morning to see if there were bubbles in the water showing that the hole was open.  To this point the little greenhouse we have coving the opening has been covered in snow and we had no idea if the ice had frozen over or not. 

While I was out there I took some pictures.  The little garden boy statue was completely covered over last week but he is only waist deep today.

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.   Hope you all are staying well.

 

Scenes from the Sandbox After the Ice Storm

 

Last week we had a two days of freezing rain.  All the trees and shrubs were covered in ice.  The branches were so heavy that many snapped off or were hanging on the ground.  Branches from the trees behind us came crashing down in our yard and the neighbours.

Many people lost power from ice on power lines or just from broken branches.  Some people are still with out power today and some will not have power for some days to come.  We were spared in this area. 

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.  Hope you are keeping snug and warm.

 

It Is Almost Christmas

 

This is it.  We are almost at the end of my Twelve Days of Christmas.  This collage is a mix of old and new.  I found some photos from last year and added with recent ones.   We have officially entered winter now but the good thing is that the days will start to get a smidgeon longer each day.  That puts a smile on my face.  

I will be joining Mosaic Monday today.  

Count Down to Christmas

The Twelve days of Christmas minus one.  I made a collage or mosaic if you will of some of the items on the fireplace mantle.  I couldn’t resist putting a photo of the Christmas card from our youngest son and his family.  Our precious granddaughter is a huge delight to us.  We cherish her presence in our family.

I am participating in Mosaic Monday, the only constant meme that I began when I started blogging over three years ago.

I am off to do some shoveling.  We have had another snowfall. Cross your fingers I get the snow blower going!!!

 

Valerie

 

This Snowy Sunday Morning

 

I might as well face it, that this scene is going to be replayed over and over for the next five months.  I’m not a fan of winter even though at times it can be pretty as a postcard.   I had to haul the hats, boots, mittens and warm coat out of storage to go out and shovel the drive way.   I tried to get the snow blower to go but no luck so had to do it by hand.   Uck!!!   Our son will have to come by tomorrow to see what I wasn’t doing correctly.

The snow that fell all night was the soft and fluffy type so everything in the garden wore a little tuft of white. Poor St. Francis had his whole head covered up.

I will be joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.  Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

 

Valerie

Autumn Reds in the Sandbox

Hoping I am not repeating my self with these photo but I have not taken any new ones lately.   It has been weeks of rain here.  It is so dreary that I could find the energy to go out with the camera.

I am joining Mary at Dear Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.   Hope you have a great week.

 

Wee Granddaughter’s Baptism

 

Last weekend was the baptism of our granddaughter.  It was a lovely ceremony with my daughter in law’s sister being godmother and our oldest son as godfather.  The Pastor that married Mom and Dad two years ago was officiating.  The little dress fit for a princess was a gift from her godmother.  The cake was from a local bakery in Barrie that did a wonderful job.

Kenzi enjoyed every moment of her day despite coming down with a cold.  Unfortunately it was a short stay for me as I too had just got the cold and was having the chills.  Hubby and I went home right after and I went straight to bed.  I have not gotten rid of it yet.

I hope you have a great week.  I will be joining Mosaic Monday.

 

Trappers Cabin at Georgina Pioneer Park

 

Yesterday, October 5 was the WorldWide Scott Kelby Photography Walk.    I had a hard decision to make as in my area there were two walks to choose from.  I decided to go with the Georgina group as they were going to the Georgina Pioneer Park and the Georgina Military Museum.   I had never visited this park although it is less than a half hour from home. 

It was very overcast all day and we expected to get rained on at some point.   Thankfully, it did not happen and we were free to wander all over the area to take photos.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed in the buildings as there were no volunteers to oversee them.  I took over two hundred photos which I will edit over the next few weeks.  I did want to share one of the cabins that was on the property;the trappers cabin.

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.   Hope you have a great week.  This week is the week before the Canadian Thanksgiving so will be shopping and cleaning to get ready for our family feast.

The Fall is More than Pretty Mums

 

The fall of the year is not just all about the pretty Chrysanthemum that appear in the market place.  I like to see the colours in the leaves of the trees and seed pods.  Here in my garden I found the leaves of the Virginia Creeper, Yellow Coneflower seed heads, the seeds of the Butterfly weed and Eringium a feast for the eyes.

I love the rich reds, yellows and golds of the Burning Bush, Boston Ivy, Clematis leaves and Sumac leaves.

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.   Get out and enjoy the colours of autumn if you can this week and take your camera. 

First Day of Fall 2013

 

Fall has finally arrived and I sadly had to say goodbye to summer.   It feels like fall with the temperatures in the cool region.  I saw people with winter coats on today.   Been up since 3am this morning as hubby is getting an infection and had to take him to the Emergency at Hospital.  He now has an antibiotic to take.  Need a nap.

I saw this poem on a blogging site this week and I thought I would share it with you too

Come little leaves

Said the wind on day

Come to the meadows with me

and play. Put on your

dresses of gold;for summer is past,

and the days grow cold.

George Cooper

I will be joining Mosaic Monday today.   I hope you have a wonderful first week of fall.

End of Summer View

 

It is the beginning of the last week of summer 2013. Can you believe it!!  I am supposed to be out cutting the grass this afternoon but I wanted to show you some of the late summer blooms that are in the Sandbox garden.   I love this showy variety of cosmo called Pink Pom Pom in the top left corner.    I spotted under a shrub the colchicum flowers.   I never know when they will show up as one day there is nothing there and the next they are in bloom.  The rest of the pictures are showing you that the bees are still busy gathering pollen.

I am joining Mosaic Monday with Mary at DearLittleRedHouse.   I hope you have a great week.

Stone Road Parkette

Another little parkette with a lovely walk through the wildflowers was found off a street in Newmarket, Ontario.  I love the purple of the thistle and on one of the sunflowers I spotted a snail attached to it.
I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.    Have a wonderful week. 

A New Little Boy for the Pond

 

 

T

 

There is a little story behind the purchase of this little boy solar light.  The other day my husband wanted me to drive him to the hardware store in Bradford, Ontario.  This is a little town quite close to us but to get to it you have to wait on the highway in a long line up of cars because there is construction to the bridge going in and out of town.   This trip should take us ten minutes but now takes a half hour. 

When we got to the hardware store they did not have the type of glue that he wanted and it had to be a specific type of glue.    While he was off looking for this glue I wandered through the gift section.  They have an awesome gift section.  This little fellow was under a table and I just fell in love with him.   He was solar but he had a frog and a flashlight.   So cute and so perfect for the pond.   My husband was not so taken with him and I left the store without him.    Off we went back home again. 

 

Hubby called the hardware store because their catalogue said they carried this specific glue and they said they would order it.   A few days go by and the store called to say it was in and he could pick it up.   Into the car on a Saturday afternoon and we wait and wait on the highway in the heat while a pile of cars crowd into one lane over the bridge.  To top it off Bradford was having Carrotfest a big outdoor event because Bradford is in the Holland Marsh where a big part of the production of carrots is grown in the black soil there.  There was ciaos everywhere and we just wanted a bottle of glue for heavens sake. 

While my husband was getting his special glue I went to get the little boy and this time I took him home.  That’s my story and I’m stickin to it. 

 

I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday and also Day 18 of the August Break.   Have a great week.

 

The Chippy’s Contribution to the Sandbox Garden

 

The Sandbox Chipmunks must have thought there was not enough colour in the garden so they planted many sunflower seeds all over and now I have bright yellow in every corner.  I could not be happier as they are quite spectacular in all their various forms.  They will be great for a few more photos until the seeds start to ripen and then down they will come with the help of other wildlife critters who like to snack on them. 

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I am joining Mary for Mosaic Monday.    Have a wonderful week.