Mercury Lunch

Our favourite Saturday lunch meet-up spot.  Judging from the crowd, it's the top spot for quite a few of us in the area...

Long-Run Sunday

My sturdy running shoes see me through the hard slog of rain, mist, mud, and muscle spasms.  Running with Amanda on Sundays helps too.   With respect for her camera-shyness, I'll refrain from posting another pic of her (but the interested may find her elsewhere on the blog).  ;-)

Yoga

Recently, I've tried doing some of the routines from my weekly classes at home.  Not loving the musical background to this vid, but still finding the ability to go at my own pace helpful.  They use the original language to describe the poses in class.  Sorry, but I don't speak Sanskrit (or whatever!).  It's been a long time since I practiced yoga regularly.  Noticing the flexibility coming back, after about three weeks of classes.

New Running-Mate

I have a new I-Pod!  Am already in love.  With a running playlist of songs in the appropriate beats per minute for my desired pace, a run is so much more fun!  Who would have guessed that the songs I love (fast, punkish, music with attitude) would be perfect for my favourite activity?  "Heaven, I'm in heaven, and my heart beats so that I can barely speak, and I seem to find the happiness I seek, when I out with I-Pod running, beat for beat".  (With my apologies to Fred Astaire!)

Feverish (For Wednesday)

Sterling is ill.  He went to school this morning,  complaining of an intermittent stomach-ache.  Since he was  determined to go and complete the many assignments due at this time of year, and in the absence of any discernible fever, I allowed him to board the schoolbus.  At 4pm, he arrived in the doorway announcing "I'm sick".  Feverish, and having eaten nothing since breakfast, for fear of "what might happen", we sent him to bed.  He is still there.

Fog

The weather people promise that this incessant rain will stop one day.  I'll believe it when I see it...

B and D

 Danielle relaxing.

Bethany's home!

Maybe these shots of my nieces and nephew aren't the best photos I've ever taken, but these are definitely some of THE best people.

Beauty and the Monsters

Are you still taking pictures?!*&%

If you order it, it will come, mwa ah ah ah ah!

Beauty

Be afraid, be very afraid!

Mother's Day

We took my Mum out to our favourite local foodie spot on Sunday.  Soft colours suit here, I think.

H, S, and N!

 Hannah, here you go, you gorgeous girl!

Sterl and Nat, looking very, very serious.

Cardinal

This is one of the best shots from my shooting trip with Audrey at Easter, but I only just now figured out how to retrieve it from a buggy spot in this computer.

Dinner

Moroccan Vegetable CousCous with Radicchio and Arugula Salad -- sounds impressive.  ;-)

Shots from a Walk

 Some beauty is planned (or planted), some just springs up and surprises you!

 Someone else's mansion-by-the-lake.

 First successful macro shot.  And no, those aren't dandelions.  Dandies are still yellow around here.

Tulips, driftwood, and natural stone.  Whoever planted this garden knows how to catch a romantic's eye.

 Eagle.   I am still figuring how I could have got a better shot without trespassing.

I think bird sculpture is my favourite sort.  Who needs to garden when you can enjoy other people's!?

The Long and Winding Road

Spring has finally appeared in the neighbourhood.  A little late, but much welcomed all the same. :-) 
I will not even complain about the sudden, sharp increase in allergic reactions in the family, but will only mention that the huge supply of Claritin, which I thought would last all summer, is dwindling fast.

Discussion at Lunch

 So, we're sitting in a diner down the road when Jim said...

 ... and then I retorted...

... at which point all rational conversation ceased...

... and the wall of ads blazed behind us!

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

This is one of my three fabulous nieces.  Eighteen years old, and ready to vote, today.  Watch out world!

Photo of a photo.  Sorry Hannah, I know I drove you mad snapping away yesterday, but, for some unknown reason, my blog won't upload any of the good ones.  You look great in the professional shot anyway. :-)

Cousins

 How good it is for family to spend time together!  Nat and Sterling in an unguarded moment.  You would not believe how much subterfuge it took before I finally got a usable shot...

Happy Easter!

 Scenes from the Romance Gallery Garden in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

 This is my favourite photo from the morning.  I want a fountain like this for my own garden one day. :-)

 My friend Audrey, whose idea it was to venture on a "shooting walk". 

Many lovely, old houses like this adorn the roads in old town.  I keep muttering "high maintenance, and hordes of tourists in the summer" to myself.  I lived there once, though not in a house like this one.  Never again!  Pretty, and tempting, but not my cup of tea at all when the total package is considered...

Happy!

Here we see Maddie modeling a sweater yours truly knit for her last summer.  We tried everything to get her to smile, but only her brother could cause her face to light up.  Sweet Ella is having lunch behind Maddie. (And no, I didn't make any part of Ella's apparel.  One day I will learn how to sew...)

Sunshine and Sushi

Cool cut-out art at the local sushi haunt.  Those boys are pretty cool, too. ;-)