Tuesday, August 27, 2013

August 2013 Photo A Day Project - Week Four

Wow. Is it really Tuesday afternoon already? My last few days have whirled by, with the beginning meetings of a new (very exciting) college coaching job. 
Thus, last week's photo posting has been delayed. Now, at last, I have a free evening, so here we go!


19 - Lost

Following Pierre's racecar to and from the track
makes getting lost darned near impossible.








20 - Stairs

Heading up for a healing
from Denis Chagnon
(fascinating guy, you may want to check out that link!)









21 - Slow

Birthday girl: Sondra, Jeanne, Val, and I
moving slowly at the end of a lovely, dinner & theatre, HOT, girls night out.
(That's hot, as in serious Ottawa-summer-night temperature
although these are some powerfully-hot women!)









22 - A Room

The least-used room in our house
(except by Penny, who often snoozes atop the cedar chest.)









23 - Yellow

One of two beautiful patches of brown-eyed susans
(and this is after thinning!)











24 - In the Background

Took a walk through a different neighbourhood.
Wasn't exactly sure where I was until I saw this sign peeking through.
At 427,000 square feet -- Canada's largest IKEA-- it's a major landmark!











25 - Culture

From the Maple Sugar Festival; Shakespeare; Chamber-, Folk-, Jazz-, and Blues music;
Greek-, SouthAsian-, Irish-, Turkish-, and Italian Festivals; to last weekend's Pride Parade...
Ottawa loves to celebrate every culture's wonderful and unique traditions.
Feeling so blessed to live here!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

August 2013 Photo A Day Project - Week Three

Another week of summer has come and gone, and we've already had a few blissfully cooler nights. Along with them, though, has come the beginning of the changing leaf colours. Granted, it's only an occasional glimpse of red or gold on the odd tree, but the glorious painting-to-come is starting. 

Autumn is my favourite season, but it's always a little bittersweet when it arrives; soon we'll have to budget extra time to scrape snow and ice off of cars and climb in and out of three additional layers of clothes. We're on the downhill slope that leads to snow plows and missing bike rides and long walks in our shirtsleeves.

Now, though, the sun continues to shine hot, and we have, at last, harvested three lovely, red tomatoes from our "early" plant. It's been an odd, but beautiful season. Last week was perhaps one of the best weather-wise of the summer: mostly just right, hovering around 80F/27C mid-day, not too humid, and to our thunder-phobic pup, Copper's, delight, no storms! 

Loads of fun things filled the week, and here are daily glimpses of a few of those delights....


12 - Macro

Silvery Fir Tree Tomato produces its first lucious fruit of 2013

13 - Fast

Tesla ~ my dream electric car. Only $83k + taxes... sigh...

14 - Trash

Ottawa recycles compost, paper, glass, plastic, and yard waste.
Our trash can, collected every other week, is usually 1/3 full. :)

15 - The Best

Post-walk with one of the coolest women ever ~
Val Bogan

16 - Cooking

Breakfast smoothie deliciousness:
cantaloupe, cucumber, Greek yogurt, avocado, water, and protein powder.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm!

17 - Exercise

Old man Copper finally plays with Heather's Ceilidh (K-Lee)
Ferocious Fighters! :)

18 - Someone I Spoke to Today

Two someones, actually: Ms Alpaca and Linda,
friend and co-owner of Joe-Lin Station B&B,
Bowmanville, ON

Sunday, August 11, 2013

August 2013 Photo A Day Project - Week Two

Ahhhh... Perhaps this is perfection.... Blissful Outdoor Weather. And next week is forecast for more of the same. Except for the missing scent of tropical flowers and the sound and salt tang of the sea, we could be in Hawaii or California, but with all of the comforts of home! Ottawa summer days are often too hot-and-muggy for outdoor sittin' or activities, so we are soaking in these glorious just right days.

I'm feeling especially spoiled this month, as my one of my closest girlfriends has the entire month off from her job. We're both focusing on getting healthier, so we get together every day or two to walk and gab, either along the river or through the greenbelt woods. What a treat!

There are loads of things happening and upcoming, so, to give you a glimpse of a few of them, here are the daily photos from last week.


4 - Fresh

We eat like Royalty.
(If royalty eats mostly fresh, organic, and free-range.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 - Early

Hot flash time. 'Nuff said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 - This Means a Lot to Me

Dream come true -- again!
Fabulous trails through the woods just a
one-minute walk / 30-second bike ride from home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 - A Sign

You know you're in Ottawa...
The Centrepointe branch... One of 14 "Oaks" in the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 - Peek-A-Boo

Copper asking,
"Is it time for deener yet, mom?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9 - Two O'Clock

Harish, my super-bright
Tuesday and Friday 2:00 student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 - Beverage

PG Tips Sun Tea. Just in from
being steeped on the front porch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 - I Love Doing This!

1. Being outside. 2. Putzing on the computer.
3. Hanging out with Pierre. 4. Eating on the patio.
5. Having delicious breakfast made for me.
6. Listening to the blues from P's itunes. 7. Bacon.
Not necessarily in any order!

Monday, August 05, 2013

July / August 2013 Photo A Day Project - Week Five / Week One

The photo-a-day challenge continues!

Mindfulness seems to be the theme of my life these days, as reflected by...

  • the books I'm reading (E-squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality, by Pam Grout, and The Intention Experiment: Using Your Thoughts to Change Your Life and the World, by Lynne McTaggert) 
  •  
  • the wonderful people I'm spending time with, and what we're discussing 
  •  
  • the continuing practice of tracking all of my food and exercise on SparkPeople
  •  
  • and beginning Deepak Chopra's 21-day meditation practice this morning.
 Following FatMumSlim's Photo a Day Challenge last month was another way to focus my attention on the beauty and blessings around me. Here, then, are the last three days of July's photos...



29 - Perspective



Five very cool men at the ESL Conversation Group
Five unique perspectives on the world




 

 

30 - Friendship

Best Friends Forevah!

 






31 - Workplace

Since I work mostly in clients' homes
I'll share Pierre's home office








And now... August's Word of the Day list of prompts:











1 - Something Beginning with N... (a series of four)

Copper says, "NOOOOOOOO! Not another nasty storm!"






And the Nervous pacing begins







And continues, no matter what we try...







... including attempting a DIY compression hoodie
which didn't calm his nerves, but was
incredibly cute.









2 - Incomplete


SparkPeople food tracker sans last night's dinner








3 - Skyline


A glorious evening walk after dinner
with dear neighbours and pups