The Pedalogue

C is for COMPOSITION

2012-01-29T16:02:00.013-08:00

Welcome back to ABC Wednesday, created and hosted by the inComparable Mrs. Nesbitt and assisted by her courageous coven of crazy and cackling characters, including moi from Canada! First off, I would thank to thank so many of my readers who commented on my previous post (Background) and praised my photo of the pumpkin patch. I didn't mention it, but it did win a challenge on Red Bubble for the month of October, and I celebrated it as my first win for any of my photos!

This week, I'd like to discuss "composition." There are three main rules around composition: the rule of thirds, the golden section rule, and the diagonal rule. I checked out various websites and chose one that seemed to be concise and simple to understand. You can see it here. You can click on any photo to enlarge it.

The rule of thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two-thirds up a page. Imagine your photo divided into nine equal sections. When lining up your shot, make sure your main subjects are lined up at the intersection points, rather than centered. See photo below from the website.

Here are a few of my own photos that I think show good composition by using the rule of thirds.

The next rule is called the Golden Section Rule. This means that certain points in a picture's composition automatically attract the viewer's attention. Imagine your photo being divided into nine unequal sections. Each line is drawn so that the width of the resulting small part of the image relates to that of the big part exactly as the width of the whole image relates to the width of the big part. Points where the lines intersect are the "golden" points of the picture. See photo below from the website.

And one of my own photos:
The final rule for composition is the diagonal rule. This means that one side of the picture is divided into two, and then each half is divided into three parts. The adjacent side is divided so that the lines connecting the resulting points form a diagonal frame. According to the Diagonal Rule, important elements of the picture should be placed along these diagonals. See photo below from the website:

And a couple of my own photos, far from perfect as I've been working on trying to keep my camera straight and not on a diagonal:

There you have it - my contribution to Round 10, Week 3. I hope I haven't bored you completely to death and that you'll leave a comment to let me know if you're still compos mentis after reading all this. Ciao until next week.

B is for BACKGROUND

2012-01-19T15:29:00.010-08:00

As I look back on the photos I've taken over the past few years, I notice that I'm getting better and better shots. Why is this? Before really getting into photography as a hobby, I simply looked at something and took the shot. I did not consider the background at all. Even now, I sometimes get so excited about something that I forget that taking the background into consideration can make the difference between a photo and work of art. So what do we look for when we factor in the background?

The first thing to do is scan the background of your shot and check for colours and lines that might clash with your subject. Next, if your camera has the capability, throw the background out of focus by using depth of field. This is best done with a manual digital single lens reflex camera. Mine is not a manual, but I do have the capability of choosing some aperture settings. Also, you could either move the subject or move yourself to get a better angle (see previous post). One of the most effective ways to deal with background is to fill the frame with your subject. I love using my macro and super macro settings and will discuss this when it's M week. In addition, you could go out to take photos with your own background. For example, take coloured sheets of card stock with you or a variety of coloured fabrics to act as background. Finally, there are lots of different photo editing software available. I use Photoshop Elements and really enjoy fooling around with its capabilities. Not that I do all these things every time, but I can sharpen the focus, adjust the contrast, lighten or darken shadows, and play with colours by changing the hue, temperature, and saturation of a photo. Also, I can crop and resize the image.

In the following photo, I took a shot from the boat as we were cruising past Steveston Village. I recognized the location as one where L and I frequently go and sit in our sun chairs to relax, read and watch the boats go by. Pajos Restaurant is there, too, where we'll buy fish and chips to nibble during those long, lazy summer afternoons. Looking at it now, I see so much more than what I wanted to shoot. There is not only the tree, beside which we sit just above the rocks, and the restaurant, but also in the shot there are cars, a condo, telephone poles, the mountains, and an airplane taking off. I never noticed these things at the time.

In this next shot, I had quickly pulled over to the side of the road because the field was so bright and beautiful. However, I was worried about all the cars passing and took a quick shot, not taking into account anything except the little girl dragging her pumpkin away. You will notice (and I think this is a bit amusing) two men standing around chatting with cameras around their necks, one lady walking away, and another little girl lagging behind her. Also, if you look beyond the field, you will see a bit of the city past the treeline and mountains in the far distance. I actually like this because you are able to see just how close my neighbourhood is to Vancouver. We live in a semi-rural area, but with city conveniences near at hand.

I took this shot over 5 years ago when I was travelling in Sicily. We were at the Valley of the Temples where you'll find the remains of eight Greek temples. I took several shots of this particular one (the Temple of Castor and Pollux) and finally got up as close as I could to block out the background of the city of Agrigento behind. However, I do like this shot as it shows the incongruity of the ancient ruins and the modern city so near to each other.

And one more shot, this time of me standing in front of a sign in Cardiff that reads, "Wales The Happy Country." It was pouring rain and my friend said to go stand by the sign and he'd take my photo. Now when I look at it, I see the dragon (symbol of Wales) plus the shop windows that we didn't stop to look at while there. Next time I'm in Cardiff, I will try to find that shop again and go in to look around. In this case, I'm glad the background is there, even if it hadn't originally meant to be.

Thanks to Denise Nesbitt, our bold buccaneer, for creating ABC Wednesdays and for keeping it going for nigh on 5 years! It has become international and more and more people are contributing each week. Mrs. Nesbitt's bright and beautiful assistants take turns producing each week's beginning post and will take a break in their day to visit all the other posts. So do consider bonding with us by clicking here to see each week's contributors.

A is for ANGLES

2012-01-16T12:26:00.007-08:00

All aboard for Round 10 of ABC Wednesday? Awesome! For this round, I've decided to focus on learning more about photography. I took an informal class for 12 weeks in the fall and learned quite a bit but, naturally, there's so much more to learn. The next class doesn't begin until March, so in the meantime, this will help me to keep everything front and center, continue learning and practising, and share some of my photos.

At first, I was going to do "aperture," but since I'm not using a manual SLR, but rather a digital with some manual settings, I'm going to use the word "angles" instead. Try experimenting with photos by getting right down on the floor or the ground, sit on a chair and look up...waaaay up, or climb on something and look down. Tilt your camera one way and then the other. Try out different angles and try to get shots with angles in them. I know, I know, people will see you and think "what on earth is that person doing???" but who cares? With a camera in hand, pretend you're a professional with a contract for some high-class magazine and just go for it. When you look at your shots on Photoshop or other software, you'll see that most of the shots are awful. However, sometimes you'll get it just right and give yourself an A+ for effort! And you'll even learn from the awful shots!

Here are just a few shots where I was attempting to shoot angles.

Go ahead and attempt your own shots with angles. And while you're at it, remember Mrs. Nesbitt who gave us the very first ABC Wednesday and has kept it going for almost 5 years! She sure gets an A+ for all her endeavours, along with her able-bodied A-list of aides! To check out ABCW, just click here and join in the fun.

Z is for ZEAL

2012-01-08T11:37:00.005-08:00

It's hard to believe that we're already at the end of Round 9 in ABC Wednesday! Actually, it's quite timely, since we've just started a new year - 2012 - and hopefully, like me, you all have a new zest for life. Although the weather may be cold, wet or white, let's all find something to get excited about - make snow angels, buy some new wellies and a new brollie and sing in the rain, or experiment with taking photos during a dark, grey day. It won't be long and we'll see snow drops, hyacinths, narcissi, daffodils, and tulips! So don't sleep away these dark days of winter, but rather get out and about with a zealous attitude!

ZEAL

Zeal is like promiscuous purple pansies.

It looks like playful, chattering chimpanzees.

It sounds like giggles that turn into hoots.

It smells like French fries and tropical fruits.

It tastes like Snickers and sugar and spice.

It feels like daring delight rolling the dice.

Zeal is enthusiasm for everything in life.

Continued thanks to our zippy leader, Denise Nesbitt, who created ABCW and with her zealous group of assistants, continues to keep us on our toes. Please join in the fun any time you wish, but this would be the perfect time now that we're starting Round 10. Just click here to check us out.

Y is for YEARNING

2011-12-29T15:18:00.008-08:00

In Ecclesiastes 3, it is written that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; and it goes on to say Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before, and God will call the past to account.

As human beings, though, we tend towards wishing, thirsting and aching for what we intellectually know is either wrong, forbidden, or impossible - for whatever reason. Although it's been almost 20 years since my husband died, there are still times when I think back and remember the good times we had with our daughters. I remember when we first met, he tried to seduce me with his collection of Leonard Cohen records (78 rpm - remember those?). I remember the smell of his cigarettes and the rum and coke he loved to drink at the end of a hectic day at work. And I also remember the unbelieveable pain I experienced when he died. It took me years to come to the conclusion that I actually wanted to survive. I put one foot in front of the other, took one moment at a time, and finally was able to laugh and love again.

But once in a while...

YEARNING

Yearning is the colour of morning dew.

It looks like dreary clouds in a sky of blue.

It sounds like Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

It smells like cigarettes and rum with cola.

It tastes like wearisome and warm champagne.

It feels like barbed wire tears and cold, wet rain.

Yearning is the soul aching for what can’t be gained.

In the fall of 1973, I'd been married a few months and, although I loved my husband, things were not going well. I took myself off to a movie to get my mind off things and saw "The Way We Were." Not a great choice. It took me back to the person I'd been with for over 3 years before marrying my husband after only 6 months of knowing each other. I cried all the way home, thinking about what we had had and what we might have been able to have if we had not been so immature.

But then, I guess God had another plan for us all. I have fully mourned the loss of my husband and am now dancing in the love that I had lost and now have found again. Enjoy the song for its beautiful lyrics and melody and don't yearn for what could have been. This is a time to sing and dance with joy!

Memories, light the corners of my mind

Misty watercolor memories of the way we were.
Scattered pictures of the smiles we left behind
Smiles we give to one another for the way we were.
Can it be that it was all so simple then or has time rewritten every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again tell me would we?
Could we?
Memories, may be beautiful and yet what's too painful to remember we simply choose to forget.
So it's the laughter we will remember whenever we remember the way we were.

Can it be that it was all so simple then
Or has time rewritten every line
If we had the chance to do it all again
Tell me - Would we? Could we?

Memories
May be beautiful and yet
What's too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget

So it's the laughter
We will remember
Whenever we remember
The way we were.

Happy New Year everyone!

X is for XMAS

2011-12-27T11:16:00.008-08:00

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah! I'm a bit late getting this posted as the days have just flown by. Today, I'm rushing out to lunch with a great friend whose birthday lies mid-week between Christmas and New Year's...her birthday tends to get lost between these big holidays, so we have tried to make it a tradition to get together for her own big day. Here is my poem for the week and following a few photos of our Xmas - some scenes from around the neighbourhood, my coffee table centerpiece, me with my new Hudson Bay Company teddy bear (named Henry after the explorer), and Lorne so surprised to receive the book he's been desiring for some time now!

XMAS

Xmas is red and green and blue and gold.

It looks like a rainbow of stars in the sky.

It sounds like angels singing on high.

It smells like cider and oven-baked pie.

It tastes like fruitcake, pudding, shortbread.

It feels like hugs from family and friends.

Xmas is warmth and love to behold.

W is for WONDER

2011-12-19T08:39:00.010-08:00

Wonder - as in to be filled with awe, admiration, and amazement. Next to the wonder of the season that is upon us, I "wondered" (as in curiosity) what else one could use in the context of awe, admiration, and amazement. I determined that it is all around me - as in the country where I live - Canada!

Every time I've gone on vacation elsewhere, I've come back "wondering" why I left. Flying into YVR (Vancouver, BC) is a spectacular experience with the Coast Mountain range on the north, the flat delta lands to the south, and the Pacific Ocean behind. Maybe it takes going away for a while in order to appreciate the wonders of Canada - sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, the magnificent mountains and valleys where lakes are tucked away, the fantastic forests full of cedar, pine, fir, hemlock, and our national tree, the maple.

When we lived in Ottawa for a few years, we experienced all four seasons in true form - spring with the blossoms, summers of humid heat and thunder and lightning storms, autumn colours, and frosty winters when the Rideau Canal would freeze over. We bought a truly Canadian treat from a little cabin on the ice - beaver tails, which are flat fried pastries dunked in sugar. That and a cup of hot chocolate hit the spot while I watched my girls ice skating on the canal.

WONDER

Wonder is blue turning red, yellow and gold.

It looks like autumn sunsets on the Pacific so bold.

It sounds like echoes in valleys of stone.

It smells like raindrops and grass freshly mown.

It tastes like sweet beaver tails in frosty sunshine.

It feels like shivers up the timbers of forests so fine.

Wonder is Canada's oceans, prairies and awesome alpine.

And for a special treat of "wonder," here's a photo from Mr. Google of Lake Louise tucked in the Rocky Mountains near Banff, Alberta. Isn't it wonderful?

V is for VITALITY

2011-12-12T12:22:00.004-08:00

Vitality refers to exuberant physical strength or mental power. Lately, my physical energy has felt drained, which in turn has felt like my mental energy is flushing away as well. This tutoring business needs me to be in top mental form, as this year with 3 grade 12 students, I must read, study, understand, and be able to transmit this understanding to them. So far, I've had to read Albert Camus' The Outsider, which I read in the French language as L'Etranger at university. I've also had to read most, if not all, of Vladimir Nabokov's Pale Fire, which in my honest and humble opinion could be an entire year's, if not semester's, study at the university level. When we get to Othello and Catcher in the Rye, it will seem a piece of cake compared to what we've done so far.

I'm stunned at the level of comprehension expected of Grade 12 students in this day and age. I'm also stunned by the topics studied, but then I guess kids at this age are more "aware" than we were in my prehistoric days. I do wonder, though, why kids in their early teens need to read books with themes about rape, sex, and murder. Ah well, it keeps my brain ticking along trying to keep up with them all.

And so, to attempt to get the brain cells working at top form again, I've resorted to joining the local seniors' recreation center and taking a "Fun & Fitness" class 2 or 3 times a week. I guess I'm doing the right thing, even though I feel very clumsy and awkward because of my bad back after that lovely triple fusion. Today in the local newspaper is an article about getting mentally fit by staying physically fit. At class this morning, as I was doing the weights portion of the day by sitting in an upright chair to support my back, I thought "I guess I should keep going with this because I might be in a wheelchair one day and will have to have strong arms to wheel myself around." Hopefully, that's a loooooonnnnggg time in the future. I've been attending this class for about 2 or 3 weeks now, and do find it easier bopping up and down the stairs at home. And, by the way, how do you like my skiing form over to the top right? That's about the extent of my skiing, I'm afraid, but it's fun to look at it and dream!

Here's my take on vitality for this week.

VITALITY

Vitality is bright red, yellow, and blue.

It looks like a jovial jogger ahead of the queue.

It sounds like laughing and screaming on a roller coaster.

It smells like healthy, whole wheat bagels from the toaster.

It tastes like fresh snow on the tip of my tongue.

It feels like frosty air inhaled in the lungs.

Vitality is health and energy through and through.

Continued thanks to Denise Nesbitt for creating and continuing this ABC Wednesday meme. Her group of vivacious, vigilant, and valued helpers will visit each person's contribution and give valuable insight to you. If you haven't joined in yet, please do or consider starting with our next Round in about a month.

U is for UNITY

2011-12-04T09:25:00.004-08:00

UNITY

Unity is a milky, pearly white.
It looks like starlight on a clear, bright night.
It sounds like a cob calling to his pen.
It smells like popcorn shared in the den.
It tastes like sweat as we share one life.
It feels like serenity throughout the strife.
Unity is two, a husband and wife.

ABC Wednesday is the brainchild of Denise Nesbitt, the mainstay in our group of bloggers. Thanks to her and her unified union of utterly committed and useful assistants! Click here to participate or to just check in and see what we all do.

T is for TRUST

2011-11-28T13:11:00.008-08:00

I thought I had written on this before, and I have. If you're interested, you can click here to see my previous post.

This time, however, I'm thinking a bit differently and considering what trust actually "is." I understand it to be both emotional and logical. Emotionally, I expose my personal vulnerabilities. Logically, I assess the probabilities of what I might gain or lose depending on the previous actions of the other person.

Therefore, trust means being able to predict what others will do in certain situations; trust means that I expect reciprocity, even if it's delayed; trust is allowing others to take advantage of my vulnerabilities but expecting that they won't.

Have you ever tossed a baby into the air? Most babies love this and never consider that you would let them fall. That is trust.

TRUST

Trust is a calm and confident blue.

It looks like an oasis in the midst of a slough.

It sounds like shouts of clear convictions.

It smells like the stimulating salt of the oceans.

It tastes like deep draughts of discernment.

It feels like faith in a confident comment.

Trust is the tender texture of temperament.

As the sun went down last night, I reflected upon the fact that
I trusted that the sun would come up in the morning.

As usual, thanks to Denise Nesbitt for creating ABC Wednesday and continuing to temptingly tease us with treatises, theories, and tests of creativity.

S is for SAFETY

2011-11-20T14:40:00.005-08:00

Because I grew up in a dysfunctional and abusive family environment, I still often feel anxiety even if I logically understand that there is nothing to fear. So it got me wondering what it means to truly comprehend safety or security. As my poem acknowledges, a bird builds a nest for her babies high up in a tree so she can stay nearby and scare away any intruders. Near schools, crosswalk guards, in brightly coloured red and yellow vests, keep students safe as they cross the streets. Within the confines of home, one can sit down in the afternoon with a scented cup of tea and listen to music - or silence - and feel the warmth and coziness of being surrounded by loved ones. When a baby is born, it is immediately wrapped up tightly in a warm flannel blanket and put into the arms of its mother. Instinct on both sides should kick in with mother feeling responsible for her child's security, and child knowing it's safe in its mothers arms. Sometimes we prefer steak, but a homemade plain meal can give us a sense of security even more, knowing it was prepared by loving hands who worked hard to provide. Finally, home should be a haven whether it is small or large, ordinary or grand. I am grateful to live in a part of the world where poverty and war is something far away and I can give practical assistance through charities and relief organizations. However, now I know that I am now safe and secure from those situations that, as a child, scared me.

SAFETY

Safety is the brown of a bird's nest.
It looks like a red and yellow neon vest.
It sounds like a sigh in an afternoon's rest.
It smells like talcum on a baby newborn.
It tastes like meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn.
It feels like the third pig's house made of bricks.
Safety is a pin that will not prick.

Continued thanks to Denise Nesbitt for designing and promoting ABC Wednesday! If you would like to contribute or see other contributions, simply click here.

R is for RESPECT

2011-11-13T19:47:00.005-08:00

November is always a time of remembrance and respect. We remember our Canadian Armed Forces for their participation in all wars since confederation (1867). Because of our ties with the British Empire, Canada joined forces in the Second Boer War, World War 1, and World War 2. Canada has also participated in multinational coalitions and fought in the Korean War, the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, and the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. As well, Canada has played an important role in peacekeeping operations worldwide and has sent more troops than any other country.

Along with remembering Canada's military forces for their sometimes heroic endeavours to keep our country and other countries democratic, we show our utmost respect to them on November 11 every year. We honour them for their specific actions and conduct and respect them for their dedication to freedom. Here is my poem about respect.

RESPECT

Respect is a blood-tinged soldier's cerise.
It looks like privates positioned at ease.
It sounds like everyone saying "Please."
It smells like the cool crisp scent of autumn leaves.
It tastes like the bread and wine we receive.
It feels like reverberating vibrations of sound.
Respect is honoring the moral high ground.

Thanks to Denise Nesbitt and her radiant and ravishing group of revolutionaries for keeping ABC Wednesday alive. We refuse to restrain ourselves as we revere the ridiculous to the reflective to the romantic revelations of our contRibutoRs. Click HERE to reward yourselves and rejoice in renowned reflections.

Q is for QUIET

2011-11-07T12:34:00.007-08:00

When I was in Grade 7, my Mom attended the annual Parent/Teacher Conferences because my report card had indicated that I was "reticent" in class. I had never heard that word before and was, therefore, terrified that I was in some sort of trouble. I later learned it meant "quiet," but my mother could not believe the teacher had written the comment for the correct student. However, it appears I was indeed "reticent" in class - quite the opposite of what I was like at home. We all had a good laugh and I never again worried about what the teachers wrote on my report cards.

I am naturally a very optimistic person, full of good humour, and with an internal strength when confronted with life's indomitable difficulties. However, there have been times (as my regular readers are aware) when life has knocked me down flat on my face. It has been during those times when I have needed the quiet moments to build up the strength to go forward. I know there are other people who have endured worse than I have, especially Job. I'm actually looking forward to reading this Book again with one of the Grade 12 students that I tutor. He has no knowledge of the Bible, so this will be an interesting time of sharing God's ideas of why people suffer. Here is my take on "Quiet."

QUIET

Quiet is the archetypal blue of the sky.

It looks like an eagle soaring so high.

It sounds like the silence of the first soft snow.

It smells like early primrose in the meadow.

It tastes like the coolness of candy cane.

It feels like a peace that touches the pain.

Quiet is a sigh that that comes from the soul.

This is where I like to go when I need quiet times. It's the Boundary Bay Regional Park near my home. I like to wander the back trails where I can see wild birds, rabbits, and the occasional fellow walker. It's near the salt water of Boundary Bay and the air is fresh and salty. I do my best thinking here.

ABC Wednesday is in its fifth year and on its ninth round, thanks to the quintessential Mrs. Nesbitt and her qualified and quirky gang of assistants! To check out other contributions and/or to join in the fun, simply click here.

THE GREEN THING

2011-11-05T13:02:00.006-07:00

My sister sent me this and I like it so much, I'm sharing it with you all.

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this 'green' thing back in my day."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

She was right -- our generation didn't have the 'green' thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. But we didn't have the 'green' thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs because we didn't have an escalator or elevator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go a few blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the 'green' thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right - we didn't have the 'green' thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV or radio in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana . In the kitchen we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right, we didn't have the 'green' thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the 'green' thing back then.

Back then people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not a bank of sockets to power a dozen things. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza place.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the 'green' thing back then?

P is for PAIN

2011-10-31T12:58:00.004-07:00

Before we get going, may I say I hope you all had a purrfectly perfect PUMPKIN Day!

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross says, "The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."

I must have been chosen to be one of the "beautiful people" then, because I have been through an awful lot of both physical and emotional pain. After my late husband's suicide, my counsellor asked me, "How do you cope?" I believe I was gifted with an innate coping device - along with my faith, of course. I have always pretended to be happy when in pain, and apparently that is a sign of how strong someone is. I keep on smiling - and smiling some more. Here is my take on pain.

PAIN

Pain is the colour of a saw made of steel.
It looks like a grotesque grimace from Cain.
It sounds like the howling wind and the rain.
It smells like burning flesh on the grill.
It tastes like smoke from the dentist's drill.
It feels like shards of glass that kill.
Pain is a bitter potion designed to heal.

Thanks to Denise Nesbitt and her plethora of personnages who plunder along each week to promote ABC Wednesday by visiting all the participants to see what they’ve posted. Everyone deserves a prize for the part they take in producing perfectly productive posts!

O is for OPPOSITION

2011-10-24T09:02:00.005-07:00

"France's spirited challenge to the haka backfired on them last night as the All Blacks took heart to win the Rugby World Cup for the first time in 24 years. As the haka began, the French players stood in a "V" formation and joined hands. Then they began to move forward slowly - over halfway - until they were standing in a wavey line about 10 metres from the All Blacks.

Last night was not the first time the All Blacks' opposition did not passively watch the pre-match tradition. This came about after a fiery response to the haka by the Ireland rugby team at Lansdowne Road in Dublin in 1989. Captain and lock Willie Anderson led his team in a slow march forward until they were standing directly in front of the All Blacks. The tactic had no effect on the match, with the All Blacks running out 23-6 winners.

In Wales in November 2008, a tense standoff at the Millennium Stadium delayed the start of the match for about a minute as both teams eyeballed each other at the end of the All Blacks' stirring rendition of Kapa o Pango. The referee had to implore both captains to get on with the game as each team refused to budge." (from nzherald.co.nz)

Here is my take on the word "opposition" in poetic form.

OPPOSITION

Opposition's the colour of New Zealand All Blacks.

It looks like crazy crowds before they attack.

It sounds like hisses and boos from rioting punks.

It smells like a living, breathing funk.

It tastes like cod liver oil recently drunk.

It feels like antagonism in some aspect.

Opposition is conflict between instinct and intellect.

Enjoy this rendition of the "haka" showing opposition to the 'nth degree at the 2011 Finals against the French, who got right in the faces of the New Zealand All Blacks!

N is for NOSTALGIA

2011-10-17T11:51:00.004-07:00

Nostalgia is usually meant to be a yearning for the past and the "good old days." My childhood was, shall we say, dysfunctional. Therefore, I don't really "yearn" for the past. However, there are some good memories and simple things I recall fondly. For example, when I was about 7 years old and allowed to walk to and from school by myself, I remember one day in May passing by a house with a gigantic lilac tree in full bloom. I stopped and took many deep sniffs of those gorgeous flowers and from that day on, I've always adored lilacs. As a family, we loved to go camping in the Okanagan or Kootenay regions of British Columbia and we girls would laze around reading comic books like "Little Lulu," and "Archie." Remember when you could get a big comic book digest for 25 cents? Whew...times have sure changed! Here's my take on nostalgia.

NOSTALGIA

Nostalgia is the gentle grey of a friendly phantom.
It looks like a black and white photo album.
It sounds like nursery rhymes and bubble gum.
It smells like lilacs on the walk home from school.
It tastes like tomato rice soup on a day that's cool.
It feels like Vicks vapour rub and the warmth from firewood.
Nostalgia is sweet memories of childhood.

Here we are camping at some BC lake one summer.
left to right younger sister Jackie, me, and older sister Robin.

As always, thanks go to Denise Nesbitt and her naughty but nice group of neighbours from around the world. Some wear necklaces and some wear neckties. They all navigate the ABC Wednesday website to visit all the contributors. To see everyone's incredibly creative posts, just click here!

M is for MIRTH

2011-10-10T11:44:00.003-07:00

It's raining today and I can see the trees across the street are turning colour. Soon the leaves will fall, the skies will be grey daily, and the wind will whistle through the empty branches. As I pondered what emotion to write about this week, my mind took me back to the summer when, on hot days, my grandchildren loved to go to the local water park, the beach, or even my backyard to run through the sprinkler. This brought me to the word MIRTH, meaning gaiety or amusement accompanied by laughter. What better feeling on which to meditate on a dull, rainy day in order to pull oneself out of the doldrums! Here is mirth:

MIRTH

Mirth is the red, orange, and yellow of sunshine.
It looks like foamy waves along the shoreline.
It sounds like children giggling at the seaside.
It smells like the salty vinegar of fish 'n chips.
It tastes like ice-cream with chocolate dips.
It feels like rib-tickling wrestling in the sand.
Mirth is music and merriment in a wonderland.

Thanks to Denise Nesbitt for her creativity in bringing ABC Wednesday to life several years ago. She and her merry band of misfits (moi included!) visit contributors each and every week to encourage, compliment, and rejoice in their efforts to entertain us all with their personal creativity. To join in or simply to savour the contribution of others, click here!

L is for LONGING

2011-10-03T09:42:00.003-07:00

Longing is an emotion characterized by a strong feeling of desire. It's also the title of an unreleased Dusty Springfield album from 1974. I guess I'm dating myself with this, but I always loved her songs, full of passion and yearning. Here is my take on "longing" with this week's poem.

Longing

Longing is deep sapphire blue.

It looks like tender tears of dew.

It sounds like echoes of yesterday.

It smells like a Chinese food for one day.

It tastes like apple pie in the sky.

It feels like a mercenary magnet to iron.

Longing is unrequited desire.

And here is a taste of Dusty Springfield's unique style of longing in a song from 1967:

K is for KOOKINESS

2011-09-25T10:06:00.005-07:00

I love acting kooky sometimes. In fact, I have been characterised as crazy, eccentric, funny, quirky, wacky, weird, and wild. However, I "do" know when it's the right time to be so, as well as the right time to be - well, in a serious mode. It's so much more fun, though, to be kooky!

KOOKINESS

Kookiness is a crazy sort of plaid.

It looks like a Scot's kilt gone bad.

It sounds like a bagpipe gone mad.

It smells like Burns' Day haggis.

It tastes like a ticklish all-over kiss.

It feels like end-of-the-day bliss.

Kookiness is absurd silliness.

ThanKs always to the krazy, kittenish Denise Nesbitt for her kreativity in starting up this weeKly ABC Wednesday kookiness! She and her ko-horts (moi inKcluded) will be over to checK up on your kontributions this weeK. They Kan be found here.

J is for JEALOUSY

2011-09-18T18:02:00.006-07:00

Jealousy has often been referred to as the "green-eyed monster." I wondered where this saying originated so turned to the internet to find out. According to "The Phrase Finder," it was possibly coined by Shakespeare in his 1604 play Othello. In it, Iago says:

O beware, my lord, of jealousy;

It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock

The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss

Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;

But, O, what damned minutes he tells he o'er

Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!"

Here's my take on jealousy:

JEALOUSY

Jealousy is a green that's hard to define.

It looks like terribly tangled vines.

It sounds like wallowing and whimpering whines.

It smells like a strange scent on his neckline.

It tastes like muddy paranoid pies.

It feels like razor blades when he tells his lies.

Jealousy is sin in others' eyes.

Jubilant and joyful thanks to Denise Nesbitt for starting ABC Wednesday, considering the fact that she's juggling so many things right now - renovating a kitchen is no mean feat! Thanks Denise! If you'd like to participate or peruse the contributions of others, just click HERE.

I is for INNOCENCE

2011-09-12T13:28:00.009-07:00

Last week's poem about hatred was pretty powerful, so I decided to soften things up a bit for this week. What with the tenth anniversary of 9-11 and all the ceremonies and remembrances of that evil act, I would rather focus on something more gentle. Innocence can be defined as freedom from sin, moral wrong, or guilt through lack of knowledge of evil. Who among us can honestly say they are like that. In my opinion, the only innocents are children, those too young to be tainted by the sins of the world. Search your hearts...are you truly an innocent?

INNOCENCE

Innocence is baby blue and petal pink.
It looks like a coat of soft silver mink.
It sounds like the baa of a lamb in the crèche.
It smells like perfume, powdery fresh.
It tastes like cherry Jell-O eaten with glee.
It feels like the sting of a skinny skinned knee.
Innocence is childlike purity.

Thanks to Denise Nesbitt for her ingenuity in starting up ABC Wednesday several years ago. It has grown to such immense proportions that she has a team of investigators who assist her. They (We) also take turns writing the introduction to the ABCW Website. If you would like to take part, just go here and sign up!

PS: My photo taken this summer at Diefenbaker Park.

H is for HATRED

2011-09-05T14:45:00.011-07:00

Like a volcano, hatred leaves nothing but destruction in its path. In my humble opinion, this sometimes ferocious emotion is absolutely useless. There is such a thing as "righteous anger," but I think most times, hatred comes from fear of other people - their race, their religion, their culture, and their belief systems. The result can be violence, destruction, and even war. I must admit to having feelings of hatred towards others at some times in my life due to some wrong I feel they have done to me. However, I'm glad I'm mature enough to realize that I have to leave it alone, let go, and move forward. If I don't, I'm the one who will suffer, not the person who caused the feeling in me to start with. Here's my poem about hatred.

HATRED

Hatred is firey orange and malevolent black.

It looks like dynamite for destruction.

It sounds like a volcano in the process of eruption.

It smells like rubber tires on a hot highway.

It tastes like peppers mixed with butts in an ashtray.

It feels like razor blades and hand grenades exploding on a roadway.

Hatred is a soul on fire and wanting to attack.

I am so happy to be a part of this ABC Wednesday team and honestly am grateful for Denise Nesbitt creating and hosting it. I had thought of doing a poem on something more positive, like "honesty," "happiness," or "humour," but I decided to shake things up a bit. Think about it...have you ever been on the receiving end of hatred? Have you ever felt hatred towards someone else? How does it feel to you?

G is for Gratitude

2011-08-28T19:12:00.011-07:00

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. " Melody Beattie

"At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by the spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with great gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John F. Kennedy

I think of the word "gratitude" because I have to work hard every day to realize that no matter that my life has been a soap opera, I do have things for which I am thankful. I have survived an abusive childhood, losing a child, marriage to a man who tried to hide his mental illness until he finally killed himself leaving me with two children to raise on my own, several chronic and painful diseases and surgeries with excruciating rehabilitation, loneliness, and financial difficulties.

However, that said, I remain hard-wired as an eternal optimist, a romantic who never stops dreaming of being loved by someone special, and a lover of travel, continuing to dream of my next adventure with all the photographic opportunities to be gained. I'm grateful that God gifted me with faith, mercy, and the gift of exhortation. I'm grateful for the strength He's given me to endure all things and for the gift of my daughters and grandchildren. I'm also grateful that He gave me enough brains and common sense to be able to overcome the difficulties I've had to face. Most of all, I'm grateful for the gift of a sense of humour and a love of being a bit crazy and goofy. My poem today is about gratitude and I took the photo on Saturday night.

Gratitude

Gratitude is gracious green.

It looks like roses in a summer scene.

It sounds like laughter doubled by wonder.

It smells like rain after the thunder.

It tastes like the turkey for which I thank.

It feels like a powerful piggy bank.

Gratitude is showing heartfelt thanks.

Special thanks to Denise Nesbitt for continuing with ABC Wednesday and to all of her Genial Gang of Groovy Gallants who Give support by sharing the task of the weekly introduction and by visiting the rest of us.

F is for Friendship

2011-08-22T10:08:00.020-07:00

On Sunday I reached a milestone. Not only was it the anniversary of the death of my husband, but I've now not been married longer than I was married. It was a strange feeling and for a little while I was a bit weepy. The past 19 years have been quite a journey raising my daughters, working full time, buying and selling homes, moving hundreds of miles away to teach school in a wilderness area, and finding out that most of my so-called "friends" turned away from me because of my situation.

However, other people came into my life to become new friends and now they are old friends, people I can trust and rely on to be there for me no matter what. I have 75 friends on my Facebook page and 74 people have signed up to "follow" my blog. So, I consider myself lucky to have that many people who think that I'm worthy of being their friend. Today I'm dedicating my poem to all my friends, near and far as well as to those I haven't met face to face yet.

FRIENDSHIP

Friendship is the yellow of marigolds.
It looks like radiant double rainbows.
It sounds like “girls just wanna have fun.”
It smells like a fresh baked cinnamon bun.
It tastes like pineapple dripping off our chins.
It feels like huge hugs after our team wins.
Friendship is a gilded thread uniting two souls.

(Photo taken at Bear Creek Park, Saturday, August 20)

Special thanks to Denise Nesbitt for creating ABC Wednesday and for asking me to be part of her "team" in keeping it going. I feel like everyone who participates each week is also a friend to whom I now give a virtual hug!

E is for EMPATHY

2011-08-14T22:50:00.006-07:00

Empathy is the ability to identify yourself with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another, which for a large part comes from the knowledge you have of yourself. If you know your own feelings well, then you can relate to others and understand them. Along with empathy comes compassion and together they create a key cornerstone in genuine human relationships. Here is my poem on Empathy:

Empathy

Empathy is a gentle blue.

It looks like pain shared by two.

It sounds like a crackling fire that warms.

It smells like after spring rainstorms.

It tastes like a cup of lemon tea.

It feels like someone hugging me.

Empathy is the key to equality.

ABC Wednesday is the brainchild of Denise Nesbitt and her exuberant team of exhilarating assistants. Click here to join in the fun or to see other contributions.

D is for DESIRE

2011-08-08T10:43:00.003-07:00

Welcome to another week of ABC Wednesday, designed and run by Denise Nesbitt, aided by her dedicated group of assistants, including moi. This week my poem is about Desire. Here we go:

DESIRE

Desire is the colour of heliotrope.
It looks like rosebuds waiting to open.
It sounds like a gentle gulp or gasp.
It smells like musk and the rose I clasp.
It tastes like strawberries and sparkling wine.
It feels like shivers down my spine.
Desire is faith in the divine. If you're not familiar with the colour "heliotrope," it is a sort of pinky-purple or a vivid lavendar. I chose this colour because I heard that it has magical properties, and with regard to desire, you can take that as you may. Oh, and those are my own roses.

C is for COURAGE

2011-08-01T10:35:00.008-07:00

Continuing with my theme for this round, I wrote a poem using similes and metaphors on the subject of COURAGE. I'm dedicating it to all those who have shown courage in life - to soldiers on the battlefield, to individuals fighting a life-threatening disease, to those dealing with mental or physical disabilities, to those who step in harm's way for another human being, and to those who struggle to survive as a result of poverty or abuse. I like what John Wayne once said, "Courage is being scared to death...and saddling up anyway."

COURAGE

Courage is slate grey.
It looks like a murderous day.
It sounds like a screaming NO!
It smells like facing a filthy foe.
It tastes like tears after the shockwave.
It feels like a granite grave.
Courage is, after all, simply being brave.

Thanks to Denise Nesbitt and her courageous group of capable assistants who care enough to continue this congregation of friends from all over the world to share their concepts for the letter of the week. Consider joining in by clicking here to see what we do.

B is for BREEZY

2011-07-25T11:47:00.010-07:00

Round 9, Fifth Year, Letter B this week! I love ABC Wednesdays as it keeps my creative juices flowing. Thanks to Denise Nesbitt and the ABCW team for keeping things going this long!

As I explained last week, my theme for this round is a form of poetry that combines a feeling or emotion with similes and metaphors. It's something I taught my 4th grade students years ago, something they picked up on very easily and with great creativity. Hope you enjoy this week's B word.

BREEZY

Breezy is bright yellow.

It looks like waves on the seas.

It sounds like lambs on the leas.

It smells like honey from bees.

It tastes like sweet herbal teas.

It feels like wind in the leaves.

Breezy is a huge hug and hello!

Boys and their toys

2011-07-22T18:44:00.003-07:00

It was a lovely Friday today (for a change) so I met a friend for a mini picnic down at Garry Point in Steveston. It was a nice couple of hours watching all the boats going in and out and watching little boys play with sticks in the water. Here's a little slideshow of what I saw. Enjoy.

A is for AMAZEMENT

2011-07-18T12:34:00.010-07:00

And away we go again - Round 9 of ABC Wednesday, courtesy and brainchild of Denise Nesbitt! Last round, I focused on "destinations," ones that I had actually visited (except for the letters X and Z).

I took my time thinking about what to do for this round, and last night I had a brainwave. I hope you enjoy what I'm going to do. Let me explain.

When I taught Grade 4, I had to teach Grammar. Now, most people will groan when they have to study parts of speech, sentence structure, and writing paragraphs and essays. I, however, LOVE grammar and wanted to make it fun fun fun for the kids. So after we learned about nouns being a person, place, or thing, I explained that nouns can also be words that express a feeling or an emotion. I also introduced them to the literary devices of similes and metaphors and then incorporated the entire thing into a fun exercise of writing a poem about a feeling or emotion.

We used the 5 senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to make up similes. The beginning of the poem needed to have a colour and the end had to be a metaphor. We practised in class before I gave the go-ahead to the class, and I was absolutely AMAZED at the creativity from each student. To incorporate other aspects of their learning experience (using the computer, learning to type plus Art), each child was allowed to choose a font and typed up their poem before gluing it to an appropriate piece of coloured construction paper. I then had them laminated before displaying them in the hallway outside the classroom.

One parent was so impressed with this exercise, she wrote her own poem of thanks to me as her child's teacher using this same format. I have that note to this day. I hope you enjoy my attempt at doing what I taught all my fourth graders:

AMAZEMENT

Amazement is white light.
It looks like fireworks lighting up the sky.
It sounds like a baby’s first cry.
It smells like fresh-baked apple pies.
It tastes like the fair’s French fries.
It feels like a hug from my favorite guy.
Amazement is the aurora borealis at night.

To view other contributions or to join in, just click here and you'll be taken to the homepageof ABC Wednesday.

Z is for ZULU

2011-07-11T15:26:00.003-07:00

Here we are at the end of another round of ABC Wednesday (courtesy of Denise Nesbitt) and I think I did pretty well this time. I chose "Destinations" as my theme and I managed every week (except X) to post the name of a place where I have actually been. However, now at the letter Z, I have to detour a bit. I've never been to any place beginning with the last letter of the alphabet so I had to have a real hard think about what to do this week. I decided to do a post about the movie "Zulu," which happens to be one of my favourite old (from 1964) movies. Michael Caine landed one of the starring roles in this movie after having played only bit parts up to this point in his career.

The film depicts the Battle of Rorke's Drift between the British Army and the Zulus in January, 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War. I'll never forget one night when I was in bed almost asleep when suddenly I heard a haunting and frightening chant: ZULU! ZULU! ZULU! It turned out my parents were watching the movie on TV and I heard the chanting of the Zulu warriors before they attacked the British.

It's almost unbelieveable that the few British soldiers were able to hold off the Zulu warriors for as long as they did, but it was because of their use of the redoubt system when the British formed into three ranks, shooting volley after volley into the stunned Zulus, who eventually withdrew after massive casualties.

Apparently, there were many historical inaccuracies in the film regarding characters, the regiment, weaponry, the Zulus, and the ending. However, in 2004, the magazine Total Film named "Zulu" the 37th greatest British films of all time and it was voted eighth in the British TV programme The One Hundred Greatest War Films. Take a look at this short section of the film and tell me you wouldn't have been scared sh**less had you been one of those soldiers!

A New Bucket List

2011-07-07T11:42:00.005-07:00

Three and a half years ago and as one of my life's goals, I wrote "One thing I thought would be awfully nice would be to meet and marry a wonderful man who would give me the freedom to live as I dream..." Well, I did meet someone whom I thought was wonderful but who turned out to be someone with whom I could not live the same sort of life of which I dream. I'm a planner, and I like to think about what I want in life and then set about to make it happen. So I got to thinking about exactly what I do want in life and remembered that movie "The Bucket List" starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. In the movie, these two characters realize just how short life is and decided to make a list of goals they wanted to reach before the end that would inevitably come.

I took a look at the goals I had 3 1/2 years ago, and saw that I can cross some out, revise others, continue to work on the ones I haven't yet achieved, and add new ones. Here's my new list:

*Tour the coast of Wales, visit friends who live there, and visit Llandudno where my paternal grandmother was born
* Finish the renovations in my house
* Ride in a helicopter
* Take a Mediterranean and/or Caribbean cruise
* Go back to England and meet all the wonderful ladies I've met blogging and on Facebook
* Spend a week in Paris absorbing the culture
* Take a photography course in Tuscany
* Go on an African safari
* Get a dog, preferably a boxer

Now how on earth am I going to be able to do all that? There are two problems: money and health. First, since I'm gaining a good reputation as a private tutor, I'll keep on with that until my brain no longer works. Second, I'll try to keep mobile as long as my back holds out and if I end up in a wheelchair, I'll get to go to the front of all the lines at the airports, train stations, and cruise ships. Hah! So there!

Things NOT on my bucket list because I have no ability, desire, or guts for:

* get a tattoo
* go sky diving
* go scuba diving
* run a marathon
* learn to pole dance
* take cooking classes
* go camping ever again

I noticed that one person put on their bucket list that they wanted to be in two places at one time! Now how could you do that? Well, I've done it! When I went up the Pyrenees from the French side, I had one foot in France and one foot in Spain! And I have the photograph to prove it.

I love to dream, yet I understand that some prefer to fly by the seat of their pants. However, I think the dreaming and the planning is like preparing for Christmas! I've decided that I deserve to be happy and to enjoy my life to its fullest and if anyone wants to join me (on their own dime, naturally) I'd love to share the moments.

What dreams/goals do you have? Or are you the spontaneous type?

Y is for YALE

2011-07-04T11:22:00.008-07:00

Sorry I missed last week's letter X, but my computer was in the shop. Of course, I really didn't have a destination beginning with that letter (that I'd actually visited). Anyway, I'm back this week with YALE, no not the university town, but a historic place right here in British Columbia.

The town is located at the southern entrance to the spectacular Fraser Canyon and is one of BC's oldest communities, having been the steamship navigation capital during the Gold Rush. Before the Coquihalla Highway was completed in 1986, we always travelled this route to get to our cabin at Shuswap Lake. The famous explorer Simon Fraser camped here in 1808 after his horrendous trip down the river that now bears his name. Why was it a horrendous trip? The Fraser River is famous for its rapids. Hell's Gate is a narrowing of the river where the water roils in a tremedous maelstrom. It's a sight to see and a "hellish" experience for the more than 2 million spawning salmon who need to get through this part of the river every year. You can safely experience this area by hopping on the Hell's Gate Airtram in nearby Boston Bar OR you can experience it "hellishly" by riding the rapids yourself. Other things to see and do in YALE:

* step into the past when you visit the Church of St. John the Divine, the oldest church in BC, built in 1863 to serve those seeking their fortune during the Gold Rush.
* the Pioneer Cemetery has headstones dating back to 1862. * hike the Spirit Caves Trail with fabulous views of the Fraser River Canyon and the Cascade Mountains. The caves emit an eerie whistling sound when strong winds blow. The views are fabulous once you reach the summit of the Mount Lincoln Trail.

* go on a guided walking tour of YALE, where you'll see the original Fort Yale, founded in 1847, on Front Street. Down on the waterfront, look for the old rings embedded in the rocks to moor the old sternwheelers at the riverboat landing that was here between 1858 and 1885.

For tourists, it's absolutely de rigeur to travel the Trans Canada Highway along the Fraser Canyon! The views are spectacular and you'll be travelling the same route as those men of old who went seeking their fortunes by panning for gold.

ABC Wednesday is the brainchild of Denise Nesbitt, from Yorkshire England! Some of her mighty assistants are Yankees, others might be Yodelers, some are Young while others may just be Youthful in spirit like Moi. Regardless, we all Yearn for a connection with others via this very popular meme. I enjoy it because it challenges me to come up with something original each week - I'm already thinking about what theme I'll use for the next Round. To join in the fun, click here. The more the merrier.

W is for WINNIPEG

2011-06-19T14:10:00.016-07:00

The first time I visited Winnipeg, in the prairie province of Manitoba (which, by the way, has over 110,000 lakes)was in 1972 when I travelled by car with my best friend and her family. They were living there at the time, so I was able to stay with them and see all the sights. I still have the photos I took that summer, but remember those old sticky-type photo albums? Well, they are well stuck so I can't use them here. However, the internet has lots of great photos, so thanks to Google and Yahoo, you can see some right here.

The name "Winnipeg" comes from the Cree for "muddy waters" because it lies at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. It was a trading center for Aboriginals before the arrival of Europeans, the first fort being built by the French in 1738. Many of these French traders, and later British, married First Nations women and their mixed-race children were called Metis. It was one of these children who grew up to become Louis Riel, the leader of the famous Red River Rebellion, which paved the way for Manitoba to become the fifth province in Canada. You can read more history at Wikipedia here.
I remember our visit to the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site, which has been named as one of the top ten national historic sites in the country by Canada's History Magazine. It was a lot of fun watching costumed interpreters recreate life in the early 1850's. It was interesting to see original walls and buildings, participate in hands-on activities and view original furnishings. You can read about the fort's history here.

When I visited in 1972, we went to the Assiniboine Park Zoo and I clearly recall seeing polar bears there. Other animals you can see there now include deer, bison, elk, bears, lions, monkeys, koalas, yaks, camels, and zebra. There is also currently a "Boo at the Zoo" and a Pumpkin Patch, both Halloween events.

An interesting story that comes out of Winnipeg is the fact that Winnie the Pooh was named after a Canadian black bear that Christopher Robin, son of A.A. Milne, used to often see at the London Zoo. The story goes that this particular black bear had been purchased from a hunter for $20.00 by Canadian Lieutenant Harry Colebourn in Ontario and named it "Winnie" after his hometown Winnipeg. Colebourn sneaked Winnie into England during WW1, and left him at the zoo in London while he went off to fight the war in France. After the war, Winnie was officially donated to the zoo, where Christopher Robin saw him. Of course, the toy bears have been practically every child's favourite toy from then until now. Below are the original Winnie the Pooh bear (left) and the one we know today and the one my children had when they were small (right).

I hope you've enjoyed your little virtual tour of Winnipeg, Canada's 7th largest municipality. And if you like perogies or cabbage rolls, be sure to visit Brandon, just 132 miles or 212 kms west of Winnipeg. We stopped there on our way from Vancouver to Ottawa in 1987 and had the most delicious perogies ever! It's because of the high number of Ukranians living in the area. Yummy!
ABC Wednesday is the brainchild of Mrs. Nesbitt who is now assisted by a whirlwind of wonderful assistants, moi included. Check out the ABCW site and join in!

V is for VANUATU and VANCOUVER

2011-06-13T11:41:00.008-07:00

I cannot believe we're almost at the end of Round 4 of ABC Wednesday. My theme this time is "Destinations," in case you haven't noticed, and I've been saving Vanuatu for some time now. So far, I've used destinations that I have actually been to, but I must admit I'd never even heard of Vanuatu until a few months ago.

Here is the story. My friend Cathy was on disability for several months while she underwent some medical treatments. She regularly received her cheques from our provider in Michigan, USA. One month when her cheque didn't arrive, she phoned long distance to have a new cheque made up. Many months later, what should arrive in her mailbox but the missing cheque. It had been sent to none other than Vanuatu, a group of islands off the northwest coast of Australia! I googled the name and saw that it's a gorgeous tropical place full of white, sandy beaches and palm trees - a veritable paradise for honeymooners and tourists. I'm sure Cathy's mail had a wonderful voyage, but she would have preferred it to arrive in a more timely manner. Here's a copy of the enVelope.

Now I must use VANCOUVER this week because it is my home town, a place where I was born and where I've live most of my life. I'm sure you all remember only a little over a year go when we were hosts for the Olympics and the town went wild with excitement when both the Men's and Women's Canadian hockey teams won GOLD medals! Well, let me tell you about the excitement raging in the streets, restaurants, bars, homes, and - well, EVERYWHERE right now as the VANCOUVER CANUCKS hockey team vie for the STANLEY CUP. If they win, they will bring the cup back to Canada, where it originated and where it belongs!

We are vieing against the Boston Bruins, who last won the cup in 1972, but since the Canucks entered the league in 1970, they have never won it. You can read about it here on Wikipedia. Tonight is Game #6 and the Canucks are leading 3 games to 2. If they win tonight in Boston, they win the cup and will fly home victorious! If not, the final game will be on Wednesday here in Vancouver. Both teams desperately want the cup and both teams have been playing hard, forcing the two goalies to stay alert to their utmost ability. You can be sure that whichever team wins, there will be victory parades and victory parties while the other team will go home to drown their sorrows.

BELIEVE IN BLUE!
GO CANUCKS!

Update: They're gonna win at home on Wednesday!

Weather means more when you garden.

2011-06-09T19:47:00.009-07:00

We've had the wettest and coldest April and May in 50 years! It's been absolutely miserable with furnaces on full blast, rain pouring down, the wind blowing, and everyone's temper flaring! Unfortunately, magnolia blossoms were destroyed by frostbite and the cherry blossoms were literally washed off their tree branches, with the result that it looked like it was snowing pink snowflakes. The last few days, however, have been fairly sunny and fairly warm bringing us hope for a reasonable summer. Gardens are blooming late, but I did get some tulips in the back garden while only a few in the front garden appeared. The azalea and rhododendrons finally bloomed, but the flowers died off within a few days. The English poppies are doing well, though, and my irises (which didn't bloom last year) are blooming like crazy right now. I have a little "school" birdhouse nailed to the side of the house just outside my patio doors. Two years ago, some chickadees made a nest inside and raised a little family there. I was on the lookout last summer for them, but they didn't appear. But just the other day, I started hearing loud cheeping in the patio area and yesterday, lo and behold, there was a baby chickadee on the fence waiting as the mother flew back and forth feeding it. Any time I got near to the window, though, the whole family flew off into the tree by the fence. I'm glad the little school/birdhouse has become of more use than just being decorative. It makes it feel alive somehow. As I was saying good-bye to a student this evening, I glanced at my rose bushes in the front garden. Two of the three planted last year have survived and are doing very well, but the last one seems like it's gone. I guess I shall have to go and see about buying a replacement and hope it catches up with the other two. I already see lots of buds on the bushes and one particularly lovely red one just beginning to open.
We have been waiting impatiently for our weather to improve and finally, we're seeing action. Let us pray ....

U is for UNIVERSITY

2011-06-05T20:16:00.017-07:00

Our destination this week is the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Click on the photos to enlarge - you'll probably be tempted to do so for the last few!

I entered the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia in the fall of 1965. At the time, I didn't think about the university's history; I was only concerned that this campus would be an important factor in my future. I had wanted to be a teacher from the time I began school and had never hesitated in my life plan.

The university is the oldest in British Columbia with the first lectures being held in September, 1915. Currently, there is an enrolment of 41,000 students on the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. You can look up the facts and figures about UBC by clicking on the green name above, but I'd like to tell you about some of the lovely places you can visit on the campus. First of all, it's only about 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver and is near many beaches and has gorgeous views of the North Shore mountains. The Pacific Spirit Regional Park serves as a green-belt between the campus and the city.
The campus is the home of the Nitobe Memorial Gardens, built to honour Japanese scholar Inazo Nitobe. This garden has been the subject of more than fifteen years' study by a UBC professor, who believes that its construction hides a number of impressive features, including references to Japanese philosophy and mythology, shadow bridges visible only at certain times of year, and positioning of a lantern that is filled with light at the exact date and time of Nitobe's death each year. (from Wikipedia)

When you visit the UBC campus, you must take a look at the Chan Center for the Performing Arts. Surrounded by evergreens and rhododendrons, this state of the art venue has 1200 seats in the concert hall, the flexible seating Telus Studio Theatre, the 160-seat Royal Bank Cinema, The Great Performers Lounge, and a glass lobby. I've had the pleasure of attending several concerts and plays here!

The university campus is almost like a small town unto itself as it offers not only lecture halls and seminar rooms, but also dormitories, apartments, non-student housing, clubs, restaurants, pubs, art galleries, an aquatic center, a hospital, and various churches. It was great for me because I lived on campus and seldom had to leave its environs. This is Dene House at Totem Park residences where I lived.

Although I didn't join a sorority during my years at UBC, I was secretary of the student council at Totem Park and I was "involved" with one particular fraternity. Yes, my first long-term boyfriend was a member of Sigma Chi and we went to many many parties and outings. I particularly remember dressing to the hilt for the "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi" dance in a long green chiffon dress complete with elbow-length gloves, Mardi Gras, and one other dance where we dressed up as pioneers. Good memories. I wish I could find my old photo album that has the pictures from some of these events...but it's probably packed away in the crawl space under the stairs.

Here's an old scanned photo from Totem Park Residence's "The Wall" from 1967-68 - I was secretary of the council that year, here with the president leading a meeting.

And here I am acting in an all-too-familiar type of collegiate behaviour - swigging a beer! And one last one where I had the role of a "Playboy Bunny" in a skit. (can you spot my ears?)

I just KNEW you were curious as to what my life at UBC was like! And yes, I did get a well rounded education, including a teaching degree, believe it or not!

ABC Wednesday is the brainchild of Denise Nesbitt who now has an ultra-terrific host of assistants, including MOI. Click here to see the contributions this week.

T is for Taormina and Tuscany

2011-05-30T10:52:00.008-07:00

Taormina, a small town on the east coast of Sicily, was the ultimate of my Italian trip in 2006! Our guide saved it for last in order to give us all the most splendid of memories to take home with us. Situated on the Ionian Sea, it boasts warm beaches and spectacular views of Mount Etna, which kindly gave us a display of smoke and fire on our first evening. Also, the Teatro Greco is one of the most celebrated ruins in Sicily, still used today for opera, theater, and concerts. You may have heard of the author Truman Capote...He wrote of his stay in Taormina between April 1950 and September 1951 in his essay "Fontana Vecchia." Tuscany, a region in central Italy, is known for its beautiful landscapes, its rich artistic legacy, and its influence on high culture. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when I arrived in the fall of 2006 and kept my camera at the ready for all the photo ops that popped up everywhere I turned. The people are welcoming, the food is scrumptious, the wine flows, and views are incredible. Cities and villages are equally exciting wih all their stories of times past, especially of the Etruscans, who created the first major civilisation in this region. Our group stopped at a vineyard for some photos ops and we were lucky to have our own picture taken by someone passing by. We visited a winery and sampled several varieties, to the point where we were all feeling a tad tipsy. This is one of my favourite shots of me wine tasting.

Without a doubt, the region of Tuscany and the town of Taormina were the highlights of my trip to Italy in 2006. I wouldn't hesitate to return some day, preferably renting a villa and car somewhere so that I could feel a real part of the country and the people. There is also a place where I'd like to take a week-long course in photography. And although I do not consider myself a cook by any means, it might be fun to take a cooking course for a day. Finally, I'd like to see more of the museums and art galleries and absorb as much of the culture as possible. Never been? It's a must if at all possible!

S is for SHIP to SKAGWAY

2011-05-25T11:47:00.009-07:00

Hi everyone! Sorry not to have visited any of your great posts last week, but I was away on a lovely cruise to Alaska. As such, I'm going to show you the town of Skagway, famous for being part of the Klondike Gold Rush. Which of the following pictures do you think were the most important places in town?

You're right! All of them - for different reasons, of course!

When we arrived at 7:00 am, we were still asleep in our comfy cabin. However, D2 and I finally got up and ready for our day of adventure. We had decided to do an excursion on the "yellow streetcar," a 1927 Mack Model AB that was restored in April 2001 by Boyd Coddington. We were picked up promptly at 10:30 am right on the dock. The driver was a young lady dressed up in period costume and she was super in making us all comfortable and giving us a great tour of the town. The pier was a good 15-20 minute walk from town, so it was a relief for me that she picked us up at the pier. Because it had taken us over 3 hours to embark in Vancouver, I was in a lot of pain for most of the trip and it was hard for me to even walk for 3 days into the cruise. (Some of you will remember that I had serious back surgery 2 years ago.)

Our first stop was in an old building where we were entertained by a man giving us a dramatic rendition of the history of Skagway and welcomed us all into the "Arctic Brotherhood." We even got membership cards!

Then, our tour guide drove us slowly through the downtown area and part of the residential area, pointing out historical sites. Finally, we arrived at the historic cemetery where we were again entertained by a dramatic rendition of the story of Skagway's famous gunfight between "Soapy" Smith and Frank Reid. (Click here on Wikipedia and scroll down to "History" beside the photo to read about the gunfight. It's quite fascinating and amusing, too!) It was actually a bit sad to see the graves of babies and mothers who had died in childbirth and the graves of young men who had travelled so far to seek their fortunes by mining for gold.
Here's our tour guide telling us about the famous gunfight in front of Frank Reid's tombstone.

Our third stop was way up on the hillside where we had beautiful scenic vistas of Skagway. We could also see our ship docked at the pier in Lynn Canal, the most northern fjord on the Inside Passage of the Alaska Panhandle.

It was a great day, a bit chilly but no rain at least! D2 was dropped off back in town where she wandered happily on her own, while I opted to return to the ship for lunch and a good read by myself. A great day, part of a wonderful cruise and bonding time with my lovely daughter. More about the cruise as it fits into our ABC Wednesdays.

If you missed my R post, which I had automatically posted, be sure to check it out as it tells about Rome and Ravello. ABC Wedesday is the brainchild of Denise Nesbitt, who is now assisted by a sincere team of people from all over the world. Click here to check us out and please join in the fun!

R is for RAVELLO and ROME

2011-05-16T12:00:00.002-07:00

I'm away this week, but decided to try and get this posted automatically...we shall see if it works! Although I'm in an "A" place, I'm going to tell you about two more places in Italy that are NOT to be passed up - Rome, of course, and the smaller, less well-known town of Ravello on the Amalfi Coast.

I landed in Rome in October, 2006, and was awed by the incongruity of ancient among the modern. Arriving at my hotel, right beside the Parthenon, I was welcomed to the incredibly modern Albergo Del Senato. The Parthenon dates back to 447 BC, yet inside my suite I slept on luxurious sheets and bathed and showered in great style! We wandered around the area, taking in the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the government buildings. We also spent a whole day at the Vatican, absorbing its history and incredible art. A little story about how I got the photo of Pope John Paul's crypt - we weren't allowed to stop in front of it unless you were behind ropes praying. As I walked past, I raised my camera and just snapped, hoping I'd get something, anything! Watch for it on the slide show. On our return from the Italian Riviera two weeks later, we viewed the Roman ruins and the Colosseum.

We then travelled south to Pompeii and to the Amalfi Coast, a spectacular bit of coastline. We stayed for 5 nights in Positano (see my P post) but drove around the area, visiting little towns and villages and admiring all the incredible views. We also spent a day on the island of Capri, but because the sea was quite wild that day, we were not able to get into the Blue Grotto. However, one of the prettiest places we saw was the town of Ravello where I wandered into a jewellry shop and came out several hundred euros lighter. I bought a sterling silver necklace that has a unique figure-eight design. (click photos to see larger) After checking out the church, I then wandered toward the Villa and its gardens. We were not allowed inside the villa, (there's a plaque on the side indicating that "Greta Garbo slept here") but we could spend as much time as we liked in the immense gardens that had views over the Mediterranean Sea.

So here's a little slideshow (all my photos!) I put together about my adventures in Rome and Ravello - hope you enjoy it. It starts with Ravello and then goes to Rome.

ABC Wednesday is the brainchild of Denise Nesbitt, now assisted by a team of ABCW'ers, including MOI! Join the fun by checking us out here.

Q is for QUESNEL - ABC Wednesday

2011-05-09T14:45:00.011-07:00

We're back in British Columbia this week for another destination - Quesnel (pronounced kweh-NEL). It's a very historic town in that it is named for Jules Maurice Quesnel who accompanied Simon Fraser on his journey to the Pacific Ocean. Quesnel is located along the Cariboo Wagon Road and was the commercial center for the Cariboo Gold Rush, which began in 1859. Also, because of its location on the Fraser River, it was an important landing for sternwheelers between 1862 and 1886 and again from 1909 to 1921. The town is pretty much in the middle of our ranch and cowboy country.

Currently, one of its most important festivals is during the third week of July when the town celebrates its heritage and the first gold miner, William Barker who struck it rich just east of Quesnel where we now have the historical town of Barkerville. Billy Barker hailed from Cambridgeshire, England, and struck gold in 1861 sparking rapid growth in the area because of so many men arriving to find their own fortune.

My one and only visit to Quesnel and Barkerville was when I was about 19 years old, home from my second year of university (my parents had moved 500 miles north of Vancouver to reside in Prince George, a few miles north of Quesnel). It was lots of fun exploring the old town with its saloon, schoolhouse, church, "Wake-up Jake's Restaurant," the theater, and the general store that was run by the Chinese, a very important part of the building of the town. I also panned for gold, but was unsuccessful. Below are a couple of old photos of me (in the pink top) and my sister and mother back in 1968 and below them are old file photos of Barkerville in 1865 and in 2004.

One more thing - all students in British Columbia learn the history of the Gold Rush and all about Billy Barker and his henchmen. Quesnel and its environs (i.e. Barkerville) are a major tourist attraction not only for BCers, but also for all Canadians and Americans alike.

ABC Wednesday is the brainchild of Mrs. Nesbitt and because it has become so popular around the world, she now has a group of quintessential aides! Check us out here!

P is for Portofino, Portovenere, Positano

2011-05-01T13:36:00.006-07:00

We're returning to Italy this week, not for the Pantheon shown here, but for three pretty places that I visited in 2006 - Portofino, Portovenere, and Positano.

First, I spent one day in Portofino, so named for the dolphins in the area. It's a small fishing village and resort on the northern rim of the Italian Riviera. The town is crowded around a small harbour and is considered to be one of the most beautiful Mediterranean ports. I climbed the hill by the harbour to visit Castello Brown, one of the town's main points of interest. From that vantage point, I managed to take many photos of Portofino and the yachts below. This castle was used to defend the harbour from as early as the 15th century. In 1867, the castle was purchased by the English consul in Genoa (Montague Yeats Brown) and he transformed the fort into a comfortable villa. Throughout the rooms, you can view photographs of many jet-setting celebrities who visited Portofino throughout the 50s and 60s - the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Ingrid Bergman, and Brigitte Bardot. A few of us had lunch on one of the patios in the harbour area and then did some window shopping, especially for Murano glass. Finally, Positano had the most beautiful cemetery I've ever seen. Gardens surrounded some of the plots and statues of saints and others decorated the area.

Next, is the town of Portovenere, one of the first towns along the Cinque Terre region of Italy. It dates back to the first century and is named after the goddess Venus. With its colourful facades, it made a dazzling first impression from the boat on which we arrived. We climbed the steep hill to the Gothic church of St. Peter, which was consecrated in 1198, and the Doria Castle. You can read about the castle's origins here. It was in Portovenere where I had my photo taken with a statue of a fisherman and began a tradition of having my photo taken with lots more statues in the weeks ahead throughout Italy.

Finally, we checked out Positano on the Amalfi Coast, south of Rome. We stayed here for 5 nights and not only explored the coast and some of its little towns (Amalfi, Atrani, Ravello), but also took a day trip to the Isle of Capri. Positano sits in the hills leading down to the coast and a beautiful, protected beach. It was a relatively poor fishing village in the first half of the 20th century because more than half its population had emigrated, mostly to Australia. However, after John Steinbeck published an essay about Positano in Harper's Bazaar, it started to attract many tourists. Steinbeck wrote, "Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you've gone." I certainly can relate to that! The town was also featured in the movie, Under The Tuscan Sun (2003) and Nine (2009) and was the setting for the romantic adventure novel, Finding Positano, A Love Story (2010). The little port of Mongibello was also based on Portofino in the movie The Talented Mr. Ripley and parts of the movie were filmed here. It was in Portofino that I bought a pair of Italian leather loafers and tasted excellent gelatto!

I cannot say enough how much I love Italy - its people, culture, food, wine, and history! If you ever have an opportunity to visit, here's a tip - avoid the "touristy" places like Pisa and go to one of these three places - Portofino, Portovenere, or Positano. You will not be disappointed! Hope you enjoy the slide show - all my photos except for 3 scanned postcards.

O is for Orvieto

2011-04-25T14:45:00.033-07:00

Come with me this week to Orvieto, one of my favourite places to see in Italy. Located just outside of the border of Tuscany, it is found in Umbria at the top of a huge chunk of volcanic rock (tufo) just off the freeway between Florence and Rome. We drove up narrow roads and through narrow alleyways to our hotel, which was in the center of the old town. A short walk took us to the Duomo and the Archaeological Museum. Both were fascinating to see!
We also toured the caves beneath the town. Orvieto is honeycombed with Etruscan and medieval caves where you can see an old olive press, two impressive 130-foot-deep well shafts, and the remains of a primitive cement quarry. This underground city boasts tunnels, galleries, wells, stairs, quarries, cellars, unexpected passageways, cisterns, superimposed rooms with numerous small niches, detailing its creation over the centuries. (from Wikipedia) You can only see this area with guides and it's definitely worth it to go check it out. In 2008, I wrote about the caves here.
The other truly fascinating place to visit here is the Necropolis. We wound our way down the mighty cliff to meet our guide at the end of our descent. Here we found an ancient burial site formed like a "town." The necropolis...is made up of a series of small chamber tombs, aligned along the burial "roads". The arrangement of the tombs, which follows a definite "town" plan, provides precious elements for the study of the layout for the ancient city. Built from blocks of tuff, the entrance lintels of the tombs are inscribed with the name of the deceased. The earliest excavations in the 19th century yielded important artifacts...(from here)
One free afternoon, I wandered the narrow streets of Orvieto, taking photos of things that caught my eye. There was a wooden wall sculpture depicting the story of Pinocchio, a Trojan horse, a cow, a mythological creature, hanging baskets, and windows holding potted plants. If the slide show doesn't work properly like last week, simply click on the picture and you'll be taken to a new screen. Then click "full screen" and you'll be able to see the pictures for sure. Enjoy!

Without a doubt, this was one of the highlights of my month-long stay in Italy! I highly recommend visiting Orvieto and staying a minimum of 2 or 3 days in order to experience everything it has to offer.
ABC Wednesday is brought to you by the outstanding Mrs. Nesbitt and her team of organizers. We're in our fourth year now and would love for others to join in and contribute their poetry, prose, photographs or artwork - actually anything you'd like to share! Check us out here!

N is for NEIGHBOURHOOD

2011-04-17T23:23:00.027-07:00

This week, I'd like to bring you to a destination close to home - my neighbourhood, (the area in which we raised our two daughters) and to a beautiful oasis of nature in the midst of a residential area. I'm taking you to Diefenbaker Park, named after the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, John Diefenbaker. Our home was a short walk (or bike ride) from home and every day, I'd take our dog for a walk around the area. In the warm months, the girls would take the dog running alongside their bikes, baskets full of sandwiches, drinks and a jug of water and bag of biscuits for the dog, and head down to their special place at the park. You will see "the rock" where they'd sit and talk and eat and do whatever daydreaming their young hearts and minds could conjure up. They wouldn't come home until it was time for dinner. I always trusted they'd be home on time and they'd take great care of their beloved Star. In those days, the park had the pond but the bridge was added many years later. At the top of the hill is the start of a waterfall and a smaller area from which you can look east to Boundary Bay and north to the Coast Mountain Range. D1 had planned to get married here but it rained, so we had to go to Plan B. In some of the pictures, you can actually see how close the houses are to the edge of this park. On winter days if it snows, everyone races to this park with sleds or even garbage can lids to slide down the slopes. On good days, you will always see families with children playing on the swings and slides while Mom and Dad prepare lunch or dinner on the barbecues that are provided. Paths meander through and past beautiful gardens full of seasonal plants and flowers. The pond has sprouted many many reeds over the years and half the pond is idyllic while the other half seems quite wild. Trees drape their branches thick with greenery over the water as the many varieties of water fowl slide along. Here you will see not only different kinds of ducks but also loons and herons. There are also turtles of varying sizes basking on the rocks. Summer evenings now have weekly outdoor music concerts and movie nights. Towards the end of the slideshow, you'll see Fred Gingell Park, a very small wooded park along the western bluff of the area that overlooks the ferry terminal that takes you to Victoria and the rest of Vancouver Island. It also has fantastic views of the Gulf Islands to the west. There are hundreds of winding steps and paths descending 150 meters (1500 feet) down the cliff to the beach below. Athough many people go there every day for a workout, I have yet to attempt it. I'm afraid I'd get down and not be able to get back up. Here are 2 photos of D2 taken by D1 down at the neighbourhood park. Both girls took photography in high school, and this was one of D1's assignments. At this time, she was about 16 and D2 was about 12. I had the photos framed and they're now in the possession of D2. She kindly allowed me to share them today. I'm very proud of both my daughters - both are great photographers and great models. Naturally, they had a beautiful neighbourhood in which to practise their craft.

I have no idea why the slideshow sometimes acts up, but if it does, just click on it and a new screen will pop up so you can see it properly. Sorry!

Thanks to Denise Nesbitt for starting ABC Wednesday - gosh, we're into our 4th year now! It's grown so popular that Denise now has a group helping her out. Check it out here and join in any time! It's a great way to meet people from all over the world.

Proof of Jesus' Crucifixion?

2011-04-14T11:18:00.006-07:00

From an article in the newspaper, it appears that two nails have been discovered in a 2,000-year-old tomb just outside of Jerusalem. "Simcha Jacobovici, who has made a documentary about the find for the History Channel, contends the nails were used to hammer Christ to the cross. He believes the high priest may have wanted them buried alongside his body as divine protection in the afterlife."

Now even though I have a very strong faith, I immediately thought that this was a hoax. However, after reading further, it appears that the boxes in which these nails were found belonged to the Jewish high priest (Caiaphas) who has historically been known to have only been associated with Jesus' crucifixion.

This discovery is believed to be the best archaeological argument ever made that two of the nails from the crucifixion of Jesus have been found.

Your thoughts?

M is for MONREALE

2011-04-11T18:58:00.019-07:00

"Monreale is the swan-song of the art of the Norman Age." So begins my book about the Cathedral of Monreale near Palermo, Sicily. It was one of the last places I visited in 2006 during my month-long stay in this most marvelous country. Monreale was the brainchild of William II (1153 - 1189), the last of the great Norman Kings of Sicily. Apparently, one day while hunting in his park, the King fell asleep and was visited in his dreams by a lady (the Madonna). She indicated to him the place where his father's treasure was hidden and later, the King did unearth it. In gratitude, he decided to erect a temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary on Monte Reale. However, King William died before seeing the cathedral completed. In 1267, a century after the commencement of work, the church was solemnly consecrated by an envoy of Pope Clement IV. The interior of the cathedral is a masterpiece of late Romanesque architecture and consists of three aisles terminating in a transept and three apses. An immense mosaic tapestry covers the greater part of the walls. There are 18 antique granite columns and one in cipolin marble. The marble tombs of William I and William II are situated in the right wing of the transept.

While visiting Monreale, I sat transfixed in the main chapel. Everywhere you look - up, down, left, right, straight ahead and behind - you will see the most magnificent architecture and artwork! Mosaics, sculptures, bronze leafs, tapestries, arches with decorative motifs. We stayed more than half day, wandering both inside and outside along the cloisters. There are several portals and smaller cathedrals inside the main structure and we were awed by the majesty of the art. The artwork describes the story of the Christian Bible from creation to the miracles of Jesus Christ. There is literally far too much to describe in this little post, but trust me in saying that it is definitely a major must-see if you are ever in Sicily! Below is a confessional, a statue of King William offering the cathedral to the Virgin Mary, and a photo of the main chapel.

L is for London, Looe, and Leeds Castle

2011-04-03T15:25:00.028-07:00

In keeping with my theme of "destinations," I was checking my photo albums for place names beginning with the letter L. There were so many that I decided to narrow it down to telling you about when I took D1 on a tour of England, Scotland, and Wales. This post will focus on a few places in England that we visited and really enjoyed. I'll save Scotland and Wales for another time. I also rummaged around for the journal I keep when I'm travelling and found the notes I made on that trip in August, 1998. I will ask you to forgive the quality of the photos as there weren't digital cameras then - these are all scanned from the photos I took with my old Ricoh. First comes LONDON, of course! We had a wonderful few days there touring around on the "hop on/hop off" bus. From my journal: A day in London showing Jamie the sights - we walked up to the Victoria & Albert Museum and got on the London Pride. We went up to see Madame Tussaud's, but there was a double line all the way around the block! So back on the bus and to Rock Circus in Picadilly. That was pretty good - then the Fashion Cafe for lunch...We got off the bus at Trafalgar Square and walked the Mall to the palace and then saw the Horse Guards on inspection... Here's Jamie posing in front of Big Ben. Next stop is LOOE, a small coastal town and fishing port about 20 miles (32 km) from Plymouth. "...very pretty with lots of seagulls and boats." Apparently, the village has a history of smuggling when Barbary pirates (Muslims from north Africa) swept in and captured 80 people from Looe and took them into slavery! Here's Jamie on the pier at Looe. The third spot, one of my favourites of the entire trip, was a visit to LEEDS Castle in Kent, southeast of London. We stayed a long time here, exploring the Aviary, the castle island, and the Maze (in which we got lost!) I would definitely go back to Leeds Castle on my own and take a picnic lunch to eat on the vast lawns. Here are some photos of us. I eventually gave up on the Maze, allowing the guide to help me through, but Jamie persevered and finally joined me on the Mound where the guide kindly took our photo. We weren't finished yet, though, because in order to get out, we had to find our way through the Grotto, which was rather dark, wet, and eerie. But we managed and had a good laugh afterwards. The last place I want to highlight is Coventry. I know it doesn't begin with the letter L, but it was the home of the famous, or should I say "notorious" LADY Godiva! "We saw the old and new cathedrals in Coventry and the statue of Lady Godiva..." According to legend, Godiva's husband would only reduce taxes on his tenants if she would strip naked and ride through the town covered only by her long hair. She took him up on it, issuing a proclamation that all villagers were to stay indoors with windows shut. One man (afterwards known as Peeping Tom) disobeyed the proclamation, boring a hole through his shutters and peeped at her. He was immediately struck blind! My best memory of the city of Coventry, though, is more about the old cathedral that was bombed on November 14, 1940, during WW2, leaving only a shell and the spire. The new cathedral, St. Michael's, was built immediately beside the original site and I took a photo of Jamie standing in front of the wall with the impressive sculpture of "St. Michael's Victory over Satan." I want to show you a close-up photo of the statue as well as the one I took of Jamie standing beneath it - it shows the Largeness of the statue...

I hope you enjoyed this little bit of London, Looe, Leeds Castle, and the story of Lady Godiva from Coventry. When we get to the letters S and W, I'll tell you all about Loch Ness and Llangollen. Until then, remember to check out the other contributions to ABC Wednesday, the brainchild of Mrs. Nesbitt at this link.

K is for K places in BC

2011-03-28T11:07:00.009-07:00

In keeping with my destinations theme during this round, I decided to take you on a little tour of places in British Columbia beginning with the letter K. I have to tell you, too, that I've been to ALL of these places!We'll start off in northern BC with KISPIOX, a pristine area about 500+ miles north of Vancouver. It boasts natural beauty and is well known for its steelhead and salmon fishing. It's also home to talented Gitxsan artists with many totem poles on display in the community.

Not far from Kispiox is the town of KITIMAT in the heart of the BC wilderness. Many outdoor activities are available here including fishing (both fresh and salt water), kayaking, canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, snowmobiling, and skiing. In the summer, every couple of weeks the town hosts things like bull riding or mud-bogging races! There are lots of natural mineral hot springs and wildlife, including the rare Kermode bear. The friendly locals call themselves "Kitimatonians."

Moving south to BC's "cowboy community," we come to the city of KAMLOOPS, which takes its name from a First Nations word meaning "meeting place" because it's right at the junction where the North and South Thompson Rivers meet. Major industries here are forestry, tourism, ranching, and mining. It's also a great place for year-round outdoor activities. My late husband's family had beautiful lakefront property on Shuswap Lake, a short drive east of the city, and we spent many wonderful summer (and Christmas) vacations there.

A bit south-east of Kamloops, you'll find our famous Okanagan Region where there is a real desert in the province. First, you'll find KELOWNA . Located on Okanagan Lake, it's famous for its wines and its four-seasons recreation, including skiing at Big White. There are also lots of smaller lakes around the area for fabulous trout fishing. We often visit Kelowna and its surrounding areas because we have friends living in the town of Peachland, a few miles south of Kelowna.

KEREMEOS takes its name from another First Nations word that means "creek which cuts its way through the flats" or "the meeting of the winds." (It can be rather windy there!) When I was a child, my parents would stop in Keremeos to buy fresh fruit, especially cherries, peaches, and apricots. It has always been known as the best place in BC to buy fresh fruit and vegetables from any of the stands lining the roads in and out of town. It's also one of the hottest spots in BC in the summer and boasts of over 2000 hours of sunshine per year.

Let's go into the city of Vancouver now to look at two communities that begin with the letter K. First, there is KITSILANO, where my friend Josie lives. With one of the best beaches in the city, Kits (as it's called) is home to unique boutiques, trendy restaurants, and upscale condos. Check out Josie's blog for more information about her little corner of the city. Another community in Vancouver that I like to visit is KERRISDALE, where my sister lives. It has the ambiance of an old-fashioned upscale village, with lots of beautiful older homes as well as condos and apartment buildings. It was at the Kerrisdale Arena where I met my late husband back in 1972 during an adults-only ice skating session. Check out my story here. Finally, here is a photo (from Google of course) of Kitsilano Beach, a place where I've been going since I was a little girl and where I nowadays go for strolls with my friend Josie. Can you imagine anything more beautiful than being right on the ocean with the mountains in the background?

Spring has Sprung

2011-03-25T17:51:00.003-07:00

Spring has really truly arrived! Everywhere we see crocuses, daffodils and heather in full bloom. And as some of you who follow me know, I absolutely LOVE to take photos of flowers. I also realized that I needed to get out walking again, so yesterday I hobbled around the block for 15 minutes - most of it in some pain. Yes, the back and hips are not as strong as they used to be and after this latest bout of flu and bronchitis (began on Feb. 8th and I'm still coughing!) I'm feeling a bit draggy. I waited until it got sunny this afternoon and forced myself out again, camera clutched in my hot little hand and was successful. As you will see, the cherry blossoms are almost out in their full glory, the camelias are already starting to fade and droop, and the forsythia is out. I also discovered that there is such a thing as a weeping cherry blossom tree! I will try - I do promise to try - to get out every day for at least 15 minutes or more to show you the beauty of my little neighbourhood.

Oh, by the way, that black pot with some green plants in it is at my front door and it has tulip bulbs that we planted last summer - they're finally coming up. Can anyone help me out with the name of the other plant in the pot? And I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the plant in the last photo - it's a perennial and very common around here. HELP!

J is for JUNEAU

2011-03-21T15:13:00.009-07:00

This week, J is for Juneau Alaska where I'm headed in approximately 6 or 7 weeks with D2. This will be my third time arriving via cruise ship to Juneau, where one of my cousins and his wife live.

On a Juneau website, I found the following: If Juneau were a type of music, we'd say it's part funk, part soul, part bluegrass, and a whole lot of classic rock. Here, you'll find an unexpected mix of fishermen and teachers, legislators and artists, lawyers and homemakers, dock workers and frontier entrepreneurs, students and Native elders.

Somehow, we make it all work.

Spend a few days with us and you'll see why so many folks choose to visit and live here. In Juneau, you can watch humpbacks in the morning, take in a performance art activity in the evening, and toss back a few locally brewed beers at night. We're eclectic that way. And we've got all the activities and attractions you'd expect in a state capital. We just share them without all the pretension.

Not least of all, Juneau locals are a friendly bunch, if we do say so ourselves. We're a fiercely loyal type, and we love this city enough to want to share it with anyone who visits.

Something I've wanted to do both times I visited Juneau was to go up the Mount Roberts Tramway. Both times, the weather did not cooperate and I didn't want to spend the money to wander around the clouds. Apparently, on a sunny day you can see spectacular views out over the harbour, sea, and mountains. Also, there is a glorious native mountain house with native art demonstrations, a theater, and a raptor center. There is, as well, a trail system where you can wander through the Sitka Spruce and the grasses and wildflowers of the sub-alpine. Keep your fingers crossed that we'll have a good day this time!

The other main attraction in Juneau is the Mendenhall Glacier. Thirteen miles from downtown Juneau, the glacier measures 12 miles long by 1 1/2 miles wide. The ice can be anywhere from 400 to 800 feet deep. It seems the only way to actually walk on the glacier is if you go via helicopter, but that costs mucho dinero so D2 and I will see it from the ship (which does get as close as possible) and maybe take a land tour to the Visitors Site where you can get splendid views from along the hiking trails there.

I do remember that the day our ship went into Tracy Arm, it was a gloriously sunny (but ccccold) day, and I was mesmerized by the colour of the water and the smaller icebergs that were floating loose. The sun glittered off these bits of ice making a variety of colours and patterns. It's going to be a lot of fun this time, seeing Juneau and its environs through my daughter's eyes. She is so excited that she has already gone out and bought a new camera and has practised by taking photos (both long shot, wide lens, and macros) in downtown Vancouver and around home. I think I'll just take my old camera and will get copies of good ones from her camera. And of course we won't forget to go into the shops to find a suitable souvenir - like maybe a stuffed moose, grizzly bear, or whale.

Have a great week, everyone, and don't forget to ask your friends to play along with this fun fun fun weekly activity, brought to you by Denise Nesbitt and her jolly team of helpers. Click here to access the ABC Wednesday webpage.

I is for Italy

2011-03-14T12:27:00.006-07:00

In keeping with my "destinations" theme for this round of ABC Wednesday, I had to go with Italy, even though I've written about it before. (see here and here) Problem is, I want to write about places I've personally visited, and I've never been to Ireland, Iran, Iraq, Iceland, or Iqaluit (capital of Canada's newest northern territory of Nunavet). So, if you click on the direct routes to my other posts, you can read all about my trip to Italy and how I felt about the country, its food, customs, people, vino, etc. Today, I'll try to post some of my favourite photos that I hope I haven't posted before and that perhaps will help you to visualize how beautiful Italia is. I'd go back in a flash and stay even longer than the 4 weeks I had 5 years ago.
1. Tuscan village

2. View from Erice (Sicily)

3. Pitigliano

4. Sovana

5. Italian cyprus trees

6. Tuscan church

7. Lemon Trees ABC Wednesday is the brainchild of Denise Nesbitt and if you'd like to see other participants' contributions, click here. Please join in - the more the merrier!