Fun mail!

Surely not as interesting for you as it is for me but....I love fun mail! I could guess what was in the package before even opening it because of the yummi-ness that was emanating from the box! I'm going to look accessorized and smell GREAT!
Thanks Linds!

Kinki

Both Evelin and I had accomplishments to celebrate this week so a few of us headed to Kinki for sushi tonight. The food was great and the drinks were yummy ('Juicy Nut' anyone??) - I'm pretty sure a good time was had by all! This first shot is just a random that I took of Leslie's sunglasses sitting on top of her chop sticks wrapper and the second is a very small part of our overall order. I would have posted more but my computer and internet are both working at a snail's pace and I am SO ready for bed. Congrats Evelin on a great seminar today. I hope you sleep well tonight :)

Smokin'

There were a number of cigars smoked last night and I expect the same for this evening....
Happy Long Weekend everyone!

Guessing Game

So I didn't really take any photos today (with a few exceptions Pam!) but I did manage to take one, just for fun. Can you guess what it is?

Watching grass grow

Some days are interesting....some not so much...like today :)
I was kinda dreading the blog update for today because the most interesting thing I did was go to Henry's (photography store, if you don't know) and NOT buy anything!! I didn't have a photo plan and my back is still bothering me so I'm not about to get all acrobatic for picture-taking. In addition, I've got a lot on my plate these days with a big exam looming at the end of August, so today just wasn't a great day for photography.
So, our new house backs onto a school yard that's currently under construction, in fact, it's really behind schedule - or so that's what we've been told. They started laying the sod yesterday so I stood in our spare room window and snapped these (absolute minimal energy expended). Then I made dinner, some cookies for our neighbours, and now I'm hitting the books to put in a little time before 'So You Think You Can Dance' comes on. Geez, do I ever need to get a life!

No Tresspassing! Oops...

So, I read about this place on the internet; it's about a 10-minute drive from where I live in a little village called Munster Hamlet which always reminds me of "The Munsters" and I have to say that today I kinda felt like I had walked into the Munster's home....it was creepy.
The description of this location on the internet states that this former public garden/nursery has been abandoned for many years and that getting access is easy since it's public. So, I parked my car on the side of the road and walked right onto the site without even thinking. I was in my own little world snapping shots and all of the sudden I looked up and was face-to-face with a family! They were looking at me like I was crazy and I was so flustered I was tongue-tied (which, if you know me, you know I'm never at a loss for words...haha). Anyway, there is what I can only describe as a shack on the property and this family lives there amidst the garbage and overgrown buildings. Once I got over my shock of having found myself on someone's property I explained what I was doing there (while trying to hide my shock and horror that someone actually lived there) and asked if I could keep taking pictures. They reluctantly said yes and went back in their home. Let's just say that I got what I wanted and bolted!
Regardless, so here are my shots for today. A formerly-abandoned garden. The overgrowth was actually beautiful and serene. The garbage....not so much :)

Lotion

More shots from last night....

The French Riviera martinis (formerly known as the Jenn-tini) come with a cherry...

This bag was sitting all by itself; I had 2 options....photograph it so I could remember its beauty or bring it home with me....I opted for the former.... :)

A SPECTACULAR jazz band was playing on the patio; their name is Lotion (hence the title of thsi post). They played three sets and we were sorry to see them stop. There wasn't a song we weren't excited to hear!

Drummer Matt.....we like him....

Meet Evelin (if you don't already know her of course!); I tell you, this girl couldn't take a bad photo if she rolled her eyes back in her head and stuck her tongue out. She's one of the most photogenic people I know!

Discarded

What a weird thing to post....I took some other shots today but I wasn't really happy with any of them. I also snapped this shot this morning on my way into the lab; I have to pass by an area that can only be described as a little outside corridor/alley by the hospital cafeteria. It is, in fact, outside. Anyway, I noticed this desk chair was just sitting out there against a wall and it seemed like an odd place for it so, of course, I had to take a picture of it. So this is my entry for today, not overly exciting for a Friday but at least it's not a sunset/sunrise :)
I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Sticks and Stones

What is it about little boys and construction zones!?!?! I was out for a walk around my neighbourhood tonight and I came across this little kid doing his best to get his bike off the street and into a construction zone (the whole area is still being developed); I just don't get it. I swear I'm never having boys.....a good lesson from my mom :)

Magic Wand

I've been sticking pretty close to home for the last few days because we've had so much to do so I haven't had much inspiration for photos. Today I opened a new tube of mascara whose brush didn't actually come in the tube. I set it down on the dresser and it produced a fun shadow so that's what's on the agenda for today's entry. I had wanted to go out for a walk to check out the new neighbourhood but I didn't quite make it before the sun set so it'll have to wait for another day.

For Monday

If all goes according to plan I should have cable up-and-running again on Monday but just in case I get busy I thought I'd go ahead and put up a couple more photos before officially signing off for the weekend.
I found this tennis ball in the garden.....what an interesting spot for it to be :)
I like this photo because I really like the texture of the weathered ball!

It's almost peony season! These are hands-down my favourite flowers and I can't wait until they're in bloom so I can *really* photograph them. We used them for our wedding last summer and I'm so happy to see them coming back. This is a dark variety, unlike the baby pink ones we used and I actually think I like these better. What I like most about this shot, excluding my anticipation of their beauty, is that the late-afternoon sun against a red brick house make the colours look very rich.

Sticky

I've been trying to find and photograph a spider web for quite some time. This isn't great but it's the best I've come up with so far.

Red things I love

Just a few randoms for today...

Columbine

Neighbour's fence material

I think it's time to scrap this boat...or at least give it a paint job!

"FurBall"

Last night I attended the Third Annual 'FurBall', in support of the Lanark Animal Welfare Society (aka LAWS), an animal shelter that my sister manages. The evening included cocktails, dinner, both silent and live auctions (I won [by bidding] a Lazy-Boy recliner - yay!) and dancing. The event raised a record amount and was filled with very personal touches including corsages/bouts for each guest complete with "paw-printed" ribbons, table markers with photos to honour pets rescued from puppy mills, place mats with pet biographies, and thank-you cards for all guests "signed" by individual animals. The organizers - Cathy, Tonya and Stacie - did a fantastic job as always.
I struggled to take photos because the light was poor indoors and most of the photos are of guests which would be essentially meaningless to you but here are a few regardless.

One of the tables all set up...

A silent auction donation; a dog bed filled with wonderful doggy treats!

One of the biggest money-makers of the evening. Each balloon contained a raffle ticket; guests could purchase a balloon for $10 each. It was cute because in order to distinguish one guest's balloon from another's, people were tying the darn things to everything (including coffee cups on the tables which got pretty funny come time for dessert!). Anyway, after dinner a ticket was drawn and guests were all asked to pop their balloons at the same time and the person with the winning ticket won a diamond pendant. It was chaotic and loud but everyone really enjoyed the experience. This photo depicts one of the shelter board members and his girlfriend selling the balloons.

I spent a lot of time outside over the past couple of days so I have a number of photos to post from that in the coming days. I am so glad spring has finally sprung!

Pushing Basil

I apologize for not posting anything lately but I've just been so busy! I managed to plant some basil and cilantro seeds the other day (I have this handy cute little indoor greenhouse!) and after 2 days the basil has just pushed up through the soil. Hopefully after this exam I have on Tuesday (it's an oral one and not fun *sigh*) I'll have more time for picture-taking!

Flying High

I was out this morning *trying* to capture a bird collecting various debris for her nest.....you'll notice that's not what I'm posting :)
She wouldn't sit still long enough for me to shoot anything useful but just when I was about to give up a plane flew by....

Sunday afternoon

I went to see several homes today (I loved one!!) and my agent was a bit late so I took a few minutes to look around the neighbourhood and I found a child's kite caught in a tree. I didn't have my zoom lens though so it's pretty far away.

I couldn't help but snap a photo of the pretty sky on the way home!

Summer Sketchers

As you know, I work in a lab. There are many great things about what I do but there is a large caveat - shoes!! When the rest of you are picking out what cute shoes you're going to wear with your warm weather outfits, I'm struggling to find clothes to go with my closed-toe, closed-heel, rubber-soled shoes that are required in the lab for safety reasons. Fair enough, my feet are important to me...but I wanna look cute too :)
Anyway, I am a big fan of the comfort of sketchers and I came across this cute pair the other day and I just had to have them :) They're not fancy but could be worn with a skirt or capris so they're perfect!
It's unlikely they are up to code in the lab but the health & safety dude probably won't object to these. Unfortunately, the rest of the photos I took are without any flash and they look like cr@p so you just get one for today.

Forgotten Playground

I drive by this sad forlorn little play area all the time; I don't think I've ever actually seen any children playing there, though I'm sure you can see why :(

Sicky

Doesn't this just say it all??
I managed to get through the entire winter (and it was extra long this year!) without even a case of the sniffles. When colleagues got sick, my immune system held up ok; even when Brannon got sick, I managed to avoid it. But now that the weather is getting nicer and I have so much going on in my life (comprehensive exam for my program is looming, we're house-hunting, etc.)......now my body decides to crap out on me :(
Send me some healthy vibes!!