Operation 'Metal' Runner-up

I'm sure I needn't say more!

It's 13 degrees today!

I don't want to jinx it and say that a new season might be peeking out from behind the snow banks....but.......it was so nice out today! I didn't like my plan for our theme this week so I walked around outside at home after work this afternoon and this is what I came up with. We're under extreme flood warnings...go figure....

It's hard to tell what the first one is but it's water POURING off a neighbouring balcony; it was really dark under the balcony but the sun was shining just outside so the water is quite bright against a really dark background.

I love the colours of this hydrant (the beaming sun kinda helped too!); it was kept mostly uncovered during the winter and it was always nice to see such vibrant colours even under the mountains of snow!

Lastly, the snow is melting really fast! I hope the sewers can keep up!

Welcome Spring!!!

I couldn't help myself...

I pledge that this will be my last 'snow' photo of this winter. Just when we thought spring had sprung here in Ottawa, we woke up to a disgusting morning of snow mixed with ice pellets that later changed to rain. I took pictures but then decided I couldn't post more snow pics but since my life has been consumed with house-hunting (we think we found our house though!!!) I just haven't had the time or energy to get out and find things to photograph so I have given in and done it again :(
I hope to find some time in the near future to take some more photos but I have a lot going on in the next couple of months - a comprehensive exam for my program and *hopefully* moving into a new house. Cross your fingers and toes for us!

Dripitty drip drip....

It was above zero degrees today! In fact, it was 3 whole degrees!
This means that the snow is starting to melt; and it can't happen soon enough for me - or Brannon, who can't wait to hit the links (he actually played indoors today)!
When I got home I was toiling over what I had time to shoot and there was water dripping everywhere so I decided to try to capture that. These are not nearly as good as Kim's or Misty's but I love the colours nonetheless because it was so so bright outside today.
The last one I was just having some fun with....

First one of the season

My parents have a spectacular view (in fact, when people see it in our wedding photos, they don't even think it's real!), with beautiful pink/red sunsets all summer that, unfortunately, disappear during the winter months. I was at home yesterday for Easter dinner and witnessed my first pretty sunset of the season. Apparently it was nothing compared to the one on Sunday but I was still pleased to see it. It seems strange to see a pink sunset over a snowy horizon :)

Beckham

Meet Beckham :)
We met this little cutie on Sunday evening. He's a 4.5-month old Shar-pei; the calmest puppy I've ever met. He sat on his "mommy's" lap for literally the entire evening, showing little interest in the other dogs that were present - or the people, for that matter.

Saturday Randoms

A few randoms from yesterday and this morning....

Brigitte and Craig have lots of wonderful pieces of art in their home; this is a photo of one of my favourites :)

Driving over the Champlain Bridge (between Ottawa, ON and Gatineau, QC) this morning, I asked Brannon to stop so I could get a photo....the sun was beautiful!

It's Melting...

It's not warm here yet by any stretch of the imagination but all the snow we've accumulated is beginning to melt. The worries are starting to move beyond collapsing roofs to flooded basements. Will it ever end??

Vines

I didn't get around to posting this yesterday....
No real explanation for it; I just love how this looks, especially before the leaves sprout!

Tabaret Hall

I have been a University of Ottawa student for 2.5 years and yesterday was the first time I purposely went to campus :)

I'm a graduate student and my work is done at the Health Sciences campus rather than the main campus so I never have to go there. I have been told, however, that one of the admin buildings has a beautiful glass ceiling. In straining to come up with an idea for the contest this week, I thought it would be worth investigating so I headed to main campus for the first time yesterday in search of Tabaret Hall (http://www.tabaret.uottawa.ca/article_e_251.html).

It was well worth the trek!

The first, third, and last photos show a reflection of the domed glass ceiling in the strategically-placed glass around the top floor. I played around with the lighting and the flash and am pretty happy with what I was able to pull out of my camera! It really is all about your subject, isn't it!?!?

At the end of the rainbow....

I cannot believe that I saw a rainbow on St. Patty's Day....what are the odds?!?!?

I went downtown today after work to get a shot for the contest (I'll post those tomorrow). On my way home I saw a rainbow but I was so close to home I didn't bother to stop. Unfortunately, once I arrived, it was nowhere in sight so I had to set out on foot to "find" it. The sun was setting FAST so I kept losing it - how silly does that sound?? - but I did finally manage to find it. I must have walked/ran a mile after the darn thing!! The ironic part was that after I took a couple of shots and turned around to go back home, there it was in front of my house...that's how fast the sun was setting :(
Anyway, I doubt I'll get out for a green beer tonight so I'm absolutely thrilled that I can still post something pertaining to St. Patrick's Day. It's just too bad I didn't find
the pot o' gold.....
Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!!

Blowing Snow

I happened to catch some powdery snow falling out of the trees; I didn't think the picture would come out well but it's not too bad...

I'd also like to wish my dad a happy birthday!

A year ago today....

....I was in Mexico visiting Chacchoben (Mayan ruins).

I didn't even really get dressed today (I LOVE when I have nothing to do on a weekend!) so I didn't take any photos either. I've been a little lazy with my camera for the last week or so.
Anyway, my sister and I went on a cruise last March (a last trip together before I got married, you could say) and this a picture I took at the ruins. This was before I had my nikon so not only is the quality poor, but I also wasn't paying attention for good angles, etc. Regardless I loved this place so I thought this pic was a good entry for today. Would I ever love to be there right now!

Calla

I had no energy for picture-taking today so I yanked one of the callas out of my bouquet and played a little. I'll try to be a little more creative tomorrow!

I got flowers :)

I've been moping around for a couple of days since we lost BJ (I'm going to miss him so much) and I don't think Brannon knows what to do with me....lol. I came home today to a pet sympathy card (Who knew they even made those?!?! Gotta love Hallmark) and a really beautiful bouquet of flowers that contained gerberas, button mums, yellow and white daisies, 2 gigantic callas, and some freesia. It was a really sweet gesture and, coincidentally, the majority of the flowers were yellow. Before you ask, nope, he didn't know this week's theme was "yellow".

I'm still deciding which photo to submit for the contest because I did take some other photos already but I thought that some snapshots from my bouquet would make a nice submission for today. You almost got more snow pics :) :)
When I actually got out of our complex I found the conditions were WAY worse in other areas (so kudos to the snow removal people, hired by the condo assoc'n) and, of course, I had to take some pics. I'll save them for a slow day....

A tribute to BJ

My parents had to put our dog down yesterday; it all happened so quickly I couldn't even get home to say good-bye. His health has been deteriorating for a long time but it got really bad this weekend. I think everyone knew it was over when he couldn't even bring himself to eat his favourite treat - garlic fingers from Pizza Hut - compliments of my dad.
BJ (aka [spelled like we would pronounce it] Baby, Beej, Beejee, Midget, Widget, Widge, Widgimous [my personal fave]) came to be with our family when I was a teenager. My sister worked (still does actually) at the local animal shelter and brought him home when he wasn't doing well there (he was always a spoiled lap-dog!). He was there in the first place because his owner passed away and he didn't have anywhere else to go. Clearly, he never went back and he's been with us for 12 years. Don't even ask how his name came to be BJ; it's a long story and we didn't name him :)
He had one of the most interesting dispositions I've ever known in a dog and I have so very many memories of this little character. I've put together a collection of my most recent photos of him. All the ones taken by me were taken since Christmas.
This post is mostly for me so don't feel like you have to make comments. I actually haven't told anyone personally yet because I can't keep it together long enough to speak about it.

He slept a lot in his old age...I must also add that I like his reflection in this shot :)

That's our other dog, Barnie (again, don't ask about the name) in the background. He might live to be 100!

BJ loved the snow; he always preferred to be cold over being warm.

He was "dad's dog" through and through. My father would lose his mind if he knew I put a picture of him on my blog; especially such an unflattering one of him :)

Waiting for "something"; that's what we always said when he was getting a treat (which was a cut green bean to keep his weight down).

These next 2 were not taken by me. Our wedding photographer took them on the morning of our wedding. In the first one, Barnie is doing exactly what it looks like, cleaning out BJ's ears. It's a gross and weird thing he always did for him :(
And of course, there had to be one with me and my boys :)

Lastly, one of the two of them together. I'm sure Barnie is sad and confused because they've been the best of friends for 12 years.

Even Tim Horton's is shut down!

Ok, so I know I've been discussing this storm a lot....and now you'll see why. I haven't heard the final amount that fell but I'm sure it's 50+ cm. People are stuck everywhere and even the Timmy's down the street is SHUT DOWN (along with everything else). Can you imagine?!?!?!? Whatever are we going to do?!?!!? lol
The first photo is outside of my patio door; I had to be quick (hence the poor angles, etc.) because I was afraid the snow would fall in the door!! To provide some kind of reference, that snow pile (not shoveled, that's how it fell) is taller than me (5'8")!!!
I live in an older town house complex and we're pretty much snowed in; the complex has been plowed (I knew there was a reason we pay such high condo fees!) but nothing outside of it has; so I was limited to where I could go. These are all in and around my house.

This next one is fun because it shows some of the snow hanging off a roof but I liked it more because of the kitty in the window :)

It's difficult to tell but these piles are taller than doorways!

This used to be a path; now it's beneath more than 6' of snow!