Sylvia's Simple Shots

I took a trip to the Heritage Hills Wetlands this week.   I found this beautiful House Finch.  It was singing it heart out. Love the red head.

I walked all the pathways this visit.  I was out for just about 3 hours.  The mosquitoes were not too bad.














I finished this book - The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tam this week.  It is an interesting read.  With time where I did not know which person was speaking.  The time frames were different so it had to be another person but it was not clear.  The 1st two thirds were slow but I have to say once the visit to China everything fell into place and the last chapters were great!

I have been working hard to make space in the bedroom for the sewing machine I bought the week the pandemic hit!

Thanks goodness it is being stored at my sister's house.  I have made a few organization changes which are working very well.  The desk will fit in the space at 30" tall, 40" wide and 18" deep.


 I have moved the photo studio that will be in my post next week.

I added some nails under the kitchen cabinets to hold the recipe book stand.  I was storing it in the yellow plastic stand with the books but that was not the best.
Excellent.

I have 3 small bags where I can place stuff going to my family's homes. My sister, my niece and my Mom each have a bag.  This was stored in the bedroom but I have moved them to the storage room.  Wonderful move.

This single White Pelican was feeding on Thursday morning.  I understand they mostly eat small fish.  You can see the dip in his gullet is the fish.

It was great to see him on the second pond because the others were on the far side of pond three.   No usable shots from that distance.

I see that I have a male Mallard Duck in the background.

These are the pink flowers in bloom here. The Wild Rose, Dwarf Milkweed and of course Peonies.

I milk weed has small wonderful flowers.  It has taken me a couple of years of research to happen upon the name.

The Flickr Macro Monday challenge was to pick one from color list (blue, yellow, red or pink) and one from an object list (pen, paper, bottle cap,flower. The photo on the left is one yellow pens.

You can check my photostream SMDPics to see my submission.

Sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #86.

Mersad who hosts Through my Lens #246

Sylvia's Simple Shots

There was roasted hot dogs which I requested on a social distance outside visit to my sister's place.  The hot dogs were great! Thanks so much.

I don't have a place for a fire outside so I can't make them at my place.

Ice cream cake is always in order that this time of year!  There were leftovers that I brought home and having one serving per day!

I got a sunburn during my outside visit.  Then Sunday I got bitten alive by mosquitoes on my long walk at the wetlands.  My ears, face, neck and hands were exposed so they got the worse of it.

The skeeters must know that as a photographer I am going to hold my hands still and not wave them around so they took advantage.

I have to say I have sore parts and large welts so my day has been uncomfortable.







Up at 5:00 am and at the Lois Hole Provincial Park before 6:00 am I did see several new birds for me.

The Common Yellow Throat Warbler which sang beautifully then the Sora Rail just walking on the reeds in the water.  It moved very fast though!  Many Cedar Waxwings making some noise.  It was wonderful.

I had a really hard time with Flickr Macro Monday challenge this week - Unusual Pattern.  To me that suggested not a regular or common pattern.  What could that be?  I had glass tiles where it distorted the designer behind so I tried quite a few scrapbook papers. This one has music paper behind but I did not find the X showed up much.

This was a colorful tile behind a textured glass cutting board.  I was getting closer! Check out my SMDPics photo stream to see the shot I submitted.



I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #85 and Mersad who hosts Through my Lens #245

Father`s Day Card

Update: I got the date of Father's wrong. It is on June 21st.

I used a sample from one of my card kits I made early this month.  I had to add a tree because Dad was a carpenter.

This is the Angled Rectangle layout.

I cut a tree with the Hampton Arts stamp and die set.  I cut one in green and one in grey for a highlight behind.

Adhered with 3D foam tape.  Greeting with offset is a Decorative Label punch from Stampin Up.

I am sure it arrived on time. 

I created a collage of tools for Father's Day.  I used a wood grain piece of designer paper as the background.

My Dad was a carpenter in his younger days so I associate wood with him.  I have a hand saw that means my needs, a pink hammer replaced the heavy one Dad gave me when I left home,  the green multi bit screwdriver that I have had had since I was in my 20's and other things from my tools drawer. 

I like to manage as much around my place as I can so I have acquired the tools to get the basics done. 

I appreciate my Dad very much and was not able to spend the day with him due to COVID19. I called him and had a visit.

2020 Photography Show - On Line

I am grateful that our art club - Allied Art Council has adapted and has been hosting our shows on-line.

The photography show runs from June 15 - to July 3rd. We had 67 entries submitted.

I submitted three entries.

The winners were announced today in a zoom meeting.

This photo details are as follows:

Rainy Night
12x12 inches
Photography

I love the great bokeh which reminds me of lights on wet streets.  Beautiful blue and green tones in this photograph.

I have manipulated the original photo with filters to increase the contrast and sharpen the edges.

I really like this one and will hang it on my walls.

Ignition!
12x12 inches
Photography

Someone on Flickr suggested that this shot looked like when the engine of a rocket.   I ran with that idea hence the title.

I love how the yellows are in the center and the oranges spread out from the center to the outer edges.  I like the dark edges.

Fish Feeding Frenzy
11x14 inches
Photography

I took this shot for a Flickr challenge.

I cooled the tone of the original photo to have the background appear more like water which goes with the title.  I really see fish with mouths open waiting for a morsel of food.

The winners were announced today in a Zoom meeting.  You can check out all the entries here.

Happy Happy Birthday

I made a card for my sister who is celebrating a birthday this week.

I used a half sheet of card stock (5.5 x 8.5") in warm green. This panel is the card back.
I selected some scrap designer paper strips from my stash in greens.  I cut them .75 inches wide and left them as long as they were.  I started gluing them onto the card stock at right angles. This was an excellent stash busting card.  I sponged this layer just unify the colors of the strips and card base panel.

I added the warm green small tent card which measures 3.5 inches wide and 11" tall folded in half to 5.5 inches.  I then cut "happy" twice - once in gold and another in bright green with the Memory Box Jumbled Happy Birthday thin lit. I cut birthday twice once the same green as the tent and another the same green as "happy".  These were chalked the same as the panel. These were glued to the front of the tent with Quick Dry Adhesive.  I layered the birthday word. I punched a Stampin Up Modern label punchie from the bright green and adhered it below the words. I then added a bow of grosgrain ribbon held in place with a gold flower sequin and a tiny gold brad.   As you can see the tent allows it to stand nicely.

I should make up a few of the panels so when I need a quick card I could just add the tent and embellishments to finish!

Birthday Photo Card

I made this card for my aunt who is celebrating a birthday this week.

The photo is one of grasses that I have added a watercolor filter in order to enhance the shapes.

I mounted it to a 8.5x11 sheet  ivory heavy card stock onto which I printed my credits then trimmed the letter size card stock to 10 x 7 inches.  I then scored it at 5 inches and folded in half.

I decided on a photo card as she is a fellow photographer so she will appreciate a photo rather than a paper crafted card.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I found American Coot babies at the Heritage Hills Wetlands yesterday!  They are so hilarious!

They have huge colors in red and yellow.  Then that fuzzy hairdo just makes me smile!   I thought I had missed the babies but like most things this year a little late.

The mother was collecting vegetation from below the water and feeding them one at a time.  There were 3 little babies!

There were a couple of White Pelicans too!  They were eating - dip their beaks in and swallow. Up and down which made getting good photos tough.  These look a little scruffy.

Yes, Mama by Helen Forrester was a good book.  The story of Alicia Woodman, a blonde blue eyed little girl growing up in a house with dark haired parents.  Put into the care of a nanny, Polly Ford who has lost a husband and a baby, to ensure she does not incur the wrath of her father or see the indifference of her mother.  It was a win for the nanny as now she had a room, food, clean clothes, and a bit of a wage.  The child was loved and cared for.  There is quite a bit of insanity before it concludes with a wonderful end.

I am diving head first into this DIY hair cutting trend due to COVID 19.  I have cut it once but it was a desperate big trim basically.

I decided that I needed some proper tools to do the job well going forward.  I have someone I know that gets hers cut with a No.1 comb on a hair trimmer.  I was not quite ready for that but it looked really good on her.

I was late to the game so I had to wait a while for the trimmers to be in stock again at my local drug store.

I needed a hair cutting cape.  I started with a dollar store tablecloth.  I sewed it to a piece of deep yellow fabric with navy seam binding.  I did the full outside edge. Then I cut the key hole in the back and added the seam binding around that creating the ties at the same time.  I made the front longer so I can tack it to the metal sink with magnets to catch the hair which will help with clean up.

Now I needed a mirror behind me to help me see what I was doing.

I had a full length mirror that I could hang on the bathroom door.  I used some copper wire and ran it through the holes in the top corners.  I made curly cues on the front.

I adjusted the length of the wire by twisting to shorten until it was at a good height.  It needed to be at an angle so I put a roll of TP behind to create the angle I needed.  Perfect.  The photo you see is the long hair version from a few days ago.

I did watch several YouTube videos before I took the plunge this morning.  I am pretty happy with the final results.

The Flickr Macro Monday Challenge for this week is "Label".  You can check my Flickr Photostream - SMDPics for the one I submitted.

Of course, there is a plethora of labels in our lives.  Some are stuck on, some are tied on, and some part of the object they label.

This is the metal label on my stainless steel turquoise necklace and chain.  If you look close you can see it engraved on the lobster claw clasp as well.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #84 and Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #244.

Christmas Card Challenge - June - Silhouette

I chose this gold debossed star designer paper in 12x12 cut into 6 pieces.

I created the blue with Tim Holtz Distress Stains in blue tones.  Faded Denim, Broken China, Tumbled Glass was applied to a piece of glass, spritzed with water and then I laid my star paper into it.  Once dry I iron them flat.

I chose a warm light blue card base.
Die cut the black with the Taylored Expression Bethlehem border and added the bank with Creative Memories Decorative Trimmer.  Adhered a Stampin Up Modern Label greeting with an offset of turquoise.  Star cut with Sizzix Star die. Both adhered with 3D foam tape.

I adhered the star layer, I cut a white bank layer with my Creative Memories 12 inch Decorative Trimmer and adhered to blue star layer.

I then adhere my Taylored Expressions Bethlehem Border diecut in black which I cut the bottom edge with the CM Dec Trimmer.

I added a Artisan Label greeting and the a gold star cut with the Sizzix Star die.

For this card I used the QuicKutz Nativity die with the black card stock.

The gold star is created with the Creative Memories Sparkle punch.

A Stampin Up Artisan Label Punch greeting.


Feels good to have a few more Christmas cards in the box.

What will Christmas look like this year?

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I have added a couple of plants to my place this week.

An African Violet but this time I have hung it in the north window.  I put the last one in the east window about 4 feet from the window. I don't have the green thumb of my mom and siblings.  I have to work it a lot to keep plants alive. 

In my early twenties I grew really nice African Violets in a north window.

Time will tell!

A Common Grackle with beautiful purple blue head feathers.  I love the branch it is sitting as well.  Check out those bright yellow eyes!  As you can see the body has green highlights.

It was taken on my first visit to the Heritage Hills Wetlands.  I was hoping for pelicans but they were at the furthest section of the lake so no good shots were acheived.

The other plant I added was a Devil's Ivy.  A very hardy plant which should tolerate the lower light levels.


















I finished this book this week.  It is set in Newfoundland in the 18th century and covers over 100 years. The author is a Newfoundlander.  I have met some and they are generally engaging folks.  This story has interesting characters, a unique language, many cultural traditions and some disconcerting practices by some of these unusual characters.

It has been raining a lot!

That means the gardens, front yards, grass and the river valley are green and filled with blooms of all colors.

This is an Alium in one of the neighbouring yards.  The sunlit daffodils are in another yard.  I am blessed to have a lot of flowers to photograph.

The Flickr Macro Monday challenge this week is "On A Coin".  I chose the largest one in my change purse which is a toonie.  The mosaic on the left are a few items I found fit within the borders of the coin.   You can check out my Flickr Photostream - SMDPics for the one I chose.


I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #83.

Through my Lens #243 hosted by Mersad.

Ready 2 Go All Occasion Stack Kit - Set 04

Angled Rectangle

I started with a ginger card base.

I chose designer paper by Graphics 45 - Communique Collection - On the Dot cut to 4.00x5.25 inches. I laid the designer paper onto the card front at an angle then adhere it.  I trimmed the excess to the card edge with scissors.

I cut the dark brown Decorative Label punchie in half crosswise then trimmed the points off with scissors.  I offset these behind the greeting.   The accent was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Split Square

I cut a 4 inch square of designer paper into 2 equal triangles by cutting top left hand corner to opposite corner with a paper cutter.   These were glued to the card front aligned to the top and the bottom.   That leaves a nice band of card color on the diagonal.

I wrapped a length of white grosgrain ribbon around the card front and knotted on the front.  Trimmed the ends on the slant.

I assembled the flower accent by putting the small flower then the large flower onto the brad.  Press the prongs apart on the back.

I added the 3D foam tape to the back of the flower accent and adhered it to the card front.

A quarter sheet insert is glued to the right hand side.

 Masculine DSP Split

I selected a deep red brown colored card.

I chose designer paper by Graphics 45 - Communique Collection - On the Dot.  I cut it to 4.00 x 5.25 inches then cut again at 3.5 inches.  Turned the small over and tape to 2 pieces back together.

Wrapped the designer paper layer with brown grosgrain ribbon and taped the ends to the back.  Adhered to the card front.

Assemble the leaf accent and adhered to the front with 3D foam tape.

Ready 2 Go All Occasion Stack Kit - Set 03

Angled Rectangle

I started with a grey card base.

I chose designer paper by Creative Imaginations - Art Warehouse - Danielle Johnson cut to 4.00x5.25 inches. I laid the designer paper onto the card front at an angle then adhere it.  I trimmed the excess to the card edge with scissors.

I cut the dark green Decorative Label punchie in half crosswise then trimmed the points off with scissors.  I offset these behind the greeting.   The accent was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Split Square

I cut a 4 inch square of designer paper into 2 equal triangles by cutting top left hand corner to opposite corner with a paper cutter.   These were glued to the card front aligned to the top and the bottom.   That leaves a nice band of card color on the diagonal.

I wrapped a length of white grosgrain ribbon around the card front and knotted on the front.  Trimmed the ends on the slant.

I assembled the flower accent by putting the small flower then the large flower onto the brad.  Press the prongs apart on the back.

I added the 3D foam tape to the back of the flower accent and adhered it to the card front.

A quarter sheet insert is glued to the right hand side.

 Masculine DSP Split

I selected a kraft colored card.

I chose a designer paper by Creative Imaginations featuring stars.  I cut it to 4.00 x 5.25 then cut again at 3.5 inches.  Turned the small over and tape to 2 pieces back together.

Wrapped the designer paper layer with ginger grosgrain ribbon and taped the ends to the back.  Adhered to the card front.

Assemble the star accent and adhered to the front with 3D foam tape.

Ready 2 Go All Occasion Stack Kit - Set 02

Hexagon Trio

I chose an ivory card.

I wrapped the ivory grosgrain ribbon across the designer paper and taped ends to the back.  Adhered it to the card front.

I adhered the 3 hexagons to the bottom half of the card below the grosgrain ribbon.

I assembled the greeting by adhering the greeting to the colored circle then to the scallop circle.  The whole greeting was then adhered over the grosgrain ribbon with 3D foam tape.

Masculine DSP Split

I selected a kraft colored card.

I chose a designer paper by Creative Imaginations featuring stars.  I cut it to 4.00 x 5.25 then cut again at 3.5 inches.  Turned the small over and tape to 2 pieces back together.

Wrapped the designer paper layer with ginger grosgrain ribbon and taped the ends to the back.  Adhered to the card front.

Assemble the star accent and adhered to the front with 3D foam tape.

Nature Sticker

I layered the nature sticker onto coordinating card stock and trimmed leaving a narrow border.  I added 3D foam tape to the 4 corners on back.

I adhered an embossed layer leaving a small border to the card front.

Adhered the strip of black card stock onto the embossed layer.

I adhered the nature sticker to the card front.

I added the aligned on the black strip

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I have been back to the front yard in the neighbourhood which is FULL of beautiful tulips.

I took another shot to show how many there are.  They are mostly red, orange and yellow.  I watched a video the other day where a well known photographer was explaining about seeing different compositions in a garden rather than the one everyone takes.  So I took an unusual shot for me.


The house is on the Historic Resources list - The Mountifield Residence which was originally built in the early 1900s.

On my walk to other morning I took a path I had not been down before.  It was in a ravine and just after a good rain I was expecting it to be muddy but it was pretty good.  It was great to be under the canopy of very large and old trees.  Green everywhere.  

I came across this patch of Forget-Me-Nots. A bunch of beautiful small blue flowers.  It was hard to decide which ones to photograph.

Forget-me-nots are perennials that regrow themselves year after year, which can be a blessing and a curse. On one hand, you don't have to plant them every year to keep your garden looking great. On the other, they can easily get out of control.
Later I found some in the front yards.

I found the Gray Catbird in its regular bush in the river valley recently.  I had seen one in a tree near the path last week.   

I expect that baby birds are in the making and it was sticking close to bush.  I have seen them near that bush in other years.  It is far enough from the path to allow that a nest would not be disturbed.

It was singing it's heart out that morning enjoying the sunshine and beautiful weather.

You can check out it's song.

The lilacs are in bloom.  After the rain on Saturday they were in full bloom this morning.

Their scent is so wonderful.   The color is beautiful.

I was thinking of the Fill the Frame challenge when I took this one.  With a bit of the background showing I was afraid that it would be disqualified so I entered something else.

Look at what I found at Beaumaris Lake on Sunday morning.   This is the best shot I got which I was not too happy with.  He just would not budge.  I did not see him in the water.

I love the big orange eye.  I saw one last year at a different lake.   I got closer to this one.  

No iconic photograph unfortunately!

Here his neck is quite compressed.  When he stands tall it so impressive but it seemed quite a small bird other than the long neck.

Love that white head feather!  




These are painted rocks created by kids in the neighborhoods surrounding the Heritage Hills Wetlands in Sherwood Park.  

I took my first walk around last Thursday.  There were at least a hundred rocks tuck in the trees, grass and logs in the area. 

It put a huge smile on my face I have to tell you! 

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #82.

and Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #242.

The challenge at Flickr Macro Mondays this week was Fill in the Frame.  There can be no background showing.  I have had a photo disqualified in the past.  I found some African Daisies in a flower bed which worked really well to get close enough.

You can check my Flickr Photo Stream SMDPics to see the photo I submitted this week.  It got pretty good comments.

Be safe and have a good week!