Sylvia's Simple Shots

We have had this big white bird resting at the little pond for a few days.

I spent some time sitting in the wet grass taking a lot of shots in hopes of getting a good one.

This is an Egret as it has black legs where as a White Heron has yellow legs.  This has been talk that there has been a white heron in the vacinity and it has attracted the long lenses.  It would be very much out of it range to be in Alberta I understand.

Thrilled to see this bird.

I attended a client open house this week where I met a few other folks who had purchased properties.

It was held at a farm with a flower cutting garden, a large pumpkin patch and good food provided by the Rolling Deli.

The food was excellent.

I asked for a few flowers instead of a pumpkin.  My mom had a flower cutting garden and had fresh flowers in a vase on the table all summer. 

I was thrilled the hostess shared a few flowers with me.

Cosmos, Zinnias, Straw Flowers were a few.

The Clockmaker's Wife by Daisy Wood was a great book.  A great World War II story about a plot to bomb Big Ben.  Big Ben is the great bell of the Great Clock of Westminster which stands at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England.

1940 England - Nell Spelman is the wife of Arthur Spelman who takes care of the clock.  Due to the horrendous bombing in London Arthur sends Nell and the baby Alice to the country side. When Arthur disappears Nell is compelled to go back to London to find out what is happening. 

2021 New York Ellie is Alice's daugther. Alice is very old and needing care. Ellie discovers a beautiful watch which belongs to her mother but Alice does not know it's history. Ellie decides to go to England find long lost relatives and dig to see what happened.

Turns out that Nell discovered a plot to bomb Big Ben and gave her life to save the treasure. Alice lost her mother when she was a few months old.  She was eventually reunited with her father Arthur but he was not open to discussing the war.

This week was a flurry of preparation to host my first group of family in my new place.

I only had a mis mash of small dessert bowls and I was sure that I would find what I wanted in thrift stores.  When that did not happen I decided to check out what IKEA had in the way of dishes.

After considering several options in the marketplace I chose these.  OLIVTRAST are beverage vessels made of tempered glass. I love the textured glass and the size is great for tea, coffee, juice or dessert.  They stack beautifully which is great for my little place.

Super happy with these.

I found a new cotton rug for the kitchen.

It has yellow and grey and warm tones which works well with the floor.  It is a big darker than the other one I have.

It will show dirt less and therefore easier to maintain on an ongoing basis.

It is 100% cotton.

With my anti skid mat from IKEA - STOPP it works out very nicely.

The cost was under $10 which was a bargain.

I picked up my new glasses on Friday.  I chose to get another pair despite my prescription really not changing much because I should have a spare set of glasses.  

The pair I got 4 years ago have been great but I would be lost to do much if something happened to them.

A lighter frame than the other pair. Love the teal color.

I have had this tiered serving tray for quite a while. In the past there were turquoise melanine plates that were fit into it.  

The new place just did not work with turquoise so I was on a quest to replace them with clear glass platters.

At FIND store in the city I found 2 identical platters measuring 11.5 inche diameter for $4 dollars each. These are vintage glass made by the Federal Glass Company with the Heritage pattern.  

I love the flower in the center and the dots of glass on the bottom which create sparkle.  Nice to have that check off as I will be hosting my immediate family soon.

I was looking for a clear glass cream and sugar set for this new place.

At Goodwill on Friday I found this set of a water pitcher, creamer and sugar bowl in fine blown glass.

Black accents are okay.

The price was again under $10.00.  A steal in my opinion.

They are beautiful.  I am not sure if they are crystal.

They are not marked so not sure if they may be made in China.  Very likely.

I invited some my aunts and uncles who live nearby for coffee on Saturday.

I made apple crisp and served it with vanilla ice cream in my new dessert dishes.

I pulled the extra 2 pine chairs for the dining room table.  I added small leaf table at the end.  I need to look at fabric place mats but this time I used what I had which were plastic ones.

We had a great visit and it was the inaugural session of hosting for me in this new place.

Looking forward to many more.

The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick.

Ginny is planning a surprise trip to Italy for their 25th wedding anniversary.  When out for a special supper she announces the surprise she does not get the response she anticipated. Her husband has news of his own. He is leaving and wants a divorce.  WOW!

She is unable to cancel the trip because the deadline has passed. She changes the booking hotel to a small one nearby which allows her to bring a few folks with her.  On her radio show she puts out the call for people who need time away to heal to join her on this trip. Yes, complete strangers.

The little hotel in Italy is grateful for the 3 week booking of 5 rooms.  Nico should be remodelling and modernizing his hotel but he promised his mother on her deathbed to keep the charm of the old.

Each guest is nursing a hurt and it takes a while for her gain their trust so they are willing to share the truth.  Daily activities are planned and each guest get to chose and plan on activity revealing a little bit about themselves.   Once back home, Ginny is not sure what life is going to be like.  There is a nice twist at the end of the book.

Card - Watercolor - Yellow Cosmos

I painted this yellow cosmos for my niece's birthday card.   

I found an image on line just to give me an idea about their foliage.  I did a bit of a pencil drawing to start.

I used my Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons. I did a light wash of blue with Tempting Turquoise and a light wash on the bottom half with Old Olive. Once I had my first light color on the flower and the stem then I erased about 50% to leave just a very light line.

I used Daffodil Delight for my first light layer on the flower and Pear Pizzaz on the stem. I then added definition on the cosmos with More Mustard and Always Artichoke on the stem.

I added some very light stems on the bottom just so the flower was more grounded. 

I mounted the watercolor with double sided tape to a 5x7 card of Hello Honey.  I was a little short on the bottom so I added a length of  Washi Tape in More Mustard.  It rips very easily so I need to use this up so that its gone!

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 
On my way back from visting my sister I stopped at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum which carries exhibits of old cars, farm equipment, airplanes, and other wonderful stuff.  One of their current exhibits is Driving Thru the 70s, which was a great one.  Cars, movie trailers, trucks and all things in the 1970s.  There was an energy crisis where the cost of oil quadrupled in a few months. Loved seeing the colors, the cars, the little drive in with the speakers and they were showing movie trailers. The vehicles were terrific.  Did not enjoy the 1.5 hours moving 5kms an hour on the big highway because a truck lost his load.  That does not help the gas mileage - talk about energy crisis.

I had a great visit with my sister and brother-in-law.  

I brainstormed some ideas for the Christmas market.  Sticky Note holders, recipe cards or postcards, fire starters either pine cones or paper wreaths. We did some experiments on the fuels and picked pine cones in the rain.

She shared the bounty of her flower garden with me.  Flowers for my table - rudbekias, cosmos, dahlias, marigolds, and zinnias.

Enjoyed having a bouquet on my table.

She shared produce from the garden too! Tomatoes, the cucumbers I ate before I took a picture.  Carrots and cabbage and the sticker is from peaches from my niece but all there was left was the sticker when I remembered to take a picture.  Thank You!

The Orphan Thief by Glynis Peters.  Another wonderful story set in England in World War II. Ruby Shadwell was dealt a several blow during the Coventry Blitz in 1940. She must regroup with members of the family gone as well as the family home.

She starts cleaning the street and reuniting precious things with those to whom they belong.  Many neighbors are grateful.  She checks in on friends, neighbors and her grandmother. Fortunately, a building nearby remained standing and the man that lived there was the accountant for her father's business. She attends her grandmother's funeral and starts the search to find Fred who lived in this house. She finds him at a private lodging after checking hospitals, medical tents and the morgue. When he is better he comes back to his home where she as been living. 

Ruby starts a bit of an enterprise to sell items scrounged from the streets to get a bit of food. She has registered as a survivor with the help from a kind lady. Tommy has brought several items of jewelry for her to buy but he keeps his distance regarding where he lives and when his mother works as he is generally hungry and dirty when Ruby sees him.

She suffers set backs with her small enterprise as the bombing and looting continues.  She befriends Tommy and eventually finds the truth about his living horrible conditions. 

She meets a Canadian Military officer who is documenting the situation in Europe with his camera. They become friends and he checks in with her whenever he is in the area.  It turns into a love story and the story has a good ending.

I missed the full moon, and I checked while I was at my sisters but did not find it from my bedroom window.

I did get a good shot of it several days later.

It is called a blue moon because it is the second full moon in the month of August.

Always nice to have clear skies.

Traveling Light by Max Lucado. I finished this book this week that has been on my night stand for a while.  It took longer to finish as I fit it in between novels I have been reading.

We carry burdens like self-reliance, discontent, weariness, worry, hopelessness, guilt and arrogance.  All packed into our minds and hearts which weigh us down like heavy luggage.

The supporting text of this book is the 23rd Psalm - The Lord is my Shepherd. We need to turn to God as He promises to provide rest to the weary.

A good book to remind me to let go and let God in many situations in my life.  In reality, I control so little and must trust some one greater for support and relief.

Max is a very good author.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

It is coming to the end of summer. Fall colors are starting to appear and I am not ready.

This little chipmunk is getting ready for winter. 

His cheeks were so full of seeds from this large rose hip. They create food storage areas called larders to give them food for the cold weather.

They eat seeds, fruit, nuts (acorns being one of their favorites). Worms can be in their diets but that must be only a summer food.  Hard to store food that walks away.

 

I was over visiting my aunt recently and she offered me some cosmos flowers.  I said yes please.

These make such nice cut flowers for the table. My Mom grew them every year. I did have a couple of vases which were not packed.  I love this cube vase.

I so want a flower cutting garden when I get a new place. Cosmos flowers are very easy to grow, come in a lot of different colors, last a long time in the house with fresh water, and make my heart full.

 

 

 

I am discovering that I really like books set in Ireland.  This book Four Letters of Love by Niall Williams was a pleasure to read.  The 2 main characters are Nicholas Coughlan and Isabel Gore. They are destined to meet but have many life experiences before that happens.

Nicholas has a tough life because his father quit his regular job because he felt that God wanted him to be a painter. The father spent a lot of time away from home painting then when he was home he was in his home studio. Painting did not generate a lot of money. Things from from bad to worse until he has lost both parents.

Isabel grew up in a good family but she felt responsible for an accident her brother had so that colored her world view. They live on a small island in the Galway bay.

When she finishes school she travels to Galway to attend higher education and grow up a bit away from Mom and Dad. She ends up with a job in a wool/tweed store and dating the son of the owner. 

Nicholas is on the hunt for one of his father's paintings which was given to Isabel's father for a poem he had written. He arrives in Galway and meets Isabel (who was home for a visit) and her parents. 

The ending was very good and worth the heartaches that these two young people went through to find each other.

I was out shopping with my sister this week when she came into town with my brother in law on errands. 

She was looking for art supplies. Earlier, I had a conversation with one of my aunts and she recommended Payne's Gray for outlining watercolor if the black marker was too harsh.

I also needed a very small brush to make thin lines and I found this set of brushes at the thrift store for a great price. 

We both found what we needed between Staples and Michaels. First time I used the coupon on my phone. Worked great.

I am working on watercolor Christmas cards again but inspiration is hard to find.

I picked up this small book a while ago.  A simple blessing by Michael W. Smith.

He describes when he started offering a blessing to the audience at his end of his concerts.

He wrote a blessing to cover certain things he wanted to share and pour out to the world at large.

It was well received and many of his fans communicated with him about what changed in their lives as a result.  Of course, it is very hard to give a blessing without it having some of it fall on yourself.

The practice changes Michael's live as well.

Just a nice positive and encouraging book.

2022 Photo Calendar - Garden Flowers

I have my 2022 Garden Flower photo calendar.  It is so wonderful that nature continues on despite the health crisis in our world.  I am so blessed to be able take photos outside.  I have captured some winners again this year.

01 Jan - Pasque Flower                            07 Jul - Pansy

02 Feb - Salvia                                        08 Aug - Dahlia

03 Mar - Grape Hyacinth                        09 Sep - Sunflower

04 Apr - Daffodil                                    10 Oct - Fuchsia

05 May - Astrantia Major Alba               11 Nov - Red Poppy

06 Jun - Pink Cosmos                             12 Dec - Late Tulip

Are you a planner?  

Do you want to see a date in the upcoming month?

Is your calendar stored in the black metal holder?

This calendar can deliver.   Just slide the current month up about a third of the way up to reveal the next month dates.

This idea came from one of my calendar users who has had one of these on his desk for nearly a decade.

Thanks for the tip!

Sylvia's Simple Shots

The robins were holding convention the other morning.  Talking, singing, eating chokecherries and just fussing with each other. 

Migration may have been the subject of discussion.  Whose going? When are we leaving?  Who is leading the crowd?  

This one was singing as the sun came up.  I remember their song from when I was a kid.  This is the first song bird that I recognized it by it's tune.

 

 

 

 

 I finished "The Holding" by Merilyn Simonds this week.  Another historical fiction based on holdings in Northern Ontario Canada.  The first was in late 1880s is Margaret with her 3 brothers. Then it is Alyson in the 1990's on the same property.  I love books about independent women.  The garden is what connects them over the long time period.  Loved it.  Finished it by reading for about 4 hours. My body was not happy to be still that long but I could not put it down.

I have whittled down my collect of blue glass and blue and white pottery.  The shelf was so full that getting anything off of it was risked breakage. 

I have decided that I don't need that much blue glass!  

The shelf is looking better and everything has been washed and I can reach the pieces with out danger.

Maybe the pandemic provides clarity!

I love that the frost has not arrived yet and there a beautiful flowers still to photograph.

This is a Double Click Cosmos which very full instead of a single layer of petals.  

This is from the mixed collection and is a beautiful pink.

I think frost will be in order for this week.

I chose several leaves for my mosaic this week. 

Can't say I am fussy about seeing yellow leaves and fall coming.  Not looking forward to being isolated and no outdoor visits.  And this too will pass. 

The challenge for Flicker Macro Monday this week is "pouch" and we had to put something inside it.  Of course, a tea pouch with a tea bag is an easy one.   You can check out my Photo Stream (SMDPics) to see what I submitted for the challenge. 

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #96 and Mersad who hosts Through my Lens #257.

I am working on a quilt this weekend.

AAC Gallery - Photo Cards

These are the 5x7 A7 cards I took to the gallery today.

I have no idea what will sell so it was a guessing game.

All Occasion Photo Cards - Craft Sale

I am working on photo cards for my craft sale tomorrow at the Millwoods United Church.  This is my first time being juried for photo cards so I decided to work on 5x7 inch cards which were very popular last year at a sale I attended.

This is Mrs. Bear all decked out in her finest.  I took the photo during my visit to the antique mall a while back.  It required a good amount of editing to create a pleasing image.  Turned out pretty good. 

This would make a great all occasion card for any female recipient. 











Love this beautiful Dahlia - Alpen Diamond - taken at the St. Albert Botanical Garden this summer.  I love how the petals are separate which makes it a bit unusual as far as dahlias go. They usually have many petals tightly organized around a barely visible center.

Again, perfect for an all occasion card. 








These are the cosmos flowers I planted and harvested in a friend`s garden this summer.  I did not get very many but these are lovely. 

I paired them with my yellow glass vase.  Love how the yellow in the center of the flowers is repeated in the vase.  I was able to hide the water mark behind the yellow in the neck of the vase.

Super all occasion card.

I initialed all the photos to confirm my art work.

2018 Open Art Competition & Show

I submitted three photos to the Open Art Competition and today is the reception and award presentations.

Pink Cupcake
11x14 inch frame
8x10 Color Photo


This is a cosmos which I took at the Legislative Grounds. I had not seen these before.

It is a light pink Cupcake Cosmos which features petals that curve up and inward, creating a bowl or chalice look! And as if that weren't enough, most are double or semi-double, with a pinwheel pattern of smaller petals around the frilly yellow center of each bloom.

Love the soft background which is quite dark which highlights the bloom to show off!

This is a Dahlia I took at a park near my place.  It's name is Bishop of Auckland.

It was in a large planter with plants with long dark leaves.

Perfect Petals
14x14 inches
8x8 inch Color photo

This nearly perfectly centered composition may be too predictable.

This photo was taken as part of the 2018 Dogwood Photo Challenge.  I was challenged to imitate a photo of a photographer.

I chose Mike Moats' Leaf macros.  In some, he captures the sky in the water.

Leaf on Still Pond
16x14 inch frame
8x10 inch Color photo

I love how the sky and clouds have been captured in the water.  Love the tension of the water along the edge of the leaf.

This Morning

It was a foggy morning.

I can`t see the end of the bridge across the river.

Great to get a few pigeons taking off!

It rained most of the day yesterday and it was cold this morning (6C) compared to +30C for most of last week.









Water droplets were everywhere.

Check out the thorn hidden mostly by the water drop.

This is Japanese Bayberry - Rose Glow one of my favorite bushes.  You  don`t the color here but it is great.




All the spider webs where highlighted with dew drops this morning.  It was spectacular.




This is a droopy rose with wonderful dew drops all over it.

I love the upcoming rose buds.

You can see the foggy morning still hanging in.

This is a pink cosmos which is called Cupcake which is a double bloom.

I found a nice collection of leaves too.