Quote of the Month - December

There are two people in every photograph: the photographer and the viewer. - Ansel Adams

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Day 151


Emily - After a scorching hot day, and after having to endure that through a soccer practice, I swam in our pool for the first time this year. Yes, it was cold but oh so refreshing :)














"Judge Deb"

Today was her last day sitting as a judge in London.  She has presided over courtroom number 7 for my entire career and even before that.  She is a great judge, role model and friend.  She is beloved by all.  She will be sorely missed.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Day 150!!!!!


Emily - Thank you to mother nature for this wonderful weather (finally). This photo was taken at 8:30pm and as you can see from the thermometer, it was 25 degrees. Pretty sweet.
















Jeanine - "Top Down"

This week's prompt for our class is Bird's Eye View - Ian put up the ladder for me so I could take this shot.  Felt like the first real day of summer today  - it was steamy!   Had the top down all day.  Gorgeous day!  Gorgeous car!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Day 149


Emily - I got my half-way-through-the-blog camera today but unfortunately I'm not allowed to use it or even know its whereabouts until July 1st. So with my not as cool camera I took this birdseye view shot which is the weekly prompt.







Jeanine - "The Playbook"

When I sat next to Em on the couch this morning I could not believe the number of fingerprints on Ian's new toy for work.  She can't see them looking straight on to her Tetris game, but when I went and got my camera and showed her the shots...she couldn't believe it either.  At least if someone steals it they might leave a fingerprint - ha!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Day 147


Emily - "Defying Gravity"

My friend Sarah has this neat gift where she can balance a salt shaker on its side. I find it really cool. This is Geoffs hand tipping it over. (The funny thing is  his hand isn't near the salt shaker, it just looks like it)











Jeanine - "Uninspired"

I had no idea what to photograph today, so when I picked up Em and her friends from youth group tonight I asked them for ideas.  Someone suggested I take a photograph of a blank piece of paper and someone else suggested I write the words PHOTO UNAVAILABLE on it.  We all had a good laugh.   I was considering taking a shot of my first ever sketch book (I'm so excited!), but I liked their idea so I've combined the two.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Day 146


Emily - For a science project we had to build an optical device. My friend, Donelda, and I built a projector. It took us two days to build but it was definitely worth it.
















Jeanine - "Standing Tall in the Backyard"

I love these Alliums in the back yard.  Love the long straight stems that explode into colour at the top...especially against the tall fence and birdhouse.  This shot was inspired by my cyber friend Deanna - who posted a much more beautiful shot of Alliums in our on-line class gallery.  I had no idea what to shoot today until I saw her gorgeous photo - so thank you Deanna!

Day 145


Emily - Since many of my friends are turning sixteen and getting their G1 licenses, I've been helping them study. As I was helping two of my friends study today I came upon this street sign ;)








Jeanine - "Hand on the Wheel"

We have spent a lot of time on the road over the last seven days with Ian doing all of the driving.  God bless him!  It is such a good feeling to let the rhythm of the road lull you to sleep while knowing a strong hand is on the wheel.  Love road trips with him!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Day 144


Emily - With all of us being away for a few days the lawn got a little out of control. As Ian was cutting the grass I noticed that there was an extreme difference between the lengths of grass. I freaked out and ran for my camera, my mom looked at me like I was crazy. This shot goes with this weeks prompt, looking up at nature.














Jeanine - "Lilacs in the Evening"

I love lilacs.  I've always loved lilacs for as long as I can remember...since kindergarten or grade one if not before.  We had a lilac bush in our backyard in Belleville...and it always seemed to bloom around my birthday.  This one is kinda in my backyard now... lucky me.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Day 143


Emily - Here she is ladies and gentlemen, my best friend! On the six hour drive back to London we stopped at a cool hamburger place called Webber's. While in the insanely long line (either everyone was really hungry or they're quite famous) we were all taking pictures and having a good time.














Jeanine - "Birthday Wish:  Live and Love"

This is my birthday wish...for me and for my family and friends...may we live intentionally and love with abandon.  Shot this today from the car travelling home from Chicago.

Day 142


Emily - My friend Maddy spends most of her summer up in Powassan. She loves her grandmother so much and loves to spend time with her. I love this photo because it looks like she's reminiscing in her memories.









Jeanine - "Chicago:  The Bean"

Sunday morning we went on an architectural river cruise which was awesome!  We spent the afternoon visiting Millenium Park, The Art Institute, and the Museum of Contemporary Photography (I wonder why?  ha!).  This sculpture...known as The Bean...is in Millenium Park.  We loved it!!  Everyone loved it. Everyone was all smiles all around it.  Of course, that could have been cuz we were just happy to see the sun!

Day 141


Emily - After a long six hour drive to the cottage and a good night sleep, we arrive. Some of us put the dock out in the morning, and after that we just sat out there all day. It was such a beautiful day out. I loved just spending time with my friends and not having a care in the world.














Jeanine - "Chicago:  Progressive Dinner"

After a day shopping the magnificent mile (only one pair of shoes this time), Saturday night we joined 25 others for a progressive dinner in the River North neighbourhood.  We had our appetizer at this restaurant, Main course at Reza and dessert at Ai.  It was a good meal with interesting people -- including a couple from Honduras in town for the National Restaurant Convention.  He had some interesting insights into the differences between the First and Third Worlds.  We will have to find his restaurant if we ever make it to Honduras.

Day 140


Emily - Not much to take a picture of in a six hour car ride and you arrive at your destination when it's dark out :s lol. So to capture the essence of our ride I thought I should take a picture of the only thing we did during the ride... play with Kristas ipod.









Jeanine - "Chicago:   Navy Pier"

Went to Chicago for the long weekend and headed to Navy Pier upon our arrival.  This giant ferris wheel was initially bathed in sunlight but soon shrouded in fog...so got great photos of both.   We later saw it lit up at night from the top of the John Hancock Tower.  The sun was shining again by the time we reached the Magnificent Mile.

Day 139

Jeanine - "Dandelion No. 2"

I love these things.  Found these at a gas station in Michigan as we headed to Chicago.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Day 138


Emily - The Lion King is probably my favourite musical of all time. I've seen it twice in Toronto now and it was great both times!   I love the beginning scene where all the animals come out to pride rock. I went with my school and a few of my friends and we had a fantastic time.















Jeanine - "Dandelion"

I was inspired to take this shot by all the great photos of dandelions in my class.  You will likely see more of them from me.  I like the graphic look of them - and the soft whispy-ness too.  I like this one that was half blown away already...off to make new dandelions somewhere.  This shot was taken in the flower bed just outside the courthouse.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Day 137

Jeanine - "Laundry Day"

Although this might look like a shot taken somewhere in Europe, I actually took this shot outside a local Italian restaurant - Fellini Koolini's.  I had lunch there today with a friend I hadn't seen in a long time.  It was good - we had lots of laughs.





Emily - For a food and nutrition project I had to make dinner for my family. I made phyllo triangles, pasta with scallops and this lovely cake. The strawberries were my own personal touch :)

Monday, May 16, 2011

Day 136


Emily - On mondays I find that you can either mope around and make the worst of it or smile.












Jeanine - "Country Haze"

I drove to Camp Borden today (north of Alliston).   Drove through some gorgeous countryside along the way.  It was pouring rain when I stopped to take this photo, but I was struck by and drawn to the levels of grey light in the distance.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Day 135


Emily- What a rainy day! Correction, what a rainy week. All I see is rain, rain and more rain. It's horrible! So to capture the rain without going outside I laid on my stomach at the front door and took photos of the puddley (not a word) porch and the green trees. That's really the only good thing about the rain, everythings growing.












Jeanine - "Favourite Kitchen Appliance"

This desk is at the heart of our kitchen.  Sure we make coffee, cook dinner and whip up desserts here too, but the computer is where Em works on homework, Ian searches Kijiji and I surf blogs.  This is also the place where Em and I play with our photos.   We love this corner of the room.

It rained all day so photo opportunities were few and far between.  We went to the gorgeous Roman Catholic Cathedral this morning to celebrate Father Jim Mockler's 40th Anniversary as a priest (he is also the chaplain for the London Police Service) - but I forgot my camera - ggggrrrrr!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Day 134


Emily - My popcorn machine in action! I had a movie hangout with two of my friends today and I brought along my popping corn machine. I tried to take an action shot and didn't account for the fogged up glass :)












Jeanine - "Pretty Peony"

I love the fragrance and delicate look of the peony...always have...since discovering them in our neighbour's yard in Belleville.  I moved away after grade 1 but the memory stuck with me and I have loved them ever since.  Hers were pink.  A friend gave me these in a bouquet this week.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Day 133


Emily - With no youth group tonight my friend Sarah and I felt lost without it so we decided to have a sleepover to compensate. I introduced her to one of my favourite series, Firefly. I took my photo like in those informercials where they tell you about the deal you get when you buy the four disc set.








Jeanine - "It's a ...?"

One out of four eggs survived...at least this is the only baby in the nest today.  We hope he/she makes it.  Any suggestions for a name?

Day 132


Emily - I saw the last play in our student club membership at the grand. It was The Hobbit, which I really enjoyed because I read the book (I'm not really into Lord Of The Rings). My mom on the other hand left at intermission because she was "very tired".
















Jeanine - "Comic Book"

I took a photograph of these downtown buildings with art and graffiti all over them and then played with them in iPhoto to make it look like a comic book page - what fun!

Day 131


Emily - There are two beautiful trees outside of my school that grow flowers around this time of year. It's very beautiful and I think they kind of make the school pop when you go past it.
















Jeanine - "Flower Pots"

Looking forward to transplanting these flowers to the waiting pots this weekend.  I love this time of year when people are busy at work in their gardens and yards making the world pretty again.

Day 130


Emily -  I know that they're weeds and that people don't like having them on their lawn, but I love them! I think they're a pretty simple flower and that they're beautiful when there are thousands on a hill. I was taking this picture today after school and actually missed my bus because of it. That part I didn't like so much.













Jeanine - "Rain Drops Keep Falling..."

It rained today so I tried to capture the drops falling on the wrought iron table on our deck.  Can't wait to try this with the new camera someday.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Day 129


Emily - These are my favourite new shoes. (Note that these are not my overall favourite shoes.) Now that the weather is beautiful out and I can wear shorts and flip flops I get to showcase these new babys.















Jeanine - "Robin Red-breast"

I'm pretty sure this is either mom or dad to the nest of eggs we've been watching (see Day 120).  Catching one of the parents in the nest for a photo is impossible.  Every time I creep up on them ...they fly away before I can get my shot.  The good news is there are four eggs now.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Day 128 - Mother's Day


Emily - To celebrate all the wonderful things my mom has done for me all my life we spent the day together. We saw a movie, scrapbooked and ordered delivery. A wonderful and perfect day.
















Jeanine - "Mother's Day"

This is what it is all about.  This is what I'm most proud of in my life.  I love her.  I love the young woman she is becoming.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Day 127

Emily - With the weather finally looking warm, I wore shorts for the first time today! It was great! I was amazed at how many people were outside today, I guess this is what we've all been waiting for. My dad and I washed our car today and I was playing with the water sprayer.













Jeanine - "Summer Cafe"

My favourite cafe in Southampton - Mid Summers Coffee Bar.  Great lattes!

Day 126

Emily -  The theme at youth group today was musical video games. So we spent the night playing rockband and DDR. I had so much fun and totally owned at beatles rockband.
















Jeanine -  "In the Distance:  Chantry Island"

It rained for most of Friday at the Trailer, but the sun came out in the late afternoon in time for me to head off to the beach in search of today's photograph.  I loved the sight of last summer's volleyball net with the Chantry Island Lighthouse in the background.  Can't wait for the real summer weather to hit.