Feb. 28 ~ Street Skiing

This morning, there was enought snow to ski around the block!
Yesterday, there was 24 cm in 24 hours!
By afternoon, the street was bare, due to melting and plowing.

Feb. 27 ~ Hand Held Night Shot

My Camera has a feature called "Hand held night shots".

I've used it a lot, and am always astonished at the pictures.

As long as my subject (or myself) doesn't move, I get wonderful crisp results.

This photo was taken from inside the NAC, with the staircase and crystals reflecting on the wondow.

Feb. 26 ~ Art - the Original Photo

Glenn replied, "There's a kind of inlet just up Meech Lake ... under the trail and into a small lake ....   hiking down long slow slope of a hill... cross the stream ... get a beautiful view of Meech Lake on your left and the other lake on your right."
Helen responded,"Trail #36 - Meech Lake. Last big hill before making your way to the (O'Brian) parking lot."

Two correct answers! Excellent work, you two!!

Feb. 25 ~ Art

I just finished this painting.

It is based on a photo that I took a few years ago, on a memorable ski day.

Can anyone identify this location?

Feb. 24 ~ Maggie: before and after

Eleven year-old Maggie was in a dance recital this weekend in Guelph.

Stage make-up was applied and a transformation occured!

Feb .23, 2013 the picture of Duncan

This is a picture of me, John Duncan Cumming. I put this picture on my Grandma's blog.

Feb. 22~ making scones in Guelph

Topher ( Batman) and Koda (Princess Dee) always want to make scones when I go to visit.

They are great helpers, and,  the final result is always delicious!

Feb. 21 ~ Construction progress

 

 I first posted a picture of this building under construction on Dec. 8.

Here is an up-date, showing the 'progress' of the building, about two months later.
Supposedly, it is progress, but I certainly notice the lack of sunlight on the few occasions that I go downtown.
 

Feb. 20 ~ Skyline Trail

I try to ski the fabulous Skyline Trail once a year.
The difficult hills and turns require fresh snow, to make it possible.
We skied it last week, and I kept  my unblemished record of falling on the tricky
S-curve, every single time!
This view from the trail (looking back to Ottawa) is a monochromatic colour photo,
although it could be black and white!

Feb. 19 ~ More Snow!

It is snowing tonight, and tomorrow, we will be digging out the snow plow mess!
It is funny that in Canadian English, in this our land of snow and ice,
we do not have a name for the pile of snow left overnight by the snow plow!
Suggestions? Snow Row? Plow Hill? Plow Fort?

Feb. 18 ~ Cropped Cardinal

 

 Below is the original picture of the cardinal, taken with my DSLR, from inside the house.

Cropping has given me this surprisingly sharp photo!

 

Feb. 17 ~ The Small Things

With all the magnificent winter landscapes around, I have to remind myself to look for the small treasures.
This ribbon of snow was beautifully draping from a twig, and casting an elegant scrolled shadow.

Feb. 16 ~ Trail? What Trail?

Trail #34, Quarterman's, is a delightful back country trail.
We hadn't skied this since the big snow storm that closed many trails,
so we  tried to get through.
As you can see, there were still trees down that prevented going any further.
Plan B?

Feb. 15 ~ On CBC Weather Report

I submitted this photo to CBC's daily "Weather Photos".

Having submitted several before, with no success, I was delighted to receive an email from Ian Black to say that it would be 'on', on Feb. 15.

I was thrilled!

I took the photo while walking beside the canal on Feb. 9, about 4:30 in the afternoon.

 

Feb. 14 ~ Women on Skis

The leaders for Women on Skis had a ski day today.
Even at 10:00, there were beautiful long shadows as we crossed Kingsmere Lake.
Linda, Jen, Judy, Jean, Anita and Peg taking the photo.

Feb. 13 ~ Prince Aaron

Grandmother of the birthday girl, Tanya ( my friend since 1967!) took this photo.
Tanya and I have cuddled each other's children and grandchildren!
She says, "I like the colours and patterns surrounding Aaron."
Me too.

Feb. 12 ~ Four Years Old

My friend, Kaia, had a birthday party for her daughter, Hazel.
It was a 'Princess' party, and here Kaia reads to a bevy of princesses.

Feb. 11 ~ Mt Tremblant

On the snowshoe hike, we were intrigued with these tiny islands of floating ice and snow.
Walking beside the river, in brilliant sunshine, was glorious!

Feb. 10 ~ Mt Tremblant

This is one of the many multi purpose trails in the Mt Tremblant area. In winter, it invites skiers, snowshoers and walkers: in summer, it beckons bikers, joggers and hikers.
The downhill area of Mt Tremblant is in the background.
Dianne is looking at a group of seven deer that were on the hill.

Feb. 9 ~ Mt Tremblant

Skating on Lac Mercier, at Mt Tremblant.
Jen, Anne, Judy and Dianne.
The sun may look warm, but even in the afternoon it was -18!
I love the long shadows.

Feb. 8 ~ Mt Tremblant

 

Jen, at a huge ice fall.

Actually, Jen did fall just before the photo was taken. At the base of the fall there was ice too!

Feb. 7 ~ Mt Tremblant

Skiing at Mt Tremblant, on Le Petit Train du Nord.
Judy, Jen, Frances, Dianne and Peg.
The colourful jackets, blue sky and fresh snow make a glorious picture -
and a glorious ski day!

Feb. 6 ~ Ski Race

This is a pack of some of the 136 skiers in the Senior Men's race.
They are climbing 'Mount McCarthy' and most do this climb six times in the 30 km race!
In this photo, I like the colour, and the chaos of arms, legs and skis,
against the subdued, natural back drop of trees and snow!

Feb. 5 ~ Ski races

This past weekend, The Eastern Canadian XC Ski Championships were held at Nakkertok.
Involving 1,000 skiers and many, many volunteers over three days,
this race attracted people from all parts of Eastern Canada.
Most impressive was this blind skier, being voice-guided by her guide.
The guide wore a mike and a back speaker, to call the trail ahead. Because I took this photo at the finish line, it was flat and straight. The rest of the course, was hilly, twisty and steep!

Feb. 4 ~ Happiness is ...

...finishing the triathlon 'upright and smiling"!

Guest photographer - Bob Cumming

Feb. 3 ~ Triathlon

 

 

 

Bob waxed my skis, got up at 6 Am, left home at 6:45, arrived at the race site at 7:15,

helped me get organized, cheered me on, took photos and caught me at the finish!

Thanks to Bob for getting up early and standing around in the cold for three hours.

I'm lucky to have him for my Support Crew!

Feb. 2 ~ Triathlon

 

 

Today was the Thirtieth Annual Winterlude triathlon!

I have participated in 28 of them, missing two due to leg injuries.

As you can see, today I finished in just under two hours, much to my delight!

Being the oldest women in the event, and the only one over 60, I won my age category!

Thanks to Bob, my support crew and guest photographer.

And yes, it was -16 at the race start!

Feb. 1 ~ Coconuts

 

I'm always amused to see coconuts growing.

They are rather artistic, with variations of shape, colour and groupings.

But it ia the funny yellow, needle-y things that entertain me the most!

(I'm easily amused!)