Feb. 23 ~ A Budding Artist

Maggie asked for some support to paint a picture for a school project.

Her painting is of the Cabot Trail, part of a research project about John Cabot.

She has a talented touch with the brushes!

Friday, Feb. 28 ~

 

This is another of my favourite trees. It is on the road to Taylor Lake,

 near the intersection with the main Lac Phillippe road.

With the setting sun on the trunk, it looks amazing!

Feb. 27 ~

 

At Wanakiwin Yurt ...

Peggy, Margaret, Beth, Jen, Nancy & Jill

Thanks for a whole lot of fun!

Feb. 26 ~ A-skiing we wil go, too!

A chilly afternoon ski - Jill, Beth, Jen, Margaret, Peggy.

Thanks to Nancy for taking the photograph!

Feb. 25 ~ A-yurting we will go!

Late afternoon on Taylor Lake, as the sun reflects on a small pond of open water.

Feb. 24 ~ ... and a dancer!

 With full stage make-up, Maggie is ready for the stage.

Below, in her gorgeous tutu, she is indeed a ballerina!

Feb. 22 ~ OCAD

 

Adjacent to the AGO, is the also new (to me!) Ontario College of Art and Design.

I had seen pictures of the building, but was awed to see it in person!

Feb. 21 ~ A.G.O.

I hadn't been to the AGO in Toronto, for at least 50 years, and had not seen the fantastic renovation!

Not only was I impressed with the breadth of the collection,

but the architecture of the new building is spectacular.

This amazing space faces Dundas Street, and has a small coffee bar.

What a view!

Feb. 20 ~ from the bridge

Rideau River, seen from the train bridge, through the dirty train window at 7:30 am.

It makes me think that in about 2 1/2 months, we should be paddling, right there on the river!

Feb. 19 ~ Winter Flowers

Small delights are everywhere in the Gatinea Park!

I'm guessing to say that these are dry Asters.

Feb. 18 ~ A 'Spill' of Shadow

Feb. 17 ~ Snow Shadows

Today was a perfect day for snow-shoeing, and snow shadows!

Feb. 16 ~ Olympics

This 'TV' photo turned out much better.

This is the last skier for the winning Swedish men's relay team.

Feb. 15 ~ Olympics

Can you believe it! I have sunk to this - taking pictures from the TV!

This is such an amazing photo possibility - if only I was there!
This is the finish of the Women's 4x 5 km relay - Sweden coming from behind to win!

Feb. 14 ~ Moon Shadows

 

 

The full moon cast long shadows on Fortune lake.

Night skiing is magical!

Feb. 13 ~ Fish Eye

I discovered that my camera has a 'Fish Eye' setting.

Hmmmmm...

Interesting!

Feb. 12 ~ 31 Years at Nakkertok

 

 

 It is an complete delight that my children, and now my grandchildren,

have been, and continue to be, involved at Nakkertok!!!

But honestly, Marty, skiing is better if you keep you mittens ON!

 

Feb. 11 ~ More at Nakkertok

 

 

 

 Aaron at his Bunny rabbit lessons!

I wish I could have taken those lesson at age 4 ... I'd likely be a better skier now!

Feb. 10 ~ At Nakkertok this weekend ...

Marty - 18 months old - first time on skis!

Feb. 9 ~ Friendship

Feb. 8 ~ The Finish Line

 

At the finish line, there is the lunge to cross the beam first,

followed by an exhausted  collapse on the snow!

Feb. 7 ~ Thrills and Chills

A Nakkertok there is a very steep race-course hill called Dirk's Dive,

named after Dirk Van Wick, one of the prominent members.

This hill comes into the stadium and spectator area, bringing skiers at great speed.

With a sharp right turn at the bottom the hill, it is often a thrilling sight

 as skiers struggle to keep their balance and navigate the turn!

It is not always successful!

 

 

Feb. 6 ~ Learning to 'pan'

 Pan is keeping the subjects in focus, while blurring the background, thus capturing the feel of speed.

I discovered that it is very difficult to move the camera and keep the subject in focus.

Here are two of my 'almost' in focus shots.

Feb. 5 ~ Eastern Canadian XC champs

 
 
 


Over 100 young men skiers line up for a mass start.
 

 

100 metres later, they are in the Hunt for Gold!

Feb. 4 ~ Eastern Canadian XC Ski Championships

Last weekend, Nakkertok hosted 700 athletes for XC ski championships.

 I had the opportunity to take pictures,

and tried to capture the energy, excitement, power and spirit of this event.

Of the 600 pictures that I took, (yes, truth!) I'll select a few to post!

 

Feb. 3~ Triathlon ... end!

 

 

 

The End of the Run course, and The End of the event with my friend and fellow competitor, Nancy,

Thanks to Bob Cumming for ski waxing and coaching, and thanks to Bob Meldrum for skating beside me as I was running, and distracting me from my exhaustion!

Of course, thanks to Rick Heller for organizing the 31 st running of this event!

Feb. 2 ~ Triathlon ... middle

This is the Transition Zone, where I get to sit on a snow bank, after the skate and ski,

 and change into my running shoes for the 5 k run!

It is the only 'rest', so I take advantage of it!

Feb. 1 ~ Winterlude Triathlon ... beginning

 

At 7:45 am, the sun rises over Dows Lake, while participants in the Winterlude Triathlon warm up, readying for a 8:00 start!

Jan. 31 ~ Cuba

As the tide goes out, the beach is filled with interesting bits and pieces.