SNAP - A Place To Sit

Linking in with the SNAP Community along with our hostess Helena at:  SNAP.    Have a peek at what everyone else has found as a two to four photo collection this week & then please join in.

This week my collection are places to sit & be reflective.

Memorandum Monday - Nov 28th

Linking in with the other delightful Monday Memo writers through our lovely hostess, Sian at:From High In The Sky

What is new from the patio?  A fair amount of focus looking forward & in particular, to December Stories scrapping. My new resolve to not purchase anything new was tested on Friday, when I was in Waterloo, which is very close to the only local scrap store left.  Of course I had to visit.  

I did sign up with Get It Scrapped, Debbie Hodge's free December Stories mini workshop.  I really like the new to me idea of recording stories of December in a new way.  First lesson - The Herald's of Christmas.  Yes, yes, yes, a new perspective to the telling of the stories & remembering.  Sing it Taylor - shake shake shake it up.

I cannot decide which album to use this year, in the past all my Christmas albums have been red, but like so many other things, I am feeling the need for a little shaking up. (I can hear Taylor Swift singing) I have two to choose from; the standard & classic deep ruby red (photo shows a bright red, it's not) or the green herringbone.  Both are 12X12 & from the stash.

I also have to make a choice about a title page.  Both "joy" pages would require a little more bling & I do have some red, green & clear bling rhinestones.  I will add the year to the bottom of the page.  The Simple Stories sheet of page is complete on its own - umm what's a girl to do?

oops - how did this new sheet get in there?!?!

I have started some of my foundation pages & from my stash, I have some pocket pages that were suppose to be 12X12 but the manufacturer missed the mark; almost, but not quite.  I think I will use them for the stash of quote cards.

I am using these tags as my day markers - I have right through to the 31st of December. Each one has a little pocket so I can add some journaling thoughts.

My calendar so far just has the numbers on - that package only went to the 25th, so I have some other little squares that fit for the 6 days following.

 I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead.  My thought for the week is:  Tea is wealth itself, because there is nothing that cannot be lost, no problem that will not disappear, no burden that will not float away, between the first sip and the last.  

My Gran said this all the time, but it is from The Minister of Leaves, The Republic of Tea.

PS - I do apologize if anyone now has that T.S song stuck in their head.

One Photo, 6 Words: Narrow - Nov 25th

The idea is to take one photo & write six words which include the word of the week.  Linking in with Miriam & the other short story tellers at:  Miriam.   This week's word is: Narrow. 

Narrow rows, but choice is big

SNAP: Nov 23rd - Reflecting Reflections

Linking in with the SNAP Community along with our hostess Helena at:  SNAP.    Have a peek at what everyone else has found as a two to four photo collection this week & then please join in.

This week my SNAP collection are some of my photos which reflect my  learning curve in taking water reflection shots.  I have found that you really need a combination of good daylight, calm waters & the remembrance of taking your camera with you all the time, which then allows you to take advantage when all the elements come together.

From Last Autumn - not enough sunlight BUT oh those colours

 

Spring in the conservation park

 

Summer - Good light, calm waters

 

My Personal Favourite & I think my best so far

Memorandom Monday - Nov 21st

Linking in & saying good morning to all the Monday Memo writers through our hostess, Sian at:From High In The Sky

New from the patio:

Winter has sent a calling card of her impending arrival.  I shall try to greet Her with new warm boots, freshly laundered mittens, hats, scarf & coat.  I will try not to fight with Her too often, but only if She promises more sunny days than not.

Friday afternoon the 3 cedar sisters had their not new winter hoods put on which was just in time for the icy wintry winds blasting through all Saturday & Sunday. 

Saturday was one of my new activities planned; the Joy House Tour. My friend & I snooped around visited 8 truly unique & amazing homes. We drove from house to house in almost ever type of weather, but mostly heavy rain & wet snow.  Thankfully we had our umbrellas so during the wait times outside each house, we could keep some parts of us dry.  Having naturally curly hair the wet did not impact it negativity.  Very strict about no photography in the house & to take photos of the homes, I had to be on public sidewalks or roadways - security staff were every where to ensure!

Our first visit was first on everyone's list - the Victoria Mansion, who's owners are a prominent family in Guelph that own a very large auto parts manufacturing business. One highlight of this house was a charming calico cat rubbing in between all the visitors.  The owners have kept the inside & outside of the house true to the period that the house was built in.  Victorians it seems liked a lot of stuff!

The rest of the Joy House Tour homes ranged from a moderately sized renovated home; a century home; a converted home which had once being a estate home, converted to 5 apartments & now back to ground floor single dwelling with 2 apartments above; a very large estate home on acreage (their pool house was as big as most homes), a recent custom designed build; a retirement bungaloft & a home within an adults only community.  All the homes featured basements with family living spaces; the acreage estate home had a small room with simulated ice for hockey slap shot practice, which was right next to the 14 seat home theatre room!  

 

I am glad I participated but not sure this would be on my pre-Christmas activity list again & for me there was no clear "my favourite" home.  I did come away with a few simple decorating ideas for Christmas.








 AND the Tim Hortons new Christmas cups are out!!  For those that don't know - Tim Hortons in Canada is like Starbucks in the US of A.

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So that is my Monday memo for this blustery Monday ... happy week to all. I leave you with a poem about November.

"November comes And November goes, With the last red berries And the first white snows.

With night coming early, And dawn coming late, And ice in the bucket And frost by the gate.

The fires burn And the kettles sing, And earth sinks to rest Until next spring."
-  Elizabeth Coatsworth

One Photo, 6 Words: Read - Nov 18th

The idea is to take one photo & write six words which include the word of the week.  Linking in with Miriam & the other short story tellers at:  Miriam.   This week's word is: Read. 


 

 To read is a great skill

SNAP: November 16th - A Bridge Too Far

Linking in with the SNAP Community along with our hostess Helena at:  SNAP.    Have a peek at what everyone else has found as a two to four photo collection this week & then please join in.

This week my SNAP collection are some of the little foot bridges I have seen during some walks.  

 The  bridge photo above is one that had a rich history of being THE bridge that brides chose to have their wedding party photos taken on but in the last few years it has been un-cared for.  I was told that there is no money in the city budget to care for the bridge or surrounding park.

Above photo is a foot bridge which connects two family members yards together & at Christmas it is very well lit up in holiday festive lighting. Note to self - go SNAP this at Christmas.

 The above photo is the bridge at the farm where I ride - it connects the stable area to the family home area.

 

Bridge photo above is in a park surrounding a local waterfall area.





Continue in Snapping Happy.

Memorandum Monday - November 14th

Connecting with other memo writers through our lovely hostess, Sian at:  From High In The Sky

New from the patio - nature's wild destruction.  A wandering raccoon too heavy in be in my bird bath has toppled & broken my bird bath.  GRRRR - I do not like raccoons.  Mr Man does think we can repair the bird bath with all weather Gorilla Glue.  New bottle of said glue purchased.

New activity inside which included the use of a new home carpet cleaner. I refuse to publicly show photos of the spent water!  Yikes, I guess it proves that vacuuming doesn't always get the ground in dirt!

I was surprised to see Robins in our garden.  The little I know about birds indicate that Canadian Robins fly south for the winter.  Seems there are a few very hardy ones about & were feasting on the berries from my Burning Bush (Winged Euonymous).

New activities being planned for the holiday season; tickets for The Barra MacNeils East Coast Celtic Christmas.  Their version of Carol of the Bells is wonderful and can be found on UTube.  Also purchased, is a ticket for the Joy Christmas Home Tour, a fund raiser for the out reach house for street people in Guelph. I have never been on this type of tour before.  Excited for both new activities.
 

The Barra MacNeills - from the Internet

 And a note from my Wednesday SNAP posting, several of you commented that a Remembrance Day door wreath was new to you.  For some strange reason, it seems to be quite common in this part of the world - there are several lawn displays also set up for Remermbrance Day.  This one is from new neighbour.

Kathy S.'s tribute

My thought for the week is: The best cure for a dry period is simply to keep at it.  Good things are happening, soon to be revealed.    ... Eleanor Blair

Wishing everyone good things to be revealed!

One Photo, 6 Words: Winter - Nov 11th

The idea is to take one photo & write six words which include the word of the week.  Linking in with Miriam & the other short story tellers at:  Miriam.    This week's word is: Winter.

 

Not dreaming of a white winter! 

this photo was taken a couple of winters ago

SNAP - Remembering

Linking in with the SNAP Community along with our hostess Helena at:  SNAP.    Have a peek at what everyone else has found as a two to four photo collection this week & then please join in.

This week my SNAP collection is to mark Remembrance Day.  At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we take 2 minutes of silence to honour & remember our fallen.  I find it a very emotional time.
 

Our Village's Cenotaph

My Door Wreath For November

Local Highway Sign

Statue: Lt. Col. John McCraw, MD, writer of the poem, In Flanders Fields

I leave you with Canada's own Lieutenant Colonel (MD) John McCrae's  poem, composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium, WWI

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields

Memorandum Monday - November 7th

Connecting with other memo writers through our lovely & fair hostess, Sian at:  From High In The Sky

Some news from the patio:

On our last trip back from Toronto, we stopped in at one of my favourite shops; Bahr's Saddlery.  Bahr's had the very print in the window of the horse head picture I had seen in a decorating magazine; as a matter of fact they had a set of horses head prints.  Upon further study, hemming & haring, I said no to both prints - too white for our decor BUT as I turned to leave, I spotted a very large framed print of rider/horse.  Oh I like, so another session of hemming & haring, when once again I said no, too big. As I was pushing on the door to leave  the sales clerk said "we have that print in a smaller size"  OH!  Here is a copy of the print we bought. Still to be hung up.
 

Mr Man is feeling a little less confident out & about because there is a reduced depth perception along with the fuzzy vision - it will all eventually right itself as the eye heals but this prevents him from driving, so I am the driver, which is totally a new reality for him.  To relieve some of the boredom Mr Man is feeling, on Saturday we ventured into Guelph to visit the museum (some in yesterday's post & more on Wednesday).  There is a big church next door to the museum  & while we were walking about, the noon bells went off - 23 of them.  No idea why it rang an odd number of times, but the gong went right through us.  Photo below is of the bell towers.  

Church of Our Lady Of Sorrows (RC)

Other new from the patio; I think the patio gang or mob as they are correctly called, of Blue Jays grows minute by minute.  Some of the Jays will take a moment to pose for me.  Such colour vibrancy against the gold of the maple tree.

On Friday I was invited to attend a dress rehearsal for the remake (TV series) of Anne of Green Gables.  Friends from the barn I ride with, won an auction bid for roles as scene extras.  No photos were allowed & you know I abide by the rules ... three of the ladies from the farm are street scene extras which requires that they be dressed in period costume & riding side saddle on their own horses.  The horses were not very happy with the new gear & anyone that knows horses, knows that it takes special training for the side saddle to the horse & very specialized riding instruction to ride side saddle.  All this prep for what will be about 2-4 minutes of scene.   There will be no Oscars but I handed out carrots.

More photos from the patio.  I find it odd that these two trees are only a short distance apart; 11 metres (35 feet), one clings to its leaves while the other is totally bare.

 

Rock Maple (Maple) still  fully dressed

Money Penny (Ash) - bare

 While trying to stay away from politics, the US of A goes to the polls to vote for a new president tomorrow.  As in any family, what happens to one, affects the entire family, so in Canada we wait with bated breath for the results.  And since I had a Jane Austen weekend I will pray that America votes with Sense & Sensibility and not a Pride & Prejudice Persuasion.  I will say no more.

Five On The 5th In 5

Linking in with Sandie at: Sandie & the other Fivers at : Itchifingers

The idea is to take five photos in five minutes on the 5th of the month.  

This 5th of November, Mr Man & I finally visited, without the crowds, the Lt Col John McCrae's memorial statue.  It was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the writing of the poem in Flanders Field, from the battlefields of Flanders during World War I.  Lt Col McCrae is originally from Guelph, Ontario & he died shortly after penning his famous poem.  Last year Mr Man & I attended the live satellite service reading of the poem from Flanders Field, before the statue was installed. I am using this visit for some of my Wednesday SNAP collection.

Lt Col  John McCrae, MD

The embedded poppies in front of the statue

Poppies Blowing

Lt Col McCrae was not only a solider but a medical doctor

His field notebook where he wrote In Flanders Field

This will be a very busy place this coming Friday, November 11th for Remembrance Day services.