Living Life in Glorious Colour

Weekly Photo Challenge: Indulge

Maggie L R — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:27:20 +0000

I don’t usually indulge in food, not often anyway. The challenge came in and I wondered what do I indulge in? I have to say I do indulge in a trip now and then. Last summer, I indulged on an Alaskan Cruise. I went with my two sisters and two of my nieces. We sailed on a rather small cruise ship, the Volendam, with Holland America.

The Volendam

I have posted about parts of the cruise previously, including the rock climbing. The dinner after the rock climbing event was a formal dinner. I shared a room with Jennifer, the youngest in the family. As we dressed in our finery, we indulged in a glass of wine…

Just one glass.... honest.

With great fanfare, the waiters, complete with bakers hats, marched into the room waiving the napkins in the air. They swooped in and ceremoniously laid a napkin on every lap.

Napkin Parade

My sister Louise received her napkin with great fanfare.

We have a lot of fun with our server, He made us laugh and helped make the evening a lot of fun

The delicious meal ended with desert, a Baked Alaska. Another grand parade.

Ceremonial paraie through the dining hall with dessert.

The week long trip was a week of indulging. everything from wonderful food to massages and manicures as well as an opportunity to see part of the world that is magnificently beautiful with its glaciers and ice.

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Today is a Snow Day

Maggie L R — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 02:22:30 +0000

I have anxiously waited for a snowstorm. I have wanted it to snow for weeks now. I am not a skier, I don’t own a snowmobile. I am on a treasure hunt. I am hunting for the perfect snowflake. I want to photograph snow. We had a bit of snow this last day and I had a chance to play. It is still too warm to capture flakes because they are melting too fast. Here are some of the photos I did manage to capture. I still have a lot to learn. I hope you enjoy.

Rose on the Blue Spruce

Piled up and delicate

Icy Chimes

Snowflake on the BBQ

No Two Snowflakes Are the Same (bcuzimalady.wordpress.com)
Family Snow Days (grandmacents.com)
Is that really a snowflake? (jayjaysfavorites.wordpress.com)
colorado winter (ciciwright.wordpress.com)
Snow… (meanderthalfamily.wordpress.com)
POD: Let it Snow (geekwithkids.com)
Finally, Snow. (mbconsulting.wordpress.com)
Think Snow (frenchtwistedwoman.com)

The Mall Gulls

Maggie L R — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:52:04 +0000

There are seagulls at the Mall. They hang out with the Canada Geese and the Mallard ducks down by the pond. In the summer, there is a fountain, but the pond is frozen now. I am trying to carry my camera with me everywhere as a photographer should, so I parked near the pond to shoot some gulls.

flying over the frozen pond

giving attitude.

Put your hands up, you are under arrest for stealing that french fry.

coming in for a landing.

soaring over the ice

A wander past Quidi Vidi Lake (seastrandsstudio.com)
can’t get enough. (onthebright.wordpress.com)
A day of dips – Shrewsbury, United Kingdom (travelpod.com)
Woodside NR. Sightings (bennerleybirder.wordpress.com)
Nature Watch (goerie.com)
At a Portland garbage station, the ancient art of falconry may solve a modern problem (oregonlive.com)

The Flip Side: 100WCGU

Maggie L R — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:09:07 +0000

100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #31

The Flip Side:

Pulling into the driveway, she wiped at her tears and slumped forward. “Laid off.” The words echoed in her mind. The tears flowed. “Now what?” her thoughts were spinning. How could she get another job in this economy? How would she survive with no money? She sat alone in the car as the evening turned into night. Relaxing her grip on the wheel triggered a release. She realized that there was a flip side to this crisis. She has been given a chance for a fresh start, a chance to accept her father’s gift of tuition and finish her education.

I visited Julia’s Place. I was thrilled to find she has a weekly writing challenge called the “100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups.” http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/100-word-for-grown-ups-week31/ This is a weekly challenge for those who are over 16 and enjoy challenging themselves with writing. Each week you are given a prompt. It may be a few connected words, a selection of individual words or a picture. The challenge is to write exactly 100 words on the weekly topic or suggestion.

I have decided to give it a go.

This week the challenge is “The Flip Side”

The Flip Side (blogupnorth.wordpress.com)
100 Word for Grown Ups – Week#31 (jfb57.wordpress.com)
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #26 (jfb57.wordpress.com)
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week #27 (hurtlingtowards60.wordpress.com)
When Harry meets Autumn : 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week #30 (hurtlingtowards60.wordpress.com)
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week#23 (jfb57.wordpress.com)
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups – Week #28 (jfb57.wordpress.com)
100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups Week #25 : Sartorial Mishaps (hurtlingtowards60.wordpress.com)

Sunday Post: Colorful

Maggie L R — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:45:54 +0000

Actually the proper spelling is Colourful. That aside, I will post my entry for the Sunday Challenge. Four of my grandchildren came for a visit this afternoon. Nearby, we have a lovely little park, so we bundled up and went for a bit of play. The park has very colourful equipment and I enjoyed taking photos there this afternoon.

Animal Attack

Sarah playing on the ramp

Emily looks through the giant circles

Snow Alligator

Sunday Challenge Post: Colorful (jayjaysfavorites.wordpress.com)
Weekly Sunday Post: Colorful (motherwifestudentworker.wordpress.com)
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Its Sunday and Its Gloomy (raggz2baggz.com)

Weekly Photo Challenge: Down

Maggie L R — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:37:31 +0000

I love to go barefoot. The feel of the sand between my toes as I walk along a beach, always gives me a sense of freedom. I enjoy being barefoot so much, I took a few pictures looking DOWN at the beach last summer.

I was in Northern Ontario, walking along a beach in Pukaskwa National Park on Lake Superior. Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face and eases my stress.

Remembering the sand between my toes.

I remember with delight the feel of the waves swirling around my bare feet. You do too.. and you love it too… don’t you?

the refreshing waves swirling across my toes.

I even still picture myself walking at the shore.

Looking down at my shadow.

The rocks at the waters edge are worn smooth by the pounding of the waves.

Today, I took another picture looking down.

Is that salt? Are those Bubbles? Is she crazy?

I went outside in the snow, BAREFOOT !! It is invigorating.. and very cold. Not quite as relaxing as walking in the sand. Not as relaxing as letting the warm water of summer trickle between my toes.

Even Sidney came to check out why I was walking in the snow without my boots.

What are you doing?

Weekly Photo Challenge: “Down” (annefreemanimages.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Down (thepetalpusher.me)
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Down (passion2read.wordpress.com)
Poster of the day: Barefoot in Brooklyn (markinthecity.com)

Surprised by a Crystal Forest

Maggie L R — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:23:01 +0000

It snowed. The kind of snow that drifts and swirls. Tiny flakes soon accumulated making a blanket of white several inches deep. I took a few photos with my macro lens. Looking over the shots, I found I had taken photos of a minature forest. Some of the crystals twinkled like stars in a soft mist that almost hid the trees.

The Crystal Forest

I really enjoy viewing the miniature world.

Think Snow (frenchtwistedwoman.com)
Snow Ropes (sungypsy.wordpress.com)

Weekly Photo Challenge: Regret

Maggie L R — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:28:24 +0000

I have given a lot of thought to this weeks challenge. Asking myself the question: what do I regret? There are a lot of things that have happened to me that I regret, but I did not have any control so I am not responsible. I wanted to think of a choice I made. The biggest regret I have is the choice to smoke. I was only 18. Not an excuse, just a fact. In those days, it was the non-smokers that were the minority. stupidly, I wanted to fit in. I soon became addicted and smoked for too many years. I quit about 15 years ago, but not soon enough. My lungs have been permanently damaged. I have to live with COPD. I must take an inhaler every day or I struggle to breathe. I still live life to the fullest, I exercise daily, love hiking, canoeing and am training to run a 5km race. Yet I do regret smoking and damaging my lungs. When I get a cold, it often leads to further complications like pneumonia and that is not fun.

This is not a pretty picture but I think It looks like a picture of me with my head hanging down in regret

Weekly Photo Challenge: REGRET… (fromundermanyhats.com)
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Weekly Photo Challenge : { Regret } (lifebydmagdalene.wordpress.com)

Music in Mistaya Canyon

Maggie L R — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:13:56 +0000

As we drove toward Banff along the Icefield Highway, we discovered a short hike to a canyon. The hike through the forest did not prepare us for the amazing sight of the Mistaya Canyon.

The slot canyon, narrow and deep is carved through limestone.

There are no fences holding back visitors from enjoying the beautiful sight. The wet rocks are dangerous, so I was cautious as I walked along the ridge. I felt drawn to the edge.

standing on the edge

I peered over the cliff to see the water far below. The water churned and crashed through the canyon. There were many potholes formed in the rocks over time, formed by smaller rocks caught in the swirling waters.

Large potholes carved in the rock

The water far below came in waves and sometimes splashed high up the canyon walls.

Far below the water is churning

the churning water splashes high once in a while

I sat amazed at the height the water splashed.

There were no other people around. I sat on the edge and listened. The music of the canyon filled my soul. It was the same song that has been heard by the trees for thousands and thousands of years. It is a song of power and might. A song that tells of the strength of the water, strength so mighty, the rock must give way.

Listen to the music of the ages.

I can feel the presence of God in the canyon. He speaks to me through the music of the canyon and I am blessed.

The music echoes from the walls of Mistaya Canyon

Fall in the Canadian Rockies Photo Tour Results – John Smeeton (darwinwiggett.wordpress.com)
Firewater In The Canyon (kenneturner.wordpress.com)
Disturbed only by time (nomadicinspiration.wordpress.com)

Why do burrs stick to fur?

Maggie L R — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:47:08 +0000

Walking with the dog today, we were in the fields at Sibbald Point Park. Sidney found some burrs. After pulling them off her coat, I had a chance to take a few photos with my Macro lens.

Can a burr look soft?

I love the little hooks on the spikes

Using a macro lens, gives me a closer look at why a burr sticks to everything.

I was careful so nothing stuck to me.

7th Feb 2012 – Experimenting with Macro – Alstroemeria (myphotoyear2012.wordpress.com)
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Macro Challenge: What is this? (pixiq.com)

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