Barn in the Evening

Barn in the Evening, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

The golden hour, when the sun lies low on the horizon and casts its warm glow on everything is the perfect time for photography. I was lucky to be out walking and catch the magic. What may seem mundane becomes beautiful




You can look up the golden hour here.

Drying Up

Drying Up, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

The clocks have changed; sunset comes earlier. The low sun cast a rosy hue on these dried up plants. Everywhere, autumn is sapping the colour out of the landscape. Once vibrant greens turn sepia.




These feathery grasses drop their dried up seeds to wait out the winter. Promises for a new season.

Each day more flocks of geese fly over, their constantly honking calling to others to join them. I wonder how long geese live and how many trips like this they take.




The sun sinks down and we head home. A chill is in the air as the darkness settles in.

Intersecting Lines

Intersecting Lines, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Photo: September 24, 2011


Wires play cat's cradle overhead. I imagine the voices travelling along competing with the electrical current. So much is buried underground in big cities, we no longer see the electronic highways spanning the world.

Coming Through

Coming Through, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Photo: August 27, 2011


The sound of the horn is deafening when you are this close to the train. But from our place it sounds plaintif. Trains pass through Casselman several times a day going to and from Ottawa.

Searching for the Past

Searching for the Past, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

There were some photographs in the local newspaper of Casselman from many years ago. We went walking trying to find the modern equivalent. We think this must be the old general store. It is pictured below ( a bad photograph of the newspaper photograph) in 1905.



While additions have been made to the building, the front window shapes (hard to see in this photograph), the  height of the building from the ground and the posts give the building away. The use of the building has certainly changed. I don't think you will see men lining up for the beauty parlour, but maybe at the tattoo parlour. Times change

It's Starting

It's Starting, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Some trees are wearing cloaks of delicate pale green lace. No longer bare, they begin to put on this spring-time splendour. Each day their branches sprout more as lace turns to a thicker woven canopy.

Winter in White

Winter in White, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Walking, I came upon this view - an old barn from another time with a cell tower behind. Even rural scenes are dotted with modern technology.

Another Grey Day

Another Grey Day, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Craving sunshine, I was faced with another grey day. Snow fell gently accompanied by a damp wind. Cocooning with book and computer and a cup of Earl Gray tea.

Changeable Weather

Changeable Weather, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A gusty wind pushed the dark clouds away letting the sun dance on the water.

June 6/10: After the Rain

After the Rain, originally uploaded by susanvg.

The sun streamed under the dark cloud after a rainy day turning an ordinary row of condos into a warmly glowing place. Funny how light can make such a difference.

I love the evening light after a storm. It is so intense. Colour just shouts out.

June 5/10: Casselman Church

June 5/10: Casselman Church, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A strip of yellow emergency tape flutters over the stairs to Casselman's church. The church is closed. During a funeral service, with about 100 people there, the balcony sank several centimeters. It was discovered that a crack in the foundation opened causing one of the columns that supported the "jubé" to settle. Ironically, the woman whose funeral was being held had been lobbying to have the church look into the state of the building. It seems the church is too heavy for its foundation.

Daily Shoot: Using contrast in your photography can give you very artistic shots. Make a color photo with high contrast today.

May 16/10: Buses

May 16/10: Buses, originally uploaded by susanvg.

The new bus terminal in Casselman is open. The buses are all lined up ready for the next morning's commuter run to Ottawa. The schedule is really only for people working from 8:00 - 4:00. A bus leaves Casselman a few times between 6:00 and 7:00 - too early for anything I would do. They cater to people with monthly passes.

The fleet of buses is certainly colourful. I think they spend more time lined up here, than on the road and so keep their pristine look.

Casselman

Daily Shoot: Challenge: Practice storytelling today. Look for 3 images that tell a story, and make a set of photos that go together. I cheated a little and chose 4.

Casselman 1, originally uploaded by susanvg.

It's interesting to see what happens to a town when its purpose changes. Casselman, Ontario was once a small town which serviced a farming community. Small stores lined the main street, the centre of which was the church. Now some are empty. Most business has moved to the outskirts. There is still a place to buy farm implements, but the town has a different clientele.

For many, Casselman is just a place to stop en route between Ottawa and Montreal. Gas is less expensive than in Montreal and it is a quick detour off the highway. Tim Hortons, that Canadian icon is also handy to travellers. Before I started spending time in Casselman, I, too used these services.

The "downtown" of Casselman has moved. With the opening of bigger stores, like Canadian Tire, commerce has moved away from the centre and closer to the highway. These stores serve the small towns nearby and offer jobs to the locals, albeit low-paying jobs. The town has lost its character.

With its proximity to the highway, Casselman has become a bedroom community for Ottawa. Housing developments have sprung up. These are the new clientele of Casselman, but most work outside of town. They want services, such as the bigger stores, but did not grow up with an attachment to the place the way the previous farming community did. And so the town has become "any town," North America, with little to set it apart from the many suburban areas near our cities.

Day 319: November Farm

Day 319: November Farm, originally uploaded by susanvg.

November has leached the colour from the countryside. All that was green has faded to straw. November paints with a monochromatic brush. Warm temperatures for this time of year coerced us to cycle out of Casselman. Later in the day the sun was hidden and the gold of the afternoon turned to grey. It is a time for moving indoors, for soups and hearty meals to warm the dark evenings.

Day 304: Building...

Day 304: Building..., originally uploaded by susanvg.

A bus station is being built in Casselman on the outskirts of town. I find it interesting to see how the town is changing. The main street looks quite depressed, with a number of stores closed. The centre of activity seems to be moving to the outskirts with two large chain hardware stores, a big pharmacy and a large supermarket. There is talk of building a Walmart which will finish off what is left of the local stores.

Part of Casselman is simply a bedroom community for Ottawa and as such, residents seem to want the suburban life with big box stores rather than the rural life of a small town. I wonder if it is possible to have both.

Day 268: Franco Ontarian Pride

Day 268: Franco Ontarian Pride, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Trying to Work

I sit
My back to the window
Staring at my computer screen
Sounds reach me
Pulling me from my online world
To real life outside
Geese fly by
Their honking a haunting reminder
Of the coming cold
Train whistles sound
Gaining and losing intensity
As they approach and pass by
But suddenly pounding and shouting
Fire engine sirens
Percussion sounds
Coming closer
They pull me from my seat
Students, many dressed in green
Parading their pride
In their Franco Ontario origins

Then back to work

Day 171: This is not a Flower Bed

Day 171: This is not a Flower Bed, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I have been stalking this B&B every time I come to Casselman, waiting for the flowers to be planted - but obviously, this is NOT a flower bed.

This is one of the more charming buildings in Casselman. I hope the beds inside are more comfortable than this one. Sleeping on this one would not be a bed of roses. Sleep tight - don't let the bed bugs bite. Perhaps, not, but the mosquitoes and black flies may.

Day 166: Steel Rails

Day 166: Steel Rails, originally uploaded by susanvg.

The railway stations in many small towns have closed. Here in Casselman, if you book ahead, the train will stop, no longer at the station but at a small hut. Otherwise it barrels through blasting its horn at every level crossing. The station is being transformed into a tourist centre.

The railway is what stitched Canada together, crossing from Atlantic to Pacific. In the past it was the main mode of traffic, linking remote centres to the larger centres. Cars, trucks and planes have become dominant. I still love train travel - it's fairly comfortable, much less of a hassle than plane travel and I can sit back and let someone else do the driving.

Day 144: Chip Stand

Day 144: Chip Stand, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Chip stands are a common site in small towns in both Quebec and Ontario. Usually open only in the warm months, they provide grease-laden fare to all who want it. The sign on the right speaks of poutine, a concoction originally created in Quebec some time (it is thought) between the 50s and 70s. It consists of french fries with cheese curds and gravy - an instant artery-clogging experience. I have never developed a taste for it, but it is very popular.

I cannot say that Casselman is known for culinary arts. We tend to cook at home more than when we are in Montreal. We have tried a few of the local establishments, but I don't think we will ever resort to this one!

Day 143: Gotcha!

Day 143: Gotcha!, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I loaded the geocaching software on my phone and discovered that there are a few caches near Casselman. We set off on our bicycles to get some air and exercice and realized that one of the caches was close by. There is a small chapel which seems to be used just for weddings, Chapelle Marie Reine des Coeurs (Mary Queen of Hearts). My GPS software led us there and I found our first cache!
At first I felt discouraged and thought - this snooping is not for me. It is amazing how my attitude changed with success. We added our names to the log book and once home, I logged my find on the geocaching site. Admittedly this was listed as an easy find with easy terrain, but I'm hooked. Maybe we'll find another one tomorrow.

Chapelle Marie Reine des Coeurs