A Summer Walk

I love to go to Parc-des-Rapides. There is something about the rush of the water, the many birds and flowers and the feeling that you are away from the city, even though you are not that always brings a sense of peace. And the breeze off the water takes away some of the summer heat.



I've been testing out my new 55-300 mm zoom lens along with my monopod. It's a little heavier to carry, but I like having that extra distance.



This heron co-operated giving me lots of time to shoot as it slowly meandered across the pond.



It felt odd shooting flowers with the large lens, but I couldn't resist the light.

July 14/10: Bigger than it Seems

July 14/10: Bigger than it Seems, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Daily Shoot: Make a photo from a low point of view. Go for a dramatic effect by changing the appearance of the size of your subject.

This lily seems to be towering over the building behind it. It's all a matter of perspective - and sometimes we lose perspective. Small problems seem to be big ones as we let them take up too much space in our thoughts. Funny how we sometimes let the negativity take over, when there are so many positives to focus on. So my new challenge is to let all the beautiful things in life take over to tower over those negatives - put the negatives in their place. So much to celebrate in life - we need to concentrate on that.

Day 336: Curiosity

Day 336: Curiosity, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Mr. Curiosity (aka Basil) checks out every flower and plant in the house. He tests them for taste (with not always happy results) and checks their smell. Today he jumped up on the table (uh oh) and brushed against the lilies that were there. He now has a few swaths of yellow dye from their pollen. I wonder how long it will last.


The Guilty Flower

He is always curious. In 1998, during our infamous ice storm we were without power, but my trusty gas stove worked. He jumped up on the counter to check on what was cooking and didn't notice that his flank brushed the candle that was providing the light by the stove. I grabbed him and swatted at the smoldering fur. It was singed, but the flame had not reached his skin. The mark on his fur lasted quite a while but he was none the worse for wear.

We'll see how long he sports his yellow fur - just a little funky to go with the times.

Day 175: Lily

Day 175: Lily, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Today is the "Fête Nationale" here in the province of Quebec. The fleur de lis flags are flying everywhere, so I thought I would feature a lily from my garden to honour the holiday. There is debate over whether the heraldic fleur de lis is actually an iris but I don't have any in my garden at this time of year so this tiger lily will have to do.

This holiday, originally St-Jean-Baptiste Day (when the Catholic church played a dominant role in Quebec life), feels like the real beginning of summer. It is our first official day off. Schools conclude the day before and the weather is usually sultry. There are outdoor concerts, fireworks, a parade - all the things you associate with summer events. I try to ignore the political overtones as Quebec is a place of controversy over language. I have to admit to not partaking, but tomorrow is the opening of the Montreal Baroque Festival - that's when I immerse myself in concerts and festivities so I have to conserve my energy.