June Photo Challenge - Day 30

The final assignment for the June Photo Challenge is “family”.

I suppose how one defines their family can be as inclusive or as exclusive as they wish. My own family is pretty small and doesn’t seem to be getting any bigger. Such is the case when you’re an only child and have only one of your own, I suppose. Stripped down to its very core (and including only the people that live in the little white house with the red door), my family is really just me and Jake (aka the mascot.) We're a team, the kid and I.



Taking one step outward, I would include my fella* and my mom, and then after that, my “steps” – Susan, Nicole and Curt.

*I know R would probably balk at such a presumptuous statement, but hey, when it comes to numbers, our little family needs all the help we can get. If nothing else, it’s good to have someone who can act as a tie-breaker or an alternate for our beach volleyball team.

June Photo Challenge - Day 29

It's kinda funny that today's subject is "trees", seeing as how at least 3 of my other challenge photos have been of trees. (Off the top of my head - Summertime, Citrus and Landscape.)

I suppose I could have called this one in, but since it's the second last day of the project, I figured I would actually make an effort. So, in 31 degree heat and 107% humidity, my fella and I hopped on our bikes and went for an apres-work ride out to Assiniboine Park.

These trees are normally high and dry on the banks of the Assiniboine, but the river seems to have a mind of its own these days. Two days from July and "spring flooding" is still going strong.



I took this picture from the footbridge that connects Portage Avenue to the park. Moments later, we saw a few families of Canada geese and a big, dead pelican. I started to sing "The Circle of Life" (as I am want to do in these situations), but R was already on his bike and headed for the safety (and air conditioning) of home.

Farewell, grade 8!

We interrupt our June Photo Challenge to bring you a special shout-out to the mascot, who has just completed the eighth grade.

Last night he and his classmates busted a move or two at their grad dinner and dance, held at Scandals Area Night Club. No slow-dancing was reported (as if he'd tell me anyway), but it sounds like they all had a great time (despite the sketchy pasta).

Here's a picture of the boy in all of his graduation finery. Doesn't he look dapper (and so serious)?



Get the look:
Plaid Hat - The Bay ($25)
Plaid Ben Sherman Tie - Winners ($25)
Tone-on_tone Black Vest - Stockhomme ($39)
Teal/White Short-sleeved Shirt - Sears ($6)
Black Pants - Walmart ($12)
Attitude - priceless

June Photo Challenge - Day 28

Today's challenge is "transportation". Out of the big three - planes, trains and automobiles - I will always pick trains. There’s just something so sensible and endearing about them.




This train was loaded-up and headed west from downtown. I can only imagine what sorts of treasures at was carrying…

June Photo Challenge - Day 27

When I saw today’s challenge – “your weakness” – I began making a mental list of all of my weaknesses, starting with peanut butter. Peanut butter led to chocolate; chocolate to Nutella; Nutella to gelati; gelati to pizza; pizza to wine… well, you get the picture. I started to get confused as to which of my weaknesses were actual weaknesses and which were vices… and, for that matter, which were just things that I was awfully fond of.

And they weren’t all food either; there’s a certain redheaded boy who I can’t resist spoiling, and a blue-eyed fella who can make me drop everything and hop in my car at the mere mention of a picnic or a foot rub (his, not mine). I also have a bit (ha!) of a weakness when it comes to magazines, yoga pants, stationery, the iTunes, flotsom and jetsam… again you get the picture.

Needless to say, narrowing it down to my true, true weakness was a challenge. Heading home from the gym last night, it all became clear. As soon as I spotted this sign, I knew. My true weakness, my kryptonite, if you will, is a good sale.





(For the record, I was able to resist this one, but it was tough. Not only was it a sale - it was a sale on hair products. I know!)

June Photo Challenge - Day 26

My favourite colour? Red, baby. Red.



The red, red berry jam at Stella's is the #1 reason why I will never turn down an invitation to go there for brunch. I don't even care what I have for the rest of my meal; as long as I can have my multi-grain toast with jam for "dessert", I'm happy.

June Photo Challenge - Day 25

Remember I told you about my fella and his knack for growing things? I wasn't kidding. This is his orange tree, the subject of today's challenge "citrus".



This happy little tree spends most of the year indoors, oblivious to the fact that it is 4000 kms from Florida, and as soon as the risk of frost is completely gone, it is sent out to the deck where it flourishes in the sunshine and produces cute little fruits like these. We've yet to actually eat one, but they never fail to amaze me. I mean, seriously... oranges. In Winnipeg!

June Photo Challenge - Day 24

The Beatles had it wrong when they said that "All You Need is Love".

You also need patience, kindness, respect for peoples' differences, a sense of humour, resiliency, determination, creativity, honesty, loyalty, and... cake.



Today's challenge was "love" and couldn't think of a better symbol for how we express our love for each other. We celebrate everything with cake - birthdays, graduations, new babies, retirements, and (of course) weddings. Without it, in all its incarnations from cupcake to the tallest tiered cake, love just wouldn't be quite as sweet.

June Photo Challenge - Day 23

At first glance, this black & white snapshot of the Exchange District (and Downtown) could almost be mistaken for an old photograph. That is, until you notice the Radisson Hotel and brand-new Manitoba Hydro building…and the station wagon parked in front of Artspace.

Being a fan of old buildings, I absolutely love working in the Exchange and I especially love working in the historic Crocus building. In the old days, it was one of the Ashdown Hardware buildings, but is now home to an eclectic array of organizations and businesses, including the offices of MCG.

We occupy the top two floors of the building and are lucky to lay claim to the much-coveted rooftop patio. This photo was taken from there this morning, right before I started my workday.

June Photo Challenge - Day 22

I assumed that today’s challenge would be an easy one. I had hoped that today’s challenge would be an easy one. Winnipeg, the pretty little prairie town that it is, has a seemingly unlimited number of lovely scenes; one would think that taking a nice landscape photo in the middle of June would be a snap (pardon the pun).

Well, taking into account the fact that I have a full day ahead of me, with little or no opportunity to go out in search of a lovely scene to photograph, AND the fact that the weather is absolutely miserable, it’s a wonder that I didn’t just throw in the towel on this “easy” assignment.

Not one to be defeated by a little rain, or a pesky little time-constraint, I took a detour on my way to work and ended up at Halter Park, right at the end of Wolseley.



This park marks the halfway point of my running route, however as you can see from the photo, the swollen river has overtaken the path and made it completely impassable. Needless to say, a run through here would require a swimming component…and I’m not quite ready to add the aquathalon to my already epic roster of activities.