Posts

 \ This collage was inspired by my neighbour’s garden. I looked across there and was mesmerized and thrilled by what I saw. I couldn’t resist the urge to go there and admire all the beautiful flowers, especially the lilies. This was late yesterday afternoon. We have some lilies in our garden but hers are truly splendid. What a beautiful gift a garden is! I realized that I don’t have to go very far to see beauty - and that I didn’t have to spend any money. All I needed were the eyes to see. ...

 \ Branches laden with roses, Nature’s bouquet! A feast for the eyes For all to see, Morning, noon, and night. The roses have been abundant beyond belief this summer. It didn’t matter whether one looked through the back window into the back garden or through the front window or door into the front garden. I enjoyed sitting out and enjoying them with their profusion of colour. Colour makes our world and our lives bright and brightens our spirit as humans. ...

\ It’s a long time since I was a child but there’s still a child within me who wants to laugh, dance, sing, and be free. The photos in this collage depict both the innocence and the potential of children as seen in their tiny hands and feet. Some of the children are personally known to me and they were having a good time playing freely and enjoying themselves with careful abandon. ...

\ The elephants in this collage and the background were done by me. I don’t have any formal training in art and I don’t consider myself to be an artist in the traditional sense of the word. Even before I had retired from my day job, I started to have an urge to create. It came up just as subtly as was my desire to have a pet. I followed these urges and have been fortunate to have been able to try different expressions of this creative urge. Many people I am fortunate to know have always expressed themselves in artistic ways so I was somewhat lucky to have these kinds of friends to emulate. These feelings may have come from viewing the work of my friends. Otherwise, it was a longing of my soul. ...

 Canada Day\ Canada’s Birthday - 145 years old. Celebrations everywhere. Lots of parties, birthday cake, and pride everywhere. The photos in this collage were taken over the last two days and hopefully represent the Canada that exists today even if just a little bit. I attended a Canada Day party on Friday at which there was a BBQ, birthday cake, and watermelon, as well as a live three-piece band. Many people were tapping their feet to the music or swaying with it even if they were too old to dance. Everyone stood proudly for the band’s rendition of “O Canada” as it was sung beautifully by the vocalist for the band. ...

Sari embellishments\ ”It would be a loss to the whole world if the Indian woman should cease to wear her native costume. India is practically the only civilized country where one can see on living models how woman can and should dress“. (Carl Jung) It is possible to live in Toronto and have never visited certain places. It was my pleasure to take one such person to “Little India” for a visit. We had a buffet lunch at the Gautama Restaurant which is one of the finest on this little strip now. The food was excellent. This lovely lady and I also went into almost all the stores there and she found herself fascinated with all things East Indian, from saris and sari fabric, to statues and other paraphernalia. Like myself, she likes to enjoy what she sees with the naked eye and then take a picture so she can revisit the moment later. Although I have been to “Little India” on numerous occasions, her enthusiasm and delight made me feel as if this was my first time there. ...

\ Last Sunday, I was invited to go to a Dog Show in Toronto. Dog lovers brought their dogs out in droves to mix and mingle with each other and to have good fun. It was sunny, warm, and bright - a good Woofstock Day. I hadn’t realized that the dog industry was so big. Several streets in the St. Lawrence Market area were closed off for the Show and you could buy anything and everything there to pamper and care for your pet. ...

\ If you’ve never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo A few weeks ago, Spirea Cantoniensis (Bridal Wreath) was in full bloom. My soul, spirit, and every other part of me, was glad to receive this wonderful gift from Mother Nature. This shrub blooms for a short time in Spring and then fades to green foliage. As you can see from this collage, cascades of white blossoms hang on the branches and distill a feeling of purity, simplicity, and sheer beauty. ...

 Pottery by Jason L’Abbe\ Birthdays are wonderful celebrations and especially milestone ones like a 60th. It was with great joy that I attended and celebrated my cousin’s 60th birthday with her recently. There was lots of good food, family and friends to eat all of it, and we all had fun together. The birthday cake always brings these special occasions to an exceptionally “sweet” culmination. There were many “photographers” there as many of us wanted to fully enjoy every wonderful moment of being together and to capture it too. My own little Sony was along with me. I have great shots with all the children collecting tadpoles from the pond and playing around that area of the garden as only children can delight in such simple things. I have lovely photos of the “birthday girl” with several important people - like her children (who were all there) and her husband, brothers, sister, friends, and cousins. ...

Tapestry\ A few weeks ago, my friend and I visited a fabulous fabric store in Toronto. She likes to sew and was looking for some fabric. The photos in this collage were taken there. It was delightful to admire all the tapestries with their beautiful colours and diversity of patterns. Quite suddenly, I thought of the weavers who had spent countless hours to produce these priceless works of art. ...