Welcome to my blog, in which I post photos from recent travels and photography ideas.
These are posted irregularly, so log in at your leisure to catch my latest ramblings.
December 18 - To the Airport
Yesterday I went downtown to the Eaton Centre to do some Christmas photography. The highlight is the large lighted Christmas tree.
I next moved to the base of the tree to make some photos with the fountain in the foreground.
Today we leave on our trip. Our flight to Zurich departs at 4:45 - at least that is the scheduled departure time.
Monte has ordered a taxi van to take us to the airport.
My next post should be coming to you from Switzerland.
December 17 - Early Christmas in Toronto
The Bartz family Christmas was celebrated early this year to accommodate those of us travelling on the holiday season. Toronto was the chosen location, the easiest for everyone to get together.
This is Annie, anticipating the contents of all the gifts that Santa delivered early, at our request.
Today, we will reassess our packing and store everything else in our vehicle which we will leave in the parking garage at Hannah's and Chris's condo.
Today we will have another dinner (what else is new?) with some good wines to celebrate Veda's birthday.
Tomorrow we're off to Pearson Airport for our 4:25 flight to Zurich. Must get there early because I anticipate that the Christmas travel rush is starting. Stay tuned!
November 30 - Fall Photos
I've finally finished editing my fall photographs. I apologize for the long period between blogs, but kitchen renovations have taken up a lot of time, along with the normal fall yard works (including piling 12 cords of firewood).
Here is a small sampling of photos that I made this fall around home.
Early morning along Long Lake Road.
Sunrise on foggy Simon Lake.
Maple leaves in my yard.
Onaping Falls.
Foggy morning near Lively.
Small maple on rocks, Wanup.
Wanapitae River, Secord Road.
Wanapitae River, Wanup.
Rock Lake.
Kivi Park.
Kivi Park.
Snow on tamaracks, Wanup.
Early snow in my yard.
October 5 - In Memoriam
My aunt Aili, my mother's youngest sister, passed away last week, peacefully, at home in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. She was 96 years young.
She'd moved to Wisconsin after marrying Will Lamboy in Espanola in 1947. Over all those years, we enjoyed numerous visits with her and her family. Starting in the 1950s, we often drove to Milwaukee, and she and her family usually made annual trips to Sudbury.
Aili was born in Sudbury in 1922, the youngest of three. This is a photo of the Kovanen family, circa 1926.
Aili is the youngest one, front centre. My mother Helmi stands at the left, and Lil on the right.
In this photo, taken at the family home on Tedman Avenue in Sudbury, are Aili, Lil, and Helmi (my mother).
In this photo Aili is seen holding me, circa 1945.
This photo shows the three sisters with their spouses, taken at Long Lake, circa 1965.
Here Aili is pictured during her 95th birthday party in August 2017.
This photo was taken this past August, after Aili's 96th birthday get-together. Pictured with Aili are her daughter Susan and her husband John, and grand-daughter Katie. Aili lived with Susan since her husband Will passed away a number of years ago.
We will all miss her cheerful personality. Veda and I always enjoyed taking her shopping for clothes whenever we visited. I will miss hearing old family stories. Who else is left to recount these events?
Aili is survived by her daughters Susan (husband John) and Lori (husband Keith), Grandchildren Jennifer, Katie, Courtney and Ryan, and two great grand-children.
A memorial celebration will be held in Pewaukee on October 13.
RIP
September 15 - My Three Excuses
I have not found time to write a blog post for more than a month, let alone edit the images from my trip west in June. But I can come up with three legitimate excuses.
This photo illustrates one excuse: remodelling in our kitchen has occupied a lot of time, and this is still an ongoing project.
This is excuse number two - 12 cords of firewood that had to be moved from my driveway to piles around my woodshed.
Thanks to my friend Bob for helping with this work.
Here is my third excuse. Planning a Christmas and New Year's trip to Austria and Switzerland and booking accommodations in this busy season has occupied much of Veda's and my time. There is still more to be done - book flights and more rooms for the last few days.
In August we drove to the Milwaukee area to celebrate my aunt Aili's 96th birthday.
This photo I made on our drive there, near Bruce Mines, Ontario.
And what would summer be without a dinner party. Yes we did have food to go along with a vertical wine tasting with the O'Hagans and Burdeniuks.
Our Farmers' Market is a great source for local produce and foods. Here are a few images from one day at the market.
This photo I took on a visit to Blind River and Elliot Lake, along Highway 108.
Recently I've made some morning visits to nearby Kivi Park.
This last month has been a merry-go-round. Too many events distract from my photography passion - work around home and many guests.
But I am not complaining. That's what summer is all about. Great to have so many visitors, dinners, wines.
And now we are off to a birthday celebration in Copper Cliff.
Check out my Recent Work gallery as I add new photos this fall.