Finding myself back in the city

The city is rather interesting when you have been away from it.

My City, Toronto, is continuously growing. You'd think they would run out of space but they keep building more skyscrapers, each one taller than the other.

Cities are also reknown for their traffic jams. We now have sidewalk jams due to the number of buildings that are renovating their entrances. You can't walk more than a block without being rerouted to another sidewalk!


We also have a very large underground system which provides access to all the large office towers. It now probably spans 5 blocks wide and 5 blocks long. You can basically travel underground when you want to avoid cars and weather however the pedestrian traffic is very busy.

Each day is like an adventure for me. I had to get used to the new train schedule, the various tracks the train drops you off at, taking the 'right' train home, not falling asleep and missing my stop, and the various underground paths. I used to be able to navigate with my eyes closed but now there are more paths plus the storefronts have changed.

You can purchase just about anything when walking through the underground. Clothingk, shoes, toiletteries, toys, office supplies, food and liquor. Life lows in a continuous movement from the time you get into your car to drive to thr train station until you get out of your car in your driveway!

It is taking me some time to get used to this new routine. It began with an exciting perspective but the novelty is wearing off quickly. The worst part about working in the city is the time wasted travelling to and fro. It seems like such a big sacrifice when one values ones time!

Santa's wardrobe

Wouldn't it be nice to have a wardrobe as diversified as santa's?

  
From tradition clothing made of finer fabrics ...

To a monochomatic outfit.

From detailed folkloric ...

To comfy pyjamas!

Thin and tall, short and stout, pot bellied or not ... these santas reflect the slight cultural differences beteen us yet don't cause any wars. Christmas is often associated with Peace on Earth even though many don't have that luxury.

Perhaps concept of santa and it's associated materialism should be seperated from the religious context of Christmas so that all could openly embrace and enjoy this holiday regardless of their religion.  Let us together enjoy one time of the year where we can focus on love, family and friends.

Santas and People

I've already mentioned that I have an extensive collection of santas. What makes this collection so interesting is the uniqueness of each santa. They have personalities just like everyday men.

I have traditional 'European' looking santas with longer less tame beards and wise faces.

Some are more folkloric looking, made of natural fibers, and appear full of vigour.

Then there are the funny jovial santas full of laughter and joy breezing through all the Christmas festivities without a single complaint, ache, or frown.



And lastly the wise and sage santa who has visited us year after year carrying the responsibility of making us (as children) feel some joy in our lives regardless of the troubled times we may live in.

All the santas represent snippets of life, where we have been and where we are, leaving us with hope and tradition.

Santas, santas, and more santas

Christmas has come and gone. Every year I delight in getting out our ornaments. The Christmas tree is always fun to decorate and we've managed to make it a family event where everyone participates. The santas are, however, my pride and joy. I've been collecting them for close to 20 years. My collection has grown quickly since family and close friends have contributed.

Each santa has a unique style and story to tell. Some listen to the children and lull them to sleep and other are writing a list; some are ready to brave the cold and others have finished their 'run'.

I realized a few years back that I'd eventually have a problem keeping track of all these santas and I made a point of writing (somewhere discreet) who gave me the santa and what year on them.



Of Ladybugs and Butterflies

Ladybugs and butterflies - magical insects?

Ladybugs are just so cute!

They travel, sometimes unnoticed, from flower to tree. They always seem to be busy yet don't have that nervous fluttering energy I find with bees and wasps. Besides - they don't bite!

As a child, we'd make wishes when we'd find a ladybug. All you had to do was put it on your index, extend your arm out, spin on one foot and quickly make a full turn while making a wish. Your wish would come true if the ladybug flew away.

Butterflies, on the other hand, represent the eluding freedom that many of us long for.

They flutter here and there, like many insects, yet they seem to have more grace and liberties. Their lives begin attached to the earth and then they morph into flight. Their lifespan is lived in two different forms - a bit magical and symbolic for some.



Butterflies are special for me. They symbolize my own transformation and ways. I too tend to flutter from one interest to another, continuously exploring life and my interaction with it. Ladybugs are also special because they remind me of childhood and innocence - simple and uncomplicated. My blog's name is inspired by butterflies - Pasha is my nickname and also a breed of butterfly and 'pillon' is the ending of the French word for butterflies 'Papillon'.

Rhododendrons ...

I went for a walk with my walking group last sunday and decided to drop into the rhododendron park nearby. What a sight! The rhodos were all in full bloom and the colours were remarkable!

Everyone seemed to walk around with a smile on their face even though it was an overcast day. Was the sight of all these beautiful, delicate, and colourful flowers transforming out mood? I think so.

There were so many colours - white, pink, pink and white, fushia, purple, mauve, and yellow. Some were slightly beyond their prime and others were just coming out. Most of the bushes were covered in flowers in full display for all to see.

The word rhododendron comes from Greek meaning rose tree. Technically these woody plants include azelas. They prefer well drained acid soils (a bit similar to orchids), and don't require full sunlight. I don't know how long this park has been open but some plants were quite large.

Below are pictures depicting a nice sampling of the colours. What surprised me the most was that many pistils seemed to be either silver or gold at the ends. It nearly made the flower look fake as it seemed to perfect.

I can't imagine what it would be like to have one's own garden full of these plants. I'd have to drag my PC outside each morning and sip my tea while I admired my flowers. The colourful display would add another layer of happiness.

The Irises are here!

The Irises are out! What lovely flowers!

Who would think
that such a lovely flower
would develop
from this asparagus looking plant?

It also amazes me as how quickly they show up.

One day there is a bud and the next day there's a flower! They are light and intricate just like an orchid except they don't last as long.



Irises come in many colours. Their name is derived from Greek meaning rainbow (because the various varieties are so colourful). I'm more familiar with blue, purple, yellow, and white irises since they grow well where I live. I don't have any in my garden but I still get to see them often since many people favour them.

I believe it was Van Gogh that did them justice in his painting. He painted them the year prior to his death when he lived in an asylum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence. The first owner paid 300 francs for it (I wonder what 300 francs could buy in 1890) and the painting last sold for 53.9 million in 1987! The Irises painting was listed as the tenth most expensive painting in 2010 (taking inflation into account).  It's rather sad to think how so many artists can barely make ends meet while they paint yet generate so much interest and profit long after their death.

Life at Gairloch Gardens

There is always something new to see no matter how often I go to the Gardens. Gulls, geese, ducks, and swans have made it their home, and there are just enough of them to make it pleasant.

Gulls live along the quays, fly and scoop over the water, and at times appear to be the first level of 'defense' for the area as they perch themselves on the small quays.



The geese are usually either in the lake or in the largest pond in the Gardens. The pond area seems to be reseved for 'families' where the little ones are still to young to venture out into the lake. Geese families swim together as they teach their young. The parents often bracket them for protection.

And then we have the swans. There are only two present and they remain mostly in the stream area. They spend their day on the lake and come to the stream to relax and clean their feathers.

What I enjoy the most is watching families as they rear their young and prepare them to fend for themselves. So far I've only seen gooselings - no baby ducks or swans. It won't be long and the babies will be full grown and off doing their own thing. The parents will truly be empty nesters!

Borer Falls

My true intent in going to the falls was to take pictures. Borer Falls is locates in the escarpment ares, on the Royal Botanical grounds, along a section of the Bruce trails. The whole trip, there and back, took a good 3.5 hrs which turned into a lovely hike. Sinewy paths in the woods with a few hills here and there - perfect for a beautiful sunny day!

This was our first glimpse at the falls. We were level with the beginning of the falls in a small lookout along the trail.  We continued along the path and there was another cleared area where we could capture a side view.

Of course we wanted to get closer, so we continued along the path and found the area where the falls began. There were no protective barriers so we walked in closer. The water didn't seem to be that strong but the drop was very intimidating. I have a slight fear of heights so I laid down on the ground and continued to take pictures even though I felt a bit light headed. The following picture is a view of the falls as I looked down upon them.

We continued along the path hoping to find an even closer spot. The hills are rather steep but we did find an open area that wasn't too difficult to travel. There was even a rope attached to a tree so that we could safely rapel down a small section. The effort was worthwhile since we had a full view of the falls. The water gushed down and exploded into clouds of mist that felt refreshing against our skin.

All in all it was a wonderful outing. The hike turned out to be great exercise, the woods were calming, and the photographic opportunities were plentiful. I'm looking forward to hiking more sections of the Bruce trail.

The Many Facets of Water

I've seen many wonderful pictures of water falls, large and small, and what amazes me is how the photographer has managed to play with the crispness and flow of the water. I decided to try my shot at it after reading a few articles. These photos were taken on the Bruce trail as I hiked towards Borer Falls.

This picture was taken with the lowest f stop and a high shutter speed. The water is clear and crisp as it flows down between the rocks.

The pictures progress with high f stops and lower shutter speed.



I was happy with the results since it was the first time I consciously tried to change the outcome of the picture. The camera captures what we see yet we can impact the outcome by simply tweeking the settings.

The other interesting aspect is that the water can have such different textures, from crisp and distinct to flowy and united, similar to how life can seem to us. At times we are conscious of every little event and other times life just flies by. To an extent I could deduce that life will flow around me based on my perspective in the moment and yet I can also choose to be more present and catch every drop!

Dandelions - A love and hate relationship

What a poor misunderstood and unappreciated weed!

They are sturdy and pop up just about anywhere and we spend all our time trying to eradicate them. They show up in the spring before the grass has even come back to life, and everyone begins pulling them out one by one. I prefer to tackled this unpleasant and tedious task as soon as possible since it minimizes their spread.

Dandelions are Taraxacums, asexual plants that seed without pollination. The word dandelion comes from the French 'dents de lion' which means lion's teeth. The whole plant is eadible. As a child, we ate the boiled leaves flavoured with olive oil and lemon juice. These leaves were longer, greener, and tasted rather bitter. Since then, I've managed to buy shorter ones (resembling the ones that grow in north america) and their flavour is less harsh. We also used them to make wreaths that we'd put on out heads. A simple task that brought lots of pleasure.

I love seeing an open green field dotted with their yellow flowers. Their seeded appearance with their matured pompoms always looks so magical, light, and precise. The globe shape made of the repeated pattern of their seeds is simply amazing and looks so architectural. Alas, the pleasure is always mixed. They are lovely to look at but at the same time I envision their feathery seeds flying in the wind and landing on our lawn ... where I then have to repeat my cycle of removal.

I found a lovely seeding dandelion in my backyard (one of the few that I didn't rip out). I grabbed my camera and looked forward to taking its picture. Nikita, my pup, eagerly followed me and approached the plant. I hushed her away and to my surprise she simply pounced on the dandelion and ripped off his head! Either she thought she was giving me a hand since she had witnessed me digging them out, or she felt jealous at the attention it was about to receive, or perhaps she was just being a playful pup. Nikita the lion catcher!  Either way, that put a halt to my photo session but fortunately I found another one today!



Rain, Rain, Go Away ... and don't even bother coming back another day!



I have been complaining about this weather because it's just so dull when I can't go out as much as I'd like ... especially after being cooped up for a long winter season. But ... I have to admit that everything is beautifully lush green. Spring took its time and uncovered itself slowly which is rare for us. Normally the trees fill in within a couple of days and the blooms all come in at once and disapear just as quickly. This year everything happened in slow motion and we've been able to enjoy it for a longer period of time. I'm sure the level of enjoyment was directly proportional to the delay.

The nice thing about having an overcast sky is that the light is difused and renders softer pictures. Everything is slightly muted without the harsh light and shadow contrast that accompanies a bright sunny day. Droplets of water a facinating to observe. They gather randomly, sometimes join, and sometimes join so much that they eventually fall off due to their weight. It's a little messier to photograph under these circumstances since I never think of bringing a pad or something to protect my knees from the wet grass. Taking on odd positions to capture a special moment involves getting close to the ground.

I'll continue to complain about the rain only because we've truly had our fill of it but I'm also grateful for the opprtunities it has provided. It basically forced me to find alternative ways of amusing myself and see things that I normally would not have paid any attention to. My surroundings are kept fresh and green. It feels nice when I drive around my neighborhood and see these different shades of green that mother nature is feeding on a daily basis with this abundance of water. It won't be long before the summer heat begins to brown our lawns and dry up our flower beds, and then we will have to take care of the watering ourselves.

An experiment with the abstract

Another rainy day ... but this time I was prepared. I had a bunch of photography experiments I wanted to try based on a photography magazine article I read. These experiments involved the use of crystals, water, food colour, and oils. 

I first played around with my crystal butterfly to see which kind of lighting would produce the most colourful reflections. As it turns out, a light underneath a decorative piece of glass produced the most amazing colours. A 'real' butterfly would surely be flattered to have so many sparkling colours! Then I moved on to the Pierrot. This time, I tried to focus on simplicity and create some sort of outline instead of trying to make it as colourful as possible. He looks icy and crisp.

Next came the experiment with water and food colour. I used a rectabular vase that was rather narrow so that the colour would have less horizontal space to spread out in. I think the vase glass is a bit too thick since it was very difficult to obtain a sharp focus. Nevertheless, the effect turned out very interesting.

I subsequently change my colour combination and found that shades or yellow, green, blue, and red worked better in terms of focus/clarity. I think it's because overall the water was of a lighter colour and the backlight came through better.

Then I experimented with water and oil. I used a shallow glass pie plate, partially filled it with water, and added two2 different kinds of oils, sunflower and olive, since they have a slightly different colour. I put an abstract painting under the glass dish to use as background colour (which I could could also move around).  I took several pictures but the best effect occured once I stirred up the water oil mixture causing more bubbles. Eventually it all began to look like some life form ...

Believe it or not, I took about 200 pictures! Not only of water and oils but also of fruits, flowers, and other small objects. I would say that only about 10 of them are worth keeping since I make a point of changing aperture, ISO, and shutter speed to see which combination produces what result. So far, the learning process has been a lot of fun.