tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12378439022511601512024-03-14T00:09:01.131-04:00ajnphotographyAlan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.comBlogger281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-7859527599283371512021-04-10T15:27:00.004-04:002021-04-10T15:30:01.775-04:00It's been a while ..<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LJGrt2dTZMk/YHH7olJYxaI/AAAAAAAAQKg/UfnC0DtP3WE-Mj29gnZBbRhn5Tpj4iwoQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2000/Still%2BStanding.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="2000" height="305" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LJGrt2dTZMk/YHH7olJYxaI/AAAAAAAAQKg/UfnC0DtP3WE-Mj29gnZBbRhn5Tpj4iwoQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h305/Still%2BStanding.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <span style="font-family: arial;">For sometime now i have been considering reviving my blog.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A great deal has happened since I last posted in ..2016? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I retired from my business, sold the house and made a new life in Nova Scotia with my 'new' partner Karen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We live in a rural area that is surrounded by natural beauty in the small artistic town of Parrsboro.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">So come along for a journey as we explore our new world, our new life here in paradise :-)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>Once again the pine-tree sung:—</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>'Speak not thy speech my boughs among;</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>Put off thy years, wash in the breeze;</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>My hours are peaceful centuries...'</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b>~Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Woodnotes, II"</b></i></span></p>Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-55986015800451828222016-01-03T10:47:00.000-05:002016-01-03T10:47:01.249-05:00First Light Challenge 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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2016 already, my how time does fly, time for another challenge..<br />
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I started the "First Light Challenge" a long time ago way back in 2006 or 2007.<br />
My friend Doug was the first to take up the gauntlet and has been completing the challenge since 2008. For the last few years Doug has been 'Up North' separated by
distance but not by time.<br />
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<a href="http://djenglandphotography.blogspot.ca/2016/01/first-light-2016.html" target="_blank">http://djenglandphotography.blogspot.ca/2016/01/first-light-2016.html</a><br />
<br />The challenge is simple 'record an image in the first light of the new year'.<br />
It's the doing that can be the real challenge, to get out of a warm bed and hit the streets. Usually the only ones around are the party stragglers or those who have to work and th eoccasional crazy photographer.<br />
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So here is this years effort from a windy, snowy (very snowy) morning -4c and the clock ticking towards dawn which one again was a lightening of the gray overcast more than a sunrise.<br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><i>Then out through the gates of the midnight—<br />
The door of the past was ajar—<br />
His robe like a shroud wrapped around him,<br />
The Old Year vanished afar.<br />
And as morn with her soft rosy fingers<br />
Flung open the gates of the East,<br />
The New Year looked out from its chambers<br />
With a smile and a blessing of peace.<br />
~Eliza A. Wetherby Otis (1833–1904), "The Old and the New," December 187</i>3</span>Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-11419370842769097762015-11-29T14:47:00.001-05:002015-11-29T14:50:00.936-05:00On a frosty morning ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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See it large here:<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/23294264202/in/dateposted-public/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/23294264202/in/dateposted-public/</span></a><br />
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Because it needs to be seen large ;-)<br />
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A walk in the crisp morning air, along familiar trails with good company, what better way to spend a Saturday morning?<br />
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This old tree has seen and survived so many winters, you can see them all in his countenance.<br />
That's why I love old tree's and Winter. <br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"The
shed of leaves became a cascade of red and gold and after a time the
trees stood skeletal against a sky of weathered tin. The land lay bled
of its colors. The nights lengthened, went darker, brightened in their
clustered stars. The chilled air smelled of woodsmoke, of distances and
passing time. Frost glimmered on the morning fields. Crows called across
the pewter afternoons". ~James Carlos Blake, Wildwood Boys</span></i><br />
<br />Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-17126370303116227942015-11-22T10:11:00.002-05:002015-11-22T10:14:17.690-05:00Is that ... SNOW ??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The best camera is the one you have with you!<br />
This is a shot of Ghost and Winter in the first snow early this morning.<br />
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Friends of ours were having to take their dog 'Ghost' to the humane society as they can no longer look after him. We asked if we could test drive him for the weekend to see if he and Winter would get along.<br />
Unfortunately this house belongs to Queen Bee Winter and she was having non of it :-(<br />
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So Tomorrow Ghost will be at the Guelph Humane Society awaiting new owners.<br />
If you or someone you know is looking for a big dog Ghost is the most gentle of creatures and would make a great addition to your family.<br />
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Good luck Ghost I wish we could have kept you here ...<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "bookman old style" , "palatino linotype" , "book antiqua" , "palatino" , "trebuchet ms" , "helvetica" , "garamond" , sans-serif , "arial" , "verdana" , "avante garde" , "century gothic" , "comic sans ms" , "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I
talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands. When
he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs
his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the
good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that".
~W. Dayton Wedgefarth</span></i>Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-67854739348865608132015-11-15T09:01:00.000-05:002015-11-15T09:01:29.012-05:00Revisiting the Grinstone Marsh Trails ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Despite the wind and threat of snow it was a great day for a walk along the Royal Botanical Gardens Grindstone Marsh trails.<br />
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Down in the valley and in the tree's the road noise all but disappeared along with the wind resulting in a pleasant walk.<br />
Grant and I spent several hours wandering, then sat for a while watching and attempting to photograph the local wildlife that was arriving in droves for a handful of seeds.<br />
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Bird photography isn't easy, the damn things don't sit still for more than a fraction of a second.<br />
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Landscapes however are a different story ;-)<br />
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Upon our arrival I was struck by how green everything was, more like Spring than late Autumn.<br />
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The scene before me was a juxtaposition of bare tree's standing guard over the lush greenery giving an almost surreal aspect to the landscape.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">"Lady Autumn, Queen of the Harvest,<br />
I have seen You in the setting Sun<br />
with Your long auburn tresses...<br />
You sit upon Your throne and watch<br />
the dying fires of the setting Sun<br />
shine forth its final colors in the sky...<br />
Lady Autumn, You are here at last..."</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />
~Deirdre Akins</span></i><br />
<br />Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-47494137052244239042015-11-08T09:00:00.000-05:002015-11-08T09:00:02.483-05:00Fletchers Creek .. across the pit.... through the lens of my Fuji x100s<br />
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Some have said "it's a camera that doesn't get in the way".<br />
<br />
Well the more I use it the less intrusive it becomes, take its black and white engine, combine it with its jpeg engine add a red filter (digitally) and here is the result ..<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-fqujJdorI/Vj9TNuki6LI/AAAAAAAANHM/ose4vd8Bt6w/s1600/Fletchers%2BCreek-9949_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-fqujJdorI/Vj9TNuki6LI/AAAAAAAANHM/ose4vd8Bt6w/s400/Fletchers%2BCreek-9949_resize.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was a morning of scudding clouds; sunshine one minute, shade the next and it was the clouds I wanted to capture.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">"Spring's wakening bugle long is hushed,<br />
Long dimm'd is Summer's splendour;<br />
October yields her easel bright<br />
To "black and white" November"!<br />
~James Rigg, "November," Wild Flower Lyrics and Other Poems, 1897</span></i>Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-85941504342218509912015-11-01T07:51:00.004-05:002015-11-01T07:55:45.872-05:00Autumn's Showcase ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-doCSdgJLdcM/VjYI5Ss-ocI/AAAAAAAANG8/2sLtJ8Bn8jA/s1600/Fujix100s-003_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-doCSdgJLdcM/VjYI5Ss-ocI/AAAAAAAANG8/2sLtJ8Bn8jA/s400/Fujix100s-003_resize.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Autumn's colours are fading fast but there are still signs of it lingering on.<br />
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Yesterday while walking Winter along a local trail I spotted this maple stubbornly holding on to its leaves, framing the long dead teasel heads that will provide next years flowers..<br />
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As the wheel turns once more..<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">"Magnificent
Autumn! He comes not like a pilgrim, clad in russet weeds. He comes not
like a hermit, clad in gray. But he comes like a warrior, with the
stain of blood upon his brazen mail. His crimson scarf is rent.... The
wind.... wafts to us the odor of forest leaves, that hang wilted on the
dripping branches, or drop into the stream. Their gorgeous tints are
gone, as if the autumnal rains had washed them out. Orange, yellow, and
scarlet, all are changed to one melancholy russet hue.... There is a
melancholy and continual roar in the tops of the tall pines.... It is
the funeral anthem of the dying year". </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow</span></i> Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-8777593616598250062015-10-18T11:47:00.003-04:002015-10-18T11:52:48.741-04:00Algonquin ..Some say it's my "spiritual home"..<br />
They're probably right.<br />
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My last post was way back in June.<br />
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My photographic adventures have definitely taken a back seat until recently when I met up with my friends Grant and Cathy for curry at the Penny Whistle Pub.<br />
It was then that they invited me to spend Thanksgiving with them in Algonquin and the plans were hatched.<br />
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We would be heading out on Thursday afternoon to beat the rush and spend four glorious days drinking tea, wandering, drinking tea, sitting, drinking tea, talking, drinking tea and taking photo's of the amazing colours around us.<br />
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How many years have Grant and I spent wandering the back country with only a tent and sleeping bag; but now we have the luxury of a trailer and real beds!<br />
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About 20 mins after we had pitched the trailer (is that the right phrase?) and snuggled into said beds, the heavens opened and it poured rain all night long but we were snug, dry and warm.. ahh thats the life!<br />
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One of my favourite images from the trip was pure chance, a couple of people were heading up the lake to their 'wilderness' campsites and had put their canoes in in preparation for the trip. Luckily I was there.<br />
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So here is the image, I call it 'Classic Algonquin' despite the green canoe well all canoes should be red right ? :-)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G1YKPcOc2d8/ViO-FoMU0EI/AAAAAAAANBg/cCAqEl6WXo8/s1600/Classic%2BAlgonquin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G1YKPcOc2d8/ViO-FoMU0EI/AAAAAAAANBg/cCAqEl6WXo8/s400/Classic%2BAlgonquin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Thanks Grant and Cathy for sharing your trip with me I needed it, but you knew that didn't you.<br />
<br />
Alan<br />
<br />Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-10232395067585904512015-06-28T08:52:00.000-04:002015-06-28T08:52:15.034-04:00A bunch of keys..
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It was a rainy day …</div>
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So says the Pizzaville ad ;-)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Actually it has been a rainy weekend
and as I write this I am drying off after a 2 mile walk with Winter,
sitting by the patio door listening to the rain on the leaves and the
odd call from the birds.</div>
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Quite peaceful really and in the words
of Longfellow:</div>
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“<i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">The
best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain”.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow</span> </i>
</div>
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I was away on business for most of the
week so the artistic / photographic output has been almost non-existent.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
However I did manage a couple of
sketches, I find it interesting if not amazing how a mundane object
like a bunch of keys can take on a life of its own on paper.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-38184836097401454712015-06-14T08:26:00.000-04:002015-06-14T08:27:46.655-04:00It was a rainy day ... again.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxRpGH8lxi8/VX1yYqhdmNI/AAAAAAAAME0/xZDX6GnXgeM/s1600/apples_2015_06_13_resize.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxRpGH8lxi8/VX1yYqhdmNI/AAAAAAAAME0/xZDX6GnXgeM/s320/apples_2015_06_13_resize.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A rainy weekend and no one around.</div>
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One of those weekends where you find a
comfy chair and a good book and a dog (optional).</div>
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The grass did not get yesterday and it
doesn't look like it will be cut today either …</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Still there is always another book to
be read or maybe a bit of artwork to be produced.</div>
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The one shown here was yesterdays
effort.</div>
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First though it is time to pay the
piper... chores around the house.... maybe.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>“My
theory on housework is, if the item doesn’t multiply, smell, catch
fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one else cares.
Why should you?” ~Erma Bombeck</i></span>
</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-6279238054671268902015-06-07T10:24:00.000-04:002015-06-07T10:24:07.400-04:00Saturday Morning ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYqfW7FOOOY/VXRSm3AD3hI/AAAAAAAAMB0/Ajftl-VheWQ/s1600/The%2BWindow%2BFrame%252C%2BFramed_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vYqfW7FOOOY/VXRSm3AD3hI/AAAAAAAAMB0/Ajftl-VheWQ/s400/The%2BWindow%2BFrame%252C%2BFramed_resize.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
My time, time to wander a trail, a
street, a path strewn with woodland detritus, a sidewalk or just sit and catch up with friends.
</div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This Saturday morning was a bit of everything, I met up with Doug in downtown Guelph and we decided to walk
wherever our fancy took us, all the time nattering about this and
that, catching up, making plans etc.
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Before long several hours had passed
and we found ourselves at the Farmers Market wandering, people watching and buying a few things.</div>
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Then back to the cars to unload our
goodies and camera's then on to OX for tea.</div>
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Just tea .. no more goodies as we had stuffed
ourselves on the walk back from the market!</div>
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Even so just tea, talk
and camaraderie, what a great way to spend a Saturday morning.</div>
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">Friendship
is a sheltering tree”. ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge</span> </i>
</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-6657125480647966662015-05-31T09:13:00.000-04:002015-05-31T09:15:51.558-04:00Do you see what I see ?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INr6HzGmuxY/VWsF9e17HhI/AAAAAAAAL_s/nC2zF0i5-Zg/s1600/Incoming_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INr6HzGmuxY/VWsF9e17HhI/AAAAAAAAL_s/nC2zF0i5-Zg/s400/Incoming_resize.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yesterday
began with a typical day in Ontario, hot and humid but on the horizon
storm clouds were brewing.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
met with a friend for tea and munchies and as we left the cafe the
weather was upon us. With an eye on the sky I hurried back to the car
barely in time as the heavens opened.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
don't know how well Patrick fared.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">That
onrush of rain was the harbinger of what was to come, since then and
overnight we have had rain, rain, and more rain.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
parched ground has has a long soak, one what we badly needed and I get
a reprise from the sweltering heat, at the time of writing it is a
cool 8c, mu<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">c</span>h better!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Of
course Winter (the dog) wanted to go for a walk. </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">After
donning rain proof hat, jacket and boots off we went. As we
walked I began to wonder, do others see what I see? </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A
newly opened poppy resplendent in it's crimson colours reached for
the rain which bejeweled it's <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">petals</span> with fecund tears.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A
goldfinch brilliant yellow against the rain soaked bark and foliage
of the tree<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> who's own colours are intensified by the rain.</span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">My </span>world is alive with saturated colours, everything more vibrant<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> but it also </span>becoming smaller as distance was hidden in a veil of mist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And
the soft sounds of falling rain becomes the backdrop to all of this.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Do you see it or do you s<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">it
inside and watch TV and miss one of the greatest shows Mother Nature
can provide<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">?</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">M</span>aybe you should go outside and see the show and risk getting a
little wet .</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />“I
am sure it is a great mistake always to know enough to go in when it
rains. One may keep snug and dry by such knowledge, but one misses a
world of loveliness”. ~Adeline Knapp</span> </i></span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-29294539745811378472015-05-17T14:04:00.000-04:002015-05-17T14:04:10.362-04:00The Loooong Weekend
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I</span>t's
that time of year again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"The
long weekend" </span>
</div>
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“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">May
24”, </span>
</div>
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“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">May
two four” .... Whatever.. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Despite
the plethora of names it usually means a lot of work... digging,
sweeping, ripping up and tearing down<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, </span>p</span>lanting,
grass cutting, fertilizing and in general wearing oneself out just
in time to go back to work.!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Many
people enjoy this spring ritual... Don't ask me why because I am
not one of them nor am I a gardener<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Oh
don't get me wrong I love being outside but I'm usually to be found
sitting in the shade, as I am now mostly with a good book and a cool
drink listening to the spring chorus and watching the aerial
dogfights between boy birds and girl birds. ....</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The above section was writte<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">n e<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">arlier this morning before </span></span>the piper demanded his due and who has now been paid with a pound of sweat<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A</span> section of fence
that didn't winter too well has been rebuilt and the gate has been
fixed. Much to the other winter's consternation, she watched and I
suspect took notes as I worked. The moment I was finished she was
there, checking out the workmanship for that fatal flaw that means a
way of escape..</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">There
is one but don't tell her...</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
that's it for today, debt paid, the back lawn can wait until tomorrow and I am
writing this on my laptop under the newly erected gazebo enjoying a
iced (green) tea </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Have
a great weekend everyone …</span></div>
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<i><br /></i>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><i><br />
"Your hair may be brushed, but your mind's untidy.<br />
You've had about seven hours of sleep since Friday.<br />
No wonder you feel that lost sensation.<br />
You're sunk from a riot of relaxation".<br />
~Ogden Nash, about weekends</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">*For those in different lands wh<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">o do not celebrate Queen Victoria's Birthday <span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">(</span>that is what the May long weekend is) Please don't ask me to explain wh<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">y Queen Victoria's Birth<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">day, which is May 25th became the excuse for a long weekend in the colonies but it is on May 1<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">8 this year... as<span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">k a politician </span></span></span></span> </span> <br />
</span>
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Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-60177980499856022432015-05-10T08:56:00.000-04:002015-05-10T08:56:07.108-04:00Once more around ..
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/17270111880/" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/17270111880/</a> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">W</span>ondering
what others think of your photography, stifles your creativity"..
part of a conversation with Doug where I decided to 'shoot for me'.
this usually means black and white </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="western">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> You can read the
blog post that started me thinking here....</span></div>
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<div class="western">
<a href="http://jhdricker.blogspot.ca/2015/05/why-i-added-nothing-to-this-blog-for.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">http://jhdricker.blogspot.ca/2015/05/why-i-added-nothing-to-this-blog-for.html</span></a></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
was a result of this article by Canadian photographer Darren Wiggett</span></div>
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<br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.oopoomoo.com/2015/05/self-awareness-as-a-barrier-to-seeing/">http://www.oopoomoo.com/2015/05/self-awareness-as-a-barrier-to-seeing/</a></span></div>
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<br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You
might know or maybe not <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">that</span> I have been in the photographic doldrums
for months now, nary a shutter pressed, definitely no prints made<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> i</span>n
what seemed like an endless struggle...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Well
recently a few things have happened;</span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Primarily
I had a blank wall at the gallery which is due to open today!</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Two
printers have gone virtually unused, something that is not good
for printers so I had to print 'something' </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A
comment from my friend Doug a few weeks back about getting back to
basics .</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All
of these started to gnaw at me and culminated/gelled in the moment I read
the above articles.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Then
the light went on or should I say “back on”.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
had been walking the same path, trying to please others, worrying
about how others felt about my work, instead of just <i>doing it for me</i>.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
what you see here is that one small step back to the basics, which to
me means black and white photography it's what I love so that's where
I will start ….</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">Know
well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the
path that leads to wisdom”. ~Buddha</span></i></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">and a very Happy Mothers Day to all our Mom's both here and 'there' ..</span> </span></b><i> </i></span>
</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-71751809652024081072015-05-03T10:37:00.000-04:002015-05-03T10:37:13.042-04:0029 ...
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">29
Years ….</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Today
is our 29<sup>th</sup> Anniversary<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> and I ask myself</span> where did the time go?</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I am <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ashamed</span> to say that I
have forgotten so much of what has happened over the years but I will
always remember that when we met I was broken and Cathy, with patience and a
gentle hand, fixed me<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> I don't know what she saw in me all those years ago but <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">i</span></span>t
is because of her I was able to become who I am and for that I will
be forever grateful.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Let
us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming
gardeners who make our souls blossom”. ~Marcel Proust </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-70586514272931249152015-04-26T08:29:00.000-04:002015-04-26T09:06:58.877-04:00All my life's a circle ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sl29ZCm6HJc/VTzZjbwb_MI/AAAAAAAALiw/rQpJUP-Ha94/s1600/Dawn%2BElora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sl29ZCm6HJc/VTzZjbwb_MI/AAAAAAAALiw/rQpJUP-Ha94/s1600/Dawn%2BElora.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/17266029671/" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/17266029671/</a><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As
Harry Chapin said/sang:</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All
my life's a circle”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yesterday
part of it went full circle, back 7 years to the start of a friendship
and the start of a long walk.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
was Doug who suggested gong back to the beginning; first that meant a
stop at the local Tim's.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Fortified
with tea and treats we headed up to Elora to wander the gorge trails,
then find a place for more tea and conversation.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">With
friends you slip into these times like slipping into an old glove,
they just fit, no struggle no thinking involved it just happens.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It
was supposed to be a photo outing but ended up more as a walk and
talk outing but that's OK we enjoyed ourselves and more importantly
for me it broke me free of the chains of recent months where
everything seems to have been sidelined...</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
it is fitting that my “Photo of the Week” be a black and white
study, after all it is where I began..</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
for my quotation I turn to Rumi ..</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>Let
yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really
love”.</i></span></div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-90535497003604172042015-04-19T09:16:00.000-04:002015-04-19T09:16:26.213-04:00The man from Bell..
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">No
“Photo of the Week” this week not much of anything really, I have
been out of commission.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
just a story to fill the void.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">During
the week we had a phone call, ostensibly from Bell. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We
have noticed that you are having trouble with <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">y</span>our internet
connection” -Said the man from Bell</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Have
I?” -said I</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yes
our servers indicate your modem drops the connection quite
frequently”-Said the man from Bell</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Okaaay”-said
I</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This
went on fo<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">r</span> several minutes and I was dubious to say the least, but <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I</span> went along with it, don't ask why, the man from Bell set up a service call and
said goodbye.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
looked up Bell's technical support number and called them, expecting a
scam but no they really had called and there really was a problem, go
figure Bell being proactive!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">AND
they answered the phone within seconds not minutes or hours !</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
fast forward to yesterday, the man from Bell showed up and spent most
of the afternoon testing stuff, rewiring outside, adding new stuff, tearing out old
stuff and running wiring into the house.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He
left after about 3 hours, and about 2 minutes later he was back, “I was just looking
at the test results and I am not happy with what I see” - Said the man from Bell</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
more ripping<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">,</span> tearing, rewiring and generally fiddling about (it's
now supper time!) and he was satisfied.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
off he went, leaving me with a whole new view of Bell Canada.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">His
parting words were “ <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">W</span>e realise that there is a lot of
competition out there now and we want to hold on to our customers, so
this new project, 'Project Eagle' is helping us find problems before
they become problems.”</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Well
who would have thought !</span></div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-22627705537012524442015-04-12T10:17:00.000-04:002015-04-12T10:17:31.895-04:00The Joy of Seeing ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--H0WfWtJNCc/VSp9btW2bjI/AAAAAAAALD0/CbRPbCAXi_w/s1600/Haiku.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--H0WfWtJNCc/VSp9btW2bjI/AAAAAAAALD0/CbRPbCAXi_w/s1600/Haiku.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/16846138579/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/16846138579/</a><br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
was thinking about a quote from a friend this last week and realised
it does sum me up.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>"I
think you are a man who can find interest and pleasure and be in the
moment, so you only need to take Winter for a walk……the rest of
us have to go to Europe.” </i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">While
I love to travel, </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">to
see, </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">to
explore, </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">to
learn </span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and
</span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">to
know</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">She
is right; I don't have to go very far and it is oh so true, I can
find pleasure in the most benign of things.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Several
weeks ago I picked some fallen Milkweed; old, stark, weather beaten
though they are I keep returning to them and draw and paint them
trying to capture their essence.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Fascinated
by their structure.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And
while doing this I wonder just how many people walk right by them and
if they think of them at all they regard them as 'weeds' ..</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Oh
but here on my desk they are beginning to reawaken, the few remaining
seeds are opening, and deploying their little parachutes, waiting for
a breeze to send them off on their journey, fulfilling the promise.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
see this happening before my eyes and wait for the story to unfold...</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>"The
real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes
but in having new eyes." </i>- Marcel Proust</span></div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-52698901874654898202015-04-05T09:09:00.000-04:002015-04-05T09:09:04.867-04:00Just once more ..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-15-8cxEgSNM/VSEzHQkJmGI/AAAAAAAAJhI/QiY4ZIsI2R0/s1600/20141111_093757-cr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-15-8cxEgSNM/VSEzHQkJmGI/AAAAAAAAJhI/QiY4ZIsI2R0/s1600/20141111_093757-cr.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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.. could also be "an ode to my dog" ...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Instead of a 'photo of the week' I went back to November of last year when I was able to catch Winter sleeping on the couch.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Snow
!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
don't know who was more excited Winter or me.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One
more time we were able to walk in a chill morning with snow underfoot,
the trails silent except for Winters panting, my huffing and puffing
and the occasional bird making himself known.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Through
the trails, across the school yard to the pond; following the stream
back around. It was then that I heard it, I think Winter did too but
chose to ignore it, that unmistakable plaintiff cry of the Kildeer
and then there they were, a pair circling above.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A
welcome sight but another harbinger of Spring.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A
Spring that we had forgotten about on this delightful winter
morning...</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“<i>I
talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands. When
he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he
rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat.
For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend
like that”. ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth </i></span></span>
</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-59354257907077496582015-03-29T07:58:00.000-04:002015-03-29T07:58:25.481-04:00Milkweed and Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sK01wF3R9tU/VRfof3JaOfI/AAAAAAAAJeM/QThpDkhnXmE/s1600/Milkweed%2BStudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sK01wF3R9tU/VRfof3JaOfI/AAAAAAAAJeM/QThpDkhnXmE/s1600/Milkweed%2BStudy.jpg" height="320" width="197" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/16345204653/" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/16345204653/</a><br />
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Birds
are arriving daily, the tree's and yards are coming alive with their
song but winter hangs on. However, as the sun climbs higher in the
sky it's strength increasing daily, it is a futile battle Spring is
coming and nothing will stop it.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
walked the woods and for several weeks I have been looking at the
Milkweed, their stalks brittle and gray, their pods almost empty,
their job done, as the seeds are scattered on the winds.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Still
there is an eloquent beauty just as in the old tree's that I love so
much.</span></div>
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</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">.”</span><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">The
sun has come out... and the air is vivid with spring light”. ~Byron
Caldwell Smith, letter to Kate Stephens</span> </i>
</div>
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</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-4619715019764849662015-03-22T10:44:00.000-04:002015-03-22T10:44:03.596-04:00A brief history lesson ..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xnV5HAFQeXE/VQ7THS4k_EI/AAAAAAAAJbQ/RNvra533sDA/s1600/Castlerigg%2BStone%2BCircle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xnV5HAFQeXE/VQ7THS4k_EI/AAAAAAAAJbQ/RNvra533sDA/s1600/Castlerigg%2BStone%2BCircle.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One
of the advantages of painting over photography is you don't have to
be there to record an image”! </i></span></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
put this as an intro to a painting I did this week, the scene was of
the Castlerigg Stone Circle in Cumbria; one of the most spectacular
places in what is one of the most unbelievably beautiful regions of Britain and one of my favourites. </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />This
circle stands atop a plateau surrounded by some of the highest and ancient Cumbrian peaks; alone
with nothing but the wind and the ravens for company.</span></div>
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</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://happeninks.blogspot.ca/2015/03/castlerigg-stone-circle-remembered.html" name="http://happeninks.blogspot.ca/2015/03/castlerigg-stone-circle-remembered.html">http://happeninks.blogspot.ca/2015/03/castlerigg-stone-circle-remembered.html</a></span></span></div>
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</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thought
to have been constructed in 3200bc (5000 years ago) it is one of the
oldest circles in Europe.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
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</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As I mentioned the surrounding peaks are some of
the highest in England; </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Helvellyn
standing at almost 950 m (3100
ft)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skiddaw
a close second at at 931 m (3,054 ft)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blencathra,
also known as Saddleback, with six separate fell tops, of which the
highest is the 868-metre (2,848 ft) Hallsfell Top.(at the centre of
the painting).</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
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</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">However
they don't look that high, that is because the plateau on which the
circle stands is already at 213m (700ft) above sea level</span></span></div>
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</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here
endeth the history lesson ;-)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
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</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happy
Spring Equinox / Eostre </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">One
of the deepest impulses in man is the impulse to record, - to scratch
a drawing on a tusk or keep a diary, to collect sagas and heap
cairns. This instinct as to the enduring value of the past is, one
might say, the very basis of civilization. ~John Jay Chapman,
</span><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">Memories
and Milestones</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></i></span>
</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-16471431674866925422015-03-15T09:14:00.000-04:002015-03-15T09:16:43.256-04:00It was one of those days ...<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>No photo of the week this week but there is a drawing of the week ...</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GoqBnvjjKYo/VQWFXJCYmyI/AAAAAAAAJY8/jpdCUdobQ_w/s1600/Coco%2BLatte%2BMarch%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GoqBnvjjKYo/VQWFXJCYmyI/AAAAAAAAJY8/jpdCUdobQ_w/s1600/Coco%2BLatte%2BMarch%2B2015.jpg" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><a href="http://happeninks.blogspot.ca/2015/03/coco-latte.html" target="_blank">http://happeninks.blogspot.ca/2015/03/coco-latte.html</a> </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everyone
is watching, looking keen eyed at the landscape and waiting
impatiently for Spring to arrive.</span></span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Walking
the trails with Winter (the dog) this morning you can hear it in the
chirping chorus, you can see it in the green sprouts uncovered by the
receding snows but you can't feel it in the wind!</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here
winter (the season) still reigns supreme, her icy fingers play around
the the openings of your jacket, probing for an opening to send
shivers down your spine...</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At
this time of year the promise of Spring has yet to be fulfilled as
Winter hangs on in the shady places and everything waits and
watches.</span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"It
was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind
blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade".
~Charles Dickens, Great Expectations</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i> </span></span>
</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-17331380858183714062015-03-08T10:43:00.001-04:002015-03-08T10:43:51.006-04:00I want my hour back !
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H8l7QT59F80/VPxf6KfiVbI/AAAAAAAAJV0/oaoOv9vsay8/s1600/2015-03-08-09-36-40_0043%2Bcopy_resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H8l7QT59F80/VPxf6KfiVbI/AAAAAAAAJV0/oaoOv9vsay8/s1600/2015-03-08-09-36-40_0043%2Bcopy_resize.jpg" height="325" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/16752324341/" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/16752324341/</a> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My
blog is normally entitled “Photo of the Week”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These
past few weeks my images have been produced at a much slower rate.
Where once they were made in a fraction of a second now they are made
in the fraction of a day.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Which
brings me to today's rant...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I
want my hour back!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Last
night I had one of the best nights sleep I have had for quite a
while. I awake refreshed at 6:30, that's late for me.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It
was even later when I realised it was now 7:30 …</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Morning
is my time I love every minute of it and while I slept someone stole
an hour.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I
mean what is the point? I know during the war years it gave the
farmers more light to get crops in etc. etc. but now? All it does is
disrupt peoples lives ( look at the accident statistics) all because
some dimwitted politicians think they are 'extending' the period of
daylight.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well
lets look at that for a minute.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If
a day was a piece of string, and you cut an hours worth off one end
and tie it on the other end it's still the same length!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Only
a politician could think or try to make us think that the day was
actually longer...</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">*sigh*</span></div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><br /></i>
</div>
<i>
</i><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">"Methinks
I see the wanton hours flee,<br />And as they pass, turn back and laugh
at me".<br />~George Villiers</span></i>
</div>
Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-52651866139389801662015-03-01T09:56:00.001-05:002015-03-01T09:56:36.980-05:00What do the birds see that we don't see?
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/16512438976/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/16512438976/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What
do the birds see that we don't see?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First, this is not a new photograph, it was taken several weeks ago but my photography has been slacking off in recent weeks as other things come to the fore, like my rediscovering the joy of painting..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://happeninks.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">http://happeninks.blogspot.ca/</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last
week was hectic, as far as work was concerned but I did manage a few
short walks. The one thing I noticed was the woods are louder ….
birdsong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
mentioned this recently that there were more birds but they were
quite silent as if they were waiting. Well this last week whatever
they were waiting for arrived because they are silent no longer!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I
notice the strength of the sun increasing, there is a warmth to it
now along with weak glow. I guess the birds feel it more than we do,
after all they are out in the cold all the time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That
gentle increase in warmth that is barely noticeable to us is enough
for them to start celebrating Springs arrival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another
Winter endured and for most survived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Truly
something worth singing about …</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A
bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because
it has a song”. ~Chinese Proverb</span> </i></span>
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Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237843902251160151.post-68003703475982520042015-02-22T09:31:00.000-05:002015-02-22T09:31:23.757-05:00all to soon ..
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fuxPLVkzek0/VOnnNXhbWwI/AAAAAAAAJRU/A7_PvowJzwM/s1600/Big%2BWhite%2BHunter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fuxPLVkzek0/VOnnNXhbWwI/AAAAAAAAJRU/A7_PvowJzwM/s1600/Big%2BWhite%2BHunter.jpg" height="357" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/15984068073/" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajn_photography/15984068073/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">All to soon winter draws to a close..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Not
that long ago -13c wound have been bone chilling, but yesterday the
temperature rose to a balmy -13c and it felt like Spring!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For
a time I was downtown with friends but when I got home I was
restless, luckily so was the dog ;-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So
with a lighter jacket and thinner gloves, Winter (our dog, pictured above), Brit and
I went for a walk in the local woods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
was surprised to see flocks of birds in the bare tree's, maybe just
mourning doves and sparrows but they were there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
twittering of the sparrows and the call of the chickadee's added to
the silence, the crunch of our boots on the snow added the backdrop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
day felt lighter somehow and the gently falling snow made for a
picture perfect scene.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Yes
Spring may only be a month away but its days like this that make me
want to delay Springs arrival, just for a while longer..</span></div>
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“<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;">A
small bird twitters on a leafless spray,<br />Across the snow-waste
breaks a gleam of gold:<br />What token can I give my friend to-day<br />But
February blossoms, pure and cold?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif;"><br />Frail
gifts from Nature's half-reluctant hand...<br />I see the signs of
spring about the land...<br />These chill snowdrops, fresh from wintry
bowers,<br />Are the forerunners of a world of flowers”.<br />~Sarah
Doudney, "Snowdrops (Consolation)," c.1881</span> </i></span>
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Alan Norsworthyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07503326765354907478noreply@blogger.com0