Trees

I've always loved trees and their beauty through the year as the seasons change. I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded by beautiful trees. On the street where our family lived, this time of year was glorious as the boulevards were lined with ornamental flowering trees. We walked to school along streets lined with trees and our yard had fruit trees of almost every variety. We lived just blocks away from Beacon Hill Park and somehow though it was intended for all the people of our city it seemed to be almost part of our backyard. Today my collage of trees is made up of a magazine picture, and photos of a post card, a park and a painting....

Trees by Joyce Kilmer I THINK that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree.    A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the sweet earth's flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day,           And lifts her leafy arms to pray;    A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robins in her hair;    Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.       Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.

On the Road Again

I always love a road trip and enjoy finding new routes using a good old fashioned paper map.  We drove to a family wedding in Lloydminster last weekend and we decided to take less traveled highways.  I missed two sleighs being pulled along the side of the highway by teams of horses.  That will teach me to put my camera away for a few minutes.  But we did see some of Alberta's "Large Roadside Attractions" and of course I had my camera out to snap a view of those tourist attractions. 

Wikipedia states that, "A large percentage of Vegreville's population is of Ukrainian Canadian descent. The world's largest pysanka (Ukrainian Easter egg)^[2] was created to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1974 and to celebrate Vegreville's ethnic heritage." 

According to Wikipedia, "Mundare is home of the world's largest garlic sausage (kielbasa or kovbasa), which cost about $120,000 to build and erect.^[4]"

In Andrew, we saw the World's Largest Duck and some wonderful old gas pumps.

If you're interested in finding out more about Canada's Large Roadside Attractions check them out here. It really amazed me to know that there are so many "Large Attractions" built across Canada.  I suppose it's a way to attract tourists to each location but I wonder if it really works.  A quick stop and a snap and then we were on the road again.  I much preferred seeing the natural beauty of the landscape or the old buildings  in the small towns as we travelled along.  Have a wonderful weekend !

Inspiration

I've found it hard to be inspired this month but after looking at what surrounds me, 

this morning I find that I am inspired.  

I've decided that I will continue writing in this 

Guided Inspirational Journal 

that I have had for about ten years.  

I filled out three whole pages in 2002 

and two more in 2004.  

It's been lined up nicely on my bookshelf ever since. 

 Maybe with it facing outwards 

off to the side of my laptop 

I'll be inspired to write in the morning light.

 
Speaking of inspiration, my daughter and I have season tickets for the opera again
and this year decided to move up to the second balcony.  Our view was much the same as from the first balcony last year and the cost is so reasonable.

 We'd seen a very traditional presentation of The Mikado in Campbell River years ago
when the costumes had been rented as a package.  I'd loved seeing the beautiful kimonos and headpieces so was a little disappointed to hear that this opera was going to be The Mikado with a modern twist.
We loved it though and the costumes and hairstyles were so creative.

Dressing up for the occasion is part of the fun and going with my grown up daughter is another.

I want to share the card she gave me -
it's always propped up in her bedroom which is now my creative space...

I found this in the Mikado Program and thought I'd send
this inspirational quote along to you this morning.
Keep smiling - sunshine always!

Catching Up

Hello Again - My photo organizing project is coming along but although our immediate family pictures are  now in PVC free albums I need to write down the dates and details.  That will take some time but I work on it one album at a time this spring.

My photos were actually in good shape until our son was born and then my picture problems started.  He was so darling, so sweet and I wanted to share each first big occasion with his grandparents because each set lived hundreds of miles away in opposite directions.  I always got double prints and after dividing them up, I mailed them away.
By the time our son celebrated his first birthday we had 3 or 4 albums...you know how the story continues from here - when our daughter was born the decision was made that she should have her own albums as keepsakes and the problem redoubled.  Now that I've acquired many of the pictures sent away to grandparents I needed to streamline and combine and delete all the photos ruined by the sticky albums...but by making this project a top priority I accomplished what I set out to do so I'm ready to tackle another.
Now I hope to take some time to catch up on what's been happening in your corner of the world.  Have a wonderful weekend!