Be a Tourist at Home

Tonight I headed out with camera in hand,with the plan of taking photos of the lights on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls.My son came along and as always,takes over with the camera,I was the assistant,directing him somewhat,running along caring the tripod.We were a bit hurried to try to find a place to park,and walk to ,and catch some images before it would be very dark.Originally I wanted photos at dusk,which doesn't last too long.I saw the SkyWheel a large ferris wheel to oversee Niagara,I thought it looked really pretty against the twilight sky.When I saw how gently it moves I figured it would be similar to being in a glass elevator.(I don't do rides of any sort,I can easily get motion sickness and I'm really not fond of heights) Yet somehow this looked so tempting So for me ,this was really putting myself out there.I looked at my son,"Do you want to go on?" Sure ,OK (but I found out he too really isn't comfortable with heights) So without much more thought,we just did it! And enjoyed an 8 minute ride with a beautiful view.I think part of the reason I pushed on,was just for the photo opportunity.Altough I had some anxieties and sonny boy took all the pics. At any rate it was fun to play hometown tourist and even more so because it was totally spontaneous.

check out other pics on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaospics/

I've got the itch

I've got the itch to make something,luckily I have an excuse,since my niece will be getting married,it's a good reason to make something to wear.I have a pattern for an interesting dress,that comes around from the back and ties at the front...hopefully pictures will follow,I could imagine it in a white linen,but ended up with a off white cotton blend fabric.But why stop there,I really imagined it with turquoise,silver and crystal or white jewelry,very fresh and summery.so that's my inspiration,but then I figured why stop there? I could make a purse,so I want to find the silver purse frame,maybe with a silver chain strap, I'll make the purse with the white fabric,but I think I'll line it with a turquoise or "Tiffany" blue lining....maybe even a jewel decor on the outside..hmmm(scratching head,and rubbing chin).Now I have the fabric and the pattern,so I think on the weekend I'll head to Hamilton to the fabric district,I'll find everything else I need there.

first day of spring

This is what our sunset looked like on the first day of spring 2009 on Lake Ontario,still some ice lingering,but the birds have returned from their winter getaway,it's nice to hear them.

sunset over the lake

Last night I went with my son down to the port to catch the sunset,Wow, I need to do this more often.The sky was gorgeous from fire red to orangey pink to lavender and blue,the water is calm and looking across,stands the CN Tower in Toronto,very pretty.My son took over with the camera and we had fun experimenting to see what we could capture

Check out more photos at Flickrs 'house of chaos ' photostream

just another day at the drug store

I work in the pharmacy and mostly it's pretty routine,the small talk you have with people,sometimes it's interesting....sometimes it just goes a little too far.The other day as a guy is explaining to me why he needs his painkillers...because of the 29 surgeries he's had on his stomach,as I felt my eyes doing an obvious stare at his gut that looked like he had 2 basketballs under his shirt...so I took the bait, I said "What are they doing to your stomach?" with that,he lifted his shirt,before I had a chance to avert my eyes.....Eewwww...3 bullet wounds,I looked up to notice the hat he was wearing and he was a cop.Poor guy,this has been since 1980 something and all these surgeries have been in the last 2 years.
Well,today was the topper.An elder woman tells one of the technicians....."my cat brought home and mouse...and during the night while I was sleeping....it ran up my leg and went inside me"
We laughed so hard and the idea of this...and what must have transpired...cause she said something about the Doctor having to take it out....and how big it was....Sometimes we get too much information,and at the same time...maybe not enough!
We'll see what tomorrow brings

Wordle - Untitled

Wordle - Untitled

Ewww,What's that SMELL?

ewww,what's that smell?

It was getting late and I was ready for bed,let the dog out and all that.When my younger daughter came rushing into the room,holding her face,"ooohh what's wrong with the dog?"As he followed her into the room,I immediately was overtaken with the odor,and said "Don't let him in here"And in not time..the house just reaked.There were no options I had to get him into water and fast.Good thing he likes the water,he jumped right in the tub,But it was hard to breathe in that room.The thing is...I still don't know what he got into...animal or vegetable..living or dead, it was just disgusting and you just knew that smell was stuck in your nose.So I tried to wash him,but he's got this ridiculous thick coat(he's a border collie) and it's as if he dosen't get wet.So after an exhausting round,I just reached for the scissors and hacked big matted clumps off his hind,remember I was ready for bed.Of course once he jumped out of the tub,he shook OMG,so now the bathroom and the tub need cleaned of water and hair,hair hair!It was getting near midnight and my back was aching from the whole ordeal....the smell eased up,now it's just wet dog.I was dreading what will happen the next time he goes out,which by the way came at 5 a.m He stayed clean cause I didn't give him a chance!

I still love him

murder at my doorstep

I have a small tree by that I mean a short tree,beside my front door and directly in front of a living room window.For years I've seen this routine of birds,every mornining and again in the afternoon,they congregate here.I don't know why they'd meet here,I didn't feed them,there wasn't much shelter the tree goes bare in the winter,yet still they come and go and always in sync,they comunicate somehow cause they'd all fly in together or leave together.Recently my son had to make some project at school ,it ended up being a small birdhouse,we figured why not put it in the tree,give the birds a little shelter.And so it was..We enjoy seeing those little critters every morning,and I like to hear them and it gives our indoor cat something to look at.Well I guess it's time for nesting.I've watched birds going in and out of the little hole,I have no idea what it looks like inside.And I don't know if it's the same bird going in or not.Quite often I've noticed one bird waits outside,like standing guard,while the other is inside,seams pleasant enough.I thought he must be a nice husband and proud soon to be daddy!Then I heard awful screaching and looked to see the one (nice guy?) holding some poor other soul with his beak,and dangling the other bird, he had it pinched at it's neck,while it was hanging from his mouth I thought for sure he'd continue to it's death.So I banged on the window and the wee one flew off to freedom again.Well it's happened again.I now realize those cute little sparrows are awful mean birds and now I've read that people should do whatever they can to avoid allowing them to nest anywhere,since they'll kill other birds to take over their nests.....So that's nature,I'll keep an eye on them.

sleepwalkers

my son woke (well not really) and walked out to the kitchen,opened the sliding door and was heading out....it was after midnight and thankfully his dad was sitting watching the tv.Uggghhh, it's not the first time this has happened,is it any wonder that I'm afraid to be too far from his room.For anyone who may not know..he is 12 yrs old.Another time he wondered out toward the kitchen....I think he zigged instead of zagged (cause if he'd turned right instead of left,he would of hit his target,instead, he peed in the cats water bowl)

Apparently eating chocolate ice cream before bed may have contributed,along with the bad dreams he had ,well along with watching the Axe Men on tv.

So I leave you with a quote from him..."Lock your doors"

February....almost over

It's the 20th,it's almost over.February's been cold lately and I'm anxious to see green grass and feel warm sun,and smell spring. I went recently to a nearby provincial park and even though it was below zero,the day was bright and I could vaguely smell the evergreens,I can't wait to go back in the days when the leaves are budding,to take photos and try to capture that feeling .So photography is my latest obsession I'm trying to learn what I can about it all and even a little about editing afterward.
I'll blame The Pioneer Woman.....check it out,it all started when I was searching for a recipe and came across something of hers and saved it.Then I'd look back to her site,then discovered all her doings,photography,cooking,homeschooling,ranching..she's got it all! and a great sense of humor.
Anyway I was taken in by some of her photos,but mostly of how simply she explained things about photos and editing and all self taught...I was hooked,I had to get me a Nikon.
So I am now the proud owner of one and trying to practice daily and waiting for spring to really get out there.