Sunday 26 February 2012

Feb. 26: Nepal

These are Holy Ladies, at the Pashpupintha Cremation sacred site.
Apparently some of these women are widows whose children don't want to care for them, so they become holy beggars. Pashpupintha is an amazing Holy Place. It is a pilgrimage site for millions of Buddhists and covers many acres of land and river.

Saturday 25 February 2012

Feb. 25: Nepal - back to Kathmandu


Back in Nepal, we went to visit Child Haven orphanage, run by Canadians.
When I was there ten years ago, it was out in the country.
This time, it was surrounded by development!
Dianne and I had sweatshirts, toothbrushes and first aid supplies to deliver.
Kids everywhere love to ham it up for a camera, and to play with a bike and a ball.

Friday 24 February 2012

Feb. 24: Nepal -


This is Apil's grandmother, his mother Sanu and his sister Chandana, who is 13.
Chandana is in her school uniform. She told me that her favourite subject is Science.
Given that her father is a math and science teacher, and that her two older siblings are in the medical field, I'm not surprised by her interest. She was very enthusiastic about school!

Thursday 23 February 2012

Feb. 23: Nepal ~ Bandana


I first met Bandana when she was ten years old. Last year she graduated from Nursing College, and she is a delightful young adult.  She is presently teaching at a nursing college in Pokhara, 
near her family home.
In this photo, she is showing Dianne how to make Relish,
by grinding onion, cilantro, tomato and spices. It was delicious!

Wednesday 22 February 2012

Feb. 22: Nepal~ Damodar's Family


We stayed with Damodar's family, just outside Pokhara, for a few days.
I had first been there isn 1997, then again in 2001. Of course the 'children' had become young adults, but Damodar and Sanu had not changed at all!
L - R. Damodar, Peg, Chandana (13), Dianne, Sanu, Apil.
Bandana took the photo, so I will post one of her tomorrow.
Dianne and I were given beautiful 'Traditional Dress' outfits.

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Feb. 21: Nepal ~ fly to Pokhara


Dianne, Apil and I flew to Pokhara, just a 35 minute flight, but with splendid views of the Himalayas!
I was excited to return to a family that I hadn't seen in ten years.

Monday 20 February 2012

Feb. 20: The Great Stupa


The Great Stupa, in Kathmandu, is one of the most wonderful places that I have ever visited.
Every dawn and dusk, hundreds of Buddhists walk three times around the base of the Stupa, which takes about 15 minutes per time. They chant prayers and swing incense and it is totally authentic.
Dianne and I stayed at a little hotel right on the stupa grounds, and joined the walking every dawn and dusk. It was a magical experience.

Sunday 19 February 2012

Feb. 19: A year Ago ...


One year ago today, Dianne and I were on our way to Nepal!
Our anxieties disappeared at the airport when we were met by Apil.
Apil's father and I were teaching partners in Nepal in 1997, in Pokhara, and we have remained friends ever since. Apil was 15, the last time I saw him, ten years ago. Now he is a Doctor in Kathmandu.

Saturday 18 February 2012

Feb. 18: The Cookie Race


Today was The Nakkertok Junior Championships, better known now as 'The Cookie Race",
for kids 18 and under.
I was geared to take some great photos, battery charged and telephoto lens at the ready.
However, a freshly charged battery doesn't do much good if the battery is still at home in the charger and the camera is totally without power!!
This photo is from a few years ago.

Friday 17 February 2012

Feb. 17: The Gatineau Loppet


This weekend in the Gatineau Park, the Loppet will be held. Several thousand skiers will ski either 30 or 50 km distances.
The temperatures are mild and the snow is good.
I took this photo two years ago at the corner of the Gatineau Parkway and the Champlain Parkway.
I like the action of the skiers, slowing to come around the sharp corner while maintaining some speed!


Thursday 16 February 2012

Feb. 16: Taylor Lake Yurt


When we left the yurt this morning, temperatures were mild and the sky was steely grey.
Still, the scenery was winter beautiful, and spirits were high. We can't understand why the packs didn't seem lighter after eating three meals of food weight!

Feb. 15: Taylor Lake Yurt


For many years, this tenacious group of friends have been making an annual overnight ski trip
intoTaylor Lake Yurt.
Peggy, Gloria, Judy, Linda and Rose Ann. We missed you, Odile!
I used the self-timer to get this picture, but didn't allow for the railing to get caught in the photo!

Tuesday 14 February 2012

Feb. 14: Art Class


I started this painting last week and finished it today.
The exercise was to work only in blacks and greys, and I used only three colours for this piece.
It is from a photo of my dad, taken about 1942, I estimate.
I like how it remains true to the original 'old' photo atmosphere.
Yes, that is before I was born!

Sunday 12 February 2012

feb. 12: Signs of Spring


After last summer, Bob found that his Calla Lillies (originally given to him by Barry Connel) had small bulbs in the plant. He experimented by planting the bulbs in early January,
and now they are sprouting happily!
Against the window showing the -14 degrees and snow outside, they are a hopeful sign of spring!

Saturday 11 February 2012

Feb. 11: Last Tuesday's Night Hike


Last Tuesday night, this wonderful group of wild, wacky women, did a full moon night hike into Healy Cabin in the Gatineau Park, an hour each way.
The glorious full moon created moon shadows on the snow giving us spectacular atmosphere.
Dianne, (lower left) was the Spark Plug for this great adventure, leading with Margo, Judy, Jennifer, Anne,  Margaret and myself. Thanks, Dianne!


Friday 10 February 2012

Feb. 10: The Canal - A different Perspective


This is not the 'usual' view of the canal.
It would not be used for a tourist poster, but I find it interesting to contrast the man-made bridge supports with the natural ice for the skaters.
Of course, I was lucky that it was a sunny day, because the shadows add another dimension.

Thursday 9 February 2012

Feb. 9: The Canal Again

Today was a perfect day for skating on the canal - sunny skies and mild temperatures.
Ottawans were out in droves, including me, skating carefully with my wonky knee.!
The ice was the best so far this year... at last!

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Feb. 8: Work Completed


Finished!
The shadows completely 'make' this painting.
Thanks to Rosy Somerville, my wonderful art teacher, who suggested using Cobalt Blue -
 it really is effective.
As in photography, placing the focal point at one of the 'thirds', makes a really good composition.
I am pleased with this painting. Now how long will it take me to frame it?

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Feb. 7 ; Art Class - a work in progress


Every Tuesday afternoon, I take a watercolour class.
This painting is unfinished, at the moment,
 but I thought it would be fun to post photos of the work as it progresses.
When finished, it will be Dianne and I on Elephant Safari, in Chitwan National Park,
in Nepal, last year.

Monday 6 February 2012

Feb. 6: The Canal


A few years ago, my niece, Kathryn, was visiting from Vancouver.
She was keen to experience the canal, so we skated from end-to-end..
You can see that it was a very cold, sunny day, and the canal was in full swing for Winterlude!

Sunday 5 February 2012

Feb. 5: More Triathlon


My friend, Lindsay, is a XC ski instructor at Mooney's Bay.
Yesterday, she was fourth woman finisher in the triathlon!!
She is a strong and beautiful skier; I tried to capture her power and grace.

Saturday 4 February 2012

Feb. 4: Winterlude Triathlon


Today was the 30 th running of the Winterlude triathlon. It was the second one in which I did not compete - the first being in 1994, when I had a broken leg.
Conditions today were absolutely perfect - mild temperatures, sunny skies, great ice, and fresh snow for the skiing. Over 400 athletes took part.
While I was devastated that I could not participate because of my wonky knee, I did the second best thing  - take photos!

Friday 3 February 2012

Feb. 3: The Eastern Canadain XC Championships


Nakkertok XC Ski Club is hosting the Eastern Canadian Championships for three days this weekend.
Today, 250 skiers competed and tomorrow and Sunday there will be 600 per day.
While most of today's races were clean and without a glitch, I caught this unexpected 4-skier spill on the very last race of the day.
Lots of effort and excitement for everyone involved.

Thursday 2 February 2012

Feb. 2: The Canal

Skating conditions are still rough, and the skies are still grey.
This photo looks south toward the Bank Street Bridge, at km 4.2.

Feb. 1: The Canal

As seen from just south of the Pretoria Bridge, a lone early morning skater heads downtown.
The ice surface was no better than yesterday.

Jan. 31; The Canal


On an ice-fog, dull day, the NCC workers prepare the canal for Winterlude, starting this weekend.
The skating surface was treacherous, bumpy and pot-holed.
I hope they flood it soon.

Jan. 30: Cuba ~ Two Years Ago

This is the family as we were two years ago, in January, 2010.
We have grown in numbers (from 10 to 11), and the little ones have sure grown in size.