Meet Mister Melon-head

That's my big happy boy! There is no kinder or sweeter soul than what you see pouring from these eyes - he is a genuine romeo in love with life!

Location: Montreal, QC

Melancholy

Just another snapshot of a neighborhood sidewalk, drowning in cold winter winds and icy sunlight.

Dappled rays

A sunny peek-a-boo from the Brighton pier on a crisp, windy winter day.

Location: Brighton, UK

A sweet anchor

As you can see, I love this photo so much that I used it as my blog's title page... Vegas brought me to this cool little bar that used to house a bank once, the inner achitecture is quite interesting but it's the furniture that caught my eye.

We drank tuscan mules and just absorbed the night, pressed together to keep warm from the drizzling rain outside... and just basking in this moment that we stole from time and stamped as ours, forever.

Location: Brighton, UK

Another neighborhood relic

More winter-mode-of-transportation awesomeness just weathering it out...

Neighborhood park

A crisp winter day as seen through the sun's eyes.

More neighborhood pigeons

...since you all seemed to love the first one so much, here is another version ;-)

My neighborhood - a store

We are surrounded by small original shops that sell local art, it really creates a sense of community and originality that I've seldom seen in a big city before.

More neighborhood artifacts

I think this used to be a sort of majestic lion guarding the entrance to a building... now reduced to half-rubble that people love to pat gently on the head.

Neighborhood curves

So smooth... I love me them sexay curves.

Return to "my neighborhood" series

I find that there is a kind of gentle congruence when arches meet and marry a mass of squares and rectangles...

Neighborhood Sunday

Funny how some parts of this city are just like a small country town... just bigger and with more people and cars though ;-)

...and now for something completely different...

Some Friday giggles were in order! Yes, these are my two clowns playing "bowling" last summer the beach... can't beat that for fun, eh? Back to the neighborhood series tomorrow - it's almost over I think.

Location: Riviere-Ouelle, QC

We grow snow!

I promise you that when summer comes along, these planters will contain beautiful flowers and not... snow. Still makes for a pretty border trimming in the winter, though.

~ note to dear readers ~

I will only be posting one or two photos per day for the next couple of weeks, and I may skip a day or two so please be patient... will do my best to keep you all entertained though! Back to regular posting soon!

My neighborhood - sporty!

If Canada is typified by maple syrup, tuques and huskies - all that is overshadowed by what else? Hockey! Boys and girls, young and old mingle on the ice to share a few pucks under the glittering blue sky of a cold February day.

My neighborhood - churchtop detail

Too pretty not to capture on film, what do you think?

My neighborhood - a building

Here are some buildings typical of this part of town; most house condos accessed by curving, twisting colorful staircases that are neck-breakers in the winter. Which feels like half the year, ghah!

My neighborhood - a street

If you're asking yourself where all the city folk park their cars during the winter... I ask myself that too, specially during super-snowy winters like this one. Over 9 feet of snow so far and counting - 'tis lovely though, no?

Still more of "My neighborhood"

Architectural detail of one of the local churches - as I said, I worship with my camera ;-)

More of "My neighborhood"

Some people don't let a few feet of snow discourage them from their favorite mode of transportation... "what, me worry?" LOL!

"My neighborhood" - snow and all

Strange how a blanket of snow can cover everything a few months per year (yes, those are picnic tables...) and then poof! It melts, the green comes out and the park buzzes to life again. I do love our four seasons, no matter what.

"My neighborhood" - con't

Montreal has a vast number of churches, I have even heard it has the most per capita than any other city of the world (however I could not find that statistic proven, if anyone has numbers please let me know). Although I do not frequent any, I do love admiring the intricate and beautiful architecture... my pagan way of rendering homage.

"My neighborhood" series

The ever-present and detestable money gobblers... LOL!

This week's series: my neighborhood

I took advantage of yesterday's beautiful light to snap some photos of my snowy neighborhood, even if it was bitterly cold - there haven't been many sunlit days the past couple of months, unfortunately. I'll be posting these photos this week, hope you enjoy! Let's start with hungry pigeons...

Location of all photos: Montreal, QC

Echoes of Christmas

It just isn't the same without the warm glow of cinnamon-scented candles!

Location: Arnprior, ON

Ode to summer

Another shot from the wild field I often go to with the dogs (it's in the middle of the city, imagine!) - the summer vegetation gets quite interesting as the months progress. Then the city mows it all down but it grows again, they play this game a few times before the autumn cold lulls the greens to sleep for the winter. Does anyone know what these yellow beauties are?

Location: Montreal, QC

More field theme

Another one of the field beauties... quirky photo, not technically correct but it gives me warm fuzzies anyways.

Location: Montreal, QC

"Hope"

As I lay on my back in the wild field one hot summer day last year, this was the only thing between moi and the flawless blue sky. Kept being drawn back to its mesmerizing sway in the breeze... it is by no means a technically "good" photo but it does remind me that under all this dead winterness, the earth lives. And it will come back again soon. Hope.

Location: Montreal, QC

Flight of the starlings

I am particularly fond of this picture just for its "ooo" factor... I imagine it's me on that horse up in the sky, chasing the elusive cloud of fluttering starlings in the waning winter sun. My own private fairy tale.

Location: Brighton Pier, UK

Ye olde girl

My dad's rescued mutt, Kemo. We think she's about 12 or so now... she was found as a stray a good 8 years ago, digging food out of garbage cans during a brittle Calgary winter. She had had pups, was bone-thin, almost naked and full of battle scars.

The shelter didn't think anyone would want her, she looked and acted like a wild drowned rat - but when my dad and his girlfriend went in looking for a dog, they fell in love and adopted her on the spot (their first dog, too). She looked like she was undergoing chemotherapy, hence her name.

There is no dog more spoiled than her now... she sleeps on their bed, eats like a queen, spends her days with my dad (who is retired) so she is never alone and they spend hours walking in the fresh country air. He will lose a big part of himself when she crosses the bridge... I dread the day.

Location: Arnprior, ON

I sea you

Six-month old Dakotah zenning out in a slice of heaven. I sometimes think he is a buddhist.

Location: St-Fabien-sur-Mer, QC

Sleepy peanut

My lazy little girl, wondering why I am trying to keep her awake at 1am. *grin*

Location: My bedroom

Morning ritual

My favorite coffee cup... every morning filled with frothy hot latte - a day just cannot start well without it (specially snowstormy winter ones like today). My man gave me this for Christmas, so that I would have my very own special cup while I was over there visiting. Of course it's home here with me now, cradled in my hands. It's like holding a little piece of heaven...

Location: Montreal, QC

Bee-utiful

I think this is a honey-bee... in any case, he sure picked the perfect flower on the perfect day to make this shot a lovely golden eyeful.

Location: Venice, CA

Three amigos

For the dog lovers... my two goofy "bodyguards" are in the background while their best friend puts on his best "blue steel" impression to melt the ladies' hearts. Is it working? Hmmm!

Location: Montreal, QC

Summer purrin'

...and for the cat lovers, a blue-eyed beauty sneaking a peek at the tourist (me!) ambling along the path by the sea.

Location: Riviere-Ouelle, QC

Hooked on green

Craving the summer more and more... a pic like this is good medecine, though. It brings me back to a season I want to be in, bare-legged in flipflops, snapping happy rambly neighborhood sidewalks before stopping for an ice-cream cone. Bliss.

Location: Montreal, QC

I love me a sweet flower

Missing the warm weather pretty badly right now. Sigh. I can almost feel this little beauty's soft petals on my cheek, her heady aroma making me happy to be alive on a warm summer day... is it spring yet?

Location: Montreal, QC

Sea spray

Ah, nothing like a good shake after a refreshing dip in the cold summer sea... oops, was that somebody's t-shirt I just flooded?

Location: Port Cartier, QC

"The Blob"

This is the other side of the giant (growing) mound of snow that is a bit freaking me out. It's covered in ice now, very pointy on top so impossible to climb but yet, the crazy dogs still try...

Location: Montreal, QC

Poolside chillaxing

If a picture is worth a thousand words... what about a picture of readables that each hold thousands of words? All wrapped in the cool summer haze of poolside bliss...

Location: Arnprior, ON

Zen

Peaceful taiji at dusk on a mild winter day, set in the middle of a gorgeous park among old world buildings. Breathe in, breathe out, be at one with the universe.

Location: Brighton, UK

A puppy and the sea

My 4-legged poet in the making... breathing in the sea and just content to "be".

Location: St-Fabien-Sur-Mer, QC

Tools of the trade

On a completely different topic... I do find beauty in simple and random geometery, lines blending into shapes blending into a elegance of colors.

Location: Venice, CA

God's light, pt 3

Recurring theme of the day... light, sea and surf. Wish I were back there right now, on the pier, the warmth of my man protecting me from the bitterly cold wind. Anywhere but here in the harsh winter doom and gloom!

Location: Brighton, UK

God's light, pt 2

I prefer the sea light shots, though.

Location: Riviere-Ouelle, QC

God's light

I deleted this photo because frankly, it sucked.

Move along! LOL

I love capturing rumbling, temperamental skies on film - you never know what you're going to get. This is a simple land shot taken on an ordinary day at dusk, it reminds me of the last warm autumn days of the year... sigh!

Location: Montreal, QC

Intricate simplicity

In honor of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain". I grew up with that song which played until the record was all scratched and the song popped - love it still today... Stevie Nick rules!

Location: Montreal, QC

Long journey home

Still on the theme of trains, rails and the little thing called life... what does this image evoke in you?

Location: Montreal, QC

Vestiges

I grew up next to a train yard and for me, the huge loud dirty machines, smells of diesel and oil, clanging sounds of coupling wagons and chugging engines, the smooth feel of polished rails and splitery black oily sleepers all just bring me back to a happy time in my life, no matter where I am or what mood I'm in.

Location: Montreal, QC

Women as heroes

Knights in shining armour come in all shapes, sizes and... sexes.

Location: Brighton Pier, UK