Blog? Hello?

Sheesh....did it again, forgot I had a blog. The 365 project has continued on my flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepinggiant/ but in a different way. The "Count Down to 49" project was interrupted on Jan 15, 2012 when my youngest daughter, Bronwyn, was diagnosed with leukaemia, AML. That's her in my blog banner wearing the poncho I knit for her years ago. She is 14 now. We are at the Children's Hospital in London Ontario and I have started a new photo project called "Bronwyn and the Beast" and can be seen on my flickr account.

Knitting! With this tragedy my knitting mojo has returned. I am more than half way through my new clapotis I am knitting in Fleece Artist's Ottawa yarn in Pansy. <--click to go to my Ravelry project page. I have also started the Reindeer Capelet from Vogue Knitting's prefall issue. Thank-you knitting for a little piece of sanity!

Day 34

Weather's movin' in:

The weather seems to be crazy all over Canada these days and Tbay is no exception. With the heat and humidity through the roof, fog moving into the north end in a small dense patch surrounded by blue sky and now the whole city is overcast causing the setting sun to streak the thin cover with intense red. I was leaving for work this afternoon when I noticed this large cloudy hand moving over the neighbourhood foreshadowing what was to come. I welcome it. The break it brought from the high temps is a relief.

Day 33

St. Andrew's Presbyterian:

Found myself on the south-side of town today needing to take a bus home. [It's been years since I have had to do this but Barry had to get the girls to camp.] In case you don't know, the south side bus depot is now at City Hall which is to the left, behind the pole. I had some time to kill and, being Sunday, the place was empty. It was the opportunity I needed to case the joint. I need to come back when it is full of people.

The poster on the pole is advertising the Multicultural Youth Center. Interesting that there are posters taped to poles at City Hall now that there is a by-law preventing such. At least I think there is.

FYI: do you know that buses talk now? A soothing lady's voice announces each stop as it approaches. It's obviously some kind of text reader software. Occasionally street names are so garbled I have no idea what was just said. It can be both amusing and annoying.

Day 32

Let's put this one in the "You're bugging me" category, and it's been bugging me for weeks!

They tore down the former Brew Pup and Shoppers Drug-mart, that had a walk-in clinic, to build a new, bigger Shoppers. So now, as you can see, the clinic is at ...the Hospital! .... thata-way....
[We could also put this in the "No shit sherlock" category. Imagine finding health care at the hospital! And isn't part of the benefit of going to a walk-in is so you can avoid the back-log at the hospital?]

This clinic, usually very busy, was located in a densely populated area that includes some lower-income housing. There were people that used this clinic that literally "walked in". This sign almost makes one think the hospital is just down the street. Well, it kinda is, about 3.5 km. A nice little jaunt for a sick person or parent with sick kid. Luckily there is a bus that passes right by. Just add the $5 return trip cost per-person to your budget. As someone who has gone through tight financial times finding bus fare can mean something else is being sacrificed.

It's just seems logical to me that moving the clinic to the County Fair Mall, a 5-10 minute walk from here, which is almost empty and directly adjacent to part of the community, would make more sense. But then who am I? Just a middle-aged mother sticking her two cents in.

Of course the up shot is that a nicer walk-in clinic will be built here....at least that is the hope.

Day 31

Fanatics:

The line-up for the new Harry Potter movie, 7pm show. My girls were there shortly after 4. At that point the line was as long as the hall. Many were dressed up. They entertained themselves with reading, texting, chatting, one group was deep in the middle of a Monopoly game. Can you spot the female "Ron" having her picture taken?

The lady at the front of the line, about my age and with her teenage daughter had been there since 11am. This is hardcore for Thunder Bay.

As I was leaving I called back to the line, "Have fun all you hardcore people!" the lady asked me, "Aren't you staying?". When I explained that I had no interest in the movie, hadn't even read the books she chatted with me for a bit, telling me how the books were written, how the author wrote the 1st book on bits of paper and napkins because that is all she had and how they were not just for children and well written. I left her saying that just because she had taken the time to talk and shared her passion so well I would have to go home and read at least the first one. I know it's around here somewhere.

Day 30

Evening in the neighbourhood:

I love the evening light. I live in a densely populated area of townhouses, duplexes and concrete yet just beyond the rooftops a large green space, dense with trees, is easily assessable by paved trails. Runners and walkers who use the paths create their own community, greeting each other as they pass.

Whenever I find myself at the end of the day without a picture I head for the trail, usually with a family member. Tonight my companion was my husband. Precious time together

Day 29

McVickers Creek:

We have quite a bit of beautiful nature right in the heart of our city. This is just one spot. This little creek, rushing towards Lake Superior, through residential areas, under roads and bridges, must run smack-dab through the heart of downtown. The walking path along it's shore is sweet and lush. A treasure to find amongst civilization. It is also the favourite stomping ground of transients. :D

Day 28

I Live Here -2:

Ok, I did another self portrait.

That is the iconic, Sleeping Giant in the background with a freighter floating just beyond the breakwater, a common sight as are sailboats. The natural protection the thunder bay provides from the open water of Lake Superior makes it perfect for sailing.

The tough part with self portraits: One's inclination is to choose the picture that makes one look good where as the photographer's inclination is to pick the most interesting shot. Do I go for pretty or character? Hopefully I found a happy medium.

ps: I caught up!!! :D

Day 27

Chain link: [July 11th]

Not thrilled with this one. I was pressed for time and had to just take what I got. I wanted the flowers to be in focus. Well the chain link looks kinda cool.

Day 26

Sunset: [July 10th]

Ya, I know, I already posted a picture of these flowers but sometimes the perfect shot is just there and you can't resist it. I was sitting in my friend's backyard, right at eye level with this little scene, whipped out my blackberry and...snap!

Day 25

After the Rain 2: [July 9th]

This is a weed, very tall, about 5', and acts like a dandelion. This the puff-ball of seeds after most have floated away.

Day 24

Bubble!: [July 8th]

I was visiting my sister, when her son decided to blow some bubbles. It's true what they say....doing this project makes you look at the scene in a different way. I'm not sure I would have thought of doing it this way before.

Day 23

Chair:[July 7th]

Hubby tried to make a chair for his brother for christmas out of branches. It was a great idea and would have worked if the branches were greener and therefore bendy-er.

Day 22

Fuzzy!: [from July 6th]

Day 21

Flower Patch: [from July, 5th]

These flowers always remind me of the precious week I spent in Eabametoong or Fort Hope, a fly-in First Nation's community in North-western Ontario. There I met some of the warmest and resilient people I will ever have the pleasure of knowing. It was an education to say the least. There are those, in our own country, living in 3rd world conditions.

Day 20

Morning After, Stadium Seats: [from July, 4th]

After taking over a 1,000 pictures over 3 days I was done. I took 3 pictures on this day, early in the morning, packed my camera away and didn't take it out until the next day, after a nice sleep in my own bed.