Merry Christmas!

May everyone have a very Merry Christmas. 
May the joy of the season fill all of our hearts as we head into 2018.

ABC Wednesday - T

This week at ABC Wednesday, T is the letter of the week.

T  is for Toronto - the capitol of the province of Ontario.
I grew up in Toronto, worked downtown and traveled often by subway and Go Train. There was always so much to see and do.

Source

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the fourth largest in North America by population., with almost 3 million people.

The Invictus Games were held here in September.

There are numerous sports teams:
Baseball:  Toronto Blue Jays
Hockey: Toronto Maple leafs
Basketball: Toronto Raptors
Football: Toronto Argonauts -  The Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders meet next Sunday for the final game to win the Grey Cup. Should be a great game.



My Top Ten Things to see in Toronto:
CN Tower
Ripley Aquarium
Casa Loma
Royal Ontario Museum
Art Gallery of Ontario
CNE
Toronto Zoo
Hockey Hall of Fame
Toronto Islands
Ontario Science Centre

Check here to see more about each.

ABC Wednesday - R

This week at ABC Wednesday, R is the letter of the week.

R is for Louis Riel,  as well as the Red River settlement and Regina, Saskatchewan which figure in Riel's story

Louis Riel has always been a controversial figure in Canadian history. He was born in the Red River settlement of what is now Manitoba, in 1844.

He became the spiritual and political leader of the Metis and in 1885 would lead a second rebellion against the Canadian government. He was captured and stood trial in Regina for treason. Judge Richardson sentenced him to death and he was hanged on Nov. 16, 1885.

Check here and here for much more info on this Canadian hero.

ABC Wednesday - Q

This week, Q gets the nod, for ABC Wednesday.

Q is for Quebec, as well as its capital, Quebec City, which dates from 1608. The official language is French - there are still separatists who seek to separate from Canada.

I lived in Quebec for eight years as a child and have visited Montreal numerous times since. I have only been to Quebec City once, visiting the old part of the city.

There is much to see in Quebec - from old buildings, rivers, and  falls, to battle grounds and churches.
My favourite site was St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.

Source

Be sure to visit here to see what others around the world have done for Q.

7th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest 

Hard to believe this is the 7th Hallowe'en short story contest - hosted by Susanna Leonard Hill.

The rules are here  The stories must be posted between Oct.27 - 31.

Here's my entry: 

Candy Corn for  Monster

 Monster jumped. What was that horrible black creature? He breathed out. Oh – only my shadow. Am I really that big? Oooh, who can I scare?

Monster shuffled towards a group of creatures – they certainly looked weird. As he raised his arms and opened his mouth, the smallest creature screamed.

“Go away Monster!” She dipped into her bag and threw a handful of candy corn at him.

Several hit his nose. “Ow! That hurt! That wasn’t nice!” Monster scooped up a few corns and popped them in his mouth. “Yummy! Any more?”

ABC Wednesday - P

This week at ABC Wednesday, P is the letter to focus on.


P is for parks.
Most cities have numerous green areas and these parks take on many roles - for walking, picnics, playing sports, holding special events. They could be small local community parks or large city-wide parks.
We enjoy visiting parks - to walk, see the ducks and geese, to catch an outdoor concert, or to have a picnic.

Now with fall finally arriving, the trees are changing colout and parks are wonderful places to see the colourful leaves.

ABC Wednesday - O

This week at ABC Wednesday, we celebrate O

O is for oceans

Canada is surrounded on three sides by oceans - on the left, the Pacific Ocean; on the right, the Atlantic Ocean and to the north, the Arctic Ocean.

I have been fortunate to have dipped my foot in all three oceans. Traveling this great country of ours has been a blessing. Still more to see and experience though.

The Canadian motto in Latin is:  "A mari usque ad mare"  (It translates as "From sea to sea) 

Pacific Ocean - Torfina, VI   

Source

ABC Wednesday - N

This week at ABC Wednesday - N is the letter of focus.

N is for National Parks

This year Canada celebrates its 150th year since Confederation. As part of the celebration, all national parks have free admission. (Visit here to get your free pass) What an opportunity to visit all the wonderful parks in Canada.

I have only been to a couple of the 39 National Parks or 8 National Park Preserves. There is at least one in every province and territory.

My favourite - Banff National Park

So much to see and so much to experience.

Visit here to see more of the national parks.

ABC Wednesday - M

This week at ABC Wednesday, M is the letter of the week.

M is for Montreal 

I spent the first eight years of my life in Montreal, Quebec and a brother and sister were born there. My husband was born there as well.

It is a wonderful city with lots to see and do. It is very French and quite cosmopolitan.

                                     
                                                          Source - TripAdvisor

 It is the second most populous city in Canada. It was founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, on an island in the St. Lawrence River.

EXPO67 was held there - and I got back there to visit it. It is home to the Montreal Canadiens hocly team and the former Expos. One place to visit is St. Joseph's Oratory.
Check here for highlights.


Be sure to check here to see what others around the world have done for M.

ABC Wednesday - K

This week, ABC Wednesday brings us K.

K is for Kingston, Kapuskasing, Kenora and Keswick - towns/cities in Ontario that I have visited
As well as Kamloops and Kelowna in B.C. that I haven't visited.


But K is also for Knit the Bridge, Cambridge.
This event took place in September 2010 and was a huge community effort.
People donated thousands of scarves, hats, and afghans, which were sewn together and covered the bridge in Cambridge.

Be sure to visit here to see what others around the the world are doing for K.

ABC Wednesday - J

This week at ABC Wednesday, J gets the nod.

J is for Jasper National Park.
The park is west of Edmonton and north of Banff National Park. At over 11,000 sq.km., it is the largest National Park in the Rockies.
You can visit lakes, icefields; hike in the mountains and visit the town of Jasper. 
I've been once and was blown away by the beauty.

Visit here.

ART on Friday

Another week has sped by and it is time once again to share a few pieces I have completed this week.
I enjoy several challenges which post themes either weekly or monthly. It gives an opportunity to challenge oneself and interact with other bloggers.

Sunday Postcard Art
The theme this week at Sunday Postcard Art  was "Books and Reading" - one of my favourite pastimes/passions.

Linking this postcard as well with More Mixed Media Challenge - with the theme "Anything Goes"

Tag Tuesday

The theme for the next two weeks at Tag Tuesday is "Paris". I've never been but would love to go sometime. I studied French all the way through school and having passing ability.

29 Faces

Here are the last 3 faces I have drawn for the challenge at "29 Faces"

Mini Scrap Notebook

Here are 2 collages I did this week in my small collage notebook:

Full Moon Dreamboard
This week there was a full moon and I decided it was necessary to create a full Moon dreamboard for the Full Harvest Moon.
Jamie Ridler hosts monthly dreamboard creations and the question she encourages us to focuson during the creation of it was:
"What dreams do you wish to bring to fruition?"

As I searched through my stash of words and images,  I was surprised to find several of my past OLW - Shine, Joy,Bloom, as well as the word for this year - Cultivate.
With just a few more months til the end of the year, it is well past time to cultivate those dreams - creativity, health, faith and home.

Linking as well with:

Paint Party Friday

Bloggers Pit Stop 

Inspire Me Monday

Over the Moon Link Party

ABC Wednesday -I

This week at ABC Wednesday, I gets centre stage.


I is for islands - especially Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland - two of Canada's provinces. (although technically, Newfoundland includes Labrador)

I have visited Prince Edward Island  - over twenty years ago-  and still remember the beauty of this island. We swam in the ocean, walked the long beaches, visited the home of Anne of Green Gables and traveled around the east coast.
I have never been to Newfoundland - but it is on my bucket list. Viking sites, whale and iceberg watching, gorgeous scenery all await.

Visit Newfoundland and Labrador here
and Prince Edward Island here.


Be sure to check here to see what others around the world have done for I.

ART on Friday

A new month begins and a return to blogging. I have taken an extended time away from posting, from writing, from art. And I missed it - so it was the right thing to do.

I am returning with my regular feature "ART on Friday" and although I have not created much this week, I have a few things to share.

Collage
I haven't done many collages at all this summer so decided to work again in my mimi scraps notebook.
Here's a simple collage of scraps.

29 Faces/ 365 Challenge
A new daily challenge at "29 Faces" has started and the theme to begin with is Princess Di. Hard to believe it has been 20 years since she passed away.
I am using my 365 challenge book to create the faces this month.

Vintage
The theme of Old Fashioned at "Take a Word Challenge" 


and Vintage at Mixed Media Monthly Challenge,

had me creating this card:

Tag Tuesday
The theme at Tag Tuesday is "Back to School"

Linking as well with:

Paint Party Friday

Inspire Me Monday

Blogging Grandmothers Link Party

Creative Artiste

ABC Wednesday - H

This week at ABC Wednesday, H is our letter of focus.

Well, I have not been too happy today - difficulty with my computer and my new internet provider have hindered my ability to post. But, even if I lack photos, I am posting!

H is for cities and towns  in Ontario that  start with H and that I have visited.

H is for Hamilton - home to the Hamilton Tiger Cats (football team), Dundurn Castle, and the Art Gallery of Hamilton - to name just a few highlights. Hamilton also has the hospital where my husband had his kidney transplant and still attends transplant clinics several times a year. 

H is also for Haliburton - a lovely town that hosts a summer of art courses at the Haliburton School of Fine Arts. For many years I attended a week of classes with my children - a fabulous way to spend a holiday- with art and cottaging.

H is also for Hastings,Havelock, Hearst and Holland's Landing.


H is also for Halifax, Nova Scotia - a city I have not visited but am so eager to too.

ABC Wednesday - G

This week at ABC Wednesday, G is the letter of focus.

G is for geese - Canada geese that is!

Be sure to check here to see what others around the world did for G.

ABC Wednesday - E and F

This week at ABC Wednesday, F is front and centre.

F is for FLAG

Every country has a flag that is symbolic of that country.

Until 1965, Canada shared the Union Jack with  Britain. The struggle to get its own flag is quite a fascinating story. But on February 15, 1965, the new flag was inaugurated at Parliament Hill.

The red borders and 11 point stylized red maple leaf is easily one of the most recognizable flags in the world.

And I am so very proud of it.

E and F stand for the two official languages of Canada

English and French.

Canadians study French all through school and I truly believe that learning a second language improves our minds. I just wish that we could all be more bilingual.


Be sure to check here to see what others around the world did for F.

ABC Wednesday - C

This week at ABC Wednesday, C is front and centre.

C is, of course, for Canada and Canadian - my homeland and nationality, of which I am very proud.

C is also for Calgary and the Calgary Stampede.

Our honeymoon, 15 years ago, was spent in Calgary, a place I had visited many times before.

But I had never been to the Stampede.  We had a grand time visiting the city and the stampede.

The first Calgary Stampede was held in 1912. Now it is held for 10 days in early July and is called "the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth".

It began with a parade downtown and pancake breakfasts.

There were so many competitions and exhibits to see. We watched bull riding, chuck wagon racing, bronco riding

and toured buildings and exhibits.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.



Be sure to visit here to see what others around the world did for C.