A picture tells a thousand words. Or does it?

Extra Carricular Activities

I reciently obtained a new job as a retail store manager.  I have worked within the retail environment for a number of years, in just about all positions.  My previous employment was with a bix box retail store, I was hired as a supervisor with promises of near future advancement.  My goal within that position was to prove my abilities and be placed in the management trainee position within a year, which was promised to me.  I would like to state for the record that I worked HARD!  I dont mean I arrived at work on time everyday and did my job and went home.  No I mean I regularily went over and above my expected duties and stayed plenty of excess hours to get jobs done.  Shortly after starting I was asked to take a small advancement to the Overnight Replenishment Crew.  This position would help prove that I was capable of being in complete control and would surely move me faster towards my goal.  So I took it.  It turned out to be the biggest mistake I could make.  You see they took advantage of the fact that I was new within the company and had little knowledge of the history of the position.  It didnt take long for me to reolize that by accepting this position I sealed my fate within this establishment.  I was stuck. 

This didnt stop me from giving my very best and continuing to try to prove my ability for advancement, I continued to work hard.  I should give an example of what I mean by working hard:  For instance, Each year retail stores have inventory, the store I was working in had some stock issues which made inventory prep very difficult.  Years and years of people takeing product off the floor and stuffing 100+ different items into one box is just a small example of the challenges that faced us.  One inventory my assistant and I worked for 32 hours straight.  I dont mean we took a few hours here and there to eat or nap, I mean we worked 32 hours straight.  While the store management was at home sleeping we were killing ourselves to ensure the store was prepared for inventory.  We put out stock, we counted keif skids (48 of them in total)  we swept, cleaned...  The morning nearing the end of this illegaly long shift our boss came in (morning of the count) and you would think we were recieved with warmth and thanks for the extra effort we had put forth to prepare for this day.  Nope!  We got yelled at, yep yelled at.  You see one of the tasks we had to complete was getting all the boxes off the stockroom floor and out from under the recieving belt.  Well with everything else we had accomplished we had not yet gotten to that task.  Now I feel the need to explain that it wasnt like when the boss came in we were standing at the door ready to go or anything, we were still working upon the bosses arrival that morning.  Our boss found it necessary to make a big deal about calling people into the stockroom to "finish our job for us"  This job litterally took two people less than 5 minutes to complete.  (Obviously a very big and important job that needed to be complete before the bosses arrival)  Finally the very very long working day ends for us and our boss, "friend, family, company" pours us exhausted into my car and says, "drive carefully".  A task not possible after 32 hours streight of physical labour.  So I drive my assistant home and head home myself.  Have you ever been in a position where you litterally have to smack yourself in the face to stay awake?  Yep that was me all the way home.  Window down, music blairing, slapping myself in the face.  If that isnt dedication and hard work I dont know what is.

Still no advancement.  That is not to say the carrot wasnt dangeling.  It hung there just out of reach.  Jenn if you do this we will put you in the training program, if you do that we will put you in the training program.. I heard that so often that the carrot began to rot.  It was still hanging there but now it was rotten and I no longer wanted a bite. 

Finally I had enough and decided to begin looking for another job.  I looked to a smaller retail company and got a job as a store manager.  I was excited and terrified.  What if I really wasnt good enough?  What if the big box company was right to not advance me?  What if? What if? What if?  But I couldnt stand working for the big box any longer so I took the manager job and began my training.  I have been working for the company I know work for, for about 6 months.  I have been transfered around a bit but have learned something valuable from each and every store I have worked in. 

After 6 months with the company I recieved my first performance review just a few days ago.  I was scared.  Was I going to hear about all the what its I had imagined before taking the position?  Was I doing good enough?  I sat down to my new boss sitting in front of me with a smile on his face and I relaxed a bit.  In my past experience performance reviews were more than a little dissapointing.   Even in the years that I did really well my performance reviews were bad.  "Not because of your performance but because of the stores overall performance"  So I was not fully prepared for the breath of fresh air I was about to recieve.  My boss leaned into his desk and said "Jenn of all the other management trainees your resume wasn't the best we got and your experience wasnt the best, but you came with it"  He said that I took the trainee package and gave it everything I have.  He then went on to say that I steped over the heads of all of the others with better resumes and experience and was the first trainee to get my own store.....   The meeting went on and on like this and I walked out feeling like a million bucks.  For the first time someone had recognized that I am dedicated and give my job my all. 

If all retail establishments would reolize that for those people like me who have a drive to be successful and want to advance need to hear we are doing well and to take our advancement desires seriously, they would have plenty of very hard workers.

Begin the extra carricular activities!  Hearing that my hard work was being seen I am now more determined than ever to really show my abilities.  I now have a few projects underway.  I am using my creativity to attract more footsteps into my little store as well as convince customers to go online to fill out our survey.   Already my extra efforts have been recognized.  yesterday my boss recognized my efforts in front of all my peers on our weekly conference call. 

Could it get any better than this?

Jesus Camp

This posting is for a beloved friend, whom I love to tease!  This freindship is truly special.  It is rair to find someone you can have such long converations that go so far yet travel in circles.  We travel great distances with much sacrifice only to discover we are exactly where we started.  We search the world to discover that what is already within us. 

Pam and I had a lengthy conversation about God.  For some history I had watched a documentary called "Jesus Camp" and was horrified by what I had seen.  I am a recovering Caholic, forced to sit through countless hours of "training"  Taught that God is a seperate being which we must "please"  How do you please "him"?  By obaying rules, rules which were created by humans (get this) to be broken!  If you obay the "rules" and "please" God you will have earned your place in paradise (Heaven).  At the end of it all, you have been taught to Fear God, thus fear yourself.  As Pam puts it God is within everything, nothing can be without God and God can not be seperate from anyone or anything.  So we search outside of ourselves to find what is really within!  conclusion:  God is asleep within us "Life is but a dream"  waiting to wake up. 

After watching "Jesus Camp"  I was (and if I am honest still am) angry by what I had seen.  This Woman (preacher) was asking of CHILDREN to commit to "Laying down their LIFE for Jesus"  A concept that no child can truly understand.  In my eyes the Catholic religion is built on fear and guilt.  (Look at the fear in the little girls eyes... above)  These children truly want to "please" God, but how can they when they have to commit to rules that they can not possibly keep?  When I was watching I was very much distracted by the message she was getting through loud and clear to me.  Read between the lines and come up with this.... Dont break any of the rules I have not already broken.. (The ones she has already broken are not significant enough to keep her from gaining her place in heaven)  It seemed convenient to me that she had skipped over the "rules" she had herself broken and focused on those that she may not have.  I am not saying here that she needs to be perfect, no one is and keeping in mind those rules were created to be broken.  But to pass judgement on any other person or expectations on any other person is to pass judgement on God and yourself.  So here I go passing judgement... like I said there isnt perfection anywhere.  Remember I am a recovering catholic... I'm not there yet.  But working on it.

Where we got and where we came from?  The same place.  God is within, not seperate.  You are God, I am God and Pam is God.  When God wakes up within us there will lie trouth and contentment.  Leaving in its wake the need to think, talk and search.  I am still talking... Someone pour cold water on me and wake me up!!!!

Weekend in Grand Bend

This weekend my partner and I set off to visit some friends in Grand Bend.  We were not detered by the bad weather that presented itself the previous day or the fact that it took me 4 1/2 hours to get home from the halfway mark (Kitchener) during that storm.  Nope we packed our stuff in the car and set out with enthusiasm.  We were going to Grand Bend. 

For those who have not had the opportunity to visit grand bend I highly recomend the trip.  For us Grand Bend has many attractions.  First and most importantly, good friends.  It is amazing how you can get together with friends and spend litterally days talking and debating.  Pam is a professional mind challenger.  She successfully forces us to think and challenge our own thoughts.  Do you think I am right Pam?  (Smile)  Bruce is a riot!  You want to hear a story Bruce is the one to tell it.  Maybe a little imbelleshed but always interesting.  Another draw.  The utter beauty of the town.  Summer winter or anything between.

Here have a look.

It seems that each turn you make presents something new and exciting to explore.  Just ask Bruce!  If anyone knows the treasures and hiding spots of Grand Bend its Bruce.  The beautiful thing about winter in this community is that it is primarily a summer destination soooo.. if you see something interesting in someone elses yard there is no one there to ask you to leave. 

This morning before leaving town (relcutantly) I decided to take my camera out for a walk to see what we could see and happened upon this wonderful "flee Market"  I think it is more of an Antique market but who asked me?  There was treasure upon treasure presented to me in the back of this shop.

All in all the trip as always was wonderful.  Great conversation, great food, great entertainment and wonderful hosts.  Thanks Pam and Bruce for your hospitality.

A walk on the beach

We have some good friends who live in Grand Bend and allow us to take over their home every now and then.  The perks?  They live in a beautitul cottage community with a private beach.  The house is amazing, I fell in love with the whole area the first time I layed eyes on it.  You always know when you go there you are going to meet with good friends, beautiful scenery and have a wonderful time.  How lucky we are to have friends to share their environment with us. 

The beach in Grand Bend is fanominal!  The water is clear and blue like the ocean, the closest thing I have seen to the ocean in Ontario.  Let me take you on a walk....

On this day we chose a nice quiet spot on the beach to take in the sun and watch people play.  Down the beach about 300 meters there were a few kids, bussily working away at the sand.  For hours and hours they were running back and forth from the water to their creation.  Hours after the kids had left the beach for dinner my camera and I took a walk over to their masterpiece.  They did a wonderful job!  Although the tide and nature eventually washed it all away their masterpiece will remain for all the world to see in my photographs.

As the sun begins to set in the distance the masses dock or anchor and come a shore, leaving their toys to bob in the waves until the next day.

Another quite and peaceful evening on the beach.  Chairs sit in peaceful wait for their owners to apreciate their cool comfort once again.

What can I say Fung Shuei.

I did it... results

Last weekend I asked for you to wish me luck on my winter outing to take some new pictures... the results are in... This brings up my point that I really need to invest in a digital camera to get the results out a little faster. 

First I will tell you a little about the shoot then later the photo finishing.  Saturday morning I get in my car and begin the not so long trip out to Jack Darling park in Oakville.  Jack darling park is one of those Urban parks that given the weather is good you could not get a picture if you wanted to, on those days there are litterally thousands of people walking, biking, rollerblading or walking their dogs through this park.  So the best bet is to go on a cold day.  Suck it up, you want some good pics dont you?  As I have said before I can no longer stand the bitter cold that comes with winter anymore.... sooooo.. I put on some long johns a pair of track pants and some jeans, then pile on a tank top a tee shirt two sweaters and a jacket.  Borrow a scarf , hat and gloves and I am ready to go. 

Shit I forgot to put on extra socks, now my feet are colder than Ice cubes in the Arctic!  Oh well.  The day is great so far a storm is coming in but so far the sky has some nice clouds and the sun is shining...

Jack darling park is good in the winter for ice.  the water from the lake freezes to the rocks trees and anything else in its path.  So two things are iminant.  One the scenery will be beautiful and Two I run a good chance of slipping and ending up in the lake!  I am good like that and often risk my own warmth and safety to get a good picture. 

Oh how I love this part of the beach!  When I was a teenager I would collect some of these flat rocks to paint on.  Today I happen upon something interesting.  The water moved up and the rocks froze then the water moved back and created this cave  the only thing holding all these rocks up is ice..  There is not two layers of land here.

These trees are interesting any time of year, but I really enjoyed the ice that formed around the base of the tree and the saplings growing at the bottom.

I have been hiking and taking pictures along this trail for 10 years and just discovered this little treasure last weekend.  Apparently I am not the first to see it.

I am going to leave you today with some wood and hope you enjoyed soe of the photo's I froze my ass off to take.  Trust me It was worth it and I will do it again!  Minutes after I took the last shots of the day the storm rolled in and the clouds were lost, sunshine gone... Talk about good timing.

On to development.  Well I am the type of person who gets excited about the outcome of my photographs which leaves me impatient with the developing process.  One hour photo finishing is my best friend.  You dont get the best outcome when you rush the developing process but hey with some things I am not known to be patient.  So I trod off to wal-Smart and put them in and brouse for a while.  Happily I came upon some snow pants and they are on SALE!  WooHoo!  Next time I wont be so cold.  I then venture into the optomitrist.  You see it is hard to get the focus right when taking pictures when you have been wearing the same 6 month disposible contact lenses for years.  They had gotten to the point that i felt like someone had put vasiline on them just to make everything blurry.  To the optomitrists horror when he pulled out my file and reolized that my last perscription was in 2002 and my last lenses had been bought in 2004, he gave me a temporary pair to clear things up until I could come for my appointment.  Wow so this is what the world really looks like.  Thank GOD for automatic focus!

Frozen solid

Today is one of those days that you just dont want to get out of bed!  Last nights snow storm brought with it cold and wind not to mention not yet plowed snow.  Traffic is going to be an utter mess, it will take two hours to get to your 20 minute destination.  All to go manage a store that will be lucky to have a handfull of customers to serve for the day!  Staff will call in.... "the busses are not running"... "i cant get the car started"... "its too cold out.. I'm gonna stay in bed".. (exactly what you wanted to do)  So not only do you have to face the world you also have to be the stock clerk.. cashier... customer service personel... and well what you really came to do , Manage the store.  At the end of it all you have the good fortune of fighting traffic again, another 2 hours in the car.... I should just stay in bed!  Ill bring some good CD's with me for the trip instead.  Make the best out ot the time in the car,

Dont you miss the days when you were in school and if they cancelled the bus you got to stay home.  No one to call and feel guilty to, then you would throw on your snowsuit and really have a fun day.  Building snow men, making snow angels, toboggening, snow ball fights.  Ahhh those were the days.  Now with responsibilities in hand its time to face the music (litterally 2 hours of it on the way in)  I hope someone really needs the valentines chocolates they will brave the weather to come get.  Wish me luck.

Algonquin

Algonquin park is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. My partner and I choose to go camping there whenever possible.  In no other place do you have the opportunity to choose what type of camping you can do.  You can go "car camping" backpacking or canoe tripping.  Algonquin caters to whatever type of camper you are.  You can car camp and still enjoy day hiking trips or canoe trips.  As well you have a very good chance to spot some kind of wild animal along your way.  Rairly does a weekend go by without spotting something interseting.  My favorite part of Algonquin is the quiet mornings.  If you are up early enough to walk down to the beach, It will be you, the sunrise and the loons.

There really is nothing like taking a warm blanket and chair down to the lake at sunrise and take in all the wonderful sights and sounds of nature.  If you are really quiet you might even get to witness a moose , deer or bear coming down for a morning drink. 

The guided hiking trails offer amazing paneramic views of the park mixed with a telling history of the area.  Not to mention the great exercise you get.   The best part about it is there is so much to see and experience that you hardly reolize you are getting a work out.  Until after that is.

If you are like me and you are scared shitless of bears I suggest you attach something that creates a little noice on you pack.  I've been told they are more scared of me than I am of them.  I don't know about that the likelyhood of me making a bear my dinner is less than me becoming its dinner.  However I can say without question I haven't been bothered by one yet.  I have however seen some excruciatingly FRESH tracks though. 

(This is Pam and Kim)

Let me tell you a little story about fear.  My partner and I went camping with our friends Pam and Kim.  Pam and Kim brought along a friend for the weekend.  The first day was a lot of fun, sitting around having a few drinks and getting to know our new friend.  Kim and I have been known to be... well lets just say sensitive to the goings on outside our tents at night.  We are the ones who insist all food gets locked in the cars and the campsite is SPOTLESS before we retire to what we hope is an uneventful night.  On this night as the other girls quietly read in their tent my girlfriend and I drift nicely off to sleep.  All of a sudden I am awoken by the movement of some creature outside our tents followed by some rustling AND... OH MY GOD GROWLING!!!!   I hop out of bed, unzip the tent about an inch and yell "KIM... KIM.... KIM... DID YOU HEAR THAT?"  OH SHIT KIM I THINK ITS A BEAR!"  I am met back with Jenn I think its just a raccoon... No Kim it was Growling!  I dont see anything Jenn, I hear rustling but what Growling are you talking about?  I dont hear any Growling.  Now I am thinking Kim must be suffering from hearing loss!  How can she not hear the Growling?  And Damn it now I have to piss.  To those of you who camp you know what I mean.  When camping for some reason when you have to go you have to go RIGHT NOW!  Not in 5 minutes (when the Bear leaves your site, nope now)

Well turns out Pam and Kim's friend has a small snoring problem and that snoring just happens to sound like a hungry bear coming to pluck Jenn right out of her tent in the middle of the night for a snack!  The snoring with the rustling of what must have been a raccoon looking for what scraps he might find, sounded a fuck of a lot like a bear.  The fear of bears can be almost paralizing.  I was beginning to prepare to fight for my life and the lives of my partner and friends.  This bear was not snacking here tonight!  Granted the mini heart attack I had and the undeniable need to pee may have distracted me but I was eyeballing my tent for something hard or sharp to defend us with. 

Needless to say Algonquin is beautiful, nature is beautiful, bears at night are terrifying!

Playin with the camera again!

I bought my girlfriend and my niece roses the other day, just for being the wonderful people they are.  I decided to take some close up pictures of them.  My girlfriend bought me a magnifying filter for my camera for Christmas and I haven't had the opportunity to play with it much yet.  So when you have a beautiful rose sitting in front of your face what better thing to do but take some photos?

This one has a velvety quality to it. You tell me which ones you like more. 

A little further away and in full view.  Like art some people like the pieces they imediately recognize as being something and some prefer the allour of those that make them think.

The droplets of water add cherictor to a piece.  Something of interest that makes your eyes dance around the piece and take in all the qualities.

A little photo shop to make things a little more interesting?

This one is my personal favorite.  It has the close up qualities that allows you to see all the delecite edges of the flower and has the droplets that make your eye travel the photo. 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.  Todays mission is to head out into the cold and get some new winter photographs.  This will be my first winter photography trip this year.  I plan to hit the lakeshore and see what veiwing wonders are happening there this winter then off to the country to see what the rural country side is offering up this morning.  Wish me luck!

Twins

Born in 1979 to a loving mother and father Twins.  Imagine technology back in the day offered little more than an idea of what was to come.  So upon discovering she was pregnant, my mother attended regular doctors appointments.  At these appointments she would have the opportunity to hear her Baby's heartbeat.  At some point during the early portion of her pregnancy it became evidant that she was larger than she should have been.  That is when the doctor put the stethescope back up to my mothers stomach and heard a second heart beat. 

During the previous appointments our heart beats had been simotanious leading medical professionals to believe there to be only one baby.  Now the news.. Congratulations!  You are having "TWO OR MORE"....

And thus begings the blessings and trials and tribulations of the life of twins.

Early years are really very good, you always have someone your own age to play with, not to mention going to school and making friends was easy.  You already have an advantage over the other children... You started with a friend. 

Preschool was interesting My sister and I are identical but could not have more seperate personalities.  A young boy took a liking to us, or should I say Julifer, poor kid had no idea there were two of us.  This child is probably still in theropy for the confusion he met when interacting with us.  My sister Julie would play nicely with the little guy even blossoming a little romantic relationship with him.  They would hold hands and kiss.  When he found his way over to me and held my hand and kissed me he would be met with a slap.  Feelings hurt he would walk away in tears not understanding why this behavior was okay some times and others he got hit for it. 

As years passed it became more and more obvious that yes we looked the same but could not be more different.  Julie was worried about her looks and enjoyed the more precious things in life.  While I played sports and if it didnt smell I would wear it.  My main focus was comfort, forget heals and makeup, give me running shoes and jeans. 

If you are not a twin then you could never understand a few facts about the long term effects of growing up as a multiple.  One is the capacity for love.  As a twin you have had to share everything and this training started earlier than even birth!  (Yep even had to share a womb)  You always have to take someone else into consideration, comprimise is instilled earlier than you even know what the word comprimise means.  This all translates into your adult relationships, When everyone else is learning how to live as a pair, you are already an expert.  You quickly become extreamly attached and involved in your relationship.  What you have to learn is how to be an individual and survive on your own.  Twins tend to be a little needy.  Remembering that a twin has never had to be alone.  You are seen as a part of someone else.  People refer to you not by name but by a part of a group of "twins". 

Second is boundaries.  This one was the hardest for me.  I grew up vowing to always go to the ends of the earth for my sister.  Afterall she is a part of me!  The mere thought of her passing away was enough to reduce me to tears!  If she died how could I look at myself in the mirror again.. I would just see her.  I now vew this similarity as a blessing and reolize that as long as I am here or as long as she is here we will live on in eachother.  Back to bounderies.  as a twin there are no bounderies, you share the same room, cloths, friends litterally everything.  Jesus you even share the same body.  I know my sisters body inside and out because physically we are the same.  So as an adult how do you now learn to have bounderies with eachother?  To learn to respect eachother as an individual, to respect eachothers space and posessions?  This was the most difficult task.  To require your sister (the second part of you) must call before coming over, must ask before taking things that are yours.  Learning to say no to her was like learning to say no to me. 

I love my sister with all my heart and care that she is okay and being treated well.  I am just saying that being a twin is not entirely a blessing.  It has its perks and it has its faults.  If i need to talk I always have someone to call.  But the lessons most people learn in their childhood are reserved for adult learning when you are a twin.

Nature what a beautiful thing

Its interesting how photographers who have not chosen photography as a career long to have their art seen by the world.  I can tell you there is nothing more frusterating then getting a roll of film developed and being excited at the outcome of the picture you cut you knee getting, and have no one to share it with.  This is a great forum and I hope you enjoy my photographs as much as I have enjoyed sharing them..  Lets go on a walk through the canadian wilderness.

I took this photo in the Pinery in fall.  The tree had at one point fallen leaving just a tall stump, which the sun has spent years bleaching.  I love the way it reachs towards the sky in a twisting display of elegance.

Ahhhh blueberries, the poor mans pocket change.  Take yourself out in the north and collect up some of these beauties and sell them to street vendors and lunch is paid for.  If you can collect more than you eat!

One thing I love about Canada is fall.  Granted it is an indication that winter is coming and besides the nice pictures that snow allows you to take, I could do without that season.  Fall is a time of wonderous colours and landscape.  Either close up or in the distance.  OH Canada.....

Who wouldda thunk mould could be so alluring?  Its amazing what you will find on a hike and what stops you in your tracks.  For me a bright orange lump of mould is a good reason to open back up the camera bag.

Need another reason to have a camera ready.  The interesting thing about this picture is not just that Moose happened across our way.  Nope (although that was cool all in itself) it was the extreme rairity of seeing a mother with two babies.  Moose only give birth to multiples when it is her last opportunity to bear children.  Even then it is rair.  Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

Looked up at any trees lately?  This one was on FIRE!

Hay!  Where are the horses?  This is how farmers keep their feed fresh.  Like milk, keep it cold and it lasts longer.

Taking this picture just felt right.  I wanted to under expose the free and over expose the sun to give the Halo effect to the tree.  Doesnt it look spiritual?

The life of a lesbian

I wish to dedicate this entery to the love of my life, Shannon.  My partner and I have been together for almost 9 years.  Some of them absolutely wonderful and others absoute Hell!  But through it all my love for her has never waivered.  Shannon is an amazingly layered person, with a mix of intellect, humour and kindness.  We have been known to sit around for hours and hours just talking, litterally about everything.  Like most good unions we simply fit in every way possible, she has stood firm by me in my dark times and I her in hers.  But most of all we laugh.

Sorry to disapoint those who were looking for some lee press on high heal wearing lesbian bimbo's like you see in the movies.  Let me enlighten you for a moment here (I feel the need)  NO Lesbians and I do mean NONE, sport ginsu's for finger nails during intimate moments.

Essentially our love is the same as any other.  There are exciting moments and moments that the only excitement is what is happening on CNN, but at the end of the day two wonderfully suited beautiful woman kiss eachother good night and turn out the lights.

try this.. damn I am having a hard time posting my pics

Winter tree

Okay folks we've got this just about figured out.  Now if I could just figure out how to display the pictures side by side I would be all good.  Practice makes perfect I suppose! 

Off to work again

It seems in this busy world that just as you are finishing one day of work the next is already aproaching.  Its hard to find the time to do the things that make you really stop and enjoy the day. 

Apparently my photos are not coming up so you can check out my link to flicks and see them there.  Or at least some of them... Enjoy!

Deep Freeze

Some Photo's for your viewing pleasure!

Photography allows me to take a step back from the hussle of daily life and take a few moments to enjoy the beauty surrounding me.  Wherever I am.

Lets begin in Cuba...

My first ever trip outside of Canada.  Who wouldn't fall in love with a place of such beauty and hospitality.  Cuba was an amazing experience for me.  Full of firsts!  My first time in a plane, in the ocean, for what it is worth in a forien country.  The people were amazing and the country is beautiful.  To my surprise coconuts were not what I thought they were?  They were bright green and surprisingly fasited to their branches on the palm trees.  Definately not what you would find on your local grocers fruit stand!

Back to Canada!  Home of the Free...zing!

Okay I am not doing those who think Canada is eternally winter any good!  But you have to admit fresh snow and Ice makes for a great photo Op!  Notice there are no Igloo's here!  Thats right we do live in houses and apartments like most of the rest of the world.

Shall we move on to the beauty and warmth of summer?

Lets!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91095658@N00/?saved=1

I am so greatful to live in a country where the beauty and wonder of nature is nearly on your door step.  My partner and I have spent many a day and night exploring the Canadian wilderness and have countless wonderful memories together in these places.  We have camped all over Ontario and highly recomend doing so yourself if you have it in you to take it slow and stop every few feet to snap a picture or examine something new or beautiful for the first time. 

About me... Well as you can already see I love the outdoors and photography.  What you might not know is that I am a 28 (I cant believe it, already?) year old lesbian.  I have an amazing partner of almost 9 years with whom I am madly in love with.  Shannon is a truly amazing person!  She is strong, spiritual and intellegant.  Best of all we enjoy the same things!  Wether we are just sitting in watching movies or talking or conquering the next long hike together, we are happy to just have one another and enjoy our time together.  I am also a twin and my sister has two beautiful children, who love their antie Shannon.  What can I say she is more fun than me!  In work to pay the bills but live to love!

Let me introduce you to my brother.

this is my little man!  Well he isnt so little anymore!  He now towers above me.  I can't believe how fast he grew.  One day you are reading bedtime stories and the next he is halfway through highschool and dating.  He stole my heart the first time he looked up at me and still steals it today when I look up at him.

I'll leave you today kayaking at sunset with friends.  Could it get any better than this?