River Mist on a very Cold Day

It was cold last Saturday: so very cold: -45° cold with the wind chill as a matter of fact — pretty much in either scale. We were on our way to a birthday bash; I took a back route, crossed this bridge, and noticed all of the mist. Since I had my camera in the car, I backtracked, got out, and snapped a few very quick pics — too darn cold to linger.

This is the town's little bridge over our Mississippi River (not THAT Mississippi River). It has a name, but I don't know it right now. Next time I must read the plaque that is visible near the bottom on the photo. But my eyeballs would have frozen that day.

I did venture onto the bridge and shot a few photos looking upriver with the old railway bridge in the frame. The mist was very heavy that way.

The Falls at Almonte

Overall, we have had a uniquely warm winter, but with the windchill factor the "feels like" temperature did go down to almost -45C (which is also just about -45F) the other day. That is the coldest windchill temperature for that day since such records began to be kept in 1953.

On the previous day, Sue needed some craft supplies from the town of Almonte (silent e at the end), about 10 minutes north of us. While she went into the store, I crossed over to the falls to snap some quick pics, Even though it wasn't quite as cold (as -45) on that day, the wind was strong and I just about perished (he said without a  hint of exaggeration).

So the pics are hurried, but I thought you might like to see them anyway. Keep in mind that the winter has been relatively mild, and I have seen much more of an ice buildup in other years.

The fall from water exiting the old hydro station

The subsequent photos are from about the same spot as the one above but with the camera zooming and focusing on different spots. It probably would have been good to have had my longer lens on this day.

The Old Mill at Ashton

We did our self-indulgent Valentine's treat on Thursday by driving to the little hamlet of Ashton where there is a pub: The Old Mill at Ashton or aka The Ashton Pub. It is an English-style pub (quite authentic I am told) with soccer banners galore and other artefacts. Since there were quite a few other customers, I was circumspect with my camera. I did sneak this photo of us and our server in the mirror.

Meanwhile. behind Sue were many vintage pictures of WWII type planes. (Perspective: look how big the hand nearest the camera looks.)

I am not a big beer drinker, but since this place brews their own, I had to try one. I chose the last on the board: Winter Berry Wheat. It was mild, which is good for me, and I liked the berry flavour.

I asked to see the kettles. Some of these little brewery/restaurants have rather beautiful kettles/tanks, so I asked to see theirs. Unlike the showy copper kettles which I have seen, these were located in the gloomy basement and were pretty plain. Notice the suds spilling out of the top. Apparently, some ales behave this way, while in others they settle to the bottom.

Back upstairs, I took two shots of the bar. As in the kettle photo, the ABC logo, for Ashton Brewing Company, is quite prominent. They say it's good to learn your ABCs.

The banners are all of local fairs and not British ones.

As I type this, there is a windchill of -43C/-45F, so I am not anxious to venture outside. We do have to attend a birthday gala this afternoon, however. Hopefully, it will be a little less bitter by then.

Valentine's Day

It is THAT day, but Sue has had some decs up for some time. On a shelf above the tv we have red hearts and other red things along with a snowman and some strip lighting (and a speaker). Since this is about the coldest time of year in Canada, I think the juxtaposition of the snowman is trés appropos.

There is nothing like being kissed by an angel on Valentine's Day ... or any day, really.

This cute little dish has been out for awhile now. Danica likes the heart candy with messages. JJ doesn't like most candy. I tell him that he is a lucky fellow.

My Love, My Lady, Mari Moi

Both above and below are focus stacked: actually the angles too. When you get close, it is difficult to get all parts of the subject in focus, so you change the focus on a series of shots. You then let Photoshop choose blend the various images to attain the sharpest result throughout.

Yes, do be mine.

The last image was taken with an extender to get me closer as I don't have a true macro lens.

I used the two candy dish images in my card to Sue.

front of card

inside of card

I Came Down With Mono

Yes, I did come down with mono — monochrome to be exact. As I do sometimes, I decided to convert some images — mostly portraits — to black & white. Actually, some are duotones, which means that some sort of colour has been superimposed on a b&w. It is duotone or split tone because a somewhat different colour is applied to the highlights and a different tone to the shadows. The first one below is an example as is the one later of Danica doing a Christmas craft.

Beginning with the boy, the first image is of him being my assistant by bearing my tripod one day last fall.

The next one is from his birthday. He was playing with some new Skylanders in the hall, just outside my den door. I was likely on the computer, and he likes to be near family.

Next comes Danica. In the first, she is doing something or other at the kitchen table, likely before school one day.

The next photo shows her working on Christmas crafts.

One recent morning we had a little cuddle on the chair. She looks a little mournful in the photo, but I think that's all it was — a look — as I don't remember her being sad that day. OTOH, I look happy because I am enjoying snuggle time.

Danica took this one of me the other day. She grabbed the camera and started shooting indiscriminately. I think I looked resigned in this photo, which I processed in a grngy sort of way.

Finally, I am tossing in two other b&w conversions, but they're not portraits. They are both of the Canoe Club building, and I liked the mono result better than the original colour for some reason.

7 Years Old

Jonathan celebrates his 7th birthday today. The celebration actually began yesterday when we had the kids all day. Gifts were given and there was lunch at A&W with dessert at Dairy Queen.

For the past few years, I have made a collage of JJ photos from the past year. This is his Year 7 collage.

I also put together a little homemade card. This is the front of this years version.

And this is the inside.

Dullsville

While it has been a mild winter around here — relatively speaking, of course — it has sure been dull most of the time. Witness this photo from the other day.

Does that turn your crank? Does it make you want to visit Ottawa in winter? No, I thought not.

Meanwhile, I have taken a few more inside shots. First, we have the lion sitting down (as opposed to the biblical lying down) with the lamb ... and a polar bear.

You may call this one T for Positive Terminal Defiance. Note: the battery brand is Defiant. I used glass underneath to get a bit of reflection.

And finally, for now, a composite. Sue has been gifted with these things in the past. First came the grandma and granddaughter figurine. This was followed with a grandson figure. At some point, the book was also presented. They sit on a shelf in the upstairs hall, but in a somewhat different configuration than what you see here.

Until next time ...