THE BEAUTY OF AUTUMN

(photo was taken in one of the municipal park of the city of Plessisville here in Quebec, Canada)

Hubby was away in the weekend of the Thanksgiving Day here in Canada. He spent 2 days in Montreal and he drop two of my balikbayan boxes for my family at the same time. I didn't go with him because I wanted to have a good rest here in the house after my tiring hours at work. I been working a lot and I guess I need time to relax. I took the Monday and Tuesday off from work. So hubby decided to come back home Monday morning and pick me up and we drove right away to Canton de l'est. He just enter in the house and pick up my things and we drove right away.

We avoided the highway. We drove through the country road and oh my, the colors of the trees were so beautiful. We didn't have a specific place to go. We just drove and check-in in the first hotel we saw at night. We continue driving the next day around Canton de l'Est then back home.

I'm telling you, it was one of the great drive we had. We didn't visited fancy places but it's worth it when I saw the beauty of Autumn :-) and of course, I took lots of photos as expected and so with hubby.

One of this days, I will try to upload some of the photos in my other blogsite..Photo above is one of the photo I took.

SO MUCH TO BE THANK FOR

I woke up today with fear in my heart.

Fear to be still unemployed after July (my employment insurance will end in end of July)

Fear for the health of my brother.

Fear for him if he can still go bact to his work or not.

(photo taken in my garden)

But all this fears vanished instantly when I received a phone call.

My former boss call me last month asking if I still want to work with him if he will reopen the resto where I worked before. I said yes because I love my work there and my salary was good. He didn't told when he will reopen. One day, he called me back and told me that the plan of the grand opening will be June 15 and that he will call me back if it's already fix.

I started to be worried when I didn't get any call from him since we are close to June 15 now. This morning, I got a call from him confirming that the grand opening will be June 30 but I have to work the week before the opening to do some preperation and train the new ones. I'm so happy knowing that I will work before my EI will end.

(photo taken in my garden)

I got in touch with my brother too this morning and he told me that he's fine now but there's just a little pain in his wound. My sister told him not to move a lot because the wound under is not yet heal. It's one thing that I'm thankful of, knowing that his health condition is getting better. Then he told me that he will go back to work after 15 days. See? how thankful I am? I'm so happy and blessed..Thank you so much Lord.

By the way, it's my first time joining Orange Tuesday meme..:-)

HUBBY'S FAVORITE

I know it's not all man loves flower but hubby really does. Before I came here, he only got tulips and lilac because he didn't have enough time to work in his flower because of his job. And aside from that, he always work outside the country. When I arrived here, he's no longer accepting job away from home unless it's urgent. He left only once for 1 year but I was with him though I didn't stay longer at where he was because I don't feel to stay in the hotel for 1 year.

Back to the flower, yes, he loves flowers as I do and we did our flower garden together. I don't like much of this flower (the photo above) but I still planted it for him. He likes this flower so much. So what we did, I chose the flowers I like and he chose his too and we planted together. Now, we both enjoy the flowers that we planted 5 years ago :-)

See more macro flowers here.

ADVENTURE IN ALBERTA

(Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada)

The Canadian Rocky Mountain in Alberta is one of the place that I was dying to visit for. We tried to plan for a visit but time didn't always permit us. One day, hubby was sent to Edmonton, Alberta by his company to work at the Refinery of Petro Canada for 4 months. He's going there for work not for vacation so I can't go with him though he stayed in a semi-suite room in the hotel. I already experience living in the hotel for 4 months in Seattle and I didn't like it. I can't cook and I need to go out everytime the housemaid came to clean the room. So I decided to stay home since hubby was allowed to visit his home every other weekend (plane ticket paid by the company). So instead of going home, he took a round trip ticket for me to visit him in Edmonton. I was there for 3 weeks which is not bad because I met my online friend for the first time there and she used to pick me up in the morning and drove me to the most visited places in Edmonton. And we use to cook to her place too which I like the most:-).

During the long weekend, hubby and I drove to Banff and Jasper. It was a long drive from Edmonton but we had a blast of fun in that trip. We stop many places for a visit and picture taking.

Photo above is the most famous Lake Louise in Alberta. We are so lucky because the weather was so nice. We really enjoyed that trip and hoping to visit the other part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain someday.

THE PROOF OF SPRING

It's been a while that the official spring season started but on the first day of spring, it was still snowing in our place. Then we had a week of sun and warm weather but then, the week after was rain and so cold. Yesterday was the only day of the week that we don't have rain and it was cloudy. We went to my friend's land under the wood yesterday and there, there were still some snow but the leaves of the trees are started to grow. The photo above is the only proof of spring in that area :-) I'm so glad that in my area, you can see green grass and some flowers are already blooming. This week will be a nice week. Sunny and getting warmer. We will take out the BBQ from the storage and have bbq this week:-)

SCARING WATERFLOW

I know scaring is not the right word to use but it really scares me how this water in the river flows. The water flows so strong and the noise of the waterfalls is very scaring. Every spring is like this. In some places here in our area, many houses are damage because of the overflow of water (I don't want to use "flooding" because it scares me) in the river.

My friend drove me to "Centrale Hydroelectrique" in St-Rafael. I like the place, it's so calm with lots of trees and birds. But at this time of the year, the water flow very strong and the color is brown but it is still impresive. I took few shoots and the photo above is one of them. I told my friend that we have to come back in the summer time. I'm sure hubby will love it too.

IN THE RIVER

We are very close to summer now. The weather here is very nice and no more trace of snow anywhere. It was so sunny yesterday and warm. My friend and I decided to have a good walk in the bike trail after church. We attended the mass in the church near the river where the bike trail is also located. The day will not be complete without taking some pictures. I brought my camera and I took few good pictures.

There were lots of wood trunks in the riverside that I really don't have any idea where they come from. My friend enjoy picking up some twigs while I enjoy taking pictures with them :-)

The photo above is one of the many trunks in the river side. I took this photo because I found it amazing, how they place accidentally with the waves that you think people did it. They are well arrange. I guess I will go back today to the river side. Maybe I can get another good shot since the weather is so nice again today.

PHOTOGRAPHY

(photo taken last summer somewhere in New Brunswick)

I felt so bad yesterday for not showing to my photography mini course. I was not feeling so well so I decided to cancel it. I really had a big reget why I did it. It's been long that I wanted to have a photography course and I cancelled it. I will try to contact him tomorrow and have another appointment.

I admit that I'm not really good in photography and I wanted to learn some tricks to have a good photo. Some of my photos were good but I don't have any idea why the result are like that. I wanted to know how to adjust the lights, apperture, ISO...ect. to get a better result. Hubby is giving me some tricks also but he's not a professional photographer. It's only a hobby.

I'm just hoping that I can get another appointment for the course.

STARLIGHT BEACH

( view of starlight beach)

My last visit to my family in Philippines was July 2009. It will be 2 years this coming July that I didn't see my family aside from webcam. I admit that I really miss them so much. I'm really looking forward to visit them again soon. I remember the last time I was there, I spent most of my time with my mom and the kids (my nephews and nieces). We always go swimming in the beach and the last beach that we been before I came back here in the Startlight Beach just close to where we live. My brother told me that it's a private beach but visitors are welcome.

I really love that place because it's very calm and we're the only visitors that were there. We used all the facilities they have and the entrance fee was very affordable.

If I can visit my family again soon, for sure I will come back to startlight beach and maybe spend a night there.

SPRING IS ON THE AIR

Winter is already finish but snow are still visible everywhere. I'm not worried at all because as I keep on telling you that I love winter but I admit that I'm also looking forward for the summer to come because I love to see my flowers blooming. Last year, we planted more plants and flowers in your front yard and in our back yard. I'm looking forward to see them blooming. We planted some plants and flowers that will attract birds. Hubby put 5 bird house in our back yard which is perfect for us to take picture if there are birds coming. We took few pictures last year and we're hoping to see more bird this year. We're so looking forward staying in our patio with our camera :-)

We planted more roses in the side of our house. Yellow, red, orange, pink and blue roses. The blue roses are not really blue. It looks like violet but they call them "blue moon roses". I'm also looking forward to see the new roses blooming.

That picture above is the rose we planted last 2007 and it blooms a lot last year but some of them was infected by insects. I did treatment last fall and I hope it will be okey this year.

CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE

Hershey's chocolate is one of my favorite. I bought few packs of it 3 weeks ago because it was a special at HMV and one of the pharmacy here. At first, I bought few packs at the pharmacy and I paid $1,99 per pack. I found it cheap so I bought in different sort. After few days, I went to HMV to check it the Gilmore Girls DVD is on special but it wasn't. I bought wii games instead and when I was about to go out, I saw a basket next to the door and it's full of Hersheys black chocolate in mint flavor. That's the only flavor they have. I bought few packs again because it's only $0.99 per pack. Oh boy! It was really a good special.

A week after, I was hospitalized due to too much acidity in my stomach. The doctor told me to avoid coffee, sweets, fatsc acidic foods and etc. I have no choice, I have to set aside this chocolate and eat them as soon as I'm okey hopefully after 1 month.

Well, somethimes, we have to sacrifice something for our own good and for my case, this chocolate to sacrifice :-(

THE BEAUTY OF AUTUMN

As I remember, this photo was taken somewhere in Charlavoix, Quebec during our trip there last year. We love to visit the place at least once a year but sometimes we did it every season. We both love nature and we don't mind spending money for a trip if you see the beauty of the nature.

It's very obvious that this photo was taken during autumn. I was very impress with the reflection of the tress in the lake. I was using my small camera at that time but still it gives a nice result.

Click here to see more watery photo.

HAPPY AND SAFE

We almost had fire in our house last Friday. There was an electrical explosion from the main box. Hubby and the carpenter were working in the basement when they heard a big "bang". I heard a noise in the morning when I was still in the bed but I didn't mind it because I thought it was only freezing rain. Good that it didn't happen when I was alone. Hubby and the carpenter thought that the patio was broken due to the heavy snow and the freezing rain. They went outside and clean the patio not knowing that it's already worst. They went back to the basement and continue working then the noise was getting stronger. The carpenter told hubby that it looks like an electricity failure. Hubby open the box and it explode. He call the 911 right away and fire trucks were coming in just a minute because we are just next to the fire station. They call the electrician right away and the electric company (hydro quebec) arrived to the cut the power. Then they reconnect it temporarily just for the weekend. And this morning, the electrician came back and put a new box for the electric power. They did a very good job. We are now happy and safe.


I chose that photo above for this week Macro Monday because it symbolize happiness. Why? I consider the bee happy while sipping the nectar of the flower :-)

Click here to see more macro photo

CAMERA CRITTERS #153 «BIRD»

I took the photo of this Parrot bird at Zoo Grandby 2 years ago.

Click here for more Camera Critters photo.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY-SEASON 4- EPISODE 35

My entry of this week Sky Watch Friday is a photo that I took in Seattle. Sorry but I don't know the name of this building. It's the building in front of space needle. I was in Seattle for 4 months visiting my hubby( he was working for a 1 year contract). He was staying in Vermont Inn just infront Space Needle for 1 year. I always visit Space Needle because hubby had a 1 year free pass for two. I was very lucky because going up to space needle is quite expensive but it was free for me. I was only using my little camera at that time but still I got good picture:-)

Visit SkyWatch Friday for more photo

MISSING

I admit that I love winter more than summer but I'm looking forward to summer and I miss going to the beach. We don't have nice beaches here but we have some that is enough for us to enjoy and feel the summer in the beach. Last summer, we been to different beaches. I quite enjoy my summer last year though I work full time. I hope I will enjoy my summer this year too.

Photo above was taken last summer at Berthier-sur-Mer. I was with my friend during that time. She wanted me to take picture of her and I'm not shy to tell you that we did a good job with her photo shooting. I will post it here someday. I will ask her permission if I can share her photo here in the net.

Visit Watery Wednesday to see more photo of water.

MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY #111

Cheese cupcake Filipino Style is my entry for this week Mellow Yellow Monday

MACRO MONDAY - TULIPS

A lovely tulips taken last spring during the Tulips Festival in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

More macro photo here.

UNWANTED PHOTO

This photo was taken last night. I call this unwanted photo because I was trying to picture those cute ladies in the circus but the adjustment of my camera was not good. I took a lot without checking the result because I don't want to waste my time. They move very quick and I wanted to get atleast one nice photo. But the result were all bad. I try to save atleast one of them and this is the only one I save without the real subject of my picture :-)

Click here for more SOOC photos

LENS DAY CHALLENGE «COUPLE»

I consider this two cute doggies as a couple. Taken last January this year during the Celebration Levis 2011. I was so impress how they work together pulling the sleigh to win the compitation:-)

See more photo of couple at lensday.com

MUTTART CONSERVATORY - WW

Photo taken at Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton last Sept 2010

Entry for

Watery Wednesday

RED ROSES FOR FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY

This lovely red roses was taken during my friend's birthday and this is my first entry for Ruby Tuesday for this year 2011.

YELLOW

This is my first entry of mellow yellow for this year. Photo was taken last sept at Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton.

SUSHI

Sushi is one of my favorite food but it sad to say that I can't eat them as often as I want. It's so expensive and I can't afford to buy it every time I feel for it. So if opportunity comes, I have to grab it right away without any second thought :-). Last new year, a friend invited us to spend the new year's eve in their place. I was so happy that I been there because another friend brought a ton of sushi hehehe Oh my! It was like eating in the buffet for free. She did different sort of sushi. It was like a sushi feast for me. I eat and eat and eat until midnight.

Two days ago, a friend celebrated her birthday and it was really a blast! Lots of delicious foods and sushi was the star of the night. Thanks to Mila for making a very delicious sushi. I take out some and I ate it as my breakfast before we went for our early valentines bruch yesterday. I was really pig-out, two days in a row.

Photo above is the sushi that Mila made for our dear friend's birthday.

CANDLEMASS (CANDELARIA)

I decided to post this picture that I took 5:00 in the morning to celebrate the Candelaria or Candlemass. It's so sad that I was not able to attend the mass this morning due to the bad weather. I remember when I was still in Philippines, we used to go to the church together with candles and then we prepared some foods for the celebration that we shared with neighbors. They drank tuba (coconut wine) and dance. Some played games and childrens were running around. This is one of the thing that I miss in Philippines. Here, Febuary 2, is just an ordinary day. Nobody even dare to go to the church though there is always a holy mass. If the weather permited me this morning, I should have gone there but too bad, it didn't gave me a chance. I am celebrating the candlemass today in my heart.

HAPPY CANDELARIA TO ALL!

LONG WAY TO GO

Yesterday was a shocking day for all the employee at work. Our boss told us that he will close the resto at 3:00 pm. Actually, I was not surprise. I already had a doubt that sooner this year, he will close the resto. And I'm not worried at all. Since before, my manager already told me that his son is very interested in working with me. In fact, he already give me his contact number and I was very thankful at him. Yesterday morning, my manager call his son to tell him that there will be a big possibility that the store will close in the afternoon and he told his mother to ask my BioData. He really wants me to work with them the next day. I didn't accept his offer because I want to take a rest first and enjoy my unemployment pay. I know that opportunity knocks only once but I guess i need to rest also. I been working hard this few months with so much pressure and stress. And the good thing also is that the job offer is good anytime I'm ready. Just now, I'm enjoying myself at home, clean the house and cook my hubby's favorite dish that I didn't do for long.

Things happen for a reason and I know there is something better for me and I'm looking forward for that.