November 28 - Day 132

Striptease.

"In a house by the tracks, I want, I want you back." (Striptease, Hawksley Workman)

As I got back into my car after taking this shot, that's the song that was playing so I figured it was a sign. I had originally thought I got my shot this afternoon, but when driving to my parents house for dinner, the sunset was so beautiful I figured I'd turn down Camp Out Trailer Road and see what happened. Voila!, the result.

November 27 - Day 131

Trapeze Swinger.

If squirrels needed jobs, the circus would be a good fit. This little guy has figured out my neighbour's bird feeder and he and his friend have been visiting it daily, taking turns filling up for the long winter ahead. I'm pretty sure he and his pal have also been hiding nuts in my tomato planter, and while the neighbours house may solve the hunger need, the tree in my backyard provides the play as they chase each other around and around it.

November 26 - Day 130

Holiday Decorating: The Final Phase.

The final phase of holiday decor is finished at the Dobson abode. The homage to the 1970's, that is my white Christmas tree was put up this week and decorated. After trimming I left the tree for a couple days to make sure I was happy with the placement of all the ornaments (I may be a little picky). By today I was and so it warranted the shot of the day.

November 25 - Day 129

Are these colours complementary?

I made the butternut squash and quinoa salad I've featured on this blog for dinner tonight. As I was assembling the ingredients I was taken by how great the squash looked in this bowl. It's not surprising as blue and orange are complementary colours, and if you remember from high school art class when placed next to each other complements make each other appear brighter. Next time you serve squash use a blue bowl and accept those compliments!

November 24 - Day 128

Holiday Decorating - Phase 4.

Welcome to the outdoor illumination segment of Holiday Decorating. Technically my outdoor illumination takes place indoor by the way of two hanging stars in the living room window. This view is from inside the house.

November 23 - Day 127

Staballity.

A shot of two stability balls, differing in size and colour, taken at the studio before tonight's class.

During class tonight, it was commented that students can sometimes hear my voice when standing, cuing them to the proper alignment of Mountain Pose. Wow, I'm in their brains, I promptly apologized.

November 22 - Day 126

Pom-wonderful.

One good thing about the month of November is pomegranates. The pomegranate is native to the Iranian Plateau and the Himalayas in Northern India but was introduced to Latin America and California by Spanish Settlers in 1769.

November 21 - Day 125

Head In Hand.

Whenever I'm at a loss for a shot I end up in the cemetery. I wanted to get a shot during daylight today, to counter some of the dark images from the week. I ended up at the Graham-Bell Monument. By shooting at this angle I was able to get the light grey of today's sky.

November 20 - Day 124

Holiday Decorating - Phase 3

The dining room table centerpiece is phase 3 of Dobson's Holiday Decor. At the centre is Jolly Old St Nick. This year he is perched upon a white serving plate adorned with red ball ornaments. Behind him two vases also filled with ornaments. New to this year's scene are the various wooden ornaments purchased last year at the antique warehouse.

November 19 - Day 123

Air Jordan.

Growing up my older bro was a huge fan of Michael Jordan, and for good reason, the guy had a gift for the sport. This net is at Avon School, and it has seen better days. Fun fact, I was one of the only girls cut from the grade 9 girls basketball team, the coach said that being as I was lanky maybe I'd want to try out for track instead. I chose just to give up on gym and sports in general for the rest of my high school career.

November 18 - Day 122

DST

This daylight savings time in a thorn in my side when it comes to taking a photo a day. I worry as we get into the depths of winter that this blog will become all interior shots of my house, which although great for insurance purposes, may not be all that stimulating. With this in mind I take a shot outside tonight...this wasn't the shot I envisioned for today, it just kind of happened but I like the look of the wet pavement, the yellow streetlight reflecting that and the angles created by my legs and shadow.

November 17 - Day 121

Mother Mother.

These Matryoshka dolls sit on top of my vintage bread box in the kitchen. Not only are they nice to look at they are also measuring cups! The word Matryoshka derives from the Russian word for mother and translates to "dear (or little) mother".

November 16 - Day 120

Exit Music For A Film

This is a shot from the studio. It would be obvious to state it's an exit sign. Today I turned 31, or to put it into context with today's photo, I exited 30.

November 15 - Day 119

Holiday Decorating - Phase 2

Phase 2 of Holiday Decor involves ceramic lighted Christmas trees. One is from Grandma Jean for the upstairs hallway. This is featured in today's shot. This tree features faux snow and light up birds. The second ceramic tree is from Nana and is your standard green tree with lights. Nana's tree has found a home in the dining room.

November 14 - Day 118

The Darbinator.

Meet Darby. He's my parent's new addition to the family. My mom asked me to go with her to the Humane Society's adoption blitz last weekend and help her pick a cat out. She was first leaning towards a calico with an attitude named Sissy, but after I passed Darby over to her the deal was sealed. He's very loving and sweet, but hard to photograph, if he wasn't moving he was swatting the lens, but who could be mad at that face?

November 13 - Day 117

Holiday Decorating...Phase 1

With the gorgeous weather we've had the past few days it's been hard to get in the holiday mood, so I've decided to phase that feeling in. Step 1 - Outdoor decor, not to be confused with outdoor illumination, which consists of this cranberry wreath.

November 12 - Day 116

Loved and were loved.

I visited the cenotaph today after a latte with C&R, in what is becoming a lieu day habit. Left behind were bouquets and poppies from yesterday's Remembrance Day ceremony. Though it was a gorgeous blue-sky day I took this shot, using the colour accent, to highlight the poppies and to let the monument and sky reflect sombre remembrance. Because of my job I am lucky to know quite a number of Canadian Veterans. To them I say, thank you.

November 11 - Day 115

Ole!

If you remember back in to the Gallery Stratford shot posted last month, I had said the last time I was in the gallery I purchased a decorative wooden plate. This is it. The gallant bullfighter with his red cape. It hangs in my dining room. Love it!

November 10 - Day 114

Graffiti - Stratford Styles.

This piece of graffiti can be found by Orr Dam. I like that it has a message. It also got me thinking that I should try to walk to work at least once a week. Now if I could only drag by butt out of bed the extra half hour earlier...

November 9 - Day 113

Cacti

This shot was taken today at the studio. When the cactus is glowing we are open for business. Also as we are now in daylight savings time it serves as a nightlight when I kill the lights for final relaxation.

November 8 - Day 112

Quinoa, Cremini & Butternut Squash Salad

Prepare quinoa.

In a bowl combine 3 TBSP maple syrup, 3 TBSP apple cider vinegar, 1 TBSP olive oil and 1.5 TSP dijon mustard. Whisk mixture until well blended and set aside.

In a skillet over medium heat, add 1 TBSP olive oil. Add 1 cup quartered cremini mushrooms and 2 cups peeled and 1/4 inch diced butternut squash. Cook, stirring often until tender and golden brown, about 8 minutes.

In a bowl combine quinoa, squash, mushrooms and vinaigrette. Serve warm and top with goats cheese. Salad is also great the next day cold.

~ adapted from 20 minute supper club.

November 7 - Day 111

They all fall down...

And I spend an hour or so this afternoon raking them up. It was a beautiful, crisp day and the fresh air did me good.

November 6 - Day 110

Monumental.

Running group has been moved to Saturday mornings at 8:00 am. To be honest I usually don't get up that early on Saturdays but I can change. While running I take note of this monument. I don't get a chance to grab a shot after our run as we decide to grab a coffee afterward, but I come back in the afternoon. As I'm taking shots a group of kids is playing in the old grove opposite the monument. They are playing some sort of game of make-believe.

November 5 - Day 109

TP Island.

First snow today - it didn't stick but snow was in the air. After work I head over to Tom Patterson Island, since I couldn't catch the snow I'm looking for something festive and I find it here, the christmas lights strung up in the trees.

November 4 - Day 108

Caledonia & Mornington.

I decide to take a stroll around the neighbourhood after work today. It's a typical November day - grey. I stop at the corner of Caledonia and Mornington - St James Church is across the way. I've featured a shot of the church before - the doors. This time I look up and catch the steeple.

November 3 - Day 107

Scent of Clementine.

I'm cooking up a storm tonight - bok choy & mushroom lo mein for dinner and a batch of vegetarian chili for work lunches. The house reeks of onions and garlic and since I usually don't use the kitchen exhaust fan - it interferes with my cooking tunes, I go the scented candle route. This one is clementine and it reminds me of Christmas (only 52 more days!).

November 2 - Day 106

Indoor Tropical.

I'm realizing how mundane these posts will be after 2 days of vacation. I'm still a little jet-lagged and coming down with a cold, so this is the most creation I can muster.

November 1 - Day 105

Tuna & Green Bean Pasta Toss.

Boil water & add pasta, add green beans during last minute of cooking. Meanwhile drain one can of tuna. Add 1TBSP olive oil, one clove of minced garlic, juice of half a lemon and 1TSP lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper. Add pasta and green beans, combine. Sprinkle with almonds, or when it's the day after Halloween, toasted pumpkin seeds.

Adapted from Everyday Food

October 31 - Day 104

Hallo'weenie!

It's Halloween. I carve my tiny cooking pumpkin this afternoon and roast the seeds. Since I have no outside lights I add some candles and lanterns to the front porch, and while I'm at it some smaller gourds and fake spiders. I have 18 kids come to the door - a record for me. The best quote of the night comes from a boy who says "Halloween is being taken over by chips" as I hand a bag over. Yes, well when Zehrs puts boxes of chips on sale the weekend of Halloween that's what happens.

Ocober 30 - Day 103

Skeletons In The Window.

First full day back from vacation. Most of today is spent sleeping and doing laundry. Around 5:00 I realize I don't have any Halloween decorations up so I quickly search the basement for last year's decor and decide to go understated with just two paper skeletons in the front porch windows.