Information Items

Today I hope you will enjoy this link to a beautiful video about the beauty of our wonderful world.
Enjoy!

~Sharon

David Attenborough – Wonderful World – BBC

via [Video] David Attenborough – Wonderful World – BBC.

Today a different kind of post for those visitors to the site who do not experience winter or have the opportunity to visit parts of Canada that we refer to as Canadian Shield.  On a recent road trip to Kenora I decided to take some photos from the car as we were driving down the trans Canada highway to give you an idea what it looks like in the winter. Obviously I was not the driver this day.   Winnipeg to Kenora is about a 2 hour drive with the first hour being flat prairie farm land but then you get the beautiful boreal forest, Whiteshell Provincial Park and bedrock, mossy landscape and an abundance of wildlife. This area of N.W. Ontario is referred to as “Sunset Country” in the vacation guides.  It is truly beautiful both winter and summer with activities for all seasons.  In addition this area is a terrific fishery with many different species in hundreds of lakes.  So – part of the winter road trip is below.

Below a view of the winding two lane Trans Canada highway which always has a lot of transport truck traffic passing through. This is a highway where one needs to be alert at all times.  The Ontario highways department keeps this road really well in the winter, plowing quickly in addition to sanding and salting the roads when they are icy.

Below – The Trans Canada highway cuts through the Canadian Shield bedrock in N.W. Ontario.

Enjoy!

Sharon

Meet my friend June.  I came to know June via the internet when she first contacted me to comment on some photos in this website.  Over the past year and a half we have communicated via email and I was so impressed with June’s determination and spunk  I asked if I could do a blog about her.  A year ago June would have likely said “No”, as she was just learning about the world wide web but today she is comfortable in posting her artwork to her space on the How to Draw and Paint website.  I had asked her permission to use a few of her “paintings” for my photo art cards and she graciously said “Yes” as any proceeds would be in  support of assisting the animal rescue and care that I take part in.

This is what June recently wrote to me:

“Feel free to write what will fit your column — It may get more seniors motivated into going and taking courses in their own interests — it was my grandchildren that got me into pencil art — I had never drawn anything before – I had only painted ceramics – what I am doing now is a totally different path and I am having a ball — I owe it all to the grandchildren and then the friends kicked in and asked if I would send copies for their grandchildren to colour when they visited them – I went from a very bad farm scene to the eagle – and beyond.  So – none of my progression was my doing — I have been given a boost every step of the way and If I could influence one senior to get moving with their hidden talent – I would feel like I have given something back – go for it – feel free to print the story behind it the start – “

So, what keeps June, this attractive senior in her mid 70′s so busy? Let’s start with her grandchildren whom she obviously adores and credits with encouraging her in all she does.  She was playing trombone in 5 groups, toured San Miguel Island in the Azores with a band for 17 days playing her trombone and describes this as her trip of a lifetime.  June had a heart attack in 2006 and got the go ahead to resume her active life at which time she joined the Stratford band.  As June says “no moss under her shoes”. In the summer months June also participates in an art group that has ‘Art on the Lawn’ in her community.

June also belongs to a small classical orchestra that she played in as a teenager and reports there are a few people still there from that time — It started at the end of the war  and is still going — small but alot of fun according to June.  It is called the Promenade Orchestra and  the four ladies are of  June’s age group and were together in Ontario’s first all girls band known as London All Girls Band which formed in 1949.

In between her painting, trombone playing and grandchildren June found time last summer to sew 50 dog coats for a dog show in her area.  Now, in addition to everything else she has on her daily agenda,  June has gone back to high school to finish her unfinished business from years ago and dropped 2 bands to attend to her new studies.  In June’s era,  girls were not always encouraged to complete and/or continue their education.  She is almost done with her courses and I hope I will be able to post a graduation photo of this amazing woman, Gramma June.  Here’s to you my friend!

Below:  Samples of June’s acrylic paintings which are available as beautiful photo art cards through the Chickadee Photo Art Store.

Enjoy!

~Sharon