Canada 150 - The Smitten Image 10

Time between blog posts seems to be longer and longer as my everyday life seems to get busier and more demanding. I keep hoping that I can put more time into blog posting and visiting but that just doesn't seem to happen. I'll keep hoping though!

This time, I thought I should acknowledge a couple of events - Canada's 150th birthday and my 10th blogging anniversary - both happening this month. Unfortunately, only one of those occasions gets a parade, party, music and fireworks - so my photos will focus on Canada's celebrations as they occurred in Peterborough.

Before I do, I want to express how very rewarding it has been (and hopefully will continue to be) to connect with hundreds of amazing bloggers this past decade. I've made friends with whom I've connected in real life, in email, on the phone and through Facebook. And I have sadly lost wonderful people along the way to illness and to tragedy. I've had incredible feedback on my photography and feel validated and appreciated because of it. Thank you ALL for allowing me to share my creativity through the years and for sharing yours with me. I hope we can all enjoy many more years of that blogging connection.

That's enough of stealing the spotlight from my elderly country. Canada turned 150 on July 1, and my town of Peterborough celebrated in style. Let's start with the parade.


Kidlets of all ages brought their wheels to the event.






This guy represents our first Prime Minister, Sir John A. McDonald who did many wrongs to our Indigenous People - wrong which we continue to hope that our current government will begin to right.






What's a parade without the Shriners and their funny little cars doing tricks and spins throughout the route?






Remembering our beloved Terry Fox who raised awareness and funds for cancer research by attempting his walk across Canada. Cancer took his leg prior to his journey across our country and it sadly also took his life during his Marathon of Hope in 1977 - a month before his twenty-third birthday. His life is celebrated every September with a 10k run, walk or cycle which raises money in his name.






This original float represents Southcrest Farms in nearby Lakefield, Ontario.






The Trent-Severn waterway passes through Peterborough. This means that boats, canoes, kayaks and floating recreational devices of all kinds are very popular in this area. This young canoe enthusiast sporting Canada-red hair represents Brownsea Base Water programs for Scouts.






After the parade, I wandered over to Del Crary Park where some of city celebrations were happening. Crowds had already gathered.






Several local performers took their turns to sing and dance on stage.






Two cakes were presented for sharing with the crowd. One was Canada's 150th birthday cake and the other represented our Multi Cultural Day which coincides with Canada Day.






Leaving the park, I encountered this adorable scene. Their Canada Day hats were homemade. Mom had posed them on this couch sculpture and was taking their photo from the front. I thought the back of their heads, all decked out in their patriotic finest were every bit as cute.






Eventually they turned to look over the back of the seat and I stole around to the front for a different angle.






I headed home for a few hours to recharge and saw this tree-hugging flag along the way.






The evening took me back to Del Crary Park to see singer/DJ Kim Mitchell perform. The concert kicked off the MusicFest season of free outdoor concerts every Saturday and Wednesday night through the summer.






Our seats were close and the music was LOUD.






They put on a good show.






The crowd left with major smiles and minor hearing loss.






Night had fallen and we walked along the shoreline of Little Lake so that we could take in the Canada Day light show..






Colourful jets of fire burst forward with colour, exploding in the night sky leaving tinkling showers of silver in its wake.






Canada's signature red and white lights scattered across the sky, shattering into a multitude of glittery sparks.






Puffy golden stamens were ablaze in the dazzling heart of a delicate flower of fire.






The finale brought cascading waterfalls, dazzling whirls and shimmering spirals - all which rained down on the lake in a twinkling trail brilliance.

Hopefully it won't take me this long to get my next blog post out but I'll have more photos for you whenever that is. Thanks for celebrating with me.

The Number 7 - and Some Flowers

Surprise! The Great Blue Heron in my header has flown away and left nothing but blue water behind. It's time for a sunny change. It is my fourth revamp since I began blogging - oh... about - nay, exactly seven years ago, today. This cheery sunflower will adorn my blog for the next while - however long that may turn out to be. To help kick-start the new look, the images in this post will be all about the flowers found around here - either wild or in our yard. I hope you enjoy the bouquet.

Since this is my seventh blogiversary, I decided to look back and see who my first seven visitors were - those who still stop by, that is.





The first comment ever to land on my blog came from Frank, of course. He was the one who encouraged me to start blogging. Thanks, Frank! He isn't doing any blogging himself, these days but he does still stop by for a visit. Hopefully he'll start writing over at his Baron It All blog and perhaps posting photos at Canon Fodder again soon.







By my second post, Crabby began commenting. So, aside from Frank (always #1), she has been my longest standing, consistent visitor. She leaves great, funny comments and has a fine, humour-filled fitness blog of her own called Cranky Fitness.







It was mid-October before Leah began stopping by. She continues to post wonderful content over at her blog, The Goat's Lunch Pail and so very kindly keeps on coming back to my cyber world whenever I post. She's having surgery for bowel cancer, this week. Please keep this always-grateful, inspiring lady in your best thoughts.







Shortly after that, the lovely Sue from Photowannabe left me a comment, and like those mentioned above, she too continues to visit regularly. Among other fine posts, she likes combining her wonderful photography with the alphabet. Stop by her blog to see what I mean.







It was New Year's Eve when Shammie first stopped by. She was known as ex-Shammickite then but eventually, she decided that once a Shammickite, always a Shammickite so she soon dropped the "ex." But she's never dropped my blog, and I'm most grateful for that. Give her a visit over at Rook's Nest.








It was March 2008 before Out and About in New York City photographer Daryl left her first comment. She was sent by David McMahon from Authorblog who originally did the Post of the Day. Later he handed that baton over to me, and the POTW was born. He no longer blogs but many of you beautiful people are here because of David and for that, I will be forever grateful.








My seventh regular visitor who still visits today is the lovely and funny Michelle from House of Lime. She too, found my blog through David. Michelle/Lime is a fine writer with a terrific flair for humour. You won't regret it one bit if you stop by her blog for a visit.

Thank you, to all who have come by over the past seven years. And for sticking with me. The blogging world is a very encouraging, affirming and supportive community, and I'm thankful for, and enjoy each and every one of you who so kindly stop by to comment. I also appreciate those who silently lurk. If you're one of the latter, and have never commented before, I'd love it if you said "hi!" Maybe just this once?

More photos coming up soonish.