Eye Candy Friday

I just plain liked the shape of this... it's part of a fence on Wells Street.

I think that it's slightly rundown state adds to its feeling of age and timeless charm.
I also like the silver/gray against the deep summer green of the lawn.

This will be my last post to AnnexNation. The BLOG was Ginny's idea and I am bowing out and leaving it in her capable hands.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

Well, I was going to cut myself off from posting cottage pics, but the summer weather has finally arrived, so it seemed fitting.

This lovely scene is from a lake near Bancroft.
For obvious reasons, we've nicknamed it Birch Bark Bay.

Enjoy,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

I'm featuring a guest photographer this week for Eye Candy Friday...

My sister, Jennifer, spent three weeks on the magical Bruce Peninsula in August.

I have yet to visit this national treasure, which is only three hours away, but is unique enough to have been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, along with the entire Niagara Escarpment.

It was a favourite haunt of my father's and I intend to get there sometime soon.... but I've been saying that for three years now! You know how it is...
Anyway, most of you will know that the west side of the Bruce Peninsula borders Lake Huron and features the shallow-water, sandy beaches of Sauble Beach.

This shot, however, was taken on the eastern, Georgian Bay side. That side features chilly but stunning aqua water.

Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

I spent last weekend at a friend's cottage.
Took a breathtaking moonlit river cruise to get there, then woke up to discover a real gem of a place: a classic beauty built way back when and added to during the years.

It's original beauty was enhanced by a patina of memories from summers spent enjoying its stunning setting so that all of its wear seemed to come from joyous use as opposed to benign neglect.

The decor was made up of items contributed from people's homes through the years ... old magazines, antique plates and games adorned the hand-built shelves.

It dripped real charm, the kind that designers try to emulate to evoke feelings of nostalgia and a sense of history.

It's the kind of place that is priceless, as opposed to a multi-million Muskoka monstrosity.

You could really relax and you didn't have to worry about marring the floor, or getting the couch wet and it wasn't until we were home that I even registered that it didn't have a TV.

A little slice of heaven...

Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

What is it about red canoes that is so compelling? Is it the contrast with the blue water, the green trees, the light-blue sky?

Well, the sky isn't light blue in this shot, but it is dramatically cloudy.

You forget how big the sky can be when you live surrounded by buildings.

I'm sure we spent several hours last week just watching clouds scud across the sky.

And at night? Wow!

Unfortunately, I don't have a tripod, so I couldn't share a starry sky shot with you. But I hope that you enjoy this!

Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

These are the waterfalls at Egan Chutes, near Bancroft.

As you know, we're away this week and it's very likely that we were at this spot, playing in the rapids at the bottom.

Yes, my family is the type that likes to frolic in fast, dangerous water in which you can't see what's coming at you.

Thrilling? Or foolhardy?

It was at a set of rapids like this that I once said "Let's come back with a good boat" and my sister said, "Oh, no -- a cheap, dangerous dinghy is much more fun," which is now a classic line in our family.

I hope that you've enjoyed your week and Ginny and I will pick up with live posting as of tomorrow.

Cheers,

Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

I'm thinking about our cottage trip that we embark on tomorrow and that made me think of this pic, which was taken near the same cottage last year.
This is a lake on Crown Land about a 20-minute hike from the cottage where we stayed.

That's DH swimming... note no cottages, no boats, nothing but placid blue and verdant green. The rocks were dotted with snapping turtle eggs and there were blown-down birch trees on the shore that you could scavenge, guilt-free, for bark to write and do art on.

What more could you want? Can't wait to go back! Ginny is going away, too, and we have scheduled some posts to go up while we're gone, but we'll be out of touch otherwise.

Enjoy your week!
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

I like the colours and juxtapositions in this picture of Royal St. George's.

Although it's raining as I write this, for the most part it's been a lovely summer with crisp, blue skies and days that aren't so thick with humidity that the air has substance.

Here's to keeping it that way! I'd forgotten how lovely summer can be.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

You might think that I've been away and that I snapped this field of poppies and wildflowers during a hilly hike.

But you'd be wrong!

I took this snap this week in the front yard of an Annex home. Wow!

Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

No one took a stab at guessing where last week's Eye Candy pic was taken.

It's a close up of one of the gargoyles on the Houses of Parliament in Ottawa.

Since Spring is officially over as of today, I thought I'd sneak in one last shot of the lovely blooms that grace T.O. for a few months every year prior to giving way to summer's bounty.

Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

Let's play a little game this week with Eye Candy. Where does this little guy reside? (Hint: it's in Canada, but not in Toronto.)
Cheers, Vanessa
WELL, NO ONE EVEN GUESSED!
IT'S ON THE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS IN OTTAWA.

Eye Candy Friday

The picture of the Lillian H. Smith library reminded me of the American Museum of Natural History, for some reason. It's NOT art deco, but a hodgepodge of styles.
The building is as much a feast for the eyes as the exhibits and this little corner is in the main entrance.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

Every year I eagerly await the blooming of the laburnum on my street. I thought it was a "loner," but this week, I noticed three more in our area.

I think Laburnums are the most stunning trees! Their yellow chains of flowers rival the display put on by the High Park cherry trees.

At Hampton Court Palace in England, once home to Henry VIII, there are Laburnum trees that are hundreds of years old and massive. They grow over a high arch and you can walk beneath them.

The sun was out when we were there and standing beneath the arches, which are shown in the lower photo, was like walking through pure sunshine.

Enjoy,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

During a recent jaunt, I passed the Lillian H. Smith library on College near Spadina, where these griffins preside over the front entrance.

Built last decade, the library branch houses a presitgious collection of children's books. (Smith was a "distinguished pioneer" among children's librarians.)

May interest the ankle biters and there's various exhibits and displays throughout the year.
Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

Can't resist another Spring flower shot!

Soon enough, they'll all be gone.

BTW, is it just me, or are they early this year? And lasting longer?

Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

I love ferns!
After 10 years in our house, ours are looking very lush and established.
This is my favourite time of year for them, when they're just unfurling and a very light green.
I think of them as dazed newborns.

And it always reminds me of this line:
"The force that through the green fuse drives the flower."

Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

I find that I get up earlier and earlier these days, woken up by the sun that comes into my bedroom earlier and earlier.

It's also one of the brightest times of the year in our house because the leaves aren't out on the trees yet, filtering the sunlight.

That may be one of the reasons I feel so invigorated lately, too. Call it Spring Fever!

Last weekend the early morning glow created some interesting shadow and light effects on the vase of peacock feathers in my bedroom.

Enjoy!
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

Let's call this one Forsythia Eye Candy Friday. Forsythia Friday -- say that three times fast! It's busting out all over the city in a yellow explosion. The forsythia does seem a little early, though, given our snowy, sodden winter.

I hope there's plenty of sunny blooms left for the annual Cabbagetown Forsythia Festival, held the first Saturday in May every year and centered around Riverdale Farm.
It wouldn't be the same without the flowers co-operating.

Cheers,
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

DD lighting a candle for her Grandpa in a beautiful setting, La Basilique de Notre-Dame de Montreal.
Vanessa

Eye Candy Friday

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain today.

So I bring you another spring shot, taken this week, to remind us all that April showers bring May... well, you know the rest!

Enjoy!
Vanessa