Happy Thanksgiving! Today's Art is Thanksgiving Themed.

Procreate Art, from tutorial by Tatyworks

 Thanks to Tatiana from Tatyworks for this fun tutorial!  Today is Thanksgiving here in Canada so this is perfect. 

I changed the tutorial a small bit...the only changes I made were to make the border red instead of white, and to add the words Happy Thanksgiving. I need to learn how to do calligraphy as my penmanship is awful, lol.

If you want to try this cool tutorial, you can find it on Youtube, here: Pumpkin & Apples by Tatyworks

Operation Inspiration, Canadian Forces Snowbirds Flew Over my House

Operation Inspiration

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds is flying across Canada and today they flew over my house. 

Snowbirds flying over SSM

"We’ve been asked to do what we do best… inspire Canadians," said Lieutenant-Colonel Mike French, Commanding Officer, Canadian Forces Snowbirds. "Through Operation INSPIRATION, we not only want to salute the front-line health-care workers, first responders, and essential workers but also all Canadians doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19. We want Canadians to know we’re in this with you." excerpt from https://northernontario.ctvnews.ca/canadian-forces-snowbirds-fly-over-sault-ste-marie-monday-morning-1.4933802.

Snowbirds flying over my house, May 11, 20202

I was happy to have my new camera and managed to take these shots of the amazing and inspirational show.

Snowbirds flying over my house, SSM 

Snowbirds 

Snowbirds

Snowbirds

It was very moving, unexpectedly so, and I had tears in my eyes as I watched them circle back and fly over my house 3 or 4 times this morning.  

I'd never seen them in real life, only on TV, so it was quite an experience. So glad my Dad was able to see them too.  

Thank you, Canadian Forces Snowbirds, for doing such an amazing job at helping to keep up morale in Canada during this Covid 19 pandemic.  Greatly appreciated. Fly safe.

Bike Ride 26, the Last Ride of the Season

 For my last ride of the season, I went up Korah Road to the duck pond, and then for the first time, went past it and up the hill.  Of course, I had to get off and walk because my asthma is too bad to allow me to bike up a hill.  I made it to the top, caught my breath, kept going, and found another hill!  I only went to the base of the second hill. I had enough energy to keep going and it was a nice day, not too hot, but I was concerned there'd be a third hill to climb (I drove the route later and it's a good thing I stopped because Moss Road is SUPER hilly.  It was a nice ride though, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I don't get the benefit of cruising down hill because I'm terrified I"ll fall if I'm going too fast so I constantly hit the brakes.  It was still easier than going up though, lol. 

 Cycling up Korah Road.

 Cute inflatable pumpkins and ghosts under brilliant foliage.

 I stopped to snap photos of the pond here.  That's Moss Road, stretching out ahead.  I usually go the other way, down Korah Road to the end, but that day, I wanted something new.

My bike at Garson's Pond

 The ducks were mad at me once again.  I really must remember to bring them some food next time.

 My trusty bike is in the garage, waiting for spring.  I miss her!  I still have to name her, although I call her Coral so much, she may as well just have that name, lol.

 The top of the first hill on Moss Road.

 Pretty countryside.

 It's hard to tell in the photo above, but the little runoff ditch must have flooded, and the side of the road was completely eroded. 

 The geese were practicing their flying formations, honking loudly, getting ready for their long trip South. 

 When I got back to the pond, I turned and did my normal route, to the end of Korah Road, and went to check on the abandoned house.  

 I was surprised to find someone had been there.  The long grass on the driveway had been cut back quite a bit.  Maybe someone still owns the place?

 My imagination always goes wild when I'm in this spot.  It sort of looks like a sad Little House on the Prairie scene.

 I decided to turn around and ride down this road (can't remember the name of it).  I love this farm.  It's for sale; if only I had the money I'd buy it.

 When my friend Laurie and I were little we walked alongside this little creek and felt like explorers.  I think that is why I love biking beside these flood prevention creeks so much now.

 This little creek was really high, and the water was rushing away on it's journey to the St. Mary's river.

 The trees were such brilliant shades of orange and red that they looked like they were on fire when the sun hit them.

 I hate the graffiti, but it makes a cool backdrop for a photo, lol.

 This is the farm that was for sale.  I'd love to own land like that, with a little creek running through it.  I'd rather have a waterfront home though, since I'm dreaming may as well go for it, lol.  In reality I'm still waiting to get a geared to income apartment.

So that was it, my last bike ride of the season. When I added the kilometers of all 26 rides together, I discovered I was 2 km away from hitting the 200 km point.  So, I biked 198 km from mid July to late October. 

That is nothing to a "real" cyclist, but I just started out, have severe, chronic asthma, and am carrying  a LOT of extra weight.  God willing, I'll lose a lot of weight and get to ride a lot more next year.

An Evening Stroll with little Benji

We have been having a heat wave for the past 2 weeks, making it difficult to walk or bike or do much of anything until the hour before sunset.  Today it was 105 F with the humidex, something we are NOT used to her in Northern Ontario, Canada.  I had to wait until after the sun went down to go for a walk, and it was still 100 F with the humidex (humidity).

 As the last bit of color started to fade from the sky, we set out.  Benji likes his stroller, but unlike Mac, who lay down and relaxed during his strolls, Benji paces from window to window, looking out.  I'm not sure how much he can see as the poor guy has glaucoma in is left eye and his right eye has cataracts.

Benji in the stroller

 My asthma was bad so we couldn't go far, just for a short half hour jaunt.

 The sky was beautiful, and my camera took some amazing night shots (making it look much brighter in the photos than it actually was.  It was dark out.).

St. Joseph's school (closed down ages ago)

 The photo above shows the remains of my old elementary school, St. Joseph's.

 For some reason, I really like the looks of the old house in the above photo, especially at night.

 This poor dog is ALWAYS outside on a leash, no matter when I walk, bike, or drive by, day or night.  He was very friendly to me, wagging his tail and giving kisses, but when he noticed I had a dog in my stroller instead of a kid, went mad with barking (just like Mac used to).  His owner came out to yell at him but did not let him in.  I'm sure the dog must go inside and it must be a coincidence that he is just out when I go by, because he looks well cared for, and well groomed.

 This is the Bank of Montreal, where I opened my first account at the age of 5.

I lived on the top floor of the house above until I was almost 5.  Then we moved one whole block away, lol.

 The night sky was just gorgeous tonight.

 I love these flowers; I think they are called Mallow.

 I also love the look of the big house on the corner in the photo above.  The church down the street is all lit up.

 I liked the way the trees leaned over the sidewalk here. 
The bus photo, below, didn't turn out, but I love the way it looks anyway; sort of like it's under water, or in a dream.

And there's my house.  My parents house, where I"m currently living until I can get my own place again.