Sunday, October 28, 2012

Fall in Ontario

Crisp air and beautiful colours make this the best season.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Angel Hair for Kids

The degree of separation between you and the person you know with cancer is certainly less than six degrees. It seems like everyone I know know someone who has cancer. It doesn't discriminate any race or age. Each year approximately 889 children and youth under the age of fifteen are diagnosed with cancer in Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada). Some will lose hair during the course of treatment.

For the last couple of years, I've been growing my hair with the intention of donating it. It wasn't easy - the daily washing and drying - it takes a lot of time. But it was a small task (sacrifice) compared to people undergoing daily treatments for cancer.

I decided to send it to Angel Hair for Kids which is part of A Child's Voice Foundation. They provide quality wigs and hair replacements to financially disadvantaged children. The program seems really good.

What attracted me to this organization is the special treatment each kid gets.  The children should be referred by their doctors or social worker. When approved they get an appointment at a salon which is pre selected by the foundation. The salon then walk the child and their family through the process of selecting a wig, they are then fitted and styled specially for that child - making it their very own.

The cost for making a wig is around $800 to $1,000. If you want to donate, visit their website: http://www.acvf.ca

I donated 12 inches.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Dream House

This house is over thirty years in the making. My parents hold off building the house of their dreams to prioritize sending all four of us to the best schools they can afford, trips to broaden our horizons and providing us things and experiences that will equip us to have better futures. 

This house is a product of hard work and a lot of sacrifices throughout the years. Hats off to my parents for not giving up on their dream house!




Thanks to home grown designer Randi Reyes 

Friday, July 20, 2012

Play Me, I'm Yours

There's an interesting art installation in Toronto right now - Play Me I'm Yours. 41 pianos from different artists were put all around Toronto (including the ferry that goes to the island I heard) and you can play it!

I found two in a week. One at the Distillery, another at Queen and Spadina.

If you see one, do share

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Wiggly No More

What is it with 6 - 7 year old kids and their teeth! Having a wiggly tooth and the anticipation of it coming off anytime excites them, well, at least my 6-year old niece.
Every time, "Auntie, look, my tooth wiggles."
Or, "I can't eat that, my tooth is wiggly."

Here's my niece (and Alvin) happy that she lost her front tooth. All smiles!





Thursday, June 21, 2012

Under Water

Our dinky, point and shoot Olympus water camera took some decent under water photos.
This is way better than the disposable ones.
Alvin diving into the abyss

Coral Garden - the sun rays seep through the water kissing the corals.
These blue lips protect pearls.
Sun rays beautifully reflected under water.
Everyone in the water.

This is my favourite spot. No one there but us. In the water, all you can hear are the birds chirping, bubbles in the water and the person next to you breathing. One will really feel connected to nature.
After a long day of swimming it's really nice to stand up, walk and rest.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The Curious One

Hmmm... I wonder

Well, there's really no way to know, but to

And just like the others I've tested
This is just okay.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Winter at Lake Simcoe

Lake Simcoe is the 4th largest lake in Ontario. It's about an hour and half north of Toronto. It's bustling in the summer with cottage folks spending warm summer months along its shores. It's good in the winter as well. The lake freezes and people enjoy ice fishing, hockey, snow mobile rides and cross country skiing on the lake.

This is taken along the shore of Lake Simcoe which is now frozen. Careful as some parts where water from in the inland flows to the lake is not solid. I can only guess how this sharp ice formation came to be.


Frozen waves
I call this the lonely willow tree.

Black and White version of the lonely willow tree.

The sticks mark the play/picnic area leading to the lake. With the lake frozen and the ground covered in snow, it's hard to tell where the water starts and the land area ends.
Cross Country skiers.
You can enjoy winter without the extreme sports like snow boarding or (hill) skiing. Cross country skiing and snow shoeing can be just as fun. 
Is this rock in land or on frozen water? Hard to tell eh? Taking this shot, low on the ground, I got scared as I heard a sound from under my feet. (Water gargle or bubble) I had no idea how deep the water under is, so I decided to walk back on safer grounds.
The sun sets on Lake Simcoe
Outdoors in the winter is beautiful! Enjoy it. Bundle up and keep warm!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Trading In

Since I started owning an SLR (some ten years or so ago), I try to use it at all my outings, even if it means hauling an extra bag weighing about 10 pounds of equipment - camera body, lenses, batteries and at times, tripod! I for some reason dread using dinky cameras - the point and shoots. But lately, I've been using a camera even smaller than my dinky camera - my iPhone 4s! And I hate to admit it, I've been using it more often than my DSLR and I am lovin' it! It's handy, fits my pocket, takes descent photo, have free photo editing applications and multi-purpose!

My friend, Bernadette from down under visited us and we're grateful she got to experience Canadian Winter!
Snow Shoeing with Alvin in Collingwood. While waiting for our snow mobile tour,  the operators took us to a snow shoeing tour.
Snow shoeing photo, edit on iPhone - crop and add a filter using Instagram.

Berns enjoying the walk on fresh, fluffy snow.
It was great that there was a significant snowfall, 24 hours before we got there!
It was winter wonderland. Border and feathering on the side using Instagram.
Can you feel the cold?
Snow shoe trail

And of course, in town (Toronto), we did some skating at Nathan Philip Square.
Photo cropped and horizon adjusted on Photoshop Express. 

One nice feature of the iPhone camera is the HDR function. This is taken with HDR function on. This photo is as taken, no enhancement made in the post.
I think the photos are good. It's actually better than my dinky camera. I'd trade in my dinky cam with the iPhone. But I am keeping my DSLR.