What a lovely afternoon....

A bit of who I am......

I think describing oneself, or anyone else really is pretty much an impossible task.  How to begin?  Anything you could write could only be a very small component of who that person really is, and by the time you finally got an entire portrait of that person described, they would have evolved and changed into something else anyway.

I always hate those challenges that prospective employers often like to use, that go 'If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that word be?'  How the hell do you answer that properly?! It's like a guessing game, and I'm usually tempted to respond 'What word would you LIKE it to be?  Cause I really need this job....'.  Or imagine just spouting out the first thing that came to mind, such as 'flatulent', 'craptastic', or 'bored'.....

For anyone remotely interested in what kind of person I am, browse through this blog.  My likes and dislikes and interests randomly come up and take centre stage and then recede a bit and something else rolls up to catch, or re-catch my attention.  I like birdwatching.  I like trying to take pictures of birds but will cheerfully admit that I suck at it.  I like reading, and usually have a few books on the go at any given time.  I enjoy being outside.  I also enjoy being inside, warm and toasty, when it's -18c out.  I made Irish stew yesterday, and used a can of Molson Canadian beer instead of the Irish stout the recipe called for.  I like this video -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQlxjSm0qU0 

because it's sad and kind of atmospheric and I like Peter Heppne and bicycles and the song.  Watch quickly before youtube pulls it down! 

I also like this video -

http://youtu.be/UnX18g8-P9I

because it's one of my favourite songs of all time.  Matt Johnson is a genius.  My opinion.   You don't get songs like this anymore....again, my opinion and you may agree or not as you please....I will merely hang an empty smile beneath my empty eyes and go out for a walk.

This is also one of my favourite songs.  And if you could see my rocking around my computer room right now you would laugh.  Love Kate!  Watch quickly because youtube keeps taking the video down and some intrepid soul keeps putting it back up!  And yes, the day that vid was made was so not a good day to be a piece of fruit!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18mNlcGmwnA

This describes how I am this evening.  Tomorrow, I'll be a bit different, although the same!

Winter Birds

Here's a short little video/slideshow I made of some common winter birds that visit my feeder. The music is by Vivaldi, from the Winter component of his Four Seasons. Photos and videos by self...not of the greatest quality but not half-bad taking into consideration my patience level for such things and the moderate quality of my camera!  In case it's not obvious, click on the link that says 'Download Winter Birds.  Enjoy.

Download Winter Birds

Today's Video

  All who have worked in the animal welfare field will both laugh and cry simultaneously.

I love the toneless, dead-pan voices used.  They're reminiscent of those training videos for health and safety or first aid......  'Are you OK?  I am now going to clear dangerous debris out of the way.  Please call for help."  And it just gives the video all the more impact because the emotionless delivery contrasts with how angry you really get in the face of 'He's such a sweet dog.  And I'm moving.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSUtuNk3c8s

I just watched it again, I think one of my favorite lines is 'They also gave us a unicorn.  It lives in the back yard and s**** out bricks of gold every day.'

 

Today's video

I don't generally find human voice-overs set to animal antics very amusing, but in this case it makes the whole video so if you watch turn up your speakers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSK1D3bZhRs

 

 

Look up.....

A video slide-show to remind you to look up.  Look up often.  It's beautiful up there!

This one contains music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 'The Lark Ascending', which means, apart of course from being one of the most beautiful pieces of music written and one of my favorites, that it's most likely public domain by now and thusly free from any copyright laws.  So I can freely share it without worry that someone will tell me to remove it.  I didn't use the entire piece of music since it's almost 20 minutes long, and although I most likely have enough sky and cloud pictures to fill it, I think most of those watching would fall asleep before the end of it!  I hope you enjoy it.

Download Sky....

Lake Ontario Moods.....

I've stood on the shoreline of each of the Great Lakes, with the exception of Lake Michigan.  Each has it's own personality and unique features, but the only one I know well is Lake Ontario, having lived my entire life within a few miles of it. 

These inland seas (yes, they have tides - they're not that noticeable though, not like ocean tides) form the largest - in total surface and volume - group of freshwater bodies of water on the planet, and hold 21 % of the worlds fresh water.  They are estimated to have been formed at the end of the last ice age.  If you walk upon certain points of the shoreline of Lake Ontario, you will come upon many fossils of snail-like creatures and trilobites. 

They form habitat for countless wild birds, seagulls of course, cormorants, myriad types of duck, Canada geese in their 100s, swans and sandpipers to name only a few.  Point Pelee off Lake Erie is a mecca for birdwatchers.  The surrounding shoreline of Lake Ontario is home to a wide variety of wildlife and a fascinating mixture of terrain from sand dunes to deciduous forest to wide beachscape. 

It's different every day, as the following video slideshow proves.  I find these efforts a fun way of showcasing photographs.  I do not own the music, but if you like it, buy it, or better yet the entire CD!  The piece used is Aldebaran from Enya's CD The Celts.  Enjoy!

Download Lake Ontario Moods

 

What a lovely afternoon.....

 I guess this video kind of represents the theme for this blog, from the music by Kate Bush which inspired the name of the blog, to the various photographs from various lovely afternoons.  Even my lack of editing fits, (or so I tell myself, or maybe it's just my dis-inclination to fiddle with it any further!) since this blog tends to be as random in it's mood and topic.  It's supposed to be, that's partly the whole point.

So, if you would like to relax for 5 minutes or so with some lovely photographs and music, click on the link below and enjoy.  The photographs were taken all over the place by Louisa and myself.  The music is 'Prologue' by Kate Bush, from her CD Aerial.  If you like what you hear, buy the song or the CD as I did!  No I don't own the music, but I have purchased almost all of Kate's CDs over the years and will continue to for as long as she makes music. 

 Download What a Lovely Afternoon_0001

Please click the link to watch the Northumberland Humane Society's video!
With thanks to;
-Grant Wilson for the music - to hear more of Grant's lovely compositions, please visit http://www.myspace.com/grantwilsonpiano

-Sarah Barba for the editing - please visit Sarah's website at www.dynamicvideoinnovations.weebly.com

-Sara Tanner for the animal photography, please visit her website at www.saratanner.ca

Enjoy!

Check out this video -

A slide show, consisting of photos taken by myself at various local cemeteries.  The music is Deireadh an tuath, by Enya, from her CD The Celts.  If you like what you hear, buy the CD! 

The editing was done by the very talented Sarah Barba, check out her channel on youtube to see more of her awesome work!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ei6j7NZ5g

Five minutes not wasted....

Wandering through youtube in search of something completely different, I came upon this video, and thought it quite beautiful.  I enjoy Peter Heppner's voice and music, am fond of this song, and I love the images the vid maker has put together to make this.  Thought I'd share!  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVS9-ONKj9I