120/365

Today seems to be an odd combination of overcast rain and sunshine. I'm not complaining though, the warmth is welcome after yesterday's disaster. I took this shot through the truck window while we made a quick stop to the grocery store.

Here's what the background looks like (though it was taken outside before getting into the truck, so the colours are a bit different):

119/365

I don't know how these little guys survive winter, those fur coats must be the warmest ever. I couldn't feel my face or hands only about 15 minutes into a walk around the harbourfront - those lake winds are fierce! The focus is not as sharp as I would like, but it was extremely windy and my hands are not the steadiest when they're numb. Regardless, at least I came home with one shot that's half decent, so the walk wasn't for nothing.

118/365

The humidifier has been running nonstop the past few days because the heating has been drying out the apartment so bad I can literally see static sparks flying off the cats while they walk across the carpet. This has resulted in some pretty wet windows, but it makes for interesting textures.

I took this shot at the same time, but didn't want to post it as the main photo just because the framing and look is so similar to the last post. I still like it anyway.

117/365

Yikes. This blog is chugging away at a snail's pace right now, for shame! The holidays have been non-stop busyness since they started, but I have the next two days to myself and am hoping to get something new and fresh in here. I'd be more unhappy about my lack of progess but the fact is I've been spending time with a lot of wonderful people lately, and so it is all for good reason. My husband and I are very blessed to have great family on both sides, and no crazy mother-in-laws either (unless this is something that develops later on in life perhaps? haha)!

So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

116/365

Laser...laser...LASER CAT!

An accidental tribute to Andy Samberg and Bill Hader's Laser Cats digital short.

(yes, my cat has one weird eye, it's slightly clouded over and blocks the light from the flash...he's a sweetie though, just a lil' funny lookin'.)

115/365

Tired...tired...pants on fire...wait, something's not right with that. Too much fun and not enough sleep for me.

It's been a while since I've posted a token sunset, so I figured I'm probably due for one, right?

114/365

A little snapshot story...

...there was one little ball that started it all...

 ...maybe I just need a new perspective...

...hmm...my bum is up as high as it will go, and yet still somehow this ball is out of reach...

...okay, new attack strategy, bet he won't even see me coming...

...TADA! SUCCESS! ...wonder what my sister thinks of all this...bet she's sooo jealous...

(um...this one speaks for itself.)

113/365

This was taken across the street from my apartment, and for once the lack of natural surroundings actually works because you can't even tell that it's freezing outside. All the trees' leaves have not yet hit the ground (I still see a few stubborn ones hanging on), and I already can't wait for summer again.

112/365

A calm, introspective walk through an abnormally quiet city.

111/365

Soon this will all be frozen. I'm feeling the chill leaving work in the evenings but I have to say that people living in Toronto are a little spoiled when it comes to winter. After all, our pollution and heavy traffic is part of what keeps the city a few degrees warmer than other areas. Try living up in Barrie! I'll take the lake winds over snow up to my ears any day.

110/365

This is one of those days where it's either cats or nothing...

109/365

Peace and serenity...brought to you through my dirty living room window. There are definitely times when I miss having a balcony, it kind of sucks not being able to get out and clean the windows.

108/365

Don't ask. No particular reason for the darkness or the eyes, I've just been messing around in photoshop with no exact aim and this photo was the result.

107/365

Our little sweetie...you'd never guess she's been known to bite, scratch and otherwise attack any strangers who happen to walk through our door.

106/365

I had to deal with some unexpected overtime at work this past week, and am still trying to get caught up on life.

105/365

Cool reflection of the glinting sun from one of the glassy buildings on Queen's Quay. I don't see much of the sun anymore, I should really make it a priority to get out for a lunchtime walk each day. The computer sucks me in and keeps me prisoner every time. When I'm sitting inside it's so hard to get up and get out, but once I'm out I always think "Why didn't I do this sooner?". Same applies on the weekends when I'm stuck on the couch watching movies all day.

104/365

I would love to post a photo from today instead of this one from my harbourfront walk since I finally got a manual flash, but alas I can't figure out how it works. D'oh! The manual book has got to be the most vague set of instructions I've ever read. Attach flash. Turn it on. Apparently that's it but I can't get it to fire. I really don't have the energy tonight to sit and figure it out, but tomorrow is another day.

A few more from the walk:

Loving the sparkles.

103/365

Pretty.

102/365

Meet Carl, a beloved member of our family. Some days I think I may never grow up.

101/365

The apartment has been made festive again! I love this time of year the most for all the pretty lights. I had the shutter open for over 30 seconds for this shot, I really like the streaming lights on the highway below. On the left wall there's two 3D paper snowflakes I learned to make today through online instructions: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake, one is plain white and the other painted blue and silver.

A few more shots from this evening (I still can't believe these were taken at only 5:30pm, feels so much later from the darkness):

(sleeping kitty below, hiding in the shadows)

100/365

This was taken behind the Loblaws near my apartment. I love having a grocery store within walking distance from where I live. Scratch that - I love having everything within walking distance. I heard on the news that Toronto is the least favoured city in Canada, but I think they've got it wrong. Toronto is an amazing city to live in if you appreciate everything it has to offer.

99/365

99 down...only 266 more to go.

It sort of feels like this project has been going on forever, and I'm not even a third of the way through!

98/365

Normally it's slightly irritating when people sit around feeding seagulls and pigeons because it generally means a lot more flying poop is going to be happening in that area. This time though I was actually grateful, I got a chance to sit and watch these guys in action.


I think one of them was camera shy...

...but this guy certainly wasn't.

97/365

I'd like to think this was shot in cheerful, warm weather, but I think the barren trees are a dead giveaway that snow is approaching soon. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's weather though, supposed to be unseasonably warm. There might be a bit of rain but I'll take some wet weather along with 17 degrees any day.

96/365

"You are beautiful, no matter what they say,
Words can't bring you down..."

(Christina Aguilera - Beautiful)
 

95/365

This is such a common sight downtown I almost didn't notice it while walking to the grocery store.

94/365

The dandelion here merely serves as an excuse to catch some awesome bokeh. It almost looks like someone blew on the dandelion and wisps of the sparkling lake flew away instead.

93/365

I took a walk around the harbourfront today and while I was taking pictures I accidently switched my camera into a different mode which completely threw off my exposure. I ended up taking a photo that was so over exposed it was almost entirely white. I opened the RAW file just as an experiment to see how much information I could pull from the camera sensor, and this shot was the result. There was quite a bit more detail than I would've thought. Not what I was intending, but interesting nonetheless.

This was the original file:

Technology is awesome.

waiting....

The posts have been really slow lately, I'm still waiting for my manual flash. It's getting harder to be inspired after work considering it's dark outside when I get there and dark when I leave. When my new toy comes in I'm sure it will rejuvenate my motivation for this project. Unfortunately until then, expect sporadic posting.

92/365

I took this on the walk home from work today with my little snapshot camera, I can't believe how dark it gets in the early evening now. Hopefully soon I will be able to take better pictures when it's dark after work, I ordered a manual flash and am just waiting for it to come in. So excited!

91/365

Beautiful setting sun reflected in the city skyline. The rooftop patio of our apartment building officially closes tonight and I never got around to renting a wide angle lens. Next summer perhaps?

90/365

This is in the back alley behind a vegan restaurant on Queen St. I thought it was pretty cute, much better than the lame graffiti on the back of the convenience store.

89/365

All this gloomy weather lately is keeping me indoors and I don't like it.