119:365 Happy Canada Day!

Anna: A happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canucks. :-D

Today, the family and I headed out to one of several Canada Day celebrations across the city. This one started a bit later in the day (we weren't about to start at 7 am, not even for free pancakes! *L*). We only stayed for a couple of hours, too. You can few my Canada Day flickr set here.

This photo is of the first performance by the Miscigenação dance group. Pronounced Missy-jen-a-sówn, it is a Brazilian fusion dance, blending many different dance styles. This group did quite a number of dances, all with costume changes. Very excellent.








These folks are the reason why we came to this celebration over all the others. They're from the Capoeira Academy Edmonton. The guy levitating in the middle? I think it's safe to say he's the instructor - and WOW was he amazing!!!

After they finished their performance, we left. I'm sure the other performers would've been great, too, but between the heat and Philippe's back saying nasty things to him, it was time to go.






Later on, I headed out by myself to see what else was going on. After a brief stop at The Works (updated set here) I took the scenic route to the legislature grounds. (updated set here) I took quite a few photos along the way, but they didn't fit into any sets I have right now, but they're in my photostream.

This photo is taken from above the interpretive centre, as I was heading out. The crowd had thinned out quite a bit by then, with people heading to the south side to claim their spots to view the fireworks. Some people were already set up in the river valley, even though there was still 4 hours before the fireworks were supposed to start! I was tempted to stay for those, but I really didn't feel like waiting around that long. Especially after seeing that all the washrooms and porta-potties had line ups of women. Ever notice there are never line ups of men waiting for the washrooms? *L*

One of many photos I ended up getting while wandering the legislature grounds. I love the colours in these roses.

118:365 - The Leg Grounds and more Works - updated

Philippe: It was a nice, hot day at the legislative grounds, so we didn't linger too long.



I took two or three of this one at various angles, but the wind was not co-operating.













I really like how the D80 renders bokeh.














*no clue* what these flowers are, but they're cute enough for a shot. :)


























Anna: Now that Philippe has the new D80, I've "inherited" the D70. Today was my first day learning how to use it.



Downtown Edmonton has an extensive pedway system, which includes the downtown LRT stations. This photo was taken underground, as we were leaving the LRT station to go up to Churchill Square, where The Works is still going on. There's a lovely garden under a row of pyramid shaped skylights. I liked how the sunlight streaming through the skylight made these flowers appear to glow.





















We've frequently seen people just standing under this arch, enjoying the water misting down on them, in our current 30C plus heat.

The tubes making up the rainbow are filled with colored water.

More photos of The Works here.






















Another much enjoyed feature of our city in the summer is the Legislature grounds. The north side includes a large wading pool, this fountain, and a series of pools, bridges, stepping stones, fountains and waterfalls. Open grass, flower gardens, shady areas and the odd jackrabbit can also be enjoyed.

More photos of the Legislature and grounds can be seen here.

117:365 - The Works

We went to the works today; it's an open-air festival full of people, sights, sounds.. So of course, I worked on my macro photography :P





























This thing was glittering away in the sun but all I could get were glancing shots since the wind was blowing it around.

116:365 A bit of this and that

Anna: Our elder daughter does a lot of graphic design and manipulation. For a long time, she'd do things like buy scrap book paper with patterns she liked, scan them, then use bits and parts of the patterns to make her own. She got kind of tired of that, so she began experimenting with various stamps that are usually used to decorate walls or furniture, and acrylic paints. She been really happy with the results, she's started cutting her own stamp shapes as well as buying others, and experimenting with different effects. Today, she brought out a craft box and decorated it. Here's the final result.

I think it's pretty neat. :-D

115:365 Yesterday's post...

Anna: I took some photos yesterday, but they didn't get uploaded to the computer until I got home from work - which was almost 2 am. So here's the post I meant to do yesterday. :-D

Sapphires (aluminum oxide) are a variety of Corundum that come in all colours but red (the red ones are rubies). The star sapphire is different, in that it has tiny, needle-like inclusions of rutile (titanium oxide) arranged in such a way that they reflect light in six pointed stars. These stars will follow the light, moving about the surface of the stone. With multiple light sources, there can be multiple stars. I've seen as many as six in each of the stones pictured below.

As much as the technical side of such things fascinate me, and as much as I like star sapphires - especially the blue ones - that's not what make this ring special.

When Philippe and I were married, his parents weren't able to come back to Canada until 3 months later. Since he was still in X Platoon, waiting for his injury to heal enough that he could start basic training all over again, he was able to return to Manitoba during their visit to see them - and me. At the first opportunity after their arrival, my new MIL unexpectedly handed me this gorgeous ring - two star sapphires and a diamond, set in white gold. My FIL had bought it for her many years ago and they had decided it would be passed on to the wife of their first son to marry, with another ring for the wife of their second son to marry. Of course, they assumed that the first son to marry would be Philippe's older brother. No one, least of all ourselves, counted on us getting married so young. It was a wonderful gift, welcoming me into their family, and will some day be passed on to the first of our daughters to marry - whichever one that turns out to be. ;-)

Chunks of aluminum oxide with slivers of titanium oxide inside it, a piece of carbon, all held together with some Au.

Who'd have thought little bits and pieces of elements could look so good, and mean so much.

114:365 The Last Baby

Anna: Our younger daughter had her very last baby tooth pulled today. It didn't want to let go! Her permanent molar had come in, pushing this one to one side, but it stayed firmly attached. Which meant she had two teeth in the same spot, with one of them sticking out sideways.

This is probably the only time my daughter actually *wanted* to go to the dentist.

Now, if only I'd seen that bit of lint *before* I took the photo...








ps: I've added a few new shots from today at The Works festival, here.

113:365 - Macro - updated

Philippe: I thought I'd try a Macro experiment.

update from Anna: Since so many people were curious, I thought I'd post the answer here - these photos Philippe took are of drops of water on a blank dvd, taken in a light box using three spotlights.






















































Anna: The girls and I made it to The Works festival today. I've started a set of photos that I'll be adding to as we go back, which I expect we'll do a few times.

While we were there, the girls decided to go into the wading pool and fountain - fully dressed. *L* Our younger daughter rescued this little guy from the water.