43:365 Fossil

Anna: The kids and I were downtown for library day today, but we only wanted to return a few things. We deliberately did NOT go in to look for more books. *L*

So that gave us time to wander around. The square across from the library has a lot of limestone walls and pillars. We were about to cross the street to the car and head home when I spotted this fossil in a pillar next to us. I seriously considered leaving this photo at full size (if you click on it, you'll see it at 40% original size). What caught my attention was that I recognized this type of fossil. I have no idea what it's of, but I've found some before - on Gimli Beach, in Manitoba! This time of year, as Lake Winnipeg thaws, the tides push the broken ice onto the shore, gouging the sand and dropping off new stones from the lake bottom. Two years in a row, I found fossil chunks like this in the very same spot on the beach. I've never seen them in any other part of the beach.

side note: We're still having computer troubles - we seem to be infected by a trojan. I'm posting this using the browser Safari, which seems to be the only one unaffected. Not all sites seem to support it, but I'd definitely recommend having it.

42:365 Mmmmm

Anna: We've been having some computer troubles lately, so we might miss a day or two. It's a good thing we've got multiple browsers installed on the computer, or I wouldn't be posting this at all! :-P

Today, after doing some shopping to get my new work uniform (gotta get used to wearing a wing tip collar!), our elder daughter asked if we could go to The Marble Slab for ice cream. Yeah, if you're going to spend that much for ice cream, it may as well be the best! *L* Mine is being worked on in this picture. Peanut butter ice cream with crushed Skor bar. A nice combination. Kneading the ice cream on a frozen marble slab is an interesting way to do things, too.

41:365

Golden

Anna: The girls and I went on a photo trip downtown today. I loved how the light was making these buildings shine.

Halfway There

Anna: I just had to add this one, too. This is one of many staircases along the river valley. That landing is actually the halfway point of this staircase, and there's another landing near the bottom. The first time we took it up to street level, all 4 of us counted the steps, and we all got different numbers at the top! *L* I think there's about 200 steps. That landing with the benches was *really* appreciated!

40:365 - Fog - edited

Philippe: This is my usual 'river valley sunrise tree' spot; we had a bit of a change in weather today, however... I kinda like it. :)










Anna: Since I was up anyways (grumblegrumblegrumble), I went for a quick walk to see what pictures I could get in this morning's fog. This is the top half of a new condo-highrise next to our complex.









editorial note from Anna: just got a chuckle as I posted my photo. Philippe made a new post at work, and we both published at the exact same time. *L* So, I've edited mine into his.

39-365 - Night activities

Philippe: After 20 years of passion, this is what we *really* do at night after the kids go to bed.. :P














Anna: A detail of a wooden container, one of several beautifully carved wooden containers with lids, gifted to me by my MIL, that's next to my reading lamp. I liked the way the light hit it, and the crack in the wood stands out.

38:365 - 20 years ago, today

Anna: Twenty years ago today, my husband and I were married.

We were all of 19 years old. Philippe was living in BC. Having injured himself half way through basic training, he was in "X Platoon," waiting until he was recovered enough to start over. I was living in Manitoba. He had only a week available to come out to Manitoba and, with his parents and sister out of the country, we decided to simply elope. It was Easter weekend, and he arrived late Thursday night. With both Good Friday and Easter Monday being government holidays, we couldn't get our marriage license until the Tuesday. Manitoba law required a minimum 2 days between getting the license and the ceremony, so the earliest we could have the ceremony was on the Wednesday. His brother was our best man, my best friend was my maid of honour. A friend of his brother's took a few photos, and that's all there was at the ceremony. That Friday, Philippe flew back to BC, and we didn't see each other again until July. With the rest of his family able to come back to Canada for a short visit, and Philippe still in X Platoon, we were able to have a get together at my parents' farm, where this photo was taken by my sister. He then returned to BC, and we didn't see each other again until the following September, when I finally moved out to join him. Although we had our weekends together, we didn't actually live under the same roof until after he graduated and we moved to Victoria, BC, where he was posted.

Because of the circumstances of our marriage, predictions of its success were less than positive. Many assumed I was pregnant, and far more predicted a divorce in the near future. Many of those who predicted the failure of our marriage are now divorced themselves.

So here we are today, twenty years later. We've been through a lot over the years, both good and bad. Such is life, and it's so much better for having gone through it together.










note: this photo was taken by our elder daughter, who is 15 years old, not 19 1/2, using her Canon G2

37:365 It's Spring... isn't it???

Anna: Yesterday was so bright and sunny, with the snow almost gone. This morning, we wake up to this...



This is off our 3rd floor balcony. As you can tell, it's been coming down for a while.















As I was taking the pictures, it started snowing noticeably heavier and was blowing straight at me.














The last time I took a picture of this tree, it was covered with snow, most of which had melted away in the next day or two. Time to start over!

And time for me to wipe the snow flakes off my lens.

Philippe: Our fourth floor opens up to a nice view of the river valley; not today though, since I can't *see* the river valley :P.