Week 38

 Bees, Nectar & Honey 

     The bees were busy this past weekend collecting nectar from the flowers around our cottage.  There are 3 different kinds of bees and/or wasps in the following photos.  I'm not sure they all use the nectar they collect for making honey, but I think at least the fuzzy yellow one is a honey bee.

     I have the hardest time with my macro lens getting what I want to be in focus, in focus.  Between the bees moving, the flowers moving, and my camera moving (next time I must try the tripod) it is a challenge.  While it looks like I have some decent photos, these are the best of about the 50 that I took!

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Psalm 119:103 NIV

                                                                              Bee on white sedum                                              Sept 14, 2013

                                                            Bee on pink sedum                                                Sept 14, 2013

                                                          Bee on pink sedum                                                    Sept 14, 2013

                                               I like the detail you can see on his legs                                  Sept 14, 2013

                                                         a bee/wasp on pink sedum                                           Sept 14, 2013

                                                               Bee on zinnia                                                        Sept 15, 2013

     While I was leisurely taking photos of bees and flowers, my husband was as "busy as a bee" cutting the lawn, spreading grass seed, hauling away dead tree branches and cleaning out the eavestroughs.  And this was all after doing a 10km run!  I figured he at least deserved to have his picture on this week's blog!

                                                              My hard working husband                                    Sept 15,  2013

     

Week 37

St. Jacobs Farmers' Market

     The St. Jacobs Farmers' Market draws thousands of people every week, both locals and tourists.  In fact, it is probably the most popular tourist attraction that Waterloo County has.  Early on Labour Day, September 2nd, the main building at the market was destroyed by fire.  

Three days later the market was open for business with outdoor vendors and I was there with my camera.

     I have included a couple of photos of the charred remains of the building, but most of the following pictures show what the market is most famous for - its fresh produce and people, including both vendors and buyers.  The people in the Kitchener/Waterloo area are very fortunate to have such an abundance of food grown locally and so easily accessible.

"They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest."

Psalm 107:37 NIV

                                            Welcome to the St Jacobs Farmers' Market                              Sept 6,  2013

                                   The charred remains of the main market building                               Sept 6,  2013

Sunflowers stuck in fence  - the petals sort of look like "tongues of flame"    Sept 6, 2013

                                                  Business as usual with the outdoor vendors                          Sept 6, 2013

                                                                                         Apples!                                                            Sept 6 , 2013

                                               Peppers of all shapes and colours                                          Sept 6, 2013 

                                                                   Plums                                                              Sept 6, 2013

                                                          Picking a good potato                                               Sept 6,  2013

                                                       Bouquets of cut flowers                                                Sept 6,  2013

                        Girls having a chocolate milk break                 Sept 6, 2013 

                                                  Peaches - a favourite in our family                                        Sept 6, 2013

                                 Buying potatoes                               Sept 6, 2013

                                                      Some whimsical gardeners                                               Sept 6, 2013

                                                                     a busker                                                          Sept 6, 2013

                                               Mother & baby                              Sept 6, 2013

                                                                 "a honey of a deal"                                              Sept 6, 2013

Week 36

Rockway Gardens

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."

Genesis 2: 15 NIV 

     Rockway Gardens isn't exactly the Garden of Eden, but it is the best municipal flower garden we have in the city I live in.  The many volunteers of  the Kitchener Horticultural Society manage these beautiful flower beds.  Enjoy some of the colours and sights I saw the other morning as I strolled through the park with my camera.

                                           Rockway Gardens in Kitchener, Ontario                                     Sept 2, 2013

                                   Lilly pond in Rockway Gardens in Kitchener, Ontario                              Sept 2, 2103

                                         Window-box at Rockway Gardens                                                Sept 2, 2013

Morning Glories

                                           Huge yellow marigolds along with purple flowers                         Sept 2, 2013

Rose of Sharon 

Sedum flowers just starting to bloom

                                                       Sedum plant - a sure sign of fall                                        Sept 2, 2013

Week 35

Beach Glass

     One of the past-times of cottage life for me is looking for beach glass (sea glass) along the shore.  It is quite thrilling for me if I find a well frosted nugget, and if it is a colour other than the most common white, brown or kelly green, then it is even more exciting.  Beach glass started out as broken pieces of glass from garbage thrown in the lake or from ship wrecks.  Over the years the waves and sand have rounded out the rough, sharp edges and frosted the surface of the glass.  What was once garbage has been transformed into a treasure or a "jewel!"

     Experiences in our life, good and bad, help mould and change us.  With God's help our lives can become more and more beautiful as we exhibit more of the "fruit of God's spirit" in our lives.  I hope I am found to be a treasure and not someone with sharp edges!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Galatians 5: 22 & 23 NIV

                                                 an assortment of beach glass found along Lake Huron                           Aug 2013

Week 34

Cute Little Visitor

     I think it is about time again to feature my cute little grandson on my weekly blog.  He is now 10 months old, has 4 little teeth and has just about figured out how to crawl.  He enjoyed playing with the different toys at his grandpa and grandma's house this past weekend and was just as good as he could be.  How thankful we are to have such a healthy little grandson and pray that as he continues to grow, that he will learn to follow God as little Samuel did in the Old Testament.  "Samuel" is our grandson's English name.

"The boy Samuel grew physically.  He pleased the Lord and the people." 

I Samuel 2:26 NCV

                                                                                     10 months old                                                        Aug 18, 2013 

                                                A happy boy and a proud grandfather                                     Aug 18, 2013

                                                   He can really throw that ball                                              Aug 18, 2013 

                                                                      Adorable!                                                        Aug 18, 2013

                                             A little Blue Jays' fan with his Uncle Tim                                    Aug 18, 2013

Week 33

Rest and Relaxation

     My husband has a demanding job.  He works long hours and there is always more that he could be working on.  Last week he had a much needed, relaxing, vacation at our cottage.  He really did take it easy (well, there was one conference call and a few e-mails he couldn't resist doing!)   The following photos show some of the relaxing scenes that we shared last week.

"Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest.  Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives.  The burden that I ask you to accept is easy;  the load I give you to carry is light."

Matthew 11: 28-30 New Century Version

                                        Lake Huron at Station Beach in Kincardine, Ontario                             Aug 8, 2013

                                             Lighthouse and marina in Kincardine, Ontario                              Aug 8, 2013

                                   Big, old, blue, lifeguard chairs at Station Beach in Kincardine                 Aug 8, 2013

                                                          Seagulls on the shore                                                   Aug 8, 2013

                                                 The picturesque town of Paisley, Ontario                                Aug 7, 2013

                                                      Saugeen River in Paisley, Ontario                                       Aug 7, 2013

                                                Old railway trestle in Paisley, Ontario                                       Aug 7, 2013

                                                       Sunset in Point Clark, Ontario                                             Aug 2, 2013

                                                      Silhouette of Tim on rock                                                   Aug 4, 2013

                                 Spectacular sunset at Station Beach in Kincardine, Ontario                        Aug 8, 2013

Week 32

Some of My Favourite People

     We are just back from spending a week of holidays at our cottage.  Here are some of my favourite photos of some of my favourite people who came for a visit! 

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

I John 4:11 NIV

                                                        One of my beautiful nieces                                        August 3, 2013

                       The girls heading down to the beach            Aug 3, 2013

                                                          Tim at the beach                                                          Aug 3, 2013

                                                         My nephew on the rock                                                 Aug 3, 2013

                                                           My sister and one of her daughters                                        Aug 4, 2013

                                                         What a handsome couple!                                              Aug 4, 2013

                                                                       Father & Son                                                 Aug 4, 2013

                                                               I love this family!                                                       Aug 4, 2013

                                          A visit from our good friends, Jim & Diane                                   August 9, 2013