jenny kotulak photos: Happy Mother's Day Mom - This One's For You - 05/08/10 05:47 PM
It comes but once a year.  Mother's day.  The official date that we are to give thanks to those who are moms.  A shame that there is only one day designated to recognize the person who does more than anyone really cares to admit.
Once a mother, always a mother.  Whether you are a new mom or a 100 year old mom with "kids" in their 70's the bond is always there and for most remains strong. 
My mom gave birth to 7 children with me being the eldest and number two coming 11 months after me, both in the same … (21 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Oakville Ontario - Signs Of Spring - 04/23/10 05:14 PM
Spring is in the air in Oakville.  It is also in the forests, on the trails and gracing Oakville's streets and  yards.  Everywhere you go you see and smell sweet blossoms, fresh new leaves, and spring flowers such as tulips, daffodils and trilliums.
There is no better time than now to get out and enjoy these early spring blossoms before they are gone.  The magnolia trees are in full bloom and for such a sweet short time.  This is April.  Aren't we supposed to be getting the April showers before we get the May flowers?
No rain to speak of this month but … (32 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Oh Oh Oakville - Say It Ain't So - Is Another Heritage Home About To Bite The Dust? - 04/19/10 02:23 PM
I noticed a curious sight the other day driving down Bronte Road in Oakville.  A number of dump trucks were rumbling up and down the long driveway of an old home situated on Bronte Road just south of Upper Middle Road.  As I got closer I noticed the large red brick home was all boarded up. 
Never a good thing to see in Oakville.  The  field behind was being levelled by a piece of heavy machinery,  There were no developers or builders signs on the property that I could see but the telltale signs are all pointing towards a new home site. The property abutts … (16 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Neighbourhood Watch - Coronation Park - Oakville Real Estate - 04/01/10 04:56 PM
When someone mentions the words Coronation Park in Oakville they are talking about one of two things.  The park itself, located on Lakeshore Road along the shores of Lake Ontario in the western part of Oakville; or the community that surrounds the park. 
Homes in the area that surrounds this popular park are situated on large, mature treed properties.  Most of the homes in the area were built in the 1960's and 1970's.  The majority of the homes were built of brick and consist mostly of bungalows, split-levels and two storey designs.
Being within walking distance of the lake has … (13 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Neighbourhood Watch - Falgarwood - Oakville, Ontario Real Estate - 03/26/10 03:01 PM
Thinking of moving to Oakville?  Not sure what neighbourhood would be the best for your family?  Oakville has a neighbourhood that is right for you.
Falgarwood is a mature subdivision also known as Iroquois Ridge South.  Its' popularity stems from the fact that it is a mature neighbourhood with leafy treed crescents and cul de sacs, schools, parks, shops, ravines and trails. 
Easy highway access make this a great spot to live if you commute to Toronto.  The GO train station is a short bus ride away.  Upper Oakville Shopping Centre serves the area and the larger Oakville Place Mall is just minutes … (8 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Town Talk - Did You Know Oakville Has A 25 Year Old Sister? - 03/10/10 03:36 AM
For 25 years the Town of Oakville has had a twin sister city in Neyagawa, Japan.  In 1984 officials in Neyagawa were looking for a city to twin with and Oakville was suggested by a former resident then living in Japan.  The two mayors at the tiime signed a declaration in April 1984 and the bond was formed.
Neyagawa is a suburb of Osaka much like Oakville is to Toronto with many residents commuting to work in the nearby cities.  This relationship was established to promote international understanding, cooperation and friendship.  To enhance this cultural link many exchanges have taken place with teachers, students, service clubs and … (6 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Town Talk - What's New In Oakville? - 03/09/10 03:17 PM
The Halton Regional Police Service has opened the doors of the new Oakville 2 District station at 95 Oak Walk Drive.  The new facility located south of Dundas Street between Oak Park Blvd. and Sixth Line began welcoming the public on March 8th.  
 Oakville 2 District station on White Oaks Blvd. will be closed permanently effective the same date.  The new facility is situated on 4.3 acres and  the three levels including basement consist of 70,000 square feet of state of the art construction. 
The anticipated budget for construction was $14.1 Million.  Check out www.haltonpolice.ca for more information and dates for public … (5 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Moose Monday - Animal Alert For Oakville, Ontario - 03/01/10 02:55 PM
It's not very often that I am able to participate in the Moose Monday group.  The simple reason is that it isn't easy to find moose hereabouts. 
So what to my surprise I find that a moose and some wolves have moved into town.  Now I'm not going to be able to get any shots of a moose strolling down main street like they do in Homer, Alaska and Red Lodge, Montana but I thought this guy was worth sharing.

This guy in the photo above has his eye on something. In the background you can see Oakville harbour and the covered boats in … (38 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: I'm In The Phone Book - And So Is This Guy - 02/21/10 09:55 AM
Awhile back I was asked if it was okay if some of my photos were used for the 2010 Halton & Peel Region telephone book and Yellow Pages.  My photos?
I was rather surprised but certainly had no problem with the idea.  I was asked to email a bunch of different photos and that was the last I heard of it.
A couple of weeks ago a large yellow phone book containing over 1700 pages arrived on my doorstep.  I started flicking through the pages and found two of my photos right near the front.  Now they weren't this large mind you, and … (26 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Waterworks Park Oakville, Ontario - On The Waterfront - 02/15/10 11:49 AM
One of Oakville's best kept secrets  is Waterworks Park.  Located at the bottom of Kerr Street on the shores of Lake Ontario, this park offers a serene setting, enjoyable at all times of the year. 
A path heads eastward towards the harbour and ends at a staircase that leads up to Tannery Park.  The view from the top of Tannery Park is incredible and overlooks the harbour, the Toronto skyline,  Oakville Towarf and the pier and lighthouse.
The Larry Cain trail leads down the hill and  onto a path towards the west side of the harbour.  Oakville native  Cain won  gold and silver  medals in canoeing  during the 1984 Olympic Games.  … (9 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Rattray Marsh - Where Boardwalks And Birdwalks Go Hand In Hand - 02/10/10 03:27 PM
We finally got a little snow last night.  Not much but enough to cover the grass and send the salters out onto the roads.  Not enough to make drivers slow down and drive a little more carefully in winter conditions
Here are how things looked this morning out my dining room window.

Cold weather is not enough to keep anyone inside if you are dressed properly and that includes long underwear, but I talked about that in a previous post.  I thought today would be a great day to take a walk along the boardwalk at Rattray Marsh in Mississauga.
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jenny kotulak photos: Backroads Ontario - Take A Trip Back In Time - 02/05/10 05:03 PM
I've posted some of the photos below in previous blogs but thought I would see what they looked like after removing some or all of the colour.  I think it really gives them a different feel and ages some of the already aged abandoned buildings. 
For years we only had black and white photos and then colour came along and changed everything.  Now black and white has become popular again.
Everything old is new again? 










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jenny kotulak photos: Wordless Wednesday - Birder Homes And Gardens - 02/03/10 01:55 PM

No birds at home in this high rise  but look up in the tree in background.

I could see the dark bird from a distance but when I uploaded the photo I noticed the second bird.  How I wish I had a larger zoom lens to get a better shot.  I tried to crop the photo but I can't make out what kind of birds these are.

What a surprise as I walked around and saw many lovely painted birdhouses hanging on the trees in Drumquin Park.

These bright birdhouses add a great burst of colour on a … (22 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Speechless Sunday - Tree Art ? - 01/31/10 03:43 PM
It always amazes me when I see something unique when I'm out and about.  There certainly are some creative folks out there who really do know the meaning of reduce, reuse and recycle. 
These photos show that someone was using their imagination and I would assume a chain saw to have a little fun with nature's art form.
 



 
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jenny kotulak photos: Friday's Fotos - Step Into My Office - 01/29/10 03:42 PM
Yesterday I wrote a post that had you all the birds eating out of my hand.  It was called Winter's for the birds - but I like it to.  Here are some additional photos from the trails at  Hendrie Valley in Burlington, Ontario. 

Step into my office and I'll show you around.

Do you see what Icy ?

Bad moon rising

Sunny reflection

O.K. I couldn't resist a couple more bird photos.  This downy woodpecker was playing peek-a-boo.  I couldn't get a clear shot of him.

The shy but spectacular cardinal
Nothing to do this weekend? … (30 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: Winter's For The Birds - But I Like It Too - 01/28/10 03:13 PM
We've all heard the saying "that's for the birds."  The dictionary describes the meaning of the phrase below.
"The phrase "for the birds" usually just means that something is worthless. Someone will get frustrated and say "this is for the birds" ... and it means, it is pointless to be here. I am not getting anything out of it. That sort of thing."
Winter is a great time to get out and enjoy our feathered friends who do not migrate to sunnier climes.  One of my favourite bird watching (and feeding) spots is Hendrie Valley and Grindstone Creek in Burlington, Ontario.
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jenny kotulak photos: Wordless Wednesday - 1/2 + 1/2 = 1 - 01/26/10 03:39 PM

My dog Lola is two faced.  I thought I would take one photo of her white face and one photo of her black face.  Even her eyelashes are white on one side and black on the other.  She was pretty much just chilling out when I snapped these. 
O.K. so it was a slow day for blogging.  But she is cute, right?
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jenny kotulak photos: Speechless Sunday - Before & After The Big Freeze - 01/16/10 05:08 PM
Waterfalls are beautiful to behold at any time of the year.  Borers Falls is located near Dundas, Ontario.  There are actually 125 different waterfalls in the Hamilton, Ontario area. 
This is a view of Borers Falls in Novermber.


Here is the same view of Borers Falls in January.  Both spectacular in their own way.

How awesome is it that different seasons allow us see the same thing in different ways.

 
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jenny kotulak photos: Winterlude - Lyrics By Bob Dylan - Photos By Yours Truly - 01/14/10 03:47 PM
Winterlude
Winterlude, Winterlude, oh darlin',Winterlude by the road tonight.Tonight there will be no quarrelin',Ev'rything is gonna be all right.Oh, I see by the angel beside meThat love has a reason to shine.You're the one I adore, come over here and give me more,Then Winterlude, this dude thinks you're fine.

Winterlude, Winterlude, my little apple,Winterlude by the corn in the field,Winterlude, let's go down to the chapel,Then come back and cook up a meal.Well, come out when the skating rink glistensBy the sun, near the old crossroads sign.The snow is so cold, but our love can be bold,Winterlude, don't be rude, … (20 comments)

jenny kotulak photos: If The Snow Won't Come To You - Go To The Snow - 01/03/10 02:01 PM
The New Year has arrived and Christmas 2009 has become a not quite faded  memory.  With no snow in sight for Christmas here in Oakville,  our family decided to head north to Parry Sound, Ontario to find some white stuff.
We weren't disappointed as there was lots of snow to be found.  On Christmas day though, the rain came.  The temperature rose above the freezing mark and the snow disappeared from the surface of Otter Lake, exposing the smooth ice.
As you can see by the photo below Santa did find us, and an enjoyable Christmas holiday was enjoyed by all.

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