Experimental Farm (Ottawa, ON)
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
The temperature finally dropped enough that I was willing to head out for a hour or two with my camera.  I walked over the the Ornamental Gardens at the Experimental Farm.  Today was the day for day lilies.  Who knew?  While I was there I started talking to three of the "Friends of the Farm" volunteer gardeners.  They were so good and so generous with their information.  Apparently, the three volunteer on Wednesdays in the lily garden area.  Wisely they are wearing sunglasses, hats and lots of sunscreen.  What a wonderful way to get outdoors and garden. Here are some of the day lilies photos that I took.  I did learn that the lilies with mottled leaves have either had rain or a sprinkler on them or bugs.  I thought they looked terrific because they were so different.  Gardners love to ...
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By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
On Sunday I met Nancy and her dogs. We were all at the Experimental Farm enjoying a beautiful morning.   She called me over to a big Butternut tree to show me a cicada that had just molted.  It was amazing.  She found the hard shell on the ground and picked it up to show me.  Apparently she was walking by the tree when the light green of the wings caught her eye.  Now, I love meeting new people and Nancy was very interesting.  She is a biologist with the Federal Government (explains why she knew so much about bugs- wait is that a double entendre?).  In fact, she works in the same department I left but in a building of well over 1,000 people it is not a surprise that we never met.  She has the two most endearing shelter dogs.  Sally lives a few blocks from my house.  She said she and her...
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By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
Fotosketcher is free software available to turn photos into watercolours, pen and ink drawings and a number of other effects.  We all know that there is only so much time available for playing with technology and software so I put off trying Fotosketcher since first reading about it almost a year ago.  There was a small write-up in the newspaper and I made sure to write it in my little book of interesting websites.  Just to show you a couple of effects, here is one of my favourite photos that I used to see the changes.  This photo was taken this spring when the trees and bushes were just starting to bud.  I used a very close setting on the Nikon so that the background blurred naturally.  I love the colours in this photo and am thinking of having a wall hanging made.  Now the question is...
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By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
Last Tuesday was a wonderful sunny and warm day.  I went for a walk with my camera to try to capture some of my favourite spring flowers.  There were:  magnolia buds on a tree; tulips (so late this year but what an opportunity to photograph them; iris flowers just starting to appear; lilacs with that wonderful lilac smell that is so sweet but cannot be photographed; a big headed poppy, peonies and, finally, a lawn ornament that needed to be caged for this collage. If you are having as much rain as we are today, I hope you enjoy this collage and the reminder of all that spring that be. 
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By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
In Ottawa, chip wagons abound.  We love our fatty foods (at least I know I do).  Now, when you come to visit Ottawa I have to warn you..... Stay away from the Poutine! Anyone in their right mind will know that arteries will clog just from reading the ingredients.  I am warning you in advance so hang on to your arteries: A styrofoam container of piping hot and crisp french fries 1 large ladle of gravy (not your mom's but something that is thick like wallpaper paste) 1 handful of cheese curds - yes, curds as in "Little Miss Muffet". 1 very liberal sprinkling of salt because your health is not an issue A pinch of pepper A defibrillator -  nearby. I felt it my duty to warn you.   Now you have been warned.   When in Ottawa - eat Poutine.   You have no idea how good it can be until you try a...
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By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
I have been waiting through this cold spring for the magnolia trees to burst into their amazing beauty.  Today, I took my camera to the Experimental Farm and there was one magnolia tree that inspired me.   Here are some of the photos that I took (collage made through Picasa3).  
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By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
Back again.  Today's photos from my camera have been downloaded and now I can show you a spring 2011 photo (rather than going through the archives and hoping something would work).  I just felt so good to go for that long walk and search for signs of spring.  The tip that I learned at a course was to do as little cropping as possible and try to get the most in the original photo.  I missed a bit on this photo but that was what I was practicing today.
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Ottawa, ON Real Estate Professionals