Its winter time, which means hockey is back on the ice for our girl – for the final year! My heart is more at ease knowing that our niece and nephew will be participating in their own upcoming sports, so the lens will not be going into retirement anytime soon!
This is my FAV hockey lens and man has it had its work out the past 10+ years! Its a fabulous lens for in the arena to photograph my hockey players as it opens up to f2.8. I love that I can get all the light that I can! Ive even used this lens in the high school gym to photograph basketball games for really good close ups!
The roundness of the lens cap, of the lens in my bag.
I purchased this lens years ago from Henrys’, its been a workhorse for me! If you are in need of a lens, I highly recommend checking out their used section!
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
My round theme for today is with my singing bowl. Its the colour of the solar chakra. There is a lot of calming benefits to the singing bowls – think relaxation, an energy reset, can also help in sleep – which makes sense being relaxing.
I am still learning about these bowls, one thing I learned recently – about cleansing the energy of crystal bracelets, this size of bowl is challenging to do that, due to the size. So if that is something you may like to do, you will need something bigger. This has a nice sound, it is harder to play with than the bigger ones.
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
One of my most favourite round things that came into our life at the perfect time.
Essential oils have truly changed the atmosphere of our life, the smells in our home, typically the diffuser (or the teens downstairs). The best part though, the medicinal benefits. These beautiful oils that go in this diffuser not only smell great, they have positively impacted my mental and physical health.
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
This year my husband felt privileged to be a part of the Remembrance Day Parade in town. As a veteran. I am grateful that both myself and our daughter, with school, could also be there and timing worked out perfect to grab a photo with our son after the ceremony.
There is a lot of photos, I will share some within the blog and also link to more below.
When you see a vision as you are standing there… and it delivers in the photograph!
It was such a pleasure photographing the Remembrance Day ceremony today. If you are a Legion member or a part of the ceremony today, I will be sending the legion members the link to access the photos. If you had the day off today, and are not a veteran, I hope you showed up to support those who are!
My husbands army day’s were before we met, honestly I am grateful for that. He received his release papers when the kids were young, it was a good feeling when they were in. I admire his dedication to his country, although not as recognizable as then, his heart is true, aligned and he stands up for what he believes.
A share from instagram of my people, the top left my great granpa Ross, his flag can be found on King St E. The better quality images are on Flickr! 😉
This is my husbands first Remembrance Day as a Legion Member with our local branch.
I was lucky to get to photograph this. For them and for me/us. My husband recently joined our local legion branch. As a proud Veteran, he had thought about this and the timing was now. He joined this fall and was able to be a part of this parade and the one on the 11th in Mount Forest.
It was such a pleasure taking photos of this. The snow was also a nice touch. A stark reminder of some conditions, often worse than this, that many were fighting for freedom in.
Although I did not know my husband when he was in the army, I am proud of him. Also, I will be honest, he signed his release papers back when the kids were young! There is far too much hate, fighting and war in the world. I do pray that one day there will be peace, for all.
❤
For the Photographers out there… As we were leaving the house, I had my Canon R6MII with me with the adapter so I could use my EF 70-200 f2.8L lens as we were heading to our daughters hockey game right after the parade. I also had my RF 24-240 and RF 28-70 – which this one has really come in handy for wider shots for hockey! Before we left the house, the snow began falling more persistent, nothing accumulating on roads however snow was falling. I then quickly realized, the RF 28-70 + 24-240 are not weather sealed… My Canon R6MII is. Actually my RP is weather sealed/resistance as well! I knew, standing outside, taking photos of the parade, I would need a lens that also is weather sealed. So I ran back inside and grabbed my EF 24-105 f4L lens. I just simply love this lens. The way the photos come out, the colours straight out of camera, are gorgeous!
I know with my mirrorless camera’s eventually Im going to need to pull the trigger to get a native RF weather sealed L lens… Here’s to hoping the prices of the RF L lenses has a drop in 2026 and more used options become available! When I first began getting serious with my camera equipment, I was blown away at the L quality. The RF quality does come close – which is awesome, maybe in time they will have some different weather sealing options! Why? Yes I can use my EF 24-105 with the adapter and it works, however one thing Ive noticed is the camera is slower, and with the adapter on, it does make the entire camera that much longer as well.
Its only fitting that today, the roundness theme is the Poppy for Remembrance Day.
This is the first year, my husband is marching with the Legion as a veteran. More photos to come of that later!
In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae May 3, 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
(As published in Punch Magazine, December 8, 1915) Source
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
1st snowfall of the winter of 2025-2026 was this weekend, much less than they forecasted, thankfully!
A reminder, the cold is coming, a time to retreat for many, once the snow is here to stay I love getting out and capturing the beauty and purity of a snow covered scene.
This month is flying by already, even though I just joined this challenge the other day, its hard to believe its already November 10th! I am grateful I found this challenge, the emotions will always be present, however this is allowing me more of a purpose of creativity each and every day. Especially during the month we loose so much light. As a photographer, that is what many of us strive for – the light. As a natural light photographer myself, that is what I seek out, and as we enter November, the darkness begins to surround.
A challenge such as this, posting daily, seeing other people’s posts daily, many photos of everyday things, nothing posed, just pure, raw creativity of everyday. The perfect inspiration. Especially this month. November will forever feel hard. This is how I can transmute my ‘hard’, to soften my heart. Round, fills this month challenge theme perfectly as well. Sometimes we just need to soften the edges of life, to realize we are all going through something…
The roundness of my crystal bracelets hanging on my selenite bracelet holder my husband gave me for Christmas last year. The first two bracelets were ones I created, the others on the top rack were ones I purchased from our local crystal store, Art Arrows earlier this year. I allowed my intuition to guide me, crystals are healing for a variety of reasons. I will admit I do not know crystals as well as my daughter, however I ‘intuitively lead’ myself and go to what I am attracted to, its always exactly what I need at the time.
First bracelet I shared the other day, I had it made custom from Leann at Art Arrows and includes beads for each of our birth months. The 2nd bracelet was created by me at the local Brain Injury Group meeting. Leann came to the meeting and led us through choosing and the various crystal meanings. I allowed myself to be intuitively led as I selected the beads.
One of the stones in the bracelet I made is Hematite:
“Hematite is one of the most powerful grounding stones in the mineral kingdom, intended to root your body and mind back to Earth. This stone helps refocus your thoughts and actions into those that matter to you most while guiding you on the right path. It’s a stone of attraction, much like that of a magnet. Hematite is constantly pulling down excess energy from your environment to help you use it towards your best interests. Once your focus becomes anchored to the Earth, Hematite shows you that anything you desire is achievable. Rooting ourselves into the present moment seems to be a harder challenge each day. In the technological world that we are advancing in; it seems difficult for us to stay present within our thoughts.” Source
One of the main stones in the family bracelet is Citrine, this is also the birth stone for November, my brothers birth month.
“Citrine is a master of one’s creativity center, which houses some of our strongest manifestative energies. This area has been known to be the key to not only unlocking our personal will but to also unlocking our truest desires. When one is truly looking for a change or a spark of imagination, Citrine’s energy has no bounds. Grasping this stone each day and letting the universe hear your goals will amplify its energies tenfold. It’s not just about thinking, or wanting, but rather focusing and doing. When Citrine brings our root chakra into play, it allows us to bring our truest desires to life.” Source
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
The past few weeks we’ve been working at decluttering and re-organizing some rooms in the house. With a recent hobby of our daughters, we were able to spark a transition within our home shifting some furniture that will benefit her needs and the rest of the house flows even better now. We were also grateful to receive furniture 2nd hand to replace ours, which the couch cushions stitching was almost all gone.
The one weekend we de-cluttered our bedroom. Its incredible how much stuff can accumulate over time, without even realizing. Last weekend we organized the storage space in the main bathroom, switched up the storage options and its working and looking so much better! Yesterday, we finished shifting my den and took a few steps further to our daughters space being set up. It feels good. When hitting hiccups in life, these spaces are important to me, my den is like my healing space – for me and our family. A mental reminder, that when the medical supplies are needed, they can come out and then go back in the closet shelf.
As a visual person, anything sitting out IS a good reminder for me, I can see what I have, however its also incredibly overwhelming with visual clutter. Clear counters and floors are a key factor for a calm and clear mental health for me.
Behind the massage table is a closet, and a couple shelves, to the left there is an antique dressing table with a 3 fold mirror, its beautiful and reflects the light from the windows beautifully. With the most logical location for the desk against the wall, its important to me to have as much light as possible. The armoire we had in our bathroom, it worked, but not exactly the best storage for in there. I love its use in my den. I also love the touch of wood, calming. I have photos and paintings that I still need to get hung up on the walls. My heart is just so happy that my floors are once again open, the energy free flowing.
The energy feels so good in there now. The diffuser going, I was also burning some palo santo to help cleanse and bring in the good energy flow with moving everything around. Helps to rid the stagnant energy.
We are almost there! With many delays, mainly health related for my boys, we are finally inching closer to completion, which feels so so good! Getting these spaces back in order again, were key. The next few spaces, its going to be even better when that time comes.
Image taken on my cell phone and edited with Photoshop Express.
Today’s round photo is for my brother Adam… its Adam’s day today – Happy Birthday little brother! I hope you are surrounded by all of our loved ones and your little T in Heaven!
He is missed beyond belief… the amount of times Ive wanted to pick up the phone to call or message. Or how it just doesn’t feel real. Or when a photo shows up at the perfect time that hits the heart just right with memories. Memories that are even more priceless now. Grateful that I photograph everything and anything to do with life.
I had these crystal bracelets made for Christmas last year, the bracelets include a birthstone for everyone in our family, our parents, us 4 siblings, our spouses and our kids. The tattoo… in his memory that came to me and I knew, as a visual person, how much it would mean to have. The round crystal beads, together to form the round bracelet.
The 444, my own meaning that holds strong to the connection I had with him and that continues to show up in the numbers as well as other signs – that I also hope continues for all my years.
The accident was Nov 8, his birthday, today Nov 9 and his final fall, 9 days after his initial accident. 9 days, 9 in numerology is endings, completion of a cycle.
I miss my brother so much. As the oldest of us 4, it is weighing my heart in a way thats almost undescribable.
ETA… Maddys team played this evening and brought home the win! Its little things, little things that can help soften the heart on a day now that pulls up all the emotions. Keep watching over us, as grateful as I am your not in any more physical or emotional pain… holy fuk I miss you! 😭
The November theme details can be found in this post – think Round!
