Porte Photos Daily Quote: September 7, 2022

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Well, we all know that self-esteem comes
from what you think of you,
not what other people think of you.

~ Gloria Gaynor
American – Musician Born: September 7, 1949

Porte Musings:

The beginning of September always brings a sense of re-newal.

New books, pens, colouring pencils, schools and bags.

Dressed your best for the first day of school.

Excitement building as you wait for the bus.

Although I’m well past my first day of school, I believe learning is a life long experience, so today I’m headed to Point Peele National Park with my sister and a couple of kayaks to kayak the marshes for the first time. If we don’t get lost I’m hoping we can also take the tram to the point. Maybe we’ll be lucky and see the migration of the Monarchs.

Porte Photos Daily Quote: September 5, 2022

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You can’t fake listening.
It shows.

~ Raquel Welch
American – Actress Born: September 5, 1940

Porte Musings:

My grandson and I spent a wonderful day kayaking. We did my normal route backwards to ensure he saw my favorite spot at the turnaround point of my normal route. Muddy entry with a dock too high for easy entry and exit. He started out with the paddles upside down. Then remembered on his own: writing towards you so you can read it and he turned them around. This picture was before he remembered.

I hope everyone is enjoying their last Monday of summer holidays. Tuesday the teachers will be in school preparing for Wednesday and the students returning.

Porte Photos Daily Quote: September 4, 2022

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If everything was perfect,
you would never learn
and you would never grow.

~ Beyonce Knowles
American – Musician Born: September 4, 1981

Porte Musings:

The unofficial last Sunday of the summer. Although technically summer doesn’t end until September 21st, the return to school signals the beginning of Fall.

This week is already looking to be busy. Wednesday I’m going to make a trip to Point Pelee National Park to see if the Monarch Migration has started. My sister and I will be taking the kayaks to journey through the marshes. The trip itself is a 2 1/2 hour drive, so it will be a full day trip.

Thursday, another sister and I are going to Port Stanley for live theatre to jointly celebrate our birthdays. Lunch out and theatre, such a treat.

I have volunteered to take pictures at the 150th Anniversary of the Strathroy-Caradoc Horticultural Breakfast, Saturday September 24th. The same day is the Annual Meeting of the Heritage Club, so supper out with Posties that worked at Canada Post for 25 years or more. Another fully booked day. 🙂

Daily Quote: September 6, 2020

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When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Joseph P. Kennedy (American – Diplomat / September 6, 1888 – November 18, 1969)

Holidays and Observances:
September 6, 2020

Read A Book Day

Camera in hand I showed up for the 2014 Gasparilla Criterium full of enthusiasm, even though the rain started almost as soon as I got there. I found the perfect spot to get great photos of the cyclists with the winding road and the fencing around the track. The cyclists would need to turn right in-front of my vantage point.

Daily Quote: August 18, 2020

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Right or wrong, the customer is always right.
~ Marshall Field
(American – Businessman / August 18, 1834 – January 16, 1906)

Bad Poetry Day

Bartering is a fine art in Dominican Republic. Touring the Umbrella lined street and market in December 2019. What a unique idea to provide the customers with shade during the heat of the day.

How should one celebrate
or even give in debate?
When one is required
to provide as desired
on Bad Poetry Day.

Daily Quote: August 16, 2020

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I don’t like jail, they got the wrong kind of bars in there.
~ Charles Bukowski (American – Author August 16, 1920 – March 9, 1994)

National Tell A Joke Day 

– United Kingdom & United States

Sitting at a bar in Casa Marina, Dominican Republic a little bird was sampling the drink of the day. When I read the quote by Charles Bukowski this picture was one of the first things that came to mind. Tie in the “National Tell a Joke Day” and it seemed the most appropriate to me.

We may never be able to visit places the same way we did before the COVID-19 Pandemic. I’m so glad I took as many pictures of the places I’ve visited.

Daily Quote: June 2, 2020

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One feels the excitement of hearing an untold story.
~ John Hope (American – Educator / June 2, 1868 – February 22, 1936)

Decoration Day

(Canada)

National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Finally COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted enough to permit the use of Provincial Parks including vault toilets.  I purchased my Season’s pass and went Kayaking.  I had just set my kayak on the shore of the Old Ausauble Channel and turned around to see this raccoon trying to get into my kayak.  She was looking for food and had seen me put my cooler on the dock.  She left the kayak and went over to search through the nearby garbage can.  When I got into the kayak and started to launch of the shore she followed me and almost jumped into the water.

It was such a beautiful day to kayak.  I saw 3 baby muskrats playing in the water at the far end of my route and a pileated woodpecker on the way back to the dock.  Kingfishers were playing along the banks.  A dozen Canadian Geese, red wing black birds, and 3 muskrats swimming across the Chanel. I only saw 13 turtles today, far below my lifetime record last year of 149.

2020-05-31-3204

Daily Quote: May 20, 2020

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If you’re going to have a cabin fever,
have a big cabin, you know.
~ Joe Cocker (English – Musician May 20, 1944 – December 22, 2014)

Flower Day

Eliza Doolittle Day

Cabin fever may be hitting many of us during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as some of the restrictions are being lifted and we are trying to advance towards our new normal.  In Ontario the school won’t be opened until September.  So the students have their “holiday” extended from March break through to the next school year.

The circles are widening from immediate family to include house cleaners and other services, but not our extended families.

I saw one meme that said we’re allowed to have our house cleaners enter our homes but not Grandma, so they were going to call Nana’s cleaning service.

I actually got to see Joe Cocker perform live once at the Walkerton festival.  2020 is the 20th anniversary of the Walkerton water horror story.  Each year there is a celebration to remember the tragedy and to ensure that safe water is a right not an assumption.  However, like everything else this remembrance celebration was also canceled.

Daily Quote: April 29, 2020

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Dance stories, unlike those in opera, are usually simple.
~ Robert Gottlieb (American – Writer Born: April 29, 1931)

International Dance Day

World Wish Day

So glad I took a 2 week trip to Dominican Republic in December 2019.  With the COVID-19 Pandemic no one knows when International Travel will be able to occur again.

So we may need to celebrate International Dance Day in our homes.  Our Worldwide Wish that no more lives be lost to COVID-19 and we can dance again with our friends, family and Grandchildren.

Daily Quote: April 21, 2020

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It is the photographer,
not the camera,
that is the instrument.
~ Eve Arnold
(American – Photographer / April 21, 1912 – January 4, 2012)

National Tea Day

Queen Elizabeth II’s 94th Birthday

So far 2020 has been quite a memorable year.

Kenny Rogers passed away earlier this year.  I only got to see him perform once.  On March 21st, 2015 at Busch Gardens, Tampa, Fl.  A friend and I got there 3 hours before the performance to ensure we had a good seat.  I had never seen the parking lots so full.  It was very hot, so we took turns going for food and beverages.  Kenny Rogers was recovering from hip surgery and hoped we didn’t mind that he would be sitting on a stool for the performance.  This is my favorite picture that I took that day.  Kenny Rogers  seemed to be looking right into the camera and only performing for me.  My trusty Nikon D60 did a wonderful job of capturing the moment.

Despite all the marvelous technical advances in cameras and equipment, some pictures by famous photographers, like Eve Arnold, can never really be duplicated.  Their pictures truly are inspired works of art.

“As coronavirus continues to affect people worldwide, it’s been announced that the queen‘s birthday will not be publicly commemorated in 2020.

Queen Elizabeth turns 94 on April 21, but the monarch’s special day will not be marked by gun salutes, and flag flying protocol has been updated to reflect the fact that many people are currently self-isolating or social distancing.”   Link to article in BAZAAR

I think we should all celebrate the Queen’s birthday and National Tea Day with a nice cup of tea and looking through archive pictures of the Royal Family while we continue our social distancing.