Algonquin Park #1

Hello everyone.  A few weeks ago Bill and I spent 5 days up in Algonquin Park (this is the oldest and biggest provincial park in Canada measuring 7,653 square kilometres or 2,955 square miles). We knew before heading, that the park was showing stunning fall colours, but when we arrived it was nothing like we imagined.  Even locals say this was the best year for 'fall colours' in years. They have never seen colours so intense. We were not disappointed to say the least, from yellows to oranges to reds to burgundy's - it was breathtaking!  

We try to get up to the park at least once a year.  It's an amazing park, with 20 interpretive walking trails, some include waterfalls and lookouts. Being here is so serene! It's a great place to unwind from the hectic everyday life. I know a lot of people would much rather be on a sunny beach on some island far away, but for us we love to drive to our destination and soak up the scenery of our beautiful country we live in, along with what nature has in store for us.

The weather was cool in the mornings in the mid 40's to low 50's up to low 70's in the afternoon. First couple of days were cloudy, but sun broke out late afternoon, the rest of the week was sunny.

Bill took so many fabulous pictures capturing the fall colours.  I will share some in this post and then more in a future post.

Be sure to click on the photos to enlarge them for a better view.

 

This was taken on day 2, just as the sun was breaking through the fog, shortly after 7am. So tranquil.

A view from across Tea Lake.

Colours of Autumn - along Opeongo Road

The Common Loon has been on Bill's list of 'lifers' to get for years, and finally he was able to capture them on Opeongo Lake.

And how about a bit of nature - mushrooms - gorgeous!

I hope you enjoyed what I shared today.  I will have more in another post shortly. Thanks for your visit today.

Pauline

cuppa buttercups and pictures

Hello everyone.  Sorry for the long absence.  As I mentioned before,  we were busy getting ready for our son Mark's wedding, then back to work for a week, then last week Bill & I took off for a weeks vacation.  Nowhere hot with sunny beaches, but rather up north to Algonquin Provincial Park to soak in the wild life along with the most gorgeous fall colours.  We are still all green down in SW Ontario, there might be the odd tree that is turning yellow, or a bit of orange.  It was like driving through a tunnel of colour.  We hit it at the right time as the colours reached their peak.  A lot of locals we met even said this has been the best year in many, as far as colourful and vibrancy.

Here are a few I took with my Canon PowerShot S95.  I will have more to share later, just haven't had time to go through them all. 

along highway 60 driving through the park:

 

Oxtongue rapids - you can see Bill over to the right, doing what he loves best!

 

and now for my card post.

I made this a couple of weeks ago before I took my break but just didn't get the chance to post it.
I'm using one of Power Poppy's digital image called Cuppa buttercups.

 After re-sizing and printing I used copics to colour.  I cut it out using a stitched circle die, then cut a scallop circle using some of the designer  paper.

The bottom of the card front I used my ever so neglected spellbinder border.  I'm not even sure if they still carry this set, as  I have had it for several years.  It cuts, embosses as well as pierce tiny holes for the design. I used the same die to cut both edges of the yellow designer paper.

All papers are from the Howdy Doody MME 6x6 paper pack.

To finish off I cut a flag banner from a piece of scrap and then added a tiny bow made from silk ribbon.  Wink of Stella clear pen for the buttercups and pearls along the bottom edge.

So..... now I need to get into gear and work on more cards.  Taking almost a month off, it's hard to get back at it.  My basket at work is almost depleted, and of course Christmas card orders.  So that should get me into gear don't you think!


Supplies:
stamp - Power Poppy - digital image  cuppa buttercups
ink - copics - BG0000, BG000, E30, E31, R21, R24 R29, RV02, RV09, RV19, YG01, YG03, G 29, YG63, YG67, Y12, Y32, Y38, YR23
paper - MME - Howdy Doody, cougar white
dies - Simon Says - inside & out stitched circle, spellbinders - scallop circle, stitched border
misc - pearls, silk ribbon, wink of stella pen



Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have a wonderful day.  See you again real soon. (Wed - I will post my son's birthday card).

Pauline