Another moment on the Rideau River and I was noticing in the moments when the traffic was still, and the curve of the river hid the buildings, I could have been deep in a forest.
Sunday morning paddle
In the middle of the city
Listen to the birds
And see the scenery so pretty.
Enjoy:
HI,
I was told I should share this adventure, but I don’t feel I have a lot of info to give but here are some fun photos and a bit of the beginning of this journey…more to come if I can keep myself writing…
I have only had my paddle board since the fall of 2023 – I bought it on sale at the end of the season. I spent the winter months checking out online groups where folks offer advice, and share photos of their adventures on their boards. Some folks are purists and pretty much belittle those who choose to not/ cannot actually stand, but I have found a good amount of supportive folk who understand that standing on the SUP board is not the best for everyone who gets a board. I’ll just call it a paddle board and skip the reference to standing at all.
I purchased a discount inflatable from Amazon < I know…> called “Oddpaddle”. The company does not have website anymore. But that’s ok. I bought a package deal that included a pump, patch kit, board with a leash, one attached set of d rings and criss crossed bungees at the front and a separating, extendable paddle.
I had to think about how I wanted to carry the board to the nearby park. I decided I did not want to inflate it at the park, so carrying it already inflated and ready to go was important.
I created a rope system that loops around the nose and butt end, avoiding the 3 fins – and with a small piece of foam padding, allows me to carry it like a very large cross body bag. So far, so good for anything up to a 5 minute walk. I wear my life jacket/pfd over and my water shoes, and the paddle locks into the bungees and to the mid-board handle by wrapping the velcro ankle wrap part of the leash there.
I like kneeling and can do so – folks with knee issues might need a low chair. This position resembles how I have sat to paddle in a canoe for years and allows me that familiar feeling as I wander about on the river or small lake. I can shift myself up to a 90 degree at the knee position too, and I’m good with that.
Eventually, there might be standing but I won’t rush it.
So far, I’m comfortable with about 45-50 minutes on the water, and that gives me time to wander around the area and check things out. On the day of the video at the bottom of this post, I was fighting the wind most of the time!
One thing I am enjoying is the chance to take photos from a different direction and seeing the beauty from the water…
Thanks for reading!
Tracey/ TAV
FULL LENGTH, regular speed video is here:
Some holiday mini cards I created at a #crafternoon with friends
watercolour pencil on watercolour paper- 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches originals.
I then just tweaked them with procreate….
More morning glories – cause they are so pretty!
These are “Artist Trading Cards” – so the size is 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches and I cut a sheet of watercolour paper to play with these smaller scale pieces.
Version 1:
Version 2:
Having started my holidays with a plan to try more arting, an online workshop happened to be guiding the painting of thistles 💖 in watercolour😎…
so here’s what that has resulted in….
Gonna go do some crazy baking next!
I saw the ad on Instagram. to be a part of a mosaic of tiles created by artistic all across Canada… go here to see it coming together : MURALMOSAIC
Yes, I paid to be part of this- and we pay for therapy, experiences and supplies to help focus our tension on something positive all the time.
I am very pleased with the art I created, and I have some friends who joined in the journey and contributed their own creations…
Once I received the kits, I then offered up the choices to my friends. Blue went quickly, and then I awoke at 4:30 am with a vision for the red, so I chose it, sending green off with the third artist!
Reel of my iPad procreate video
and then I painted this with the acrylic paints provided:
And then I felt like I wanted to do more…
So I found some 6 inch ceramic tiles and created a quartet…
Please note that the red tile is a rough reproduction of my original one for the Canada Mosaic Project…it’s proportions are not quite the same, but it works and it’s all good!
Thanks to a quick response from the fabulous SM Carriere this morning, I decided to share this little quick clip and possibly start adding more arting clips to my YouTube channel!
Digital drawings are a fun way to quickly create without getting messy… and I am grateful that I am able to afford and use the equipment I have for this – I use it for business mainly, but it’s helping when I’m not as booked with sewing clients…
and previously this week I had shared this one on my insta of my furry Muse @SprocketMinPin….
View this post on Instagram
…for now…? I’ve been taking photos since I was an early teenager and even did a year as yearbook photographer. I think I have learned even more over the years since that training course, but there are some things that just feel natural and I love capturing moments with my phone by instinct!
Every morning I am blessed with a beautiful neighbourhood that I can safely walk through and avoid humans. #sociallydistant
and I share my photos on a few online spots – I need to get better organized – either sharing them here or even getting back to using my Flickr account where there’s no question about my copyright…< fb/insta are handy but still evil….> but it allows me to share with folk who seem to really enjoy seeing the world through my lens.
Here is a fan fave photo I shared this morning – and folks re recommending I send it in to the local news – but I have not yet figured out how to do that, so hopefully one of them will let me know!
Anyway – here’s a local shot of the sunrise I took this morning May 7, 2021!
If we had company coming over, this would greet them. When we have company again, the display may have changed, so for now – welcome to a glimpse into my world….
A corner display of moments in time.
The larger dried flowers are from my wedding bouquet – 23 years soon…
The smaller dried flowers are from a floral arrangement brought by my high school BFF, Deb, to our 20th anniversary party – almost 3 years ago.
It sits in a tiny plastic skull, a gift from JKL or KBL – from the sis in law/ niece – if I am remembering correctly.
The skull is filled with loose pearls and beads – the foundation of my creative sewing life…
The mini paintings I made on the only creative visit I’ve had with my mother. It was a good day, a few years ago.
And the present… presents from two creative souls for my b-day this year – thanks Sonia and Dar for adding beauty to my world during these crazy times…
Appreciate whatever you can, folks…
www.flickr.com/gp/t2camping/0NE086