Friday, January 21, 2011

the rideau canal

the rideau canal

We went back to the Rideau Canal yesterday, even though the weather was minus 24°C. Yes, freezing! Did you know it's the world's longest skating rink? And if I'm being perfectly honest, I just love taking pictures.

Actually, I was all about hibernating today, but Lilah begged me and I gave in. I can't believe I'm about to say this, but it was beautiful, gorgeous even and refreshing. It goes without saying that Lilah had a fantastic time, once again.

On the walk home we stopped by a new Vietnamese restaurant in our area for lunch. We enjoyed some honey garlic ribs - Lilah calls them 'bones'! She tells me she loves bones. I think she's ridiculously cute!

19 comments:

  1. It's cold, but at least you have sun which makes for some lovely photos! I hope Lilah keeps her "winter love!" Did you have to help her at all with the skating at first or is she just learning by trial and error?

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  2. I have been reading your blog for a while and I love it. Your pictures are simply amazing. I'm from Montreal and I skated for the first time on the Canal when I was seven. It is now a winter tradition. Really courageous from you to be there, we were planning to go this week end but the idea of the -20°C stopped us. It is so strange to see the Rideau Canal so empty!!!

    Ariane, Montreal

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  3. Mary: So true, the sun makes all the difference! Especially for photographs! Heh!

    She really does love the cold, which is so different to her first winter home! In fact, yesterday she spent two hours literally lying in the snow, making snow castles, shovelling the snow, pull her sleigh around and crawling up and down a little hill I made her. It sure helps me appreciate it more!!

    She is totally learning this skating thing through trial and error. We held her up for a bit the first time and then realized she was just leaning on us. She actually walks around and skates better when we're not touching her. Also, there is ice to the side that has a bit of snow on top of it, we start there because she has more grip, therefore less slipping and falling, if that makes sense. Then we head out to the very slippery stuff.

    I do plan to put her into lessons, but I know it's too late for this season.

    Jill

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  4. Ariane:

    Thanks so much for commenting. That is such a great tradition to keep!

    It does look empty, however on a Saturday and Sunday it is packed. And the Winterlude Festival always draws huge crowds!

    I know what you mean about the cold, especially on the canal, it has a freezing wind chill all of it's own! I hope you come soon and also enjoy a beavertail! :)

    Jill

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  5. I agree that she's ridiculously cute! And I love these photos even more the second time seeing these. Seriously, if you keep taking pictures like these and I might just have to come see Ottawa for myself.

    Gin =)

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  6. More beautiful photos... and you are a brave mama to go out in that cold! Sounds like skating might be her thing... especially if ribs are involved after.

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  7. Love your photos - Lilah is so adorable! Just wondering, how do you display all your gorgeous photos? And do you scrapbook? I'm swimming in a gazillion jpg files - so overwhelmed! Thanks!

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  8. Oh my WORD!! ~ I {HEART} these photos! And for the record, "I think she's ridiculously cute!" too!!! :)

    I just realized that since I've been keeping up with you more on FB these days, that I have missed out on your blog. And MISSED OUT it is, as you've always been one of my all time faves! Can't get enough of your sweet girl or you amazing photography! I think my fave today, was how Lilah calls the ribs "bones" ...too funny!

    Thanks for putting a smile on my face yet again! Have a blessed weekend! <><

    Hugs,
    Tanya

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  9. That sounds like a perfect day despite the cold! Hope this winter brings many more days like this for you and your girl!

    Kim

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  10. Wow, those just couldn't be better pics of an amazing day

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  11. Oh I so want to go there... that looks like so much fun!

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  12. Gorgeous photos! And look at Lilah go!

    Haha, love the "bones" story! Lilah sounds like such a character.

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  13. Thanks so much for all your lovely comments. They always make my day! :)

    Anonymous: I don't scrapbook anymore - I used to in my pre-Lilah days! At the end of every year I make a blurb book with all my favourite 'Lilah pictures' and events of the year...it takes a lot of time, but it is a lot of fun and the books are just beautiful! I usually add to it month-by-month and save it so I don't get overwhelmed! I also make separate books of our vacations. I know exactly what you mean to be swimming in jpegs! I had to go out and buy a second hard drive a few months ago, because I've already filled the 500gb one I have! The only other place I display my photos is on this blog! I am hoping at some stage to have a book made out of it...which is why I'm so fussy about posts going on their exact dates, etc!

    This blog is very much dedicated to my girl...it's my goal to help her remember these special memories we shared and take plenty of pictures, because I know it will be hard for her to not know what happened in those first 18 months and not have pictures of that time, before she joined our family.

    I hope this helps!

    Jill

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  14. Lilah looks at though she really loves the cold. I cannot imagine those temps! I love that second to last shot where she is looking at you through her sunglasses.

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  15. Jill - thanks for the reply regarding your photo printing. Do you also print and display them around your house - do you have any tips for displaying? Thank you!

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  16. Hi again Anonymous!

    I don't display them around our house, but we just did some renovations and we gained another floor on our house! I am hoping to frame a few, maybe 8 or so, 8x10.

    Jill

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  17. Looks like so much fun! Lilah looks so cute as always, even in the minus 24 degree weather. I really need to talk my husband into a trip to Ottawa again. It's your pictures that make me want to visit the city!

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