Adventures of a Vagabond Photographer

One of my favourite spots back home…

Just trying out a new iPhone app called Scratch Cam…Peggy’s Cove just got a little moodier!

Happy Saturday everyone!

The view from my apartment window today! Happy Long Weekend everyone!

A week ago today I was adventuring in Nova Scotia, taking the Lighthouse Route to Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg. Here’s on of my shots from Peggy’s Cove with a watercolour effect from one of my favourite iPhone apps, Snapseed.

Have a lovely long weekend everyone! I’m off to take in my first live Blue Jays game of the season. The dome will be open…freckles will happen!

“Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all others were making ships.” - Charles Simic

I could not think of a better title for this post than the quote above to reflect both my newly snapped photo of Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse and the sentiment of Mother’s Day. Isn’t this what our Mums do everyday for their children? While everyone else is off “making ships”, our Mums are creating a safe harbour for us to come home to, wherever that home may be.

Not unlike last Mother’s Day, this one sees me far away from my home. Last year I was fortunate to write my post (also featuring a lighthouse) from our stunning west coast in magical Tofino. You can find that post here. Well, this year I am writing to you from our charming, rugged east coast. Yesterday I was blessed with a day trip to remember. I got on the road bright and early in my cute bug of a rental car, a blazing orange Fiat 500 (love it!) and headed out to Peggy’s Cove, then on to quaint Chester, sweeping Mahone Bay and colourful Lunenburg. Unlike the same “Lighthouse Route” that I took over 12 years ago on a similar tour, this day was not blustery but stunningly clear, bright and warm. A perfect day for driving with the sun roof open, inviting a swath of new freckles back to my winter-pale face.  Even though a lot has changed since writing you from Tofino last year, I have much to be thankful for, most especially still having my dear Mum, Bobbie, to come home to after all of my travels.

This post is dedicated to all the Mums out there who continue to be a safe harbour for their children (and grown children) or who are a treasured in our hearts after their lights here have been extinguished. Thank you for guiding us home!

If you would like to see a few snaps from my East Coast Adventure, please check out my new gallery here.

Today I’m the lucky gal that finds myself on an east coast road trip adventure. My first stop is stunning Peggy’s Cove. I will post a shot of the iconic lighthouse at some point but this snap is SO east coast. I took it as I pulled in to Peggy’s Cove.

It’s funny, this trip is making me feel a tad nostalgic. The last time I sat at the cheery Sou’Wester enjoying an all day breakfast was the fall of 2000. I was a young, idealistic publisher for Oxford University Press and not unlike today, I enjoyed a day trip tacked on to a business trip. The day was not as fine as today. In fact it was quite blustery and I loved it just the same. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then but I’m glad I still remember to enjoy a great adventure.

Now to finish off my coffee and head up the coast to Mahone Bay.

Good morning from Camrose Alberta! This is the view from my hotel window this morning…a red sunrise and a rainbow! Perfect prairie sky.

As I prepare for a busy day on the road here in lovely Saskatoon, I thought I’d share a snap from my flight out. I have to say I love flying with Canadian gem @Westjet - friendly staff and a good sense of humour!

It is patio season at last! Had a lovely supper with a dear friend last night in the hip and happening Distillery District. It felt great to sit outside and soak in the atmosphere and the warmth of the setting sun. Awesome!

Well, the photography news of the day must be Facebook’s purchase of hip photo/social network Instagram for 1, count em, billion dollars! Yikes!  For those of us who love this smallish network, such a purchase may set off alarm bells. For some insight into the “whys” of the purchase, check out this article in today’s Globe and Mail (hint, it is about an Insta-mobile strategy)… 

And to go counter to sharing an Instagram photo, I thought I’d highlight an original iPhone app called Lo-Mob that is currently free for the trying at the App Store. It has similar filters to Instagram with a handy link to it’s community if you want to add your hip retro snap there. I tried one of the “instant” look filters on one of my favourite pieces, my Eames Rocker.

A billion dollars eh?