Global Theme Day > Shadows

A shadowy variation on a photo from last September

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Tax Day

ABC Wednesday > O is for Outtakes

Sometimes when you have good light and an enthusiastic subject, you get more than one keeper. Such was the case with these three artists: Brad Shipley, Dinah D and The Molloys.

This takes us up to Number 16 in the Musician's Hands series

The ABC Wednesday global portal is here

Bob and Davy Bossin

Bob Bossin has been a fixture on the Canadian music scene for 40 years. He founded Stringband back in 1971 and has been going strong ever since. Now son Davy is learning some chords and songs from dad so who knows, maybe there's a 21st century troubadour on the left-hand side of this frame. I photographed them on their back steps down at the South end.

Number 13 in the Musician's Hands series

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/250s @ f4, Kodak BW400CN

Oddshots Monday > Island Time

I don't think I have ever seen a clock of any kind in a physician's examining room. But Doc Mackenzie never keeps his patients waiting too long. And he's old school so it figures that the wristwatch is analog.

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/60s @ f2

Katney keeps track of all the Oddshooters here

And the Monochrome Monday Maniacs are here

Sunday Signage > He Is Alive

I come from the buckle of the Bible Belt and back there, church signs are everywhere. So I found this one on the North Road to be quite a contrast to those in the American South, much more subtle and definitely easier on the eye.

Bob's Hands

Bob became smitten with the pedal steel guitar way back in the 80's and never got over it. It's an intimidating instrument to be sure but he persevered. He also made three pilgrimages to Nashville to study with the masters. It's all about the twang.

Number 12 in the Musician's Hands series

Canon 40D, 50mm 2.5Macro, ISO200, 1/125s @ f2.8

Skywatch Friday #27

Gabriola seems a million miles away from wherever these folks are going.

The global Skywatch portal is here

Another Sign Of Spring

Snowbells are one of the first flowers to bloom on Gabe.

ABC Wednesday > N is for Neighbours

Every so often, my post is all about the text and the photo is just an illustration. Today is one of those days.

A couple of months ago, I took a fall and cracked a rib. Needless to say I was out of commission for any kind of physical work. The day after my accident, a neighbour showed up unannounced and started splitting the logs we had piled up outside Mrs. Snapper's office window. He worked steadily for well over an hour, producing the pile of stove-ready firewood you see in the picture. Grateful doesn't even begin to describe how we felt. Gabriola is just that kind of place.

The global portal for ABC Wednesday is here

Susan's Hands

Susan is our beloved librarian. She's also one of Gabriola's most dedicated music fans and a lifelong folkie. This beautiful rosewood and spruce guitar has been her instrument of choice since she was a college student. There's a touch of movement (her index finger) in the photo as she was just about to change chords from C to F, the nemesis of every aspiring guitarist.

Number 11 in the Musician's Hands series

Canon 40D, 50mm f2.5 Macro, ISO 200, 1/20s @ f4, beanbag for support

Oddshots Monday > Mona

Gabriolans, you know where this is right?

Oddshots from around the world are here

Sunday Signage > No Swimming

There are no crocodiles on Gabriola but there's no shortage of Gabriolans with a sense of humour.

Arbutus Heart

Today is Mrs. Snapper's birthday so darlin', this heart's for you.

And no I didn't carve it into the trunk of this arbutus tree. I found it just as you see it on the bluff above Malaspina Galleries.

Skywatch Friday #26

The island taxi (a Toyota Prius) scoots down the South Road at day's end, probably heading for the ferry terminal.

The global Skywatch portal is here

Dinah D's Hands

Dinah D is perhaps Gabriola's youngest living legend. She is definitely a human dynamo and every last ounce of her energy is focused in a positive direction. Her swing band has just released a new CD and she's also a founding member of the award-winning children's music ensemble The Kerplunks. We had a blast doing the shoot at her place and it was very difficult to pick a favourite to post.

Number 10 in the Musician's Hands series

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/250s @ f4, Ilford XP2Super

ABC Wednesday > M is for Moorage

The fancypants boats get themselves into coffee table books and onto postcards but I'm much more interested in the working class heroes. The vessels that quietly go about their daily tasks with no fanfare and no flash. These two reside at Degnen Bay down at the south end of Gabe.

You'll find the global ABC Wednesday portal here

Barb's Bow

My neighbour Barb took a little time off from the cello. 39 years off to be exact. But she's playing again now and how cool is that?

Number 9 in the Musician's Hands series

Oddshots Monday > Dem Bones

Things are not always what they seem at Degnen Bay...

More Oddshots from around the world here

And also...Monochrome Monday Maniacs

The Easter Bunny

Do you believe? This kid does. Yesterday was the annual Easter egg hunt at The Commons and I think every child on the island must've been there. Gabriola's very own award-winning Kerplunks rocked the crowd, the weatherman gave us a beautiful warm day and a good time was had by all.

A Sign Of Spring

Skywatch #25

Here's the Skywatch global portal

The Molloys

The Molloys (Gavin, Kate and Jules) are 5th generation Canadians who play original acoustic roots music. This looks like a studio image but it's just some great window light in their living room. They were a blast to work with and the shoot produced several keepers which made it tough to pick the one to post.

Number 8 in the Musician's Hands series

ABC Wednesday > L is for Leaving

Every so often I have to leave Gabriola for some reason or other. This snap is from the ferry ramp, off-loading passengers to Nanaimo. The good news is that I was only on the wrong side of the moat for a couple of hours.

The global ABC Wednesday portal is here

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/250s @ f16, Kodak BW400CN

Curbside Recycling

Every other week, the big trucks roll by to fetch the garbage and the recyclable materials. We missed the last pick-up so what you see here represents a month's worth. The paper's in the bag on top of the bin which contains the cardboard, plastic and glass and of course the garbage is in the raccoon-proof can. All three containers had some room to spare so Mrs. Snapper and I were pretty well chuffed but at the same time, we know we could reduce our consumption of "stuff" even more and we will. We walked away from the whole Consumer Culture a long time ago so now we are fine tuning the minimalism by buying food in bulk, skipping the plastic produce bags at the market, composting, etc. We've cut our curbside pile in half over the last 18 months and we figure we can probably halve it yet again if we just keep paying attention.

Oddshots Monday > Eye Chart

That top line's a little fuzzy...

Katney hosts the global Oddshots portal

And the Monochrome Monday Maniacs are here

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/60s @ f2, Kodak BW400CN

Sunday Signage > Bill's Place

Bill has gone on over to the other side but the new owner of this property left the sign as a memorial.

Jason's $2 Uke

I would've bought this ukulele at GIRO last weekend but Jason beat me to it by 60 seconds or so. All I could do was congratulate him on his find and help him wrangle it into tune. He then kindly played a bit while I snapped a totally unplanned addition to the Musician's Hands series. This is Number 7.

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/250s @ f8, Ilford XP2Super

Skywatch Friday #24

Spring Beach is one of Gabriola's undervisited oceanfronts which is good news if you enjoy solitude. I took this photo last week and it was just the heron and me. If you like this vista and you're planning a visit, drop Cindy a line at the Spring Beach House. She has two deluxe rooms on a cliff overlooking the beach that will make for a very quiet getaway.

Skywatch HQ is here

21st Century Hippies

Photographed at Twin Beaches Book Store

If you missed my peace symbol post, it's here

Leica M3, 50mm Summicron, 1/8s @ f2 w/ beanbag on my knee for camera support