wildbillsdreamscape

Midland stoneface

Originally uploaded by canuckshutterer “Bill” (W.J. Gibson)

found this while poking around in one of too many digital photo folders on my newly repaired old desktop pc – Midland Ontario building 1881 first bank in Midland, Western Bank of Canada

Became the Preston Playfair Department Store Company Limited

My father

Originally uploaded by canuckshutterer "Bill" (W.J. Gibson)

this was taken not long after I was born in 1953. I was thinking of him today since it is Remembrance Day and he served in the Ropyal Canadian Navy in World War II, “Miss you. bear.”

 

John Huston – my photo realistic (I hope) pencil drawing of him

Originally uploaded by canuckshutterer “Bill” (W.J. Gibson)

I lack patience and it was never more fully made clear to me than when I went through a twelve week drawing class. this was the final product of my efforts and it damned near killed me. For those not older folk or film buffs, John Huston was a director and actor, most famour for The Maltese Falcon behind the camera and Chinatown for his work in front. This was about thiry hours work. The course was taught by artist-techer Mark Tumber, great artist and a great teacher.

That was about ten yearas ago and since then I have finished a handful of drawings.  I am too impatient and find that photography better suits my flawed temperament.

November 11 was bright and still and cooler, more befitting November than the warmth of last weekend. I can wait for the snow to start coming and sticking on theground. Still I sat out for an hour or so on the back deck with the young dog, Grace.  She listened to the outdoor sounds and I finished reading the third in my recent batch of Tony Hillerman Navajo police mystery books.  What a great series, sad to think that TH is now gone and there will be no more. but 83 years is a good long run.

while reading a Tony Hillerman Navajo mystery and a reference to a 73 year old Navajo walking 30 miles for a singing ceremony I decided I had better restart my walking program……a magnificent 15 minute walk with flashlight in the dark just before 6 am, I dont think any chindi were out.

frost on the cars this morning is the surest sign that winter is approaching fast.  Snow pellets last night were smacking the windshield as I drove into Midland. Our neighbours tried calling our snow plough guy to renew their contract but found his land line out of service and no answer on his cell phone.  So they have gone with a new man.  We have followed suit.  I hope it was a lottery win not something negative.  I have let my beard grow back to full, my personal 24 hour scarf.  I wish it wasn’t a white one but it is.  My hair is still brown. A gift from my Mom who had brown hair with the the tiniest wisp of grey right up till her death just three days short of her 80th birthday. OTOH I can thank her and my uncles, her brothers for my male pattern baldness. My Dad had a small bald spot about the size of small doughnut on the top back of his head.  His hair turned snowy. He died in his 73rd year. I think of both often, just about every day.

some lap dogs are heavier than others

Originally uploaded by canuckshutterer "Bill" (W.J. Gibson)

Grac has begun to crawl into my lap in the big easy chair for an evening cuddle and nap. She is getting almost too big for this already.

To rein in the immense strength of the pup Grace pulling on walks, we picked up a gentle leader.  Tried it  on her today and sure enough it made the walk much easier and more enjoyable.  Only on the way home did she fuss about it.  We didn’t walk terribly far, just along to the beach access road at the corner and down it toward the bay.  As we got down near the water, one adult white trumpeter swan paddled by a mere ten yards out from shore.  Grace stopped and watched the swan move from right to left. Then she turned and off we headed back to the driveway, path and back deck.

Little Lake Park – Midland, Ontario, Canada

Originally uploaded by canuckshutterer "Bill" (W.J. Gibson)

just under 2500 views on flickr and I have no idea why, nice enough landscape but I have a few of those, but this is the most viewed of them by a large margin

the bug is back and I am just about to spring into action all the way…..not sure why but the digicams are not tickling my fancy as completely as they once did.

I have a roll of HP5 started in my old Nikon F2 with a meterless head on it.   Took some portraits with my non-AI 85mm lens.

here it is with the non-functioning metered head:

The other possibility is likely going to be my Bessa R, rather than one of my old old rangefinders.  Although, two old German SLRs are crying to get out and work: a Contaflex and a Bessamatic.

I just have to get butt in gear and then soup the negas.  More on this soon…. I hope.

when I go to dialysis three times a week I usually park around the back and enter via a side door and turn immediately into the clinic, not thsi morning.  The side doors were locked.  They let me in but warned me that they have been told to keep the doors lcoked. I asked if that was a fire exit  which I believe it is.  One door is crashbar but a second inner door is not.  This is related to H1N1 precautions.  The hospital network in Simcoe county announced that no visitors under 18 years would be allowed, visiting hours strictly ennforced to 2-8pm and only one visitor per patient at a time.  All H1N1 related.