We figured the $46 ticket price and “exit through the gift shop” expenses were well worth the 40 minutes we spent wandering around slowly or sitting on ornate benches while absorbing the colourful images that morphed to the accompanying soundtrack.
One of the ornate benches welcomes art lovers to sit a whileA colourful display of an old favourite painting
The late morning crowd was small, focused and polite. People respected distancing protocols. Some even kept their face masks on. There were no small children racing about or sprawled on the floor due to boredom. I would say it was more enjoyable than last year’s Van Gogh exhibit.
The Immersive Van Gogh art experience of August 2021
I love the impressionist art style, appreciating the beautiful works created during “en plein air” outings. I had to put aside my opinions of Claude Monet after reading reports that he was an abusive husband and father. I still enjoy his work so much that I chose not to “cancel” the show.
You would have to work hard to convince me to visit an immersive exhibit for Pablo Picasso or Jackson Pollack. Forget Salvador Dali!
I leave you with a water colour rendition of the Water Lilies and Japanese bridge, something I did in late 2020 while on staycation during the first year of COVID-19. It looks okay from a distance 😀
My crude watercolour rendition of Water Lilies and Japanese bridge, December 2020 TJ
Thank you for dropping by. I hope you will find some beauty in your day.
Canada Day 2022 is approaching and celebrations in Ottawa may be tarnished by unwelcome participants.
After Ottawa residents were harassed for many weeks this winter by the “Freedom” Convoy occupiers, many of us cringe when we see someone with a large Canadian Flag draped over their shoulders, or flags fluttering from the back of pickup trucks parked on our residential streets.
Those people disrupted traffic, disrespected the national war memorial and infested downtown residential streets with their noisy, smelly trucks and menacing behaviour. Their financial backers and some western Conservative supporters tried to disrupt democracy and overthrow our fairly elected government while using the vaccine mandates as their focus for complaints.
They used offensive language and visual props encouraging personal attacks on our Prime Minister. They welcomed members of the right-wing Christian and white supremist fringe. They harassed politicians and doctors. They taunted residents who wore protective masks while walking on the streets. They used their own children as shields to thwart arrests and removals.
It was an occupation that was planned with military precision. It makes one think that there is a darker influence that still lurks in the background.
Thankfully, the OPS and reinforcements removed the protesters in a peaceful, methodical manner.
Tree stump after the May long weekend storm, graced by a small Canadian flag
Those occupiers are back in our fair city with plans to attend Canada Day celebrations and stick around all summer. What are they protesting now? Vaccine mandates have been lifted.
Local residents and politicians are not pleased with the antics of these unwelcome visitors with their menacing behaviour, anti-science rants, immature posters and flags. People of the Ottawa region are still recovering from massive storm damage and hydro outages. We don’t need this bullshit.
I haven’t been downtown for many years to celebrate in the hot sun or rain with thousands of other people. The COVID-19 pandemic distancing recommendations and Freedumb Convoy have sealed the deal on my personal preference for quiet, clean celebrations closer to home.
I took my usual vacation so I could extend the gratitude, times for reflection and enjoy me some cool autumn temperatures.
We had a mixed bag of weather but that didn’t affect the memorable moments during various family gatherings.
Camp Fortune ski hill and fall colours
Accomplishments:
Succeeded with an argument-free, three-night, four-day visit from a sibling;
Tasted several new, healthy dishes – even helped make a batch of Keto freezer cookies;
Learned an exciting new recipe;
Avoided tourist-y crowds in Gatineau so we could see the fall colours of the Gatineau Hills (been there, done that);
Attended a fund raiser event that supported medical research plus the love of reading. Came away with a warm, fuzzy feeling and a bag-o-books;
Went for morning walks when it wasn’t rainy and dark;
Only had to use the Ottawa public transit bus service twice;
Read, relaxed and got in lots of afternoon naps! They are SO underrated.
A lightly carpeted path in the park
The waning moon accompanied me on my morning walk
Tickle, tickle moon!
I spent no personal time on a Windows computer. Yay!
Your PC will restart several times – and make you guess if it does!
I got to spend more time with the Tabby Cat.
Now it’s reality time on a Sunday evening. I feel like a kid on a school night, having not finished my homework and dreading the next day. I have a job. I have a job. I want a job closer to home!
Deep Blonde Thoughts 