@nna ink. on the move

Thanksjumping 2011

2011-10-20T18:35:00.001-04:00

Some Thanksgiving fun....

Natural Work of Art

2011-02-22T16:11:00.000-05:00

Our Kate: Month and a half old!

Creativity Meets Necessity! :)

2011-01-30T13:39:00.002-05:00

Boys Will Be Dirtbags...

2010-12-06T13:18:00.001-05:00

With living proof that boys all have that inner greasy trucker, my brother and some good friends from our church who all share a house asked me to take photos of their "Movember" beards and ensuing trim jobs before becoming cleanshaven, upstanding citizens again. As well, they wondered if I'd design their Christmas card. So, here are the hilarious results. As well as a taste of what they would look like as body builders. Don't ask.

In case you're a sucker for punishment, view the full album with this link to the public Facebook album on my design page.

Southern Wedding Photos!

2010-11-26T10:48:00.003-05:00

Andrew's cousin and his fiancé asked me to do their wedding photography for their nuptials in Florida in October... with an amazing spot and wonderful subjects to capture, it wasn't hard to get a lot of good shots... here are a few that I've processed: Heather & Kevin's Wedding

Still Alive, And Ready For Christmas!

2010-11-26T10:45:00.000-05:00

I still breathe... although a little harder these days as I have a 32 week fetus pushing against my lungs... so it's about time I posted a few things, we'll start out small with our Christmas card for this year! Having sadly neglected to post one last year, I made sure to make this year's good... especially since it's our last as just a couple and not a 'family'! More hopefully later...

Quality vs. Quantity

2010-07-08T20:58:00.000-04:00

So my sparse posting will be redeemed by the end of THIS post, considering I made THREE things that will be featured therein:

Item A:

Item B:

Relating to Item A, which was designed to inform my husband Andrew that Item B had been created and was now residing in my womb awaiting its arrival at a late January deadline. Yup, WE made a baby!

Item C:

Slightly anticlimatically, I made a near-perfect pavlova for the first time last week, including homemade whip cream. It WAS yummy.

Making Up For Lack of Posts!

2010-06-15T22:55:00.002-04:00

Haven't MADE anything interesting in the past weeks, but here are a few photos I've shot and processed from my first official wedding photography job (as a wedding gift) for Andrew's brother Mike and new wife Tammy.
Mike + Tammy's Wedding Album - Facebook

Hello, Cupcake

2010-05-17T20:36:00.000-04:00

It was my brother's birthday last Sunday, so I made and decorated cupcakes for him. He couldn't resist. His housemates and I surprised him at 8am at McDonald's before church to celebrate.

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T11:46:00.003-04:00

Sarah (our editor/my cousin) asked me to create a header for our Earth Day section, so I went a bit nuts and had some fun... celebrate wisely and often!

Ah, Fresh Page...

2010-04-15T21:44:00.002-04:00

Today marked the inaugural sketch in my new Deserre's sketchbook. Not a great shot (BlackBerry camera and all...) but you get the point... enjoy. This should keep a certain Eisenberger off my back for a few days (I jest!)

Been swamped with freelance work recently, as well as getting the garden cleaned up for this year. If anything interesting blooms, might snap a few completely unoriginal but historic shots. (Historic, because quite frankly, if anything green can flourish in my care, it warrants notice.)

Wasabi-t Excited To Take These Photos

2010-04-06T15:08:00.001-04:00

My niece Dana and I took a stroll to the AGO a few weeks ago to see King Tut (sadly, while the exhibit was fantastic, it was only stuff from the tomb, and not the actual sarcophagus or mummy). The wood architecture in the AGO was very cool, so had to document it. Also loved the view into a textile room from the ajoining art school.

A couple days later, I went to take photos of Dana picking out her wedding dress with a few of her bridesmaids, which was a hoot, and she found (of course) the perfect dress, and then we celebrated with a batch of fresh all-you-can-eat sushi nearby at East in downtown St. Cats. Of course, I took more photos of the sushi than completely necessary.

Dundun. Dundun. Dundundundundundun....

2010-04-06T13:54:00.003-04:00

This week I didn't have much to show, but I DID manage to doodle an impressive five minute scene on the Awana points sheet Tuesday night while the kiddies and us leaders were listening to a message....

It started off just being the flower, with the intent on drawing more flowers, but I realized that I really wasn't in a flowers and hearts mood.

Hopefully there will be more to show next week, I bought a brand new purse-size sketch book at Deserre's today on my way home from Toronto, so I'm sure before the novelty wears off I will be putting a few ideas down in it.

Monstrous Design

2010-03-31T23:13:00.002-04:00

I've been a productive little artist this week, finalized a logo for a local company that does home energy assessments, so here is one of my top favourite logo assignments EVER, featuring a new friend that I like to call Edwin:

In The Clutches of My Clutch: The Contents of My Purse

2010-03-27T16:06:00.007-04:00

This post is more of a historical documentation than anything creative, I was simply cleaning out my purse this afternoon and realized that a woman's purse is quite possibly the best descriptive commentary on her own life that will ever be documented. So, at the tender age of 27, I'm documenting my own "biography" of the moment, as seen through my satchel.

• Phone (BBerry 8330 Curve)

• Water bottle
• Coupons
• Headcovering
• Hair wax
• Advil
• Gum wrapper (2)
• Restaurant receipt (About Thyme Bistro, Vineland)
• Lip gloss (2)
• Key ring

• Earplugs

• Highlighter
• Victoria Secret perfume stick
• Ipod/earbuds (older generation)
• Extra camera battery
• Discarded gum in paper (2)
• Carrier bag in pouch (thank you, Courtney Mous!)
• Baby spoon of Dana's left at Nancy's
• Change of address at Canada Post receipt
• Zen tea bag (2)
• Decaf Orange Pekoe tea bag
• Orange pekoe tea bag

• Berryblossom white tea bag

• Reusable cup holder (paw print)
• Reusable coffee cup holder from Midnight Rooster Café, South Carolina (one of my all-time favourite food spots)

• Love note from Brad Pitt (long story)

• Warning note from Angelina Jolie (also long story)

• Love note to Drew from anonymous source (long story)
• Swiss chalet receipt
• Pad
• Pencil sharpener
• Sketching pencil
• Eraser
• Cough drops (3)
• Mini sketchpad
• Chiropractic receipt
• Hair elastic
• Sunglasses
• Sarah, editor of the Voice of Pelham's business card
• Bview Bible study notes
• Gas receipt
• Woven change purse with no use as of yet
• Donut-winning Roll Up The Rim tab
• Wallet
• Change purse (Beaded, in the design of the union jack)

Easter Hatchings

2010-03-26T14:01:00.002-04:00

This is a design for the Easter church service page I did for the paper for this week, as well as a cutesy quick design for the middle advertising spread for Easter

Cafe Poster: Daily Grind

2010-03-09T17:19:00.002-05:00

As promised, here is the poster design for the coffee house our church is having...

Pets in Print

2010-03-08T11:07:00.004-05:00

I did this ad for the Town of Pelham brochure, and I used my photos of Bondi & Splat it in... had to share! (And for the record, the crappiness of the logo is not my doing...)

Café au Layout

2010-03-07T19:11:00.005-05:00

Our chapel's youth group is putting on our 2nd Annual Café Night, complete with live music, amazing desserts, and of course, fantastic hot beverages! Last year was a great success, and also a TON of fun, this year I'm helping them out by doing poster and invitation postcard style promos, and these are some of the photos I took from last year that I did a bit of tweaking to this weekend. Pictures of the poster will be soon to follow!

And special thanks goes out to Jacob E, for making an eternally recurring appointment in his iCal to remind me weekly to update this blog! I may live to regret encouraging it...

On a disheartening note, my Blackberry decided to commit suicide yesterday when I was updating it, and I lost ALL my creative idea notes, my lists, my calendar of appointments, my contacts, and my settings... WHAT a waste of time! One more reason to pick an Apple product next time around!

Dashes in my Lifeline?

2010-03-02T10:47:00.004-05:00

Since Facebook took over my life, my blog has suffered brutally harsh mistreatment. I've neglected, disrespected, and fallen out of love with the poor little thing. So now I'm back, with a new purpose... not just photos, those will go to Facebook, which makes uploading correctly-sized and freely-hosted photos way easier (it would take me hours to process a post-sized load of them on here before I switched). I'm hoping this year to start painting more. Creating with my hands more. Less techno, more real-life. To document it, I'll be keeping a journal here. That way, if I don't post in a month, I'll have an actual sense of guilt at my non-creativeness, and a timeline for my artistic spurts. Wish me luck.

Fall Cottage Retreat with Aly & Lisa

2009-01-10T00:22:00.003-05:00

Road tripping with Lisa & Aly to Aly's aunt's cottage near Baysville, we had an amazing time with a conked out toilet, a spider-infested outhouse, a still, clear lake, a canoe, a DVD player, great food, skip bo cards, coffee and tea on a dock, a blue heron we chased halfway around the lake, dodgey cell phone service, a few leery construction workers that took our pictures for us, and LOTS of memories!

Nonfiction in the Park - Grimsby

2009-01-10T00:21:00.002-05:00

On a warm, balmy August evening in 08, Nonfiction joined a few other great Christian bands in a concert in the park in the middle of Grimsby, we brought the puppy for her first public appearance...

Nonfiction at L3 - St. Cats

2009-01-10T00:14:00.001-05:00

Nonfiction rocked out at a youth oriented show in Downtown St. Catharines in August 2008, so Dana and I came out to support the team... and I, of course, took photos...

Random Summery Shots of the Pets

2009-01-10T00:12:00.006-05:00

Muskoka With the Kids!

2009-01-09T23:54:00.006-05:00

These photos are a little out of order, and are from a visit in late summer of 2008 to my sister and brother in law's in Dwight, just outside of Huntsville in Muskoka. Andrew & I and David and Katie went up, along with a one or two month old Bondi!

The ride home was not giving Dave much of a chance to sleep!

Not sure what they were doing behind the book!

Bondi didn't fit here for very long, and the back wipers freaked her RIGHT out, but was quite cute for awhile.

Little yoga on a nightly walk

Love at first sight!

So FLOOOFFY!

A bit tired, but SO ADORABLE!

Rarin' to go at this point.

Enjoying the breeze on the dock on Lake of Bays down the road from my sister's.

Cutest family I know! Nancy & Geoff and their newest additions, Stefi and Molson the malamutes.

Trying to get our pooch to pose

Bondi's first time in the water, and she couldn't get enough!

Introducing the dogs

Aaaand she just decides "No further! DADDY I'm TIWED!"

Katie makes a good dogsitter :)

Such a cute family in training haha!

Out for a promenade

All wrapped up around Dad's legs

Checking out the machine... boys and their toys

The one we left at home

I'm just not that into playing right now... sleeeeep?

Little crossed eyed cutie

This was her fave way to travel in my car, until she got too big to fit there!

Flaked out at work

My office assistant

Back to the subject at hand, visit up north... Molson is not happy about David being on his floor!

SNOOOOOOOOORRRRREEEE!

Peeeeeace duuuuuude!

Co-pilot

A Night At The Shaw - NOTL

2009-01-09T23:53:00.006-05:00

Rich Kraemer (our American import), Laura, Heather, Andrew & I went to see "An Inspector Calls" at the Shaw Festival in July last year, which was REALLY good, and inspired a heartwarming/creepy crush by Rich on one of the actresses, who shall remain nameless! About an hour before the show, the girls, Rich & I wandered around Niagara On The Lake and checked out the park on the river.

Jenn & Devin's Wedding

2009-01-09T23:52:00.004-05:00

Another couple hitches the knot in July of 2008 ... taking the count of married Croz Crews up to four! :) The wedding was gorgeous, the reception sooo fun, and Andrew and I had our FIRST dance together! To Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World... :D

Bondi: The Newest Grist!

2009-01-09T23:50:00.005-05:00

She WILL learn to LOVE the camera!

First trip to the vet includes meeting a VERY big new friend!

Laziness personified at work

Those stairs are BIG!

She still winks ALL the time

TOTALLY random shot of David hamming it up with Drew's Christmas gag gift... a shiny, flame covered man thong!

Fave place to sleep!

Dave again...

Siblings getting annoyed at Boston Pizza

Katie, Dave & I at Boston Pizza

Breakdance!

Flaked out in her new kennel

None of that now!

Curled up in the most IMPOSSIBLE spots is her fave place to be!

Bondi, my little desk accessory ;)

Reclining on 'Grandpa & Grandma's' porch on her way home

3 generations ;)

Meeting the cousins!

Who ARE you?

Grandpa!

Meeting her parents... SO adorable!

Grandma!

Saying goodbye

Haley playing with Bondi

What IS that?!?

Flaked out at work

She just wanted to drive!

Bill & Courtney Mous' Wedding

2009-01-09T23:49:00.003-05:00

Laura, Beth, Jenn, Andrew, John, Devin & I were fortunate enough to witness the marriage of two wonderful friends, Bill & Courtney Mous in July 2008 in Dundas.

Nonfiction El Fresco

2009-01-09T23:46:00.006-05:00

Nonfiction played outside at a Sherkston Brethren in Christ youth event in July 08. The weather was great, the music amazing, and the light perfect for photography ;)

June in Niagara

2009-01-09T23:43:00.004-05:00

Char goes grasshopper

Heather, Chris, Kendra, Steve, Char, Shaphan & Dave excited about sunset at Port Dalhousie

Splat the cat loves Ikea too

View from the park (Morgan Point??) overlooking Grimsby on the escarpment at sunset

Another view from the park overlooking Grimsby on a sunny/stormy day

Storm rolling in/out over Lake Ontario

Sunshine streams

More storminess

Baby fawn on Holland Road heading from St. Cat's to Fonthill

BANFF! Drew & My Vacation

2009-01-09T23:41:00.009-05:00

In June 2008, Andrew and I took our yearly vacay in Banff, Alberta. We had a BLAST, got to see lots of animal life and gorgeous mountain vistas, breathed fresh air infused with pine and that scent of rain that you just can't put a name to, did a bit of shopping, Canuck-style, frequented the Banff Starbucks, hiked a few amazing trails (one whilst it snowed... in June!), and just had a great time enjoying Creation and each other's company. The photos are a bit out of order, we actually spent the first 4 days or so in Banff, then went to Calgary to pick up Yukon Jon, drove back to Banff for a night, then took off for Rocky Mtn. House and Laura Tempest's abode where we stayed the last few nights of our trip.

This is one of my favourite shots, taken on the road to Banff from Calgary after picking Jon Emke up from the airport.

Laura and I when the five of us went out for dinner to the Olive Garden

Group shot! Enjoying the last days of our visit

Laura enjoying a game of Rummykub in her apartment with us

Competitive to a fault, all of us!

The tension is starting to show...

Getting my Hindi on at the Indian Elephant exhibit at the Calgary Zoo, where we went to kill time waiting for Jon's flight to arrive

Going up the lift to the mtn overlooking Lake Louise

Breakfast at Melissa's Misteak in Banff... SUCH good food! We went here I think four times!

Breakfast... almost awake, with a gorgeous view to boot....

Meeting the locals

View from one of the bridges in Banff

Little gas station we passed walking from our hotel to downtown Banff

My Starbucks!

Another gorgeous view of the sunset trip back to Banff

Mama and little ones we met on the road!

Scraggly looking old bat

This was pretty much as close as I was getting...

Can't pay for this kind of view...

Looking huuuuuungry...

Jon getting up close and personal

The boys, just itching to try out their life insurance policies it seems...

Traffic jam outside of Banff! All to see the local black bears out for a stroll

Ok, he looks a little anti-paparazzi

Demure

View on one of our drives in the mountains

Cutie, just couldn't take enough photos...

I think these are the ice fields... saw them from the highway, wasn't sure

More vistas from our drive

It's all in the details

Relaxing in the wilderness

Do you see what I see?

We hiked a bit from the road to get to this water, well worth it!

Looking to the right

Great peaks

View from the road before we hiked inward

Our sweet ride for the week

Saying hello to the MASSIVE crow/raven

Another snap happy tourist

The boys at Lake Louise

Lake Louise

Jon, not 'moos'ing a chance to ham it up

Us... cute shot, Jon!

Taken in almost darkness on the way home.... caribou (or elk?)

Such gorgeous colours... God's got such a great palette!

Mist moving in over the exit to Banff

Oh to LIVE here and see this daily!

Another sunset shot

Rain in the sunset

The boys, as we drive out of Calgary towards Banff

Hippo baby at the Calgary Zoo

Indian elephant ear at CZ

My favourite animals... giraffes!

Love the colours and texture on this little guy

What, is there something on my back? Lunch?

Don't mess with me

How can you resist this face?

In all his glory...

Dazzling... (and blocking our path for a good ten minutes!)

The eighties called, they want their monkeys back...

This condor (from South America), had a TWELVE FOOT WINGSPAN, he was HUGE!

An old soul

Ginormous condor again

Baby!!!

Shy or coy?

Red pandas... just want to hug them, and squeeze them...

Another of my favourites (let's be honest, I love them all)... snow leopard!

Whadya wake me up for?!

These two were duking it out for a good 20 minutes, so fun to watch

Lake Lousie, before the rain

Mountains near the lake

Such BLUE! And my favourite bird, a loon...

On the killer trail up the hills next to Lake Louise

Friend who came to share our perch at the Mirror Lake

Me at Mirror Lake, which was as far as we got on our hike

Gorgeous colours, can't get that clean here!

Another bench shot to add to the collection

Drew enjoying a break

The mountain next to Mirror... can't remember if it's actually called Beehive or Nest or something like that....

Heading back down

My favourite bench, besides the one in Australia. Right on Lake Louise.

Teal amazement... this is with NO COLOUR ADJUSTMENT at all!

Darkness falls

Cliffs on our drive back

This guy attracted a lot of attention... got to within about 20 feet from him

Take that, photographers!

Enjoying the view

These mountain sheep were INSANE... all these shots taken while they were on a 30-40 foot drop-side cliff

I could get used to this commute

More deer at twilight

Deer outside our HOTEL... this is looking at next door, they went right under our door between the buildings

Love the colours

At a gift shop near Lake Louise

This was another lake near Lake Louise, can't remember the name

Look, ma, SNOW!

Lake Louise again (look, we went there THREE TIMES, ok, there's GOING to be a lot of photos!)

Outside a lodge where the gondola went up the hill to view Lk Louise, this HUGE raven, about a 3 foot if not more wingspan

Awww

Ground squirrels, these guys were EVERYWHERE

On top of the gondola run

SNOW in JUNE! I was NOT dressed for this!

That itty bitty lake in the background? You guessed it... Louise

Playing in the snow again

Looking all dashing and such

The view from the top

Slinky snowmobile

Back on the road again

Downtown Banff

Our reliable little Garmin

More locals

Sulpher caves

Pretending nonchalance

Falls near the Banff Springs Hotel

Trail near Banff we explored our first/second day out

They look like bears or groundhogs.... pretty cool

Sexy beast

Banff Springs Hotel

Just starting out!!

Aurora & Dana, My Niece & Grandniece!

2009-01-09T23:39:00.003-05:00

This is my first attempt at taking family portraits so to speak, Dana wanted to do photos of her and Rori for a Father's Day gift for Derrick last year (June-ish 2008), and we had a lot of fun taking them! My grandniece/goddaughter is adorable, and is always fun to photograph, she made my job easy!

Happy Halloween, Canada!

2008-10-31T13:01:00.002-04:00

Well, even Medusa has to earn a living! So off to work at the paper I go, even had to drive through Timmy's like this! (Even gorgons need caffeine!)

Aly & I: Closer Than Sisters

2008-08-30T15:36:00.004-04:00

Some fun spring shots of Aly T & I! :D

Camping avec Co&Ca a la Thunderstorms

2008-08-30T15:35:00.005-04:00

The highlight of the CoCa schedule, the camping trip, happened in May. AMAZING, meaningful, fun, with perfect weather (and yes, in spite of, or because of, the thunderstorms!) and great food, friends, and even some spiritual growth!

David and I showing off those stunning Robins' genes... ooooor not....

Lovebirds

The torrential downpour our first night

Around the campfire

David the monkey helping keep the tarp up and running

Having fun!

Steve enjoying the best banana treat ever!

Staying afloat!

Don't let it collapse! We're still eating!

Name of the game for the first evening!

Katie and I reverting to our childhood... COLOURING! My favourite thing!

Hard at 'work'

The tarp crew keeping things dry

Fire time

Relaxin'

The VW crew

Beans. Beans. Beans. Beans. Did I mention beans?

Rachel looking adorable in wellies!

Moment of truth! JENGA!

To conquer.... the river!

The campsite

Hiking the gorge

Rachel prepared for 60% of the weather incurred!

My camera was kidnapped... these are the purpetrators

The one that got away!

Roger faithfully documenting... in case of drownings!

Verity & I preparing for the ride

The tube holder... comes standard with most VWs! Doubles as a wife!

Riding in the truck on the way back to the site.

Verity chillin'

Steve and I keeping it rural

Unnamed someone plunging down the rapids!

A few of us brave souls

Visit to the Farm & Grandma Esplen

2008-08-30T15:33:00.003-04:00

During May we went to see Drew's grandma in Port Elgin, and I got some beautiful shots of the farm... including a rainbow!

DSC00646.JPG - DSC00653.JPG

(May08a folder)

Last Days at Starbucks!

2008-08-30T15:32:00.003-04:00

Spring in Niagara! And with it, the first days of summer, and with it, a completely new direction for me... from slinging coffee to resizing photos! Back to my job designing ads at the Voice of Pelham! This first photo is the HUGE apple tree in front of our house. I love the flowering... Drew hates the apples... they bruised his Rabbit ;)

One of a few signs I designed for the store before my departure... such fun!

This girl and some friends (who remain nameless to this day!) came in in the wee hours and made an amazing sculpture/crown out of our condiment stand supplies!

More signs (I was having a bad day)

I was particularly proud of the clock!

Anna Banana!

The puns ALWAYS make their way in...

More signage...

Special Visit with the Grandparents

2008-08-30T15:30:00.002-04:00

We went to see Grandma & Grandpa Grist in May of 2008. It was a great visit, the last one with Grandma while she was well. It was great to see them both, and also meet a new furry friend or two. :)

The road leading from the farm.

Grandpa & Grandma, Drew & I

Aunt Cheryl & Uncle Doug's house under construction

A bit out of order... Drew and the cat discussing our living room.

We ALMOST took this little guy home. SOO cute!

Me and a very put out looking hitchhiker

How can you resist that face?!?!?

The family barn, with a sign I LOVE

Gpa and Andrew and Mocha

Nonfiction LIVE at Sherkston BIC

2008-08-27T19:45:00.005-04:00

A few shots from a Nonfiction concert in March, 2008

Nonfiction at the Niagara Music Awards!

2008-08-27T19:43:00.002-04:00

P1150249.JPG - P1150254.JPG

Scottlea & Easter Conferences, (B5+)-Style, Starbucks with Friends & The Scottle Youth Conference

2008-08-27T14:26:00.007-04:00

March & April had a lot of stuff going on... here a few shots from some of the stuff we ran around doing!

Mr. Stapley & Mr. McCurry make a cake

"But... what IS it?"

Family ties... Joanna & Craigers

Jared, a great Starbucks connoisseur in the making!

B5+ at the Easter conference practicing in an entryway

Craig, at Starbucks (Jared's favourite guy!)

Steve, a B1, practicing

Linds and I looking stunning as usual!

Sibling devilry!

Jesse in fine form

Strum strum strum

Trying to teach Ian timing... over.. and over... and over... and over... and over...

Jared enjoying the worship time

"Love the music!"

B5+

Nonfiction Unplugged minus one

The B5 ladies

The Tempests Awful Voices Were Heard, Toronto With 'Love', and Breakfast at Agape

2008-08-27T14:23:00.007-04:00

circa March 2008

Let's face it, games with Laura are always competitive... but also very fun! :D A few friends from Brockview, Drew & I battle it out in the Tempest's dining room.

Laura and a friend of hers, Chris Love, and I visit scenic (?) Toronto for some wandering and gooood food at Rowntree's!

A few pancakes short of a full stack, but still fun! A few friends and us two devour reeeeeal maple syrup avec pancakes and the trimmings!

Spring Shutterbugging 08

2008-08-27T14:20:00.008-04:00

Shots from around the house!

A spot of toast?

Funky fruit

Freak snowstorm (one of many!) on our street

Splat's on TV!

All this shovelling on my own! :S

Bit of decor

Ava Woodland!

2008-08-27T14:17:00.004-04:00

The adorable niece of my best friend, Ava, at church one Sunday this spring.

Desperate for a Photo Housewife

2008-06-14T22:31:00.003-04:00

Just a few spring photos from around our house and Niagara!

First daffodils of the season in our kitchen window

Splat relaxing on our couch

Llama farm between Beamsville and Grimsby

Kisses!

"Would I lie to you!?"

Lunch... havarti cheese grilled on olive oil brushed italian bread... TRY IT! WOW!

More of one of my favourite flowers

My favourite mug from my place of employ

This totally fits Nonfiction so I had to grab a few!

My First Suicide Attempt, or, How I Made It Down A Mountai

2008-06-11T11:20:00.004-04:00

These are a few shots I managed to take between screaming runs down the slopes at Holiday Valley in Ellicottville. It was my very first time skiing and I LOVED it! Can't wait til this winter to try again, and maybe break my leg snowboarding as well!

Most of the group on the shuttle bus, anticipating a day of snow, ice, and bruises!

Amy and Tyler looking adorable as usual!

Jesse and Alicia and the least flattering poses they could muster

Gearing up

The snow bunnies!

Sibling skiing... so cute!

Special guest: American Camp Li Lo Li-te Rich Kramer! (In his magnificent mid-70's style one piece skisuit!)

Oggling the gogglers

My snow buddy Alicia and I!

Dave sporting lovely hat hair, to Rich's disdainful dismay

The Woodlands (minus little Ava)!

All decked out in totally outdated ski wear (but having fun nonetheless!)

Dusk, and the hill I came down first (did a second-easiest hill instead of easiest hill by accident and still survived!)

Looking down from said hill

Night falls on our day at Holiday Valley!

Nonfiction @ NCC - Jan 2008

2008-06-11T11:19:00.004-04:00

Nonfiction play a youth night at the marshmallow church in Niagara Falls...

Twister With Sardines & Attack Volleyball: Co&Ca In Action

2008-06-11T11:16:00.005-04:00

Well right now it's actually August and quite frankly, I'm ashamed of myself... my blogging has only been caught up to January! It was sad for me to see the end of the postings from Europe, and I have been missing those days of late. However, as with all endings, it means also the beginning of something else... and of course, that for us included a new home in Beamsville, a new page in the friendships we were reunited with, and a few new pets as well! (More on that in later posts)...

So in this post, from (yes, sigh) March, I'll include some shots from family trips and just a bit of us readjusting to life back on the west siiiide of the globe...

One of my favourite subjects, the trolley car in a field on Hwy 8 (6? I'm horrific with numbers) on the way to Andrew's parents in Lucknow

Lindsey's going away party (she comes home soon!) as she left us to go work for one of the Gaithers in the States for a few months (she was driving Michael Tait of dc talk fame's car at one point!)

Put 40 people in a living room, add a Twister game and what do you get? Mayhem and blackmail photos! (Jesse's butt features prominently in this one)

My husband, Shaphan Reed, and Josh Clark having a go at it... (Look's like Josh is winning!)

Drew and I captured in yet another 'tender moment'

Ian and Steve duke it out

Poor Liz is being crushed

Maryann takes on the guys

Why do the girls always end up suffering?

Steve and Mrs. Gunning (in a rare Twister shot!) compete for glory

Annette poses amidst the lovely plethora of footwear in the Gunning's foyer

Annette, Meagan and the adorable addition Chloe (new at the time to the Millson household!)

Getting away from the crowds

Jesse caught up in Twister fever

Drew and I, yes that's right... another tender moment

Ian training his attack dog

Young People's gym night... Jesse in good form

David showing off those lovely Robins legs

Ian and a fantastic dive

Eric makes a great spike, while Scott defends (and look, they match!)

Dayna and Craig... meant to be? Ya, I think so. Hehehehe...

David attempting to free a trapped vball

Scott serves it up

Roger captures the entire night on... er... film... card... whatever

Nonfiction Live @ Sherkston - Jan 2008

2008-06-11T11:14:00.004-04:00

Another amazing show was Nonfiction live at a Sherkston Brethren in Christ youth night, to a very full house. What a blast, and of course, merchandising to go with it!

It hasn't gone platinum, but definitely aluminium!

The lovely ladies who (wo)manned the swag tables

David's idea, my design

Tuning

Waiting in the wings with energy drinks

Steve pointing to a girl that had an LCD belt that flashed Nonfiction!

Watching from the balcony

Jesse looking coy

Flying hands

In the spotlight

Shaphan Reed showing off some of the more dodgey merch items :)

Hands up, baby hands up....

My new favourite shot with the band... Steve chilling in the back

Random Holiday Shots

2008-03-12T17:54:00.010-04:00

These are just a few shots of events during the holiday season... some of our best friends and long lost family ;)

My new grand-niece (yes, that's right, GRAND-niece!) Aurora... who is the most beautiful baby I will ever spoil!

Linds and I at Swiss Chalet for lunch avec Laura & Rich Kraemer

Chrissa my cousin and my cousin to be and ex-housemate Shaun who came to visit me at work!

Laura & Rich at our aforementioned lunch

Dave and Steve in their natural habitat: Steve with a guitar and David looking at pictures of cars

Ben & Jesse Sloetjes having a sibling moment, Laura shooting up the place, and Marg avoiding my camera? :)

Liz is clearly not happy about something!

Another rare shot of the Dave

Splat and her favourite perch... next to the wise men and sheep

Robins' Family TADK Christmas

2008-03-12T17:54:00.009-04:00

As per family tradition, after years of my Uncle David & Aunt Esther and their family getting together with our family on Christmas Eve, children of said parents decided to continue this tradition on our own... So we had myself, Andrew, David (brother), David (cousin), Honey, Rebecca, Theo, Sharon, Mike, Julia, Josh, & Emily (as well as Splat) in our humble abode for an evening of fun and food before Christmas!

Julia or a wraith?

L to R: Theo, Mike, Dave, Honey, Dave, Sharon standing around chatting

Relaxing

Ornaments... gotta have a little corporate Christmas spirit!

Some of the ladies... and Josh

Another candid shot

Sisters....

Dave hiding from the camera as per usual

All of us together!

The cousins... friends for a long time, acting just as goofy as we were 10 years ago!

Julia showing her net worth

The happy couple :)

Another happy couple!

David and the Christmas tree... pontificating, Dave?

Theo hamming it up

Dave and his Santa hat

"The rat went that way!"

A rare shot of the elusive Dave

Dave using our stairs

New Years 2007/8!!!

2008-03-12T17:53:00.022-04:00

After the watchnight service at Scottlea (which was the last event we attended before flying to England the next morning last year), we headed to Brockview to do a wild Car Rally with a few (ok, like 30) friends (Heather's car, with me, Ian & Jesse, lost due to sneaky driving by Chris Hartwick!), which ended us up at the Sloetjes abode in Beamsville for some food and games and hot tubbing!

Jesse, clearly constipated, between Ian & Linds, with Dave and Brian in the background

A bit more posed shot

All of us PACKED into Ben's small room to watch the ball drop in NYC

More of the crowd with our Champagnade!

First to fall asleep.... Annette in my car on the way back to Brockview to pick up some of our cars

Shaving and Dave with Heather and Josh in the background, discussing the year to come

Emily caught in the act of making a snowman (with help)

David shovelling... which he did for about 3 hours trying to find Linds' ring... (yet unsuccessful)

Still awake (miraculously) Annette and Catherine armed and dangerous

Liz, Heather and I taking refuge in the warm, warm car

The remnant with the final product: Rich, Linds, Annette, Emily, Josh, Catherine, Katie, Heather, Liz, and Dave & Jesse

Grist Family Christmas

2008-03-12T17:53:00.020-04:00

Spanning 2 countries, 3 area codes, and a few days, our Christmas spent with Grandma Esplen, Mom & Dad Grist and brothers, and the NY/PA clan of Grists was whirlwind and very special.

Andrew & Splat relaxing Christmas Eve

He just couldn't stay up for "It's A Wonderful Life"

Pressies!

Christmas dinner? Not so! Mike's girlfriend Tammy's pet rabbit

A bit out of order, Drew's addition to our tree in retaliation to all my Starbucks ornaments!

Roxy, Matt & Rob's rottie, one of the newest pet additions to the family!

Drew giving Roxy a good workout

What a puppy, SOO adorable!

Bailey & Roxy checking out the bunny... "PlaaaaaY?!?"

Antique motorcycle in the barn

Back at Lynn & Elden's for Christmas night

David was a MAGNET for the family pups... Bucks, Bailey AND Hannah enjoying his company

Drew receiving a beautifully refinished chair that belonged to his grandfather Esplen

Lynn's GORGEOUSLY redone bathroom

A little bling bling from Papa

Completely jealous of this pitcher set... if it goes missing, er, it wasn't me???

Touch of frost

Bailey poised to wake up Dave

The boys admiring Mike's work snowmobile

On our way to church on the Sunday we were down in the States to see the Grists

The dynamic duo back together again! (Clearly Cellino's jail term is up!)

A bit of wildlife to greet us

Momma G, Poppa G, Grandpa G, Granpma G

Chris, Aunt Cheryl, Jeffrey, Aunt Brenda & Uncle Doug

Chris and Doug's faces... PRICELESS

Amish territory!

Rob: This year's proud recipient of Grandma Fishel's bra

More buggies!

A Croz Christmas

2008-03-12T17:53:00.019-04:00

Another Christmas tradition is the gathering of the Croz Eight, which has grown to include a few extras over the past few years (including a second generation!)

My Christmas centerpiece... yummy AND aethstetically pleasing!

Our living room decorated for the holidays!

The happy couple?? She's always trying to steal him away ;)

Splat enjoying a quiet moment before the deluge of people!

The booiiiis: Bill, John, Andrew, Dan, little Dan, Devin

John, father of little Dan

The ladies: Courtney, Jenn, Aindrea, Laura, Leslie, Beth (horizontal), & I!

Gathering for a group shot... (not that we can help stopping to chat!)

The motley crew of long time friends!

An intense game of Settlers of Catan

Aindrea posing amidst the hubbub

Strategy in motion

Aindrea and I sharing a tender moment

Bill showing off a little ab action during Cranium

Does he have a license for that kid?

Rock the Halls with Boughs of Holly

2008-02-23T16:18:00.007-05:00

Here are some photos from Nonfiction's Christmas Concert at Central Public School in Grimsby, where Steve teaches. The show was AMAZING, with a few of us family members and die hard Nonfiction fans, who would mingle with 10 year olds for 3 hours just to hear the boys play...

3/4 of Nonfiction just hanging out 'backstage'

A wee prayer together before going on

Setting up a little cell phone drama

And the rocking Christmas begins

David and his improv'd santa hat

Nonfiction Practice: An Insider Look

2008-02-17T17:44:00.010-05:00

Most of these photos need no introduction, this is just a set of photos taken in December at one of the weekly Nonfiction band practices which I was priviledged enough to be invited to come see... there's nothing quite like a little private concert all to yourself, even if it WAS in the freezing cold auditorium of NCC! Still, a lot of fun, and I managed to fall asleep during some of it (it had been a LONG day and does not in any way reflect my feelings for the awesomeness of the band!) and enjoy some fun with the guys as well.

One of my fave shots of the band (just love the red wall!)

I was having a bit of fun with this one... can you match the faces to the bodies they ACTUALLY belong on??!

Pedals... LOTS and LOTS of pedals...

David's guitar case... this thing has seen many a day

Jesse making fun of Phil

Phil, clearly faster without shoes on that double kick :P

Some of these fell off Steve's truck later that month and have never been heard from again :(

Tuning... always tuning

Just too fast for the camera

More shoes... it was only, ya know, -2 inside

Dave setting up

A lovely candid shot of Phil

Where would they be without the energy drinks??

I have a hard time getting candid shots of Jesse, he's ALWAYS posing as soon as he sees me and the camera!

A toast to the band!

Flying feet

My front row seat!

A cymbal of music

I love this shot, I really do

Nonchalant? Not Jesse!

Home, Sweet, Freezing Home

2008-02-17T15:45:00.012-05:00

Here are some photos from my first weeks back at home in Canada!! While I completely miss England and travelling the globe, it's more than amazing to be back home with family and friends and streets I recognize!

Beautiful flowers I bought myself because Drew was still in England and hey we all need a little sunshine!

Cupcakes I made for our landlords after they left us a lovely card and Christmas gift! :D

Splat getting acquainted with her new digs

Back with the gang for our weekly Kelsey's nights! (Notice half the group has their cell phones out... soo much easier to text someone than yell across the table, apparantly) L to R: Katie, Alicia, Heather, Joanna, Marianne, Chris, (I'm assuming Kendra is behind him), Emily, unknown girl's hair, prob Lindsey, Zach, Rachel, Jesse, Shaving, and David! (At the other end was Rich and Steve I think....)

David, Steve and I enjoying a tender moment...

Our first visitors to the bird feeder I put up in our backyard!!! :D GORGEOUS colours! I love cardinals!

Ian & Heather, the birthday bunch closest to Christmas, at our Co&Ca Christmas Banquet, held in style at the Mandarin in St. Cats!

Ian, Jesse & Dave

Brother Dave & I and the Millson's ADORABLE new puppy, Chloe!!

The cute couple in a tender moment... Kendra & Chris

Chloe giving Dayna some looove as Jesse looks on

Mommy and Chloe!

Steve trying out yet another chick magnet idea ;P

Jesse, clearly the coolest guy in this picture

All tuckered out in someone's lap at the Nicholsons

So romantic... just the three of us, watching Elf after dinner at the Mandarin

An uber-caffienated Emily Gunning....

Siblings (yes, I WAS his date!) at the Personal Touch Home Improvement Christmas party

Tim Hartwick, err, Santa, and his elf, Bill Duncan

Shaphan getting some love from Santa

Me enjoying my first snowfall in over a year!

AAaaand not enjoying the shovelling I had to do... Drew has conveniently been out of the country every time we've had shovel-able snow this year!

Love from Canada!

Our new couch! With my amazing wool/merino blanket from Scotland. And Splat. Always Splat.

The sun caught my hard boiled egg pot sooooo niftily I had to document the moment. Notice I like to live on the edge and leave my pots NOT in the middle of the burner!

Laura's Photos from Europe

2008-02-15T21:31:00.015-05:00

These are some random photos from Laura's talented viewpoint during the month she stayed with us!

Laura and I sitting in the slightly chilly weather at Starbucks in Reading at the Oracle Shopping Centre

Relaxing face masks or hilarious diversion??? Hmmmm...

The view on my daily walk into town for most of the year, along the river Kennet

Looking the other way down the river, towards the town centre

Me at Windsor Castle

This is a Starbucks.... not sure WHICH Starbucks... possibly Paddington Station in London???? NO IT'S BRIGHTON! Maybe? Hmmmm...

We dressed up for Hallowe'en to hand out candy in front of my building, we scared more kids and people than we actually handed candy out to, but BOY did we have fun doing it!

Walking along the river in Windsor

Making friends along the Thames

Me as a witch, complete with spiders, the long nose, and a humpback!

He's almost as tall as I am!

Hmmm aren't we lovely!

We just kept taking pictures....

My lovely best friend

We resorted to candles for warmth/light outside

Lovely profile!

Contemplating maps on the tour bus in London (Parliament in the background!) (Laura trying to make this look like a candid shot!!!)

One last seeeeexy pic!

At The Back of Beyond for lunch in Reading on the Kennet river

At Blarney Castle in Ireland!

Me at Blarney again!

Enjoying the castle!

Ok this was a lot scarier than it looks, PITCH black dungeons we crawled around for a bit (we're real wimps, we decided)

Laura at the cliffs of Moray on the west coast of Ireland... STUNNING!

Me, see above

The other view of the cliffs, with the redhead herself!

A non redhead, but Irish nonetheless!

Amusing ourselves until the tour of the caves south of Killarney started!

Oh endless fun!

Wooden/rattan chair in the caves gift shop

Good shot of us!

Near Bunratty Castle, Ireland (where I went with the Gunnings!)

In the mound near Avebury, England with a really overexposed Andrew

Could the signs BE any MORE specific? (This is in Ireland)

A boulder shot of me you will not see haha! This is near that farmhouse in the Scottish Highlands

AMAZING pancakes (I had the Canadian version!) at a mostly-pancake place in Oban, Scotland

Laura and her stack haha

HUGE. HUGE pancakes... Did I mention they were huge?

Peeking from an adjacent room in the Scottish farmhouse

A Few Parting Shots from England... And Laura's BDay!

2008-02-15T21:22:00.004-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!

Unfortunately my husband who will remain nameless :P deleted more pics I had of this evening and other events in England, but, sigh, I will just have to hold on to the memories... For Laura's bday we took the train into London and wandered around, met up with Laura's friend Ryan and his girlfriend Jill for an AMAZING dinner at (I think it was called) Bertorelli's, then wandered around Leicester Square and gawked at the movie theatres and just enjoyed the scenery! We went back to Ryan & Jill's to watch a movie but promptly fell asleep one by one around the middle of the Emperor's New Groove, so the three of us headed back by tube and train to Reading!

Back, L to R: Andrew, Ryan, Laura; Front, L to R: Me & Jill (we're still trying to figure out how Ryan ended up with his arm around Laura and not his girlfriend ba ha ha).

Andrew enjoying the Ikea Poang chair, and Ryan looking half awake

Andrew looking all sexy with his Poang chair and expensive watch! :P

Scotland? Aye We Drove Canny!

2008-02-15T18:03:00.016-05:00

This was by far one of my favourite trips this past year... Scotland was amazing... It was my first time driving a stick shift anywhere outside of a parking lot or on a highway (which I only did once before, with no turns, slow downs, etc.). Stalled LOTS in the first day (and well, pretty much every day, much to Laura's amusement.) We started out in Inverness and headed counterclockwise around the country, stopping when we felt like it and just kind of following the GPS! Found a lot of interesting places and had an amazing time!

This was part of the first few hours of our trip, in the west Highlands, such colours, even for early winter!

First few glimpses of Loch Ness

An adorable inn we stopped at for an AMAZING lunch just before hitting the west coast

The view out the window was spectacular on all sides!

Watching a storm roll in

Can't get ENOUGH of these amazing hills!

More roads in the highlands

Eilean Donan Castle at sunset

Another angle (really)

Looking over the sea to Skye! (We crossed a very un-romanticized bridge... not quite the ferry ride I'd always imagined, but still exciting nonetheless!)

Us enjoying a BFF moment with Skye in the background right

Gorgeous rainbow that greeting us at sunset

There are no words for this view!

Coming BACK past Eilean Donan Castle at night... well worth the backtrack!!!

The view that greeted us when we woke up at our hotel... it was pitch dark and foggy the night before!

Unknown castle on an island on the south west coast

The Colusseum-like structure in the town of Oban

Yet another rainbow! God was showing off this week...

The Oban 'beach'

A sea plane off in the distance looking from Oban

Fishermen in Oban

Oban's skyline: Beautiful town where we had a great time shopping and eating pancakes!

Old fishing boat in Oban

Looking across the loch

Small town bathed in sunset light

Streams of light

This could totally pass for a car ad!

On Loch Fyne, near an AMAZING bed & breakfast in the town of Furnace!

Laura looking, er, studly?

Walking the shoreline

All it needs is a good 'stiff' breeze??

B&B where we spent the night, run by an older lovely Welsh couple, who had scads of stories to share and lots of hospitality to spare!!

Their view

Our lovely hosts!!

Laura and I drove into Inverarry to have dinner here, where one of the waitresses went to McMaster Uni and lived on Bloor St. in Toronto! Talk about a small world! AMAZING food as well, and old old old historical charm, looked like all Scottish pubs should!!

Now THIS is a sign!

Maritime museum on Loch Fyne in Inverarry

Looking up into the crags!! EEEEEH! So wanted to climb up there!

Driving through Argyle Forest park

Ruins of an OLD abandoned farmhouse in Argyle Park

View from the house

WOW

Me exploring

Laura posing for another photogenic shot!

Taking it all in!

Another angle... I just was having a good day haha!

Looking down the valley

Clearly ruins! Open concept!?

Drew made us take a HUGE detour for this... the Falkirk wheel... works like a lock, it spins and brings ships from the top to the water below... using as much power as a washing machine

We made a friend.... adolescent swan!

Bit closer view

Town Queen Victoria stayed in on the east coast near Aberdeen

Starting to get up into the highlands going back across the country towards Inverness (BITTERLY cold!)

More like 'for MILES and MILES'

Another farmhouse

Horses at a farm we tried to go horseback riding at (it was closed)

These guys put on quite a show for us, the black one just kept running!

Cute little tearoom we stopped at for a break!

Aaaaaaaand there is the first of the snow that had us sliding up and down hills well into the night!

Walking in Stone Circles

2008-01-03T23:00:00.013-05:00

One day trip that Andrew, Laura and I took was to Avebury and the surrounding areas (including our sixth or seventh trip to Stonehenge!). We stopped for tea at a co-worker of Andrew's house which was lovely, met his girlfriend and two children who were adorable and so welcoming, his house was gorgeous (I sooo miss English architecture and construction!!!) and we just had a relaxing time with them! They gave us scads of fantastic advice for touring around that day, most of which we had a chance to follow... I remember being brutally sick with a head cold that day, but still really enjoyed seeing everything!

These outnumbered tourists in Avebury... clearly a slow day!

White Horse at Uffington, this is a town project, chalk gets re-laid every year or so by whoever lives nearby... such an amazing heritage!

Dinner or sacrifice? This was near the mounds/burial grounds near Avebury, which is well known for being used in pagan/naturalistic rituals and festivals

Tromping through the mud as we took the round about but interesting way to the mound

This tree was COVERED by fabric and tokens from visitors

Andrew & Laura outstanding in their field

I was at least 5 pounds heavier that day due to mud!

Inside the mound... used over 2,o00 years ago!

Laura delving deeper in

Us getting cuddly in the entrance to the mound

The burial mound across the street... yup that's manmade

The burial/ritual mound (entrance on left)

Locals

Lovely mossy roof in Avebury

Me checking out the sights

Apparantly this pasttime is HUGE here...

Admiring the HUGE boulders, all placed in a circle

There is clearly something shady going on here! ;)

In perspective

Looking into the distance

Up close and personal with my best friend

Seeing some of the stones in their formation

This one looks like a great cat/cougar/leopard of some kind

I like this shot a lot... just shows the real attitude and serenity of the area

Let me hug you!!!

This cow is CLEARLY on the defensive... legs splayed and all! Who knew Laura was so scary? Well... actually....

Drew's new friend (his jacket even kinda has the B&W theme going on)

Drew took this. I love it. And yes, I don't care if that's self absorbed! :)

"He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock!" Talk about a visual! :)

The other shutterbug

"I think I just stepped in sheep turd"

This field rocks

Just chilling

A bit of the town, including a circular blacksmithy's

Ancient-ish graveyard

Cute thatched roofs

English charm contained in climbing vines!

Ever the shutterbug... at least there were two of us!

Yes, yes, you've seen this shot before!

I knew it! They just can't help themselves

Talk about candid!

Me smacking Drew for some good reason

Awww that's more like it!

I can't get sick of this place... I even miss it now!

Sunset light

Give it another 300 years?

"Can't.... take.... the weight!"

Laura enjoying the comforts of our couch after a long day of sightseeing!