Today’s photo self-assignment was to mount a macro lens and look for fun shapes and colours around the house 
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Rampant Consumerism & $250 Sunglasses for Kids
I was flabbergasted to get a flyer in the mail today from a major sporting goods chain with $200 – $250 sunglasses for kids so they can look “cool” going back to school.
What the hell?
When so many families can barely afford a standard set of school supplies?
When schools in a relatively affluent area like the BC lower mainland need lunch programs so kids don’t go hungry?
The mind boggles. . .
Edmonds City Fair & Car Show 2022
It was wonderful to have the Edmonds City Fair & Car Show back in SE Burnaby, BC, after a 2-year Covid hiatus!
It was a gorgeous day with great entertainment and lots of cool cars.
Here are a few shots of the opening with First Nations blessing, greetings from all levels of government, and a few shots of some of the cars and performers.
Thanks to the City of Burnaby, community organizers, and event staff for a wonderful day!
I was hired to document the event, so this is all I’ll post until I get my edited shots to the organizers.
Eventually I’ll put together a Flickr album as I’ve done with previous City Fairs.
UPDATE 7/27: Flickr Album here.
First Nations blessing
All levels of government greeting the happy crowd
Dedicating new basketball courts in the park
Burnaby’s fave Rainshadow which has performed at so many community events over many years!
The cop with the coolest ride! : – )
Three-Hour South Burnaby Ramble
Whew! That was a good walk.
Down Byrne Creek ravine, along Meadow Ave. to where it nearly touches Marine Way, crossed Marine Way and walked to the incinerator, and then along the river to the playground/washroom at the foot of Byrne Road. Then back up the dyke and home to near Edmonds Station.
Here’s some wildlife viewed along the way.
Blue-eyed Darners along the Meadow Ave. ditch
I think invasiave American Bullfrog
Swallowtail
Some sort of Burying Beetle?
Yellow-spotted Millipede
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Flicker taking off
White-crowned Sparrow
Bumblebees loading up. . .
Dead mouse
Tug on the working river
Swallowtail on the Wing
Swallowtail shot on the wing in Taylor Park in SE Burnaby, BC, with City in the Park condo tower in the background.
And here’s another shot — I didn’t see until I was editing photos when I got home that there was a bee going the other way : – )
Birds and Beasts of Deer Lake, Burnaby, BC
A morning ramble around Deer Lake in Burnaby, BC, turned up plenty of wildlife, not all of it native.
Cedar Waxwing
Assorted dragonflies
Double-crested Cormorant takes a fish. Extreme range with tight cropping. . .
Invasive Pumpkinseed fish
Invasive American Bullfrog
Lorquin’s Admiral
Wasp nest — fortunately many meters away from any trail
Northern Flickers in Byrne Creek Ravine Park, Taylor Park
There were several Northern Flickers in Byrne Creek Ravine Park and Taylor Park in SE Burnaby, BC, this morning.
Chasing Hover Flies in Byrne Creek Ravine Park
I had fun chasing Hover Flies in Byrne Creek Ravine Park in Burnaby, BC, this morning.
While they do flit about, they also, yes, hover, so it’s an interesting challenge to shoot them.
I find that because they are so small, I have the most success with intially focusing manually and then letting the autofocus take over.
Great Blue Herons Fishing at Fraser Foreshore in Burnaby, BC
I love watching Great Blue Herons fishing. Saw two at Fraser Foreshore Park in SE Burnaby, BC, this morning. They were batting around .800 :-).
Weight-Loss Accountability Report
Accountability report:
As of today I’ve lost 20kg, or 44 pounds, over the last 13 months.
That’s a nice, slow, steady pace of about 1.5 kilos/3.3 pounds a month.
Next target is another 10k/22lbs. That will make me, and my doctor, happy. . . And take me back to my late teens/early 20s weight.
No special diets, no fads, just a minimum of 1 hour of power walking a day and counting calories.
Will treat myself to a large glass of wine tonight, and yes, that’s counted, too .
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Will update the accountability report in about six months!