There’s been a lot of coverage in the media this week of 24 Sussex Drive, the Prime Minister’s official residence. Did you know that the history of 24 Sussex Drive is linked directly with Watson’s Mill here in Manotick?
The mill was built in 1860 by partners Moss Kent Dickinson and Joseph Currier. Shortly after it was built, Joseph Currier met his second bride-to-be, Anne Crosby, in Lake George, New York. She had never been to Manotick, and after their January 1861 wedding and month-long honeymoon, he brought her home to celebrate the Mill’s first year of operation. The very day she arrived, tragedy struck: as she was ascending the stairs to the second floor of the mill, her long, hooped crinoline got caught one of the turbines powered by the river, and she was flung against a support post and killed instantly. They say her spirit still haunts the mill.
Currier never set foot in the Mill nor Manotick again. He went on to become a Member of Parliament, and eight years later married his third wife, the granddaughter of Philemon Wright. He commissioned a house be built for her as a wedding gift, and called it Gorffwysfa, Welsh for “place of rest.” The address? 24 Sussex Drive.
Ever since we moved to Manotick, one of our favourite family traditions has been our autumn trip to Miller’s Farm to pick our Halloween pumpkins. I don’t know whether it’s the October light or the fact that the boys genuinely love the excursion, but there are always fun photos to be found.
I particularly like this one: which one is the jack-o-lantern with the gap-toothed smile?
He’s almost as tall as his dad, and can carry his own (ridiculously large) pumpkin.
They’re still pretty patient about posing for me. And cute, to boot!
We interrupt this post for a flashback to 2011:
Oh my goodness! Just a few changes in four years, right? Sigh. Some things don’t change, though. The boys went to play parkour on the hay bales while I entertained myself taking photos of not-them with my fish-eye lens.
And since I’m searching the archives, here’s another pumpkin trio — from 2009!
I am grateful to have such sweet boys to indulge me, for family traditions, and for this blog to archive my memories and share them with you. 🙂
Although one never really gets tired of taking photographs of beautiful autumn leaves, sometimes it’s good to find new ways to approach them and stretch one’s creativity. I took these photos with a slow shutter while moving my camera slightly (or not so slightly) so the autumn trees are intentionally blurred and rendered somewhat abstract.
I happen to be a reasonably literal person without formal art training, so it’s hard for me to evaluate what makes an abstract painting work. I can tell you that they have elements that most photography books will tell you are pleasing: repetition of pattern, rhythm, motion. The colours and tones are pleasing. In two of the three, it’s quite clear that you’re seeing an abstraction of trees, and it’s not hard to guess with the third what you are seeing.
Still, I’m not sure. Are these good? I think they’re interesting, at least. If they made you pause for a second and study them, wonder about them, then that’s good, right? But what story do they tell?
Hmm. Art. The more I know, the more I feel like I have so much left to learn. What do you think?
Really, do I need to say anything more?
Oh autumn, you are so brief, and so blazingly beautiful…
A few days ago, I posted a beautiful (if I do say so!) image of autumn leaves reflected in my end of the Rideau River, up near Watson’s Mill. Here’s a shot of the downtown end of the river, or more specifically, the Rideau Canal.
Golden and amazing, right? It’s like a parting gift from summer, bidding us adieu until the yellows of April’s flowers.
Even though I’m a hopeless romantic and love everything about weddings, I don’t photograph too many of them. Weddings, especially big weddings, are terribly intimitading – long, elaborate and stressful affairs that tend to go on long into the night. However, when Matt and Jasmine asked me to take pictures at their courthouse wedding, I was charmed and intrigued. They simply wanted someone to capture the ceremony and a few candid photos afterward, and asked me simply “to get the stuff that you think is amazing and beautiful.”
How could I resist an offer like that? Things that are amazing and beautiful are my very favourite things to photograph. Here’s a little taste of their day:
This is J.He’s Matt and Jasmine’s son and he wasn’t feeling too well, so he’s looking a little peaked. Is he not adorable, though?
There were shots of the kiss, but I personally love a wedding that seals the deal with a high five.
What, you don’t have pictures of you playing in the leaves in your wedding finery? I thought that’s why people got married in October!
I just had a feeling when I first heard from Matt and Jasmine that they would be a fun couple to work with, and I was totally right.
Short and sweet, with family and friends and sunshine and autumn leaves – what a perfect wedding. It was truly an honour to be a part of your day, Matt and Jasmine, and I wish you and your beautiful family years of joy and laughter together.
