Happy 145th Birthday, CANADA~!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHING DAY CANADA...AND MAY YOU CELEBRATE MANY MANY MORE YEARS~!!!

Is this a #Bieber Breakdown~??

Canadian Pop Star sensation, Justin Bieber, may be expressing more than anger in his recent alleged altercation with a photographer last month, as the pressure continues to build over his quick rise to fame and fortune.

After the incident, Bieber flew out of the country for scheduled performances and is now wanted for questioning by the California police about the incident and have asked for his return to the country by Friday, June 15th.

Bieber has been accused of assaulting a member of the paparazzi while shopping at a center near Calabasas, CA with his long~time girlfriend, Selena Gomez.

The photographer, who was later treated and released from hospital, is considering filing a civil suit against the pop star.  This is a high~profile case and Bieber is definitely being brought in for questioning.  Due to the media attention, the police wish to get his side of the story in order to determine whether to pursue the case or turn it over to the prosecutors.

However, it is being said that it is highly unlikely any charges will be filed.  Los Angeles based lawyer, Anahita Sedaghatfar has told Fox News that the paparazzi are only looking for "monetary compensaton" as they have "seen this time and time again, celebrities being accused of minor crimes like this."

SNAKESSSsss ~ Eastern Ontario's Finest~!!

I don't know about you folks, but I happen to love snakes~!!  I was recently given a snake and now I just HAVE to share the snake breeds that can be found in my neck~of~the~woods, Eastern Ontario~!!  

Snakes have been regarded as degrading, evil creatures whom many often fear.  They have had bad press from the victors of history for many centuries, often being given the lowest of titles and the derogatories often associated with snakes, do not give the beautiful creatures the justice they deserve.

Once, there was a benevolent God, his name in Sumerian histories is Enki or Ea, the serpent God who carried a basket and brought many goodly things to mankind.  The God who along with his sister, Ninhursag, AND after much experimentation, created the Adamus, the "Black~Haired Slave" to mine the gold veins in order to release the work load of the Gods themselves.  However, along his creationistic journey's, Enki found that being a slave to the Gods wasn't a proper thing to have and he gave his creatures the Freedom of Choice...it is from my early adoration of the story of Enki that my passion for snakes grew as I realized their misrepresentation in our history wasn't going to misappropriate my enjoyment of their essence and their beauty and the true symbol behind their existence~!!

The Snakes with the Stripes ~

photo by Bev Wigney

Eastern Garter Snake ~ Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

Named after the striped garters that men often wore.

Colour:  Black or Brown with Yellow stripes.  Sometimes their stripes run alongside with can appear broken or they will have a subtle checkered patterns in their darker areas.  Reddish~Orange markings along the side are not unheard of.

Length:  Adults can grow up to 124 cm, but typically they average around 60~70 cm.

Characteristics:  Often found basking on rocks or moving along forest trails.  They are live~bearing creatures usually giving birth to 10 ~ 25 young.  Diet often consists of frogs, toads, salamanders, earthworms, small rodents and birds.  They make for excellent swimmers.  If caught, their scent glands will exude a strong musk and they have been known to bite.

Northern Ribbon Snake ~ Thamnophis sauritus septentrionatis

Closely resembles the Eastern Garter Snake

Colour:  Black with unbroken yellow stripes.  Sides below lateral stripe are chestnut brown, the scales in front of their eyes are white.

Length:  Adults can grow up to 96.5 cm

Characteristics:  Slender with a very long tail.  Usually found near water, such as streams, ponds or wetlands.  They are live~bearing.  Their diet includes frogs, small fish and other small creatures found in or near the water.  They are diurnal (active during the day).  

The Snakes with the Blotches ~

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake ~ Sistrurus catenatus catenatus

Ontario's ONLY venomous snake and are designated as threatened.

Colour:  Range from gray to brown.  It has large dark brown splotches on its back with smaller lighter brown patches on its side.  

Length:  Adults can grow up to 70 cm.

Characteristics:  Easily recognized by the segmented end on its tail.  Has a wide triangular head and eyes with slit shaped pupils.  They eat small animals, amphibians and insects.  They like to sun in open fields, grassy meadows and farmed sites.  In the Spring, they can be found in shallow wetlands and shrub swamps.

Eastern Milk Snake ~ Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum

Often mistaken for a Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake.

Colour:  Gray or tan background with brown or reddish brown markings that are edged with black.  They will either have a Y or a V~shaped blotch on back of their neck.  Their undersides are white with squarish black markings.

Size:  Adults can grow up to 132 cm.

Characteristics:  The Milk Snake is found in forests and fields.  It kills its prey via constriction and their diet consists of small mammals and birds.  Females lay their eggs in or under rotting logs or in burrows.  

Black Rat Snake ~ Elaphe obsoleta

The largest of all the snakes to be found in Ontario.

Colour:  Black backs with irregular dark blotches along their sides.  Their underside's are light coloured with square or mottled markings.

Size:  Adults can range up to 256.5 cm

Characteristics:  It prefers rocky, forested areas and has been known to move about in trees as well as on the ground.  It loves to eat chipmunks, squirrels, birds eggs, nestlings and frogs and they kill its prey by constriction.  Females lay their eggs beneath rocks or in/beneath rotting logs.  

Northern Water Snake ~ Nerodia sipedon sipedon

They are very feisty and likely to bite fiercely if disturbed.

Colour:  They are brown or greyish brown and have dark brown squarish banded markings on their backs and sides.  Their undersides are light with crescent shaped markings.

Size:  Adults can grow up to 135 cm.

Characteristics:  They can usually be found in or near water in marshes, streams, lakes and rivers.  It enjoys eating frogs and fish near the water's edge and can move very quickly through water.  It is a live~bearing creature and its babies are often mistaken for Milk snakes.


The Snakes with the Uniformed Markings ~

Smooth Green Snake ~ Liochlorophis (Opheodrys) vernalis

This snake does not defend itself, but it can move very fast and its the only green snake in the area.

Colour:  Bright green, with white or yellowish underside.

Size:  Adults can grow up to 66 cm.

Characteristics:  Found moving along the branches of bushes and small trees.  They are an egg~laying species and can lay up to 10 eggs.  Their diet consists of crickets, grasshoppers, snails and spiders.

Redbelly Snake ~ Storeria occipitomaculata

Makes an excellent garden snake.

Colour:  Brown or gray backed with a narrow striping down its back. There is a small patch of 3 white dots on the back of their necks.  Their bellies are red or reddish~orange.

Size:  Adults can grow up to 40.6 cm.

Characteristics:  Usually found in meadows and forest edges.  They eat worms, slugs and insects.  They are live~bearing creatures and can sometimes be found under rocks or boards around gardens.

Northern Ringneck Snake ~ Diadophis punctatus edwardsii

Ontario's most secretive snake.

Colour:  Slate gray, brown or black with distinct yellow or orangish band around its neck.  Belly is can be yellow, orange or red.

Size:  Adults can range up to 62.5 cm.

Characteristics:  Found in the woodlands, it is a nocturnal hunter.  Diet includes salamanders, earthworms, frogs and other small snakes.  Loves to hide under stones and logs during the day.  Females lay small numbers of eggs.  

  **  Written by me...cuz I felt like it~!!  Have a groovy one ya'll...peaces...xoxo  **

Babar ~ Finds A New Toy Partner~!!

Toronto's Nelvana Enterprises as well as, The Clifford Company, have joined partnership with a New York~based, Yottoy Productions, to develop a new line of soft toys which are being based on the classic Babar book series, marking it's 80th anniversary.

Production will launch a vintage plush which will be designed around the literary versions of King Babar and his wife, Celeste.  The new toy line is set to launch in the US this Fall, 2012.  Also in the works, will be a licensing program built around their new CGI "older preschool" series, Babar and the Adventures of Badou.

$25,000 WIN what you LOVE with Maple Leaf Foods & Dempster's~!!

You could WIN what you LOVE $25,000~!!

Canadians love summer and they love to barbeque, whether rain or shine, day or night with their family and friends.

As Canadian brands, Maple Leaf and Dempster's want YOU to experience BBQ True Love.

For a limited time, enter for the chance to WIN what you LOVE, a $25,000 Grand Prize plus $1,000 weekly prizes.

Hurry and enter today~!!

Sizzlin' hot BBQ Savings~!!

Save $1 when you purchase any two(2) participating Maple Leaf, Natural Selections or Dempster's products.  

Quantities are limited, so hurry and get your coupon today while supplies last~!!

Get your coupon today~!!

Kiwanis Idol @ ScotiaBank Place

Kiwanis Idol 2012 Red Carpet Concert

Saturday, June 30 @ 7:30 p.m.

If you BUY 2 TICKETS @ REGULAR PRICE...YOU GET 2 TICKETS OF EQUAL VALUE FREE*!

Offer valid Tuesday, May 15 @ 10 a.m. to Thursday, May 24 @ 10 p.m.

To purchase tickets...click HERE~!!

2011 Kiwanis Idol winner Jordan McIntosh, Carlton Place and nine finalists will attend the Kiwanis Idol 2012 Red Carpet Concert on Saturday, June 30.

Jenna Taggart, Noah Pellman and Emma Nicholson, all of Ottawa, Jamie Anne Bentz of Arnprior, Alexandra Maheral of Munster Hamlet, Lindsay White and Michelle Treacy of Orleans, and Laura D'Amico of Greeley will join McIntosh as the Idols walk the red carpet @ 6:30 p.m. outside Scotiabank Place.

At 7:30 p.m. the Kiwanis Idol's seven~piece band will take the stage in support for Do It For Daron (D.I.F.D.).  Please join nine of the best young singers in Canada as they help inspire and raise awareness as well as, funds, for the Youth Mental Health Research @ the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

*Plus applicable service fees and CRF. Valid only while quantities last. This offer cannot be combined with any other discount or offer. No exchanges or refunds. Valid online only.

Top 5 Roadside Attractions in Canada!

A trip through the countryside can often be a boring and unexciting way to get to the next destination. Kids whine, eyelids droop, and interest sags. With these five amazing sights to behold, your trip to Canada will be no ordinary trip. Instead, prepare to enjoy the journey just as much as the destination.

If you are anywhere in the vicinity of the smelting plants in Sudbury, Ontario, be sure to notice the "Big Nickel," a Canadian 5-cent piece that graces the grounds of Dynamic World, a theme park with a geology/mining theme. The city has many smelters in town and boasts many slag piles where the remaining slag after smelting is poured. Once you have seen the Big Nickel, ask for directions to the nearest slag pile to see a bit of molten wonder as it is poured onto the heap.

If metal-making is not quite the family hobby, try stopping for ice cream at the Coombs General Store. This ice cream parlor and general store is not quite your average stop, however. As you walk into the building, look up--you just might see the family of goats that calls the roof home. That is right, a flock of goats actually graze and live on the roof of the general store. After you have screamed with delight at seeing them, head inside for a delicious meal and ice cream cone. This stop is one of the most famous in British Columbia and will be sure to provide enjoyment for the entire family.

For all sports-related families, be sure to drive by the world's largest hockey stick located in Duncan, British Columbia. This small mill town is known for this hockey stick and the world's biggest totem pole. Of course, if the sight of the stick inspires you to stop for a game, just pull in--the gigantic hockey stick sits proudly atop the city's hockey rink.


The UFO landing pad in St. Paul, Alberta has attracted far more than just a few aliens to its grounds. While an alien has yet to take up the invitation, the tourist attraction welcomes thousands every year. The site offers an Interpretive Centre as well as a Tourist Centre and a UFO hotline that allows people to report sightings and other interesting tidbits related to the alien world.

A near-life-size T Rex stands watch over the museum that tells the story of their existence near Duncan, Alberta. During the dinosaur age, these huge scaly lizards roamed the area and left evidence that can be seen, admired, and, in some cases taken home (if you wish for a piece of dinosaur scat). Tour the museum or visit the Dinosaur Trail Golf Course for a truly creepy experience.

Photo: CP/Bill Graveland

Nearly every little town and hamlet in Canada has its own unique attraction. Roadside attractions are a fun way to keep the kids attention from dragging throughout the length of the trip. Make a game of it to find out who can find the most unique attractions as you drive across the country. Chances are, you will find a few exciting and memorable exhibits worth the view from your car window.

Presented by http://www.carrentalottawa.ca - the best place to get car rentals in ottawa!

Speroway ~ Raise Money For Haiti Campaign PLUS iPad GIVEAWAY~!!

Speroway, a registered Canadian Non~Profit organization, works with many wonderful and caring Canadians who believe in supporting the needs of children and their families, not only in Canada, but with those around the world as well.  They provide such valued things as medicine, food, education and many other necessities that many of us take for granted, thru their love, compassion and integrity.

Photo Credit:  Speroway Blog

Speroway's pledge is to provide dedicated commitment to being responsible guardians in order to deliver the necessary provisions for families across Canada while upholding the standards of Government guidelines.

Since its inception in 2004, Speroway (Formerly know as FTC Canada), has made it their number one priority to ensure that all donations collected are used to aid those children and their families who are in hungry or in need.  

"From Northern Ontario to Central America, Africa and Asia...Speroway is attempting to make a difference in the world today~!"

Feed A Child ~ If you have ever looked into the eyes of a hungry child you will find yourself before their innocence, seeing their need for love, life and food.  From devastating natural disasters to countries that are facing severe food shortages, there are numerous children who go hungry every day and they need your help~!

Child Champions ~ A child's future is an important cause to stand behind and by becoming a sponsor, you can provide a child with such basic necessities as food, shelter, education and medical care.

Medical Team ~ Support is required for the medical teams which provide medicines, food, vitamins and other supplies via a mobile clinic.  Help is also required in shipping containers full of food and medicines to locations around the world.

First Nations ~ With high unemployment rates and high costs of living, many of Canada's First Nation children are in need of assistance in order to sustain their health and spirit while building towards a better tomorrow.

Abandoned Baby Center ~ Every day babies in Kenya are left abandoned due to many reasons.  The ones that are found in time suffer with dehydration, tuberculosis, or worse; some so starved that your heart breaks for these orphaned children.  Shelters are established to provide the needed care for many of these children who have been left behind.

Food Drops ~ By gathering food from over 100 placements and other charitable organizations, a box of 25 lbs. of food is put together ~ enough to feed one child for one week.  Food drops enable Speroway's mission to branch forth while providing a community with helping hands.

Special Projects ~ A fun and fulfilling way to help a child is to host a Special Projects Fundraiser and help make a difference in a hungry child's life~!!


As well as the many other projects currently being practiced such as their Construction Project in which they build schools, rooms, wells and houses to help better empower the people who are in need of such facilities.

Now to bring recognition to Speroway's new name, new outlook, new attitude AND new Facebook page, they are graciously giving away some REALLY groovy prizes and all they want you to do is SHARE their beautiful message with the rest of the world via your social media connections...the more you share, the more entries you get to win...easy enough I think...we use the social media sites daily ANYHOW...why NOT do it for something as worthy as hungry children????

PRIZES INCLUDE:

Grand Prize Gift Basket:

1 ~ iPad HD 2012 (16GB)

1 ~ $500 WaySpa Gift Card

1 ~ Cineplex Night Out Gift Pace for 4

2 ~ Big Kaboodle Packages from "Mabels Labels" (whom I have had the privilege to review for & their labels are totally GROOVY~!!)

PLUS...Spotlight Prizes will be given away EVERY two weeks during the contest~!!

Please NOTE...you do NOT have to donate in order to participate...but it would be kind of nice...don't you think??  ;)

http://www.winwithsperoway.com/?purl=89e08C

Contest Period: April 26, 2012 at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time and ends on June 22, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. EST. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

This contest is open to CANADA, excluding Quebec. A full list of rules and regulations can be found:

http://www.winwithsperoway.com/Rules-and-Regulations

This contest is a "SHARE & WIN" - once you enter the contest you will receive one ballot. You can receive more ballots by sharing your contest PURL with your online connections. There are 3 easy share buttons at the end of the entry form; Facebook, Twitter and Email, but any and all social channels can be used. You will just have to cut and paste your PURL where you want to share it.

Enter TODAY and share the news with the world~!!  

Speroway is groovy~!!!

Join Speroway on Facebook~!!

DONATE TODAY~!!

** DISCLAIMER:  

 "This post has been compensated, all opinions are my own. I’m not responsible for the prize in any way shape or form – just letting you know about it!"  ;)  **