It's Puppets Up! in the Valley...

Wayne Rostad and Wayne Rostad; now that's a pair you won't soon forget. Rostad (known for his local hit, Christmas in the Valley... Remember that song?) and his puppet double are shown cruising Mill Street in Almonte for the annual International Puppets Up! Festival parade on Saturday afternoon. You know you're pretty well known if Noreen Young (known for Under the Umbrella Tree) has had a puppet double made of you.

I'll admit, I wish there was a puppet Katie Mulligan. Sigh.

© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

These eyes have seen a lot of loves

I don't even have anything to say about this. It was a great moment. The end.

© Katie Mulligan/2008

Thank god I'm a country boy...

You wouldn't know it, but this photo is from a church lunch. Rev. Jim Ferrier sits back and enjoys a laugh with other members and volunteers.

Every year, this particular church hosts a chuckwagon dinner, which means people are welcome to dress up in their finest western gear, listen to live western music and eat the finest home cooked country meals. I suppose a lot of this is not really out of the ordinary, except for the dressing like a cowboy part. Usually, the hats and boots are reserved for the annual local fairs and horse shows.

© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

My favourite monster

Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer had scenes filmed in two of the communities I work in. Thanks to this, I had the opportunity to meet Robert Englund (above), who most of us know better as Freddy Krueger, a classic horror movie character.

I will finally see the movie after covering it's beginning stages almost two years ago when it hits the Kanata theatre next week. I was a background extra in one of the scenes, so we'll see if that one made it into the final feature or not...

© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

Eyes on the prize

Grade five students in Almonte get up close and personal with one of the Monarch butterflies they helped raise from the very beginning. Students had a chance to examine them a little better before releasing them 'into the wild.'

This is a photo I took awhile back, and found it while going through my archives looking for something else. I really enjoyed this particular assignment, as the students were, for the most part, so wrapped up in their butterflies, they barely noticed me. The teacher in this class is fantastic, as he always puts together projects for his class that are thrilling, different and memorable.

© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region

She's my sweet little thing; she's my pride and joy

Anyone who knows me is fully aware of the love I have for my favourite girl, Kira.
She's a little camera shy, (hence the concern you can see in her eyes) but she's basically used to me pestering her with a camera.
© Katie Mulligan 2008

Sunshine and smiles

I should really get my face painted more often. I definitely would have at the assignment where I got the shot of the girl above; however, I had some more serious assignments to go to, and chances are good my company wouldn't want me showing up to those things with butterflies and dragons painted on my face. Ah well, next time...
© Katie Mulligan/Metroland - Ottawa Region