A E I U O And Sometimes Y

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Written by andreaintorbay

Have you ever read an article or a text message and been like WTF? If so, you’re not alone. I’ve often found myself heading over to Google to figure out what GRWM, FYP and IYKYK meant and felt somewhat stupid when I realized what they stood for: everyday turn of phrases that are shortened for electronic conversations such as texting and messaging. It’s meant to cut down on typing time and reading time, I suppose. Sometimes it has the opposite effect for me as I find myself having to Google it! As I always say, “What an age we live in.” There’s one particular acronym that kind of alarms me if I’m being completely honest and that’s AI or Artificial Intelligence. Essentially, AI is a form of technology that allows a computer to do the work of a human. That’s its very basic form. It uses algorithms and sifts through large amounts of data to form a response or command. For example, you can use something called ChatGPT to ask a simple question and within seconds it formulates a response and includes source data and citations, meaning that within 5-6 seconds it combs through an infinite amount of online information to give me a simplified answer and provides me with sources of where they got the information. Here’s a simple question I asked ChatGPT just now : What’s the best time to shop at Costco? Literally, within seconds it responded with the best days to go, best times of day, times to avoid and a few extra tips for shopping there. It also provided me with resources I could click on to do some further research if I chose to do so! In addition, it asked me what Costco I was going to so it could be more precise with its answer. So, I played along and said “Galway”. Its lightning-fast response was that there wasn’t a Costco Warehouse in Galway, Ireland but there was one in Galway, St. John’s, NL and proceeded to tell me about the best shopping times there. Again, what an age we live in! That doesn’t sound too scary at all, right? How about asking these AI platforms to do something more malicious, like you uploading a photo of someone and asking it to put the person in some sort of compromising situation, manipulating the image? I haven’t done that but you can view those types of manipulations all over the web. It’s absolutely shocking and unfortunately some people believe just about everything they see and read online. Any idiot who has internet access and a platform can post just about anything they want, fact or fiction, and there will be people who will take it at face value. We need to be able to sort through the garbage to get to the treasure.

That brings me to the point of my blog and my photography in general. What you read is real. What you see is real. You won’t find an AI bot writing my stories or creating my photos. Yes, I admit that I use editing software to clean up an image. For example, my camera sensor is due for a cleaning and there are dust particles showing up in my photos. I use a tool in Adobe Lightroom to get rid of dust. I crop a photo to remove unwanted objects, I use a Lightroom tool to lighten or darken a photo, and so on. But I can say with 100% confidence that the photo is mine. Having said that, here are a few snaps that I have taken over the last little while, some with my camera and some with my iPhone! Hope you enjoy them.

A cluster of bright orange and yellow flowers with pointed petals surrounded by green foliage, with pink petunias in the foreground.
A vibrant flower garden with colorful blooms such as pink, orange, and yellow flowers, set against a backdrop of green grass and blue sky with scattered clouds.
A cluster of purple wildflowers blooms amid tall grass and dark rocks in the background.
A small airplane flying in a blue sky scattered with fluffy white clouds.
A stone building with flags and several parked cars in the foreground against a backdrop of a blue sky filled with clouds.
A coastal scene featuring rocky shores with sparse vegetation, overlooking a calm sea. Two ships are visible in the distance, with a house perched on the edge of the rocks.
A small yellow boat navigating near rocky shorelines, with a larger ship in the background and a cloudy sky overhead.
A yellow and blue pilot boat navigates through calm waters near a rocky shoreline with colorful houses and greenery in the background.
A large cargo ship named 'Canada Steamship Lines' navigating along a rocky coastline under a cloudy sky.
A blue jay with outstretched wings perched on a railing, set against a blurred green background.
A blue jay perched near a reflective surface, holding a peanut in its beak while its wings are spread out.
Two blue jays perched on a wet table, with one bird looking curiously at a piece of food.
A Blue Jay bird holding a peanut in its beak, perched on a wicker surface with water droplets visible around it.
A blue jay in motion, holding a piece of food in its beak while flapping its wings.
A Blue Jay standing on a wooden railing, displaying vibrant blue and gray feathers with a distinctive crest, looking intently at the camera.
Two birds with spread wings perched at the top of a pine tree against a clear sky.
A blue jay in mid-air, about to land on a white surface with peanuts lined up in front.
A blue jay with outstretched wings stands on a wooden railing, near a few peanuts, against a blurred backdrop of greenery.
A blue jay spreading its wings perched on a weathered wooden post against a light sky.
A blue jay bird in mid-flight against a blurred green background.
Close-up of a Blue Jay bird with a distinctive blue crest and feathers, perched on a ledge with a blurred green background.
A blue jay in mid-flight, showcasing its vibrant blue and white plumage against a blurred background of green foliage.
A breathtaking night sky filled with stars and the Milky Way, seen above a grassy hill silhouette.
Bauline is one of my favourite places to go to take photos of the night sky!
A nighttime sky filled with stars, featuring a bright comet with a long tail on the right side.
Starry night sky over a mountainous landscape with village lights in the foreground.
A night sky filled with stars and the Milky Way over a coastal landscape, featuring a grassy hill and wooden structures in the foreground.
A modern building with a distinctive triangular roof surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in shades of orange, yellow, and red.
Aerial view of a vibrant autumn landscape featuring trees displaying shades of orange, yellow, and green, with houses nestled among the foliage.
A scenic view of a cityscape featuring a modern building with a red roof, a historic church with a green spire, and a stone church tower surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage.
A picturesque view of a vibrant autumn landscape with colorful fall foliage covering hills, alongside residential buildings in the background.
A vibrant autumn landscape featuring a hillside covered in trees with red, orange, and yellow foliage, overlooking a calm body of water.
A panoramic view of a cityscape featuring a mix of modern and historic buildings, with colorful autumn foliage on the hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A picturesque house surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in shades of orange, red, and yellow.
A scenic view of a hillside town with colorful autumn foliage and a lookout tower on the mountain top, under a cloudy sky.
A scenic view of a colorful autumn landscape featuring homes surrounded by vibrant orange, red, and yellow foliage, with a Tim Hortons and an orange store visible in the foreground.
Vibrant autumn foliage in shades of orange, red, and yellow on a hillside, overlooking a tranquil body of water with a wooden railing in the foreground.
A scenic view of vibrant autumn foliage along a lakeside path, featuring colorful trees and a wooden bridge, with two people standing on the bridge.
A scenic view of a riverbank surrounded by autumn foliage, featuring colorful trees in various shades of orange, yellow, and green, with buildings nestled among the landscape.
A scenic view of a river surrounded by autumn foliage and mountains under a cloudy sky, with sunlight breaking through clouds.
A scenic view of a colorful autumn landscape featuring vibrant trees with orange, yellow, and green foliage, showcasing a town in the background and a river in the foreground.
A scenic view of a small town surrounded by colorful autumn foliage, with mountains in the background partially covered in fog.
A tranquil road lined with trees showcasing vibrant autumn foliage, with a puddle reflecting the colors of the surrounding scenery.
Scenic view of a hillside with colorful autumn foliage, featuring red and orange leaves, houses along a winding road, and rocky coastline beneath.
A picturesque view of a hillside community adorned with autumn foliage, featuring a white church in the foreground and colorful homes nestled among trees.
A vibrant autumn landscape featuring trees with orange, red, and yellow foliage scattered across rolling hills, with evergreen trees in the background.
A scenic landscape featuring rolling hills covered in autumn foliage, displaying vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves, with a white wooden fence winding through the grassy terrain.
A scenic view of a hilly area filled with colorful autumn foliage, showcasing various houses, including a white church, amidst trees displaying vibrant fall colors.
Close-up of tall, dry grass in shades of beige with hints of red foliage in the background.
Colorful autumn landscape featuring vibrant red, orange, and yellow foliage on rolling hills, with a wooden fence curving through the scenery.
A vibrant landscape featuring a field of colorful foliage with red, orange, and yellow hues, complemented by patches of dry grass.
A picturesque view of a colorful small town in autumn, featuring a mix of houses and buildings surrounded by vibrant fall foliage and rolling hills.
A scenic view of a coastal town during autumn, featuring colorful trees, various homes on the hillside, and people walking along a rocky beach.
An assortment of pumpkin-shaped cupcakes covered in bright orange icing and sugar crystals, topped with green frosting leaves and a brown swirl for the stem.
A collection of cupcakes decorated to resemble green cartoon monsters, featuring large eyes, a mustache, and chocolate sprinkles for hair.
Two birds flying against a clear blue sky.
Two birds flying against a backdrop of blue sky and white clouds.
Silhouettes of two birds flying against a blue sky.
Silhouette of two birds flying against a clear blue sky.
A male and female mallard duck swimming on a dark blue water surface, with some grass in the foreground.
A male duck with a green head and gray body swimming in dark water among reeds.
A side view of a mallard duck resting on a rock near water, showcasing its brown and patterned feathers.
A group of mallard ducks swimming in water, with a male duck flapping its wings and displaying its colorful feathers.
A male mallard duck flapping its wings while standing in shallow water, showcasing its vibrant green head and colorful wing feathers.
A scenic view of colorful houses built on a rocky hillside, surrounded by autumn foliage and overlooking a body of water.
A turquoise fishing boat docked at a marina with colorful houses on a hillside in the background, surrounded by autumn foliage.
A waterfront view of colorful houses nestled against a rocky hillside in autumn, with trees displaying fall foliage.
A scenic view of colorful houses on a hillside surrounded by autumn foliage.
A vibrant double rainbow arches across a cloudy sky, with golden autumn trees in the foreground and a brick building partially visible beneath the rainbows.
A vibrant rainbow arching over a forest with a mix of green and brown coniferous trees under a partly cloudy sky.
A vibrant double rainbow arcs across a cloudy sky over a reflective parking lot, with a few cars parked beneath it.
A vibrant rainbow arcs over a barren tree in a park, with a cemetery in the background, on a cloudy day.
A red car parked in a wet lot under a bright rainbow and cloudy sky, with autumn trees in the background.

These next group of photos were taken at the Fall and Christmas pet photo shoot for the SPCA. Again, I can’t begin to tell you how much I love seeing all these pets. It brings me so much joy to snap each and every one of them. The following pics are just a sample of all the animals that came by to have their pictures done with 100% of the proceeds going to the SPCA – St. John’s.

A happy gray dog wearing a plaid bandana, sitting indoors with a pumpkin and autumn leaves in the background.
A fluffy Pomeranian dog sitting inside a wooden crate, surrounded by autumn leaves, against a rustic wooden background.
Two Shih Tzu dogs sitting on a fluffy blanket decorated with autumn leaves, with one wearing an orange bow.
A gray dog wearing a plaid scarf sitting on a soft surface, surrounded by autumn decorations including pumpkins and colorful leaves.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel sitting among autumn leaves, wearing a plaid bandana.
A small white dog wearing a cozy striped sweater with a patterned collar, sitting on a soft surface and smiling.
A close-up profile of a gray Great Dane sitting against a rustic wooden background, with autumn decorations including a small pumpkin and colorful leaves nearby.
A black dog with tan markings and a colorful patterned bow tie, sitting on a soft surface in front of a wooden backdrop.
Two huskies wearing plaid bandanas sit in a cozy autumn-themed setting with pumpkins and fall leaves.
A dog with a light brown and white coat, wearing a blue bow tie, lying on a soft surface decorated with pumpkins and autumn leaves.
A brown puppy wearing a plaid scarf sitting on a soft surface with a wooden background.
A happy dog wearing a colorful patterned sweater and a beaded necklace sits on a plush surface next to a small pumpkin, with a rustic wooden backdrop.

One of my faves from the Pet Photos with Santa photo shoot. Although the photo is blurry it gives you an idea how excited this pup was. I think he was practicing being a reindeer for Santa’s team!

Santa Claus sitting in a chair beside a small dog wearing a red sweater, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background.
Santa Claus wearing a red suit and glasses gently holds and kisses a brown and white dog against a green background.
A jolly Santa Claus with a white beard and glasses holds a pug wearing a festive bandana, sitting in front of a decorated Christmas tree.
Santa Claus holding a dog dressed in a festive scarf in front of a Christmas tree.
A cheerful corgi wearing a festive bandana, being held by a man in a Santa Claus costume, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background.
Santa Claus sitting on a chair with two happy dogs in front of him, with a decorated Christmas tree and presents in the background.
A jolly Santa Claus holding two Boston Terriers dressed in festive scarves, sitting in front of a decorated Christmas tree.
Santa Claus holding a small dog while sitting on a rocking chair, with a golden doodle dog sitting beside him, in front of a decorated Christmas tree.
Santa Claus sitting on a chair next to a fluffy Pomeranian dog, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background.
A jolly Santa Claus holding two dogs, one black and one brown, both wearing festive red sweaters, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background.
Santa Claus in a red suit feeding a small dog wearing a green sweater and plaid skirt, against a green backdrop.
A beagle wearing a reindeer costume interacts playfully with Santa Claus in a festive setting, featuring a decorated Christmas tree in the background.
A joyful dog wearing a festive collar sits in the lap of Santa Claus, who is dressed in traditional red and white attire, with a Christmas tree decorated in the background.
Santa Claus holding a Siamese cat, with a soft-focus background and festive colors.
A happy dog wearing a red and black plaid scarf, sitting in front of a person dressed as Santa Claus, whose furry gloves and red suit are partially visible.
A person dressed as Santa Claus holding a small dog wearing a red scarf, in front of a decorated Christmas tree.
A cheerful dog wearing a colorful Christmas-themed tie sits in front of a decorated Christmas tree.
A golden retriever in a holiday sweater interacting with Santa Claus, seated next to a decorated Christmas tree with colorful ornaments.
A man dressed as Santa Claus holds a small black pug dog in a festive setting, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background.
A gecko perched on a red and white Santa hat, with a festive background featuring Christmas decorations.
Santa Claus holding a colorful gecko on his arm while smiling.
Santa Claus holding a large, fluffy dog while a white bird is perched on his head, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background.
Santa Claus holding a large black dog, with a festive Christmas tree in the background, accompanied by two birds perched nearby.
Santa Claus sitting in a rocking chair next to two happy Alaskan Malamute dogs, in front of a decorated Christmas tree.
Santa Claus with a long white beard and a red velvet suit, holding a gray parrot on his arm while another white bird perches on his shoulder in a festive setting.
A jolly Santa Claus holds two small dogs, one with a big smile and the other with a black coat, both wearing festive scarves. In the background, a decorated Christmas tree creates a festive ambiance.
A black dog wearing a plaid bandana sits in front of a decorated Christmas tree with colorful ornaments and gifts.
Ingredients and recipe for a baking dish arranged on a kitchen counter, featuring oats, sugar, cocoa powder, flour, vanilla extract, and a handwritten recipe on lined paper.
Decorative Christmas cupcakes topped with red and white frosting shaped like poinsettias, featuring a 'Merry Christmas' sign and a reindeer decoration.
A display of Christmas-themed cupcakes featuring green wreath designs with red bows and white flower decorations, topped with festive 'Merry Christmas' signs, on a decorated table.
Close-up of festive cupcakes decorated with green icing resembling wreaths, topped with a white frosting center, a red bow, and a green 'Merry Christmas' sign.
A festive glass ornament resembling a snowman wearing a scarf, hanging from a decorated white Christmas tree with shiny sequins.
A brightly decorated house with colorful Christmas lights, featuring Santa Claus and a reindeer on the front lawn, surrounded by snow.
A decorative angel figurine with blonde hair and feathered wings, dressed in a white gown adorned with silver accents, placed atop a Christmas tree surrounded by colorful lights.
A beautifully decorated house illuminated with Christmas lights at night, surrounded by snow-covered ground and trees adorned with lights.
A stained glass candle design with a flame at the top, surrounded by green leaves and red berries, hanging against a sunset sky.
A dimly lit room featuring a decorated Christmas tree with a star topper, casting star-shaped light patterns on the ceiling. Visible through the window are snowy outdoor scenery and glowing decorations.

Hard to believe but this was taken at night. It’s amazing how the moon brightens the scene. I love the tree shadows on the snow!

Snow-covered bushes surrounded by a blanket of snow with evergreen trees in the background.
Snow-covered landscape featuring leafless trees and evergreens under a clear blue sky.
A winter landscape featuring snow-covered pine trees under a partly cloudy sky.
A street scene at night featuring a building with the word 'HOPE' illuminated in lights, a traffic light displaying red, and snow piled on the ground.
Interior of a beautifully decorated church featuring a stunning ornate ceiling with blue and gold details, and a stage adorned with holiday decorations and a Christmas tree.
A small, curly-haired dog resting on a green couch with a decorative blanket featuring animal and plant patterns.
Two dogs dressed in festive Santa costumes sitting in front of a Christmas tree and wrapped gifts.
A cat with gray and white fur lounging on a striped cushion, with a Christmas tree in the background adorned with lights.
Colorful light streaks radiating from a central point against a dark background.
A bridge illuminated with colorful lights creating a tunnel effect at night.
A pathway lined with colorful Christmas lights leading to a gazebo, illuminated at night with a backdrop of snow and a serene water view.
A brightly lit sign reading 'Merry Christmas' in cursive script, adorned with festive lights and decorations.
A lit-up inflatable Santa Claus standing in front of a vintage airplane at night, decorated with colorful Christmas lights.
A festive entrance gate to Harbour Grace, decorated with twinkling lights and candy cane ornaments, set against a snowy landscape at night.
A snowy landscape at night featuring a decorated Christmas tree with warm lights, surrounded by greenery and a dark sky.
Illuminated sign displaying 'Merry Christmas' in red with green holly accents on a dark background.
A snowy landscape at night, featuring a wooden fence adorned with warm string lights, and a decorated tree in the background.
A leafless tree covered in snow, illuminated against a dark night sky.

So, you’ve made it this far! Thanks for sticking with me. All the photos you just saw were from this past fall and Christmas 2025. I still have tons more from this past summer that I’ll be using in a new blog. I have a few ideas rattling around in my brain. I just need to sit and focus and hopefully I’ll get them done.

Now, back to the topic of AI for just a moment. As I stated earlier, AI is all around us and I’m sure it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. My ramblings about it barely scratch the surface of its capabilities. Although it can be used for nefarious purposes, there are many positive uses for it as well that can assist us in everyday life. My whole point is to read about AI and learn what you can from it and about it. “Trust but verify”. The last few photos I have posted below are my actual photos that I ran through ChatGPT asking it to turn them into Norman Rockwell-style images. The images on the right are the result. I think they look pretty cute! A guess that means a check mark for AI.

A beautifully decorated Christmas tree adorned with various ornaments, twinkling lights, and a star on top, surrounded by a festive floral-patterned tree skirt, set in a warmly lit room with large windows and curtains.
A beautifully decorated Christmas tree adorned with colorful ornaments and ribbons, topped with a glowing star, surrounded by a plush tree skirt. In front of the tree stand two doll-like figures in white dresses and a nutcracker.
A person sitting in a rocking chair by a Christmas tree, wearing festive pajamas. The room features a warm glow from a lamp and decorated with holiday ornaments and gifts.
A woman in festive pajamas sits in a rocking chair, gazing out a window at a snow-covered scene. Christmas decorations, including a decorated tree and wrapped gifts, fill the cozy room. A mug with hot chocolate sits on a table beside her.

Until Next Time!

Andrea

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