Happy New Year

This is one of my favorite photos. Taken last year at Coombs market. It just reminds me of a party.

Walking in a winter wonderland

Snow gently falling, frost clinging to all it touches. This is the scene down my driveway this morning.

Sugar Coated

When walking in the new snow its hard to know wether to eat it ......

...or bath in it.

Christmas Past

A long day in town , but I really enjoyed my day in town. Lunch with a friend, finding the perfect gift for mom, the horsedrawn lightshow with the grandkids, and a special surprise for me. (that I will have to share after christmas so as to not ruin a surprise for someone else) The lights on the main street always remind me of when I first moved to Grande Prairie . And the kids and I would walk from store to store, Doing our Christmas shopping as the carols played from the speakers on 214 place. It gives me that warm Christmasy feeling. I miss my babies.

Working The Cattle

We had a busy day today. The calves are sick and needed to be treated . As always Mick is a big help. Finally the weather is a bit warmer, but the fog made some frosty looking critters.

In a Fog

The weather is warming creating a fog that blurs the lines, and obscures the landscape. Similar to the fog that I have been in lately.

christmas Glow

Lately I have been feeling a little dark... not getting much done.. not getting dressed. Maybe it's the cold weather, or it could be a case of seasonal disorder, or simply christmas blues. Anyway I am going to have to kick my butt, as my husband's birthday is on saturday.

Tenacity

I heard on the news today that we are the coldest place on earth today. The dogs are sleeping inside, the cows are getting extra bedding and feed, The fire is roaring , bread is baking and the birds are getting an extra servings of yummy sunflower seeds.

Sunrise clouds

The mercury has dipped to - 33 celcuis. Brrr cold . And even though sunset is later and later, there are still some beautiful mornings. This was taken at 9:30 this morning just outside my door.

Magic of Christmas

Ever since I can remember, a big part of the magical air of Christmas has been the tree. Christmas eve in the middle of the night, while everyone was asleep,I would creep into the livingroom. Where only on Christmas eve, the lights were left on , for Santa. I would just gaze at the tree all atwinkle, glittering and glowing on the presents under the tree. Then I would return to bed happy in the knowledge that Santa had come. Even as an adult the tree hold the same sense of childlike assurance that dreams do come true and magic does happen. The other day I put the tree up and just like every other year I sat gazing and soaking in the magic.

Morning or NIght

8:30 this morning. The view from the east and the view from the west.

Evening sky

The days are so short now. This pic was taken at 4:30 this afternoon.

Sniffles

The last while we have had flu in the house. Poor Marley had her nose wiped hundreds of times. Although the sniffles are gone it looks like she learned the lesson well.

Snowy

Not everyone dislikes snow. When I walk the dogs are so happy frolicing in the snow . This is Bear bounding through the snow with, what I'm sure is a big smile.

What lies ahead

As I stood and soaked in this scene, I became lucidly aware of having only this moment, and that all that the future holds is really unclear... to all of us. And all at once the road (my journey) seemed to be so much easier, like all at once I knew I was on the right road. Right where I am meant to be. Stop fretting about the future , and get on with doing now , the best way I can.

Glow

It seems like forever since I posted anything . Our house has been in the grip of H1N1. It is a terrible flu and I have been worried , first about the grandchildren and now my husband. He is not sleeping well , coughing and congested . So I thought if I got up he would rest better. This was what I saw in the sky tonight. I also saw 2 shooting stars.. always a good omen for me and I feel all will be as it should be.

Yoga Cat

Oinker soaking up some sun on my yoga mat. hmmm relaxation pose??

Halloween Chicken

The last couple of days I have been feeling under the weather and not taking new photos. So I thought I would go through some of my archived photos. I found some photos with a Halloween theme. This is my daughter and grand daughter last Halloween. Funny how a chicken suit can always make you smile.

On the Catwalk.

I think if you are just going to meow and complain the whole way .... you may as well go home.

A Child's Delight.

Today my daughter and her two children came to visit. When the wind picked up I heard an excited voice exclaim "Mom, Mom. Look it's raining leaves!" It warms my heart to hear my grown daughter squeal with delight at something so simple.

In a Fog

It was foggy and damp all of yesterday. However that did not stop the dogs and I from going for a walk. The weather did not dampen their spirits. They just seemed so overjoyed to be out exploring. We even went down to the creek , where it looks like a whole different world than it did a couple of months ago.

Yoga Day

Tuesday is becoming known as Yoga day in my circle of friends and family. This is my yoga instructor Mariah who was good natured enough to pose for a couple of pictures. I have been practising yoga every day for almost a month. But I really look forward to Tuesday's when I get to spend time in this wonderful , intimate little yoga studio. Thanks to Mariah my experience of yoga is one of profound awakening, and warm safety. Namaste.

Foxtail

I went out this morning looking for something special. And here it is just for you.

Denial

Most would have admitted defeat by now. But I am living in delusions and denial. I bought some flowers to help me enable the pretense, as long as I stay at the kitchen table.

Painted Sky

Starting the day in this beautiful way makes me ask what other wondrous gifts are in store for me today.

Heartwarming

Even though we are in the grip of colder than normal temperatures and it is snowing slightly, the sun is trying to shine today. And the icicles formed on my house are starting to melt. That gives me some hope that we will still have some nice days this fall. Its a small glimmer of hope but it's there.

Staying Indoors

Not wanting to go outside I took this picture from my back door . I wonder if the birds took a look outside and said "forget that I'm going back to bed."

Roadblocks

Yesterday I had to do some fancy driving to avoid the two trees that had blown accross my driveway in the night.

Fall garden

I love to see the show of sunflowers in my garden in the fall. Close inspection of this flower head reveals a whole tiny garden of blooms.

Quiet Moments

The last few days have been very hectic. My mother is visiting , we have had an unusual amount of company,a wedding on saturday and a family get together on sunday. It has been a whirlwind of friends and family. And although I have had a permanent smile pasted to my face, being a good hostess has left little time for photography. This morning I woke before anyone was up, took my camera into the golden morning , and renewed my connection to nature. How did I get so lucky?

Two in the hand

This pair usually sit on my bathroom windowsill looking out . Today I thought I would set them free for a while.

Harvest Dance

Taken wholly this field of ripe oats was quite a site .Taken individually it reminded me of ballet dancers queuing up at the barre.

Another light show

Last night our neighbours came over on quads for coffee. They left before the lightning and rain started here. I couldnt resist more lightning shots. Of course Mic opened the door again so he and Bear dog could get in out of the storm.

Sunflower

We had a killing frost at the time when the sunflowers in my garden were in bud. I was afraid that I would not see these beautiful yellow blooms. I look forward to seeing the happy faces as big as my head, as they turn their faces to follow the sun.

Back to Artwork

I have been very busy since we came home from the lake. Even though I should be doing my gardening and getting my yard ready for winter, I felt the creative urge... I just had to do something. Inspiration came from the 30s era material that my mom had given me a few years ago. Add to that an old photo that I found in a neat shop on Vancouver Island and a key from my collection. Collage with paper, paint and beeswax to a chunky canvas, and Ta da! Even though I thought that this would be just a bit of fun, I was surprised to find that the primitive nature and the anything goes factor made it even more personal to me.

Pelicans at dusk.

I just got back from my little getaway to the lake. I came back with my camera loaded with pictures and while I never tire of sunsets on the lake, I thought I would post something different . The last evening that we spent there my hubby took me accross to where the pelicans wade about on the lake. It was late , in fact very dark when we got back. The sky was threatening but the water was very still. I took a hundred or so photos of the pelicans. Most of which did not turn out due to the low light and the bobbing of the boat. But even still it was beautiful to see, and I managed to get a few shoots I really like. I love the dreamlike quality of these ones. Did you notice the guy in to top pic looking under the water for something to eat?

End of the Road

I took this picture a few weeks ago when we had just started the haying season. This view is about a mile and a half from my house. If you click on the picture you may see that little white speck in the valley is my house. We are at the end of a dead end road so there is very little traffic. Our closest neighbour is a mile and a half away by road. or a mile as the crow flies. The land behind our house is ours for almost as far as you can see. Sometimes I feel like the Queen of my little piece of the earth.

Farmgirl

My grand daughter Reese loves the farm . Reese is not afraid of getting dirty , climbing trees, or eating carrots that have been washed in the watering can. When I asked her what she was doing hiding around the trees. She said "Shhh Grandma, I'm hunting ravvits"

The lake

I was raised on the shore of the lake. Lesser Slave Lake .The lake was always there, sometimes quiet and peaceful. Sometimes gray and threatening. Sometimes frozen and jagged. But if you lived by the lake you came to know the dangers and the pleasures that came with it. The lake I remember best, was the lake that awakened me to lifes mystery and wonder. We are packing to go camping for a few days next week. Back to lake that I love and long for . I hope its not the last time this year. I took this picture of another photographer enjoying MY lake. Oh but who can blame him?

Happy Birthday Marley

Today is my youngest grandchild's first birthday. And lucky me, they decided to come and stay overnight. Here she is enjoying her Teddy Bear pancake birthday breakfast. So many times with my grandchildren I am transported back to the time in my life when my kids where their ages. Sometimes I ache for that time back and other times when I see how busy and full their lives are now, I am satisfied with being a Grandma. Giggling from the sidelines, and knowing that being a Grandma is a wonderful gift.

MIdnight at the Oasis

Last night about midnight I took this photo of my hideaway. A 10ft by 10ft screen tent, where I created a special place to rejuvenate my soul. Just as lovely at night as it is in the daytime. Only much colder. I think I may have to start wearing a couple of layers to enjoy it at night.

In a garden

I spent some time in my Eden yesterday.

The kiss of the sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for mirth
One is near God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
Dorothy Francis Gurney

Art In My Garden

Lately I have been thinking about doing some experiementing with my camera. Inspired by the photography of Freeman Patterson I set out to make some images with an expressionist feel. I really had to think about how to acheive this , but I was happy with some of my results. This one made me think of royalty and power . I love the diagonal lines. This image was cropped in photoshop and the lighting adjusted slightly . Other than that it is shown the way it was captured.

NIght Photography

Thinking that this might be my last chance of the year to capture fireworks, I headed to Dawson Creek. I arranged to meet a friend half way and packed my gear. I learned a few things.

1. That the bag that I bought that was going to be so great , was not.

2. Dawson Creek really likes a fair.

3. That I am getting to know my camera by feel.

4. Photographing fireworks is not that easy.

5. I really have missed my best friend.