Frozen World

Winter here is snowy, cold, long, and beautiful.

NIght LIghts

Bitter cold and a couple of hours away from sunrise, this photo was taken from my step. Sometimes when the clouds are just right you can see a glow from the city an hours drive from here. Today is a day for change. My mom is traveling home and then we will go and help my husbands mother pack all her belongings and move to the city.

Christmas Morning

The festivity of Christmas affects everyone of the family, even the pets. All the paper and ribbon under the tree was just too inviting Christmas morning.
Christmas morning was pretty quiet at our house. I am having quite a time adapting to the new traditions. Having five kids always meant an exciting morning. Now, as it should be, the family is making new traditions with their children. Part of the new traditions is to come to Grandma's house for dinner. When the families get here, the quiet and my longing is replaced by hugs, laughter, singing , good natured teasing,piles of gift wrap, oohs and aahs of thanks, Over stimulated Grandkids playing with new toys and running through the house. Setting up tables and finding enough chairs. A flurry of stirring, mashing, mixing , bumping elbows in my small kitchen ... with those I love the most. The feast follows with mouthwatering dishes being passed from around the two tables. Negotiations follow.. "I'll trade you stuffing at our table for gravy at yours". And while we are filling our plates , we also fill our hearts. And when the meal is over , I am ushered away from the kitchen, But I can still hear the laughter while my kids and their spouses clear the aftermath of the feast.
All the wrapping paper in the world couldnt wrap my favorite gifts this year.
Merry Christmas to you.

Santa's Narrow Escape

Merry Christmas all.

Western Skies

The days are short... sunset was at 4:38 today. There was one full minute more of sunlight.

Mystical Events

Winter solstice... the longest night of the year.. a time for calling back the sun. This time of winter is one I relish. It means that the days will grow longer bit by bit. Oh it will take some time yet before it is noticeable but I know it's coming. This year something unusual happened.. a lunar eclipse at the same time. That has not happened for over 400 yrs.
I really wanted to get a good photo of it. But there were some technical difficulties I hadn't counted on... #1. COLD.. well I did think it might be cold but I wasn't really prepared for -27 . After standing around in that I came in to get more cloths.. difficulty #2 When I came in my lens fogged up.. it took a while to get it defogged. ( more standing in the cold) But I would have to say the worst by far was the fact that the moon was so high in the sky that my tripod kept tipping over.. Every time this happened I had would hold my breath as I inspected my equipment for damage and cleaned the snow off. This also made a cranky photographer . I soon resorted to leaning against a building and hand holding my camera. Well at least leaning against the building cut the wind. Hand holding during long exposures is not a good idea. I took over 200 photos and this is the best one. Well I guess I will know better next time.. 450 yrs from now.

P.S. It was all worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Art Mode

How about a little break from Christmas? This is a glass bowl that I fused this fall. I am planning on doing more in the new year.

Blue Christmas

Every Christmas I think about those who have a hard time rejoicing during the Christmas season. I myself have felt the Grinchiness of Christmas a few times. And havnt each one of us felt that pressure for a perfect Christmas...the decorating, the cooking , the cleaning, spending too much money, not finding the perfect gift. Those are just some of the pressures that face all of us. Now what if you are feeling the pain of the loss of a loved one? What if you have lost your job? What if you just cant see the happiness in a season that has always been so sad for you?

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!, Feeling sad at Christmas time is perfectly normal. Not everyone is filled with joy at Christmas time. And for some trying to hide that Christmas sadness and put on a "Merry" face is hard work and can make you feel more alone.

These are a few of the things that I think would help get those Grinches through the season.

1. Start early so you dont have all those last minute pressures.


2. Get exercise.. I think it helps with the shorter days and colder weather.


3. Find a way to help someone needy.


4. Spend time with children.


5. Try to plan shopping trips on least busy days


6. Start new traditions and ditch some that cause you stress.


7. Stick to a budget


8. Bag your gifts instead of wrapping.


9. Dont over induldge on food and drink.. for some that just sets up more guilt.


10. Light a candle for a loved one or a situation that is causing you grief.


11. Attend a Blue Christmas service in your area.


12. Honour your inner Grinch while respecting others rights to be happy. You might find that by allowing those feelings instead of trying to stuff them down.. they might not be so overwelming.


13. Dont leave your humour packed up til after Christmas.. it's ok to laugh.

Now just a note to the people with your rose coloured Santa glasses on.... and you know who you are... Take it easy on Grinches and remember that while you are exuding your Happy ho ho everywhere , there are some that are feeling it less... and that's OK.

Star of Wonder?

At 630 am it is still very dark here. Well except for this morning when I saw this light in the east , shining through the morning fog. Hmmm a glowing light in the east? I wonder if I should send three guys over there to check it out? But where oh where am I going to find 3 wise men?

Finding Balance

This time of the year is hectic for most people and for me it's no different. I will have a houseful for Christmas day and a house guest a week over the holiday. Cooking , cleaning , shopping, etc.. That leaves little time for photography or coming here to share my world with you . Glad you have hung in there by the way. I was thinking that I would take a vignette of one of my windowsills , I think it's a great way to get a peek into the "real me". This little corner is my kitchen window. A jar full of beach stones from Texas reminds me of my friend Joy. Top it up with some shells and beach glass I collected from Vancouver Island to remind me of the ocean. Just a side here... the ocean always reminds me to breathe. A mason jar that once held homemade jam now holds my discarded paintbrushes , now tools for the creation of Grandkid masterpieces. And a little black stone that has the word "Balance" etched on it, to remind me to strive for balance in my life. Maybe tomorrow a peek into the laundry room.. nah that is way too real.

Hearts aglow.

The weather is cold here today. The school buses are shut down today.. snow day. I have been a busy little elf getting ready for Christmas. Today seems like a good day to get at some of that baking. Butter tarts mmmmm

Still cold

I have not been taking very many pics lately. After having a visit where we did some creating I felt a renewal. Up and out before the sun I tok some frosty photos. Until cold feet forced me home.

Decisions, decisions

I spent a good hour today in a paint store staring at the mryiad of colours.. trying to decide which colours to choose to paint my basement stairs. I settled on two colours and am going to try to get the painting done before Christmas.

Looking south

The snowy cold days leave me wishing for warmer climates. Somewhere south near the water.. sigh. This is the view out my livingroom window. I can see a long way to the south, but not far enough. As it is even too cold to venture out I took this photo from inside. Maybe it's a good day to do some baking. Perhaps some cookie pics before they are all gone.( clicking on this photo will enlarge it so maybe you can see that it is snowing.)

For Pat

In my mind this is her.. long flowing auburn locks and golden wings

Soap Angel

Still doing the soap photography. I love the way random images just appear. Although I am sure there is a science and a math that would tell me exactly how the soap will react. I prefer to have some mystery about it. I often seen humanesque figures like this soap angel.

Oh Starry Night

I thought I would try something different this year. I wanted to put a little more of 'us' on the tree . So away with the storebought decorations. And up with stars.... big ones, small ones, shiny ones , and rustic ones. All lovingly cut , pasted, stamped , embossed, coloured, or glittered by hand. Floyd really suprised me this year as he stamped, cut, pasted.. right along with me. A true tree of love.

Morning Glory

I am going to busy today so I thought I would get out early and get a photo for today. Glorious mornings like this would be so much nicer if the weather wasnt so cold. Mick doesnt seem to mind so much with his big fur coat. He even brought out a toy to play with.

Picher day

The party dresses are simply beautiful, gold and glittery. But as far as Reese was concerned that was not the best part. HIding from me so that she could give me the Tadaaa! moment, I heard her say about her shoes...." get ready for the magic!". Oh the joy of a new pair of shoes. P.S. those big red balls sure came in handy.

Twinkle Twinkle

Frosty's heart

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas... that song has been going through my head all week. And yesterday I did the exterior decorating. Lights, mini trees, wreath and my wooden snow men that greet you at the door. This photo is a close up of Frosty's hat. I hope this heart conveys my Christmas wishes to you.