February 18/12

It seems like forever since I last posted...I actually miss doing a picture every day. In my last blog of January 11/12, I said I was thinking of doing posts on Wednesdays. Well as you know from my previous posts, we are moving and renovating our new home. I would have never thought it would be such a huge job. Needless to say, my blog has been put on the back burner. We are "burning the candle at both ends" trying to get everything done. I know it will be worth it in the end, but right now Mark and I are both exhausted! Long story short, for now I'm just going to post something when I think something is worthy to post! Just thought I should keep you updated... Good night all and hope everyone has a better tomorrow. Lynda

January 11/12

January 11, 2012.  I can't believe it's been a year since I started a self challenge to take a picture a day for an entire year.  I'm proud that I followed it through and completed what I set out to do.  It's been challenging, informative, fun, and most of all it's shown me how to look at life with my eyes wide open.
Through this past year, I've experienced many, many joys and I've come to realize what is most important in this life I have now.  My Family...I've taken many pictures, but the ones I'm posting today are the most beautiful to me.
These are our children and their husbands/wives/significant others. We are so proud of all of them. To all of my other family and friends, and you know who you are, you mean the world to me. I started this blog as a means of self therapy to get over some issues that were consuming my life.  Thanks to everyone one of you for all your support, you and this blog made a difference.  As I said yesterday, I've learned that life gives us many roads and turns but if we can continue to look ahead and stay positive, we will find happiness...in many different forms.
So as I turn 51 today and I complete my quest for "A Picture a Day for a Year" I hope my next year is filled with more challenges, more joy and best of all my family.
And my camera!!

I'm  contemplating turning this blog into "Wednesday Words".  I will post a picture once a week on Wednesdays which will start in February...stay tuned.

January 10/12

I was driving to work today, the sun was shining and the skies were beautiful.  I stopped to take a picture of this field because I thought the colours were awesome.  The wide open space got me thinking about all the long roads and journeys we travel in life.  We travel the often bumpy roads of relationships; those we have, those we had, and those that may require mending.  We journey through love, joy, disappointments, and forgiveness, and yet no matter where life takes us...we can always stop to appreciate a beautiful sky and what life can offer us.  Appreciation is a wonderful thing...

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. 
- Guillaume Apollinaire


May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.
- Edward Abbey

Wide Open Spaces

January 9/12

This new house is wearing me out.  We've been working every weekend, and every night after work.  It's 10:55 and I just got home and I'm trying to figure out something for supper.
My picture today is of one of my favourite pieces...that is what I'm going to be doing in a couple of months.  Taking the time to sit and read and relax!!  Can't wait...

Time to Relax

January 8/12

I took this picture today as the sun was just starting to drop in the west side of our yard.  I love the lighting in it...  I also love this big galvanized tub of grass!!  The previous owners left it on the deck and I'll probably fill it with flowers next spring.  I really like the old look of galvanized steel...

Galvanized Steel Tub

January 7/12

Landscaping can make such a difference in a home.  I love when trees are lit from underneath.  I took this picture last night when it was dark...

Highlighted Tree

January 6/12

Meet Jasper!  He is Ashley & Braden's new little puppy...they just picked him up today.  Jasper is just 8 weeks old and reminds me of a little polar bear or stuffed animal. I had so many pictures to choose from, it was hard to pick just one.  I chose this one because it shows his actual size.  He is a Samoyed puppy.  Just too cute for words, and so loveable!!

Jasper

January 5/12

Oh my goodness, Mark has created a monster...ME...he showed me how to paint with a spray gun and compressor.  I want to paint everything!  I asked him to show me since I had a dresser that I want to use in one of our washrooms in the new house.  I've also been looking at the best blog on furniture refinishing...
It's called "Show and Tell" and here is her website http://www.theshowandtellblog.com/.  The first time I found it I spent hours looking at how she did her furniture. So...I may not have a room to show you before my blog is done on January 11th but I may have my piece of furniture done!  I'm making this into our washroom vanity...the first step was painting the primer on.  What was cool was that doing this with a paintbrush would have taken a couple hours, but with the spray gun, 20 minutes and it was done.  How great is that?

Step One

January 4/12

This picture reminds me of my feather picture that I posted in the spring/summer.  Only this is the winter version.  I love pine cones.  I put them in jars, in bowls and I saw a really nice picture of a snowflake made out of tiny cones that someone hung on their door.  I also love the smell of pine needles and trees... such a refreshing aroma!
I took this picture today on my walk outside.  I like the way the sap from the tree has gone on the tips of the pine cone.  It actually looks like snow...

Pine cone in the snow

January 3/12

Every year we usually go away somewhere warm...this winter we won't be going as we are too busy with the new house.  I saw this blanket we got from I think Mexico quite a few years back.  It reminded me of the trip we should be taking!  That's ok though, I know once the house is done, we will definitely need a vacation...
I love all the bright colours in this blanket...

Many Colours

January 2/12

Today was a holiday for Mark and I and we spent it at our new house...not much of a holiday but we got a lot done.  Marks mom was nice enough to invite us over for dinner tonight, which was a good thing because I'm pretty sure I haven't been to get groceries in about a month.  We've been so busy!  Anyway, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I really didn't know what I was going to make so Thank You Ruth, it was great!
While we were there, Kate was visiting as well. This will be my last picture of Kate and she has certainly grown in the past year.  She loves getting her picture taken and this was a very candid shot.  In my opinion the best kind...

Growing so fast...

January 1/12

The first day of 2012!!  I can't believe how fast last year went.  The older I get the faster the years go by :(
Anyway, still having fun with my 50mm f1.8 lens I just got.  It does take some getting used to as there is no zoom. You have to position yourself where you want to take the picture from.
Here is a great article on using the 50 mm lens.  Very interesting.

http://photo.tutsplus.com/tutorials/shooting/nifty-fifty-the-benefits-of-a-fixed-50mm-lens/

My picture for today is of my winter penguins that I set out every year at our front door.  It really doesn't seem like winter yet though as we have had no snow to speak of.  It was 5 degrees and raining out today...hmmmm...when I was small it was unheard of not to have snow yet. I hate to say it but I wish it would snow!! (I will regret saying that when I'm driving to work in a snowstorm).

My Penguins

 

December 31/11

I know you are probably sick of me telling you how much I love old things.  It's not that I have a house FULL of antiques or anything, but I love to mix new with old.  I found this old crocheted pillow case at a thrift store the other day for $1.  I added a piece of ribbon and a clip I had at home and I love the result.  It sits in one of my bedrooms in a corner chair.
Now if only it was that easy to update myself!  Another year gone...where does the time go?  Here's hoping that this new year brings some new adventures, more love in my life, and time spent with close family and friends.
p.s.  I really miss you Cindy and wish you lived closer...

Updated

December 30/11

I took this picture on my way to work this morning (Mark was driving).  Even though this picture isn't perfectly clear, I think that's what makes it more interesting.  It was really foggy this morning, and I love how the trees in this orchard just kind of fade away...

Foggy

December 29/11

I was looking out our front window tonight...it's cold and snowing a bit.  I'm glad to be inside.  I love our lamp post on our walkway and the light it gives off at night...oh and you can't see our walkway because we haven't shoveled yet :)

Night time...

December 28/11

We just got home from a get together and it's now 12:09 am.  A quick picture tonight everyone.  I took this yesterday.  We replaced the windows in the back of our new home yesterday.  I can't thank everyone enough for all their help.  You really come to appreciate your friends and family when you take on a project like this...  Got them in and they look great.  I'm hoping that by the time I finish my blog on January 11 I can show you at least one room completed!  Good night all.

Helping Hands

December 27/11

We worked at our new house all day today. It started to snow around 3 or 4 today and by the time we left at 7 pm, there was tons of snow.  The roads were terrible to drive on! But the trees look awesome with the heavy, wet snow on them.  If you are wondering what the white circles are in my picture, it's all the snowflakes coming towards my lens...I liked the look of it...

Snow Covered Tree

December 26/11

Tyler and Dayna came to visit last month and we went antique shopping. I saw something I really liked but didn't pick up.  They were back again on Thursday and surprised me with the silver tray I had seen.  How sweet of them to remember!  I love it!!
I took this picture with my new 50mm f 1.8 lens.  One of the best lens for the price you have to pay...look at the reviews on them.  A great lens!!

Beautiful Antique

December 25/11

What a great day to relax!  All the stores are closed...everyone is off work...a great day for just doing what you want.  Nice...

Bokeh

December 24/11

We were at the house again today!  No holidays for us...we have to get it done and are now on a time schedule since our house has sold.  We are supposed to get a few cm of snow tomorrow, so Mark went up on the roof today since it was a nice sunny day.  We have a two story house so he was about 30 ft up and all I could picture was him sliding down the roof, hanging on to the eavestrough and me not knowing what the heck to do to help him!!  Fortunately, he made it down safely :)  I like the white birch tree against the blue sky today...
Tomorrow will be a nice day off !

Please don't fall...

December 23/11

I took this picture of our rod iron fence the other day when it snowed.  I just like the way it looks...I was outside in the early morning and I'm pretty sure my neighbours thought I was crazy taking pictures of my fence!!

Early Morning

December 22/11

I really like winter.  Not major snowstorms, but a nice winter day is awesome.  The sun reflects on the snow... it's like natural glitter.  So, we have no snow yet, but I've put my winter decorations out!! It will eventually come...
We had our kids over for dinner tonight, it was so nice to see all of them here with their spouses and significant others...it will probably be the last time we are all together before the house sells.  Like my little sign says, we are making Winter Memories...
Kristen...wish you were here too...missed you!!

Memories

December 21/11

Tonight I spent time with friends Peg and Joanne and Joanne's daughter Daron who is getting married.  I've done her wedding invitations and they came over to put the finishing touches on them!  Peg painted the picture I used on the invitations... A bottle of wine, friends and creativity...I love it!!

Creativity

December 20/11

I'm so excited with our yard at the new house.  From our deck we can see the neighbour's horses in the back of our yard.  I went up to them today and they are sooo much bigger than they look from our deck.  But so nice...every one of them let me pet them.  So cool...I'll have to get some apples :)

Horses in our back yard...

December 19/11

We basically have had no snow this year.  Only a few light dustings, so I thought I should take some pictures when we do get it!!  I love the snow sitting on these branches.  I would like to get a macro lens that I could get a cool close up of a single snowflake.  I love how they each have their own unique shape.  When I was little I used to look at the large ones that fell and I tried to see how they looked before they would melt on my hand or mittens.  If I could capture that in a picture that would be great!!

Snow Covered Branch

December 18/11

Ever since I have known Mark, every year he has made shortbread cookies.  It now includes having Egg Nog & Rum with nutmeg on top as we are baking them!  Mmmmm...made 6 batches.  Mark makes the best shortbread cookies I've ever tasted.  He says the recipe is from his great grandmother...so good!

Best Cookies

December 17/11

Everyone knows I love old things.  They have character & cool colours.  Like this old chair...love the red.  I can see this sitting on my front porch with some fresh greens and twigs on it.

Old Chair

December 16/11

This blog is a story of my life for the past year...so I have to add this picture that I took this spring.  It's of the house that Mark & I built together 14 years ago when we got married.  We blended our families, had good times and bad...like everyone...but still made memories that we will keep forever.
Our house has officially been sold as of today.  Exciting and sad at the same time...

Memories to Keep

December 15/11

I love landscapes...even this time of year when all the leaves are gone.  I find the trees more interesting without leaves!!

Leafless

December 14/11

The reason I like this picture so much is how the background blends so nicely...and the flowers just pop.  And the colours in this vase...Ash & Braden brought it back for us from their honeymoon in Greece.  I love blue & white combinations!!

Greek Vase

December 13/11

I'm always looking for unique things...and some of the building tops are just cool looking.  I just think that if someone looks at this in 50 or 75 years they'll wonder what the heck this was for...these are on a barn-like building that I pass on my way to work.

December 12/11

Oh my gosh...I have spent all night trying to pick out a white paint colour for our trim.  Literally hours spent surfing the internet searching for the "best white".  Do you know how complicated it can be...who would have thought that white would be so hard?  Dove White, Cookie Crumb, Designer White, and the most popular...Cloud White.  I still haven't picked a trim colour, maybe I'll move on to the walls...

So many choices...

December 11/11

It's been a very busy weekend!!  So my posts are a little shorter than usual.  I just loved the texture of these grasses. It's December 11th and it's amazing that these are not covered and weighed down in snow yet...

Texture

December 10/11

Another full day at the new house, ripping things apart, tearing out walls and burning what we have torn out.
Thanks to Norm & Erna for all their help...and what's better after a long day of work that take out
Chinese food...yum...

Take Out

December 9/11

I have always loved scrabble...I've played it with my kids for years and used to play it with my sisters and grandparents.
I love how the scrabble tiles are being framed now and used in crafts.
I think these are 3 important words...I'm not framing it as I might think of something else I want to say!!
That's the beauty of the scrabble pieces, you can make so many phrases and words...

So many possibilites...

December 8/11

I've been talking lately about our new home which I'm really excited about.  However, it also gets me thinking that I'm really going to miss our house we have now too.  Mark and I built this house when we blended our two families together and there are many memories here.  What got me thinking about that was this picture I took of our outside light underneath our pergola.  I remember the day spent with Mark and friends at the Aberfolyle Antique Market, just looking for the perfect light.  And we found it!  There are many little things that bring back good memories that we will have to leave behind.  But I guess they are only things, and we still have the good memories :)

Perfect Outside Lantern

December 7/11

So I just got home from our other house and it's after 9pm.  I was thinking what is my picture going to be today?  I drove up our driveway and our neighbour has all his lights put up for the season.  The reason I took this picture was to see how a picture I took in the dark would turn out and to see how my depth of field worked as well.  I used an external flash and I think it turned out great.

Coloured Lights

December 6/11

When I was younger I always had 20/20 vision.  I was sitting at my desk tonight and noticed 2 pairs of my glasses...then I got thinking about how many pairs I actually had.  These are a few...not counting the ones at my workplace and another pair floating around the house here too.  I also have a new prescription in my purse ready to fill for stronger glasses than what I have now.  Oh well, none of us can stop time and if my eyesight is the only thing that is fading I feel pretty fortunate :).


The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. 
Helen Keller 

Sight to See

December 5/11

I have a glass bowl full of these on my counter...I love the look mixed with fresh cut greens from outside.

Fresh cut greens...

 

December 4/11

Busy day today...antiquing with Tyler & Dayna, bridal shower for Megan and then renovating the new house.
I'm posting a picture I took a couple of weeks ago from an old building.  I still find the architectural detail they put into old buildings amazing!!

Building Faces

December 3/11

We were renovating all day today, and one of the main things we did was burn all of the old cupboards, vanities etc that we took out (with a burn permit of course).  Our friends Norm and Erna watched and added to the fire for hours today (thank you both!!).  This picture is after many hours of burning...

Embers are the glowing, hot coals made of greatly heated wood, coal, or other carbon-based material that remain after, or sometimes precede a fire. Embers can glow very hot, sometimes as hot as the fire which created them. An ember is usually formed when a fire has only partially burnt a piece of fuel, and there is still usable chemical energy in that piece of fuel. Often this happens because the usable chemical energy is so deep into the center that air (chemically O2) does not reach it, therefore not causing combustion (carbon-based fuel + O2 → CO2 + H2O + C + other chemicals involved). The reason that it continues to stay hot and does not lose its thermal energy quickly is because combustion is still happening at a miniature scale. The small yellow, orange and red lights often seen among the embers are actually combustion. There just is not enough combustion happening at one time to create a flame. By the time embers are completely 'burned through', almost all of it is pure carbon will have loose physical bonds, which is why they crumble with the slightest touch.
Info courtesy of Wikipedia.

Isn't science amazing???

Thanks also to Ash & Braden, and Tyler & Dayna for all your help today!

Fire Embers

December 2/11

As you know I love black & white photos.  This picture of part of an old building just looks so much better in B&W.  I liked the angles in this shot...

OLD

December 1/11

I have really been liking to take close ups lately.  I've said many times before, they just make things look much more interesting than they actually may be.  This is seeded eucalyptus (which is my favourite filler for arrangements) and I just love the way it looks up close.  I'm thinking of blowing this up and framing it for my new craft room...

Close Up

November 30/11

I just took this picture a few moments ago...our first snow that is actually staying on the ground and trees. Not bad for November 30th in Canada!!  We usually get it much earlier...

Snow

November 29/11

Woohoo...got our new house today!!  Let the renovations begin....

Old out...New in....

November 28/11

I liked these colourful leaves.  When I saw the picture on my computer I really noticed the new green leaves reaching out from the centre and I thought of us humans.  We age and get older but we also get wiser.  So while we have our outer selves that may appear older, or as I like to think "more colourful", we have more wisdom and love reaching out from the centre of us...our hearts.

When I can look Life in the eyes,
Grown calm and very coldly wise,
Life will have given me the Truth,
And taken in exchange - my youth.
~Sara Teasdale

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. ~ Confucius

Colourful

November 27/11

So I was upstairs in my office tonight and I looked over at the chandelier that hangs over our great room and thought how cool would that look using my star filter.  I've used it with sunlight before but not on bulbs like this.  I like it!!  This is an 8 point filter, I think a smaller point would look a bit better but it still makes it appear a little more magical than just the plain bulbs. I also like the way the light is reflected in the chandelier itself and the window behind...you have to look closely but it's there...

Points of Light

November 26/11

I had forgotten I had these crystal door knobs.  I bought them at a yard sale about 6 years ago and put them away.  Now that I'm looking at redoing our new house, I found these and can't wait to use them in our master bedroom.  So vintage and pretty...

Vintage

November 25/11

We have a vine in our backyard that has these berries on it.  I think it looks cool as the berries are drying up with the colder weather.  I still love close up shots!

Withering

November 24/11

So I decided to do my "me" picture for this month.  I didn't feel like getting my tripod out this morning so I shot this picture in a mirror.  Not bad, I don't love the lighting on my face, but it is certainly a learning process.  It was quite sunny this morning...next time I'll wait until I don't have sunshine hitting my face.
Anyway, it was fun trying!!

Self Portriat