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