Happy New Year!

Since I had some time on my hands(Pun totally intended). I wanted to wish everyone out there in blogworld a very Happy New Year!

This has been an interesting year for me. I have finally lived in a house long enough for me to see my garden become established. That has been extremely satisfying. My constant designing ,planning,buying huge amounts of plant material and moving it around on a regular basis has finally settled down to a reasonable calm. Many nights of waking up or not sleeping at all because I was obsessed with an idea. I remember the treehouse location came to me in a dream and I went outside in the middle of the night in my p.j.s, with flashlight in hand to see if it would fit. My husband shakes his head at me lots!

Other satisfying happening this year was picking up a camera. This is something that has appealed to me for along time but just never fit into my pocket book. I have always had expensive hobbies and the thought of adding a new one would send my hubbie over the edge. It is his fault though because last Christmas he bought me my first camera. One thing led to another......and now I'm hooked! He also spoiled me this Christmas with a Tamron 90mm macro lense. I haven't put it down yet!

I am looking forward to what the new year will bring. Lots to do and see and try. Maybe I'll try a half marathon this year.......you never know! 

Mahonia

Family Portrait

Gold Sparkles

Baby hens and chick

Hens

Bleeding Nose

I like this picture in color better but unfortuneatly my sons nose started to bleed. It is funny how kids love to get their pictures taken and it is so hard to get an adults. 

sedum'Angelina'

Carex Evergold in puddle

Rainy Day

Dried allium

Allium seedhead

Blueberry waffles,Boxing Day and Bitchy Mother Nature

It's is hard to forget that a year ago today, Mother Nature took over 300,000 lives in the largest natural disaster in my lifetime. The tsunami in Asia had a profound effect on me and made me look at the ocean in a totally different way.

So as we sit for a lovely Boxing Day breakfast of whole wheat blueberry waffles, I can't help but think of the victims and feel blessed that I am sitting here with my family. 

Christmas Dinner Place Cards

Merry Christmas

Green

Brown

Blue

Good Deeds

My son had a party the other day for his 8th birthday. He decided to ask for donations to the food bank instead of toys this year. He raised $100.00 and said that it made him feel really happy! 

Eye on you

Frost buds

Rosehips2

Rose Hip3

Chilly Day

Comfort Food

I love winter food. Soups, stews and roast chicken. Just knowing that there is stew in the oven simmering away makes the day better. A glass of red wine and a warm fire...perfect. 

Yellow Rose

A skiff of snow

Leaves

Red head

Sparkle

Curly Girl

Rose hips and a shin splints

Another lovely cold day in the neighborhood. So many interesting things to see while going for a run this morning. People hanging christmas lights and decorating their trees. (I look in peoples windows while going for runs). I love running in this cold weather. The frost is so pretty. If it wasn't for my shin splints.... 

Crisp,Cold, Sunny days in the Garden

I have been enjoying this stretch of cold weather. This morning it was -6c. The garden looks lovely with a heavy layer of frost on it.

December is normally a dark, wet month of dreary days. The days the same as the one before, but this month it is dryer and colder than normal. I love it. There is nothing like the winter sun. It begs for you to bundle up and to go outside. A change is coming though and we should be back to the forever rain once again on Monday. Bummer. 

Baby Adam

 

Sleepy Baby

Sleepy baby Adam. This is my friend Nicki's new baby. He is adorable! I finally got over my sniffles and went to take some pictures of their new addition to their family. I love babies! 

Green Stems

Minus 4

Minus 4c is very cold indeed. The frost was so pretty this morning , I couldn't wait to get outside and make some pictures. I lasted only a half an hour because my fingers could barely get my camera on and off the tripod. Bummer. Now I have things to do so I'm on the run.... 

Sunny Day

Soft Pink

Darmera peltata