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

Dream Land

Ever since I was ten years old, I've loved this gorgeous piece of property. My fellow pony riders and I used to ride by on hot summer days on our way to the beach. It has been owned by the University of British Columbia for as long as I remember. Just this week it has been sold to a lucky 38 year old farmer who plans to use it for cattle.

To own this beautiful 1700 acres situated on stunning waterfront property would be a dream come true for me. A girl can always dream.... 

Coloring

Yahtzee

Christmas Tree Hunting

This afternoon we went with some friends to chop down a Christmas tree.

While sipping hot chocolate we searched for the perfect tree. After awhile we both found our trees to be and had a few good laughs! 

All in a Days Work

Whether you agree with logging or not, it puts food on our table and roof over our heads.

This is my husband at work. This has been a very bad year for deaths on the job. Over forty loggers in our province have lost their lives this year. 

Day of Memories

Yesterday as I was reading the paper, I read that a buddy of mine from my highschool years had passed away.

I hadn't seen him for along time but I have often thought about him over the years. He was a handsome guy, very generous and fun to be around. Unfortunately he dabbled in drugs and never could shake them. Just like so many before him and so many to come.

So yesterday was a day of memories. Rest in peace Tony. 

Frost on Hens

Fog

It's Official! I'm in a Slump!

This week I have been obsessed with looking at photoblogs. I haven't made a good picture since. I think I've inspired myself into a slump. I have taken tonnes of pictures and haven't liked any of them. This was only one that I kind of liked.

Keeping in mind that this is a garden blog...not a photoblog. But come on! I'm getting extremely frustrated. Also, for some reason I cannot put a comment on my blog. I have been having alot of problems with that lately. Has anyone else been having problems with thier blogs?

December Garden

Remembering Summer

The Wonderful, Inspiring World of Photoblogs

Inspiration has never been so easy to find. Type in photoblogs in any search engine and you will be rewarded with hundreds of photoblogs to view at your leisure. In the comfort of your own home and with your favorite beverage in hand..tea for me..a little to early in the day for Happy Hour..I can find inspiration with a click of the mouse.

I find with any new hobby, I want to see and read as much as possible. I tend to be a visual learner so looking at talented photographers pictures I learn the most. A friend of mine who has also recently taken up photography says she finds it depressing looking at all the incredibly talented photographers sites. I on the other hand find it exciting to think that with practice and passion that I will improve and be happier with the pictures I make. It is very much like riding horses. I would learn so much from watching the really talented riders. The ones that made it look easy. Knowing full well it took them years of hard work to get to where they are. I don't mind putting years in. It took me years of gardening and putting in gardens before I was happy with the final result. I look forward to the challenge and would like the thank all the talented photographers out there for the inspiration!!!

I have linked a few extremely talented photographers sites. I visit them often. Check them out! 

Age and Beauty

Gardening and photography seemed to compliment each other well. Either that or I make pictures like I make gardens. I seem to obsess over one kind of plant at a time. Right now it is hydrangeas. Instead of seeking out cool varieties to buy and plant, I am obsessed with taking pictures of them. I don't mean to bore the folks that look at my pictures it just that I can't seem to help myself.

Because of this, I have discovered how truly beautiful the aging flowers of hydrangeas are. If I was not a gardener would I have noticed this before? I have liked this shrub for the past six or so years now. Before that I thought they were a bit on the 'over the top' side. A little too big and bouncy for me. Like most things in the garden my taste change and I start to appreciate all sorts of shrubs and perennials that I otherwise used to ban from my little sanctuary. Funny how that happens over and over again. I'm learning never to say"I would never have one of those in my garden!".

Thank goodness I was not the usual garden clean freak this year and deadheaded my hydrangeas. I would have missed a lovely lesson on age and beauty. 

Playing around with RAW format

This is just a test shot. I want to see what it looks like on my screen. 

Lacecap 1

Fading