Dec. 25: Merry Christmas

 

Between brunch and turkey, and waiting for family to arrive from Guelph,

I had a window of opportunity for a quick ski at Mooney's Bay.

This outstanding day was Mother Nature's beautiful Christmas gift!



Dec. 24: ... and more snow!

Going from P 8, toward Penguin Parking lot, there is a swamp on both sides of the road.

This photo is from the small swamp, on the left hand side.

The heavy snowfall left clumps of snow on even delicate branches.

Dec. 23; ...and skiing

 

Happiness is: Skiing with my friend, Nancy, on beautiful fresh powder!

Dec. 22: Snow!!!!!

 

By Saturday mornning, there was This Much snow, and still snowing!

This photo is taken at one of my favourite spots in Gatineau Park, in the middle of the Doldrums.

Welcone to a Winter Wonderland!

Only a blue sky was missing!

Dec. 21: Happy Winter Solstice!

 

The storm was forecast to start at 11PM on Thursday night.

This photo was taken at 6 Am the next morning.

I love that the flash 'stops' the snow flakes and lights them up!

Dec. 20; At the NAC

 

And then it was MY turn to be excited!
I'm a big fan of Measha Brueggergosman, and she was there as the guest conductor!

Aaron called her 'a Princess!'

Dec. 19: At the NAC

 

And Surprise, Surprise!  Who was at the NAC but The Big Man himself!

We had one very excited boy on our hands!

Dec. 18: Gingerbread

 

When my children were young, I remember making a yearly Gingerbread House 'from scratch'.

That was then; this is now!

And now, I found a kit to make a train, for a train-lovin' boy!

How great is that!

Dec. 17: Aaron on Dad's Piano

 

Whenever Aaaron comes to our home, he heads for the Piano, my Dad's piano.

Here, he was playing and singing, "Jingle Bells".

Dad would love to have seen this, to play and sing with him.



Dec. 16: Hike - Two Pictures

These two pictures were taken at the same place, two months apart.

Mid October, then mid December.

Of course I know that the seasons change, but I thought it was fun to see it so visually!



Dec. 15: Winter Hike

 

This is a shot of the creek running beside Keogans.

With the sun shining on the ice on the trees, it was breathtaking.

Dec. 14: Another Winter Hike

 

The Hearty Friday Hikers - Frances, Dianne, Judy and Cheryl, at Watson's Landing on Trail #1.

It was a glorious day, and I'm glad that we made the decision to go.

DEc. 13: Winter Hike

 

In the Gatineau Park, it is a Winter Wonderland!

Dec. 12: Winter HIke

 

 

Now a winter hike.

Judy and Rose Ann check out the swamp, just off trail # 7, near McKenzie King Estate.

Dec. 11: Ottawa HIke

 

This photo is taken on an NCC trail behind Linda's home.

I love the way the light and shade contrast, and shine on the trees.

Dec. 10: Skiing

 

These friends are all leaders with our 'Women on Skis' group. We were meeting to plan the upcoming winter activities, but first we had a hike in Linda's 'backyard', which borders onto NCC land.

Anita, Marg, Linda, Gloria, Pat, Pat & Lorna.

Dec. 9: Ottawa

 

Also, at the Museum of Nature, the Mammoth family looks great in the morning sunlight.

Dec. 8: Ottawa

 

Even construction can look attractive with the early morning sun shining on it.

This construction site is somewhere downtown, on Metcalfe.

Dec. 7: Ottawa

 

How cool is this!

The newly renovated Museum of Nature has a whale 'swimming' in the glass addition!

Dec. 7: Marty

 

This photo of Marty has a soft focus - oh, all right, it is a little blurry!

I forgot to turn the flash 'on', but I rather like the softness of the photo.

Marty is now nearly six months old, and a very cute little character!

Dec. 6: Aaron

 

What do you think ... a budding artist?

Dec. 5: Ottawa

 

This lovely willow tree is at Colonel Bye and Patterson Creek, on the canal.

I pass it many times a week - sometimes, walking, running, biking, skating, and driving.

It is one of my favourite trees in the city, and impressive in every season.





Dec. 4: Ottawa

 

Last Friday morning, I heard radio reports that a car had been driven into the canal,

 at about 2:00 AM.

By the time we walked past the spot the next morning, the car had been pulled out,

 but you can see the hole in the ice and the mess of the fence.

Apparently the driver ran away from the scene!

Dec. 3: Ottawa

 

Sometimes, after I download photos from my camera, and I look at them enlarged on the screen, an occasional picture takes my breath away. This is one of them, but I don't know why!

Perhaps it is the canal disappearing into the background, and the shadows!

Dec. 2: Ottawa

With the first brush of snow this year, Ottawa presents a new face.

This picture, taken from the Bank Street Bridge,

shows a promise of things to come!

Sometimes, we are so focused on walking, we forget to admire the beauty!

Dec. 1: Art

 

 

 

In early September, I had a wonderful camping trip with My Wonderful Girlfriends.

Under Dianne's excellent organizing and leadership, we camped on George Lake in Kilarney Park.

I had never been there before, and I was enchanted with the beauty.

This view is of Turtle Rock, just across the bay from our campsite.

 

Nov. 30: Art

 

On the same trip to Tanzania five years ago,

 Megan and I had the great fortune to visit Good Hope Orphanage.

I took many photos, but the one of this young man always haunted me.

I finally had the courage to try painting him and I am quite pleased with the result

Nov. 29: Art

 

My original reference photo was taken in Ngoro Ngoro Crater in Tanzania, five years ago.

I wanted to do something different from straight copying the original, so I made the time 'sunset'.

I hope they golds and yellows give the glow of dusk.

Nov. 28: Art

With fresh November snow on the ground outside, a whimsical May Memory, is in order.

Nov. 27: Art

 

Finished and Framed!

Title: Lara's Shoes

These shoes belong to my young, glamorous and tiny friend, Lara.

She has an amazing collection of over-the-top, fantastic shoes.

The shoes in themselves are a work of art.

They just BEG to be painted!

Nov. 26: Fall in Ottawa

 

Our across-the-road neighbours have a very colourful small maple leaf tree.

When the sun shone on it, it was glorious!

Nov. 25: Fall in Ottawa

This oak, on our front lawn, always holds its leaves longer than most of the trees in our neighboourhood.

Then, one day when the wind got up, they all came down at once!

Nov. 24: Fall in Ottawa

I need to explain this picture!

Ducks are still feeding in the river,

beside the newly installed steps to take winter skaters to the ice surface.

I love the juxtaposition of seasons!

Nov. 23: Fall in Ottawa

After you go under Pretoria Bridge, the canal curves to the right, then to the left. giving wonderful views of downtown and the parliamant buildings.

Here, however, the bridge itself is a lovely structure, and the curve of the canal walls is soft

Nov. 22: Fall in Ottawa

 

Even with the trees bare, Ottawa is a beautiful city.

The trees reflect in the canal, on a late fall afternoon.
The huge willow, beside the bridge, has always been on e of my favourite trees, in any season!

Nov. 21: Vancouver

 

Out for Fish 'n Chips at the beach, then a family photo, before going to the airport.

Nov. 20: Vancouver

 

How fortuitous for the AmTrak train to pass the pier, just as I was there to take this photo!

Nov. 19: Vancouver

 

Walking along the Promenade, and out on the pier,

is a favourite pass-time for both locals and visitors.

Even on this rainy day, there were lots of walkers.

Nov. 18: Vancouver

 

Here is the actual 'white rock' which gives White Rock its name.

Apparently, over the years, it has been painted colours other than white!

Nov. 17: Vancouver

 

Did I mention sun set?

Nov. 16: Vancouver

 

I love the self-timer feature on cameras.

However, I didn't get the camera balanced very well on the rock, and we are a bit off-centre.

The photo is a great memory, though.



Nov. 15: Vancouver

 

This is the beach near Bill's home. To get to it, you have to descent 'The Steps'.

This is a very steep section of over 100 steps that zig-zag down a bluff to the beach.

The beach is too rough for comfortable walking,

but it is a great place to sit and watch the sun go down.

Nov. 14: Vancouver

 

This breathtaking lookout is just three blocks from my brother's home.

The sea and the sky are always changing and always magnificent.

Bill says that he often sees eagles flying from this park.

Nov. 13: Vancouver

 

 

Bill says that eagles nest along the beach and are ofter seen flying or in the trees.

I have lost a little bit of the crispness with cropping this photo,

but it still shows the magnificence of this bird..

Nov. 12: Vancouver

 

Last week, I visited my brother, Bill, and sister-in-law, Linda in Whiter Rock, south of Vancouver.

From their home, we walked to Crescent Beach, where I marveled at the beautiful 'trees and ocean' BC scenery.



Nov. 12: Gatineau Hike

 

Today was Nov. 12, and the new record-breaking high temperature was 21 degrees!

Nancy, Linda and I celebrated with a hike to King Mountain.

It was glorious!

Nov. 11. Aaron's birthday party

Aaron's birthday party was at the Corona Gymnastics Centre.

There were 12 little rug-rats running, jumping, rolling, balancing and swinging for an hour!

Here, Aaron gets the courage to do the balance beam "all by myself!"

Nov. 10: Aaron's Birthday

 

Arron blowing out three candles on his favourite Birthday (peach) Pie!

Nov. 9, Aaron's birthday weekend

 

What is a better toy for a child than a Fire Truck!!

 

Eeee-oo, Eee-oo.