38/365 Days of Captured Moments

Clouds break, light filters through, warming up the land.

Harris Road Blueberry Farm, Abbotsford, BC

36/365 Grateful - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  

I didn't win the lottery but I did find the pot of gold and a leprechaun!  

"May your heart be light and happy, 
May your smile be big and wide, 
And may your pockets always have 
a coin or two inside!"

37/365 Grateful - PJ's and Painting

My rural wanderings on Saturday, as well as a wet and dreary day today inspired me to have a pajama painting day.  

It's been a long time since I picked up a paint brush and happily I still know how to paint, although it took a few starts to get back in the swing.   

For me life is perfect when I get to hang out in pj's and paint all day, absolute bliss, this makes for a very happy and contented me.

Now i'm off to close my day with a nice hot soak and a good book.  I leave you with one of my Caribbean sunsets.

35/365 Grateful - Snow Geese

It's early morning, I wait in the dark for daylight to come, it's chilly and fog forms as I breathe out; but I have my coffee to sip as I patiently wait.  

In the distance I hear their muted honks calling out to each other.  As the sun lifts the veil of darkness, I see a gaggle of snow geese slowly swimming my way. Their white bodies stand out against the lingering darkness.  

With a series of honks and a beating of wings soon they will head for open fields to forage.  

It won't be long now and they will leave migrating back to Wrangel Island which lies in the Arctic Ocean, north of Siberia, and belongs to Russia. To learn more see George C. Reifel Bird Sanctuary 

Lesser Snow Geese

Fraser River, Poplar Bar, Glen Valley

34/365 Grateful - This Rocks My World

This rocks my world.... oh yes it does.  I've always loved rocks and rock formations it's all about the textures,  colors, and the little bits of moss and fern clinging so tenuously to such a inhospitable home.  This was one of my finds today, yes I will be going back, next time on a dry day and with some decent foot wear.

Did you spot the climber?   To see a close up of him scroll down.....

The Climber

33/365 Grateful - Roaming Back Roads

 I saw a robin, the first this spring for me.  Just for a moment he stood on this post and perched for me.  

32/365 Grateful, The Early Bloomer

Eagerly this early bloomer begins to unfurl its delicate soft pink petals, opening up to the warmth of the sun. 

The Early Bloomer

31/365 Grateful - A Time To Kick Up Your Heels

Spring is in the air, a time to kick up your heels.  This image isn't one of my better shots but I loved the exuberance of this young colt racing around, enjoying the warm sunshine, and kicking up his heels. He rolled in the dirt, jumped up and started galloping towards two other horses who were watching him, they were both watching him as if to say "Look at that idiot" as he came up behind them he started to slide and almost wiped them both out lol.

30/365 Grateful What Happens When You Flip ...An Image That Is.

Blue skies, fluffy white clouds, and sunshine, I couldn't wait to get out of work and head for the river with my camera. It's surprising how quickly the water levels go down, this morning these little splotches of sand weren't even visible.  I liked the blue/grey of the sand and golds of the trees reflected on the water.  

The second picture is a flipped version of the first picture which I think would make an excellent abstract painting.  What do you think?

Cards & Prints Available

29/365 Grateful - The Little Blue Boat, Serene Moments & A Hint of Cinnamon

As I awoke I cracked an eye open expecting wet and dreary instead to my surprise I saw baby blue skies with touches of soft pink and low fog.  I jumped out of bed, got the coffee started, and quickly got dressed, threw my hair up in a pony tail gathered up my camera gear and I was off.  If you know me you know that I treasure my weekend mornings, they are set aside for sleeping in, and numerous cups of coffee before I even begin to think about doing anything.

I've been on a search to photograph the snow geese, so I went to my usual spots but after speaking to another photographer it seems I had just missed them, but he believes that they rest in this particular area during the night so it seems i'm going to be getting up very very early for the next couple of days so that I can try to get some shots off before going to work.

These two little boats are in an area that I usually can't get to, right now the water is down low enough that I was able to walk along a bit of shore line.  It was so calm and serene. I sat there and listened to the birds chatter while inhaling the soothing scent of cinnamon pine cones that someone close by must have tossed on their fire.  So for today no Snow Geese to share, maybe tomorrow.

25/365 Grateful Dawns Morning Light

Simple pleasures, breathing in the invigorating air on a crisp cool morning while watching the sun paint the valley with morning light and a hot cup of coffee in hand.

Glen Valley, Langley BC

22/365 Grateful Serenity

Out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of a blue heron standing oh so still next to a pond; the ponds edge is crusted with ice and bits of left over snow, the water so still that it was the reflection of the heron in the water that first caught my eye.  

A bald eagle is perched high up on a telephone pole, I've seen him there before sometimes alone sometimes with a mate. 

In the field across the way I see ducks and geese and then the soft filter glow of the sun working it's way through the clouds and fog.......such a perfect start to my day.

 Serenity

Glen Valley, Langley BC

Cards & Prints Available

19/365 Grateful - Back to Reality.

I arrived home at 1:30 am this morning after two wonderful weeks of being pampered, swimming in warm tropical waters, and exploring new places on a Holland America Eastern & Western Cruise. 

Lovely as it is to get away I could not help but think of  Dorothy in the (Wizard of Oz) saying " There's no place like home."  It feels good to be back home where everything is familiar, although I could get used to having someone cook and clean up after me. 

Now I just sit and wait to hear from the airlines as to when my luggage is going to come home...

18/365 Grateful For What the Future Holds

The count down is on........excitement mounts.

17/365 Grateful Water

After seventeen days of dry weather the rains have begun.

16/365 Grateful For The Mountains

The mountain silently watches over a gathering of trees. 

15/365 Grateful - Weekends, Shorts, Sun, & Surprises

Weekends are definitely something to be grateful for and this one was stellar. With temperatures in Abbotsford, BC reaching 12C /(53F) it was a shorts and flip flop kind of weekend, I gave my car a much needed bath on Saturday and took care of some errands.  Today was a "me" day, to do with it what ever I wanted.  I could not resist the lure of fog, sun, and blue skies.  It was a special day which came with a wonderful surprise, you will have to scroll to the end to see it.

I was late, the mist was already lifting at the Mission Bridge

The Mission Rail Bridge 

A carpet of moss, lush and green, grows amongst the river rock at Inch Creek.

Sometimes bad shots turn into cool images! This one appeals to the artist in me, but it also aggravates me, if it was a painting I would have to fight myself to keep it from my usual realism.

There were plenty of Eagles perched in the trees and flying about.  I'm happy that the Bald Eagle population has increased after almost being extinct not so many years ago.

I'm pretty stoked about seeing Pussy Willows especially in January. 

Now for the big surprise

well actually it wasn't big

But it was adorable

And it let me take lots of pictures

Here you go!

A little hint for you

Hoot Hoot

I was absolutely thrilled to be able to take pictures of this fellow.  He wasn't very big, perhaps 4" - 6" I have no idea what type of owl he is so if there are any birders out there I would love to know.

Update:   I believe this is a Northern Pygmy Owl

14/365 Grateful For Long Walks

I'm grateful for healthy feet and good shoes that allow me to take long walks. 

13/365 Grateful - Seasons

The world seems to move so fast, years pass in the blink of an eye. Enjoy the season you are in, live it to the fullest, appreciate and treasure each moment for a new season is on the horizon.  

12/365 Grateful - People/Life Journey

People have come and gone, sometime to reappear after many years, bringing along with them memories of times spent together, laughter shared, tears shed, broken hearts, childhood dreams.  They move in and out of our lives, some are with us forever, some only for a short time, but each one of you has added to my journey and played a small part in molding me into the person I have become and for that I am grateful.