Winter Macros

While some of my fellow bloggers in cold climes are posting bright spring photos to banish the dreariness of gray winter, I was moved to find in my archives these macros I took on my walks on the Sunshine Coast of BC last winter. The shapes, textures and colors of this eclectic group of winter foliage appeal to me. As usual, details can better be seen when enlarged.

Sunshine Coast, BC, 2010

I'm joining the good folks posting for Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday.

Bridge for My Mother

Yesterday was the first death anniversary of my mother. I reflect on our special time together in her last months on the Sunshine Coast of BC before she crossed the final bridge. She too loved beauty in nature, so today I post a photo of a bridge I took on a walk with my nephew in a small park last year.

Sunshine Coast, 2010

I hope that bridge took you to somewhere beautiful, Betti.

Linked with Louis' Sunday Bridges.

O Tannebaum

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!
Each bough doth hold its tiny light,
That makes each toy to sparkle bright.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
Thy candles shine out brightly!

No doubt every family that celebrates Christmas has its own traditions. One such special memory for me from way back when I was a little girl was that our family lit the tree with real candles, if only to give us a few minutes of warm glow. It delighted everyone.

Last Christmas our tree decoration on the Sunshine Coast of BC was firmly directed by our mother; she wanted a simple elegant tree of white and silver with accents of blue. And, naturally, real candles. Her wish was gladly our command - it was to be our last Christmas together and we knew that. 

 

  Sunshine Coast, 2009

The cozy result pleased us all, but more importantly, the precious warm time spent together to make this tree happen will remain a profound memory.

Whatever your traditions, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I wish you warmth in your heart, not only this day, but every day throughout the year.

I leave you with a link to Vienna Boys' Choir singing O Tannenbaum, a song often heard and sung in my childhood.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I also take this moment to thank my blogging friends for your generous gifts of encouragement and sharing. I may not be blogging for the next few days as I will be on yet another short road trip. See you again before the year is out.

U is for Unicorn

The time came to find a word starting with U for ABC Wednesday, and unicorn immediately came to mind... and so I share with you these magical little metal unicorns used as decoratives at a cabin I stayed in with a close friend one beautiful summer's week on the popular Salt Spring Island in BC.

Salt Spring Island, 2010

PS. Of course, Pat! The Unicorn Song!

Eagle

I'm not a trained nature photographer, so I must admit I was rather pleased with my capture of this eagle in Beautiful BC.

Tofino, 2006

Sharing this with Camera Critters where you'll find links to all kinds of "captured" animals... only with a camera, of course.

Reflected Coastline

Sunshine Coast, BC, 2008

The Sunshine Coast, where even grey skies are beautiful.

At Weekend Reflections hosted by James you'll find many more links to reflections of all kinds.

[SkyWatch] Liquid Gold

This is Lake Sakinaw on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. 

 Sunshine Coast, 2009

Joining the fun at SkyWatch Friday where spectacular skies from all over this big beautiful globe of ours are linked for your viewing pleasure.

Yellow Pulleys

This mix of bird breeds sitting cozily together on the dock railings and equipment among these big yellow pulleys caught my fancy. I took the photo from the ferry as we were landing at the Horseshoe Bay terminal. The day was ready to fade into darkness.

Vancouver, BC, 2010

More links to fun takes on YELLOW at Mellow Yellow.

Just a Little Park with a Wooden Bridge

It was the dead of winter when I walked around John Daly Park on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. A tad too late to see the Coho and Chum salmon return to spawn in Anderson Creek... or to see any of the wildlife that this event attracts - raccoons, bald eagles and the occasional black bear.

Sunshine Coast, 2010

Yet it was a very pretty place to cross a bridge, watch the water flow in the creek, and walk a ways down the rugged trail through moss-covered trees.

The park is named after an eccentric fisherman who married the author Edith Iglauer. Her acclaimed memoir Fishing with John (turned into the movie Navigating the Heart starring Jaclyn Smith playing Edith) tells the story of their early years spent fishing the often harsh waters off the coast of Vancouver and living on his 41-foot salmon trawler.

Many more interesting bridges from around the world can be found at Louis' Sunday Bridges.

Reflections on Trout Lake

Here are two photos I took on the same spot on Trout Lake on the Sunshine Coast of Beautiful British Columbia ... Which one appeals to you more?

Sunshine Coast, BC, 2009

My Weekend Reflections. The link will take you to many more!

[SkyWatch] Whisps of Pink

Salt Spring Island, BC, 2006

If you love how Mother Nature paints her skies - and who doesn't?- go over to SkyWatch Friday and find links to this week's stunning sky captures around our globe.

Barn Charm

Salt Spring Island, BC, 2006

To see what other people have on their minds this Wordless Wednesday photos, click on the link.

Cloudy Reflection at Dusk

Ruby Lake, British Columbia, 2010

For more links to reflections, go to the home of meme Weekend Reflections.

[Click on the photo to see it larger.]

Parked by the Sea

 

Sechelt, BC, 2010

When I saw PARK was the challenge for the meme Theme Thursday, I at once thought of this photo I took earlier this year of a turquoise car so perfectly parked by this wonderful sea mural painted by talented local artist Dean Schutz on the Sunshine Coast, north of Vancouver.  

Clicking the photo will show you a larger image and clicking the link will get you to more links to fun interpretations of the theme.

Wordless & Watery Wednesday

For links to wonderful wordless images go HERE.

For links to wonderful watery images go HERE.

Oh Canada!

Salt Spring Island, BC, 2006

I'm a day late. Happy Belated Birthday, Canada! Now you are 143 years young.

I love Canada. I love its pristine and majestic beauty; its wide open spaces and towering mountains. I love its cultural mosaic and its open society. I sometimes love its more easygoing approach to life, but always its relative lack of anger and hysteria compared to its cousin just south of the border.

And it serves me well to carry a passport from a nation no one hates and many admire. Thanks in part to Norman Bethune and his ilk. I bet more Chinese than Americans know who this great Canadian doctor was.

But I'm a day late because I've been gone so long and needed a friend to remind me.