a new year soon upon us

"a blog is an excellent way to help see the beauty, passion and interconnection all around us."                                    https://windsweptadventure.blogspot.ca/

And so it is.
Welcome to my 100th post this year, the most I've made in one year since starting this blog in 2010.

As many of you know...

 I can get quite carried away with a post. Not one or two pictures for me.

Babu Big Eyes

Those big pleading Muji eyes, "It's an emergency!"

"Mo- OM"

"I ask you to consider the evidence. I'm a cat in need of love."

Sometimes I wander down a path that quite surprises me, something I never would have dreamed of doing initially, but this format is pretty wide for the wandering mind. For instance, barring multi country automated bots that have played havoc with my statistics, I happen to know that my most popular post of all time, that has drawn real viewers from all over the world, is:

https://enchantedblueplanet.blogspot.ca/2010/12/have-story-i-want-to-share-with-you.html

This pleases me for the story, though not mine, is worth repeating.

So you can see how this blog has given me a focus when my own was skewed or off altogether. I have reconnected with my creativity in ways I couldn't imagine until they were made manifest, with the impetus of a viewing audience with whom to share. There were days when I felt quite alone and felt all the better for knowing someone out there cared to see what I was up to, and even comment encouragingly. What surprised me even more is that I made friends.

As a parting gesture of thanks for this truly remarkable year I am introducing collections of my works over the last 3 years to save you searching through my densely populated posts. You may see them in a new section I'm introducing in the section below the title banner. To return to the main page, simply tap on Home.

I thank you most humbly for your kindness throughout these years. It has surprised me with the depth of sincerity that I didn't think possible on the internet.

I took a chance, and there you were!

Blessings dear friends and viewers for a 

Happy

Healthy

Delight-filled

2018

betwixt Christmas and New Year's

Christmas Eve. Does it seem a little dusty already?
Such an unusual phenomenon this anticipation, the Day itself, followed by the all-too-soon but inevitable return to reality. We don't seem to have as many crescendos in our lives these days as when we were young, but I remember this feeling of ho-hum all too well. Wally is back at work, the wicked wind has died down and the snow that came on Christmas Day has settled in with temperatures around this morning -12C ( 11F ). My friend in Saskatchewan reported temperatures of -28C. Is that even possible!?!?!

Around the internet, people are "setting their intentions", making their resolutions, planning for a wonderful new year to come. One youtube series I watch regularly is Sixty and Me hosted by Margaret Manning. Recently she talked about picking a word to set the tone for the new year:

Experience

Challenge

Release

Love

Grace

Focus

Enjoy

Health

Abundance

Target

Kindness

Patience

Hygge

Peace

Enthusiasm

Progress

Courage

Move

Grateful

Compassion

Expansion

Gusto

Cherish

Does this inspire you? Do you have a word you would like to share? 

On Christmas Eve we did our yearly cruise through various neighbourhoods to view the Christmas Lights. 

This one particularly captured my imagination for its elegant simplicity.

It helps that the architecture is so pretty.

This mid-century modern home is not shown to advantage at night, but it's pretty spectacular.

That's one massive wreath they hung in the middle, spotlighting it and the house.

There was a lot of use of spotlights this year,

and these horrible whirling projections on houses

Many houses ran the usual string of lights along the eaves or the front porch.

Some had colour themes and were lucky if they had a Christmas shaped fir to string some lights on.

This snake of lights cracked me up, similar to our neighbour's style of lighting-

just fling the string of lights up as high as it will go and trail what you've got left.  

A spotlit nativity scene is a nice change.

This glorious bit of business was carefully considered.

More spotlights, but nicely balanced with white lights and wreaths. 

This one takes the cake for extravagance. Seen from a sub highway,

it takes up a small parkette at the end of dead end road.

we joined many others in finding our way into the little cul de sac, lit up for all to see. 

Neighbours peeked from their windows to watch us rubberneckers

Do you see the mannequins on the porch dressed as old time choir singers?

Wally told me that the lore is that the original owner who started this display died and the new owners took up his mantle and continued to add on each year.  

This is the pretty house across the street is decked out with wreaths in every window, the big one on top and the one in the door spotlighted

More themed colours with wreaths in the windows and spotlights.

And again with the spotlights. I'm guessing this is more common to the wealthier neighbourhoods.

Approaching this building from the side, I was confused as to how an apartment building would make it into this upper class neighbourhood, but Wally assured me it was a house and sure enough,

it is. And a spectacular piece of modern architecture at that. 

Somewhat like a public building, I appreciate it for its individuality and grand statements like that front door and the two Christmas trees in the windows.

Finally, a more humble little home, again with themed lighting and spotlights,

all sorts of wreaths and doesn't the tree add a nice balance.

Many houses this year had those simple candelabras with their orangey vermillion bulbs in the windows.  Many more houses remained dark as if they didn't want any trick-or-treaters coming to the door. I always wonder how folks are managing at this highly emotional time of the year. It's easy to succumb to sad memories or failed dreams or just plain fear which is usually bound up with one's feelings about the future. But that's what this moment, this PRESENT, is for:  to draw us up into what really IS. Invariably there is a gem waiting inside of it, the miracle, the light. 

I think if I had one word to choose, it probably would be 

presence

followed immediately by

gentleness

We need to be gentle on ourselves, on our limitations of ourselves and others. We live in a flawed world. And yet every little change affects something else. That is called "the butterfly effect". Staying present to what we can do in our little sphere has enormous consequences. If we owe anybody anything it is to keep our consciousness of our value intact. You are an important player in this game of life.

Be kind, be gentle, be present.

random early winter snippets

Well, what do you know, I found some more November pictures on my camera.

Towards the end of the month, a blazing sunset.

If I had my car, I'd get myself to a better location than this view over our street, power lines and a cell tower, not to mention trees and branches blocking its radiance. This is the view out the kitchen window.

The next day Wally and I gave ourselves a holiday and hit the road.

I've regretted not recording the amazing carving up of this forest to make a cloverleaf access from the main highway to shopping in New Minas, our big box shopping area "for the Valley", that has lost so many of its businesses since this project was planned ten years ago making a mockery of "the horse designed by committee".

Our destination (yes again) Ikea for lunch. We can't really afford eating out, both financially and healthwise, but a late lunch at Ikea with most of the cafeteria to ourselves, was a rare treat. Could Wally look any happier with his "Naughty Meal".

Mine was barely healthier with its sauces and sugar and salt, etc. I opted for poached salmon with "vegetable patties" (mostly potato I think) and an appetizer for dessert: gravlax- more salmon.

I came home with a bad back that lasted for 2 weeks. I don't remember what would have caused it.

As usual Babu wanted to play. He has demanded I play with him after breakfast every day for a while now, but boy, it was hard to unbend myself. Still, it was good for me to get out of my chair.

I'm pretty much healed now with a little bit of stiffness.

One of our many first snows. I kept getting a chance to re-experience the magic.

Wally strung me out a heart in Christmas lights on the cabin doors.

I will try to get a photo with them on.

And a parting shot, as I have regrets about not having any new artwork of my own to show you.

I treated myself to this little collection of Patrick Mok's fantasy work several years ago.

Handmade out of stoneware clay, Patrick is an older man now, living in Toronto. Once a cartoonist, he changed his medium to clay. With an elfin sweetness about him,I wish I had got to know him better. Here is a link to a gallery that carries his work to get a closer look.

(Oh yes, that's the first picture ever taken of Wally and me. We were picking raspberries with friends at the house we since sold, in Bracebridge.) 

Now I will tell you a not so secret secret. This is post 94. (You can see that in the sidebar.) Because of all the posts I made this summer, these are the most posts I've made in a year since starting this blog. That is so cool for me who can get so discouraged at times by the lack of response and the crazy amount of "Bot" hits (automated views) that have made a mockery of my statistics. But I have made new friends through this blog, and that pleases me more than I can say.

The year is quickly winding down, but with 6 more posts, I can reach 100 altogether. With a little more time on my hands, I am aiming for that. So, once again, thank you dear viewers for dropping in and allowing me to share my little part of the universe with you.

peace dear ones

Halifax classic and funky

Squeezing in my last post for January, I have our trip to Halifax to share with you- somewhat- as we covered a LOT of ground.

 

The snow flurries forecast were gone by the time we hit the road.

This incredible refraction of light made for some exciting eye candy.

There's usually a remarkable display of steam coming off this wood mill.

It's woodlot is thinning out this time of year.

Coming into downtown Halifax, one can see a bit of Halifax Harbour and Halifax's sister city, Dartmouth, across the bay.

I've rarely seen someone actually wearing the famous Hudson's Bay blanket coat,

and now that I do, it looks fabulous.

Here a Navy woman appears to be waiting for her ride.

Because we were driving, I cannot always tell you the name of these marvelous historical buildings that Halifax is known for, but, boy, are they substantial.

Aren't sliced off building remains fascinating...

A view down Granville St. towards the Halifax Wharf

that hosts all kinds of events and festivities in the summer.

And looking back up Granville St.

EY (Ernst & Young LLP, tax advisory) and RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)

This must be the financial district (duh)

Down by the sea as we are, a down coat we see

Omg it was cold and windy.

a statue of Joseph Howe

Here is Wally as we organize ourselves for our walk down Hollis Street

The wonderful façade of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

How it is dwarfed by the modern buildings,

yet it was the huge one its day.

the wonderful bas relief and mouldings

our destination: the art supply store for NSCAD (Nova Scotia College for Art and Design)

The dizzying height of the BMO building (Bank of Montreal)

and Halifax's tallest building 1801, which houses many businesses, right beside the former

I was happy with these angles caught quite by accident from the car

A wonderful rendition of the Lion and the Unicorn

I didn't know that these creatures represent Great Britain,

the lion, England, and the unicorn, Scotland

The magical entrance to the historic Bank of Nova Scotia building that I've shown you in past posts.

Outside that same entrance.

I must have been on the move not to get better shots of this wonderful place.

Wrapped like an art installation, but I would venture it's more like a non-art insulation.

Rock Candy. Wouldn't you think this was a rock bar? I was surprised to find out it was clothing.

I would have checked it out if I had known enjoying kitsch as I do.

Crossing Sackville and more construction

After our visit to yet another fabulous art supply store it was now almost dark just after 6pm.

Not bad for a longer span of daylight. (I'm always a sucker for Christmas lights.)

Wally the strongman

We didn't realize the strongman was outside Freak Lunchbox

a fantastic candy store with lots of oddball kitsch

We went in to marvel at the array of colour and wild graphics

"Cats Love It"

(yah, right)

the hand painted counter like old circus signs

and finally, the last of my pictures as we headed back to the car

this amazing painting on the side of the building. You must understand that I took this from across an empty lot, painted on a building that was about 3 stories high. Quite a feat!

I hope you enjoyed this small slice of our trip to Halifax. Wally thought he might like to live in this town again as he once did when he was a young man. It certainly has a great energy with its art college being right downtown and so much vibrancy and youth culture, but I have to say that I prefer my quiet country life, happy to visit the city and happy to come home again.

And that's January. As usual, it is trying to snow without much sticking.

Let's have a lovely February. Doesn't the word just glow with red hearts?

peace