Happy Holidays

From long ago and far away, this picture was taken when I was a child and includes my brother (with the drums), me in the middle, and my sister on the right. This is always a wonderful time of the year to be a child. Happy holiday, everyone!

Getting That Christmas Feeling

We had a big winter storm in Eastern Ontario over the past couple of days that left great piles of snow everywhere. The Byward Market, in downtown Ottawa, had a very Christmas-y feeling this afternoon. The snow was still gently falling when this horse-drawn wagon went by with a load of people enjoying the ride.

There were a number of market vendors selling Christmas decorations. At this stand, one could buy green boughs and wreaths with red ribbons.

Later in the evening, hundreds of Christmas lights were turned on and sparkled on the fresh snow. This tree was so pretty, standing at the end of a street in the Market.

Finding Beauty in the Snow

We had our first big snowfall of the season in Eastern Ontario last night. This morning, the snow was piled high on everything and the world was transformed. There were little scenes of beauty to be found everywhere! 

The trees were especially beautiful with their coatings of snow, like strings of white jewels in their branches.

People walking along the sidewalks seemed to be floating through white tunnels.

In the evening, it wasn't as dark as usual because the lights reflected off the bright snow.

There is something about the first big snowfall that brings out the kid in everyone. This snowman was standing in a surprising place - on the sidewalk in front of a store in the Byward Market area. Someone obviously couldn't resist the opportunity to make him. Beautiful!

That Feeling that Winter is Coming - City and Country

November is a grey, ominous month when one feels that the winter is nudging ever closer. When I wake up at my apartment in the city, the mornings are cold and the sky seems to be pressing down. 

The sun sets so early these days. I took this picture looking out the window of my office building in Gatineau an hour before I left work. It was completely dark when I did leave.

This weekend, I was at my place in the country when I saw the first significant snowfall of the season. The ground was soon completely covered. Rather pretty, really! I like the way one can see the paths clearly defined as white roads between the brown tufts of vegetation.

October Light

Today was the first day that it really felt like winter is coming. For one thing, it was cold enough I needed to wear a warm jacket and gloves. But the chilly air was very clear and seemed to make the colours of the leaves on these trees where this couple were walking even more stunning. This picture was taken beside Major's Hill Park in Ottawa.  

There were only a few clouds in the clear sky, but this one caught my eye. It looked like an animal to me, with its head in the upper left, a front leg, and a tail curled around from the back and underneath. Probably a silly fancy, but it is always fun to look for shapes in the clouds!

Disappearing Into the Foggy Morning

This morning when I walked to work, the fog was very thick and covered the world with a thin grey film.

The spires of this cathedral looked like they were evaporating into the fog.

But the fog was thickest over the river. The bridge I cross every morning disappeared into nothingness.

People emerged from the fog or disappeared into it as they crossed the bridge. I had a lot of fun pretending there was nothing on the other side and that I too would disappear as I walked into the greyness. Cool!

The Power of Old Photographs

My brother recently began scanning a lot of his old photographs and he sent this one to me. It stirred some amazing memories because I saw this picture only once before, years ago. It was taken sometime in the mid to late 1990s and shows my husband Peter (in red), me (in white), my son Brian (in plaid), and my brother Paul. All the men in my life (at the time) and me in the midst of them. And it is particularly poignant because Peter and I are holding hands!  It is amazing to think that this picture is only about 20 years old and yet seems like it happened in another lifetime. What power old photographs can have!