Happy New Year!

I trust 2012 will bring good things your way. Have the happiest of New Years!

Angels we have heard on High,

Sweetly singing o're the the plains. And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous stain.

Wishing you a beautiful Christmas, full of light and love!

Forever Hopeful!

About a month ago I noticed this crow with a broken wing. I thought for sure he would succumb to his injuries or starve to death, but every few days I would see him again. I started to leave food out for him in hope that he would find it. I have tried to get close enough for a good photo but he is smart and surprisingly quick. It always seems as if the crow is alone but if I get to close several other crows start

 appearing, very interesting. It is comforting to know he isn't completely on his own.

The Birds?

There is always something happening on our beach. Last Friday and Saturday there were hundreds, maybe even thousands of dead Atlantic Saury on the beach.  The  Saury, a silver needle fish,  generally migrate south at the first sign of Fall and we think they got caught in the bay when the cold front came in.  I was worried that before too long the smell would be horrid but the ever present seagulls had a veritable feast!

Though the day started cold and grey, by the afternoon the sun started to peek through the clouds giving an interesting atmospheric effect.

Happy Halloween! 

All In a Dream

Living with cancer, whether you have it or your loved one has it, is a surreal experience. Everything about it feels like a dream, from the emotional aspect that seems to intensify every feeling, to the medical world of hospitals (George was in hospital for five weeks), to the chemotherapy and the aftermath, to the total disruption of normal life and the amazing outpouring of love and support from family and friends. It is just all so strange! Luckily for us, George is responding really well to treatments and he is one of the lucky few who is able to gain some strength between the chemo cycles. So yes, cancer is our main focus for now, but it isn't the only thing going and we are moving forward ever so slowly, back to our projects, back to our art, back to our lives. Understandably I have only taken my camera out a couple of times in the past few months and even then the images felt dreamlike to me. The last day in September I saw a bunch of bees hanging out on the same flower. They were moving in slow motion and I was able to get some interesting macro shots.

These bees really caught my curiosity... what is this guy doing upside down? He stayed like that ever so long. And this moose, she was seen inside the city limits of St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, in the back yard of our good friends, Donna and Kevin. She didn't seem too

concerned that there were people around and it was only my healthy respect for her size that kept me from getting closer to her.

Lastly, I want to thank all of you for your continued love and support. Your prayers, positive energy and healing thoughts have been a tremendous help to George and I.

An explanation of sorts

I have grown to really love this blog and those of you who check in from time to time, and so I am reluctant to bring bad news, but the fact of the matter is, my George has been diagnosed with stage three or four Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. He has just completed the first cycle of chemo and now is dealing with the aftermath. I'm finding it difficult to write about just now but I wanted you to know why I have been so quiet of late.
XO's

A River of Irises

One advantage to having a wet and cool summer is that the wild irises are thriving. I live across the way from a field or, garden, as it is called in Newfoundland, that is full of wild flowers including the wild iris. There are irises all over the land adjacent to the beach but in this particular garden they grow like a river. Usually by the end of June they have finished flowering but this summer they were late and I can still find a few stragglers.

I was excited to find some yellow irises for the first time too!

Who doesn't love dragonflies and flowers and puppy dog eyes?

I have been enjoying my camera more and more these days. Before I had a digital camera I was often disappointed with my shots, now I can shoot to my hearts content and be playful with it too. And I usually get a few good ones!
Lately I have been playing around with close-ups. I especially like the close-up of Roxy's eye.

I promise not to complain that it has been raining for four days straight!

Big, Beautiful Roxy!

I am so excited to tell you, to tell anyone who will listen, that beautiful Roxy is now officially my very own Newfoundland dog! She has been living on this beach for as long as I have, she grew up playing with my beloved Moses and we have both missed him terribly this past year. Her true owner has grown, moved to Alberta and has started a family of his own and feels that Roxy is better off staying on her beach. I am delighted to have her!

I just love her coat but it is so matted, actually felted, I tried to tease out the dreads but quickly realized it wasn't working out too well, plus Roxy wasn't happy either, so it will need to be sheared off. Roxy is eager to please and is just the sweetest dog!

I wish you a happy summer solstice too!

Dandelions hail in the Summer!

Just a few days ago the air softened and took on a decided turn towards warmer weather. You can feel it on your skin and smell it in the air, summer is here! And every where you look you see dandelions!
I was watching my little hero in most things, Sage, playing in the dandelions. She was in search of the biggest flowers she could find to make her mother a special bouquet (Niki is recovering from knee surgery). Sage is a fellow artist, so when there is an opportunity I try to encourage her to look at things closely. We talked about the many petals in the dandelion and the subtleties of yellows in the petals. I had to laugh because after that I became suddenly fascinated with this most humble yet beautiful flower... that most of us call weeds.

A Tonic For the Blues

Jan Morrison from labanan.blogspot.com issued a challenge to think of some small things that color your world a little bit brighter on a cold, rainy, summer will never get here, spring day. My very first thoughts were of my sweet friends, Sage and Malach. Admittedly they are of utmost importance, but still a visit with them can bring me out of the worst moods the moment I walk through the door. Over the winter we sang 'Kungfu Fighting' almost everyday, today Malach was singing it word for word on his own, well he is only four ya know.

My buddy, Hobbes, has been with me for twelve years. He is a lover really, he likes to cuddle and ride on my shoulder. He would sleep on my head if I let him, but I don't let him.

Our Annie is a princess, delicate and beautiful. She follows me all over the house and wants to be on my lap whenever I am at the computer. She especially enjoys yoga and music.

Pepper you have met a few times, she is just too cute for words and we are so happy she came to love us.

Sometimes to my delight, Roxie, our neighborhood Newfoundland dog, will be on my back doorstep for a visit. Often she will stay for the day. She rocks!

And then of course there is the wildness of my beach. Each day there is something to delight me and lift my mood.

Now I understand why Jan specified a 'small thing', as I sit here thinking of all the things that help brighten my days, a new follower on my blog, a message from an old friend always brings a smile, making a new friend, joining FB and all of a sudden realizing how very connected I am to the outside world, George having a surprise day off, my orchids sending up new shoots, seeing a whale in our bay... well you start to get the picture. And so do I, how blessed am I.

Happy Mother's Day

To my mother and to

all of the loving and nurturing women out there, Happy Mother's Day!