Wednesday, November 23, 2011

November 12, 2011.
Carry On - Saturday, Hubby and I spent running around, doing errands.  One of the errands we had to do was drop The Kid off at the mall.   Seriously, we are only one day past Remembrance Day and the Christmas shopping is in full force.   Just getting in and out of the parking lot was a challenge.  Good thing I wasn't the one driving.
234/365
November 13, 2011.
Milestones - Charlie had his first friend sleepover last weekend.  It's a milestone that he has been eager to reach.  Every time one of the big kids had a friend sleepover, or went to one, he asked me when it would be his turn.   Charlie and his buddy had an evening of playing games, building Lego and watching movies.  After breakfast, I brought the boys to the park to play for a bit before taking his friend home.  I just love how full of joy they are in this picture.  Oh to be six again.
235/365
November 14, 2011.
Are You Looking at Me? - This is what a 365 picture looks like for a working girl, who hasn't adjusted to the shorter days, and no natural light.  A random, flashy, picture of the stuffie basket.  Say hello to my little friend. 
236/365
November 15, 2011.
The Points - Rows and rows of the poinsettias in the greenhouse at my work.  Just waiting to be brought home so that they can promptly drop their red leaves all over someones table.   Personally, I'm not a big fan of the points, but they do look pretty in the greenhouse. 
237/365

November 16, 2011.
New Life - On Wednesday, it was the ten year anniversary of my Grandma's passing.  The delay in posting to the blog has been because of this picture of Grandma's cactus plant just coming into bloom.  I've been waiting for the {right} words to come to me, but so far any words I come up with feel small.  I miss her physical presence, her kindness and courage. I miss her voice and her unmistakable laughter.  I miss her physically and yet, I feel her by my side spiritually.  I feel her presence whenever I stop to appreciate the beauty of nature with wonder.  She is there by my side when I cook from one of her recipes.  I feel her when her cactus comes into bloom and when I see a flock of geese flying over head.  And I'm sure she is with us when we celebrate new life. 
Welcome Miss Corrine Marie.

238/365
November 17, 2011.
First Snow - There is something magical about the first snow of the season.  Looking out my window and seeing my little corner of the world turned into a snow globe made me feel warm and cozy.    
239/365
November 18, 2011.
I *heart* Snow- That is until I got my licence. The snow may be fun, but driving in it not so much.  I hope that any major storms will hold off until my job is complete.  Driving on snow covered, rural roads isn't my idea of a good time.  Fingers crossed.   
240/365

Saturday, November 12, 2011

November 5, 2011.
Frozen Over -  The fountain in the backyard was frozen over Saturday morning.  It shouldn't have surprised me, it's November after all, the days are shorter and the temperatures colder.  But seeing the ice shocked me a little.  On the verge of another winter, and I wondered where the year went, and how it passed us by so quickly.
227/365
November 6, 2011.
Fall Portrait Day - Each fall, I drag my kids outside for their annual portraits.  In past years portrait day meant coordinating outfits, cheesy smiles and perfect hair.  Sunday was individual portrait day (I'll do the family and group shots another day.)  This year, I gave the kids a ten minute warning: brush your teeth and hair, put on something decent and meet me out back for your fall pictures.  Picture day this year was relaxed, dare I say fun.  I wasn't so much trying to capture the perfect shot, as much as trying to capture the essence of my kids, who are each the perfect version on themselves.   My chill attitude was contagious.  Here is an outtake of The Little Man.  Captain Charlie. 
228/365
November 7, 2011.
Silver - When I pulled into the parking lot of my work on Monday morning, the view in front of me made my heart beat a little faster.  I am a watcher; a tracker of light.  I know that most sunrises wash the world in vibrant shades of yellow and orange.  On Monday morning the sunrise was beautifully different.  Instead of the usual golden glow, the sun cast the world in a shades of silver and white. 
229/365


November 8, 2011.
Habit - I love finding new blogs to read and I found a sweet one.  It's called Habit.  Habit is a collection of candid photographs, posted daily, along with a short thirty word description summing up the day.  Check out the link.  It's pretty cool.    
230/365

November 9, 2011.
November Rain -  Now that I'm a working girl, I'm not able to pick up Charlie everyday from school.  It sucks.  I didn't think that I would miss pick up duty so much.  I was looking forward to picking up Charlie myself on my day off.  Unfortunately because of the rain, it was a quick grab and go.  No playing at the park, no visiting with my mommy friends.  Straight home.  Both of us were bummed. 
231/365

November 10, 2011.
Sunrise::Two Ways -  Okay, obviously someone is enjoying the time change.  Thursday morning brought another beautiful sunrise.  This one golden.  Once more I went out to play with the light.  I took two sunrise photos on Thursday.  The first picture was taken with my Nikon.  Although I love it, and it's a stunning photograph, it's not my picture of the day.  
It's the second picture that  gets me excited.  The second picture was taken with my iPhone.  I shot it with the amber acrylic panel on my gazebo acting as a filter.  The end image has a distorted dream like quality that I find enchanting. 
232/365

232/365
November 11, 2011.
Lest We Forget - BAM weekly self portrait - Friday was Remembrance Day in Canada.  It's a pretty emotional day for me, maybe because, the older I get the younger the boys seem to be that so bravely fought for our freedom. 
I was thinking not only of the unmarked graves full of kids, but of the boys who made it home, like my Grandfather.  In the spring of 1945 he would have been fighting overseas, by the next summer he would have been a young husband and father.  It blows my mind how he would have adjusted in a time where Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome wasn't heard of. 
233/365

Friday, November 4, 2011

October 28, 2011.
Autumn Sky - I can get lost in a beautiful sky.  Fluffy clouds, steaks of pink, rainbows, mysterious fog, it all inspires me.  Time and time again I point my lens upward, trying to capture the magic. 
219/365

October 29, 2011.
Sweet Relief - Josh has to be the sweetest, kindest brother ever.  Last week when Kenzie and Charlie were going through their painful recoveries, Josh bought each of them a pint of their favourite ice cream.  On his own, he walked up to Baskin Robins, used his birthday money, and raced home before it melted.  Best. Brother. Ever. 
220/365

October 30, 2011.
Pumpkin Carving -  Almost two weeks post op, and the kids are finally feeling more like themselves.  They don't have much energy, but at least the pain is gone.  Just in time for pumpkin carving.  The Halloween play list was cranked loud. I danced to Micheal Jackson's Thriller and The Guess Who's Clap for the Wolfman.  I took pictures, as the kids and John concentrated on separating the seeds from the goo and carefully carved their Jack-o-lanterns.  It was a great to have my family back. 
221/365

October 31, 2011.
Trick or Treat - My Little Devil and Sweet Hillbilly. Their costumes suited their personalities perfectly.
222/365

November 1, 2011.

Scarecrow -
Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear - Mark Twain
223/365

November 2, 2011.
Walking in His Shoes -  On Wednesday, Josh went with his Dad for take your kid to work day.  Josh wasn't cleared to drive in the work truck with John, so arrangements were made for him to help out in the office and the shop.  I think Josh was pretty excited to go.  John on the other hand, was more tired and less excited.  John had to work an emergency night shift.  On Wednesday morning, John dropped Josh off at the shop, came home and went straight to bed. 
224/365
November 3, 2011.
BAM Weekly Self Portrait - Slow Down - I was so excited to have time to myself Thursday.  No kids, no husband - just me.  And how did I spend my day?  In the morning I gave the kitchen a serious cleaning.  By early afternoon, I was getting tired and my head ached.  I grabbed a couple of Tylenol, and left the house to go to the library.  My plans were to get a juicy novel, then stop by Tim Horton's for a coffee.  Once at the library, my little head ache had turned into a throbbing beast. I skipped the coffee.  Instead of trying to refuel with caffeine, I slowed down and took care of myself.
225/365

November 4, 2011.
Morning Frost -  No words for this one, it's beauty speaks for itself.  Just grateful I was there.
226/365