Brrrr!

A few days after one of our little snowstorms, some really nice icicles formed.  I grabbed my camera and took a few photos while the sun was out.  It's been clouded over here pretty consistently for almost three weeks, and almost every day we've had a little rain!  By my reckoning, we've received nearly 11 inches so far...yippee!  Not enough to fill up the lakes and not enough to make the streams flow again, but still so very welcome.  

Linking with:  Through My Lens

Blue Light

I was in my studio for a while during Christmas Eve afternoon, the day it snowed.

I decided to turn out all the lights and take some photos just using the tree lights and the snow light coming in through the windows.. 

A strange thing was happening...

There are no blue ornaments on this tree, but somehow the camera was making some of the ornaments blue!

And, not always the entire ornament, but just in spots.  Pretty, but very strange...


Linking with: Through My Lens

A Snowy Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone...I hope your holiday is filled with joy, and your new year is one full of blessings, happiness and peace.

It snowed here today!  We didn't get as much as I wished for in the previous post... 

but it is enough...

to make a beautiful, snowy Christmas. 

W is For

Wonderful winter...something that's been missing in these mountains more often that not in the past several years.  I took this photo in 2008, and I have my fingers crossed that there will be another snowfall like the one pictured before this Christmas. 

I'm linking with  ABC Wednesday

Ornaments

I've been using a lot of shatter-proof ornaments in recent years, along with a few that have a great deal sentimental meaning.

This little crystal angel is also a bell.  She was given to me by my mother for my first tree in my first apartment.

These little mittens were made for me by a dear friend.  We've been friends since I was three years old.  She moved to Alaska in 1971, but we've managed to remain close always, friends for 64 years!

The heart ornament was painted for me my by my sister several years ago.  I miss her so much.

The little wooden "candles" were made by my husband in 1996.  He used dowels for the candles and red pipe cleaners for the "flames," then dripped thick, white gesso down the sides for the "wax."  It just isn't Christmas until these candles are on the tree!

Linking with: Through My Lens

Squirrel Thoughts

"Yum, this seed cake is delicious...wait a minute.  There's that woman with her camera.  Really, a squirrel can't eat in peace around here!  I'll just zip over to that other food place..." 

"OK, now.  Wait, WHAT!!??  There she is, again!  Ya know, there oughtta be a law..."

Linking with Saturday's Critters

Peaceful

Evening at Lake Gregory with a few clouds floating around.  So peaceful...except for that photo-bombing bird :D 

Linking with Skywatch Friday

Saint Nicholas Day

I went out for a walk early this morning.  The air was wonderful, so crisp and cold, and lots of clouds were around.

I noticed many little cedar trees growing.  So cheering. The clouds quickly filled the sky, so I started for home.  It even sprinkled a little!

I'm still decorating our cottage and, as I placed this Santa on the mantel, I remembered today is the feast day of Saint Nicholas.  Saint Nicholas, or Nicholas of Myra, is the real-life man that the figure of Santa Claus is based on.  Nicholas inherited a great deal of wealth, but spent none of it on himself.  Instead, he used all of it for charitable acts.  One such act was giving dowry money to three young women so that they could be married, instead of being sold into prostitution by their despicable father.  He is the patron saint of the poor, children, women, sailors, glass makers, fire fighters, prostitutes, fishermen, scholars...just about everyone!

I'm linking with: Our World Tuesday

At Half Past Three...

On Christmas day at half past three, 
Brew yourself a cup of tea. 
I'll think of you, you think of me, 
While sitting round the Christmas tree.   Anonymous 

Linking with:  Through My Lens

A Quote for Sunday

"Christmas, children, is not a date.  It is a state of mind."  Mary Ellen Chase

Dreaming of...

Catnip mice?  Catnip sockies?  Catnip jingle balls?  Catnip something, that's for sure. 
I'm linking with: Saturday's Critters

Whoosh!

Horribly windy here today, but the winds make for a beautiful, bright blue sky.  Pretty cold, too, our high was only 36 F.  Good thing there were lulls in the blowing, otherwise these trees would be even more blurry than they are.  It's kind of scary to see a pine that's nearly 200 feet tall swaying in the wind like a little cedar sapling!

Linking with: Skywatch Friday

Happy December!

It's my favorite month of the year.  The villagers are already having fun in Mouseford Falls (a little village that I set up every year in my kitchen window).  I have a lot of favorite quotes about December, but the one that probably fits the best is this one:
             "It's December and nobody asked if I was ready"   Sarah Kay 

This and That

Most of the autumn leaves have fallen now, although a few oaks here and there are hanging on to some leaves. 

On my way to my studio, I noticed that some of the leaves on this ivy plant were turning red!  It's been hanging in the same place for about 5 years now and the leaves have always been green.  I hope this doesn't mean it's got some sort of disease.

It's been really cold up here with lows at night in the twenties.  On the 27th we got a little bit of rain and a sprinkle of snow.  Only a half inch, but it's all welcome. 

Last week, I made a card for a friend.  I've just started to get into card making.  So far, I'm loving it.  It's a nice change from painting, and very relaxing. 

Linking with:  Our World Tuesday

Normandie Cottages

No, not Normandy, France...these are some cute little cottages in Redlands, California.  I took these several years ago and have been meaning to post them on my blog...better late than never.

This is the street they're on; it's a very short cul-de-sac and I understand there is a waiting list for homes to be put up for sale!  Hmmm...

This cottage had a darling little orange and white kitty in the window.

I'm linking with: Through My Lens

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone abundant blessings...

Rain!

It rained last night!  We received a little over an inch of rain...not a drought breaker, but it's all important.  The ski resorts received a couple of inches of snow, probably not enough to last through the Thanksgiving weekend, but they've been making snow so the runs are good. 

The colors are always intensified after rain, and I think a cloudy day makes them even more brilliant.

Everything got a good washing. 

It was lovely walking through the damp, cool air today.  Even the fallen leaves and pine needles had extra color.

On the north side of the mountains the clouds were chasing each other. 

On the south side of the mountains the sun was peeking through. 

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny, drat it.  The clouds never stay long enough these days...

Linking with:  Through My Lens

Virga

There are clouds around, but they're not giving any rain to parched California.  I think the air is so dry the rain is evaporating before it can even reach the ground, a weather phenomenon that's referred to as Virga. This photo was taken looking south-east from Highway 18 towards the San Jacinto mountain range in the far distance. 

Linking with:  Our World Tuesday