by Marja-Leena 
In the last hour of Friday, January 13th, big fat wet snowflakes began falling, our first measurable snow this winter. I wish I could have stayed up all night to watch it. By morning it had stopped. It was still cloudy as I snapped a few shots. Now as I write this near noontime, the sun has come out and it is a brilliant world out there. The forecast says we might have more over the next few days, though here close to sea level it might be rain. Enjoy it while it lasts, I say.
by Marja-Leena 
<
No, not down here but from a visit to Mt. Seymour a few short weeks ago. I’m enjoying dipping into those photos! Though the weather is much warmer this week (8C or 46F this evening!) I’m still dreaming of a white Christmas, but the weatherman thinks it may not be so. We may have to visit the mountains again for I think eldest daughter is bringing her snowshoes when they come down for Christmas.
After a blessedly short spell earlier this week fighting a cough and cold, I’ve finished the Christmas mailings, done the shopping (except for more food), and baked the stollen and biscotti so far. Tomorrow we’ll set up the tree and youngest daughter and I will decorate it on Monday. The countdown is on, but not anywhere as dramatic as it was in 2008. How are you faring with the preparations, dear readers?
by Marja-Leena 
Escaping the three-girl-band practice coming to our house this afternoon, we went on a drive up to one of our local mountains to see the snow. A short-lived snowfall down here near sea level this past Thursday night had left us hankering for the sight of more. Unlike the other North Shore mountains, Mt. Seymour does not yet have their downhill skiing open so we knew it would not be too busy.
Our favourite sights are the massive snow-covered evergreen trees, so magical and beautiful on the drive up and on top, and the amazing long-distance views over the city and valley, with Mt. Baker in Washington state to the southeast and Vancouver Island to the west. We love the clean white snow up there and the icicles on the buildings were a bonus sight. But, oh, was it cold! Our thermos of hot mocha was a good idea.
(We might get a dump of snow here tonight, warns the weatherman…)
by Marja-Leena 
My current passion for the colour red in my latest printworks is also jumping out at me with its abundance amongst the fall colours of many trees around here right now, especially the maples.
Added November 13th… this quote struck me as deeply evocative and timely:
The Universe story is the quintessence of reality. We perceive the story. We put it in our language, the birds put it in theirs, and the trees put it in theirs. We can read the story of the Universe in the trees. Everything tells the story of the Universe. The winds tell the story, literally, not just imaginatively. The story has its imprint everywhere, and that is why it is so important to know the story. If you do not know the story, in a sense you do not know yourself; you do not know anything. – Thomas Berry
with thanks to Whiskey River
by Marja-Leena 
BOO!!
Too busy in the studio and too tired and sore after some heavy gardening this past week, I’m taking the lazy route and reposting my spookiest image from two years ago. To put you and me in the mood for this scary season, here is a favourite past Hallowe’en post: Kekri and Samhain.
The Vancouver region features many Hallowe’en events this weekend. Some of our daughters in their young adult years often took part in the Parade of Lost Souls and the little ones loved the Stanley Park Ghost Train. Tomorrow evening the little trick-or-treaters will be roaming from door to door. Later in the evening we’ll hopefully see some wonderful fireworks in our neigbourhood. Happy Hallowe’en to all!
by Marja-Leena by Marja-Leena 
Yesterday afternoon, a Labour Day holiday here in Canada, we had the pleasure of seeing and hearing a delightful and well-done performance of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro on the mainstage of Bard on the Beach. The energetic young stars of the UBC Opera Ensemble, from University of British Columbia’s Music School impressed us with their professionalism, well-trained and beautiful voices, their acting skills and the lovely costumes on this small stage with minimal props, shared with the Vancouver Opera orchestra.
Over the years, we’ve attended some of the Shakespearean plays here. The mainstage tent has an opening behind the stage overlooking English Bay and the North Shore mountains and sky. The Bard on the Beach Shakespearean Festival has become a well-loved and attended Vancouver cultural site every summer since it’s founding in 1990, by the amazing actor and director Christopher Gaze. This time Gaze was the host for Figaro, stepping in between scenes with quick, entertaining and helpful synopses of each scene, as they were sung in Italian.
I’m only sorry we were not allowed to take photos inside to show you, though I sneaked the top one just as some of the orchestra players began the warmup. Below is a view of the Bard on the Beach site – what a beautiful day it was (though hot inside the tent!). If you are ever in Vancouver in the summer and you love Shakespeare, this is the place to enjoy the Bard, along with certain special events such as Figaro!
by Marja-Leena 
a quintessential scene of summer made black and white becomes somehow both timeless and historical looking, like something found in old family albums
reminding me also of these images
by Marja-Leena 
around 4:45 a.m. a week or so ago,
the insomniac’s sweet reward
by Marja-Leena More of my favourite images from our walk on Cordova Bay, on our visit back in May.
Can you spot which of these show the hand of man upon nature?
