by Marja-Leena

Happy Christmas, Hauskaa Joulua

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Wishing you all a Happy Christmas, Hauskaa Joulua,
Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël, God Jul!
Love and light, peace and joy this season and always.

I’m recalling the very white and beautiful Christmas period that we had two years ago which impacted on the travel of some of our family coming home from the UK. This year, as I’m sure most know, flights into and out of Europe have been severely hampered and delayed by snowstorms so it’s a good thing they are not traveling this year. But we will miss them! Safe travels to those enroute!

Meanwhile we will have a green Christmas in southwest BC. For some snow play, there is lots up in the mountains and in the interior. Have a happy holiday!

December 22, 2010 in Canada and BC, Culture, Home 15 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

lunar eclipse at winter solstice

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Photograph by Heribert Proepper, AP

Tonight or actually in the wee hours of tomorrow morning, if you are lucky with the weather and live in the northern hemisphere, you can celebrate the Winter Solstice in grand fashion with a full lunar eclipse occurring at the same time, a most rare event. We will not be one of the lucky ones as it is cloudy here. If it had only been last night when it was clear.

I enjoyed these links about this unusual cosmic event:
-at CBC News
-at Quirks and Quarks, including this video
-at National Geographic (source of the image above)
– Spacedex has information on viewing times and places, here it is for BC
– and finally, this wonderful post on Winter Solstice in Newgrange.

I wonder if wintry Stonehenge will be busy this year, especially at this unusually mystical and magical, and hopefully, auspicious time.
So, Happy Solstice and Happy Lunar Eclipse. Onward to lighter days ahead!

December 20, 2010 in Current Events, Folk Legends & Myths, Neat stuff 9 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

on yesterday’s walk

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The sun was shining, the sky a clear blue, the night’s slight frost gone, and we were tempted outdoors for a walk to the park. In this natural woodland park by the sea we spotted some human touches in recognition of the season: a Christmas wreath on a memorial bench which for years has always been kept up with a fresh seasonal display, and a young tree beside the path with shiny Christmas balls put up by some generous soul. Smiles from those touches of seasonal whimsy, smiles from the glorious day, so special in its rarity in our rainy season.

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Last night we put up and decorated our own simple Scandinavian Christmas tree. I love the scent and the colours of green, red, straw and the white of the sparkling lights. It is slowly feeling more and more like Christmas.

Related links:
– Looking back: Christmas favourites (sorry, some links are now dead or changed, like the Virtual Finland one).

– If you are interested in a child-like enjoyment of Christmas, I recommend Christmas in Santa’s home in Lapland

December 18, 2010 in Canada and BC, Home 7 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

red & green

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With these, my favourite colours, even year round,
I wish you the many pleasures of the holiday preparations.
May it be a stress-free time.

December 16, 2010 in Culture, Nature, Photoworks 8 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

cards, letters, music, chats

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…..photo by my other half 🙂

days of card and letter-writing
outside, heavy dark rains instead of bright snow
a few Christmas decorations set out day by day
a relaxing warming fire and favourite Christmas music last night
while a few Carol Ships sail by in the darkness
today a phone chat with one daughter in snowy interior of BC
an iChat with daughter and granddaughters now living in the English countryside
like licks of flames, the spirit of Christmas is slowly touching my heart
Related:
home fires burning
two years ago today
four years ago yesterday

December 12, 2010 in Canada and BC, Culture, Current Events 10 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

red mandala

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the amazing beauty of colour and design in a simple root vegetable

(thanks, Erika, for saving this for me to scan!)

December 10, 2010 in Nature, Photoworks 11 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

footprints in frost

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These have made me recall some footprints in the sand from some years ago….

December 7, 2010 in Photoworks, Textures 11 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

frosty

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The other morning frost covered trees, shrubs, grass, even the glass on the skylights. Though not lovely frost ferns this time, its thawing looks like lace.

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Outdoors I’m looking very closely at the frost on the deck railing.

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and how it is thawing on the sunnier end….

Oh, I almost forgot Finland’s Independence Day today! Here’s the perfect music to honour it. Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää!

December 6, 2010 in Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Music, Nature, Photoworks 10 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

amber

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This glorious amber sunrise met me as I walked into the kitchen about 8:00 am this morning, after a clear frosty night! The sunshine stayed with us all day so we were able to put up the outdoor holiday lights and gather greenery and berry branches for the winter planters. More photos to come of the frost….

December 4, 2010 in Being an Artist, Nature, Photoworks 9 Comments »

by Marja-Leena

December sun

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about 2:00 pm on December 1st looking southwest from our back deck

After the monsoon month of November with its tease of snow,
sunshine, weak as it is, delights now in December.
Yesterday morning a stunning brief surprise when driving around the bend of the road:
sun on brilliant white snowy mountain tops peeking above tall dark evergreens.
The camera of my mind’s eye etched the scene to memory.

December 4, 2010 in Being an Artist, Canada and BC 4 Comments »