As we’ve been out and about this weekend, husband and I have been trying out a new SLR digital camera that we bought for each other’s February birthdays. Friday night after the opening in Tinseltown (International Village) we walked under the nearby Gate to Chinatown and captured this night shot.

Saturday morning we took our granddaughter to her soccer practise. The photos came out a ghastly orange so I turned this one to black and white and vignette, trying out some of the new iPhoto features. (Later: photo removed because I learned that the soccer association does not permit photos of the children to be posted – sorry!)

This afternoon we went Nordic Walking in the rain along a lovely creekside trail. Tonight we will watch the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in Torino. A good weekend!

I’m distracted, in a nice way, by family including a daughter visiting from out-of-town this week. It was unexpectedly sunny today so we went for a walk to check for signs of spring. Here and there the green shoots of daffodils are several inches high. In my garden, the ever-faithful snowdrops have been blooming since Christmas and the hellebore has been opening its delicate blooms lately. In the park the English daisies are blooming on the lawns. Such a difference from the Interior where it’s snowing heavily! Daughter mentioned missing the sea here though she loves the snow at her home.

As I’m writing this, I looked at last year’s post about early spring to compare the flowers in my garden then. This year the crocus hasn’t yet made its appearance in my garden, not enough sun!

Now a mystery question for you – what is the image below?

So far December here in southwestern British Columbia has been almost rain free. This week we’ve had clear crisp sunny days and frosty nights with a brilliant full moon making the frost crystals sparkle like tinsel. It looks almost like hoar frost on some low plants and shrubs, like icing, but crisper, delineating the delicate edges of thin bare branches and turning dessicated fine leaves and seed heads into lace. If we can’t have snow, this comes close! Yesterday morning we even had a gorgeous sunrise which I managed to capture here. (Aside: Why do sunrise and sunset pictures seem so kitschy, like velvet paintings, I wonder?) Anyway it set the mood for the day as I tackled the items on my list.

First off, I was back with Kats, retaking photos of one of my Silent Messengers. With a few more tricks learned from practice we were able to avoid many of the reflections plaguing the documentation of the work. (Thank you again, Kats, for taking the time in your busy schedule to do this!) At home, I did the necessary adjustments in PhotoShop and then posted it. Over the next while I’ll put up the others, including replacing the first three with better ones.

The focus of the afternoon and early evening was on chores with a nice finale of much pleasure. I met my husband after work to do a bit of shopping (some gifts and a replacement string of lights, the new LEDs), have dinner at a Greek place, then meet his sister on a short stop here on her way south for Christmas. She wanted to meet our now-one-month-old grand-daughter so we went for a nice visit with the young family, joined also by her son now living in Vancouver.

So, gifts have been bought, letters and cards have been mailed. Decorating is still underway and baking must begin. This weekend we will be watching the Carol Ships.
Have a happy weekend!