Tag Archives: Landscapes

Milestones, musings, Photography

New Year’s Eve 2024

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Many thanks to all who have followed, liked or commented over the past year; you have been very much appreciated. I’ve enjoyed our comment-chats, your travels, your gardens, your walks and hikes, your photography, your musings and your thinkings. As the years pile up on this blog, it’s been, and continues to be, a wonderful experience to connect with so many different people from all over the world.

The sun sets on one year …

… and we welcome another.

Happy 2025!

Milestones, nature, Photography

Anniversary

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Today is the anniversary of the day we met, which is the one we celebrate rather than our wedding. We were married in Banff on a beautifully sunny August day, but it was mostly a formality …

Canmore’s Three Sisters Mountains; from an April, 2024 visit to Banff and Canmore.

… as we had long since decided that we wanted to be together.

A recent cloud break over Okanagan Lake.

And so the day that we met became the important one. We’re going to Kelowna for a meal in a good restaurant with an overnight stay included – so that we can enjoy a good bottle of wine without concern – ahead of the new year celebrations.

Happy Monday.

Reblogs

Reblog: Two Figures in the Woods

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I was in the woods near home yesterday morning and the Sun was starting to burn through the mist. These two figures appeared in silhouette and stood …

Two Figures in the Woods

An ethereally beautiful photo from James Elkington at Mountains, Myths and Moorlands. Please click the link above to read about this picture’s background and to see more of his beautiful photography.

nature, Photography

Glimpses

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I took a long Boxing Day walk to get some exercise after a couple of days of too many good things to eat.

We have had a lot of rain, so our resident mallard duck flock was very happy.

Our overcast was breaking up, and though I’m hopeful of a bit of sun, the forecast isn’t in my favour. We are slated to get lots more rain over the next week …

… so we will be getting much more of this instead.

Nevertheless, there is a counterpoint. The seasonal lights look lovely against the grey, rainy sky, reminding all of us that the sun will be back.

Happy Friday.

Commentary, Photography

Boxing Day 2024

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I first posted the following in 2022. I have updated the photos and some of the text, but otherwise, the sentiment remains the same.

In Canada, today is Boxing Day. It has nothing to do with sport but rather with the idea of “boxing up” the leftovers from Christmas feasting (including unwanted presents) to give to those less fortunate. Over the centuries, it has also largely diverged from its U.K. antecedents. I was raised with the notion that Boxing Day is for providing volunteer service (I was allowed to choose – and I always chose the SPCA – but I wasn’t allowed to skip it); however, I think that this philosophy has long since disappeared.

Perhaps we ought to try to bring back Boxing Day volunteerism or other forms of giving. I am tired of the Boxing Day sales that have now morphed into “boxing week” sales – whatever those are, I’m sure you’re really not going to save anything – that are bringing into disrepute a day that used to be about selflessness and giving.

Considering the narcissistic spending focus at this time of year – something that is industriously promoted by all businesses – a little required volunteerism might go a long way to helping a great many people, including those that do the volunteering.

Food for thought.

Happy Boxing Day.