12 Days Of Christmas - See You Next Year!

If there was ever a sign that those 'lazy, hazy days of summer' are over - this is it.

I found this tire swing, someone's summer diversion, abandoned and locked in the creek until the spring.  I hope it remains unmolested for the rest of the winter, a reminder of summer past and a reluctant photographic subject for those who find it hidden in the ravine.  The sun only reaches into the creek bed here for about an hour around noon. 

Rae, have you found it yet?

May you enjoy your photographic pursuits in the New Year.

12 Days Of Christmas - Happy Tails To You

For the older crowd who may remember Roy Rogers, Trigger and Dale Evans, I couldn't resist a little word play on their theme song, "Happy Trails".  For my dogs, happy trails translates to happy tails and when we are down in the Mill Creek ravine trails, the tails wag, the ears fly and the silly grins never end.

Get out and walk off some of those Christmas calories.  It will make you grin even if you ears don't fly.

12 Days Of Christmas - Poinsettia

I suppose if I were one of 30,000 poinsettia in the greenhouse I would have to do something to standout too.

Thank You to Salisbury Greenhouse for a great day shooting.

12 Days Of Christmas - A Polar Nativity

Just a simple post today from our nativity outing.

12 Days Of Christmas - The Santa Blahs

The big day is over.  The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, the turkey was stuffed,  cooked, and devoured, and we now we all jiggle like a bowl full of jelly.  Boxing Day madness has come and gone.  No wonder you feel a little deflated, like the air has been knocked out of you!

Imagine how Santa must feel after his global reindeer tour.......

The light was a little flat today, but then so were these Santa yard balloons.

This is day seven of my 12 Days Of Christmas. Five more days until the New Year.

I hope you are enjoying your ongoing Christmas Card.

12 Days Of Christmas - Christmas Tree Angel

One of the things I enjoy about being a member of a camera club is the places we are able to access to photograph.  Today's image was taken at Salisbury Greenhouse in Sherwood park who have graciously given us access to their Christmas displays these past two seasons.

12 Days Of Christmas - Away In A Manger

Nativity scenes from West End Christian Reformed Church.

This event runs for 3 days in December.  Members of the parish bring in their nativity scenes that they have collected from around the world to display.

This year there were over 500 nativity sets on display.  Here are but two today but more will follow during the week

Merry Christmas to all.

Thanks Bill for arranging for us to come in and photograph before public hours. 

12 Days Of Christmas - A Beary Merry Christmas

Families develop traditions and holidays are filled with traditions that carry forward even as those families spread out.  Several years ago, we bought each of the kids a stocking stuffer from Sears; a small stuffed animal with the year stitched on the pad of the paw. Bears, mice, and moose later we are in 2010 and the tradition continues even though they have to come home for their stockings. 

Here are this year's stuffers.

Kids, don't open until Christmas!

12 Days of Christmas - Luminaria at Devonian Gardens

One weekend in early December the Devonian Gardens, east of Edmonton, line the paths of their Japanese Garden with luminaria, a weighted paper bag with a candle votive inside. This year the garden paths were lined with 3200 luminaria.

At various points around the gardens there were portable fire pits and hot apple cider to take the chill off the evening. OK it was -15C and a little more than chilly but better than last year's -35 deep freeze!

Either for photography or for a stroll, check this out next December.

12 Days of Christmas - Alberta Legislature Grounds In Light

Finally got the last of my Christmas tree lights up this year!

It was -20 that night. Thanks for the hand warmers Quincey!

12 Days of Christmas - Lunar Eclipse

Let's see if I can manage 12 consecutive days of posts through the Christmas season starting with the winter solstice.

Here is this (early) morning's lunar eclipse.   See you tomorrow!

Time After Time After Time

Here's a little extra time as you rush about this Christmas season. 

Taken in Wostok General Store at the Ukrainian Village Cultural Center east of Edmonton.

Ukrainian Village is a favourite location for capturing pieces of our history from button jars to old farm machinery and outhouses to grand churches.  It is a working museum with character actors throughout the village bringing us a glimpse into the life of the early  settlers with examples of sod huts, early frame houses, an elevator and train station, hotel, hardware, blacksmith, school, gas station and general store and more. There is never enough time to cover everything!