Merry Christmas to All

I want to wish all my friends and family a wonderful Christmas season!

I often hear the phrase 'Jesus is the reason for the season'.  This is a great time to remember what it's all about... and no better way than with a Christmas carol. =)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Elementyl365

This week I made a resolution.  In the New Year, I am going to make a point of photographing every day.  I'm calling this project Elementyl365.  You'll see mainly impromptu pictures, as well as some planned projects.  Every day will bring something new.


So check out my new photoblog Elementyl365!

My First DP Challenge

To keep myself motivated and improve my photography skills, I've joined a site called Digital Photography challenge. Every week new photography challenges are offered for anyone interested.

I've just submitted my first photo for the challenge Rural Decay. I'm nervous about having it critiqued by other members, but I'm excited at this opportunity to improve my photography, especially since there are no local photography courses or clubs. So bring on the judging!

Ramshackle

Lobster... Mmmmmmmm

Nova Scotia is beautiful!

I'm settling into Middleton, and so far I really like it here. The ocean is about a 5 minute drive west, and the coast is amazing - rocky beaches, sheer cliffs, and huge waves.

Beach near Margaretsville

The houses here are neat - there are many, many 100 year old homes that have been kept up beautifully over the years. There are also some unique ones...

I don't think Baywatch was filmed here

Dad and Lorie's 8 dogs held up well through their 7 day drive across Canada. I flew into Halifax on November 30, and met up with them December 1st. One of the dogs, Feather, started peeing on the floor to protest all the change, but as you can see, he's settled in now. :)

Feather likes to sneak onto the easy chair at night

My cat flew with me in the cabin. I gave her Rescue Remedy to keep her calm, and it worked really well. I gave it to her the night before the flight, and she purred for two hours straight!

On Sunday we had our first lobster. They just sell them on the side of the road - Nova Scotia's version of berry stands. $5 bucks a pound!

Yummy!

When I think of Christmas, I feel disoriented and a little homesick. I'm thankful to have Dad and Lorie. I miss being around family and friends during this season. So keep in touch! And have a wonderful Christmas season!

A storm blew the ocean spray far from shore

Hello Halifax

After a crazy week of packing, throwing away, giving away, rinse and repeat.... Saffron and I got on the plane yesterday morning. Huge thanks to my Mom - I would not have finished everything without her.

It was a grey rainy morning when I left Vancouver, and a dark rainy night when I arrived in Halifax. Saffron did pretty well throughout the trip - kudos to Rescue Remedy, an herbal anxiety relief tincture. The stuff is great - just a couple drops in some water or her mouth would calm her down in minutes. I had to laugh when I gave it to her last night in the hotel - the kitty was so relaxed that she purred for two hours! Her tail, which usually does a slow "S" curved swish when she is happy, whipped back and forth like a windshield wiper set on high. It was great.

Amid all the craziness of the last few weeks, I completed my photography course and handed in my portfolio. Here are some of my favorite shots from the course. Hopefully you'll see a big improvement!

Jeff Foxworthy on Canada

This was forwarded to me by a friend, and I laughed my face off... because it's all true!


If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May,you may live in Canada .

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Canada .

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Canada .

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Canada .

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Detroit for the weekend, you may live in Canada .

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Canada .

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Canada

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again, you may live in Canada

If you can drive 90 kms/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you may live in Canada . I've done this!

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Canada .

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Canada .

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you may live in Canada .

If the speed limit on the highway is 80km -- you're going 90 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Canada .

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you may live in Canada .

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you may live in Canada

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you may live in Canada .

If you find 2 degrees 'a little chilly', you may live in Canada

If you actually understand these jokes you definitely live in Canada

Booked and Ready

It's official! I booked my flight to Halifax, and I fly out on November 30. Suddenly moving seems very real. I'm excited and nervous.

Air Canada recently released new rules for pets, so Saffron can come in the cabin with me as 'carry on baggage'. Poor kitty, that is not going to be her favorite day.

Now comes the biggest hurdle... packing. (shudder)

Saffron looks like she's ready to be carried on.

Moving to Nova Scotia

It's official - I'm moving to Nova Scotia at the end of November. I'm pretty blown away at where life has taken me these last few months. Laid off from work 3 months ago to moving from coast to coast this winter. I'm very excited, though sad to leave family and long-time friends.

I went out to the east coast a couple of months ago to help my step-mom house hunt, and was blown away by the beauty of the area. I learned that no matter where you are in Nova Scotia, you're no more than 30 km from the ocean!

Beautiful fall Nova Scotia pics here.

I'm holding off till the end of November so I can finish my photography course. My assignment this week, should I choose to accept it:

• Depth of field - 4 pictures of the same thing. First, the closest part must be in focus while the rest is blurred. Then the middle in focus, then the farthest point. Finally, a shot of the whole thing in focus.
• Shutter speed - motion shots. Capture something moving and 'freeze' it, capture something else moving and blurred.

These two assignments were tough! I went to different locations throughout the week, and did not get it right. Finally at 3pm the day of my class, I was running around my yard desperately trying to get it right. And yay! I finally did! I've posted them along with a few happy mistakes. :)

Learning Photography

I took the plunge into Digital SLR! I purchased a rocking Nikon D90 (that I'm totally in love with!) and signed up for a digital photograpy class at the local college. Very cool, hands on learning, with a photo assignment each week.

My mission, should I choose to accept it: 6 strong photos of my bathroom. Yup, my bathroom. Eeek!

Those of you who know my organizational weaknesses are laughing your faces off right now. I'm not super neat. Add to it that my bathroom is roughly the size of a closet (not a walk in), and you begin to feel my pain.

So I cheated a bit - I headed over to my Mom's place, whose bathroom is exactly opposite mine in both size and tidiness. I got several neat pics from there, but couldn't resist adding the pet shots from my own place for interest. Poor Saffron - I kept throwing treats into the cupboard and putting her in there, hoping for the perfect shot.

So TaaaDaaa, here it is, my foray into Digital SLR Photography.

Walking Away from God

We have the right to live any way we want. But if you are living a life away from God, there are problems, and there is also hope for the future.

Check out this video by Dr. Charles Stanley titled 'Walking Away from God'. Great explanations of the costs of living without God, and God's response when you turn to him. Based on the passage of the prodigal son.

Watch the video

Playing For Change

Check out this neat video. Even more neat is the vision behind it - to bring about unity and help the hurting through music. Check out the site playingforchange.com