from snow to sun

While we chill out in Canada, our granddaughters bask in the warmth of a sunny southern California afternoon on a bench in their garden.  They even have their own orange tree, although I don't see any ready to pick just now.

Last Sunset of 2012

Carrying on our tradition of photographing the last sunset of the year,  we stayed close to home this year, not wanting to venture out on icy walks with an arm in a sling.  I'm sure the sunset we drew is the way it actually looks beyond all those wintry clouds.  It has been a year filled with many blessings, and we send out good wishes and prayers for the new year to all our family and friends, near and far!!

a morning walk in the snow

About 8:15, we admire the fresh snow in the backyard before striking out on our walk up to Tim Horton's to meet Peetra for breakfast.

We never made it up to Timmy's!  I tripped and fell on the way and spent the next seven hours at the hospital, finally being sent home with a non displaced fractured arm in a sling and some pain pills.  The good news is, it's my left arm!

The bad news, Martin has to shovel all that snow alone, and do all the cooking, etc.  He truly is my right hand man!!

the old mantel clock

Martin was hoping the clock, from his parent's wedding in 1939, did not have a broken spring.  Does anyone know a good clock maker?

In Full Bloom

I bought a mature Christmas Cactus at our church's fall bazaar earlier this month, fully loaded with buds.  This week it has burst forth into glorious bloom!  I recall my Grandma Anderson's large Christmas Cactus on a plant stand in front of her dining room window fascinating me as a child.  Perhaps that's why I was drawn to this lovely specimen.

Fall Garden Cleanup

We have quite a different view in the back yard in late fall.  Once again we can see the church and the homes on Victoria St. All the lovely morning glories that covered the fence in summer, having died back, must be removed. I enjoy the quiet contemplative task an hour or so each afternoon.

The New Look

Here's a look at Martin's newly refurbished den.  Kathryn was the inspiration and help for getting this done.  So, at last, all the old carpet has been removed from the bedroom, dining room, living room, and den.  Each room has been painted.  I really like the way the woodwork looks.  We almost went with all white for the rooms, based on the notion that white makes small spaces appear larger.  But in the end, we went for the deeper tones of colour that appealed to us, and can't say that it shrunk our sense of space one iota.