Dec 15, 2013 - Jan 5, 2014 Photo A Day Project

Oh, how I hope your holidays were lovely this year. 

Probably similar to many of yours, our season was laced with ultra-cold weather, oodles of plates, bowls, and glasses of deliciousness (some of which you'll see below), and enchanting social gatherings. It was great fun and...  exhausting! Not sure about you, but I'm ready to get back to normal life.

The Photo-a-Day project continues to grab me, so on we go... wee glimpses of my past three weeks:

15 - Lights

One of the many lit up homes in our neighbourhood.
Still love the blue and white!

 

16 - Makes me feel merry

The LOML

17 - Tree

And snowflakes! As much as I love the trees in full leaf,
their sharp winter blackness against the white snow and sky
also makes me smile.

18 - Big

Now THAT'S a snow blower!

Nearly 100 people on that giant stage filled the room with the glorious sound
of Handel's Messiah! Thank you, Nadine, for the wonderful gift.

19 - 'Tis the season to ...

Bake! Indulge! Give away!
These made our mail carrier and recycle guy VERY happy. :)

20 - I'm listening to ...

Who can resist Nat King Cole at Christmastime?

21 - On the door

Christmas Party at our house!!!

22 - Sparkly

Lots of love on my left hand... and...

also on my right... Gramps and Gran's 50th? anniversary ring

23 - Tradition

First Annual Christmapuck!
Had a blast at the Senator's hockey game with P's son and the bro's

24 - Wrapped

No wrapped gifts this year, but we did have these
delightful Christmas crackers!

25 - Best bit of your day

Just home from a fabulous Christmas day lunch with the Bogan clan!
(Forgot to take photos there... silly me! Thanks, again, Val and family.)

26 - Where I slept

Heaven
(and clearly one of Penny's sleeping spots, too!)

27 - What you're doing now

Eating artichokes -- BIG surprise!
Hi, my name's Patrice, and I'm a choke-aholic....

28 - Something awesome

Fabulous prezzie: 3 month membership! Yes! (Thanks yet again, Val.)

29 - Reflect best bit of 2013

Best Birthday EVER! (and I've had some great ones.)

30 - You

The Permanent Residency Packet, she is on her way.
All prayers and good thoughts welcome.

31 - Celebrate

Another great party where (for some unknown reason) my camera stayed in my purse.
Thanks, Jenn and Don for the delightful New Year's Eve party!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
2014 is going to be WONDERFUL!

1 - Lunch

Yummy kitchari (brown rice + mung beans + turmeric)
topped with Greek yogurt -- a staple of this post-holiday 8-day cleanse

2 - Begins with G...

Another batch of Pierre's current favourite soup: Gumbo!

3 - My town

Too cold to be out in it, but here are some photos :)

4 - Word to live by

A gift from my dearest friend, Vickie
(who is in my thoughts and prayers every day)

5 - Found

It took a little hunting, but he found them
right where they'd been patiently waiting for the past two years.
And we're back on the ice! Yeah!!

Oct 22 - Photo a Day - In Your Town

Britania Park at Sunset

Nature Inside City Limits

Everyone warned me and many laughed when I told them I was moving from Seattle to Ottawa....      "Canada?? Don't you know how cold it is up there?" Yes, I knew, but it definitely couldn't be worse than living 4000 miles from the man that I loved.

The winter before I arrived, Ottawa had record snowfalls. Looking at photos of six foot snowbanks wasn't encouraging, but I had learned to drive in the snow, and having been a motorcycle rider I knew that staying warm was all about the gear.

My friends were right. Winters aren't easy here. Chipping a thick layer of freezing-rain ice off car windows is no fun. However, relaxing in front of a crackling fire with Pierre, Copper, and Penny more than compensates for the harsh climate. And have I mentioned that Ottawa is stunningly beautiful?

I used to say that Seattle was Paradise. I've learned that there is more than one Paradise on Earth. This federal capital of just under a million people -- a quarter of the size of Seattle -- contains a whopping 850 parks. Seattle Parks and Rec, on the other hand, maintains only 400. So even though I can't gaze out at (or take a short road-trip to) Mount Rainier's majesty, nor see the rest of the Cascade nor Olympic mountain ranges, my sweetheart, dog, and I are able to romp every few blocks in lovely open fields dotted with a huge variety of trees.

And when, like today, I can no longer stand being so far from the sea, we can visit one of the meandering parks along the Ottawa or Rideau Rivers and listen to the soft rhythmic waves swish up to the shore.