Favourite Images of 2013

Snapshots of the world around my family and I ... yes, these are just a few of my favourite images from the Year 2013.  Each image documenting an event, phenomena ... a moment in time.  This crazy project has journaled over a 1000 days so far.  These images hold a great deal of significance to my family and I but it is my hope that by sharing them with you, a few might strike a chord and trigger a memory or emotion within you.  Like the year before, 2013 has flown by (and for some reason, it seems to go faster when you document everyday with a photograph!).  Thank you so much for following along!  I greatly appreciate the kind words you leave as comments and look forward to sharing more of this crazy project with you.

Remember, the grass is NOT always greener on the other side!  Seek the beauty that surrounds you, make time for the little things in life and make memories out of the magic that encompasses you!  The world is a small, hectic place but there is beauty everywhere!

HAPPY 2014 EVERYONE!  

Wishing You All A Healthy & Happy New Year!

Mr. Porcupine

You have to admit ... they are pretty cute!  

Christmas Hiatus!

December 25, 2013:  Merry Christmas!

December 26, 2013:  Boxing Day!

December 27, 2013:  A Great Morning For a Sunrise!

December 28, 2013:  After Blizzard Conditions the Night Before ... Checking on the Horses

December 29, 2013:  Winter Architecture

The Stockings Were Hung

By the Chimney With Care ...

We had some very excited boys tonight!  They've finally settled but they are hoping and dreaming that St. Nicholas will soon be here!

From Our house to yours, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the Best in the New Year!

May your holiday season be filled with love, laughter, family and friends!  

Merry Christmas Everyone!  

Dinner Companions!

A Gena-a-day Artist's Blog: Dinner Companions: My good friend Terri Mappin posted a photo yesterday of the young coyote who hangs around their stack yard....hoping for scraps from the t...

The Night Before ... The Night Before

The boys and I headed into town for our annual last minute Christmas shopping.  Each year the Town of Stettler and the local businesses offer 'The Night Before, The Night Before Christmas' promotions.  One such promotion is a ride on the Alberta Prairie Railway with food donations to the Food Bank.  The boys and I have been going for quite a few years and to this day, they still love taking a train ride!

After a few quick errands and trying to warm our feet back up after a COLD early morning, we headed for home with rain drops hitting the windshield!  Yes ... rain!  The Chinook Arch and warmer temperatures finally arrived!

After getting our cows fed, the boys helped me cut and haul firewood 

(yes ... I can swing a chainsaw!).  With that, I think we are ready to settle in for Christmas!  

Winter Abyss

Peering through a passenger window one can dream of tropical mirages but the reality is you don't see them!  At least I never did!  LOL!

On The Road Again ...

And Can't Wait to Get Off the Roads!!!

With the 'OFFICIAL' arrival of Winter (we won't mention the fact that 'Old Man Winter arrived almost 2 months ago!) and our shortest day of the year, the weekend was kicked off and filled with 'road running!'  Between the final hockey game of 2013, early Christmas celebrations with family and friends, and last minute errands ... I am looking forward to the sanctity of Christmas Holidays at HOME!  Enjoy the weekend!

Those Prairie Scavengers!

Truthfully, I took these images yesterday when the sun was shining!  It was such an overcast, blah, grey day that I preferred putting my head in the clouds and pretending that the 20th of December was sunny not overcast!  Wow ... the 20th, I guess that means only 5 more days till Christmas doesn't it?  Hmm ... I guess that would also mean that the  Winter Solstice is on our door step!

Fog Bow or Sun Dogs?

It's darn cold this morning BUT the wonders of nature are beautiful!!!  I'm leaning towards this as being a Fog Bow with the sun reflecting in the low-lying fog but that's just my guess!  All I know is that it's very cold outside ... especially if you dash out without a scarf over your nose!  Brrr ....

"All I Want ..."

"... Is My Two Front Teeth!"

Not the best 'snap' ... and it was a quick snap!  Our boys are very busy and our youngest is extra busy these days with the excitement of the holidays, so trying to get him to 'sit still' is next to impossible!  However, I do believe he is wishing for his two front teeth!  I don't think they will make it in for Christmas but he is busy wishing they would!  

Evening Pastels

A quick photo from the truck window, as we headed out for the boys hockey practice.  

Sometimes the soft blues, mauves and pinky-yellows 

just stop you in your tracks for a moment!  

Drifting Snow ...

The snow was on the move today BUT at least it was warm!  Yes, the temperature hovered around 0C all day ... much better than last weeks Arctic cold temps!  

Who Goes There ...

Hmm ... we didn't see any today but we know there are plenty close by!  

The Grouse have left their tracks!  

Our Saturday Snowshoeing Adventure

The boys and I finally pulled out our snowshoes and this afternoon was a perfect day for snowshoeing!  We started off walking ...

But then 'someone' thought we should RUN!

That lead to falling into a hole in between fallen trees!

Then we decided to play 'Follow the Leader!'

Just me and MY FOOT and Snowshoe (proof that I was participating!)

We climbed prairie knolls ...

We went down hills, sometimes tripping and falling! 

We crossed frozen, shallow Prairie sloughs.

The hounds followed in our footsteps.

And as the sun started to get lower in the horizon, we headed for home!

We hope you enjoyed your day as much as we did!