The sun sets on 2011...

Here are some final photos from the last day of the year.  We had sun, hail, rain today all in a very short period of time.

The witch hazel is starting to show some of it's winter colour.

 They looked so delicate in the afternoon sun.

 Raindrops left over from the showers a few hours earlier clung to the beauty berries.

 They look so delicate and fragile.

 My winter wreath welcomes you to my home.

 One of the resident ducks just hanging out on the quay.

 What is that sea gull trying to do?  It is trying to steal the loon's dinner.

 He or she dove below the water to escape the gull and surfaced with this tasty bite.

 Winter flowering forsythia is starting to bloom.

 These bare branches put out a pretty delicate pink blossom.

 In my courtyard the roses are still putting out blooms.  White ones.

 Some pink.

 A red.

 Yet another red.

 As the sun sets on 2011 my wish is that you have a safe and healthy Happy New Year.

See you in 2012!

Merry Christmas

This tree is made with ornament blocks from an online swap with friends in Mary Lou Weidman's yahoo group.  This morning I got my top finished.  I'm thinking I might put som snow on the bottom but not quite sure yet.  This is one of many swaps that I've done with Mary Lou's group and would recommend coming and joining the fun.

May you enjoy this day with family and friends and share a lovely dinner, Merry Christmas everyone!

Starting to look like Christmas...maybe!

I went up to West 10th last weekend and found these delightful Grinch Christmas trees outside a nursery.  I was tempted to bring one home but didn't.

 They could make quite a fun decorating theme...I just might have to go back and get one.

 The next day I spotted these cyclamens flowering along the quay.  There were a couple of plants putting out these delicate blooms.

 They almost look like butterflies don't you think?

 The fall crocuses were making one last bloom before winter arrives.

Rain, Snow, Sunshine on the West Coast

Last weekend was a rainy one but left some interesting patterns on the leaves.

 The previous day I wanted to take a photo of the beauty bush in Rita's garden, but my camera battery was dead.  Love the contrast of the purple and yellow.

 Yesterday I brought my camera to work and took a picture of this Arbutus tree located just outside of the admitting department.

 I took this picture just before the sun rose looking out the window of my office.  Wet snow was coming down.

 At days' end the snow was melting, but an icy rain had also come down and covered some of the bushes and cars.

 Today was sunny and cold, the maple tree tucked by the entrance of this condo has some beautiful yellow, oranges and reds.

 The beauty berry in the sunshine.

 A closer view, love the contrast of the yellow leaves behind.

 Sun dappling through the leaves.

 A view east along the Fraser River looking at the sky train crossing the bridge, behind is the Pattulo bridge and Golden Eagles mountains beyond.

 A couple of green leaves still hanging on.

 

 A large log boom floating up the river to be delivered to a mill.

 A Japanese Maple tree in all it's colourful glory.

The red of the witch hazel tree with a few green leaves still enjoying the sun.

 Buds starting to form on the witch hazel tree.

 Some more interesting buds.

 Life on the west coast, Palm Trees and skeleton trees side by side!

 Roses still blooming in November.

 The crow checking me out while I take it's picture and wondering if I'll forget my food package.

 The view into my condo, almost no leaves on the cherry trees, but a few still on the maple trees.

 My ornaments ready to be shipped off for the ornament exchange with Mary Lou Weidman's online group.  Can't wait to see which ones I get back.

Aunt Mary's Quilt Shop and changing colours of Autum.

Yesterday I took my mom for a field trip across the border to Washington State.  One of my favourite places to visit is Aunt Mary's Quilt Shop in Smokey Point.  The stained glass window is a copy of Carrol's logo she uses for the shop.  I've taken a great workshop with Mary Lou Weidman there and it is a "have to go to" when I'm in the area.

 Carrol has her place loaded with wonderful fabrics and samples.

 She carries a bit of felted wool but mainly stocks cottons, batiks and lots of books and patterns.

 Love the Buggy Barn turkey quilt hanging in the classroom.

 Carrol is also a barrista and her coffees are very good.

 She is constantly working on samples and having fun with her customers. Check out her blog at http://auntmarysquiltshop.blogspot.com/

 Back at home I decided to show you some colour progression along the quay.  Here are the trees along the river in September.

 Early October you start to see a bit of yellow on the trees.

 October 13th a bit more red.

 Today all the leaves are gone...

 October 7th the maple tree outside my window is green with a bit of yellow on the edges.

 October 23 look at the red coming out!

 October 27th even more brilliant.

 October 30th the ornamental cherry trees in our courtyard still have a lot of green.

 Today there are less leaves and more red under cloudy skies.

 Different textures and colours along the quay.

 Witch hazel showing off it's red leaves.

 Oak leaf hydrangea another tone of red.

 Yellow leafed witch hazel.

 A crow having a mid morning snack

 Yellows, oranges and reds.

 A closer view of the reds...

 ...and of the yellows.

Autumn colours in all it's glory for a little while longer.