Thank God It's Friday

Today started out kind of slow. It was a wet cold day on the west coast. I would have rather stayed in bed - I did till almost 9:00 am. The promise of a hot cup of joe moved my feet slowly down the hallway to the kitchen. Before I can even pour myself some coffee, my faithful companion, Cheyenne comes trotting out of his bedroom and gives me the glare! The glare means "It's morning .... and I'm hungry ... and where's my breakfast? Oh ya - good morning - now where's my breakfast?" So rather then TRY to enjoy my coffee while being stared down, I always feed my dog first! He knows how to handle his people!

Anyway, at some point during the morning I did promise to take him for a w-a-l-k. He can spell ... immediately he starts bugging me .... when are we going ... why don't you go get dressed ....

Finally around 11:00 am, we did get our act together. Rubber boots, winter parka, touque and throw the dog into the car, down the hill, and across the road to a beautiful camp ground, at the mouth of the Big Qualicum River where it feeds into the ocean.

Keep in mind the wind is blowing, it's raining ever so slightly, rather dull grey cold day .... we came around the corner and the first thing that attracts my photographic eye are swans. They are everywhere ... gracefully swimming up and around the river. Making a racket - squawking, honking .... talking about the intruders.

A look overhead finds another majestic sight ... circling around are eagles. Eagles landing on the water's edge, fighting over a catch .... up above in the tree tops - Eagles everywhere. My cold frozen fingers can not take photos fast enough.

If that's not enough to get the old heart pounding, another surprise was just around the bend. Laying, splashing, resting on the side where the river meets the ocean was about two dozen seals. I felt like today was my birthday. I slowly crept forward, taking shot after shot ... trying not to alert those beautiful creatures that look like stone ... looking at me with their long gorgeous eye lashes. Eventually, they too get spooked and splash ... into the ocean, bobbing around, while keeping an eye on us.

How wonderful to see all of God's creatures like that , in one place. A photographer is lucky to get one or two good shots during an average dog walk. Today I was snap happy, coming home with so much material that I can use in my artwork, many of my publications, or to just share with my blogging friends.


Thank God for Fridays!

Love what you do and do what you love.

I certainly do!

I'm Back

Just returned from a wonderful trip to the beautiful Qu'Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan. A little bit of work with lots of pleasure made for a great time. I lived in the valley for seven years prior to moving out to the Island. It feels like home, as both my parents still live there, my brother farms the family homestead, and there are lots of friends to catch up with.

Here is a picture of the early morning frost, just as I headed out to the airport last week. There is something very magical about a cool crisp morning such as this ... like frosting on a cake.

I also took some photos while at the farm. I can't wait to start working on this one as a painting. Any suggestions on what to title it? I would like to try painting this with a very limited palette - possibly only three colours. I want to give it a rustic feel, like that of a sepia photo.