music, friends, art...
It has been quiet here on the blog while life has been exciting some days, sometimes leaving me too tired for words (partly due to a cold as well). So just a list as to what has been going... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 25/01/2012 | 8 comments
themes: Art Exhibitions, Being an Artist, Home, Music, Neat stuff
jack frost
Jack Frost has been visiting on our clear cold nights recently, doing his artistry in the garden with his sparkling white paints. It is now back to rain, and looking like a green Christmas. And that reminds me.... it... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 23/12/2011 | 16 comments
themes: Culture, Home
icicles
No, not down here but from a visit to Mt. Seymour a few short weeks ago. I'm enjoying dipping into those photos! Though the weather is much warmer this week (8C or 46F this evening!) I'm still dreaming of... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 17/12/2011 | 12 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Current Events, Home
white night
another photo from atop Mt. Seymour having trouble getting to sleep, sitting here with sleepytime tea, looking out at a white night, a brilliant white full moon, a sparkling white frosted lawn there will be a lunar eclipse in... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 10/12/2011 | 7 comments
themes: Home
looking south
Lifting my head from letter writing, my eyes are drawn to glimpses of bright but long low rays of sunshine crossing the yard, breaking through the neighbour's dense row of trees along the south side of our property. With... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 08/12/2011 | 8 comments
themes: Home
December sunrise
7:40 am 8:00 am First day of the last month of the year and I'm far too busy! This week I've done some gardening, cleaned the house, had an overnight guest, and spent this day preparing prints for our... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 01/12/2011 | 21 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Home
falling leaves
The leaves are really coming down now, blown by the high winds and rain of a typical November storm. I'm glad to be snug and warm at home today. Such a contrast to the snow covered evergreens atop Mt.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 24/11/2011 | 16 comments
themes: Home
appleturnovers
Getting ready for a special teatime on the deck, one summer afternoon a few weeks ago, after daughter Elisa came home from an unusual visit to her favourite Italian bakery in Vancouver. How excited and round-eyed the grandgirls were,... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 07/09/2011 | 12 comments
themes: Blogging, Home
sepia
Elisa and her little girls arrived safely in London in the early hours of this morning, Vancouver time. They are joyful seeing husband and father after more than two months. The last few days have been a whirlwind, then... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 09/08/2011 | 13 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Home
busy
We are having the dog days of summer here... at last, for those who like the heat, which I don't, but just in time for our "English" daughter and granddaughters to get in some quality beach time. They will... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 05/08/2011 | 15 comments
themes: Home, Photography
early one morning
around 4:45 a.m. a week or so ago, the insomniac's sweet reward... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 02/08/2011 | 12 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
summertime is
the taste of homegrown tomatoes... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 24/07/2011 | 11 comments
themes: Home
raccoons' morning bath
It is 8:00 am and I am sitting at my computer preparing a blog post when at the corner of my eye by the window I see some movement outside in the backyard. Lo! a family of raccoons having... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 08/07/2011 | 16 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home, Neat stuff
garden art
Summer seems to have finally arrived here with the turn of the month. After a long cold gloomy spring, the light now seems almost too brilliant, especially for photography. We've been out on the good days in the past... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 04/07/2011 | 15 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Home
early Sunday morn
Opa spotted the grandgirls enjoying a sunny morning story time while most of the house occupants are fast asleep!... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/06/2011 | 12 comments
themes: Current Events, Home
tracks
More photos from the weekend's snow...you know how I like looking underfoot! Most are obvious but the last one I leave as a mystery for you to puzzle over, as I did when I first saw it.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 28/02/2011 | 6 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
snow, snow, snow
After a week of subzero temperatures and frozen ground, snow has been coming down steadily, at first lightly all day yesterday, then heavily in the evening and all night. This morning it was still snowing but the forecast said... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 27/02/2011 | 7 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
reflected
After hours and days of working at the computer and a bit in my home studio, today I just had to take a break and enjoy the sunshine outdoors. My garden has been much neglected since the fall and... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 09/02/2011 | 7 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
early signs
[Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/01/2011 | 17 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
on yesterday's walk
The sun was shining, the sky a clear blue, the night's slight frost gone, and we were tempted outdoors for a walk to the park. In this natural woodland park by the sea we spotted some human touches in... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 18/12/2010 | 7 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
in winter sun
In our neighbourhood near sea level, most of Friday night's snow has melted. Lots of brilliant white snow lies low down on the mountains. It's cold and a bit windy, hovering around freezing this afternoon as I go about... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 21/11/2010 | 7 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
yesterday and today
Sandwiched between some cold and rainy days, yesterday was a brilliant sunny one, such a pleasure when it's now more rare and cannot be taken for granted. Above is an iconic Vancouver scene that I enjoyed in the morning... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 11/11/2010 | 5 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Current Events, Home
feels like fall
- cool rainy days alternating with some sunny warm days - the first long slow oven-roasted chicken - the first cold night at 8C (46F) - the first pot of chicken soup simmering on the stove - floating medallions... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 22/09/2010 | 10 comments
themes: Home
shadow play
This afternoon's moment of shapely shadows playing on white curtain, recalling yesterday's fleeting, precious ephemeral instant: a hummingbird's shadow, too quick to be captured with camera, as he feeds at the hanging red ivy geraniums.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 21/08/2010 | 5 comments
themes: Home
scatterings
...more scan play with dried flowers, this one a dipladenia This morning's wake up call was the sound of slamming doors echoing through the house. A pleasant coolness felt almost chilly after the week's heat wave. All morning the... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 12/07/2010 | 9 comments
themes: Home, Nature, Photoworks
heat
I know I shouldn't complain after our cool spring but I am much too hot! It was 30C (86F) here yesterday and today will be hotter, and it's humid too. I know those in eastern Canada and US are... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 08/07/2010 | 10 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
garden delights
I'm continuing to enjoy a relaxing extra long weekend at home, especially observing the ever evolving cycles of blossoming and going-to-seed in the garden, messy in places still but with many rewarding delights for the senses. Another delight is... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 04/07/2010 | 5 comments
themes: Home, Nature, Photoworks
June's end
[Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 30/06/2010 | 9 comments
themes: Home, Nature, Photoworks
looking out
sitting here with no words to offer but a bit of my view over the back yard...... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 29/06/2010 | 9 comments
themes: Home
summer
the tomatoes are growing, golden nuggets almost ready the first cucumber was delicious, many more awaiting little baby peppers are appearing like magic local sweet strawberries and raspberries for dessert a huge full strawberry moon tonight it must be... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/06/2010 | 10 comments
themes: Home
Happy May Day
The first of May is historically and culturally more important in Europe than in North America, rooted in ancient pagan celebrations of spring sometimes mixed with some modern political overtones. I briefly indulge in some fond memories of some... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 01/05/2010 | 19 comments
themes: Culture, Home
hellos and goodbyes
Much greeting and hugging and then goodbyes have been a large part of our holidays as our family swelled from seven for Christmas Eve to nine on the 27th, then twelve for just a day on the 28th and... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 30/12/2009 | 7 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Culture, Home
lights of the season
enjoying the days of sunlight and frost fires and warm candlelight in foggy nights these last days of the year... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 27/12/2009 | 8 comments
themes: Culture, Home
Winter Stories 2009
Every Christmas since 2003, our granddaughter Lael, now 9, has told a winter story that her daddy has animated and put on her website as their holiday greeting to their friends and family. And each year since I started... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 25/12/2009 | 8 comments
themes: Home, Other artists
home fires burning
Thanks to Erika for posting my video onto her Flickr account! The past few days we've been without home heating, that is, a central heating system we take for granted in most homes in the developed world. Ours is... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 11/11/2009 | 14 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Current Events, Environment, Home, Music
autumn at home
surprise sunrise scene in the kitchen lovely blossoms still blooming madly but producing only plum sized squash babies from volunteers that appeared late in the summer and have grown like Jack-in-the-beanstalks in the new planting bed the best fall... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 08/10/2009 | 4 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
transitions
Detail of a totem in Thunderbird Park, Victoria Though there have been many exhilarating days, I've often been feeling exhausted this month due to sleeping poorly. I realize that's because I'm going through a time of transition in many... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/09/2009 | 8 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Home
summer is...
fresh picked red currants sweetened by sunshine, precious last ones saved for granddaughters' picking pleasure a record heat wave sprinkler swirls sparkling water to delight garden and jumping children a new roof overheated workers start early, quit early... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 31/07/2009 | 17 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
heat wave whine
too hot to plant my garden (I'm way behind because of the trip) too much weeding and watering to do too hot to sleep, too hot to think, too hot to write We've had only one partial day of... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 04/06/2009 | 2 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
spring and birthdays
'Tis the first day of spring and I'm longing for the weather to match! A very cold winter not easing up for spring means this year the garden is unusually late for normally balmy Vancouver. Blame the depressing weather if... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 20/03/2009 | 14 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Culture, Home
thaw
yesterday: rain, melting snow, flooded streets this morning, sunshine; this afternoon, more rain? heavy clumps of snow falling off trees and roof edges still deep white yards, snowbanks, tracks on roads tilting snowmen, carrot noses pointed... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 28/12/2008 | 13 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home, Nature, Photoworks
Lael's Winter Story 2008
Once again, we wish to share our pride and delight with what has become an annual tradition: a gift from our now eight-year old granddaughter and her family, Lael's Winter Story 2008. Lael made up the story and... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/12/2008 | 4 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Home
white and bright
at 5:00 pm Sunday, December 21st, 2008 It's almost midnight on winter solstice day and it's been snowing almost steadily for 24 hours and it is still coming down. What an incredibly beautiful winter wonderland it is out there.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 22/12/2008 | 10 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
solstice time
At [10:04 a.m. Pacific Time] on Sunday Dec. 21, 2008, the northern hemisphere begins its tilt back toward the sun, marking the winter solstice in this part of the world and slowly leading to longer days. This may be... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 21/12/2008 | 6 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Current Events, Home
snow and ice
Well, more snow came down on Wednesday and it has stayed. Here, in the usually balmiest corner of Canada, we are experiencing zub-sero temperatures. Instead of the rain quickly washing it all away as usual there's lots more... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/12/2008 | 16 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
weather report
Though many areas around Metro Vancouver received a lot of snow on the weekend, our little microclimate prevented us from getting more than a dusting and even that was blown away by the high winds. Funny how the... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 15/12/2008 | 13 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
snowy morning
First snow at sea level arrived this morning, beautiful, mesmerizing thick fluffy flakes falling for two or three hours but still too wet to build up very much, then quickly washed away by rain. The local mountains have... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 12/12/2008 | 15 comments
themes: Home
homey day
a lazy Saturday indoors a drizzly misty rain outdoors lingering long after breakfast reading snippets from the weekend paper to each other a little tidying and watering plants a soothing massage on sore legs and aching knee a... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 29/11/2008 | 5 comments
themes: Home
splendid September
(scan of maple leaf found in old telephone book) After a very wet and cool second-half-of-August, we have had non-stop sunny days, and hot ones this week too! I love the contrasts of the cooler nights and... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 15/09/2008 | 4 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Home
delinquent
As I mentioned before, I have been catching up with some printmaking the past two weeks. I completed the two editions as planned, then documented and photographed them. I have yet to process the images and post them... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/08/2008 | 14 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Home
summer's here
Today is the Victoria Day holiday and what a busy long weekend it has been. My husband took Friday off work and we've been working hard in the garden for three days in a row. Three gorgeous sunny days, the... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/05/2008 | 10 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
outside, inside
looking at spring, outside the patio door
inside the solarium, waiting to summer outside
Marja-Leena | 24/04/2008 | 5 comments
themes: Home
snow in April
We were shocked last night to receive hail and dry pellets of snow, then wet snow for about four or five hours. A few stunning flashes of lightning highlit the whiteness into a ghostlike eery world. Then it all... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/04/2008 | 16 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
urban wildlife
I had some excitement at the home front this afternoon. I was in the kitchen about to prepare some vegetables when I spotted some kind of bushy furry creature crawling along the garage roof. I couldn't believe my... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 16/04/2008 | 12 comments
themes: Home, Neat stuff
end of March
I was going to repeat the old cliché about March coming in like a lamb and going out like a lion (or vice-versa). The last two or three weeks have been unusually cold here, with locally variable and sometimes... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 31/03/2008 | 4 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
special long weekend
Yesterday came the spring equinox Last night the full Lenten moon, (did you keep me awake, Moon?) Today son-in-law J's birthday, a make-your-own-pizza party! and cake! Sunday is Easter, so early this year An egg hunt for the... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 21/03/2008 | 14 comments
themes: Culture, Home
and more snow
snowing all night, snowing this morning schools and colleges closed, commuting chaos garden under heavy white blanket, tree branches weighed down silence punctuated with soft thuds, scrape of shovel glad I can stay home today, like the happy... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 29/01/2008 | 6 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
ice and snow
a weekend of snow, rain, ice and snow again
so beautiful and bright
and more snow coming tonight!
Marja-Leena | 28/01/2008 | 14 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Canada and BC, Home
winter sun and frost
We have had several days of sunshine at long last. As often happens here when the cloud cover is gone, it gets quite cold. At night it's been as cold as -5C (23F) so there's frost on the skylights in... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 24/01/2008 | 7 comments
themes: Home
lingering lazy days
My, have I been lazy this past week, not even blogging! The preparations and the holidays themselves seem to have tired me out a bit. I'm enjoying these quiet days to replenish body and soul. It's now Twelfth Night,... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 05/01/2008 | 9 comments
themes: Canada and BC, Home
old year, new year
On this last day of 2007, I feel some sadness in saying goodbye to another year. Changing the annual calendars is such an adrupt marker of the passage of time and of aging, inducing a twinge of melancholy... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 31/12/2007 | 10 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Culture, Home
Boxing Day walk
Reminisces...
two lovely days with dear friends
hours of chatting, eating, laughing
long walks in our neighbourhood
Marja-Leena | 28/12/2007 | 7 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Canada and BC, Home
Happy Boxing Day
Christmas Day was almost a white one when it started to snow in the afternoon as we headed over to one daughter's place for a nice meal and play with the granddaughters. The snowfall was beautiful to watch....
[Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 26/12/2007 | 2 comments
themes: Culture, Home
winter story 2007
Our granddaughter Lael's annual Winter Story has become her family's traditional Christmas greeting to all their family and friends. As always, Lael (now 7 years) does the delightful drawings and tells the story. Her father creates them into... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 25/12/2007 | 12 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Culture, Home
good tidings
The countdown is quickening,
the house is decorated and clean (almost),
the baking nearly done
except for the plum tarts
(the filling is made, the dough is chilling)...
Marja-Leena | 22/12/2007 | 14 comments
themes: Culture, Home
Looking back: Jule favourites
Deep in the archives of three years ago is this favourite Christmas season post of mine and reposted here almost fully: My favourite things about Christmas are the things that appeal to the romantic and the child in me.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 16/12/2007 | 4 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Books, Culture, Home, Music
a stimulating weekend
On Friday, November 16th, our youngest grand-daugther had her second birthday. November 16th is a significant date for me and as this blog is kind of a diary as well, I enjoyed looking up past posts on this date.... [Continue Reading...]Marja-Leena | 19/11/2007 | 8 comments
themes: Being an Artist, Blogging, Home