Monday, January 28, 2019

Alberta Clipper or Part 2

As we head into the end of the first month of the year we get an Alberta Clipper, rolling in. (This is a weather phenomena, which brings snow and frigid temperatures, from the West and North) So as I type, snow is literally swirling outside and roads are completely covered in piles of snow. So far it is light and fluffy variety. We will see what tomorrow brings.

I do have some more photos of January to share, so here they are.
This is the first of January 2019. Just wonderful sky and all three buildings captured at the Point of Ayre on the Isle of Man, the lighthouse, the fog horn and winkie lighthouse (recently sold for 10,000.00 pounds!)

I think that could be an Isaac

and this is the boy who turned 17 on this day. 

The sky was so dramatic. Look how far that tide if out! This is Ramsey Isle of Man

It will be hard to beat this simple picture this year. I found this scallop shell just on the grass by the harbour in Ramsey. As the evening sun streamed on to the grass it all seemed so incongruous. Bright green, bright sunshine and a gift from the sea and this is January...

Clouds and our favorite place on the island, The Sound

Yes it was a bit nippy

and I found mushrooms...that would be damp then

Just so picture perfect. But for me the green of the landscape is what I found compelling and startling all at the same time

Back to Canada


I bet you already knew this. But one day at the bus stop with Louie I discovered something, that you can see snowflakes structure with the naked eye. I did not know this and I was blown away with this discovery and had to try and capture that on my phone. These macro shots do show the crystalline nature and I just marvel at it...

Just the most amazing thing. Each one formed in such a precise manner and so many different types. Louie informed me that a chap had done this with an early camera. But for me on that street, it was a first and I just think it is wonderful. All that snow falling outside my window is made up of these structures....just wow

Early morning skies

and frozen lakes.

The surface of the lake is full of bubbles...and layers of ice that has formed

I rather liked the reflections and beams of light off the bridge

But  this is a favorite. The ice at the edge of the lake and how it forms with all the air bubbles. Of course there are the leaves to give some idea of size and they are so colourful in the black and white world that Kitchener now is becoming

Totally fab winter sky over the frozen river  and look at those black limbed trees all spidery and the sun is retreating....

I am rather amazed by ice and how it forms and I have been looking at the waterfall by the Gallery where I volunteer through the months and now we have the most amazing ice

The black marks in the picture in the ice are the water rushing underneath. You could hear it gushing through, brrr

and the red twigs were just so bright by the side of the lake

and the sumac

Early morning at the bus stop

and lots of frosty windows and ice crystals at this time of the year. Luckily this is not my house! But they look like ice ferns on the window panes. 

and look at my waterfall now. (I suggest that you click on this one and look at the structure of icy snow on the left of the picture. It is a perfect swirl!!!)

More snowy mornings

and snowy streets

and snowy house, snug in the winter

I did find some more colour

and this is St Jacobs colour yesterday


I love the leaves that stay in winter. They are always a jolly sight and make us remember that there are more seasons!

But look at that blue sky. Just vibrant. It was chilly though and there is more to come thanks to the clipper.




Monday, January 21, 2019

December?

I know that as we speed into the the New Year none of us looks back, or if we do that was at the begining of January and the "reflection" period. Unfortnuately for me I have been tardy and so now I have Decemeber photos and January ones accruing. I will try and speedily get through the Decemeber portion but funnily enough, December could pretty much be any time of the year in Isle of Man and that is where I was after Christmas and the New Year. I had in fact forgotten that Winter there is of course darker than where I have lived since and also not as cold. Hence fields being such a vivid hue that it hurts your eyes!

But enough of that, here are my favorite photos from December, starting out in Ontario
A tradition that we were very keen to continue with in Canada, the annual tree cutting for our Christmas Tree....but actually trees in this part of the world are scrawny! Never mind we persevered

and so it arrived

Christmas cheer was in abundance in the house

and evening winter sunsets

Something about feathery grass and stark trees, soft glow coming in as night starts to draw in

This had to be recorded for prosperity and that is brave Louie and the learning to skate

and now hands free! whoo hoo

I loved this morning sky! just wow.

There are still berries about

and more than one kind!

and then onto

Isle of Man in the Winter Time


This is something that was at first rather benign but actually this was a singing flashing lighted Christmas Tree. Actually quite startling if you're not expecting it!

I took Louie for a photo walk and yes he is now in full possession of my camera......

There is my camera with Louie

and of course revenge is sweet, is it not!

I was showing him some of the architecture in Douglas Isle of Man

The landscape was just beautiful and muted wintry pallet 

This is an absolute favorite. That indigo sky travelling back from the North of the Island, with hints of pink

Busy boats and great colours

and fun with lenses on a mobile!

Found some great door knockers

and door decorations

But that blue sky was unexpected and most welcome



This is jolly scene, another harbour and more boats in winter sunshine in Peel

This is part of a mansion that had an attached warehouse. I love the fact they have retained and up kept it. This is in the back streets of Peel

Just brilliant...hippies, how lovely!

Manx door knocker

and a serious fox

Alley ways are a favorite of mine.


and so playing around with lenses

you can get this kind of close

and even this! The coffee was lovely. You might notice that the bubbles almost have rainbows in.

Night time came early in the Isle of Man and this was the main shopping street and wanted to capture the inky black

But there was cheery sights

and that lovely indigo velvet sky

But by far the most fun was the special lenses and getting fabulous close ups. Moss is the best!

These two boot scrappers caught my eye, I wonder who the figure is?

and this one. I wonder how useful this one is?

That would be moss

Hydrangea

and even in winter there is interest

Lichen looking like it is on another planet

and moss world

I have taken this picture before and is always stunning

Blue rope and blue paint

and bright verbena 

The water was so still

Sharpe and clear lines

wow fierce!

and flowers in the winter.....

It was an interesting time to go further North and in my case East. The light and colour of the Isle of Man was just stunning.