Is That Santa???

Double Trouble, originally uploaded by digbytoast.

Which reminds me, I still have to get The Kitten Boys their Christmas presents!!
Blogging has unfortunately taken a back seat due to my miserable sinus infection...yes...I'm really getting whiny about it...but I'm trying to remain hopeful that it'll be gone for Christmas.
I'm trying to decide how many decorations I am going to put up this Christmas...none yet because I'm afraid Tommy and Jasper will think they are all new toys for them to play with and break.
But I did hang my jazzy new black and silver bell wreath on my door yesterday.
Since it's on the outside, it's safe from leaping kittens!
And a friend lent me Bob Dylan's new Christmas CD...have you heard it???
I'm not a Dylan fan per se, but there are some good tracks...and if you haven't seen his video to "Must be Santa" you need to have a look.
It's unique!!
Would have loved to have been out in this morning's snow taking pictures...but had to come to work...perhaps everything won't have turned to slush by the time I'm done for the day.
Stay warm,
Dawn

First Snow!

"Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper in sinks into the mind."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I'm trying to take my own advice today...to ignore this miserable sinus infection that won't go away and focus on the positive...like enjoying the first snowfall of the season this afternoon.

The gently swirling flakes brought to mind a visit to the Toronto Zoo early this year, when the Sumatran tigers looked almost icing-sugar coated.

I think they were trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues, like I used to when I was a kid!

There was hardly anyone else around that afternoon...and it was so quiet you could hear the tigers breathing as they crunched through the snow.

A divine experience!

Until next time...

Dawn

I Am Leo, Hear Me Roar

ReWorking an Old Favourite, originally uploaded by digbytoast.

Happy Wednesday, we've made it to the middle of the week!
I'm struggling a bit with a sinus infection, but hope you're firing on all cylinders.
During our weekend visit to the Zoo, my niece and a friend and I got to hear one of the lions roaring -- what an incredible sound -- one that makes something inside your chest vibrate!
I love lions -- coincidence since I'm a Leo?
You know I don't believe in coincidence.
Maybe that's why I love this picture that I took in Florence, Italy a few years ago so very much.
I have it enlarged and hanging over my bed -- so I look at it every night before I go to sleep and every morning when I wake up.
Even emphasizing the cooler tones as in this treatment...I think my Medici Lion still embodies all those qualities of fiery fierceness, wisdom and strength that it's good to contemplate dark and early in the morning as I start my day.
The lion on the weekend actually roared itself back to sleep...getting progressively quieter until it harrumphed and was quiet....perhaps something for me to try tonight!
See you later,
Dawn

Inside I'm Tall!

Self Portrait, originally uploaded by digbytoast.

This weekend my almost 16-year-old niece is coming to visit and inevitably, she will make me stand back to back with her so she can measure how tall she is.
She's now just a smidge taller and loves to point this out.
That I am vertically-challenged is not news...and maybe that's why this picture always makes me smile.
It was taken two years ago while on vacation in northern Minnesota.
I love the light and the colours and textures.
And most of all, I love that I'm tall!!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Dawn

I Have Itchy Feet!

The Cloisters, Salisbury Cathedral, originally uploaded by digbytoast.

It's been building for several weeks now, that urge to pack up and head off on another great adventure.
Only Christmas is coming and we're about to be under an Olympic related vacation ban at work, so flying the coop isn't an option for several months.
But there are all kinds of websites to surf and locations to contemplate.
I do know that I want to do something very special as a 50th birthday present-to-self...but what?
The urge is very strong to return to England.
I took this photograph of the Cloisters at Salisbury Cathedral four years ago on my first trip to England, standing in place for quite a few minutes so that there wouldn't be any fellow tourists in the shot.
I love the result -- and have an enlargement in my living room to remind me of an amazing day spent simply revelling in the age of the place.
But there's a new vacation option on the horizon...a trip to Arizona and Utah with my brother and sister-in-law.
That's such a photographically-exciting prospect!
Can I do both?
Maybe I'll win big on that lottery ticket that I bought the other day!
Someday I'd like to understand why is it when most days I love nothing more than to go home and snuggle with the Kitten Boys...that I have such a powerful urge to travel.
For now though...back to making lists and dreaming of faraway places.

My Little Pigeon Wisdom

My Little Pigeon Wisdom, originally uploaded by digbytoast.

I took this picture two years ago in Sienna, Italy and it remains one of my favourites.
I chanced on the Dilbert quote one morning, and it seemed so perfect!
We all have those days when we're the statue...unable to move forward and dealing with a lot of crap.
It's the days that you can soar above it all that make up for them.
Dawn

My First Blog!

Hello...and welcome!
I've been debating all day long how to start this off and what to say.
Blank space is always a challenge.
I hope to use it wisely though, to talk about things that are important to me -- from the major issues of the day -- to what I'm reading -- to simple things that make me happy.
I also plan to incorporate many of my photographs that are special to me, that I'd like to share with you.
I'm starting off with a sunrise shot of The Narrows in St. John's, Newfoundland taken on the day after my 49th birthday.
It brings to mind a very peaceful morning filled with happiness and the anticipation of setting off to explore new places.
It's so easy to hit the Snooze bar, roll over and miss this exquisite time of the day.
Moments like this remind me why early mornings are such a gift.
See you next time,
Dawn