Time for Thanksgiving

In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October.

I know that in the US you celebrate it in November.

The month or time of year really is not the most important,but rather that we take time to give thanks or have an attitude of gratitude.

Steve and Linda over at [express} life  have decided to use the month of October to show gratitude for the things and people they love.

I encourage you to go over to their site daily and check out their list of gratitudes.

I also want to spend time focusing on the things for which I am thankful.

I may not be posting daily,but in my heart this is going to be a month of thankfulness. Won't you join me?

Give thanks to the Lord.

Psalm 105:1

Guest Photographer

I have a special treat to share today.

I want to introduce you to a guest photographer,who I had the privilege of spending some time with this morning.

I think you will be seeing more of this photographers work in the future.

We went for a walk at Livingstone Park,here in Morden.

The light was not that great,but a good photographer can still get amazing pictures,even in low light.

Here is a look into the park,showing one of the paths.

Another similar shot,just a little lower angle.

Looking straight up into the tree tops.

 I like this kind of creative shot.

Here is a close-up of a tree trunk.

I think this is an interesting picture.

In some of these pictures the photographer used the flash to illuminate the scene.

Even a downed tree can be a good photo subject.

Finding some water in an old tree trunk,is a good reason for a shot.

This stump was very unique in that it had some pink colouring in it.

Again my guest photographer needed to use flash to get a good shot.

Upon coming back to my house,my special guest carefully arranged these collected leaves and captured them as well.

Some of you may be wondering just who this fantastic photographer is.

This is none other than my precious granddaughter,Kai,who is not yet 6 years old.

She had my little point and shoot camera and needed no prompting to take these shots. I think her Daddy,had better be prepared for some competition in the photography field.I might add that it was her idea to use the flash to get a brighter picture.Dare I say that Daddy and Grandma are beaming with pride.

Fall Colors From the Past

It is officially fall and so I want to share some fall colours with you.

Where I live the colours are just beginning,so I have gone back to the archives,Jake's slides,and found some pictures to share.

I believe that whether these were taken 40 years ago or yesterday,the beauty remains the same.

Once again,I am not sure just where many of these were taken,so all we can do is enjoy the scenes.

I do believe that all of these pictures were somewhere in southern Manitoba.

I added this one because of the reflection of a fall colored tree in the water.

This is a female Wood Duck

This is perhaps somewhere near the Pembina Valley.

This valley is located west of Morden and is a popular place for a Sunday afternoon drive,especially in fall.

I am pretty sure this picture is not that old,but still from the slide era.This was taken on our yard here in Morden,which would make it close to 20 years old.

I am slowly trying to post Jake's slide pictures.

Many I have used before,but I want to try to get to the rest,so there will be more posts like this.

Thought for today:

May this fall's blessings remind you of our Father's boundless love.

Sunshine and Tears

When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers,they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire.you will not be burned;the flames will not set you ablaze.For I am the Lord,your God.

Isaiah 43:2-3

The above verse became very meaningful to me about one year ago and today I claim it again,as the memories come back.

A year ago,Jake and I started down the road of incurable cancer.Now I reflect on how God has guided me as I try to move forward.

Today,I will share a few flowers,photographed at the English Gardens.

Never apologize for showing feeling.When you do so,you apologize for the truth.

Benjamin Disraeli

Life is not all sunshine and roses,but God is still good,even when the tears fall.

Stepping Back In Time

While browsing through the many pictures on my computer,I came across some of Jake's pictures from years ago.

I hope you don't mind taking a step back in time and looking at nature the way Jake saw it.The locations may not be known or not right,but the beauty of the places remains the same.

 I will not try to guess at where some of these are taken,except that most are probably in the Canadian Rockies.

Can't you just hear the roar of that water falling down the cliff?

This one I do know.It is Maligne Lake in Jasper Park Alberta.

The only way to see this little island is buy taking a boat tour,but it is so worth it.

I was with Jake here,as this was taken on our honeymoon,some 39 years ago.

I will not venture a guess on this one.

I think this may be the Beartooth Mountain in the USA.

Those switchbacks look like that.

If someone can identify the place,please correct me.

Once again,I am guessing in the Canadian Rockies,perhaps in the Banff area.

I wish now that we had put the locations with these.Jake could recognize most of them.but I am not that good at it.

Thought for today:
I lift up my eyes to the hills -
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2

Trying to Cool Off

We have been having very warm days and I don't do well in the heat.

so in an effort to cool off,I am going back to April of this year when the spring melt was underway.Here are a few sights that caught my attention.

No further words are needed,just enjoy natures sculptures of ice.

So,do you feel cooler now? Perhaps a light sweater would be in order.

What impressed me was the detail in these fragile looking pieces of ice.

Thought for today:

We worship a God who is greater than our greatest problem.

I have a few more pictures from my recent visit to the English Gardens.I hope you don't get tired of seeing the same place over and over again.

Here is one of the many white moths that are around this year.

He shows up well against the brightly coloured Lantana.

Thanks to my blogging friends who told me the name of this flower.

I had to put in just one more picture of the Clearwing Moth.

He too,seemed to enjoy the Lantana.

This beautiful white Lily was putting on a great show.

I liked the little details on the petals.

Zinnias grow beautifully at the gardens.I have never seen them grow as tall as they do here.

Last but not least is a colourful Waterlily leaf.

I have some more pictures from this visit,and sometime I will do a post showing the Coleus.

Thought for today:

 A cheerful heart is good medicine.

Proverbs 17:22

Some of My Favourite Things

For this first day of September I have a few pictures for your enjoyment.

As most of you know,I love the English Gardens in Winnipeg,so once again I share some pictures from one of my recent visits there.

About in the centre of this garden is a small pool.

This is the live sculpture in it.

Here is a Water Lettuce and it's reflection.

I think this is very pretty.

All over the gardens are the most colourful displays of flowers.

I don't even have a name for these,but I love their colour.

Notice that the centre blooms are a different colour,making them very pretty.

Another pool further back has the Water Lilies on display.

It also has a fountain.

I was pleased to see this Water Lily framed by the fountain.

I am also fascinated at how the water looks like beads in a picture. 

One last picture of a Water Lily.No matter how often I see these I always have to take more pictures.

Thought for today:

Every day is a gift.

Thank God for what you have,

Trust God for what you need.