White Christmas

well it looks like we'll have a white Christmas after all! This year it is very special to me- it's our first one in our new home and with my horse home as well.
Merry Christmas to all of you.

Manhatten

I am a country girl to the core. But I have a secret love of cities. Manhatten is one of my favourites- there is an energy and vibe that is intoxicating. I love to visit and walk the streets. This trip was a shot business one but I managed to arrange for an early flight on sunday so I could walk around. Of course I brought my camera. I also managed a trip to B&H photo and bought a new sigma lens :)

this and that

my photo club went on an outing to Mahone Bay. This is a jewel of a town that needs to be on your must see list if you come to Nova Scotia. :). There was a Father Christmas Festival going on.  However, I found my eye being attracted to other things, not the scenes.

paper rose

tree shadow

waiting

and this is my favourite:

and so you can see what Mahone Bay looks like:

The Neglectful Blogger

I've been neglectful of my blog lately but I have a good excuse. Really. Work has been beyond busy, but that's all I'll say about that. I haven't been able to get into the woods as much because it's hunting season and I just won't risk me or the dogs. But really, it's been this project that's been taking up my free time:

excavation

you see, the fun thing about photography is that it's not just 'art' but it can also tell a story.

framing

Like the building of a dream. And my dream has been to have my very own barn so that I can keep my horse at home. In managing my riding obsession (well okay, not managing, so much as indulging it as much as finances and time allow) I have boarded my whole horse owning career. I have boarded at good places and not so good places. Twice I have left with no notice for the safety of my horse. I don't mind boarding, I just hate not having options when the drama gets too much.

trusses

So when it came time to buy my husband and I looked at every property for sale within a 40 km radius. We saw great houses and lousy barns. Great barns and lousy houses (seriously, the kind that needed a match taken to it). Finally we found this wee gem with no barn but GREAT fields. And the price was amazing. So we bought it. Last year was the reno of the house and this year is the barn building.

After many false starts we found the perfect contractor. He's been reliable, on time, within budget and there's not one nail to be found laying around. Trust me, I've been checking. Now for details of the barn (non-horsey people, feel free to skip this part): it's 36 x 36. On this side are 3 box stalls, each with a dutch door that will open to the outside sacrifice paddock. This paddock will open into the larger grass fields. Yes, my horse will have honest-to-god-grass.

opposite to the stalls is a 12x12 heated tack/feed room. It will have running water. The rest of the barn is open for hay storage. And I found a major score:

The most perfect weather vane- see my husband is a volunteer fire fighter. I showed it to him and he asked why we needed a weather vane anyway. Sigh. He is a practical man after all. So I looked him in the eye and said 'we have to have a weather vane, it's the law'. But after 24 years he's on to me so he looked me back and said 'really?'. 'Well it's my law' I say. 'okay' he says (see after 24 years he's smart too).
Check out these wood floors- solid hickory! We thought about concrete but decided to go this route instead. The smell inside is amazing.

if all goes according to plan, it will be done in about 2 weeks.

It's been wonderful watching this be built. Soon I'll be having my horse home, riding in my 20 x 60 metre ring and hitting the trails. Behind my house in the woods are miles and miles of trails.

oh and back to the stalls: there will be 3. One for Irish, one for my second horse. I don't want Irish to be lonely so have started looking at yearlings........ And a guest stall. So come on over. :)

Happy Hallowe'en!

chasing me
as i leave

my dreams into the light of day the hell hound closes in on his prey feasting on days past the jaws of hell closing fast (Frank DeFulgentis)

my dreams

into the

light of day

the hell hound

closes in on his prey

feasting

on days past

the jaws of hell

closing fast

(Frank DeFulgentis)

Outside my bedroom window 
there lives a spooky tree
As soon as I climb into bed
It sits and watches me
(M Smith & A Hipperson)

cemetery, cool and quiet
hate to leave your sacred lay
dread the milky coming of the day
(Jim Morrison) 

There's a house upon the hilltop
We will not go inside
For that is where the witches live,
Where ghosts and goblins hide.

"will you walk into my parlor?"
said the spider to the fly.....

My Favourite Time of Year

 I love this time of year- the light, colours, crispness. It's so beautiful.

Sunset on the Pacific

On my last few hours in San Diego I was offered a trip to the beach before I flew home. I jumped on the chance. She took me to Ocean Beach that seemed to fit my own stereotypes of a california beach- there were surfers and laid back people wandering the sands. There ware even VW vans :)  I believe I smuggled some sand back on the plane.

San Diego

Once again I'm on the road, or on the wing as they say. It was my first time in San Diego and I have to say it's a stunning city. Because my hotel was right in the Gaslamp Quarter I was able to get out and walk every evening.

found this guy on keeping a close eye on the fisherman at the wharf

how many bananas do you think this holds?

and this apparently carries cars. 

One Lovely Blog award

The Rules:

1. Thank the person who shared the award with you by linking back to them in your post.
2. Pass this award to at least 15 recently discovered blogs and let them know that you included them in your blog post.
3. List 7 things about yourself.

One

I was nominated by Grant at http://sideways-glance.com/blog-2/ and I am very thankful and appreciative of being included.  Thank you very much Grant! You really should check out his blog- Grant is a brilliant photographer and somewhat of a philosopher so it's always interesting. 

Two

I am somewhat new to this blogging thing so I am linking blogs that I enjoy. there's a mix of horse and photography and the just plain hilarious blogs in there:

http://theliteraryhorse.wordpress.com/

http://wickeddarkphotography.com/

http://mugwumpchronicles.blogspot.com/

http://mugwumpchronicles.blogspot.com/

http://www.photography.ca/blog/

http://eulothg.blogspot.com/

http://richimage.blogspot.com/

http://aspenmeadows.blogspot.com/

http://www.capturethelightphoto.net/

http://imagesthatitook.blogspot.com/

http://cakewrecks.squarespace.com/

sorry that I don't have 15, but there you have it. 

Three

1. I have two expensive hobbies: photography and riding. Both fulfill a need that I cannot adequately describe but are there. I cannot remember not wanting to be around horses. In fact when I was 3 my neighbour would deposit me at home with the admonishment to my mother that she really should keep me out of his horse pasture. Photography was long time interest that I finally decided to pursue and I am glad that I did. 
2. When I was around 4 my parents separated and we had to move to the city so my mom could work. I hated it. In fact I would search out woods and spend a lot of time in there. I now live in the country and I cannot describe the satisfaction that gives me. 
3. I am strongwilled- or stubborn. Depending on your point of view.  I also value my independence and have a tendency to dig my heels in when confronted with ultimatums. 
4. I am not sentimental but prefer to use logic and reasoning. This makes me seem 'cold' sometimes. I don't believe that I am cold but I can see how others would see it that way. 
5. I am a good photographer but I am working towards being a really good one. I am also a good rider but desire to be perfect. 
6. I love competition, I really do. I know that it's not viewed as womanly but there you have it. For me competition is about striving to beat myself- not everyone else. 
7. Growing up my family thought that I was not that bright. In fact some members tried to discourage me from attending University. However, once I hit Uni I thrived and ending up paying my way almost exclusively with scholarships. It turns out that I am intelligent but that I struggled with the way that school presented the learning. This helped me to understand my son who seemed to have the same struggles I did. He's now in Military college and doing well. 

the upside of Antigonish

I seem to be spending lots of time on the road. This week I had to go to Sydney and, since I was going that way, decided to stop in Antigonish and visit with staff there. I arrived there late afternoon and went out walking. Before I left I inquired at the hotel for a map and was told that I could not get lost- just head for the white church down town. so I went walking and did not get lost. :) What a charming town. I also wandered into St. FX- the University there. What a beautiful spot. I still have lots of images to process but here are some so far:

I loved the play of light

Inside St. Ninians Cathedral on Campus

 I don't know why I was atrtacted to this house, but I was

okay, so I added Orton to illustrate the effect of this house but I  actually softened the colours a bit- really

The Virgin Mary- I used Topaz B&W on this one

While I don't like the time spent driving or being away from home all that much I am glad that I bring my camera. it gives me something to do. :)

Hey Baby....

there is this friend of ours who house/dog sits for us when we have to go away. When you meet her it's easy to jump to conclusions about her but trust me, she's one of the good people. I don't care how much you make or how much you swear, whether you do well in school or make a lot of money. I try to judge people by their honesty and integrity. Those are the people I want to be with. So, to return to the plot, this friend's daughter had a baby and they have no money. She asked if I would take pictures for them and I agreed. After all it's just my time really. It was kind of fun. The baby is a cutie and it was a learning experience. :) So here are some of the good shots (many I deleted- babies like to move a lot )

In a Black and White sort of mood

but it's been fun.....

Hard Light

A photographer friend was on vacation and wanted to come to my neck of the woods to take some pictures. His daughter, who's an excellent photographer for one so young, was also coming. I contacted another friend who knows the area like the back of his hand. We had a great day walking around Lunenburg and Stonehurst. It was a hot day and the light was harsh. However, I am not one of those who believe shots should only be taken in 'perfect' light. I also think that sometimes breaking the rules is more fun. Here are some shots from that day:

I sneaked a peek inside the dory shop and caught this artist at work

These are 'thole pins' and serve as oarlocks in dories

This house is Lunenburg has been featured in a few movies and tv shows as a haunted house. So I decided to process it with an 'older' feel

I think the harsh light works here. And since it's my vision, I get to decide :)

one of the most photographed buildings in Nova Scotia this treasure is in Stonehurst.