Lake Couchiching

 
I've been at Geneva Park Conference Centre on Lake Couchiching, near Orillia,for the past three days. I took lots of photos and this one seems to have echoes of summer past!

 

Christmas Joy

The tree came down from the attic several days ago, and ever since it was erected, two little girls were waiting impatiently for the day that the ornaments would also come downstairs. Last night was "the night," and they squealed with delight when asked if they would like to decorate the tree.

Silent Night

This poem is for Hannah Fox, a young poet herself, who asked her Auntie Belinda to write her a poem. It doesn't rhyme, but I hope it will do!

It was night, dark night, or so I thought,
But something drew me to the window on my way to bed.
And there to my surprise a snowfall was in process,
A world of wonder that I nearly missed,
My camera quickly found, I flung the window wide,
And in my thin nightclothes I caught my breath.
One shot, two, and then another,
Trying hard to capture the beauty of the night.
Happily I found, that one at least came close,
And I could go at last to bed, content.

Post-lude

After cell group last Tuesday evening as I picked up the coffee cups in the now empty room, I felt, as I often do after people go off into the night, "something" lingering; indefinable but real. Do people leave small echoes of themselves behind? When God has been doing soul-work in people, does His Presence linger?

The trees on Friday wore fresh winter coats and showed them off in the morning light. White on black, in their minimilist colour scheme they stood, following so close on their recent brilliant hues.

The Alder Grove

More Than Beautiful

Icicles hanging from blue spruce branches and catching the light! What God does in a few hours of mixing up weather is beautiful.

Afternoon Tree Attire

Wintry Window

Looking out from the warmth of inside, at the snowy morning outside, it appears that a rodeo reign-deer is on our window pane.

Fall Field

The day was gray, drizzly and dull, but still in the misty fields there was a soggy, wet beauty. I stopped along the highway to capture a feathery stand of trees with my camera.

Sunday Morning

In church yesterday I turned around to capture the collection of assorted grandchildren, one God-child and a small friend in the pew behind me. Paul was trying with moderate success to maintain order, with the aid of a pocket full of gum. I think that God must have been smiling.

Wood on Wood

Morning light played on textures of wood and cloth creating a shadow symphony.

First Fall

This morning dawned snowy and beautiful in Bond Head.

It's Official--Christmas is on the Way!

The signs are everywhere, including this window in a Bradford tea and book store. I think that it's time to surrender to the season!

Gray Day

A morning meeting took me far from the fields and woods of Bond Head to downtown Mississauga where buildings loomed high in the misty gray sky. Even so I could see beauty in the shades of gray and the textures of cement and brick.

Mmmmmm!

While in England I indulged my love of Cadbury's Flakes. These Flakes came with a hot mocha chocolate that was topped with whipped cream. It was a very good thing that I did so much walking while there.

Frozen Moment

The beauty of leaves and rocks and trees amazes me!

Frosty Morning Hangers On

Old Friend

I recognized this old friend instantly when my brother and I went back to a place that is part of us.In my memory its roots were so much bigger, like arms between which my child frame nestled and was embraced.The tree was a shelter and a place of imagination and play. A very good old friend indeed.

Faithful, Furry, Fearsome Feline

This is Sam, Mum's cat and faithful companion of fifteen years.
See his nose? It is the nose of a prize fighter, scratched many times by challengers to his turf, and healed over repeatedly. Now the scar tissue falls off frequently and "the Champ" submits to it being gently bathed regularly by my brother, Robert.
He looks benign, but let your guard down at your peril. While in England I softened when he wound himself around my legs in the morning, rubbing himself against me as if to show affection. Mum's carer, Catherine; a pragmatic Yorkshire lass, had it right when I told her hopefully that Sam had been so affectionate to me one morning.
"He must want something," she said, with a knowing look.
She was right--it had been breakfast time after all. The next time, I stroked him, encouraged by his apparant change of heart, he turned his head, opened his mouth swiftly and his teeth gripped my hand in a warning bite. I went back to tolerating him and appreciating him for the sake of who he is to Mum!

Live

Golden Sunset, silver morn
In hushed moments, beauty born
Always lovely, ever changing
God his canvas re-arranging
Do we long to make them stay?
Swiftly they will slip away
Time for no-one will delay
Live each moment while you may

Belinda

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom