Christmas

 

 

"Christmas can't be bought from a store . . . Maybe Christmas means a little bit more." Dr.Seuss

 

"Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day." Helen Steiner Rice

 

 

 

Christmas is a gift of Love

that can't be bought or sold -

It's ours just for the asking,

and it's worth far more than gold ...

And this priceless gift of Christmas

is within the reach of all -

The rich, the poor, the young, the old,

the greatest and the small ...

So take God's Christmas gift of Love -

reach out and you receive -

And the only payment that God asks

is just that you believe.

Written by Helen Steiner Rice

 

 

 

 

From my home to yours, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a Blessed New Year, filled with Good Health, Love, Joy, Peace In your hearts, in your homes, and where ever you might be.

Love and Care

Dianne :)

 

"May peace be more than a season, it is my hope that it may be a way of life" Author Unknown

 

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:15

 

Say No To Bullying

The Stare Down

 

 

 

 

Knocked Down But Not Out

 

 

 

 

 

Standing His Ground

 

 

 

 

 

Made His Escape

 

 

 

 

 

Now Where Did He Go?

 

 

 

I was out for a drive with my camera one afternoon last week, looking for something to catch my eye. Then I seen it just out of the corner of my eye. An interesting cat out on someone’s front lawn in pursuit of something in the grass. I pulled over to the side of the road, and backed up, and hurried to get my camera out of my bag. As I was doing that I seen the cat swat at the mouse, and then the stare down, and all of a sudden the mouse leaped up into the air at the cat as if to bite its nose. I missed that shot and was so impressed with the little mouse standing his ground, and fighting back, and waiting his chance to escape. The cat was a little distracted when it seen me sitting in the car with my camera, and the mouse took that moment to scurry away and I assume he found a hole to crawl in to make his getaway. The cat looked for it and then finally left and went back to the house. So I drove away and was glad I had my camera, and captured these few pictures. I was glad the mouse got away. I don’t mind them as long as they are outside, and not inside the house.

I thought the title for my post was perfect considering the difference in size. Sort of like “David and Goliath.”

So my thought is, if you have giants or bullies in your life, stand your ground, and never give up.

-------------------------

 

I have been busy doing this and that, and have started my Christmas shopping. We finally had a few sprinkles of snow this morning but not enough to cover the ground. It wont be long now. As you can see we still have green grass. I am looking forward to a White Christmas. We put our Christmas Tree up this evening, and yes we listened to some Christmas Music and drank a little eggnog also. And you know what, I am getting into the Christmas Spirit. I love that word “Christmas” and what it represents. And you wont catch me saying Happy Holidays. Too me it means a whole lot more than that.

How about you? Have you started  preparing for Christmas , or is it too soon? I am looking forward to it, and a few days off work also. :) I just hope and pray my family all stays healthy, and we can all get together this year. I hope and pray you all are well, and stay healthy as we celebrate Christmas. After all, there is only 30 days to go.

Well I had better soon get my beauty sleep as tomorrow is the start of another work week. Hope you all have a great night, and week, what ever you do or don’t do.

God Bless each and every one who passes by.

Sincerely, Dianne :)

The Path

 

 

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Proverbs 3:5-6

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

 

 

 

Isaiah 42:16

¹⁶ I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them.

 

 

 

Be encouraged, and  Be Blessed

Hope to find you all doing well as you walk the paths before you.

Sincerely Dianne :)

It is still Autumn here although the colors have now faded and quietly disappeared. The fallen leaves have been swept, and blown away.There is a chill in the air and it whispers that snow will soon be on its way, along with the new season called winter.

I want to wish all my American Friends a Happy Thanksgiving as it is just around the corner. Remember, “Thanksgiving is more than a Holiday. It is an Attitude.”

Dianne © dsphotocats

Where’s The Color,Where’s The Light?

 

 

Watching The Rain Coming Across Lake Ontario

 

 

 

 

There was Sun and Clouds behind me,

And the Storm in front of me.

Soon to be over my head.

The sun shining on the clouds changed their color.

It was like a natural filter.

And then it was time to head for the van just in time,

before the downpour of rain.

 

 

 

 

 

This picture was taken about an hour earlier

And I was hoping for a break in the clouds.

This is what I saw and this picture is out of my camera.

Dull and so needing some light to brighten the colors and my view.

 

 

 

 

This photo was taken earlier in the day as we were driving along looking for Autumn colors in Prince Edward County. So Beautiful. It was a day when one minute the sun was out and the next several minutes was dark and dreary. It was like driving in and out of the clouds. No consistency, but inconsistency itself.

 

 

 

 

I am not sure where I am going with this,

But going back to the storm ahead of me, then minutes away from me.

I look behind me and this is what I saw.

As the Dark clouds moved in there was still a window of light shining through the darkness, now threatening  to surround me.

 

 

 

 

And over to my right I looked up and saw this image above the clouds. Again these cloud pictures are not altered in any way other than resized.

Funny, but I didn’t take a close look at these pictures until tonight. These pictures were taken October 20th/2012.

 

 

 

 

What I see you may not see. But as I look at these pictures I feel the Love, and Presence of God.

Though storms may come, I know that they will also pass. My God is watching over me, as I walk with Him, He is watching over me, day by day.

I am reminded that as a Believer, and a Child of God, I am to walk by Faith, Not by sight.

And I know that Brighter Days lay ahead, and Jesus is my Light that shines in the darkness. All I have to do is Hope and Trust in Him, in every circumstance of life. Living the Christian life is not always an easy road to travel, but it is worth more than silver and gold.

Jesus said, that in this life we would have trouble but fear not for He has overcome the world. So take heart brothers and sisters. We have a Glorious Hope in Jesus. Jesus said, He would come back to set all things right. I believe Him. Jesus is Coming Again.

Are you ready?

As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, remember there is more to the story.

I could go on but it is time to call it a night.

This post is made up of my thoughts and images.

I have shared from my heart.

God Bless and be with all those who pass through and take the time to read this.

Sincerely Dianne :)

All script and Photographs by Dianne © dsphotocats

Accept for the picture with me in it which was taken by my husband, 4% Vision.

In the month of Oct. we had continued rain and grey skies for all but 5 days of sun. It was a long month. I didn’t get out much to capture the Brilliant Colors of Autumn this year accept for a handful of pictures, and for that I am grateful.

My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. May the storm clouds disappear, and you all experience Brighter days ahead.

The Young Swans Learning To Fly

 

 

Looking back to  June and Look at them now

This little cygnet was learning to survive,

and now it is learning to fly.

 

 

 

 

Clear the runway; Here I come.

 

 

 

 

Hey, I’m paddling on water. Honk…Honk!

 

 

 

 

These wings sure come in handy.

 

 

 

 

Need a little more speed.

 

 

 

 

Can you believe this. We are about to fly!

 

 

 

 

Hey! Wait for me.

 

 

 

 

Lift off….We did it!!! We are flying.

 

 

 

 

And the crowd cheers

 

 

 

 

Okay, Now for the landing. Mission Accomplished.

 

 

 

 

From Baby Cygnets to Beautiful Young Swans

Here are the swans and cygnets from May to The end of September 2012. I hope you found this Series interesting. I know I sure enjoyed following this swan family, I like to call, “The Class Of 2012. They all past accept for one little cygnet that didn’t make it. I think it is pretty amazing that 8 out of the 9 cygnets lived to become these Beautiful young swans who will one day have a family of their own.

 

All photos and written script by Dianne © dsphotocats

 

Hope to find you all well, and enjoying the Seasons of Life.

God Bless one and all.

Dianne :)

Flight 01 in Sequence

 

Mr. Cob starting down the runway

 

 

 

 

Clear The Runway

 

 

 

 

Here He Comes

 

 

 

 

Treading The Water

 

 

 

 

Gaining Speed

 

 

 

 

This Looks Like Hard Work

 

 

 

 

 Paddling And Spreading Those Wings

 

 

 

 

Up Goes The Landing Gear

 

 

 

 

Down Goes The Landing Gear As He Pushes Forward

 

 

 

 

Up And Away He Goes

 

 

 

 

He Puts On The Brakes, Now For The Landing

This was a short distance flight to show the young ones how to do it.

Stay Tuned

In the next episode I will show one or two of the young ones learning to fly.

I took quite a few pictures and the lighting was a challenge. This is what I took… out of my camera other than a bit of cropping and resizing. 

Some of the young ones started to fly right after big daddy, but it all happened so fast, and I captured what I could, hand holding  my 170-500 lens which weighs roughly 4.5lbs not including the camera. I didn’t have time to set my IS on Panning.

These may not be wall hangers, but I had fun capturing these swans taking off into a short distance flight.

I was so happy and thrilled to witness this. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the 10 swans swam out to where there were a large number of geese and ducks and corralled them out of their way (Flying Path), and got ready to fly. I took some pictures and at times just watched them in “Awe”. of what I saw. This family of swans and cygnets have come along way. The cygnets have transformed into Beautiful Swans. Soon it will be time to say goodbye unless they leave on announced. I think it is called the “Call Of The Wild”. South they will head. How far I do not know.

This is the second family of swans in the last few years that I have had the pleasure of following for a season. I hope and pray I will get yet another chance to witness another family of swans next Spring and Summer. But will enjoy these while I can.

Until next time :)

Dianne © dsphotocats

Humming On A Rainy Day

 

 

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

 

 

 

This is my second attempt at capturing these amazing little birds. I have to say they are a challenge as they are so fast. I was at a clients a few weeks ago and as I was working away, I saw this Beautiful Hummingbird from the window, and ran and got my camera, and took a few quick shots. It had been raining for most of the day. You can see some of the raindrops on the feeder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this photo the same day. The little Hummer really liked the colorful glass in this hanging mobile decoration, and so did I.

 

 

 

 

 

 And there she is way up in the tree

looking as pretty as can be.

 

 

 

No person , camera, or lens got wet in the making of these images, as I was standing just inside the patio doors looking out. The bird got wet I think, unless she was fast enough to dodge the rain drops, and she may have just done that, or maybe she didn’t care as she seemed to be in her own little world, and loving it. :)

And as for me; well I reluctantly put my camera away and went back to work. Yes, I got all my work done and headed for home. I was late but that didn’t matter because It was worth it, being able to watch, and capture this sweet little Hummer. :)

 

All images and script by Dianne © dsphotocats

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t believe it is almost the end of Sept. and Autumn snuck up on me and past me before I knew it.

We don’t have much color yet, and it is still fairly warm as in anywhere between 15-20 degrees during the day, and has got as low as 2 degrees Celsius during the night. No Jack Frost here yet! :)

I am hoping to post as few more summer pictures, as I always seem to be trying to catch up, and keep up. I am also looking forward to the colorful tapestry of Autumn. Every Season is Beautiful and has so much to offer.

I want to wish you all a very happy , and wonderful Autumn with all it has too offer.  Looking forward to visiting your blogs as well and seeing, and reading all about what is happening in your corner of the world. 

See you soon!

Dianne :)

 

Nature’s Music

 

 

 

Nature Is Music To My Ears

 

Nature is music to my ears. As I hear the birds singing their songs. Red Winged Black Birds in the marsh. Loons on the lake. A Blue Heron on the river bank. Geese flying over head. The flutter of a Humming Bird’s wings, among other things.

The cry of a new born baby. The laughter of children, and adults alike.

The sound of the wind blowing through the trees.

The sound of crickets on a hot summers night. Frogs in the pond.

Listening to the rain falling softly, and sometimes falling hard to whatever  surface it may hit.

I hear the thunder rolling across the sky, and the sounds of lightning as it strikes.

As I walk by a trickling brook, or a flowing river. The stillness of a lake, and waves hitting the shore. The roar of rushing waterfalls, and the ocean waves hitting the shore and the rocks with force.

These are a few of my favorite sounds of nature, and I have many more. I am eager to listen. I am in “Awe” of nature, and those peaceful moments it brings.  It is music to my ears.

And my heart sings as it beats to the music like an inner drum. Yes, I can hear my heart beat and my own breathing in and out. I am alive and enjoying my Creator God and all He has made.

I love all the senses that God created me with as I hear His still small voice telling me to be still and know that He is God! God is real, and loves me, and you. He is near and to be found at the mentioning of His name, with a sincere heart.

Having even one of the senses should be enough to know there is an “Almighty God and Creator” of all things. 

I can hear, see, taste, smell, and feel. I am Blessed and have so much to be thankful for.  God provides everything I need, and all He asks is that I trust Him with my life, and for my Salvation through Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son.

He is my Lord and Savior. I am Blessed and have so much to be thankful for.

I will be honest and say, that sometimes I forget that. The cares and concerns of life can alter my focus. The picture gets cluttered, and out of focus. Then I need to ask the Lord of my Life to do His work in me, so the picture is clear, and composed according to His Will. I am His creation, and according to His Word, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. That is found in Psalm 139.

Lord please forgive me for the times in my life when I take things for granted. Help me not to complain when things don’t go my way. Instead to pray with a humble, and grateful heart. and always give thanks in every situation , knowing you will work all things for my good. Help me to walk in your ways, and to live for you. To die to my own selfish ways, knowing you will take care of me. You are the Source of everything Good in my life. Help me to be all you want me to be. I am yours dear Lord. Bought with your precious blood you shed for me on the cross at Calvary. Thank you  Father God for giving us your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who died for me, and has risen from the dead and is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and is coming again according to your Word. Amen

Although Jesus Christ is offensive to this world system we live in … He is the only Way, The Truth and The Life. (John 14:6). The Greatest  Gift to all mankind. The Greatest Gift to me. Thank you Jesus. :)

Script and Photography by Dianne © dsphotocats

 

 

 

 

Young Chickadee In My Back Yard

 

 

Have a Blessed Sunday!

Sincerely Dianne :)

Toronto Zoo Series

 

 

 

The Blue Macaw was the center of my attention this day! Yellow and Red Macaw hanging out just above. The clue being the yellow, and red tail feathers to the right in this photo.

 

Seems everywhere I go, I see birds. Birds fascinate me and I could not imagine a world without them.

I learned something I never knew before this past week. Did you know that by throwing your chewing gum away, outdoors, that you could kill and innocent bird? Birds apparently mistake it for bread or food, and when they swallow it, it gets stuck in their inners and they suffocate, and die. They can not digest gum. Makes one think or at least it should. Please don’t litter, and if you feel inclined please tell others not to throw their gum where an innocent bird or animal may find it. And I thank you, because I love birds. :)

 

 

 

 

 

This guy reminds me of “The Friendly Giant”

You know,”Look way up Rusty”

I loved watching that TV show growing up. Remember Jerome? Seeing this Giraffe brings back good childhood memories for me.

 

 

 

 

 

Apparently Hippo’s Like Apples. Seems so small, considering where it is heading. That is one huge mouth. I think I will stick to feeding treats to my little dog, Jesse. :) 

 

 

 

 

I took this picture through the thick glass window. Would you look at those nails, or claws. I would not want to meet one of these in the wild. I get the willy’s just thinking about it. We don’t have any of these running free in Ontario like they do in Western Canada and other places in the world. “But” we now have Cougars and a few years ago one was spotted in a field on the outskirts of our fair city. I think I would rather visit them at the Toronto Zoo, “Thank you very much!

 

 

 

 

I think Mr. Cougar was having a bad day at the Zoo.

I couldn’t get a full body image and had to aim my lens so it would focus between the thick mesh fencing. I would not want to meet one of these beautiful cats in the wild. Wild he is! Look at those eyes and teeth. I have heard so many stories of human encounters with these big cats, and my heart goes out to those who have been attacked by these predators.

 

 

 

 

 

This is one bird that I hope to one day see in the wild, flying free as an Eagle should. This Northern Bald Eagle was rescued and most likely not survive in the wilderness on its own. Just as many of us have stories of survival, this great Eagle has a story of its own.

 

All photos and script by Dianne © dsphotocats

 

These are just a few of the photos I took at the Toronto Zoo this past week. http://www.torontozoo.com/ExploreTheZoo/ It was a hot summers day, and the lighting was a challenge at times. It was suppose to be a mid 70’s day but per usual this summer the temperature climbed. I did enjoy my day at the zoo and stayed until closing time.

Well it is a beautiful Labor Day Monday and I took the day off work. Think I will head outside and enjoy some late summer air and sunshine. Hope to visit and do some catching up as well.

Hope to find you all well and enjoying this fine day.

xx’s Dianne :)

 

P.S I added a few new pictures of my family on the side bar, including my new Granddaughter. :) Her name is Briana Marina and was born on Aug. 27th weighing in at 5lbs. 3 ounces.  I may add some photos at a later date with permission of parents. I now have five Granddaughters and one Grandson. I am truly Blessed beyond measure. :)