Red Is Best

What better colour is there in the dead of winter to brighten up all that black and white, but red?


Glorious, cheery, energising, radiant red.

The Colours of Winter

I have been known to think of winter as being shades of black and white, with perhaps a little grey and blue thrown into the mix.


What an eye-opener it was for me to be presented with evidence to the contrary as I walked along the river one late afternoon.


Such beautiful pinks and oranges, along with the blues and mauves.


For I had forgotten how a sunrise or sunset can add to winter's colour palette.


And things are not always as they seem.


Here was a reminder that we must continually look at the familiar in order to see the constant changes in what we might mistakenly believe is static and unchanging.

November in Strathcona Park

One of the prettiest parks in Ottawa is Strathcona Park in Sandy Hill, with its magnificent fountain and hilly setting beside the Rideau River.


I had noticed back at the beginning of October that the change of season seemed to be running a little late. There was just something about the way the leaves were looking, their colours weren't turning when they normally would, and then once they did... the bright oranges and reds that you usually see seemed in short supply. 


It is amazing that here we are approaching the middle of November and there are still leaves on some trees, making it seem more like October. I am grateful to find the autumn days stretching out before us and to have the extra colour around to lead us into December.

November's Colour Palette

At the river's edge, the blues of the water contrast with the warm browns of the grasses, producing a pleasing palette of colour for this time of year. November is usually filled with greys.


This year, the sunshine continues to provide warm colour combinations to please the eye.

Go Softly, November

One of the lovely things about November, among all the doom and gloom of grey skies and shortened days, is the softness of the landscapes.


As colour is stripped from view, it is easier to discern the multiple textures that make up the endless varieties of grasses, bushes and plants that are left behind.


There is a gentle lightness to the whole... a soft fluffiness that floats on the wind.


Go softly, November.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. There are so many things to be thankful for, including the vivid beauty of these sunflowers and the saturated colour of their petals.

Bloomin' England

Flowers flowers everywhere. For those of us who are challenged container gardeners, it is quite awe-inspiring to see the fabulous potted plants in England. Flower pots, hanging baskets and planters drip blooms just about everywhere you go! They enliven and embellish facades that are already beautiful of their own accord. From a single pot on a window sill to a wall of continuous window boxes, flowers reign supreme!

Floating Rose Petals

Hanging silk banners, an abundance of colourful fresh flowers, rose petals floating in ornate metal bowls, exquisite brightly coloured silk garments worn by Thai women... these were just some of the sights today at the Thai New Year celebrations.

Feasting, dance and beautifully carved fruit garnished with flowers were also part of these celebrations at City Hall, and everyone was invited to attend the event.

Sherbert-coloured Beauty

I loved my Valentine's roses so much that I went out and bought another bunch. It's fun to move these sherbert-coloured beauties around the house.

Faded Beauty

My Valentine's Day roses were so beautiful, a scrumptious blend of pretty warm colours. They don't stop being roses once they pass their prime. They're still lovely, their colours muted and faded to a softness that speaks of a gentleness that evolves with the passing of time. It is possible to appreciate both states of being.

Time to Celebrate!

Time to celebrate! It's the Chinese New Year and 2011 is the year of the Rabbit. Which means that we're in for a time of diplomacy, peace, harmony, luck and prosperity.

The colour and pageantry that accompanies the Chinese New Year couldn't come at a better time. And if you're fortunate enough to live in a city that has a Chinatown, there will be all sorts of events to celebrate this most important of Chinese holidays for you to attend. Check your local listings as they will surely spill into the coming weekend.

Pictured here is the Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch completed in October 2010. The blue central panel reads "Ottawa Chinatown". This beautiful arch was painted by artisans from Beijing.

Because it is the year of the Rabbit, I couldn't resist buying some creamy White Rabbit candies to share. I was first introduced to these yummy sweets in high school when my friend, Heather, took me to her parents' grocery store in Montreal's Chinatown.

Aren't the red "Lee See" envelopes gorgeous! Traditionally, money is placed into these envelopes to be given away for luck.

Colour Your Day

We are somewhat colour-deprived in the winter months I've always felt, and what better way to counter that than to bring flowers into the house? They introduce not only a dash of colour but some life. You don't need to spend a bundle on an elaborate bouquet or arrangement. Even a single bloom can have a lot of impact. The gerberas in this photo came in a group of six, and only cost $5.00 for the whole lot. Best of all, the amount spent has no direct bearing on the amount of cheer you receive.

Cut flowers stand in for all that luscious life that we're missing from our gardens and remind us that spring is only 7 weeks away. Add some colour to your day.

Creating Fitness to Live By

With January well underway, my fitness routine is starting to shape itself as I attempt to create a regime that will not only bring the desired results, but will also be one that I can keep up and hopefully even enjoy. I have found that seting a task for yourself that is pure misery is a sure recipe for failure.

With this in mind, I have been trying a number of different classes before committing to them. It looks like I'll be taking a pilates/yoga class, a dance mix class, and a class that involves using a stability ball. I'll also do weights, stretching and cardio at home in between. And little things like taking the stairs (10 floors) at work, drinking more water and getting up from my desk more often during the day will all combine to provide improvements that will be noticeable over time. That's the plan anyway.

While waiting for the stability ball class to begin today, I snapped some shots in the fitness room because the colours and textures seemed photo worthy.