This little light of mine

I know I have been gone for a long time, please forgive me I have not been feeling inspired. I keep missing Wednesdays so I am sending along a little Weekend Whimsy today.

This time of year it can be pretty dark so I find myself seeking sunshine, on a good day I sit and soak up all the rays I can, usually through the window. We are approaching the "shortest day" or day with the least amount of daylight hours in the northern hemisphere and thinking about that I was reminded of a song I used to sing at Brownies and Girl Guides many years ago: "This little light of mine".

Here are some pictures capturing some treasured sunny days and the lyrics of the song:

       

translated from English to English

 This Little Light Of Mine

 

Translation in progress. Please wait...

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

I'm gonna take this light around the world and I'm gonna
let it shine.
I'm gonna take this light around the world and I'm gonna
let it shine.
I'm gonna take this light around the world and I'm gonna

let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

I won't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
I won't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
I won't let anyone blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Every day, every day, I'm going to let my little light
shine.

 

Songwriters: SCOTT, STEPHEN H. / DP,

 

 

 

Talk about light, this little Anna's hummingbird was taking a break

and then

 

 

before taking flight, he turned his head and "spotlight" below, sorry the picture is so grainy.

 

 

This picture just makes me smile:

 

 

Can you see the trail of water catching the light in this action shot:

 

 

The picture below is just begging to be painted, and will be!

 

 

...and one more time,

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

 

 

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

 

 

 

So I will end with lovely Stellar Jay, above, and

 

"sea monster" log below.

 

 

 

 

 

I hope I have brought some light and a smile or two to your day,

 

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I have been doing some painting. First, inspired by pictures taken in the summer here is a painting of an Arbutus Tree. I call it "Arbutus Sentinel", it is a watercolour:

 

 

This is one of the paintings on display at Image West, here is a link to the exhibit:

 

http://www.gillianolsonart.com/art-shows.html

 

 

My second painting is all about Christmas, which is sneaking up. This one is called

"There Otter be snow at ...."

 

 

Available following this link:

 

http://www.pswhimsy.com/seasonal--other.html

 

 

That's all for this week,  

happy Weekend, with whimsy,

 

Gillian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's beginning to look...

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas with decorations showing up in

the woods and in parks, seemingly random acts of decoration, but someone has taken time

and care with them.

Thank you, I am sure they bring smiles to a lot of faces.

This one takes advantage of a rather odd shaped tree and was about a 1/2 mile down a trail and

took planning because whoever did this needed a ladder.

..and a battery pack.

This tree is decorated every year in December and then the decorations disappear again in

January.

Here's a look at the whole tree.

Of course nature provides beautiful decorations too,

...and occasionally even building materials for winter fun.

These children are taking full advantage of a snowfall (taken last winter).

This is one of "our" Anna's hummingbirds that visits feeders each day throughout the year

 

and provided inspiration for my Christmas card this year:

"Santa Anna" (a watercolour)

May the Christmas season fill your home with joy,

your heart with love,

and your life with laughter.

Merry Christmas!

Well that is all I have for this week, hope you are all keeping well, take care of yourselves,

Happy Whimsy Wednesday,

Gillian 



Frosty

A new year and new beginnings. Resolutions made that might be starting to look unattainable, one of mine has to do with getting back to swimming regularly. I used to swim faithfully three times a week but then .... so far I have been once this week (it's a start). 

The daylight is increasing a bit every day, that is a good thing. I am still having trouble with the lack of light and sunshine (low energy level); I wonder whether the lack of sunlight hit me harder this year because after my cataract surgery  (last spring) I got used to having much more light ... and now we are in the dark days.

There is usually a lot of dark, wet weather here this time of year. Today for instance both the paper and the weather man on the radio predicted light rain and it has been pelting down all day, with snow at higher elevations. 

But enough of that, a few days ago the day started cold and clear and I was out early with camera in hand and here is what I found in my garden:

These little frost covered birds on a small ornament were catching the first rays of sun.

The remains of a late flowering rose.

Sage, mint and parsley adorned with frost.

 

The spent flower heads first and then my Hen and Chickens Cactus or should I say Cacti.
  

 

Frozen fruit and vegetables; chard first and then strawberry plant.

Oregon Grape, Azalea, and Rhododendron:

The last few leaves still cling to the maple tree.

There were a few feathered friends enjoying the bounty at the feeders and not terribly bothered by my presence.

A dark eyed Junco.

 

A sparrow, a Song Sparrow I think.

A bright eyed Bushtit on the suet feeder.

Black capped chickadee

And lastly one of our garden ornaments, a gargoyle named Alabar, in rear and front views.

I have to admit that after the busy time in mid to late December I seem to have been in a hibernation phase as far as getting anything accomplished in the studio. But I do have a picture to share with you; it is a picture of one of the small towns in the Cinque Terre in the Liguira region of Italy. A watercolour titled "A walk on the Cinque Terre" that I painted for my husband.

More details on this painting at GillianOlsonArt 

Thanks for dropping by, with a special thank you to those that leave comments for me, good luck with your resolutions, Happy Whimsy Wednesday, until next week ..............