Winter sets in now and sipping tea and cocoa...

While remembering the days gone by, is sweet. 

The beauty of all impresses on this life. 

Winter is Here

It's icy cold here. 

The little Anna hummingbirds need their feeders bubble packed. And the season calls for hearty soups. 

Quilt making, buying, selling...

Pink roses to decorate the tree this year. 

Snow in the snow country ..

The Colors of Christmas

Poinsettias at Molbaks Nursery

In over 20 varieties

And the lingering mums dressed in 

Subdued colors, reveal a beauty that 

only comes with age, and finishing. 

All of life, is beauty, in different forms,

If we create a place to honor it. 

The waning colors of fall, and arrival of ....

......A bowl of Christmas....

Just add The Christmas Flower...

...a mandala in the making, 

or perhaps it's over,,,

The Dala, ready to hang on a green bough

A wreath, all it needs 

are the seed ornaments

Viola. for the birds!

May you make it through this dark cold season with grace and good will. 

Ferry vanishes into fog, a day at the beach....

Sand Mandalas

These are constructed over time. Sometimes minutes, sometimes days, sometimes weeks. 

They're photographed at each juncture and eventually scattered to begin anew. 

Such is life. 

No art is permanent. 

Life's nature is impermanence. 

This slowly becomes this...

Then this...

And...

Finally it became.....

Mums brighter in natural light today.

The mums have been cleaned, cut and rearranged, probably a last time.

Last of the mums for 2013

The cooler they're kept, the longer they stay. 

This one started out bright purple. 

It's finishing full with a lovely faded white center. 

The pastel yellows have finished from

Brighter yellow and mixes now with apricot and 

Lavender, gold and faded pink. 

Early season mums

Vancouver BC

From the sea wall 

A walk through the 

old forest in town

City lights at dusk

Of all the flowers, mums take 1st place

As far as I'm concerned they're by far the most amazing!

In these photos are some of the flowers I grow. And vases, pitchers, and sculptures I make. 

I've enjoyed creating so much in my life, and at last I've found mums again. These of the more 

High bred variety. 

I see why the Japanese have chosen it for their National Seal!

Addicted to Kiku

Everyday these beautiful cultivars become more interesting, hues brighten, then soften,

The lighting changes appearances. No wonder this

Chrysanthemum is the symbol of Japan royal family and of the country.

Im so grateful for my Japanese friends and their inspiration. And I miss Japan sorely and love the beautiful country it is.

And my friends as well.