One Month Done

While I may not get my pictures up daily, I am committed to having the daily counts for the month done by the end of each month---hence the few extra pics shared today! This is my little way of not falling TOO far behind! I want to thank each of you for your encouraging and kind comments...each visitor motivates me to make time to cross another theme off the list, so I thank you for your support and for stopping by whether you comment or not. Comments preferred of course! *grin* To those of you that continue on to my primary blog, I appreciate you taking the time to view a little more of my world there. This has been a great month for me, getting to know all of you through your comments and photos and I look forward to visiting more of your hometowns visually in the months to come!

As you may have figured out by now, I live in Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Our city is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island on the West Coast of Canada and is a very popular tourist destination. You also may have noticed that I love (am addicted to?) colour! lol So be prepared to see more of that in the months to come! For those of you asking either privately or publicly if you can photolift an idea---->ABSOLUTELY. We are here to help each other in any way we can, and if one of my photos inspires you in some way, GO FOR IT! (as you won't be learning anything technical from my photo-taking abilities! Um, unless point and click counts? hahaha)

Oh, and for those that were curious about the taste of the Lychee fruit...it's kind of like a giant juicy grape but sweeter.

Right. On to February. Only 334 more photos to go!

~Donna~

#31 of 365

#44 ChainsTrafalgar Park

An undeveloped natural area with waterfront access at this scenic viewpoint overlooking McNeill Bay. The park slopes steeply to the waterfront and paths are not always clearly defined but there are steps and trails and lots of rocks along the way! Was definitely very windy and cold there today...we didn't stay as long as we usually do!

#30 of 365

#63 Concrete or CementSelf Explanatory.

#29 of 365

#34 BreakfastSpoon Size Shredded Wheat & Bran with a sprinkling of Grape Nuts and Ground Flax Seed...topped with strawberry & banana and floating in skim milk. Yum!

#28 of 365

#201 Not Your Mother TongueThe tin of magnetic words that ended up on the freezer door of our fridge are Swedish. Not my native tongue, but that of my Swedey. While I can understand many words, my pronunciation is nowhere close to what it should be and hearing the hearty laughs coming from my Swedey when I do try, ensures that it is going to be that much longer before I do try again! (FYI: he's not all that mean about it, I'm just all that stubborn about it! lol)

#27 of 365

#253 Recessionary EconomicsWhile it is always a good time to count your blessings, these tough economic times find more and more people around the world counting their pennies...or, as is the case in Canada, dollars too! (for those of you not familiar with our money, loonies and toonies are the common nicknames for our $1 and $2 coins)

I almost used this for the recycled theme as these little coin holders are recycled tea containers but figured I would find more ideas for that theme later...

#26 of 365

#188 Monuments or MemorialsThe Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point was designated a National Historic Site by the Government of Canada...was cold and windy out there today. You can learn more HERE

#25 of 365

#25 Beverage of ChoiceTea for Two or Two for Tea or Two Types of Tea? Whatever the case, my beverage of choice (after water) is tea. I drink all types/flavours of tea, but my all-time favourite is Earl Grey. Whether I make a big pot of tea and keep it warm in my new tea pot under the colourful tea cozy shown or set it out in a single mug, you can be sure that it is served in another beautiful piece of my FIL's pottery. Care to share a cuppa with me?

Of course one must have decaf on hand for those caffeine-free evenings even if the container doesn't match the colours in the photo and stands out like the proverbial sore thumb! *grin*

#24 of 365

#50 CircleOne of my favourite places to eat a meal out! It has been voted BEST OF THE CITY 14 years in a row for a very good reason and is always busy. I would definitely add it to my list of places to eat if you are headed this way! Check them out by clicking HERE

#23 of 365

#129 GreenI rarely follow a recipe...I'm a simple, but colourful cook that plays with food in the kitchen creating yummy, and visually-pleasing (usually) meals and snacks! Lots of greens in last night's dinner: celery, spinach, snow peas, broccoli, zucchini and green onions. Of course I had to add some other colours too! hee hee (was delicious...I shall post the details (ie: my attempt at a recipe) on my primary blog later today if you are interested in trying)

#22 of 365

#358 What's Inside?This is for those that were curious as to what the inside of the Lychee fruit looked liked once that bumpy exterior had been peeled away (click here: #20 to see original post if you haven't already). They are very tasty--juicy and sweet and offer numerous health benefits too!

#21 of 365

#252 Reading MaterialUncle John's Bathroom Readers are a must-have! If you don't have yours, but want one for your reading room: www.bathroomreader.com The Little Book of Bathroom Crime Puzzles (also shown) can be found: HERE

#20 of 365

#156 Imported

While Canada grows an abundance of it's own fruit, it also enjoys fruit imported from every corner of the globe. While I don't recall where these Lychee fruit originated from, I can tell you they were definitely imported as they are not grown anywhere around here!

#19 of 365

#247 PuzzleI collect peppers and received this puzzle as a gift one year...since I am more of a crossword and suduko gal than a puzzle person, I gave it to the best puzzle person I know (♥ my Mom ♥) for her to do. Once she finished, she had it framed and then gave it back! So sweet!

#18 of 365

#131 GroceriesHere's what $107.28 bought earlier today. I've noticed that grocery prices have been steadily climbing since about June around here...Missing from the photo is the bucket of ice-cream that went straight into the freezer!

#17 of 365

#222 Paint or PaintedLook at all that colour! This fabulous piece was painted by my MIL and given to me for Christmas last year. I absolutely love it! Photo has been cropped, vignetted and her name blacked out for privacy purposes.

#16 of 365

#6 Abstract

Beautiful design...beautiful colours...beautiful pottery that was made by my talented FIL & recently passed on to us.

#15 of 365

#2 9:00 AM

Breakfast is served: Steel Cut Oats with Blueberries and a cup of tea (of course!) Photo was cropped and matted.

#14 of 365

#43 Celestial BodiesSun, Moon and Stars...got 'em all here!
(photo cropped and matted)

#13 of 365

#283 Silhouette Fitting in with our warm Southwestern decor is this candle holder that we received as a gift a while back...fits the theme perfectly methinks! (cropped and vignetted)

#12 of 365

#349 Vine

Outside Bartholomew's Bar & Grille
at the Executive House Hotel

#11 of 365

#187 Monotone

Exquisite Exterior -- Royal Theatre (photo cropped)
Beautifully restored. To see some before pics or learn more, click HERE

#10 of 365

#107 Footwear

These red hikers were photographed today but worn by my Swedey as a youngster while growing up in Sweden. The pic below with him wearing them was obviously taken a long, long time ago! [Both pics have been vignetted]

#9 of 365

#235 Place of WorshipA Magnificent Building: Christ Church Cathedral
Lots of history, including scandal and fire...
you can read more if you're interested by clicking HERE

#8 of 365

#40 CandyMarabou Twist -- mixed candy in a bag! Everything from licorice to marzipan...chocolate delight! Received two bags of these Swedish delights from our rellies...YUM!!!

#7 of 365

#210 One Dozen

The Lower Causeway Promenade of Victoria's famed Inner Harbour is where you'll spot one dozen trees growing! Originally was going to use this for the shades-of-gray theme until I realized there were 12 trees all lined up in a row! The recent weather is definitely reducing the amount of people out walking too. I've never been the only person on the Causeway before and I've been walking down there countless times over the years...

#6 of 365

#259 Repeating PatternWhile out walking yesterday I snapped this pic with no particular theme in mind--I just like brick! Looking at it this morning I realized that there were several repeating patterns going on in this picture and that it was perfect for that theme! Only 359 more to go! *grin*

#5 of 365

#141 Hangs on a Wall

Although this area in my home has been photographed many times before, I decided to take another shot last night for this theme. Here you'll find one of my many completed cross-stitch projects (this being my favourite so far) that was beautifully framed by my Aunt, and above it, you'll find a souvenir of one of my vacations: A steer's head that I carried all the way home from Mexico.

#4 of 365

#100 Fire or FlameA tradition we look forward to every year! Shaw Cable customers have the chance to enjoy a warm, crackling fire in their homes each holiday season. Definitely sets the mood! Living in a home without a fireplace or wood stove, we so enjoy the opportunity to have one at this time of year! I have been known to sit for hours with this faux fire blazing in the room while I read or while we visit with family or friends. The annual showing of the Christmas Log started here in Victoria back in 1999 after Shaw received hundreds of calls wondering where it went when they took it off! Since then, it's arrival each year is a greatly anticipated event! This year my Swedey and I were pleased to see it offered in high def. Don't you just love the green power-on light showing in the bottom right-hand corner? lol Just keeping it real! *grin*

3 of 365

#203 Numbers

A lovely old-fashioned street address...
a little difficult for the pizza delivery person to find though perhaps!

2 of 365

#360 Who Put That There?

Not me. But I saw it and had to take the picture...

1 of 365

#354 Water's Edge

One of the many views of the Pacific Ocean taken along Victoria's scenic Dallas Road Walkway this afternoon...

365 Photo Challenge for 2009

I love to take pictures, and I love to take pictures of everything...so when I stumbled upon this photo challenge for 2009 today, I just HAD to participate! The challenge is to take 365 themed pictures during the year. The theme list for 2009 can be found HERE and the guidelines for the challenge HERE.

I'm so looking forward to this fun-filled photographic journey...grabbin' the camera now! See you soon...