My Gunner has always felt like an old soul to me, even the first weekend we had him an brought him to our family cottage, my mom made a comment, its like hes been here before.
He LOVES my den, which is also our “healing room”/my office. He loves the essential oils that I use, he even has his own bedtime blend that he loves as part of his routine. The other day I pulled out my Palo Santo and lit it, he was SO intrigued! Just like the oils (and our previous dog) I always invite to smell but never force on them. He leaned right into the smoke.
Today while in there I held it in front of him, he was totally chill, in the zen mode!
Its interesting, for each dog that comes in my life, Gunner is my 3rd dog, each clearly has come into my life for a reason and this one, hes here for the deeper healing that mama needs.
The Lens-Artists team, as an annual tradition are giving us “one last chance” to share some of our favourites. I am excited to share some images that were not a part of the Lens-Artists challenges this year for me. I am choosing one image a month to share, its challenging during macro season – spring ;)
January
Shoveling the sidewalk with our pup Gunner. He was about 10 months in this photo. Taken with my cell phone.
February
We were early for our daughters hockey game and I felt the creative urge to capture something outside before the girls game.
March
The spring thaw, this river was very swollen and moving quite fast. Standing on the bridge, was very interesting, I felt like I had to brace myself more than once with the water running fast and quite high below.
April
Country roads, we have a lot of Mennonite families in our area.
May
I was driving around town looking for blossoms to photograph, this tree was on someone’s property, not reachable from the road, so I knocked on their door, let her know how much I admired her tree and she fully embraced me wanting to photograph it! Isn’t it beautiful!
June
A bald eagle looking directly at me. As I was down at one of the local parks by the river, I was shooting the birds down on and in the water, when something suddenly caught my eye. I continued shooting. I didn’t realize it was a bald eagle until I was home and processing the images. I remembered a message I had received, “when you see it, you’ll know its me”…
The bald eagle symbolizes spiritual connection, wisdom, strength, and freedom. Spiritually, it represents a bridge between the physical and divine realms, a messenger to the gods, and a symbol of courage and clarity. Seeing a bald eagle can signify the need for a higher perspective, wisdom, or encouragement to take decisive action towards one’s goals. Source Online
July
I found this little dude in the garden, we had fun with my macro lens!
August
The vibrant gorgeous colours of Summer!
September
The bee’s were happily busy well into the warmth of September!
October
We were so blessed in Ontario this fall to have warm weather well into October!
November
The snow has arrived, winter is here!
December
Its been a blessing this year, winter arrived and has stayed! The sunshine was shining brightly through the clouds yesterday morning.
I am grateful to have found these challenges this summer, it was at a time when I was feeling low, in deep grief and losing me. To have a weekly prompt to boost my creativity, has been a beautiful blessing! As I re-read Tina’s message below, I realized, its December 13, its 12 days until Christmas! Wow!
Wishing you all the best for this Christmas holiday season filled with peace, rest and relaxation, yummy food and drinks, and good people. I am excited to be a part of these challenges for 2026! These challenges truly helped pull me back to my blog, something Ive had a deeper desire to do for a while. My blog feels much more authentic to me to share my photographic art vs ‘social media’ platforms.
Cheers to 2026 WordPress Lens-Artists friends!
Tina shared this message, Wishing all of our participants and followers a wonderful holiday season however you celebrate. Your time, attention and commentary throughout the year is very much appreciated We’ll return with our annual Favorite Photos of the Year challenge at noon on Saturday, January 3. Until then, as always please be kind, stay safe and enjoy the adventure.
To learn more about the Lens-Artists Challenge, click here.
As the volunteers bundle up, they prepare for their usual annual outing of preparing the snowmobile trails for a winter of riding. As they load the trailer they are preparing with stakes, signs and the tools necessary to mark the trails.
Its not usual to be doing this by sled, typically they are not on trails this early, its been well over 5 years since this has happened and its a welcome change. To prepare for winter, to prepare for a successful and enjoyable snowmobile season. Usually the marking happens with 4 wheel ATV + UTV’s however we have been blessed with an abundance of snow.
As they leave in the morning sunshine, its cool, cold without gloves on. My hands were feeling the cold bite of the snow as I grasped a handful to throw for our dog.
Our children my be getting older, but this mama is always prepared to capture the magic in their everyday lives.
Volunteers put in hours of work before the trails are able to be open, before they are even safe for others to be on the trail. Their knowledge and understanding of the land they work, sometimes along with the land owners, to ensure the safety of all – the people riding and the owners, including any crops that might be on the fields.
It felt good getting out in the sunshine as they prepared for their day. Soaking up the beautiful early morning sunshine and running our dog around.
I had mentioned to my husband before they left this morning, if they reached a part of the trail that I could see them from the road, let me know and I will go meet them and get pics. Reminder… when you grab only your camera – be sure there is a card in it! These are from my cell phone. I was initially upset with myself that I did that, my camera and longer lens could have gotten MUCH better photos. However, in that moment, I had my phone. Rather than be ticked off at myself, capture with your phone as they are keeping on the move – and on my way down there, I passed 2 cars in the ditch, ironically at the exact same point but opposite sides of the road. Where we live, where Ive lived my entire life except the years I went to school, we can get a lot of snow and if you aren’t used to driving in it, you could have issues. I personally LOVE driving in the snow we get here and LOVE when we have snow – a true winter season!
4 on sleds marking fields and 2 riding the roads to meet up with them in the SxS. This is where it gets tricky, everyone chomping at the bit to get out on their sleds, we have snow why aren’t the trails open, and now that we have snow and a lot of the volunteers are out marking on sleds, people see the sled marks on the trail and assume – what do we know about assuming… and ride on closed trails – which is both illegal (trespassing) and unsafe as some areas aren’t completely frozen.
If you are a snowmobiler, please tap into your own stream of consciousness and be sure to check the ITG to see what trails ARE open before you ride!
When I planted these two trees, I forgot how close they would eventually grow to the bigger maples. They might be small, but they are uniquely beautiful. Especially blanketed with snow!
Shot this with my RF 85mm macro lens! Even when not shooting macro images, this is sharp! I am super impressed with it! Especially being used to my EF L lenses. I highly recommend this lens!
The trees just look so cozy with their winter blankets on, beautifully covered in snow.
I am happy to say I am finally beginning to feel more like me again! These photo challenges have really helped keep me inspired and better focused (than drifting over to social media). Ive been back on my vitamins now for a few weeks, remembering to use my oils morning and night – starting the diffuser at home when I get up, has been SO key! My morning flowed, even waking earlier at 4am and not falling back asleep until 545 am ;) I feel a shift today! I know the energy of the past 14 yr cycle also recently ended. That alone is like the deepest breath of fresh air!
This also proves to me, when I do focus on me, it takes less time and I feel so.much.better! <3
I read this excerpt online this morning, “On December 12th, known as the 12:12 portal, a celestial gate opens, paving the way for monumental change. With the energies of Scorpio, Leo, and Pisces in play, this day invites a thorough detoxification of the mind and spirit, aiding in shedding outdated beliefs and behaviours.” Source Unknown
“I once more have the good fortune of hosting this one and, as it’s themed, I’ve chosen “The Space Between”.” Stupidity Hole
One of my favourite places to be, between the trees on the trail!
The sun shining in between the trees, also on the trail.
The trees in between the trees.
Our first time camping, we walked part of this trail. It felt incredible immersed in-between the trees in the forest and have the sun shining in-between the branches.
I was so happy to get this shot on the snowmobile trail last winter. The trail between the trees. Each winter driving by I think of how cool of a photo it would be. I asked my husband to take me on a photo tour and he happened to go this way! Isn’t it awesome!!!
Its been a bit since Ive processed outdoor images to monochrome, I enjoyed this challenge, to find the in-between and process the image to black and white.
Ive always wanted THIS picture… The snow blanketing each branch beautifully. The warmth felt, although its snowing and cold. The snow covered road.
As I was driving home, I admired the trees and knew I was coming in to get the dog and my camera. I put on my 85mm macro lens and went out. Sometimes some of the best shots, are not planned at all. I walked out, took a few shots in the yard and walked towards the road. The timing couldn’t have been better, not a vehicle in sight, until after I took the shots.
Learning to trust more in my intuition, especially when I get that creative urge. Something that may not make sense to anyone else, but does to me.
I LOVE that we are having a traditional winter, its going to be a white Christmas!
Ann-Christine leads us this week with a great theme as we get closer to Christmas holidays – Holiday Fun! She encourages us to share some holiday memories – “Shared Joy is double joy – as we say in Sweden”.
I will also be choosing Christmas for this theme, with my kids late teens I cherish their young childhood Christmas years even more!
The magic of Christmas, is most definitely through a child’s eyes! My two human babies and fur baby Christmas 2009.
His face in this pic is just the best! He loved his cars and still does!
I have spent many years of our holiday celebrations just watching the little ones and taking photos to capture their expressions! Truly the best.
Playing with a new to me lens, I remember this like yesterday!
Our boy’s hockey passion, begins!
Her first camera! It was so fun!
The kids puppy’s first Christmas, back in 2011, our boy Becker.
Christmas 2012 our son was given something that my husbands uncles had made him when he was a young boy for his beloved cars! Literally ‘old school’ car tracks on boards that go together!
Making Gingerbread Men! Christmas 2012
The ornaments mean… so much! The yellow dog, our Becker and the black one, my Elwood who I had when I met my husband and who quickly became a family dog!
The annual Christmas parade! SO many memories myself as a child and our kids and nieces when they were young. Our big sucker truck!
Their sweet faces, watching the santa tracker!
Only super heros decorate Christmas trees the best! ;)
My sweet great aunt, she would have been 99 just yesterday, and passed only a couple years ago. The sweetest old lady who had the biggest heart, independent yet also so fragile. Ive always lived a few blocks from her growing up and she was a big part of our lives spending every holiday and celebration with us. Our family loves to play cards, especially when we get together. She loved it! This was 10 years before she passed. I love these memories! I love that we were so lucky to have so many years with her.
Their little faces, I loved, love, every stage the kids are at, but I can also admit I miss all the stages, deeply.
All the family games before dinner… so many memories, especially of those who loved the game and are watching over us. <3
They just keep growing…
This challenge theme, although warms my heart deeply, has also been pulling on all the heart strings. Our 2nd Christmas since my brother passed. There are still many times it doesn’t feel real. Yet the only way I will hear his voice again is on the voicemail I saved. Last Christmas we were still very numb. It was just over a month. This year seems to remind deeper, he’s physically not here.
He is however, with so many loved ones <3
Yes we were, are, an elf household ;) Charlie is wearing the scarf our daughter made for him!
We also did the family Christmas PJ’s, and still do! This Christmas we surprised the kids with each a carry on luggage – their perfect size and a Disney Cruise. The biggest and best trip we’ve ever taken and I am so thrilled we got to experience it with our kids! Christmas eve it was a tradition they could play with the elf before he left for the north pole!
Cousin time at Christmas at Grama and Granpa’s making gingerbread houses and trains.
2020, the year Christmas was forced to be different on everyone. Oh my the memories lost and how I will never do that again. Blessings to the cousins being together for more gingerbread, fun and laughter! My children and my brothers intertwined each other with their ages, the tens of thousands of photos of the memories, I am so grateful we could do that together and it brought us so close.
Sledding at grama and granpas with the cousins during Christmas holidays, this one my brother and son. My son, at the time, was the only boy of 5 grandkids. He now has a bookend with my sisters baby ;)
Traveling during Christmas, 2021, the year it began to not be cool to let your mom take photos of you ;) Teens hide, doesn’t stop mom!
2022 Christmas Parade pulling the Mount Forest Drifters Snowmobile float. It was so cold that night, I remember it very coldly, I mean clearly!
We now have the joy of watching my sisters family grow up with our niece and nephew, children truly bring the magic of the season!!! Many more memories created and captured. Their pure innocence and absolute joy. Seeing my “big” kids with the “littles”!
If you would like to learn more about the weekly Lens-Artists Challenge please check it out here!
On this Tuesday, I am reminded of our words and as the month and year is nearing the holidays and new year I am focusing on how to better shift my energy and the energy of our home for the new year.
Interestingly, I keep reading about this 14 yr cycle that is coming to a close. This takes us back to 2011. Think back to that time. When I do… whoa… honestly its a big whoa. My life changed a lot that year in various ways with various loved ones and things.
I will admit I am more naturally on the doubt, worry side of life, err of caution, where my husband tends to trust easier. Something I am working on, to rebuild my trust and more fully trust this flow of life. Perhaps as the mom, dealing with the variety of mom/kids things and house stuff, the frustrations perhaps are more surmountable. As they have gotten older, shifts have been made and although much less frustrations its on me to be able to shift my mind set.
Moving into 2026, I am ready, very ready to leave the past 5 years, and truthfully the past 14, in the dust. I have copious amounts of photos of all our times together and am ready to purposely choose happiness and positivity every day.
Here’s the thing, I know the side effects of negativity, it attracts more into your life. As one person, can I change the world? No – it also hurts, feels out of alignment and scars when you try too hard to change the world.
Start with one – yourself!
Affirmations to help boost yourself!
I intentionally choose integrity and courage each day.
Everything I say is a reflection of myself.
I am grateful for the time and money always flowing into my life.
I am surrounded by people who care, people who old love firmly in their hearts and live their lives in harmony with it.
I am grateful for the love I have for myself.
I am grateful past challenges have helped me learn and grow.
I am a magnet for abundance in my life.
I am grateful I have grown through the hard times in life and have come out stronger!
I consciously attend to the details of my life and home.
I trust to allow myself to let go of any worries, negativity, self doubt and fears to be released fully from my energy body.
I confidently move through my tasks with ease and joy
I am guided and protected by the divine!
I am aligned with my heart, soul and energy!
I am aligned with my truth and happiness.
When I am in the flow, there is little resistance and I find my truth.
Resources
Yasmin Boland – Moonology – A beautiful wealth of information for the planets – if you are wanting to learn more about the moon cycles, I highly recommend her 2026 Moon Diary Journal!
“On December 10, 2025, 07:23 AM EST, Neptune stations direct at 29º of Pisces. After more than a decade in his home sign, Neptune is preparing to leave Pisces for the final time in our lifetimes: this is a moment of dissolution, surrender, and letting go, a moment to wrap up loose ends and trust that whatever is leaving our lives right now is making space for something more aligned.“Source Moon Omens
