The Story About The Little Santa Xmas Ornament :)

Hi All :)

I hope you had a Wonderful Weekend :)

So, back in April when I was sharing with you, My Year in Photos 2013  I mentioned there was a little story behind this cute Dakin Santa Xmas Ornament :)

Well, here is that story :)

Dakin Pompom Santa Xmas Ornament :)

This all happened way back one December in the late 1970's. 

I had impulsively answered an ad. for a position as a Nanny in the back of "The Lady" magazine (basically the British bible for  "Domestic" job postings)

I was interviewed, in England, by an old friend of the family I had applied to work for and obviously, I must have done something right as I was offered the position, only problem was that the job was in Vancouver, Canada and also, one other little point, I had NEVER met the family, oops! Anyway, so I had to start the long process of applying for a work visa and also renewing my passport, .......but I digress. :)

So, there I was a few weeks into this wonderful job and days away from my first Christmas EVER away from home, in a strange land, oh and I forgot to mention I was working for a lovely Jewish family, so we wouldn't be celebrating Christmas. :(

The family were really sweet, 3 little girls, 2, 4 & 5 years old, for me to care for. The Mom could tell I was homesick and had arranged for me to spend Christmas with some of her Christian friends :)

She had had a couple of English Nannies before me so she already had a tiny Xmas tree and little decorations for me to put up in my room :)

One evening, when I had finished working and was upstairs in my room, there was a knock on the door, it seemed weird because the kids would have just walked in. So, I was a little worried maybe I had done something wrong, this was my first gig as a Nanny, but no, all was good :)

I was sitting on the edge of my bed reading and the Mom popped her head around the door and with a big grin on her face she said, "There is someone here to see you". I was confused, the only other people I knew had gone to Disneyland for Christmas, so who could it be???

Then, one by one, the 3 little girls came into my room, each with a big grin on their cute little faces. And one by one they handed me a little hand wrapped gift. :)

As they stood expectantly watching me slowly unwrapping their gifts, the excitement was barely contained by all. I unwrapped 3 adorable little Dakin Pompom Xmas Ornaments. An Angel, A Snowman and The Santa. I was nearly in tears; this was such a thoughtful and beautifully planned Gift of Love. :)

 I still remember that night, it is a vividly cherished memory and every time I hang these lovely little ornaments on our Family Christmas tree each year, I get to remember this wonderful Kindness :) 

I always hang them close together on the tree too! :)

So, I hope you enjoyed the story behind my little Dakin Xmas Ornaments :)

Have a Lovely Week :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.

MY YEAR IN PHOTOS 2013 :)

Hi All :)

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying life :)

For the past few years now I have been keeping score of how many photos I take each year with my Nikon camera and also sharing with you some of the photos that I really haven't had time to share before as the year whizzed by so quickly! (Don't they all, lol :)

So, for the record I only took approx. 7,000 photos in 2013 compared to the previous years that is way down but still, I got some great shots and feel good about my work progressing :)

You can see the previous posts and photos here; 2012, 2011 and 2010 :)

                          

        Well, I usually do this post at the end of January and so I know I am like nearly 3 months behind with posting these images but here                                      is my 2013 in Photos :)

(it is really hard to just pick 2 photos for each month to share with you guys but you don't want to be here for a whole year looking at them, LOL!!! :)

                               I Hope you enjoy them :)

JANUARY

                                                 click on photos to see larger images :)

New Years Day in Lake Oswego, Oregon. A bright but chilly start to the year :) This is a little glimpse of the Willamette River, the photo is of these old pilings (the birds love to sit on them ) the trees from upstream were getting caught up in them but a few days later (as the river was running so quickly) these trees were gone. (SOOC SHOT)

Later into January I looked out of my bedroom window one morning and saw a very frosty Oak Tree, we were in for a cold spell :(

FEBRUARY

And so the cold frost continued into February :(

And continued...............(my poor Wisteria)

MARCH

So, it was time to go off to sunny California, get away from the cold and celebrate my B.Day :) 

(SOOC SHOT)

If you want to see the San Diego photos you can see them HERE :)

We came home to lots and lots of rain but a few weeks later out came the Daffodils and the Grape hyacinths in the garden, oh and the sun too! YAY!! :) (SOOC SHOT)

APRIL

I LOVE the way this building in Portland is painted, so bright and cheery, we need it! So many houses are painted in "Northwest" colours, so they are dark and dreary :(  (SOOC SHOT)

(You all know my house is painted yellow right :)

My Hubby & I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anni in 2013, a milestone for sure :) I would not let him order flowers (yes, I am that bossy, lol :) So, he bought these, at the local store, for me instead, so pretty :) (SOOC SHOT)

If you missed the Wedding Photos you can see them HERE :)

MAY

In May, we headed to the Midwest to celebrate our Son's college Graduation, you can see those photos HERE :) 

Oh, we flew into Chicago and took a little road trip first; we were driving around looking for somewhere to eat and I noticed the sun setting behind this roller-coaster at the Six Flags in Gurnee, Il. It made me giggle because our family's fav. Christmas movie in "Christmas Vacation"; Eddie says; "....gas money give out in Gurnee" LOL!!!  :) (SOOC SHOT)

Windmill in Holland, Michigan :)

JUNE

In all the years I have been growing Poppies, I have never seen one that has literally just "hatched" I was so excited, of course I grabbed my camera :) (SOOC SHOT)

We see a LOT of clouds in Oregon but for me this was so unusual because they literally came right down onto the road. Believe me there are some Mounts and hills behind that mass. (SOOC SHOT)

JULY

I added a textural layer over this photo of our garden shed :)

We stopped at this small park off Hwy. 18 on the way to the Oregon Coast; I just loved how still the water was making the reflections amazing :) (SOOC SHOT)

AUGUST

I had to show you at least one Rose shot; this one is in my back garden, I LOVE it :) (SOOC SHOT)

I LOVE taking photos of building, this one has a tree growing inside of it and a creeper inside behind the door. It is made of a mix match of things. (Portland Oregon) (SOOC SHOT)

SEPTEMBER

Party Table (unfortunately not for me) at my fav. winery (PONZI) in Wine Country, Oregon :) 

(SOOC SHOT)

"Mouse Party" These are my fav. I love the shape and colours, I had the pink one for a long time and then of course when I needed to get another one they had discontinued the pink, WHAT!!!! I freaked out and bought the last red one I could find and multiple blue ones, I think I am covered for a while, lol :) 

(SOOC SHOT)

OCTOBER

On a bright Sunny Fall Day driving around the neighborhood I spied these lovely California Poppies in full bloom growing at the bottom of a telegraph pole, so cool :) 

 (SOOC SHOT)

As I was crossing the mighty Columbia River via the "Bridge of the Gods" heading to Skamania Lodge, I looked West and quickly took this shot as the sun had just set and the gorge was flooded with so many lovely colours :) (SOOC SHOT)

NOVEMBER

This shot was taken well into November (in Portland), I couldn't believe these beautiful Autumn leaves were still so bright and colourful and hanging in there :)

(SOOC SHOT)

The beautiful morning Fall light glowing thru the Oak Trees in our back garden :) Shot taken thru my bedroom window :) (SOOC SHOT)

DECEMBER

Vintage Dakin Pom Pom Santa Xmas Tree Ornament :) (story behind this next blog post or you would be here all year, lol  :)

(SOOC SHOT)

Xmas twinkle lights in a park in Lake Oswego, Oregon :) 

(SOOC SHOT)

So, again, this past year I have been working with multi layering photography, as well as challenging myself to continue my quest to produce beautiful imagery with SOOC (Straight out of camera) and no flash photos.

So, I hope you enjoyed my 2013 Year in Photos :)

Let me know what you think :)

Have a lovely Monday :)

Happy Painting/Creating! :) T.