We have all heard the phrase 'cause and effect' I'm sure, but we don't always truly understand the depth of meaning and how it applies to life. Yes, we know that if you steal something and get caught, you will be punished; that if you heat water past a specific temperature it will boil; that if you smash your toe into a chair there will be pain. But  'cause and effect' somehow only seems to apply to someone else's life. There is a much broader view that applies to life in a way that makes it easier to bring the idea into our own personal realm. Looking at it as 'results of actions' allows us to bring it into a much more personal perspective.

Nature provides only one kind of justice - the conformity of cause to result. This is one aspect of nature's operations that successful people take ownership of. They understand that the results you get are self-created by the actions you take. It is pretty simple really, even though 99.9% of us like to ignore that fact (myself included). We do that because we think of 'our' way as being easier.... procrastinating gets us out of doing all those things we hate to do. In reality, it merely postpones things that are inevitable, and causes lack-luster results for things that don't really HAVE to be done. Things that will in the long run make the difference between a mediocre life and one full of the good stuff that you want there.

Actions attract results that conform to the level and type of action taken. For example, if you put a kettle of water on the stove but don't turn any heat on, you would not expect it to be boiling the next time you wander past. Another choice is to put a kettle full of water on the stove and turn on extremely low heat beneath it. Your expectation from prior experience would be that it will take a long time to come to a boil (unless it evaporates away first). But, if you put just enough water in the kettle and turn the heat on high you expect it to come to a boil quite quickly. In the same way, things you do in your life attract results according to the level and type of action you take. If you do NOT put water in the kettle, nor put it on the stove with heat under it.....you will not have boiling water.

So, having established that to create a result there must be action taken, we have to also understand that we do not live alone on this planet. Actions are occurring constantly, and the actions of others sometimes shower you with results as well - wanted or unwanted. The key to having good results is maintaining some control over the actions that affect you. If you sit and do nothing, someone else's actions will create your results for you, and you may not like them. For example if you are approaching an intersection with a green light but a car coming on the red light to your left is not stopping...and you do nothing... that driver will shower the results of his actions all over you. On the other hand, if you are paying attention and stop, you have created your own action, exerted your control, to counter the action of the other person. Take a proactive stance and gain some control over your own life, remembering of course that you will never have complete control. The best you can do is be aware and prepare for the things you do have control over then relax about the rest of it knowing that you held up your end of the process.

If you just sit and stare at the kettle and draw what you see - you get results of a different kind, but you do get results. Again, it is the type and level of action you take that determines the type and level of result.

The sketch above was done many years ago when I was learning how to present 3-dimensionality on a flat surface. In some ways it was a success, in others, not. I can't offer guarantees that if I did it again the results would be any better, because it is something I don't often practice - shiny, curved surfaces are tricky and you need to keep practicing to get it right. I haven't done that because other things interest me more.

Talking about human nature instead of nature outside your door today. This man leaves me speechless. I really can't describe the awe I feel when I listen to him speaking and watch him moving around, doing everyday things. He travels the world speaking to people (many times to kids) - inspiring the rest of us to do the best we are able; to overcome obstacles; to keep on getting up after we have fallen down. The determination this man has is mind-blowing. For me, it provides visual proof that if there is a will - there IS a way.

I have this video bookmarked and tucked away for future reference. Whenever I feel like I am hard done by, set back by uncontrollable events, bashing my head against brick walls that won't move or just plain frustrated - I intend to remind myself of his accomplishments and adjust the viewpoint on my own challenges by watching the video again. How does the saying go "Whenever you think you're hard done by, remember there is always someone worse off than you." ?  Something along those lines.

It doesn't mean that our own troubles are not important - it is important to acknowledge and sort out the feelings that they cause us - but it does mean that they can be overcome. That if we bring the right attitude with us when we go searching for answers, those answers do exist.

It's not only the doors and windows of our homes that we need to keep open to connect to the workings of the universe, we also need to keep the doors and windows in our mind open too. To the existing possibilities that we may not have considered yet.

Talking about human nature instead of nature outside your door today. This man leaves me speechless. I really can't describe the awe I feel when I listen to him speaking and watch him moving around, doing everyday things. He travels the world speaking to people (many times to kids) - inspiring the rest of us to do the best we are able; to overcome obstacles; to keep on getting up after we have fallen down. The determination this man has is mind-blowing. For me, it provides visual proof that if there is a will - there IS a way.

I have this video bookmarked and tucked away for future reference. Whenever I feel like I am hard done by, set back by uncontrollable events, bashing my head against brick walls that won't move or just plain frustrated - I intend to remind myself of his accomplishments and adjust the viewpoint on my own challenges by watching the video again. How does the saying go "Whenever you think you're hard done by, remember there is always someone worse off than you." ?  Something along those lines.

It doesn't mean that our own troubles are not important - it is important to acknowledge and sort out the feelings that they cause us - but it does mean that they can be overcome. That if we bring the right attitude with us when we go searching for answers, those answers do exist.

It's not only the doors and windows of our homes that we need to keep open to connect to the workings of the universe, we also need to keep the doors and windows in our mind open too. To the existing possibilities that we may not have considered yet.

Took another trip out of town yesterday and it was an awe inspiring one. The way ice and snow decorates the world can be jaw dropping-ly beautiful. With an intensely blue sky as backdrop, the frost on the trees painted shimmering white swathes across the mountains in wide paint brush strokes for much of the drive. When I reached the enclosed valleys where the fog still lingered it was all white. Air, trees, water, ground all blended together with little differentiation. I could have stood staring for ages in many places, just absorbing the beauty and wondering exactly what conditions create such beauty. Awesome. Awestruck!

The unfortunate part is that in winter when they plough the snow from the roads the snow consumes most of the side where one can usually pull off and stop to take photos. This one, I am ashamed to say, was taken while driving down the highway. It's the only one I could get where I had a straight on view and no traffic tailing or coming at me that I might run into. But you can get the idea. You'll notice how the tops of the mountains on the left are not covered in frost, yet there is a swath below that is - then again a layer below that isn't. Where the mountains were higher than these, there were some really cool paint brush strokes across the mountains - like an abstract painting in blue and white.

This mountain looks down over Hedley, B.C.

Only the trees on the top of this mountain were covered in frost. Up close it gave the appearance of something like shredded coconut sprinkled over the top. All these poking-up white bits strewn here and there across the crown.

The photo directly above was taken at Yellow Lake where the valley is very narrow and gets little sun in winter (and yes, I was able to pull off to take this one). It was still misty and frosty with only the shadows within three dimensional objects to differentiate tree from lake. It didn't keep the fishermen away though - there were at least a dozen people ice fishing.

There were some really interesting effects along the way and I drove most of it with a huge smile on my face at the beauty of the scenery. It made my week. I came home refreshed and full of new visions to work into my art.

So today is the celebration of the new President of the United States. An opportunity for change. People all over the world are looking to him to fulfill their hopes and expectations. Those are awfully big shoes to fill, and I wonder whether any one person can actually do what everyone seems to be expecting him to do, no matter how hard they try. But it makes me think of new flowers.......yes, new flowers. Gardeners often become very enamored with a particular plant and want to create their own version of it. Roses are a good example. From the basic old English rose new types and colours have been created by growers who had a vision and experimented for years before they finally saw fruition of their dreams. They grafted and pollinated and hoped for changes to the original, and once they got what they were looking for they could celebrate. But the work is not over at that stage. You then have to patiently wait through several years to determine whether this style, this colour, will be stable - strong enough to continue or fade back to what it was beforehand.

I feel the same with the election of the first African-American President. One will have to wait and see whether this marks the beginning of a new era or whether things will revert back to the way they were before. It takes time to change, especially something as big as a country. It doesn't happen overnight. People have been working towards this collectively for years, so perhaps it will work out. I certainly hope so. But one can't just say the work is done and wander away. Vigilance is necessary along with constant refinement of the process. It takes a complete nation to make changes, not just one person. It takes a change of attitude; point of view; long held beliefs ingrained into everyday actions and decisions. The fact that Obama was elected indicates that many people have successfully made these changes in thoughts and actions so that's an encouraging indication that the process has moved forward. Let's hope it continues with the same speed and success.

The weather has been producing some gorgeous scenery these last few days. Everything is covered in frost and the fog is drifting in the background. The world is grey and white. It's a good thing that winter can present such beautiful visions of itself, because otherwise I may not find many reasons to like it!

It gets cold enough to freeze fingers and toes; the snow and ice can make a trip to the grocery store a harrowing experience even if you are only walking; the hours of daylight are short, and night is long. Most of the birds head south for winter where it is warmer, and for those who stay food is hard to find. The ravens seldom hang around public areas in the summer, but in winter they will come right up to the garbage cans to pick out any bits that may be edible and in the process spread the rest of it around the street. It cuts down the walking choices unless one feels like slogging through knee deep snow just for the joy of it. Everything you touch outside is cold. Getting out to take pictures can turn out to be something close to an epic journey even when you can keep the camera warm enough to work.

But then, just when you are tired of it, you look out to find the beautiful colours of the sunset turning the snow covered ground pink; you see the flakes of invisible snow sparkling like diamonds in the sunshine or you see visions of a grey and white world with ghostly forms of tree trunks emerging out of the fog.

It's really not as bad as it could be, and I live in a cosy home - but by the time January comes along I am usually ready for it to be over sometime soon. Christmas has come and gone, we are off on the new year, there are no more holidays coming up any time soon, and one begins to start feeling caged up. Cabin feverish. I suppose for those who like skiing, boarding or snowmobiling it ends far too soon - and I also admit that six months from now when the forty degree heat hits I will be wishing there was a little snow around to cool it down......... but for me, today, winter's beauty is her only saving grace.

January and February are always the worst because I know it will not truly be gone for a while yet. By March, if it hasn't already warmed up, I know it soon will. For the first couple of months though, I have the tendency to get crabby real easy! It's just impatience - I know that. I want to be able to spend more time outside and am losing my patience waiting. Not much point to doing that - it won't make it come any sooner and I can't do a thing about it. But even after all my winters, I am still chomping at the bit to get out and do the things I enjoy before it is time.

Winter gives me the opportunity to rest, to spend time settled indoors thinking and planning out my year, and for me it has always been an important part of the cycle of life. But mid-January I find myself with envy for people who live in countries where it is warm all year. What is this constant yearning for something other than what we have even though we know what we have is so good?

You'll have to excuse the telephone pole - the sky was just too pretty to cut it out of the picture.

It's 4 a.m. and the sky is clear. First stars I have seen in many nights. At first it was due to snowfall, and then as the weather has warmed it was due to fog. Tonight a lopsided moon is sparkling off the ice crystals from melted snow, stunningly bright for this hour of a winter's day. I have no business being up at such an early hour, but I am, so might as well be productive.

Finally got out to take new photos a couple of days ago. The sun was making a few appearances from behind the clouds and the air was mild (at least compared to the frigid temperatures we'd had), so I took advantage and went searching for something interesting to photograph. As usual I ended up at the river.

The river's path is always interesting to me. In winter with the ice and snow you can easily tell where the most turbulent currents lie by the parts that are the last to freeze over and get covered with snow. I love the flowing lines that the snow takes along the edges. Twists and turns sculpted by the flow of the water and the whisper of winds always look graceful, hiding the truth of the turbulence that created them.

A light fall of snow
And a whisper of breeze
Paint subtle highlights
On the branches of trees.

The sweeping peaceful edges of the snowbank lie in contrast to the turbulence of drifts of snow atop the ice.

When you think about abstract art, you wouldn't necessarily think about nature. Many people have very specific preferences and keep the two completely separate - but for me, this is where I get my inspiration. If, instead of taking in the picture as a whole, focus only on small snippets at a time you begin to realize that there is abstract art all around you.

The weather has been warming lately. At present it is 1 degree Celsius outside. With the mixture of cold earth and water and warmer air, we have some beautiful foggy views. We also have some very icy conditions on the roads. Thankfully, I don't plan on going anywhere today, but for those who do it is tricky driving.

Just barely visible in the bottom centre of the photo is the equipment at the mill trying to get the work done in the fog.

Logs still need to be unloaded, cut and shaped, and shipped off to buyers. Work seldom stops because of the weather- schedules have to be met.

Just a hint of the fact that there is sunshine behind it all somewhere!

And icy sidewalks! Sometime today I will have to remove that mess if the weather doesn't do it for me. I am hoping it will warm enough to make it easy to peel off the cement. It makes an interesting abstract photo though.

Might as well enjoy the beauty of the scenes instead of trying to rush around going places. If I keep my schedule flexible it allows me to be outside taking pictures when the weather beckons me- to be inside working when it doesn't. The sun will likely drift out intermittently during the day, and the temperature will rise and fall accordingly. It will be a day of beautiful effects with the combination of snow, sun, fog and water droplets from melting snow.

Just for fun I took a picture of the snow overhang off of my carport roof. It was splitting at the curve so I gave it a good whack and down it came. Then of course I had to shovel it up!

Now that I have finished playing in the snow - guess I'd better get back to some serious work.

So, these are the two subjects one never brings up at the cocktail parties - right? But I came across something about each that I found interesting. The political one is well put together and just plain good for a laugh. It's a year-end view of the news from 2008 by "Uncle Jay" and worth listening to. He sings it .... yes it's good, and funny to boot.

http://unclejayexplains.com/2008/12/21/uncle-jay-explains-dec-22-2008/

It's American politics, and I am a Canadian, so perhaps I have found it more amusing than others who may see it because it doesn't speak precisely about me and my country. But the world is so intricately interwoven these days that it quite easily could, and I think we need to maintain our sense of humour about all the catastrophic events that have taken place this past year. Giving yourself ulcers over it all will not help anyone. Consider it all with a clear head, try to find some solutions for yourself, and take action. Life moves on, so we might as well enjoy a good laugh when we can.

The article with a religious vein is an interview discussing the division between science and religion, and how they are coming closer together these days. It's an interview with John F. Haught entitled "A God-shaped hole at the heart of our being" found in the 'EnlightenNext magazine'. It is food for thought.

Haught expresses the opinion that even scientists agree "science does not give the final or ultimate explanation of anything". The "commitment to the idea that the universe is intelligible and truth is worth seeking" is what drives scientific research and he suggests that this drive is fuelled by a spiritual desire - a search for the divine, the eternal.

But the comment that caught my attention was his view that the universe has been in the process of making itself more and more complex since the beginning—"producing higher degrees of awareness, of sentience, of feeling, of enjoyment, and especially of consciousness and freedom". He suggests that we are living in an unfinished universe, and that this unfinished state includes human beings—and we should leave ourselves open to the possibilities of change in how we think and feel.

The comments struck a chord with me for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we cannot continue on this road of destruction and still survive as a species. If we sit and look at what we are doing to the planet, and ourselves in the process, it's self-evident. Secondly, I see from what we are learning about the universe, it is also evident that it is evolving into more complex systems over the millennia that galaxies and planetary systems have formed. Even if you just look at this earth and the plant and animal life that was here to begin with and compare it to now, it is obvious how much more complex 'life' has become.

But, as with any philosophical discussion, it doesn't give us answers, only new things to contemplate. It merely adds another layer of depth to the life we can explore in the coming years and frankly I find that kind of exciting. There is the hint of something new and uplifting in the idea we don't have to be saddled with the way things are forever. If who we are is not the ultimate result..... not the end product, there could very possibly be a 'new and improved' version working it's way into production. Got any requests or suggestions to add to the suggestion box before it is fully developed? Speak up now and be in on the development team!

So I leave you with the glistening dew drops on red rose petals to contemplate. How has such beauty been created? Such a simplistic little part of daily life, yet one that leaves us with questions that lead us toward infinity.

Spent part of today thinking over what I want for this coming year. Not making resolutions, but planning. Consolidating ideas. Looking at what I have accomplished this year and projecting it forward. Bigger and better would be good. New adventures. More depth and substance. Like when you start painting a picture you lay out the preliminaries in your mind and make some basic strokes on the canvas. That was two years ago. Then as you move forward, you add layers, structure, some points of interest. That was 2008. So 2009 will be the year I refine my techniques and add contrast, depth and texture.

This year I will be refining the work of art that is my life.

New Year's Eve. The sky was a deep blue, with a crescent moon and the evening star shining. It was a beautiful night for banging pots, setting off firecrackers, or revelry to celebrate the passing of the old and the coming of the new.

And this is how it looked the next morning. Snow all day. More shoveling!

You can see that we have had a fair amount of snow this year. Love the way it piles up on the branches of this fallen tree and emphasizes the lines.

Closed the year out with a beautiful sunny day, and rested in its glory. I stayed home and thought about all the good things in my life this past year. Then woke to the reality of the work that is ahead of me to get from here to where I want to go. The reminder came in the form of heavy snow all day and the resulting shoveling that had to be done to keep the paths clear.

Made me remember that one needs to work through the mistiness to get a clear picture, and to always keep the path forward as clear of obstructions and debris as one can. But the beauty that the snow created around me was also a reminder that even though there is hard work involved and lots of challenges ahead, I need to appreciate the beauty of life along the way.