What winter looks like

At night before I closed the blinds it looked like this, so pretty

Night time
Snow covered oak tree

Memory lane- Oregon

I am sitting at my desk watching the snow fall and dreaming of sunshine and warm weather.

So, I was going through my archives, again, for photos that I haven’t really edited. So I edited them. I have lot’s of photos that I have not taken that need a closer look. Some need to have the horizon straightened, maybe add little contrast and light. So I have done that. Touch here and there.

Oregon coast

I am so restless, I would love to travel see new beautiful places, but I cannot due to the pandemic, so I am on a memory lane trip to some of places I have been. Hope you will join me on the scenic tour of lovely places.

Rocks at the beach

At first I will take you to the Oregon coast line, unfortunately I do not recall what beach or location other than coastline, at the time I did not write them down, for me it is enough that they are beautiful locations and loved the views. These are as far as 2013. we were visiting my sister in Canada, she lived near the US boarder so we decided to take a trip to see Seattle and Oregon while we were so close.

January 2022

New year is here, one moment of time is once again come and gone. New beginning or continuing of the same. For me the latter I think, not that much is going to change, not directly at least.

Looking into the future ?

I have three boys, all grown up, but my boys. They have lived near me most of the time. Now that is about to change.

One is moving about 600 kilometers away, so are my grandkids that have been living 200 meters from us are moving also, big change. They are not going to pop up for some cookies anymore. The chance to see them grow is changing. Time will tell how it going to workout.

One is going on this travels again, when he is coming back, if he is coming back is in the unknown category. He is drawn to South America, Asia direction. He is starting in Peru and then he goes where the mood takes him.

One is staying put, at least for the time being and if he moves it will be with on half a hours drive.

My boys

Changes, but not directly to me, but to the near and dear ones. I will for a time been continue to work for the county as housing counselor, helping people to find homes, stay in their homes and trying to sort out the financial problems they might be facing regarding their housing issues. I have been doing this for the past months, a new direction to me as I have always worked in the private sector in various office jobs.

Looking for a photo of us together was like looking for a needle in a haystack. There is literally none.

I do not often say much about myself in this blog, I post photos of the world I see and how I see it. Hoping that they tell the story. Like macro shots, well I am home, nothing much to do I will capture things near me. Summer photos, mostly from my summer home and the travels, not that many in the recent years. As I said, capturing what I see in the world surrounding me. I will continue doing the same thing. My life is not all that interesting, I do art, take photos and am happily married and occasionally see friends. Simple but happy life. Most of the time anyways!

What winter looks like – 12

I am continuing to share winter photos, yesterday it snowed. These are what it looked like from my window.

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

snowy day

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter.

What winter looks like – 11

I am continuing to share winter photos, these I took yesterday of a ball hydrangea that is outside now covered with snow, that I dusted of and this is what I captured.

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

Ball Hydrangea

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like – 10

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

Spruce trees

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like – 8

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like – 9

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

Spruce trees

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like – 7

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

touch of light

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like – 6

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

winter greens

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like – 5

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like – 4

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like – 3

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like – 2

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

Not all images are new, actually most are images are images that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. . I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

What winter looks like

I have no plan other than that I am going to share pictures of what winter looks like. These pictures were not taken on the day I post them, but random shots of what winter can look like in southern Finland.

Not all images are new, actually most are images are imagers that accumulated in my archives waiting to be edited. I have re-processed them for these posts with the newly learned editing skills that I have been working on for years. I am a self learner.

I am not really inspired by anything at the moment, so this is one way I try to stay active. Winter can be beautiful, gloomy, watery, cold or depressing. My intention is that all the pictures would look good, no matter what the weather was the day I pressed the camera shutter button to capture a view or detail of winter. Images can be in color or black and white or both. I will keep it simple, one photo in the post and an other as a featured image.

Snow covered trees

Even if winter is not my favorite time of the year, I have to admit that it can look very pretty.

The beauty of winter

I like blue color

I was trying to come up with a title, I could not come up with any. I thought I’d make a post, but I have nothing to say. Nothing is happening. Days are short. I work. I watch tv. Sleep. Then I do the same again.

I have been practicing oil ink paintings, most of them are rubbish. I have tried to do warm tones, reds, orange and yellow. Cold tones, they turned out much better. It looks so easy, but to get anything presentable is hard. It is fun, but the room needs to be easily ventilated, but with the cold weather we have been having you just cannot keep the windows open.(-16C / 9F for nearly a week, today it’s only -1,3C /29F) so I’ve had my head full of fumes 🙂

I have not photographed anything worth publishing lately as I have not been doing anything.

I have admired our updated kitchen, I am happy with how it turned out. I more than once I questioned my choices in colors and materials. We only changed the tiles, countertop, sink and lights, the cabinets remained as they where. The kitchen table was sanded and re-waxed, so it is now the same shade as the kitchen countertops

Now I know the topic, it is something that is common in both of paragraph’s above, blue. They are blue.

Independence Day

That’s it, Independence Day here Finland is cold and dark, but candles are traditionally placed in the window, mine are in front of the blue waves

Sweet little Tinka

My cat Tinka captured in black and white. She is so pretty!

“What greater gift than the love of a cat?”

– Charles Dickens

“There is something about the presence of a cat… that seems to take the bite out of being alone.” – Louis J. Camuti

Ink Oil Paintings

Ritva Sillanmäki Photography's avatarART BY RITVA

As I have tried to stay away from the computer and monitor, due to the light being so bright for my eye at the moment, eye saving mode makes it so yellow that there is no point playing with my photos.

My very first attempt at oil ink painting

I have been trying to learn a new technique – oil ink painting. Abstract Art. It is so much fun, but harder than I thought. I tend to put too much color in them, I do like colors 🙂 . Well I have only tried 5 papers, so it is to say that I hardly have any experience. Simplicity it the the key here too, which I have not yet learned.

Here are some of my attempts 🙂 for your enjoyment or not. I am still sharing!

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Thanks!

First I want to thank you all the followers for their support on my November survival.

Kiitos seurasta marraskuun selättäjät!

At the end of the month I got an eye infection, so I got well behind in my replies to your encouragement and comments. I hopefully was able to reply to them today. I have not been a very frequent visitor to my fellow blogger due to the thing. The light from the monitor irritates my eye. I am on the mend and in weeks time it should be nearly as good as new, or at least as it was prior the infection.

During this darkness I am dreaming being on a beach at sunset. Here is one beautiful memory.

How to survive November 2021 Day 30

It is over, done, goodbye November 2021

Thanks for all my November surviving companions and people cheering me on my journey through the November darkness. I do have to admit it was not so bad this year as we have had several sunny days even thought the sun is out for only for short while.

The next thing to look forward is Christmas, time to find some decorations and slowly build the atmosphere to the our home.

Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂

Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!

How to survive November 2021 Day 29

It feels like winter as the temperatures are -9C ( 16F) frost has made art on the plants that are left. I am continuing with nature shots .

Yesterday I was not able to post or be by the computer, so I am posting my last two November posts today. It is over, November once again I survived it and we are ending it in a sunny, but cold day.

Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂

Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!

How to survive November 2021 Day 28

It feels like winter as the temperatures are -6C ( 20F) frost has made art on the plants that are left.

Two more days then November is over and we can start waiting for the next big event – Christmas will be here sooner than we thought.

Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂

Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!