About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Monday, December 13, 2010

V is for Village

As I headed out last Friday evening to attend my village's annual tree-lighting ceremony, the village clock caught my eye. I liked how it looked so eerie in the mist and I'm pleased with how the photo turned out.
The tree lighting ceremony was well attended and was complete with an enormous tractor-driven wagon laden with people leading the crowd in Christmas songs. After the tree was lit, the wagon led a small parade of children on decorated bicycles to the wharf. All the children's bikes were lit up and below you can see the unique way they did it - on the small wagon, which was cleverly disguised, was a generator that supplied power to light up all the bikes.
Everyone followed along to see the Carol Ships go by at the river's edge. They weren't really "ships," but local boats decorated in lights.
Afterwards, I headed to the grocery store and took a few shots of the decorations in the outdoor parking area. There are lots of lights on the rooftops showing snowmen, trees, snowflakes, etc.

Finally, I wandered around a bit and found these two shop windows all trimmed for the season. Santa lounging in his swim suit is in the front window of the tanning salon, and the one with the dancing elf and Rudolph is in the window of the barber shop. I think it's great that the businesses are getting into the spirit of things. However, I am a bit disappointed that they are trying to be "politically correct" in that they don't even mention the word "Christmas."

Many people have adorned their homes with brilliant lights and some even have scenes on their front lawns of Santa, snowmen, angels, the Nativity, miniature railroads, and stars. One street away from my place, the entire neighbourhood is lit up and is in the local paper's list of places to see over the Christmas season. It's great to see so many getting into the spirit of Christmas but I do hope everyone remembers that Jesus is the true reason for the season.

15 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

It's almost as though there's no clock stand at all, and the face is suspended in air!

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Penelope Notes said...

The clock does look eerie … like a moon with the face of time written on it. It IS strange how the true meaning of Christmas seems to have slipped away over recent years. The transforming of Christmas needs a voice such as yours in this thoughtful post.

mrsnesbitt said...

The clockface was amazing Leslie. I too took part in our village service - held at our local pub. I read the lesson I featured in my blog. Lovely to be part of a village don't you think? We love it here.Hope to show you round some day!

photowannabe said...

Love your errie clock shot and thanks for saying it. Jesus is the reason for the season. Its sad how "politically correct" we have become.

Wanda said...

What a neat shot you got of that Village Clock....almost haunting...

Yes JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!! Amen to that!

Tumblewords: said...

Superb clock face! I love that. Looks like a good tree lighting ceremony, too.

Hildred said...

I think our village is a little smaller than yours, Leslie, and we haven't yet got the politically correct spirit, so there are lots of Merry Christmas's around and Nativity scenes, - still the same materialism tho (sigh)

Beverley Baird said...

Merry CHRISTmas!
I so agree! Jesus is the reason we celebrate and I am not ashamed to asay Merry Christmas!
Lovely shots of your village!

Francisca said...

Funny, Leslie, I was just reading about a tree lighting ceremony in our town! Your village is prettily ready for the holiday season. All the very best of the season to you...

Shrinky said...

That's a magical shot of the clock there, Leslie - truly amazing! Aww, so lovely when the community gets together, isn't it? And I REFUSE to say, "Happy Holidays", humbug to that!

Merry Christmas, dearest lady, hope you and yours have a wonderous one.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

It looks a very jolly occasion and I love the pic of the clock.

Liz Hinds said...

I love the clock photo and how ingenious the owners of the generator were!

Chris said...

Hi Leslie,

Wonderful photographs and yes Christ is the real Christmas..
Living here in Coventry UK we have a large Asian community and last year the lights in the City centre were for Dwali not Christmas.
So I wish you a very Happy and Blessed Christmas.
I hope you are able to put the disappointments of this year behind you and that 2011 will bring you new friends and the love of old friends too.
Love
Chris x

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

I love your village clock photo to absolute pieces. May I post it on my blog as the first image of my new "Eerie clock photo of the week" feature? If you visit my blog at bettergreta-nocturneingflatmajor.blogspot.com/youyou'll understand.