About Me

My photo
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 19, 2011

W is for WONDER

Wonder - as in to be filled with awe, admiration, and amazement. Next to the wonder of the season that is upon us, I "wondered" (as in curiosity) what else one could use in the context of awe, admiration, and amazement. I determined that it is all around me - as in the country where I live - Canada!

Every time I've gone on vacation elsewhere, I've come back "wondering" why I left. Flying into YVR (Vancouver, BC) is a spectacular experience with the Coast Mountain range on the north, the flat delta lands to the south, and the Pacific Ocean
behind. Maybe it takes going away for a while in order to appreciate the wonders of Canada - sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, the magnificent mountains and valleys where lakes are tucked away, the fantastic forests full of cedar, pine, fir, hemlock, and our national tree, the maple.

When we lived in Ottawa for a few years, we experienced all four seasons in true form - spring with the blossoms, summers of humid heat and thunder and lightning storms, autumn colours, and frosty winters when the Rideau Canal would freeze over. We bought a truly Canadian treat from a little cabin on the ice - beaver tails, which are flat fried pastries dunked in sugar. That and a cup of hot choc
olate hit the spot while I watched my girls ice skating on the canal.








WONDER

Wonder is blue turning red, yellow and gold.

It looks like autumn sunsets on the Pacific so bold.

It sounds like echoes in valleys of stone.

It smells like raindrops and grass freshly mown.

It tastes like sweet beaver tails in frosty sunshine.

It feels like shivers up the timbers of forests so fine.

Wonder is Canada's oceans, prairies and awesome alpine.

And for a special treat of "wonder," here's a photo from Mr. Google of Lake Louise tucked in the Rocky Mountains near Banff, Alberta. Isn't it wonderful?

29 comments:

nancygrayce said...

It is a wonder! You live in a gorgeous place!

Roger Owen Green said...

Banff is particularly gorgeous.

VioletSky said...

And the colour of Lake Louise is indeed a wonder to behold!

Merry Christmas to you!

Mrs.D said...

what a wonderful world...great photos!

Dias Spot said...

what a spectacular place!

Reader Wil said...

The last photo is so wonderful! I love mountains and wished that we had some snowclad mountains in this flat country. Your country is magnificent! Have a wonderful Christmas and a great 2012 in good health.

anthonynorth said...

Excellent words for a wonderful picture.

photowannabe said...

Ah yes, Lake Louise. Simply gorgeous. I loved vacationing in Canada. I need to return!
Wonder is a beautiful word and your poem really says it all.

Meryl said...

What a WONDERful post! I love the ice skating photo. Never been to Banff or Lake Louise, although it's on my wish list.

Wishing you a happy holiday and new year, and I look forward to more of your wondrous posts in 2012.

jill said...

Stunning pics,thank you for sharing.Jill xx

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

We will need to add, 'FULL' to your wonder!
Wonderful!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Canada was my first WHITE Christmas.
It was a WONDERFUL magic land.

I WISH you a Great Christmas and a WONDERFUL 2012.

EG CameraGirl said...

Wonder is a wonder-full w-word!

Kay L. Davies said...

Now everyone thinks you live at Lake Louise. LOL
"Wonder" is a perfect W word, Leslie. I love the poems you write about the way a word looks, sounds and feels. They are a wonder, too.
I know what you mean about flying into Vancouver. I love it, too. There's nothing like it on a clear day.
Have a "wonder"ful holiday season. Wishing you the best for the coming year, too.
K

Powell River Books said...

We do live in a wonderful place. - Margy

Rajesh said...

Wonderful winter shots of Canada. The last one is the best scenery I have seen in a long time now.

Tumblewords: said...

A wonderful poem and stunning photo of the great Lake Louise. Wonder is a good thing. :)

Oakland Daily Photo said...

Wonderful seems an understatement. I'm thinking majestic, incredible, spell-binding, ethereal...But they don't start with W, do they? Well done.

ChrisJ said...

In the 60's we swam in the pool at the hotel, (I think it was named the Victoria) which was located right in front of Lake Louise. I was fascinated by the color of the glacial fed lakes. We'd been in Canada less than a year. (We were actually camping at Kicking Horse Pass). WONDERFUL.

Chubskulit Rose said...

All your photos are wonderful Leslie, love the kid's smiley faces.

lotusleaf said...

What a spectacular lake! Wonderful!

Gattina said...

The last picture looks like a wonder world !

Unknown said...

Wow...what a wonderful vieW...very calm. i hope that someday i could visit a place like this.

Joy said...

Definitely a wonder, and on such a scale.

Francisca said...

Canada is wonderful indeed. And so is your post. Happy holidays, Leslie!

Berowne said...

Fantastic picture. What a way to celebrate the holiday season...

Mildred said...

Wonderful entry for W day!
And what a beautiful scenery Lake Louise is!
Thanks for sharing. And thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment;o)
Hope you have a wonderful Christmas time with your family and friends.

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Carola said...

Wonderful words and photos. Canada is wonderful!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

And I hope you are having a wonderful Xmas, Leslie. xx