Puchinpappy's photos

For the Saturday Self-challenge: colourful pattern. Souvenir tiles from the gift shop at Gaudi's La Pedrera in Barcelona.

Saturday Self-challenge. Use manual controls The cat was waiting patiently to come back inside. This is what he left behind.

For the Saturday Self-challenge. Glass in black and white.

For the Saturday Self-challenge: Invert or make image a negative See PIP for original.

For the Saturday Self-challenge: Red Abstract.

For the Saturday Self-challenge: Starbursts. We did not see the sun all week.

There is nothing more Canadian than a backyard hockey rink. This one is built on public land by volunteers. The rink will be filled with children, and possibly some adults during the Christmas Holidays which started today. The back fences of the three homes who appear to support this endeavor have posted flags from all the Canadian National Hockey League teams and also some lights for night play, which is most of the day at this time of year. Notice how long the shadows are in the middle of the day. For the Saturday Self-challenge: Create an image that highlights your favourite aspect of the holiday season. Sight and Sound: The Good Old Hockey Game by Stompin Tom Connors www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiTeNS7Ds3U See notes for other photos of this rink.

There is nothing that is more Canadian than this hockey rink, open to the kids in the community, built and maintained by parents, behind their houses on public parkland in our subdivision.

There is nothing that is more Canadian than this hockey rink, open to the kids in the community, built and maintained by parents, behind their houses on public parkland in our subdivision.

It was time to go home so the hockey stick was left where it was dropped.

This mountain ash is adorned with its characteristic orange berries and a Christmas bobble.

For the Saturday Self-challenge: Christmas traditions. My wife, the furthest violin on the right, added her skills to a small volunteer community orchestra at a fundraiser at La Cite Francophone, in Edmonton. They played a Christmas music program that raised 1200 Canadian dollars for families in need. My wife played professionally for years in orchestras at Christmas time playing Handel's Messiah, The Nutcracker Ballet, and even a Christmas concert with a jazz legend in our town at the local jazz club. Here she supports a group of amateurs in bringing good cheer for a good cause. Add to that the Christmas concerts of her piano and violin students and this season is full of musical expression. There were many people surrounding the two levels of this public space.

Saturday Self-challenge: Cat's eye view. This is the view from the cat's side of the glass window. The Black-capped Chickadees drive him nuts. Here is one at the window feeder. PIP: What the cat sees the rest of the day because his eyes are closed 98% of the day.