Motivator, Flickr

I should have said "all my American Flickr friends who live in the US or elsewhere"! Anyway, I do hope you all have a happy and safe day tomorrow. No matter what our circumstances are, there are always endless things, large and small, to be thankful for, especially when compared to those who live in many less fortunate countries around the world. Enjoy your turkey dinner, if you are lucky enough to have one, and enjoy the company of family and friends, if you are fortunate enough to have either or both!

Happy Birthday to my youngest daughter, Rachel! She is still on a trip to New Zealand but will be returning home to Vancouver soon. Hope she is greeted by a blanket of snow on her return to the West Coast, LOL! It's snowing heavily where I am. A windchill temperature of around -40C for Sunday!!! (Thanks as always, fd!)

I know it's not very Christmasy, but I thought I'd post this, as many of my Flickr friends and local friends seem to enjoy our feathered neighbours and take spectacular photos of them. I do have a more Christmasy "card" that I will post a little closer to Christmas Day : ) I am so thankful that I have learned a fair amount about the birds in my area and have grown to respect and care about them more than when I was unaware and ignorant of what amazing wildlife surrounded me. Thank you ALL for sharing your superb images and for teaching me so much about your little corners of the world. Your beautiful photos inspire me so much, and hopefully I am learning and will continue to learn from you. Happy Christmas, everyone! Stay safe! Thanks, fd, as always for this and all your other fun things!

I made this poster a couple of days ago, hoping that there might be no need to use it. However, the breaking news today is that the remains found recently in Florida ARE those of little two-year-old (almost three) Caylee Marie Anthony. I have followed this huge case closely for the last few months and it has caught the attention and emotions of so many people. I won't go into how I fail to understand how any mother (assuming she is found guilty at trial) could ever do this to another human being, especially her own beautiful little daughter. I will simply say "It's a sad, sad day today."

Only three more days till Christmas, for those of you who will be celebrating! A few shiny baubles - actually part of a wreath that I bought recently, partly so that I could take a few photos, and it was even on sale : ) - to wish you all a very Happy Christmas!

Just realized I had better upload this Happy Birthday card to my brother in England today, as I don't know when he will get to the Library in the next few days, to check on his e-mail and on Flickr! I deliberately chose an image that has nothing to do with Christmas, as his birthday is so close to Christmas - on 28th December. John, I thought you might find this small part of a mural quite interesting, seeing as you have always been highly artistic! It is just inside the entrance way at the Royal Tyrrell Museum (the incredible Dinosaur museum) in Drumheller, east of Calgary. Have a happy day! www.traveldrumheller.com/royal-tyrrell-museum.html

It went through my mind that New Year is a little like newly fallen snow - it's a fresh start. These little rounded mounds of sparkling snowflakes were photographed yesterday in the Sheep River/Turner Valley area, south of Calgary.

My son was born in Seria, Brunei, Borneo "MANY" years ago. Population is a mix of Malays and Chinese. Every year, I look forward to seeing the design for the new Chinese New Year (Year of the Ox) postage stamp(s) for Canada. I reckon they are some of the most beautiful stamps produced in Canada each year. Thanks once again, fd, for creating the Motivator program : )

Easter has arrived unexpectedly quickly and caught me off-guard. Hope you all have a safe and peaceful Easter weekend. Don't eat too much chocolate - wish I could share this little chocolate bunny with you! Oh, just realized - I ate it a few weeks ago, LOL! If you don't celebrate Easter, or don't do anything special to celebrate it, then I hope the sun shines and you have a relaxing weekend : ) Created with fd's Flickr Toys .