Black and White Wednesday......with some RED thrown in!

I needed something red for the iheartfaces photo challenge this week so I grabbed this hat and had a little fun.

Here's a little Dahlia quote.

The other day Dahlia was munching on some chocolate as we began her homework and I asked her a question. A long pause ensued - and with eyes still closed she held up a finger and said

"I'm having a moment"

!!








I'm like that chocolate in her mouth when I look into those eyes.

Zizi is not one to be left out.

And neither is this nutball!! (a.k.a. joy bucket, whirling dervish, screaming banshee, love cup......)

Daddy's Valentine offering!

I'm not very chatty - for no good reason.

Sometimes words are superfluous. Don't you think?

TODAY! Baby it's cold outside.

.....and snowy and blowy and....isn't it time for spring? Just sayin'.

I found some blue in the sky. I love me some blue skies.

This (above) is where I buy flowers and fresh veggies and fruits in the summer. (whimper.) Not far from our place - down a country road.

See!! Too much snow.

Some berries the birds forgot.

Even though it's a 30 minute drive to downtown Montreal - we can still see it from up here. That's Mount Royal off in the distance.

That's my little corner of the world.
Please share with us what “Today” is like in your part of the world and link up with Communal Global's
"Tuesdays Around the World" !

I ♥ Faces - "Red" !

Milana - wearing my fancy schmancy red hat!

This week's challenge is all about heart and red and women. It's the "Go Red For Women" campaign for the American Heart Association. Click on the button for more info and for some great photography.

Go RED!

Black and White Wednesday - "Ta Da !! "

I did the dreaded deed today.

No....not that one (??!? Huh, what's that? Well.....what were you thinking?!).

;-)
Yes, I set up the camera in front of a mirror and took a mug shot.



I need to print up some business cards and flyers so I needed a picture that sort of tells the tale.

I used a big silver reflector and sat under our big sky light in my loft and other than some minor touch-ups (usually I have to really work it) this was almost SOOC.

(Forget diamonds....reflectors are a girls best friend! )

I'm showing my camera and paint and brush in this profile picture so all my bases are covered.
(My apron and scullery maid gloves are hidden. haha)

OK.....so enough about me.... here are some shots I took from the inside of my car as I was driving (shhhhh....) downtown last Friday.














I had to circle 3 times waiting for a red light to get this one of the Chinese gate. It was green all 3 times so I got this on the fly.

This little trip really gave me a taste to get out more and explore this city. I can't wait for spring when me and my Nikes will become one.

So, I'll end with a color version of the aforementioned "mug shot".

I think I like the black and white better.

You?

Happy Wednesday to you!

TODAY......and a few more party pictures.

Our little gang!

Last week I talked about our annual Chinese New Year celebration, so I'm posting a few pics from that. My camera went a bit wonky on me - does that ever happen to you? I think it was having a "mood". All the settings got mixed up - it even froze for a bit and I panicked thinking....now I know why I need a back-up camera.

All was well in the end and though I didn't get any good images I did get a few sketchy ones. They will have to do to keep the memory alive.

So, here's the recipe for our celebration.

Take 4 families, 8 adults (kids at heart) and 8 kiddos and mix well in a small but cozy house. Add unstoppable playing, arts and crafts, snacks and plenty of laughs. Add little gifts exchanged and beautiful Chinese music playing in the background. Watch as one of the fabulous Dad's runs around the backyard (in the snow) lighting fireworks. Mix in some home made dumplings (hundreds of them) in a variety of preparations, ginger-peanut dipping sauce, a stir-fry and a slow leechee/sake martini...........for the big kids!

Enjoy!

Dahlia and her BFF - Angel.

These two are inseparable and have been together since wee babies in the same orphanage in China. Their bond is deep and rich.



Every year, this Dad risks his life (or at least his hands) lighting a fabulous fireworks show

- just for us!

And have I mentioned lately how much I love my girlies? (Oh....I have?)


That's my little corner of the world.
Please share with us what “Today” is like in your part of the world and link up with Communal Global's
"Tuesdays Around the World" !

I ♥ Faces "Hearts"

So, if you're thinking - hmmm.......haven't we seen this image before? Yup, you have. But this week's theme called for a repeat performance. When I entered last week's "best face", I hadn't read ahead that this week's theme was hearts and next week's is red. (Ahem....I won't do this for next week.....promise.)


So though I entered a closeup of Milana last week - I thought I'd use this one of both girls for this week's "heart" theme.


This should be a fun challenge so I hope you visit the site.


And I hope you have a happy heart today!

Black and White Wednesday "Gung Hay Fat Choy"

We were trying on our Chinese New Year outfits for this year and had to get a little "shoot" in while we were relaxed and not rushing out the door.

I don't know if the same thing happens to you but the last time to get a good picture is when we're all dressed and ready to go. It just does not work.

But this did. A nice relaxing week-end day with nowhere to go and treats to be had.

I used one of these shots for the iheartfaces photo challenge (ahem....I'm # 243) and a commenter asked how could the girls not eat those heart lollies.

Well, they did. You don't take candy out of a babies mouth, right!

I believe that was item #1 in the basic parenting handbook.

Dahlia is especially excited (and proud) to bring these red envelopes with chocolate coins for all her classmates on Thursday (the actual beginning of the new year).

In a school where 98% of the student body are Italian - she still loves the idea that she is unique. May it always be that way!

Each year we celebrate Chinese New Year with 3 families that are very dear to us. We travelled to China for our first babes and have remained close since. We each returned for a second so we're 8 kiddos now. We all make different Chinese dishes and one of the Dads runs around in the snow lighting fireworks to the delight of us all.

So Dahlia and I did some artsy things to prepare the gift bags.

(ahem.... note to self.......the unsharp mask in PS may look ok but after uploading to the blog, it's...ummm.....overdone. So, stop it!!)

So even though I massively cheated with color this week - it still is black and white Wednesday at Lisa's so be sure to join in.

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !!!