Grey skies looking at me - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

Yet more grey skies today, the monotony appears unending. I always try to find one positive thought regarding the weather as we head into the depths of winter but some days it is challenging. As I got into my stride on the way out this morning, I was very aware of the sound of the waves against the shore. The wind had picked up a bit today and that of course always adds movement to the water. I’m always amazed at how our part of the lake is so different than to where the wee laddie is just 10 kilometers further along.

And then I got to thinking about the tempo and rhythm of the waves reaching the rocks, docks or small beaches dotted along the shore. It’s so very different from walking by the sea. The waves here are moving in quick punctuated spurts as compared to the slow, building swell and release of the seas and oceans. I’m very much drawn to the ebb and flow of the tides in their less restrictive environs. But as I can’t get home to the sea in the foreseeable future, this will do very nicely thank you.

The makings of a Snow family - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

I always jump at the opportunity to spend a few hours at the park with my grandson, a.k.a. ‘The wee laddie’ or ‘Pickle’. He is an energetic and the most lovable four year old who is always up for an adventure with his Gran. They live ten minutes further along the lake from us and he is a great companion and loves our lakeside exploring as much as I do.

As is more often than not the case, we were the only ones at the park. Due to the current restrictions that is the only way we can be there safely. We played on the swings and slides, tag, snow baseball, slid down slopes and built these adorable little snowmen on a picnic bench. The snow was not packing so this was our best effort.

Listening to the weather forecast it seems we have not had a decent amount of sunshine in the past three weeks and I definitely concur. However, the light was actually beautiful if a little surreal. All of the white is the frozen lake. It is still open water at the horizon and you wouldn’t catch me out there until at least the end of January!

Huge numbers of geese gather at the edge of the ice in the slowly shrinking open water and what a noise they make. Ice fishermen are starting to test the ice in the hopes of reeling in a prize catch and the duck hunters are doing their thing. When we first moved here and heard the gunfire it was pretty unsettling. Even now I just don’t understand the killing of a creature for sport. When the wee laddie first heard the shots booming out over the lake he was quite scared and it was a rather difficult thing to explain to a toddler. So we came up with it being that the people were hunting ‘ducks for dinner’.

Soon enough all the kite surfers will be out. The hockey and skating rinks will appear and be carefully tended to create the best ice and a Canadian winter will be in full swing.

Structure - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

Temperatures were at least tolerable this morning as I set began my walk. I don’t set off with any expectation of what I might photograph as I weave my way along the water’s edge. A gentle snow had begun falling as I left the house and once again the light was not the best. I started to notice the snow falling on the hedges, dried grasses, beautiful hydrangeas that had escaped the fall cleanup, recycling bins (it’s our pick-up today) and fencing.

So it seems the metal and wood structures that delineated my journey today captured my attention. I found myself thinking about the direction the snow was falling and the patterns it was forming clinging to the various vertical faces.

The stark contrast of white snow against dark wire. Textures beyond the fences were becoming part of the overall compositions.

I love the way the snow is filling in each little cell in this bit of chain-link; realizing how fleeting its stay may be as each little perfect snowflake was being supported by the ones beneath…it could all be gone in the blink of an eye.

Upon arriving back at the house I thought I’d better check on the bird feeder situation in the back garden. This is a task I do with some frequency as it seems the local squirrels and raccoons have a penchant for taking off with my feeders along with whatever is on the menu! I ended up at this section of fencing which supports my summer vines. I know it’s only January, but Spring is already on my mind.

Beyond the gate - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

I’ve always had a fascination with gates. Seven or eight years ago I designed and published a neck piece created with a chainmaille technique and Swarovski crystal and named it ‘Beyond the Gate.’ The inspiration was a garden gate found on the grounds of the Dornoch Castle Hotel in Sutherland, Scotland. To this day I find myself unable to resist stopping and often photographing any structures that I happen upon. I’m always tempted to enter, but rarely do.

The skies have been quite grey for the past number of days and full of the promise of snow and honestly not the best for using my phone to take photographs. It has been snowing on and off for most of the day here. I enjoyed my walk this morning and met with a few neighbours along the way to exchange New Year greetings. It is still so very disconcerting to have to remain on opposite sides of the road as we speak…but needs must and we all respect the times we are in just now.

This gate is almost at the furthest point on one of my most traveled paths. It’s always very quiet on the dock even in the height of summer. On the odd occasion I’ll see a couple of people fishing or perhaps a pair of courting geese when they return in the Spring. I will almost always stop and take a peek. We are on the sunset side of the lake and on summer evenings this gate frames some of the most glorious sunsets I’ve ever been blessed to witness.

You are the new day - A LAKE FOR ALL SEASONS

We had a lovely fresh fall of snow during the overnight hours. If I’m honest, I’m really not a fan of the winter months. I find that I’m more often than not, chilled to my very core. I expend a lot of energy trying to remain vertical when I’m walking. Yet still on a day like this…I love it!

This first week of January is always a little sad for me when I see the beautiful trees used to celebrate the season are sadly abandoned at the end of driveways. I’m afraid I’ll continue to stick with our fake tree and leave the others in the forests and tracts where I think they belong.

I’ve been watching the snow slowly sliding off the blue tin roof of this recently constructed shelter belonging to one of our neighbours. An intricate fringe of ice has formed and it’s constantly evolving with the changing temperatures. As I took this photograph you may just be able to see the second flock of geese noisily taking off from the shallow water.

home - A Lake for all Seasons

We have lived here on the eastern shore at the narrowing of this beautiful lake for a little more than three years. I’m grateful each day for the beauty that surrounds us.

I try to walk most days. Sometimes I walk with a friend or two, perhaps a dog will tag along but mostly I enjoy a solitary start to my day. I like to take a few moments each time I walk to pause at the shore and just be present and mindful, listening to the sound of the loons, perhaps watching the waves or on occasion having my breath taken away when watching an eagle soar out over the water.

Today the lake was like glass. The only movement in the water was from a water dance of loons. The light and atmosphere was ethereal, subtly changing by the minute. Sometimes there are just no words.

I’ve decided this year to take the majority of my photographs with my phone so that I’m not constantly thinking about setting up a shot. I hope that what I capture will be an expression of what caught my attention at the time and hopefully be as authentic as possible.

So here we are, a new year dawns filled with hope for brighter days, less sadness, more kindness and consideration and a whole lot of love…with a grateful heart, WELCOME 2021.

This is me

Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland

"Live your truth. Express your love. Share your enthusiasm. Take action towards your dreams. Walk your talk. Dance and sing to your music. Embrace your blessings. Make today worth remembering.”

– Steve Mariboli

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Welcome and thank you for finding your way to this JOURNAL. I’m Alison (that sound’s so formal)…many people simply know me as Ali. I have been creating and making…my entire life.

I’m now, in what I refer to, as ‘the old age of my youth.’ A lifetime ago, I entered art school in the United Kingdom (with little in the way of drawing skills, but lots of ideas and enthusiasm), and gained my qualifications in Fashion Design & Illustration. This is where I actually worked with Swarovski Crystal for the first time and started to explore the world of jewellery design. I spent time in France, Germany and Austria during these years, then due to a depressed economy and with little prospect of work, moved to Sweden after I graduated.

I eventually returned to the United Kingdom, landing in the beautiful city of Edinburgh where I had the amazing opportunity to be immersed in the world of a successful fashion house…an experience that I will be forever grateful for. It was at this time I discovered that to be true to myself, this was not the world that resonated with my soul.

Fast forward a few decades and to make a very long story significantly shorter, I now make my life ‘north of the city’. Which city, I hear you ask…Toronto! Today, I’m the shop manager at That Bead Lady, a published designer and instructor that leaves little heaps of creativeness all over the place (some might just call me easily distracted). As a former Swarovski Ambassador, I’m thrilled to have been invited to join an elite collective of global professionals as a Swarovski Authorized Instructor for Swarovski Create Your Style. 

Nairn, Scotland

You will come across Stonescapes Studio too. It has always been around, albeit in my head until a few years ago. It is my creative space on Instagram and will continue. It is a place that somehow keeps me grounded and connected to my beloved Scotland. It was named for the beach stones I spend hours among when I’m home by the sea in Nairn.

This adventure is very much in its infancy…it is a massive learning curve for me, but my confidence and ability will grow over time with the incredible support I’m surrounded by. I will nurture it and help it develop into whatever it is supposed to be. We cannot wait for what others believe to be the perfect time because honestly; there isn’t one! We have to dare to jump when the time is perfect for us. I envision this space as an opportunity to share experiences on my creative path…I hope to encourage and nurture creative aspirations in our everyday lives. I will share jewellery, photography, quotes, artists, music, colour…the garden gate is wide open! In the meantime, if you would like to reach out to me, please do so via my CONTACT page.

I’m excited to start this JOURNAL with no expectation of how often I’ll post or a definitive plan as to what I’ll post about. I’m beyond grateful to my amazing firstborn, who has created this place for me to curate my passions…Josh Layton at www.weareloop.ca you are a selfless, creative soul with infinite patience and professionalism and in case you didn’t know it…you totally ROCK! 

‘The Avenue’ that leads down to the sea one way or into the village, the other.

Phew, well you made it all of the way through...thank you for taking the time to read this very first entry.

Let our journey begin.  

Live, Love & Create!  

Ali x