Happy New Year

I made it, my finally photo of the day for 2013. Cheers, Happy New Year!
Pewaukee, WI

Fancy Frost

It was -8 degrees this morning and we had the most elaborate, fancy, frost on the front door of our home that I have ever seen. WOW!
Pewaukee, WI

Crashing Waves

What a sensory experience today at Klode Park. The wind blowing, the surf crashing, the color of the lake and sky all combined for a memorable photo of the day.
Whitefish Bay, WI

A Clearing in the Pines

I went for a hike this morning at Lapham Peak with camera in hand. A fellow hiker commented that it feels like she's in a different world when amongst the pines. I agree. 
Delafield, WI

Snowscape

I waited until late afternoon to take my photo of the day so I could take advantage of the dwindling light. I found this most interesting snowscape filled with curves and shadows to photograph.
New Berlin, WI

Winter View

My holiday theme is complete and I'm moving forward... 
Many homes have large icicles hanging from their eves due to the recent ice storm that move through the area. I love this view looking out the window at my mother-in-laws, made it my photo of the day.
Pewaukee, WI

Bundle Of Joy

Merry Christmas to all. Hope you have had a joyous Christmas. Our Grandson has brought great joy to our family. He is a perfect little package under the Christmas tree.
Pewaukee, WI

Reason for the Season

Nativity scenes, also called manger scenes or creches, have been a popular Advent and Christmas decoration for homes, parishes, and public places for hundreds of years. A nativity scene consists of art objects depicting the birth of Jesus. This beautiful manger greets you in the narthex of Queen of Apostles Church.

Pewaukee, WI

Holly and Winterberry

During the holidays, holly adores houses all over the world. The prickly green plant and its red berries are a popular ornament for those looking to enliven their homes with a little Christmas spirit.

Floral designers at Sendik's were putting together holiday floral arrangements and I noticed these branches of holly and winterberry they were working with. Just what I was looking for - made for a great shot.
New Berlin, WI

Nature's Christmas Trees

Winter season is finally here with all its beauty and peace. A white blanket of snow fell while we slumbered. This holiday display is nature's living flocked Christmas trees.
Monches, WI

Color of Christmas Red

Red is the colour of fire inducing feelings of warmth and visions of roaring fires, red berries and Santa Claus.

This evening we drove along Lake Drive taking in Christmas colors of white, green, blue and red. I loved the red tree and made it my photo of at the day.
Whitefish Bay, WI

Nutcrackers: A Timeless Symbol of Christmas

Nutcrackers are wooden carvings that come as a solider, knight, santa, or other profession. They have existed since at least the 15th century. These nutcrackers portray a person with a large mouth which the operator opens by lifting a lever in the back of the figurine. Originally one could insert a nut in the big-toothed mouth, press down and thereby crack the nut. Modern nutcrackers in this style serve mostly for decoration, mainly at Christmas time, a season of which they have long been a traditional symbol.

I selected my son's collection of nutcrackers to photograph today. He has received a nutcracker each Christmas since he was 5, he is now 25. They are all still all at our home, it is my hope that they grace his home some day.

Pewaukee, WI

Christmas Lights

Christmas lights are used for decoration around the holidays. The custom harkens to the use of candles to decorate the Christmas tree in upper-class homes in 18th-century Germany.

These lights filled a store front of a flower shop "Bank of Memories". I found their twinkle to be appealing when I drove by this evening and stopped to photograph them.

Pewaukee, WI

Santa's Elves

Elves are known to be tiny, dwarf-like creatures, either male or female, with pointed ears. They have a fascinating history, by the mid-1800's the true purpose of the elves revealed by the Scandinavians was to help Santa design and make wonderful toys that he brings to children. Post-Christian folklore especially in Europe, elves were mischievous pranksters who made special appearances during the lead up to Christmas. Today, elves are associated with Christmas and are symbols to remind children to be good and not naughty!

You are looking the pre-press team at LPi. My co-workers were gracious in wearing novelty headbands and posing for my photo of the day - I thank them. Every week it amazes me what we accomplish. We are a hard working team of elves.

New Berlin, WI

Candy Canes

Candy was used to decorate Christmas trees. Of all the traditions of Christmas, few are as ancient in meaning and rich in symbolism as the tradition of the Candy Canes. Candy Canes on the Christmas tree symbolize the shepherds in the field on that first Christmas night. The Shepherds heard the angel chorus and came to worship the new born King.
Pewaukee, WI

Christmas Poinsettia

The poinsettia is a native plant of Mexico and has a long history. The Mexican people viewed them as the holy star. In the United States the poinsettia received it's name in honor of Joel Roberts Poinsett, a botanist, who introduced the plant into the country in 1828. Over the years, the "Christmas Poinsettia" has become the most popular Christmas plant. There are more than 100 varieties of the poinsettias available today and come in colors like the traditional red, white, pink burgundy, marbled and speckled.
Pewaukee, WI

Spiritual Messenger

I wanted to photograph an angel for my blog today, so we made a trip out to Monches Farms. As I remembered, there was a angel on the grounds.
An angel is a spiritual being believed to act as messenger of God, represented in human form with wings and a long robe. When we see angel decorations during the Christmas season, typically we think of the angles who told the shepherds where to find and worship the New Born King.
Monches, WI

St. Nicholas

I attended a company Christmas party this evening were we could walk through the Harley-Havidson Museum and later had dinner at the Garage next door. How appropriate there was Santa on a snowmobile as part of their collection. Recreational vehicles became part of Harley Davidson product line when they partnered with AMF.
St. Nicholas was a historic 4th-century Christian priest and later a Bishop. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving late at night, such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him, and thus became the model for Santa Claus.
Milwaukee, WI

Star of Wonder

My plan for the next 12 days is to capture symbols that represent Christmas.

O star of wonder, star of night,
Star of royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Pewaukee, WI

Fern Frost

Jack Frost returned when the outdoor temperatures dipped below zero creating this beautiful fern frost etching on my front door.
Pewaukee, WI

Eye Candy

I had to come out of the cold today, as temperature topped out at 8 degrees. I stopped by Sendik's on Moreland in hopes that something would catch my eye. This stack of candy did for me, making it my photo of the day.
New Berlin, WI

Snowdrift

It was cold and windy creating sculptured snowdrifts along county roads. Winter has come early this year. Photographing and editing snow shots is tricky. Achieving a white snow is my intention.
New Berlin, WI

Natures Ornaments

Beautiful sun filled leaves act as natures ornaments in this wondrous wintery scene.
Monches, WI

Holiday Faire

Monches Farms in my very favorite place to go for holiday browsing and/or shopping. Today, there was a gentle snow that fell all day long that put me in a festive frame of mind when I arrived. It was not difficult to find something to photograph being surrounded by all the holiday faire.
Monches, WI

Frost Crystals

I stopped along the roadside this morning to take in the allure of the frost. I am continually amazed at the beauty in all things when you look close enough. I have plans to return tomorrow.
Pewaukee, WI

Movie Night

The Fox-Bay Cinema Grill in Whitefish Bay is a well preserved example of a Art Deco style movie theater. There are not many local movie houses left in our area. This theater has been on my list to photograph for a while. As cold as it was this evening, tonight was the night.
Fox-Bay Cinema Grill, 34 East Silver Spring Drive
Whitefish Bay, WI

My Serious Look

My Grandson came with his mother to visit this evening. I love photographing him. He is a little man with a thousand expressions. This is his serious look.
Pewaukee, WI

The Holiday Train

The Canadian Pacific Holiday train arrived in Wisconsin today. The annual holiday train is decorated with lights and travels across Canada and the U.S. to raise money and collect food for local nonprofits. One of it's stops was in Hartland this evening…. I was able to capture the tail end of the event.
Hartland, WI

Fog, Mysterious and Dark

Yesterday, we had freezing temperatures and the area was covered with frost. Today, it's foggy, wet and dark. This scene, the craggy trees and the fog is representative of what the day was like. I love the contrast of the dark trees and warm colored marsh grass. The colors are very complementary to each other.
New Berlin, WI

Iced Lace

Frosty mornings make for an interesting photo shoot. I used my macro lens to capture the crystals of frost on the dried Queens Anne Lace.
Pewaukee, WI

Candle of Hope

I attended church this morning, the First Sunday of Advent. I was inspired by the service and the beauty of my surrounding in selecting this scene to photograph today.
Fox River Congregational Church
Pewaukee, WI