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Closing out summer 2019 like...

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SOTC 299/365

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New year, new perspective, right?

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#IAmGrateful 27

Sunshine

I love sunshine. I grew up in Canada’s sunniest city

(c) Photos by Gina

, Calgary, which sees sunshine an average of 333 days a year. Edmonton comes in second, seeing sunshine 325 days out of the year. Pair that with the wide prairie sky for the sun's rays to shine in every direction, and it's no surprise that I love the light so much.

Even on days when it is -30C, the sky can be bright with light. And there's even a word to describe the warmth we feel from the sun in the cold of winter: apricity. ...I'm pretty sure someone out here on the prairies came up with that one, lol.

Especially at this time of the year when the sun is low in the sky and shorter-lasting, I am so grateful for its shine. Along with air and water, it is a source of life and energy. It boosts our well-being both mentally and physiologically. And it quite literally makes things sparkle.

#IAmGrateful 11 (Also, SOTC 260/365)

Sunset

Grateful. SO grateful. For the bright glow, the warm light, the rich and beautiful end to a day—regardless of what that came before. Sky and clouds and sun working together to create this artistic expression of physics that spills forth in several colours.

For the 4:30 winter sunsets that make the drive home less dreary; and the 10:30 summer sunsets that tuck my friends and I in around the campfire.

For the eyesight to see this daily splendour, regardless of where I am in the world; and the luxury of capturing it on a camera to hold onto forever and share—#IAmGrateful.

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I've tried very hard to not have too many sunsets as SOTC selections, as they are somewhat of a low-hanging fruit in my photography. That being said, sometimes you just gotta.

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Sunrise with New Eyes (AND SOTC 217/365)

I can be kind of grumbly when I have to wake up early on a Saturday against my own volition. I like to take my weekends at a slow, easy pace, and having never been a morning person, I generally don't like to start my weekends with an alarm. However, sometimes those gentle Saturdays are not meant to be, and so it was that I found myself up early this morning to take the cat to the vet for follow-up to some recent surgery. Oh, the things we do for those we love.

Needless to say, it's not what I would choose to do with a Saturday morning, but I placated my grumbles knowing that the day could likely be redeemed by a nap later on, and if not a nap, then at least by an extra hour of sleep when Daylight Savings Time ends tonight.

However, because the clocks haven't changed yet, it meant that I was up before the sun this morning. ...And then the sun started to wake up too. Alberta has a knack for glorious sunrises, especially in the fall and winter, when the increased clouds give something for the light to bounce off of in a million different directions. I stood in the kitchen, pouring milk over my cereal, and glanced out the east-facing window. In the last bit of twilight, I could already tell that the sun was going to give a lovely show this morning. As I ate, I watched the clock, and I watched the sky. I think I can catch this one. A band of bright light hit the horizon; time to get the camera.

One of these days I will organize myself to catch a sunrise from one of Edmonton's beautiful River Valley parks, or from some rolling farm field. However, the limited radius I had within my neighbourhood this morning did not disappoint--the beauty of my surrounding streets is one of the reasons I love living here.

I turned trees into models as the sun surfaced over the horizon--and the sky... the sky. The whole neighbourhood became awash in pink and orange.

It had been a while since I'd taken my camera out for a spin--Thanksgiving, when a soft blanket of snow quieted the city. That was about a month ago. And as I stand beneath the fiery glow of the morning, I realize that it's the first time I'm using my camera with my 'new' eyes.*

My heart sings.

The sky continues to break open into full daylight; it's time to move on--there are places to go and things to be done. I am still hoping for that nap this afternoon.

But for now, my grumbles disappear and I breathe in the fresh new start to my day.









* I corrected my vision with LASIK surgery recently, and am now glasses-free!

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Over the years I've become more and more convinced that I'm a city girl with a prairie heart.

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The sky was pasty with clouds; I did not think a nice sunset was bound to happen, and had focused my camera towards other things. When I paused to stretch and turned around...

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A Hint of the Urban at Sunset, a photo on Flickr by Gina Blank

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Fly into the Evening, a photo on Flickr by Gina Blank

Morning Reflection (SOTC 93/365)

I spent the week in St. Petersburg, Florida, for a work-related conference. I must say, the half hour walk along the harbour was a nice change of pace from the typical half hour drive on Yellowhead Trail.