Lindy Low LeCoq

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #128: Here Comes the Holiday Season ~

Posted on December 25, 2020 by Lindy Le Coq

The iconic Santa Clause of my youth was captured in the Coca Cola advertisements that were always full page color, inside the back cover of Time & Life magazines. *”…he was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf….”

My mother gave me the Santa in the photo above in 1972. It is my most treasured Christmas decoration. She never would buy frivolous things like this for herself, yet she loved them, and she knew I did too. When I remove it from the original box, tears well. I kiss it, remember Mom, and put this Santa in a place of distinction.

The rustic carved wood Santa above, a gift from my hubby, gave me courage to try my hand at carving wood elves. The two I carved, below, were influenced by our visit to France (notice the nose!).

Over the years I’ve come to see many representations of Santa Claus/St. Nicholas from different cultures, and love them all; tall and skinny, short and round, woodsmen, monks, all elves with one goal – spread joy at the darkest time of the year.

*”As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky, so up to the housetop the coursers they flew, with a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too.”

Sending greeting of glad tidings and the hope for joy in the future. Here in the USA, my friends and I are breathing a sigh of relief that 2020 is nearly behind us, and we keep faith that our new President and administration will help our nation heal, as we move into 2021.

*A Visit from St. Nicholas, Clement C. Moore

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Mask-up and stay safe.🐾

https://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2020/12/18/lens-artists-challenge-128-and-here-comes-the-holiday-season/

Posted in Holiday, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, photography | Tagged christmas decorations, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Santa Claus, St. Nicholas | 4 Comments

~ Solstice Greetings ~ Report from the Edge of a Continent ~

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Lindy Le Coq

It has rained non-stop today, so we are staying inside where it is warm and comfy this afternoon. There will be no viewing the “Christmas Star” for us!

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate uncharted waters.🐾

Posted in Beagles, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, Report from the Edge of a Continent, winter solstice | Tagged jello, Long Beach Peninsula, Report from the Edge of a Continent, winter solstice | 2 Comments

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #127: Precious Moments ~

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Lindy Le Coq

Precious moments are those with family and friends, almost always beginning with hugs and ending with more hugs. Oh, how I miss that closeness! Family and friends are what make us who we are today.

Creighton and I with Jocelyn 2016, at Priest Lake, ID

Neighborhood Holiday Nosh at our home 2018.

Micah (grand-nephew), Lori (sister), and Molly (niece) at Long Beach 2017.

Diana (sister) and I, visiting our cousins, David and Duncan at Priest Lake, ID 2018.

Family birthday party at our home, 2019. Justin (grand-nephew), Jello, Marie (niece), Lori (sister) and Lynn (niece).

“When you hold your family tight around you, you’ll never be truly alone.” – Jennifer Betts

Thank you to Amy for sending me on a trip down memory lane when hugging was allowed! https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2020/12/12/76171/

Posted in Lens-Artists Photo Challenge | Tagged family and friends, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge | 3 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Least Sandpipers & Black-bellied Plovers ~ December 13, 2020 ~

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Lindy Le Coq

Least Sandpiper – *Calidris minutilla &* Black-bellied Plover – *Pluvialis squatarola*

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate onward. Mask-up and stay safe.🐾

Posted in Birding, birds, nature, nature photography, ornithology, pacific northwest, pacific ocean, photography, Wordless Wednesday | Tagged Birding, Black-bellied plover, Least Sandpiper, Long Beach Peninsula, nature photography, ornithology, Wordless Wednesday | Leave a comment

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #126: Subjects that Begin with the Letter A ~ Angel ~

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Lindy Le Coq

Are angels real or imaginary? They certainly exist in many religious teachings, and are a recurring symbol in the Christmas story. “Angels are very important, because they provide people with an articulation of the conviction that God is intimately involved in human life.” Father Thomas Rosica

L’ange des oliviers – Alphonse Muraton

In July 1994, Creighton and I traveled through France, hosted by his cousin Catherine, her husband Jean-Francois and their families. We visited a gallery in Saint-Brieuc, where I was able to photograph this angel painted by Creighton’s paternal great-grandfather, Alphonse Muraton. It has since been restored. I love the softness of her face, the lightness around her.

I always liked the concept of angels; guardian angels and other spirits that intervene to make life better, and who help us come to wise choices.

“Make a friend with an angel.” *St. Augustine*

Willow Tree Angels give us blank faces, with enough body language to make our own choice as to what they represent. I found the Black Angel at a Goodwill store, her wings all scrunched-up, but still whole. I brought her home, straightened out the wire wings, and keep her by my bedside always. She symbolizes my friendship with angel girlfriend, Jocelyn, who has smoothed my ruffled feathers through hard times. I love her to my core.

Christmas Card painted by another angel girlfriend: Judith Sanders

“Kind words are the music of the world. They have a power which seems to be beyond natural causes, as if they were some angel’s song which had lost its way and come on Earth.” Frederick William Faber

“O passing angel, speed me with a song, a melody of heaven to reach my heart and rouse me to the race and make me strong.” Christina Georgina Rossetti

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays, and safe harbor, as we navigate uncharted waters.🐾

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #126: An Alphabet Challenge–Subjects That Begin with the Letter A.

Posted in Art, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, photography | Tagged Alphonse Muraton, angels, Christmas, French Art, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, photography | 7 Comments

~ Wordless Wednesday ~ Snow Bunting ~

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Lindy Le Coq

Snow Bunting & Dark-eyed Junco *(Junco hyemalis)*

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate uncharted waters.🐾

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

~ Wake Me Up When It’s Over ~

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Lindy Le Coq

Jello’s reaction to all the renewal, and holiday decorating chaos!

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate uncharted waters.🐾

Posted in Beagles, dogs, Holiday | Tagged beagles, jello | Leave a comment

~ Lens Artists Photo Challenge # 125 ~ Renewal ~

Posted on December 4, 2020 by Lindy Le Coq

Tina offers us a great opportunity to do whatever we want with the challenge. Though my post today is not the most visually appealing, it is what has occupied me for over a week!

Our downstairs music room carpet was stained, worn and ugly. We decided last spring to replace it with Luxury Vinyl Plank which is waterproof and easier to keep clean. This involved moving Creighton’s huge CD collection from the CD shelves into boxes.

Creighton worked diligently packing the collection in a way that he would be able to reassemble it fairly easily when the floor was done and the furniture moved back in.

Last Sunday, my niece, her hubby and two young-adult sons arrived to move the furniture into our garage. All went smoothly, and the price of a couple pizzas was all it cost! I love my family to the moon.

Monday morning the flooring installation crew of two arrived. They removed the old carpet and padding, and by noon the new floor was done and the old was gone.

Tuesday I applied restoratives to the wood of the piano, and other furniture that needed it. Wednesday morning, our neighbor helped us move the heavier furniture into the room, and by Thursday night we were enjoying living in the space again.

Now the harder part begins. Creighton wants to winnow down his collection which represents a lifetime of music appreciation and acquisition. It will take time, and that’s okay. With the pandemic raging in our country, we don’t plan to go anywhere except a trip to the beach before Christmas.

Wishing everyone safe harbor, as we navigate uncharted waters.🐾

Lens-Artists Challenge #125 – You Pick It!

Posted in antiques, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Musical Instruments | Tagged antiques, bass guitar, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge | 9 Comments

~ Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #124: Now and Then ~

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Lindy Le Coq

Now – November 28, 2020 on an afternoon walk in the neighborhood, Vancouver, USA

Then – March 4, 2018. A family birthday gathering at my home with my sisters Diana and Lori, and her grandson Micah, three years old.

Three days ago, then/now, Creighton and I had a quiet dinner and watched a couple favorite holiday movies to celebrate Thanksgiving. Jello is the only other family member present!