Top Ten Collages of 2013

A new heart for a New Year, always! (Charles Dickens, The Chimes)

As the New Year draws closer, some of us are already thinking about what resolutions we are going to make to usher this ritual event into our lives.  It’s definitely a chance for our hearts to be filled with hope for new beginnings and further realizations of our dreams and wishes – for ourselves and for others in 2014.

It’s also a time of reflection on the past year and how that time has passed for each of us.  However, we don’t pass this time alone.  We embrace others on our journey and they embrace us on ours – whether through physical embraces, smiles, handshakes, phone calls, or any other means of communication.  “We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly embracing each other.”  (Luciano De Crescenzo)

As I reflect on 2013, one of my means of embrace has been through images.  It is gratifying that so many people from all over the world have been making this journey with me.   For my own amusement and reflection, I have made my own “Top Ten Collages of 2013”   Hope you enjoy!

Have a Happy New Year!

This Lladro Figurine was  encased in a glass display case at " Downton Abbey Day" - Ashley's Toronto.  It is a very expensive piece of sculpture that I admired while I was there.
This Lladro Figurine was encased in a glass display case at ” Downton Abbey Day” – Ashley’s Toronto. It is a very expensive piece of sculpture that I admired while I was there.
Sand Sculptures CNE (top 10)
These Sand Sculptures were beautiful works of art – taken at the CNE – Toronto.
Belly Dancing (Top 10 2013)
Belly-dancer at a Toronto Wedding.
Barbados Beach (Top 10)
Beach at the Amaryllis Resort – Barbados.
Barbados Pride (Top 10 2013)
Barbados Pride – National Flower of Barbados. These are my own arrangements of this beautiful bloom.
Three Graces Painting in Forsythia Bushes (top 10 2013)
Three Graces Painting with Forsythias in Background. This painting represents my own handiwork. One day when the forsythias in the garden were in full bloom, I was inspired to take it outside and do some photography.
Downton Abbey Day (Top 10 2013)
Downton Abbey Day – Ashley’s Toronto.
Cherry Blossoms in High Park (Top Ten)
Cherry Blossoms – High Park, Toronto. This is a visit not to be missed if you are in the City of Toronto. I don’t know the woman in the picture but since she isn’t facing the camera and her outfit is so colorful – this is a pretty sight. It wasn’t enough for her to see the blossoms, she had to touch them. Beautiful!
Pope Benedict in Rome (top 10)
Pope Benedict – Rome. The Papacy made big news this year and I did a post concerning the papal resignation. This was taken in Rome on my last visit at an audience that I was fortunate to be at (along with thousands of others).
Canada Blooms 2013 (10 top collages)
Canada Blooms 2013 – Toronto.   This is a Spring Garden Show and is very popular as most Toronto dwellers are longing for fresh flowers after months of winter weather. It’s a lot like the New Year – a Garden Show that brings hopes and dreams for the future – for what is to come. “A new heart for a New Year, always!”