Friday, October 30, 2015

October remembered...

I too am glad I live in a world where there are Octobers! 

It was a lovely month in my part of the world.




My view through the kitchen window began with the red oak cloaked in leaves.
As the month comes to an end...
the leaves have all but disappeared.


Mushrooms and maple leaves...



...and fall clematis were all signs of the season.


I've been watching this pair of mourning doves from my kitchen window this past month.
On occasion they have friends join them in the red oak tree...
sometimes a dozen or so.
I rather like them...
so hope they aren't planning on going south anytime soon.



The farmers who thought they were done cropping for the year...
quickly cut the grass one more time.




Though Thanksgiving came and went in Canada...
the thankfulness continues!
We had a lovely time with family gathered around the table


Just down the road from us...
the cranberry harvest has been in full swing these past few weeks.


I've stopped to watch on several occasions.
Last week Lucy and I went for a walk.
She requested to ride in the stroller...
like she did in days gone by when visiting Grammy.
We stopped on the freeway overpass...
where we had a good view of the cranberry fields.
Then we waved at the trucks passing below us...
and a few friendly drivers honked their horns.
Lucy always gets a kick out of that!



We carried on down the road...
stopping to check out the curious cows on the other side of the fence.

We also had a discussion about which side of the road to walk on.
Suddenly Lucy asked if we were on the right side of the road...
because a police car was coming.  
I assured her we were.

The police cruiser stopped in front of us...
and the officer got out.
It seems someone had reported people on the overpass...
and he had come to check it out.
Had we been on the overpass?
Well, yes we had.
But we were only on the pedestrian sidewalk...
and Lucy never left the stroller.
Was there a problem?

He assured us that we had done nothing wrong...
but he needed to file a report.
He now has all our personal information...
and Lucy is 'known to the police'!
Who knew a leisurely country walk could get us into trouble?


Last Saturday we took part in the first ever Rosedale Harvest Brigade...
a community event which included a parade...with lots of representation from the agricultural community and fun for the whole family.

This brought back memories of yesteryear...
when our neighbour John Spencer would organize a parade in Rosedale
every Canada Day.

Our thanks to Chris Kloot (City of Chilliwack Councillor) and his team for resurrecting the parade...
and organizing this most successful event.


The plan was for us to have our old Monarch in the parade...
along with all the other vintage cars and farming entries.


I have proof that we were there!

It seems the Monarch did not like idling along that slowly...
and stalled half-way along the route.

We may not have crossed the finish line...
but drove the car back home again after a little pull-start. :)

I already know...
always wear comfortable walking shoes when riding in the car that has been around for nearly seven decades.



The days are getting shorter.
The nights are getting longer.
And we are spending more time indoors...
where it is always cozy and warm!

Don't forget to turn your clocks back on Sunday.

Thanks for stopping by...

Thursday, October 1, 2015

september...as it happened


September...the end of summer and the beginning of another school year.



The dandelions seemed a little confused as to the season!


After a long, hot and dry summer...September began with some much needed rain.  The rainbow was a nice touch...captured with my iPhone from the balcony of my dad's eighth floor deck.


My sister Bev came from Texas earlier in the month.  We spent some sister time at Harrison Hotsprings...and enjoyed brunch there with a lovely view lake.  We lingered around the table long enough...that we could justify ice-cream cones on the beach for dessert!



Our next stop was Cheam Lake Wetlands Park...



... peaceful and beautiful in every season.



We celebrated my dad's 93rd birthday while Bev was here...and gathered the family for a BBQ.  His favorite birthday gift was the Blue Jay's cap...of course.  He has been a fan for years...before they were a sensation! As you can tell...Dad still likes telling stories.  He had a hard time interrupting his story to pose for photos.

We celebrated a few other birthdays this month as well.  Elmer slipped quietly into his next year of senior-ity! LOL


Our dancing, twirling, laughing Maggie turned seven...and celebrated with friends and family.  Where do the years go?


And then there was the party for my sister Dot and brother-in-law Terry...both celebrating their BIG  Six-Oh!  It was a fun time of reminiscing...good food...good fun with 'good' friends and family!

Before the grands all started school this fall, I took the four oldest girls shopping for some new back-to-school clothes.  There was no room in the car for Lucy (who started pre-school this year)...so I promised her an outing all of her own once the others were in school.


She picked out a Hello Kitty outfit and then chose to go to Wendy's for an early lunch.  From there I drove her to her pre-school.  Who knew I needed a four-year-old navigator to help me find my way?  I couldn't quite remember which street her school was on, and turned one block too soon.  She was all quiet in the back seat of the car, minding her own business until I made that turn. Then she immediately piped up that I was going the wrong way and needed to turn around!  Who needs a GPS if you have a Lucy?  I had a good laugh at that!


Last Sunday was another beautiful fall day...and we returned to Cheam Wetlands park for a hike with Ranen and Micah.  Though they were a little disappointed that we never came across any snakes or frogs...they had fun on the leaf covered trails.



Fog.  September.  Synonymous!


Most every morning began with a layer of fog in the valley.




And most every evening ended with a beautiful sunset.


The last crop of grass  for this season is being harvested this week.  Farewell summer!


Autumn is upon us.  Enjoy!