Blogtober 6: A Foggy Walk

 

There was little definition between sea and sky this morning at Island View Beach. Fog made everything mysterious. I had an appointment not too far from the beach and decided to walk on the paths there before returning home. 

A couple of Great Blue Herons stood in the water. If you look closely you can see that the above bird has caught something and is beginning to devour it. Herons remain still for so long and then their long necks dart out and bam, there's breakfast! 

The high-pitched cry of gulls of various types filled the air as they flew past, landed on thin strips of exposed beach as the tide rolled in before lifting off en masse to land somewhere else. It was a very monotone morning looking out to sea.

Hawthorn berries are at their best just now. Abundant berries can mean a harsh winter ahead, or, more probably, good growing conditions during the summer. The birds will enjoy them and I love seeing their brightness as the landscape dulls. 

More gulls, these ones smaller and more delicate. I think they might be Bonaparte's Gulls, but I'm not certain. The one on the left seems to be saying, "Why are you looking at me?"

Cobwebs beaded with dew stretch among the bushes. I really hate walking between trees first thing in the morning in case I run into a cobweb across a path. If you see a woman waving her hands in front of her face as she walks, it's likely yours truly. 

I made a Roasted Tomato soup today that was very good. I'll post the recipe on my other blog later. The tomato harvest is almost done and it's been such a good one. I still have a half-dozen or so large tomatoes to use, and a few more that are ripening.

Cheerful zinnias continue to delight me with their bright colours. They last well in a vase indoors. 

Today we took our pickup truck in for inspection (needed because we brought it in from another province), and got it all registered and insured in BC. So that's done. Tomorrow I must renew my driver's licence which shouldn't take too long. 

And that's a wrap for blogtober 6! 

Blogtober 5: Close to Home

 

My husband has breakfast with a group of friends on Monday mornings and leaves the house early. I tend to get up with him and go for a walk. A thin crescent moon hung in the sky as I started out. I debated which jacket to wear and was glad I chose the light down one for the air had a distinct chill. 

Groups of crows flew by, black silhouettes against the lightening sky. Other birds began singing their morning songs and I stopped to listen and identify them with the Merlin app. A trio of Sparrows - Golden-Crowned, White-Crowned, and White-Throated. The last has a distinctive whistling sound suggested by the app to say "sweet Canada," and now I think I'll recognize the sound always. There were Spotted Towhees and Dark-eyed Juncos, all making merry noises but staying hidden in trees and shrubs. 

Half-way through my walk the horizon changed to soft pink, not just in the east, but in every direction. Early cyclists raced by on their way to work or school. I met a few people walking their dogs. 

Breakfast has never been my favourite meal. When I was a child we often had cooked oatmeal, and I grew to hate it. The texture is what bothered me the most despite the added brown sugar and milk. I've heard a lot about Overnight Oats but couldn't imagine they would be an improvement. When we were in Mexico last December, overnight oats were on the breakfast buffet and I decided to give them a try. To my surprise, the texture was fine. I now enjoy them several times a week. I mix equal amounts of rolled oats (not quick), plain yogurt, milk, and a couple of teaspoons of maple syrup. This morning I added a handful of the raspberries that are still producing in the garden. I find it quite satisfying with a cup of tea alongside. 

The chilly morning soon gave way to a sunny warm afternoon. Roses continue to bloom. Molyneaux has now spent a full year in the garden and has produced beautifully. Her colour is rather autumnal now, a deeper yellow than earlier in the season.

I spent the day mostly at home doing this and that, and ventured out just to the grocery store this afternoon. For dinner I roasted a garden-grown zucchini along with carrots and mushrooms, made a lettuce salad with radishes from the garden, pan-roasted some chicken breasts, and my husband had some rice. Best of all, there's enough left over for another meal. 

The kitchen is tidy and I'm sitting in a pool of lamplight in the living room. After I post this, I'll begin reading a book I picked up from the library, The Cromarty Library Circle by Shona Maclean. I probably learned of the book from a blog, but I can't remember whose. 

Blogtober 4: Over the Mountains and Back Again

 

When a short trip we wanted to take conflicted with the start of Blogtober, where I, along with Barbara plan to blog every day of the month, I decided to schedule a few posts ahead of time. Those were Days 1, 2, and 3. We arrived home yesterday afternoon.

Our trip began with a flight over the Rockies to Calgary. It was a very early morning flight and I watched the sunrise as we flew east. There is fresh snow in parts of the mountains we flew over, but the lakes are not yet frozen nor covered with ice. I was fascinated by the number of lakes I saw nestled among the mountain peaks - some small and some large. Canada really does have a lot of fresh water. 

We were met at the airport and were soon on our way, driving our new-to-us vehicle that we'd purchased unseen. Tim had done a lot of research and knew exactly what he wanted and had made certain that all was as it should be. He's very thorough. We needed a new vehicle for towing our camping trailer as our old one (a 2009), is beginning to show its age. 

And so we began our trek homewards, a 14 hour drive according to our map program. However, we took the opportunity to visit Tim's siblings and also to stop in Jasper for one night. 

So let me take you along the road, beginning with the flat prairies seen above, where derelict barns are sometimes all that remains of old homesteads. 

After spending the night at Tim's sister's home in Red Deer, and enjoying dinner with her and her husband, and Tim's brother and SIL, we set out westward. The sky was blue, and the temperature -1 Celsius, crisp and clear. It didn't take long before we were in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Such expansive scenery that takes my breath away every time I see it.

Autumn colour is beginning. In the west, we don't have the brilliant red maples of the east, but the warm golds are achingly beautiful against the blue skies. 

The highway is lined with coniferous and deciduous trees, mingling dark green and those autumn hues. There wasn't much traffic on the road and our new truck, a Ford F-150, was very comfortable. I loved watching the mountains get closer and closer, and leaves fall from the trees in small flurries.

And then the first snow appears, glistening white. 

There are a couple of different routes through the mountains, but my favourite is the Icefields Parkway that links Lake Louise with Jasper. Soaring mountain peaks, glacial lakes, glaciers, and deep valleys characterize the landscape. 

There are six major glaciers fed by the Columbia Icefield, which span 352 square kilometres. Water from the Icefield feeds into the Atlantic Ocean via the North Saskatchewan River flowing into Hudson Bay; the Pacific Ocean via the Fraser and Columbia Rivers, and into the Arctic Ocean via the Athabasca River flowing into the Mackenzie River. Above is the Athabasca Glacier that supplies water for the river of the same name. 

I remember when the glacier came almost to the roadside. It has receded dramatically even within my lifetime, and is now shrinking by about 5 metres (16 feet) per year. There are many smaller glaciers in the Rockies, as well, and all of them are receding (save one). 

After spending the night in Jasper, we set off for home, stopping at Rearguard Falls enroute. The glacier minerals make the water such a beautiful colour. These falls mark the upper limit of the 800 mile migration of salmon from the Pacific Ocean. Only a few salmon make it this far. The spawning season is over in the north and we didn't see any salmon. 

I love the golden leaves against the green water. 

There is a short walk to the falls, and a viewing platform that brings the falls very close. I can imagine that in the spring the volume of water would cause great clouds of spray to thoroughly soak anyone who ventures here. 

We didn't rush this trip and spent a second night in the town of Merritt on the interior plain, a dry landscape of rolling hills, few trees, and great ranchland. 

Then upwards again to cross the coastal mountains through deep narrow valleys where the mountains on one side cast shadows across to the other. 

The scale is astounding. I always feel privileged to see such sights along the way. Morning cloud hung in the valley, but soon burned off as the sun rose higher. 

We stopped and enjoyed lunch with my parents before driving to the ferry. I do love the mountains, but the sea has its own beauty, as well. A calm 90 minute sailing followed by a short drive and we were soon home, thankful for safety and beauty along the way. 

Both of us slept very well in our own bed, and we've had a more normal day today, with plenty of relaxation. We're ready for a new week!

Blogtober 3: Lingering in the Garden

 

The garden keeps showing off beautiful blooms day after day. I know that their time is short and I am cutting flowers with abandon, placing vases on tables and mantels throughout the house. I photographed a collection of three arrangements all crowded together on the dining room table - dahlias, zinnias, and cosmos, each in their own container. 

I've since cut down most of the cosmos as I need to tidy the garden beds in order to plant garlic in the next few weeks, and these sprawling flowers had taken over a lot of space. I've left one or two smaller plants in out-of-the-way spots where the bees can still enjoy them. 

Hydrangeas are fading, but still so pretty. 

While out in the garden on a recent sunny day, I heard a loud whirring behind me and turned to see an Anna's Hummingbird so close that I could have touched it. It's hard to capture them in photos for they move so fast and don't stay anywhere for any length of time. The birds will winter here, feeding on seed heads and anything that might bloom. 

I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as 

autumnal sunshine by staying in the house. 

Nathanial Hawthorne

Blogtober 2: Paintings of Domestic Scenes

 

Flowers in the Window by Carl Larsson

I've long been an admirer of Carl Larsson's paintings of his home life. They are filled with warmth and charm, and depict a loving family. He grew up in poverty and with a father who regretted his birth. In contrast, Carl Larsson, in his memoir, spoke of "my limitless love for my wife and children." 

In the above painting I admire the Gustavian style furnishings, the potted plants and flowers in the wide window, and the knitting on the table with the chair pulled out as if someone had just stepped out of the picture for a moment. 

Young Girl Reading by Fragonard

Many years ago, when our children were young, we visited the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC and all of us were enthralled with the paintings in the National Gallery of Art. Each child chose a print that we later framed. Our youngest chose the above painting, probably because she loved yellow and she loved reading, and still does. 

How comfortable the subject is with a fat pillow at her back and her arm resting loosely on the chair. 

Breakfast Time by Hanna Hirsch Pauli

More recently I've become aware of Hanna Hirsch Pauli, a Swedish female painter. I do love the light filtering through the trees onto the table in the painting above, and how beautifully the table is set, awaiting the breakfast participants. 

Domestic scenes appeal to me, likely because I love domesticity, to a certain degree. I am glad I have opportunities outside my home, and have never regarded it a chore to be in my home. It is here that my creativity can express itself fully, in cooking or decorating, or writing. 

Blogtober 1: Some Things I Love about October

 

October is here! My favourite month. We celebrate Thanksgiving, and near the end of the month, my birthday! This year is a big one (gulp) and I'm going to celebrate all month long. One of my intentions is to post everyday during the month. We'll see if I can do it! 

There's much to love about this (and any) month, and here are a few of the things that delight me in this 10th month of the year. 

* Dahlias - they will bloom until the first frost which could happen

around the middle of the month or later

* Cozy sweaters and scarves - I've put away the t-shirts and sundresses,

and the sweaters are now ready to wear

* Hot tea, or hot chocolate for a treat - My tea consumption 

increases dramatically as the temperature cools. I never drink coffee.  

* Leaves flying from trees and drying on the ground - perfect for scuffling

* Foggy mornings filled with mist that burns away as the sun intensifies

* The scent of woodsmoke from neighbour's fires. We have gas fireplaces and I do like them, but miss the coziness of wood

 

* Ducks and geese flying overhead. Some leave for the winter, others stay on our local ponds or near the shore.

* Brisk walks in the woods or along the shore. Both beautiful.

* Shiny horse chestnuts on the street with their spiny green husks alongside. A couple of times I've been hit in the head with a falling chestnut - they are hard!

* Coloured leaves, red, golden yellow, crimson, and brown

* Slowly eating bowls of hot soup - there are so many wonderful soups. My next pot will be Cauliflower and Blue Cheese

* Quiet evenings with the curtains drawn and the fire glowing

And so begins this beautiful month. What do you love about October? I'd love to know. 

Friday: A Simple Woman's Daybook

 

September is dressing herself in a show of dahlias and 

splendid marigolds and starry zinnias.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

After weeks and weeks of sunshine mixed with a few clouds but no moisture, rain began yesterday and has fallen steadily until just a few minutes ago. I can almost hear the thirsty ground soaking up the water. This will help fill the streams and enable salmon to spawn more easily. And dampen lingering wildfires. It's hard to believe that September is nearly over and today it's just 3 months until Christmas. There's a lot of living to be done between now and then, but I love Christmas and have begun thinking about it and making a few plans. 

For today, though, I thought I'd do a Simple Woman's Daybook style post: 

Outside my Window

The rain has just stopped and the sky, although clouded, grows brighter and brighter. Hydrangea bushes are no longer blue, but deep pink and purples. Roses continue to bloom, but they are heavy with raindrops and rather droopy. Dahlias and zinnias stand tall despite the rain.

What I'm Wearing

Blue jeans, a burgundy pullover sweater, socks, pearl drop earrings. Today I switched my closet from summer to autumn/winter. Summer things have been laundered and folded away. Always a bit of a sad time despite loving the coziness of pullovers and cardigans. 

A Recent Outing

Last Sunday Tim and I strolled through Butchart Gardens. I knew that I wanted to see the dahlias and they did not disappoint. Wide beds of flowers of all shapes and colours, from dinner plate size to small pompoms. The bees loved the more open varieties and there were lots of them. 

On a Morning Walk

Nights are lengthening and it's fairly easy to see a bit of the sunrise when I'm out walking. I often walk before breakfast, before becoming sidetracked by other things. I took this photo on a morning of still air and calm water marred only by the dozens of ducks on the pond. But even they were quiet and still. 

What I've been Reading

Five Windows by D. E. Stevenson - This was a lovely story, written in the mid-20th century and follows a young man's coming of age. I loved it! 

Mrs. Lorimer's Quiet Summer by Molly Clavering - As you might expect, the quiet summer turned out to be anything but quiet. Another mid-20th century novel. The two friends in this story are loosely based on the author and her friend, D E. Stevenson, author of the first book I've mentioned. I do enjoy these quiet tales of ordinary life. 

The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen - A re-read. The narrative takes place in England in the 1960s but also a World War II story line. 

Martha's Vineyard: Isle of Dreams by Susan Branch - Another re-read. Susan's tale of her move across the USA and how she came to publish the first of many books. 

What I've been Listening to

Several years ago, maybe 10, we got rid of our CD player because everyone was jumping on the bandwagon with digital music. "Use Spotify!" "Be modern!" My children laughed when I said I wasn't prepared to discard my CD collection. They've been in boxes for years. However, I don't like online music. I can't find some of my favourite albums. I don't like using my phone connected to the blue-tooth speaker. It all makes me a wee bit cranky. 

So, we just purchased a slim black DVD player (I kept my old movies, too), and Tim connected it all to the television sound bar. Now I play my old CDs to my heart's content, and it makes me very happy indeed. And I look forward to watching some of my old movies, too. I don't want to have to pay a subscription fee to listen to and to watch what I already own.

On another walk I saw European Starlings on a telephone wire and was amazed by the different sounds they made. You can listen to them on this video. The starlings are plentiful here these days; yesterday a large crowd of them landed on my neighbour's grass and were busy pecking away at something interesting and tasty.

I am thankful for...

Warming cups of tea throughout the day

Apple Cake, made from a friend's recipe. Our apple trees didn't produce well this year, but there have been enough for some pies and cakes. Always a favourite.

Simple daily pleasures of good food, a warm home, a loving family, books to read, the beauty of outdoors, good health (we've recovered from our bout with the flu), and so much more. 

With those thoughts, I'll close this post and think about supper. Tonight it will be a white bean soup with chicken and vegetables, along with toasted cheese sandwiches. Warm and comforting for an autumnal night.