Blogtober 18: There be Bears!

 

This is a repost from our trip to the Yukon in 2022. We were talking about bears and I rewatched the videos and admired the power and agility of these grand wild creatures. 

On our trip to the Arctic over the summer of 2022, we did not go to the American state of Alaska, other than for one 10-kilometre stretch of the Alaska Panhandle. The road to access several gold and copper mines in BC, Canada, runs through Hyder, AK. That small community is accessible by land only through BC.  

We stayed in the small town of Stewart, BC, and crossed the USA/Canada border there. Hyder, Alaska bills itself as the "friendliest little ghost town", and a ghost town it is. There is one bar, one gift store, and a fish and chip restaurant, plus a very few families and old-timers. Hyder's electricity and phone services are supplied by BC.

During the pandemic, when the border was closed, life was made doubly difficult for these few Americans who lived in Hyder. The only way out was via seaplane or boat. The few children in town attended a Canadian school in Stewart, but that ended abruptly. Residents would phone their grocery orders into the Canadian grocers, who packaged everything into boxes and left them at the border crossing for the Americans to pick up. 

This is a remote area of BC, with tall, steep, densely forested mountains lining narrow valleys where water rushes down, down, down to the sea. The main attraction of Hyder is just a few miles beyond the town at the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site. 

In the most beautiful, lush, green temperate rainforest, pools of water are home to many kinds of waterfowl, including the Common Mergansers seen above. 

In mid-August, summer is already drawing to a close, and salmon begin their long trek upstream to spawn in the many rivers and streams. The USA Fish and Wildlife Department constructed an observation deck alongside the stream. Here we watched salmon lay their eggs and die, bodies decaying into the water and soil. 

Exciting as the salmon run is, it was no match for another event that takes place at the same time - grizzly bears fattening up for winter. From the safety of the observation deck, on two separate days we watched grizzlies fishing for salmon. 

The first bear we saw was in the evening and we waited about an hour before he showed up. The next day, en route to the observation site, we saw another grizzly cross the road in front of us and head down into the bushes by the river. We quickly and raced in so as not to miss anything. 

The people who stood along the observation deck were mostly quiet as we waited for bears to appear. Once they did appear, everyone was silent, watching the amazing spectacle before us. It was like being part of a nature documentary, with the bear running back and forth in the water after the salmon. 

I have to confess that at one point several tourists began laughing and talking quite loudly and the bear was looking around at the noise. My teacher mode kicked in and I said, "Shush!" They shushed immediately. I did feel a bit bossy, but really!

It was an amazing experience to be so close to these bears, and they took no notice of us watching them from above. Notorious for their poor eyesight, they couldn't see us above the wooden barrier, but I would think they could smell us. Regardless, they paid us no attention at all. In the above photo, the bear was directly below me in the stream. 

I uploaded two videos of bears running in the water and splashing as they catch salmon to YouTube. Now after several years, I can still feel the excitement I felt seeing those magnificent creatures. 

Grizzly Bear in the Morning 

Grizzly Bear in the Evening 

This is my private channel, but the videos should be visible with the link. Searching for them on Youtube won't work. This is new technology for me, so I hope it works! Tim took the videos while I took stills. 

Memories are wonderful for reliving adventures such as this one.  

Blogtober 17: Voting, Ear Piercing, and Garden

 

Bright and early this morning my husband and I stood in line to vote in our municipal elections. Then we walked over to another facility and voted in advance for our provincial elections, the final date for that is next Saturday. Civic duty done! There's a couple of rabbits who make their home around the library/sports complex where we voted. Unfortunately people drop off unwanted pet rabbits and leave them to fend for themselves. This is one of them, or a descendant. I thought its fur was a very pretty colour. 

When I gave birth to my two daughters in Ecuador, one of the first questions I was asked was when the girls' ears would be pierced. It's not unusual to have it done prior to leaving the hospital. We did not choose that and the girls had their ears pierced as young girls, at their choosing.  

However, pierced ears are the outward sign of a baby girl in that culture. I was asked several times about my sons even though the girls were dressed in frilly pink dresses with bows in their hair. A cultural norm that we had to learn about. They never asked about our son - he was all boy since he didn't have pierced ears. But they often called him "el heredero" - the heir. Cultural differences are neither bad nor good; they're just different. 

Our youngest granddaughter, Cora, decided a couple of months ago that she wanted her ears pierced for her birthday in November. But she wanted the piercing done "on or about the first of November." (Her words) The reason - she had learned that piercing took awhile to heal and she wanted new pretty earrings for her birthday at the end of the month. She's quite definite about what she wants. 

Today I accompanied the family to the ear piercing appointment. It's my gift to her as it was to her older cousin. She was very brave and shed just a few quiet tears while hugging her stuffed rabbit. A lollipop helped ease things. 

I took a wander in the garden this afternoon. Things are slowing down. A few flowers still bloom - a dahlia or two, the guara, and some zinnias. Soon there will be only seed heads and dried stalks. I'm enjoying the warm and sunny weather, while hoping the rain comes soon.

There was a handful of raspberries to pick and a few more will ripen. 

Tired Rudbeckia still puts on a bit of a show. Soup for supper this evening, with some of the buns I made for Thanksgiving. I froze the leftovers. 

Wishing you a lovely Sunday. 

Blogtober 16: A Walk in the Park

 

Autumn is alternating with summer these days. Warmer than normal temperatures and no rain to speak of. I'm enjoying the sunshine despite wishing for rain to fall. It's so pleasant outdoors.

Today we visited Goldstream Park where a river of the same name flows into the inlet seen above. Song Sparrows flitted in the grass, pecking at seed heads. Two Bald Eagles sat together in a tree surveying the scene, perhaps waiting for the spawning salmon to arrive. A Belted Kingfisher chattered as he flew back and forth, not stopping long enough have his photo taken. 

The water level in the river is very low, and there is none at all in this small stream bed that feeds the river. Without sufficient water the salmon cannot return to their spawning grounds, so I hope rain falls soon. 

It was beautiful in the forest. Few people walked the paths. One mother had brought her two very young children and they had a grand time bouncing along on the trail and asking lots of questions.

There is a tunnel underneath the highway that runs alongside the park and we walked up the dry stream bed, not expecting to see any water at all. It was a welcome surprise to walk around the bend and see a thin stream of water falling.

The pool at the base of the falls was full, but the outlet must be underground for there was no escape visible. When there is more water, it flows into the streambed. 

Golden maple leaves lay everywhere, on the paths, in the forest, and on the water.

A fallen tree is slowly decaying. Its core is large enough for me to crawl into and lie flat. I did not lie flat, but I did crouch down so you could get an idea of its size. 

Enjoy the following photos.

Such a pleasant morning. We often get too busy doing various chores and things and forget that we can take time away whenever we like. Retirement takes awhile to get used to. 

Wishing you a beautiful autumnal weekend, or a spring one, depending on your hemisphere. 

Blogtober 15: A Lighthearted Morning

 

I sat myself down at my desk intending to do a little writing this morning when my youngest daughter texted me asking what I was up to. I replied, "not too much, and you? Want to play?" 

So we decided to visit Sabayons, a market in the downtown area full of wonderful displays, unique food and decor items, dishes, candles, etc. The display above is at the entrance to the store. So come with me on a very abbreviated tour. 

Mushroom-topped dried mushroom jars. So cute and fun!

If you look closely at the cylindrical items in the honeycomb cells, you'll see that they are dried corn - blue, red, yellow, and orange. Popcorn on the cob! 

I thought these dishes were so pretty. And just look at that fanciful painted pumpkin!

There were so many wonderful things. It is the kind of shop with multiple rooms to draw you in deeper and make you wander around here and there. 

I bought three Popcorns on a Cob. Will this actually result in a bowl of popcorn? The instructions said to put the cob in a paper bag and place it in the microwave on high until the popping stopped. 

Ta-da! A bowl of popped corn needing just melted butter and salt. The kernels were smaller than usual popcorn, and since I popped the darkest cob, the insides looked dark. It tasted delicious, just like regular popcorn. 

What a fun time with my daughter. She's the one who just finished her Masters in Counseling and is awaiting her certification papers before beginning to practice. They should be done in a couple of weeks. So it was fun to spend some time with her before she gets involved in regular work. 

This evening I went for a quick walk before darkness fell and saw the waxing crescent moon glowing in the pale sky. 

Wishing you a lovely evening, or morning, as the case may be. 

Blogtober 14: Cozy Days

 

These are the cozy days. In the morning I wear a long-sleeved shirt topped with a sweater. If the sun decides to shine, I can remove the sweater, but by early evening it's back on again. At night the cold air from the open window drifts across my face and I pull up the covers a bit more tightly. Copious cups of tea are made and sipped as I read or write. 

We've not enjoyed very much rain or stormy weather yet, but I'm sure it's coming. Today I pulled all of the tomato and zucchini plants from the garden. There's still one potted tomato plant in the greenhouse (unheated) and those tomatoes may ripen. 

I cut what will likely be the last of the zinnias, dahlias, and cosmos and made a small bouquet for the kitchen window sill. Darkness falls earlier and earlier. I wonder what will happen this winter, for our province has decided to remain on Daylight Saving Time and not revert back to Standard Time. Health scientists recommend Standard Time as better for us. 

I made a Butternut Squash and Beet Gratin to go with our beef stew and rice for dinner. As I sliced I thought about how well my knife worked. Good knives make cooking so much easier, and I am thankful that my husband regularly sharpens my knives. I could get a mandolin, but I tried that once and found that I preferred a knife. The slices may not be as even or as thin, but it works for me. 

Here's the end result, quite delicious. I love vegetables more than fruit - always have. And there are so many things one can do with fresh produce. Sometimes it's hard to think of new ideas. I will occasionally leaf through a cookbook from the shelf, or one of my Fine Cooking magazines for ideas. 

The Cozy Commonplace Book by Miranda Mills is pretty inside and out, with lovely illustrations and designs on many pages. I found this quote

I think, after all, I like a clean kitchen better than any other room.

George Eliot to Miss Sara Hennell 16 October 1863

I agree with Eliot - if the kitchen is tidy, the whole house feels calmer. And it doesn't take long to clean up if I wipe counters and put things away as I work. 

Today marks 100 years since the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926 by A. A. Milne. I did not grow up with Winnie-the-Pooh stories, but read a few of them to my children. That silly old bear became quite dear despite his forgetfulness and love of honey. And he said some wise and funny things:

"When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure than an Adventure is going to happen." 

"It makes such a difference to have someone who believes in you." 

Now to close my computer and read a little. 

Blogtober 13: A Pumpkin Tree and Pumpkin Cake

 

The weather changed overnight. Clouds moved in and the temperature rose 10 degrees Celsius - a big change from our clear cold nights. We're due for a bit of rain in the next few days, but not too much. 

I felt very dull today with the lack of sun and the clouds, and it took me longer to get going. I chatted on the phone with my sister for a very long time. Isn't modern communication wonderful? I remember when making a long distance call was pricey and used for conveying important information, not mere chats. 

Pumpkins in a tree? How can it be? I went to the plant nursery and saw this charming sight - miniature pumpkins dangling on thin lines. It made me smile. I bought some garlic bulbs to plant in the next couple of weeks. Garlic is such an easy thing to grow. I could use some of the bulbs that I grew last year, but it's recommended not to because of possible disease. 

While at the nursery, I also picked up some spring bulbs which I'll plant soon. If I plant a few more each year, hopefully the garden will gradually fill. Tulip bulbs are frequently stolen by hungry squirrels and need replacing often. I plant them and then stake some mesh over top to prevent digging. 

I made a Pumpkin Cranberry Cake this afternoon. All the leftover pie from Sunday went home with the children, but there was some whipped cream left. Nothing to do but make something to go along with it. There are lovely spices in the cake, and fresh cranberries. I breathed in the fragrance as I grated the nutmeg - I love it! 

Note that the recipe says to use a Bundt pan, but I believe I loaned mine to a daughter and it's not been returned, so I just used a 9 x 13 pan. Either works. 

One last photo from our sunshine-filled walk yesterday. Old cement pilings from a long ago wharf where the Butchart family produced and shipped Portland Cement. Now the pilings are home to Purple Martin nesting boxes. 

Blogtober 12: A Quiet Day

 

This morning's joke was "it's a day off!" Well, when retired, most days are free. I always thought a Monday holiday after the weekend was the best of all. 

After our lovely Thanksgiving yesterday (and the preparations beforehand during the week), I did very little today. No cooking because there were plenty of leftovers. I do love to cook, but a day off is very relaxing. I read, I sewed, and we walked at Tod Inlet.

The forest is as dry as I have ever seen it. Normally, the fallen leaves would be sodden on the ground. Now they are dry and blowing up with the slightest movement. There is some chance of rain in the forecast and I hope we get a good amount. 

Lots of people had the same idea as we did. Families with young children, teenaged couples, groups of friends - it was a busier than normal little hike. Going down the trail we met a large group of people returning, many of them carrying similar bags and coolers. I assume they were down at the water for a Thanksgiving picnic. 

It was certainly a beautiful day for a picnic, if one brought along a jacket and didn't mind a bit of wind. Lots of blue sky and sunshine. 

A frequently seen quotation at this time of year is from L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. I'm sure you'll recognize the one sentence I'm talking about, and I thought to include the larger setting of Anne's words. 

October was a beautiful month at Green Gables, when the birches in the hollow turned as golden as sunshine and the maples behind the orchard were royal crimson and the wild cherry-trees along the land put on the loveliest shades of dark red and bronzy green, while the fields sunned themselves in aftermaths. 

Anne revelled in the world of colour about her.

"Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill - several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them."

"Messy things," said Marilla, whose aesthetic sense was not noticeably developed.

I have to laugh. Marilla has such a matter-of-fact way that contrasts beautifully with Anne's flowery language. 

Much of the colour is fading in the woods, but I thoroughly enjoyed the walk and the reflections in the water. 

Clear skies mean colder nights and this morning I noticed frost on the roofs in our neighbourhood. The outdoor thermometer registered barely over 0 Celsius. I brought in what is very likely the last harvest from the summer garden - the remaining basil which I'll dry, a few ripe tomatoes and plenty of green ones, a few radishes, and one slender zucchini. I also popped a few ripe raspberries in my mouth. 

Other things will grow over the winter - kale, Swiss Chard, and a few carrots. I threw my leftover seeds in the ground in early September when it was still very warm, and a mixed bed of carrots, radishes, and lettuce is springing up nicely. 

I finished a very enjoyable little book - Love and Saffron by Kim Fay - a short epistolary novel taking place in the 1960s. I found it charming. Have you read it?

This evening I'm going to settle in with Miranda Mills' Cozy Commonplace Book.