Blogtober 8: Home Comforts

 

Yesterday morning I opened the door at 7 am to go for a walk, and almost tripped over a parcel lying on the mat. What a delight to receive Miranda Mills' latest book - The Cozy Commonplace Book. I have barely cracked the cover and am looking forward to sitting down with a cup of tea and reading the book. 

Do you keep a Commonplace Book? I have one, and it's very disorganized. I also collect quotations in my journals. That works to a certain degree, but I find that I have to flip many pages sometimes to find the quote I want. Perhaps collecting them by seasons would be better. I'd love to know your system, if you have one. 

Thanksgiving is this weekend, a relaxed, casual holiday. Monday is the official day, but many people eat their turkey dinner on Sunday and then go for needed walks or take naps on Monday. I made cranberry sauce, enough for sending home with the children and for using with roast chicken throughout the year. Fresh cranberries only appear between now and Christmas. 

I also baked dinner rolls today, with oats and sunflower seeds. These are pre-baked and are in the freezer until Sunday morning when I'll take them out and bake them another 10 minutes or so. That way they taste fresh, but I'm not fussing at the last minute. I'm a great believer in doing things ahead. 

Edited to add: Recipe found here. 

A corner of the living room - the cream-coloured chair is where I sit to read. We've rearranged the furniture a bit, and I bought new cushions and lamps. The yellow cushions (there are two) are covered with new tea towels that I stitched into envelope style covers. The old lamps have been knocked over by grandchildren over the years and one was very crooked. 

On Thursday afternoons I meet the school bus and bring Iris and Cora to our house. Today I had a little project for them - adding stickers and names for place cards for Thanksgiving dinner. They worked together very happily and all the names were spelled correctly. They copied them from a list I'd made. Afterwards, we played a couple of games of Go Fish. 

How beautiful the afternoons are, bathed in golden sunshine. I noticed the sun shining on the patio mid-afternoon and thought that I would make a cup of tea and sit and enjoy it for a bit. Well, I never got there, but if tomorrow is equally as sunny, I'm going to make a point to soak in the light and warmth - I might need a light jacket, but it will still be pleasant. 

Tim's at a Beekeeper's meeting this evening, so the house is quiet. I've made a cup of herbal tea (Bengal Spice) and will be continuing with the novel I'm reading. 

Blogtober 7: Scenes Along the Road

 

On our recent trip through the Rockies, we stopped for a picnic lunch beside Abraham Lake, a long lake along the highway. It was such a beautiful colour, shifting from deep blue to teal to turquoise depending on the light. We walked a short distance and found a small herd of grazing Mountain Sheep. They are so agile, picking their way over rocks on the steep shore without hesitation. 

The animals ignored us until we got a bit closer, and when the male guardian raised his head from eating, we stopped. He was very aware of us, but soon returned to grazing. 

In Jasper we found this lovely cow moose chewing on grass beside the road and stopped to admire her and take a photo. You might remember the devastating fires that burned much of the forest around Jasper, and parts of the town itself in 2024. Small bushes and tall grasses grow between the charred skeletons of trees, and they are perfect food for much of the wildlife. A guide told us that about 77 moose make their home in the area. 

We spent just a morning playing tourist before getting on the road again to return home, and took a boat cruise on Maligne Lake. I was surprised at how many tourists were still around. The attractions close after Thanksgiving Monday - the 12th of October. The skies were mostly clouded, but I really wanted to see Spirit Island, one of the iconic views of the Rockies that you might recognize. It's very well photographed and used for promotion. 

The island is about half way down the 22 kilometre lake, and I had to giggle when I saw it for it was a bit of a disappointment. It's not actually an island as it's connected to the mainland by a very narrow peninsula. It's the location that's really stunning. Explorer Mary Schaffer called it the "Hall of the Gods." Dramatic mountain peaks line each side of the lake marching one by one into the distance. On a sunny day it would be astounding. 

A pretty Ptarmigan walked alongside the short trail beside the lake. 

Another view of the Hall of the Gods, without Spirit Island. This end of the lake is closed to any motorized boats, but kayaks and canoes can venture down into the area preserved for migratory nesting birds. 

Leaving Maligne Lake we came across a herd of Elk feeding beside the road. The bull elk was again very alert to our vehicle. We stayed inside and managed to get a few good photos. Isn't he magnificent? 

Tamer roadside scenes here at home - the fields are filling with fat round pumpkins for making pies and later, Jack-o-lanterns. Muted autumn colours and lots of fog. 

My driver's licence renewal went without a hitch and other than that I spent a quiet day at home, doing some writing, some sewing, and some cooking. 

Darkness has fallen and I'm contentedly writing this post. Will soon stop and continue my book - The Cromarty Library Circle - mentioned by Barbara from Coastal Ripples. I'm enjoying it so far, once I got the characters straight in my head. 

Until tomorrow,

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.