Sunday, September 09, 2018

Rainy Weekend



Listening to the rain falling at night must be one of the coziest sounds there is. Autumn rains here are soft, more of a drizzle than a downpour, and most welcome. Rain fell intermittently most of the weekend here. 


A few of my dahlia plants (just the pink ones, apparently) finally bloomed. During the summer, when I cut flowers for the house I take care to leave plenty in the garden for show. Now that autumn is here, I cut with abandon, knowing that rain and wind will hasten their demise.

The perfect symmetry of dahlias in their multiple forms is such a marvelous thing. I chose the dusty olive-coloured leaves of sage, and parsley gone to seed as fillers.  


Our son challenged himself to cycle the Whistler Gran Fondo on Saturday. He biked 122 km from Stanley Park to Whistler in 4hrs 50 min, with a total elevation of 1900 metres (6200 ft). He and his wife went over on Friday night so we had the grands for the weekend. 

The weather put a bit of a damper on our planned activities, but we managed to have lots of fun, including some time between rain showers on the beach. A large pile of driftwood logs was the perfect playground, complete with tunnels and hiding places. 


I took a short walk along the path while Tim supervised the log playground. The day was dull, but bright yellow flowers (I'm not sure of their name) added some colour to the scene.


After months with no measurable rain, we're glad to see rain clouds again. 


When we arrived home from the beach, I strolled around the garden with my snippers. A zinnia, cosmos, heliotrope, feverfew, and white geraniums make a pretty bouquet for the kitchen windowsill.

Linking with Mosaic Monday, hosted by Maggie of Normandy Life. 

28 comments:

  1. You son had quite a bike journey - congratulation! The pompom dahlia in your bouquet ae extra pretty. Happy MM.

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  2. Looks like lots of fun on the beach to me, even if it was a little grey. Grandkids brighten up everything. Your Fall flowers do too! i missed the Saturday Farmer's Market this weekend and my house looks drab without its bouquet of flowers. We haven't had any of that rain yet, but it is supposed to come this week. Fingers crossed.

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  3. Those flowers are simply stunning! Lovely...

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  4. Autumn rains are welcome this year. What a challenging ride for your son! Your pink dahlias are lovely.

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  5. Hearing the raindrops is really a cozy sound... I love it too. We missed here in our Region the rain during the last month - hope it get better next time.

    I enjoyed your Post! Lovely captures of the children, of the landscape around and the wonderful flowers.

    Wish you a good Week!

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  6. Driftwood piled high would make an excellent climbing frame, I'm sure, what fun your 3 boys must have had as you meandered along capturing wildflowers with your camera. Your kitchen windowsill posy is so lovely, I'm afraid most of my flowers have faded now although I did spy a small yellow rose attempting to put out two more buds when I walked around this morning.

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  7. Dahlias have only just come back into fashion here. I’ve always enjoyed their beautiful symmetry and never bothered to ask if they were the ‘plant one must have’. They are invaluable at this time of year. Just like hydrangeas which also became an old gardener’s plant in the past few years. I cultivate both so 'sucks boo' to the gardening fashion police.

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  8. A driftwood playground sounds prefect to spend quality time with your grands. I am sure there were lots of wonderful memories made to savour for another day.

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  9. Lorrie, I see that I should have picked a bit of green for my vase. My mother does a good job of a vase of flowers on her table. I am not as accomplished. You have some amazing flowers. Thanks for sharing and have a great week. Sylvia D.

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  10. Your flower bouquets are both beautiful! You have an artful eye for arranging. It looks like everyone had a lots of fun despite the rain. I share your love for the sound of rain once I'm all tucked inside.

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  11. Your dahlia arrangement takes my first place ribbon!

    I am always surprised, every September, at just how lovely hydrangea blossoms can turn, with colors that you never see anywhere else.

    Your beautiful grands look like they are having a great time! Your son's cycling distance amazes me!

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  12. Dahlias really are an amazing flower. Glad you soldiered through and enjoyed the weather even with some showers. Looks like fun on the beach!

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  13. I also love cozying up indoors while it rains outside. Good for your son for cycling in high elevations for over 100 km!

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  14. What a beautiful post, my friend. I could almost hear the rain.... :)

    That was quite the challenge your son gave himself - good for him!

    Hugs to you, dear Lorrie.

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  15. The dahlias at our farmstand were FREE today. I took about a dozen. They have at least a day left!

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  16. Dear Lorrie – Our autumn rain is like yours, more like drizzle, and I like the peaceful feel of falling into sleep hearing the softly falling rain. What a fun time on the beach! The piled up driftwood logs look like sculptures or jungle gyms. Dahlia is my favorite flower, yours are so beautiful.

    Sorry about the cancellation of your daugher's trip to Japan. It’s so rare for the two successive powerful typhoons pass through almost the same route. The international flights of KIX is still paralyzed, too. Hope she’ll be able to come sooner to take in the serene, mysterious, and wondrous admosphere of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route.

    Have happy autumn ahead,

    Yoko

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  17. Your flowers are so pretty. We have had rain almost everyday here. Now hurricane Florence is heading our way and we will get more than we need :-(

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  18. Such a wonderful having time with the Grands, making memories. We have been blessed with rain too (Fraser Valley) and grateful - it has been a long summer without rain. Getting used to umbrellas and rain jackets and picking vegetables in the rain returned quickly. The dogs don't seem too bothered - they take their extended visits to the back yard checking for any new scents and come in with muddy paws and wet fur with no complaints.
    Joy

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  19. Lorrie, what a lovely weekend by the sea and in the garden. Snipping flowers from one's own garden just makes the flowers a bit more special!

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  20. Hi Lorrie so happy you dropped by my Monday Mosaic post this week
    Have a lovely week

    much love...

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  21. Well done to your son, a very energetic challenge. Sounds like a fun weekend with your grand kids. Glorious flowers. Very poor dahlia season here this year. B x

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  22. Your garden flowers are still looking lovely - I particularly enjoy the colours seen in Hydrangeas when their flowers take on these more autumnal hues.
    Your son took on a tough challenge, at least it sounds tough to me, and bet he felt very satisfied with himself when he completed it.

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  23. Lovely dahlias! I think I’ll go out and cut my limelight hydrangeas. Your words about rain and storms are true in the autumn.

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  24. Lorrie, I agree, there's nothing quite as cozy as an autumn night of soft rain. Makes me think of getting up at midnight or so with my grandmother when I was a little girl, having a quiet cup of tea in the kitchen, then going back to sleep.

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  25. I can envision that bike ride being quite challenging! I agree about the rain ... I loved the first sounds of it and the smell too!

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  26. I adore your flower arrangements, all of them! I look forward to the day when my garden has enough flowers for outside, for the deer, and for my table! The pic of your grands with your granddaughter in a ballet-like pose is a million-dollar shot!

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  27. Very well done to your son …

    Vey well done to you too for another lovely post.
    I always enjoy seeing your photographs, and loved your flower arrangements.

    All the best Jan

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  28. Absolutely everything about this was marvelous~

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