Blogtober 31: And That's a Wrap

 

Outside in the darkness, fireworks snap and crackle. The doorbell has stopped ringing and we brought in the candle and pumpkin, and turned out the light. What fun when we opened the door to see three grandchildren decked out in their costumes. 

October's leaf party has been spectacular this year. Lots of colour and piles of leaves to scuff through. We've enjoyed some lovely hikes, a bit of gardening on sunnier days, a few outings, and lots of quiet evenings at home. 

Thank you for reading along during this month of daily postings. I so appreciate each of you in this virtual space. I've been blogging for many years and have come to think of this little space as my home on the vast digital planet. 

More rain is in the forecast and sodden leaves will soon sink into the ground, decay, and feed the forest. Tomorrow night we turn the clocks back and November will arrive. My eldest daughter has a birthday tomorrow and informed the family that she will have 25 hours of birthday festivities rather than the usual 24. She's a teacher and is looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow morning. 

November lies ahead, 30 days of opportunity. See you soon. 

 

Blogtober 30: Another Year Around the Sun

 

I awoke a bit later this morning and was so pleased to see light outside rather than inky darkness. It's a little taste of the brighter mornings after the time change on Saturday night. I met with my writer's group today. Gathering with likeminded people is both encouraging and inspiring. Just like coals in a fire need each other to keep the flame alight, we humans are social creatures and need each other to thrive. 

My walk this morning went through the woods where all kinds of fungi hang out. Big ones and tiny ones. About half way through my walk I wished I'd worn gloves. The breeze was sharp and carried with it a strong reminder that it's the end of October. 

A cute mushroom nestled in the bark of a fallen tree looks like a very tiny person might emerge from the cavity and set off on a walk with a natural umbrella. 

This afternoon my youngest daughter invited us over for scones and tea. Homemade apricot jam alongside. And a hand-painted card with a lovely message. Utterly delightful. 

I'm posting a bit earlier tonight because friends are coming over and we will cut into this beautiful cake my husband ordered. Lemon and white chocolate. Mouthwatering. 

It's been a lovely birthday. Another trip around the sun. I am thankful to God for the gifts of life and health, for family and friends. The world is full of such immense beauty alongside the brokenness we see in the news every day. While not ignoring the hard things, and doing what I can to alleviate suffering (which isn't much), I choose to focus on the loveliness of small things and nature. 

On a lighter note, Agatha Christie once said, "An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have. The older she gets the more interested he is in her." 

Blogtober 29: An Ordinary Day

 

The newly cleaned brass candlesticks are on the mantel again. I like the clustered look with different shapes. It was a sunny day, a bit windy, but bright and clear. 

After a morning spent tidying and cooking in the house, I took myself off for a walk. Quaking Aspen leaves glinted like gold in the breezy sunshine. And the sound - so lovely. Cottonwoods grow nearby and I noticed how similar their leaf shape is to the Aspens, just bigger. Sure enough, they're related. I'm tickled to learn this little new fact. 

For most of the summer the pond has been very dry and the ducks absent. With the recent rain, the water is trickling back and the ducks have returned. They quacked loudly to warn the others of my approach. Ripples of wind danced across the water and brought the scent of clear cool air with a hint of salty brine from the ocean that is never far away. 

Along the path shriveled blackberries cling to their stems while the next limb holds red berries that are fated to never ripen. There are crimson rose hips and white snowberries lining the paths, food for the birds in the lean months ahead. The skeletons of the enormous Garry Oak trees are beginning to show through the thinning leaves. 

Leaves of all sorts carpet the ground and I noticed today that the vast majority of them lie face down on the ground. I wonder why, for the they rarely fall in a single straight line, but twirl and sway as they go. 

Amid all the tawny browns, golds, and reds that characterize this time of year, a field of pink cyclamen seems out of place. But oh, so pretty. 

An ordinary day. I am thankful for these quiet days of little drama and much beauty. As Anne of Green Gables said, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."

Blogtober 28: Home Affairs

 

While stopped at a traffic light this afternoon, my eye was caught by a row of golden maple trees swaying in the wind. How graceful they looked. These windy days will soon tear the leaves from their precarious hold. I am soaking in all the colour I can. 

These are the days to light candles in the evening. To be cozy by the fire. Sunday suppers are simple affairs. I used the last of the cherry tomatoes from our garden along with herbs and cheese to make a topping for bread slices. That along with crudites filled us nicely. 

Most book end papers are plain affairs. Louise Penny's hardcover books have beautiful ones, very painterly. I just checked my other books and some hardcovers have them and others don't. 

Today is the release date for The Black Wolf. I pre-ordered it and went to the bookstore today to pick it up. It will wait patiently until I'm ready for it. I'm in the middle of re-reading The Grey Wolf first. It ends with a question that leads into the next book, and I want to familiarize myself with the story once more. 

The sun was elusive today and by the afternoon it seemed quite dark. I polished my brass candlesticks and a brass vase. Fresh lemon juice, salt, a soft rag and some elbow grease made a big difference. 

Dinner tonight was a Cottage Pie - I confess that we always called it Shepherd's Pie when I was a child, but have since learned that the original was made with ground lamb. Cottage Pie is virtually the same but made with ground beef. A warming and hearty meal for a chilly day. 

While out collecting my book, I bought this jigsaw puzzle. How pretty it is with the snow in the garden. It will be good to assemble it while thinking of the gardening season to come in a few months. 

Mornings are so very dark now. We change time this weekend, and will gain light in the morning. I'm looking forward to that. I don't mind the evening darkness so much, but getting up in inky darkness isn't fun. I really have nothing to complain about. On IG I follow a young woman named Cecelia who lives on Svarlbard, in the far north of Norway. For her and the other residents, they've seen their last bit of sun until February. 111 days of polar night. I'd find that rather difficult, would you? 

Blogtober 27: How to Celebrate a Birthday

 

Birthdays come around every year. Mine is later this week. I receive texts, cards, and phone calls. There will be party in a couple of weeks to celebrate my birthday, and those of my eldest daughter and my daughter-in-law. I don't have anything to do with the planning or details. It's kind of fun to not be involved. 

When we lived overseas, far from family, Tim always made my day special. He and the children baked a cake, wrapped presents, and did the dishes. Sometimes we went out for dinner. In the small jungle town near where we lived in the early years, there was no flower shop, but the funeral parlour sold bunches of chrysanthemums to place on gravesites. Tim would bring me a bunch because he knew how much I loved flowers, no matter where they came from. 

I also learned that it was just fine to make my day special in its own way. I would take some time to do what I wanted, such as sew or read. A Victoria magazine, always late to arrive, would be saved to enjoy with a cup of tea. Lighting candles, starting a new book, or wearing a favourite outfit are still things I like to do to mark my birthday. If I can manage it during my birthday week, a few hours spent wandering through bookstores is always special. 

Of course, it doesn't take a birthday to treat yourself well. Iris Murdoch said, "One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats." Here's a short list of some of my small treats - 

a square or two of dark chocolate after dinner

stores with vintage goods

beautiful books

tea with a friend or two

kicking up autumn leaves on a walk in the sunshine

reading blog comments

dabbling in watercolour paints

arranging a vase of flowers

listening to raindrops splat against the windows while warm and cosy indoors

What are some of your small treats?

Blogtober 26: Through the Forest to the Sea

 

The rain is pouring down today. Shortly after noon we spied a break in the weather and drove to Witty's Lagoon for a walk. The heavens opened about half way there and we wondered what we were doing. However, we donned our rain jackets and set off down the trail in what had eased to little more than a drizzle. 

How quiet and still the woods are with only the sound of water dripping off the leaves onto the earth. We caught the scent of ripe apples from the once productive orchard, now neglected, where apples now carpet the ground. The Coast Salish people had settlements here for at least 1000 years. The first European settler, John Witty, established a farm here, as did the Hudson Bay Company. 

The chatter of kingfishers, a flapping of ducks taking off, and the waves lapping the shore added another layer of enjoyment to our walk. 

The tide was up, so there wasn't much beach visible. The large domed white-ish mass in the middle of the photo above is what's left of a jellyfish washed up on shore, a rather large one. How colourful the arrangement was with bull kelp, sea lettuce and a variety of other sea plants. 

Our shores are always covered with driftwood. One piece had two of these very large nuts and bolts attached. 

An open seashell on the beach. I walked past it, then turned back when the words from Anne Morrow Lindbergh came to mind, "One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea."

Seals played in the water just off the beach, two rounded humps each for head and body, floating without a care in the world. 

Back we went along the shore, through the woods, up the hill, and around a few corners to view the Sitting Lady Falls. Soon there will be much more water flowing over the rocks. 

Home again where the deluge began once more, but we were dry and cosy enjoying the warmth of the fire. Sometimes it's hard to get out of the house especially on such a dreich day, but it's almost always worth the effort. This was one of those days. 

Our sweet little overnight guests were picked up mid-morning. They are becoming very responsible - when Iris spilt a bit of milk on the table at breakfast, she promptly got down from her chair, fetched a towel, and wiped it up. 

Blogtober 25: Fly, leaves, fly

 

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow

Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night's decay

Ushers in a drearier day.

Emily Bronte

A version of the above first line repeated in my head this afternoon as I walked in the bog. My version went "Fly, leaves, fly" for the wind tore leaves from the trees and scattered them in a mad dance along the path. I had to come home and look up the poem. The nights are certainly lengthening.

I always enjoyed the gym classes that involved dancing. Sports were never my thing. There was square dancing and waltzing. I loved learning the Jewish wedding dance, the hora. I am not very fond of modern dance as it seems to be a lot of wild motion to music, without much pattern to it. Tim and I took a series of ballroom dancing lessons, but stopped and we haven't picked it up again. I think he got tired of me having to count the beats since he doesn't have much of an ear for rhythm. I'll still jive or chacha a wee bit when I hear the right music. 

Funny where your mind goes as you walk. I haven't thought about dancing lessons for years. Today the trees swayed, and leaves somersaulted and twirled as they floated to the ground. At one point I thought I heard rain begin, but it turned out to be dry fir needles plinking softly as they hit the earth. 

This morning was spent mostly in the kitchen, baking gingersnaps and simmering a pot of soup - no recipe, just browned Italian sausage, sauteed onion, cubed potatoes, chopped kale, chicken broth and herbs. Clouds sailed by at a brisk clip. Ferries have been cancelled, power lines are down in areas, and there has been at least one landslide closing roads on the Island. Autumn making itself known. 

Two little girls arrived mid-afternoon for a sleepover. We read stories, they played, and after dinner it was bedtime. There are things.that.must.be.done. The discovery that they had not packed pajamas meant that Nana drove to their home (fortunately only 10 minutes away) to find night clothing. Their parents were out and I rummaged around finding what was needed. Once that hurdle was crossed, they settled well. Cora likes things in their places and she unpacked all of their toiletries - toothbrushes, toothpaste, brushes, and hair things - into a drawer in the bathroom. More stories, a few songs, cuddles, and not a peep has been heard since. 

I have a bit of time left to read before I head off to bed myself. 

Blogtober 24: Friendships and Gardens

 

On my calendar today was lunch with two friends. From our table we watched the rain pound down, then slow, and finally cease. Boats sat still at their moorage, masts reaching up to the clouds. I enjoyed a delicious dish of wild mushroom ravioli in a creamy sauce. It was just the right size, not enough to make me overly full, but enough to carry me through the afternoon. 

The three of us planned to walk through Butchart Gardens, but one friend was developing a migraine and left the two of us. Every time I visit the gardens, I am amazed at the planning that has gone into their development. There is always colour somewhere, and plenty of texture and architectural interest. 

    

An old tractor makes a fun focal point for a harvest display. So many types of pumpkins and squashes, some looking very warty indeed. We noticed a number of shrubs wrapped with Christmas lights. It takes a very long time to put them up in time for the display that begins in December. There will be an ice rink for skating again, something that's been missing in the last couple of years. 

The Japanese Garden is particularly colourful these days. Usually it's a harmony of green shades, with rhododendrons in the spring and not much other colour throughout the summer. The cool green paths are lovely and soothing in the heat. In Autumn the maples of various kinds really show off. Red, orange, crimson, yellow, and coral leaves are artfully planted among trickling streams, red bridges, and gravel paths. 

This serene garden has grown on me. It doesn't have the floral showiness of other parts of the gardens, but is full of peaceful harmony.

Friends are beautiful treasures. We might spend weeks apart with only the occasional text to connect, but once we are together again there is never a lack of conversation. We have differing hobbies and interests, but are equally interested in what the others do. All of us moved to Victoria around the same time, and our husbands are also friends. 

As L. M. Montgomery said, "I'm so thankful for friendship. It beautifies life so much." (Anne of Avonlea)

Blogtober 23: Looking at Details

 

Clouds scudded across the sky this morning. Very little rain fell today, but more is predicted over the next few days. I spent the morning indoors, editing, and part of the afternoon in the garden. The blueberry bushes are fiery red. Soon there will be more red on the ground than on the bushes. 

Tiny mushrooms are growing in the grass, many of them dotted around the lawn. How cute they are. I clipped away the grass surrounding them so I could take a proper photo. That inspired me to look for other small details in the garden. 

Water droplets on a Lady's Mantle (alchemilla mollis) leaf. 

Center of a Rudbeckia. Just a few yellow blooms remain. 

A single bee hung around the Guara. I wonder why this one is still out collecting pollen when there are no others to be seen. 

Mint is indomitable. We put up a small greenhouse in the spring. For the base, my husband used square concrete pads along with some old marble pieces from a fireplace. It's a lovely floor - easy to hose clean. But mint is springing up between the cracks. I don't really mind as it fills the greenhouse with a lovely fragrance on warm days. But I am going to have to get very stern with it for I don't need it taking over the entire place. 

I don't think the invasive European Wall Lizards like the mint and stay out of the greenhouse. A reason to encourage its growth. These lizards have no natural predators and were introduced when someone who had a small zoo released them into the wild. They are becoming a plague. 

A sample of what I clipped today to make a small bouquet for the house. 

I recently saw a clip from a Doctor Who episode where he brought Vincent Van Gogh to the Musée d'Orsay where Van Gogh's works are displayed. The artist sold only one painting during his lifetime, and in this imaginary visit to the museum, he is in disbelief to see his works lining the walls. It's a touching episode. Van Gogh continued painting for as long as he lived, not knowing that his works would one day be so popular. 

I've been thinking of his words, "It is looking at things for a long time that ripens you and gives you a deeper meaning." In all of our chasing novelty and the latest thing, perhaps taking a few moments to consider small details of nature, of home, of our loved ones, will give us greater satisfaction. 

Blogtober 22: Rainy Weather Incoming

 

This afternoon we received a "high stream advisory" on our phones. Copious amounts of rain are headed our way. It will be great if the streams and rivers begin filling after the dry summer. The salmon are getting ready to spawn and need lots of water to travel upriver. 

 

It didn't look at all like rain this afternoon when we took a short walk around the neighbourhood. Lots of streaky skies and some wind. Some trees are almost bare and after the incoming storm I expect to see many more bare branches. 

I always enjoy going to the hairdresser. My stylist is a young mother and we chat about her children and my grands. I noticed this morning that it was definitely retired ladies day at the salon. Other women are working at that hour. An hour of pampering and I walk out feeling a wee bit fashionable. 

A few roses continue to bloom. Golden Molineux and pink Boscobel. I wonder how they will fare in the wet weather. 

I've spent a bit of time over the past couple of days playing with watercolours. The leaves were picked up from the ground and I traced them onto the paper. When I take a close look I notice all the varied colours.

I plan to read this evening, and perhaps a bit of stitching. Darkness is falling earlier and earlier.