October 28th., 2007

Beautiful sunrise this morning. Taken from front porch.

October 27th., 2007

What a day! Sunny and warm. Outside in t-shirts, unbelievable! A few of the huge spruce trees by the stream fell over last winter and this morning some friends came by to help saw them up. One man with chain saw in hand, cutting. One man throwing logs across the stream. Two women loading the wheelbarrows. Didn't take long before it was all done, then coffee on the deck. We spent most of the time talking about movies we had seen in the past and really enjoyed and actors we particularly liked.

Same friends have been downloading some of the British mystery series onto DVD's for us. Have viewed one of the "Midsummer Murders". I want to live in that little village. So beautiful. Have also been watching "Wire in the Blood". ooooooh, that fellow Robson. Makes my heart beat a little too fast, lol. Also some of the "Hamish" series. Great stuff.

So, got the camera out this afternoon. Haven't seen any bugs around to speak of but thought I'd wander around and have a look. Much to my surprise there was a bee on one of the few flowers that's left. I didn't expect to see anymore until next year. Got a pretty good picture, I think.

October 24th., 2007

Here it is almost the end of October and woke up this morning to temperature of +13C. Can't ask for more than that, very mild for this time of year. Not much to report really. I've been in the garden most of this week. I finally got the gladioli bulbs out of the ground and have cut back a good number of plants. I still have more soil to mix up with good stuff and put around all the perennials. The old body is stiff and sore but what the heck. We had a good wind yesterday and the leaves were coming off the trees in drifts. The ground looks very pretty with all the autumn colours.

There is something living under the chicken house again. Always this time of year it seems. I go out in the morning to let chickens out and their food dish which is in their greenhouse area is emptied. It's times like this that I wish I had a web cam, then maybe I could see what it is. I suspect it's a rat or maybe mice. I read that if you put mint around the area it will deter them so cut a pile of the stuff and poked it around all over. Doesn't seem to be doing much good. I remember my neighbour use to keep his bags of dog food in his shed and would go out every morning to find mice in one of the buckets there. He would take the mice and some food, walk up in the woods, put the food down and let the mice go hoping that would be the end of it. Then next morning he would go through the same thing. The mice got quite use to him and weren't scared at all. I remember dropping in one morning and he came in with two or three mice in a bucket, on his way up in the woods again. It was so funny.

We decided to drive up to the causeway and look at the autumn colours then down to the beach. I remembered for once to take the camera.




Down by the beach.

October 18th., 2007

I spent a couple of hours working at the library this afternoon. A few people came in so that helped the time pass. I think I may be coming down with a cold, feeling chilled, sneezing, runny nose. The forecast called for sun today...HA!...didn't happen. Very cold out and saw a few flakes of snow. Don't want to see that yet, thank you!

The trees are looking so pretty with their autumn colours. I find something magical about it all. The clean crisp air, the many colours of the leaves and that particular sweet Autumn smell that comes from the earth. I find myself wandering over by the stream, leaning up against one of the tree trunks, listening to the trickle of the stream and breathing deeply.

October 14th., 2007

Not too much to report from here. It's been dreary weather, rain, drizzle and fog. Haven't been doing anything in the garden although still things to do. Time is marching on so have to make a concerted effort to finish it all up this coming week. We have wood to stack for the winter and tried doing some of that yesterday but it was just too wet and chilly. Gave it up before lunch then spent the afternoon chatting with a friend who dropped by.

Spent an afternoon last week working at the library. Other than a couple of children and two adults coming in it was a long afternoon. Time seemed to drag on forever. Tried reading a book but had left my reading glasses at home and while I can read without them, I tend to doze off if I'm not using them. So, I gave up on that. I could just imagine someone coming in and I'm asleep at the desk.

The leaves are changing quickly on the trees now and darkness is closing in fast in the evenings. I expect that we will get a good wind any day soon and that will put paid to most of the leaves left on the trees. We will probably take the screen door off sometime this week and put up the storm door. Best to get it all prepared ahead of time.

I haven't been taking any pictures of late so thought I'd just put on some of the cats.

Malachi on top of cupboard.


Cleo asleep.


The grumpy fat cat.


Little Freya.


The two brothers..Stanley and Frankie.

October 7th., 2007

Yesterday was the start of the agricultural fair here. A friend who is on the council had a Tarot reader come out from the city for a couple of days. People who own one of the bed and breakfasts were kind enough to put him up and provide a room for him to do his readings. Well, of course I simply had to make an appointment to get my cards read. I arrived for the appointment at 11:30 and was quickly ushered into a small sun room. There sat a little old man with a cold, so funny. The only thing going through my mind was, oh no, hope I don't get his cold. Not only did he have a cold but he also had a lisp so I had to concentrate very hard to understand what he was saying. Three quarters of an hour later he was finished with me. I wasn't all that impressed to be honest. He did tell me some things about my personality that were true. He also told me that my daughters work was recognized before he knew she was an artist. He also said that she would do one painting that would make her famous. The reading only cost $20.00 so didn't feel I was scammed.

After this we went to the council office/library where they had food on sale to try to make money for the library. Baked potatoes with different toppings, muffins, sausages and pop. We bought a potato each and sat at one of the tables they had set up outside. Although a lovely sunny day, there was a wind and it was bloody cold. Within five minutes I was freezing as was my potato, lol. There was a good crowd there though and everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Had friends in for coffee in the afternoon so all in all not a bad day.

Got up this morning to 5 C. Was brushing my teeth in the bathroom when something that looked like it was falling from the sky caught my eye. In an instant I thought, oh noooo, not snow but fortunately it was lots of leaves falling from the trees. Then got a phone call from friends that left for the city early this morning. They were part way there when they thought they may have left their coffee pot on so we jumped in the car and went over to check for them. When we came back and pulled in the driveway, I had one of those moments when I saw the smoke coming out the chimney, autumn leaves on the ground, coloured leaves on the trees and though to myself, isn't it lovely to have a little cozy house to come home to.

I usually do a little seasonal decorating. This is a picture outside the kitchen window.


Inside kitchen window.

October 4th., 2007

I thought the bees and butterflies were all gone for this year as we had some chilly days a week or so ago. This past week has been lovely, sunny and warm for this time of year, so, much to my surprise there have been lots of bees and butterflies in the garden. The Sedum is full of bees each day and the Butterfly Bush is attracting many butterflies.

October 2nd., 2007

Well, we set off to the dentist yesterday. A good chunk of my tooth had broken off so had no choice but to get it seen to. Our regular dentist has retired and all the dentists but this one, aren't taking any more new clients. Although expensive, I heard that he is good and very fast at his work. First we had to scrap ice off the car windows as we had a heavy frost the night before. Off we went...an hours drive. Now I dread dentists even at the best of times, so by the time we got there I had just a bit of a tension headache. Went in the office and was called inside. A row of cubicles were in front of me and I was promptly placed in one of them. In comes the dentist, checks my tooth, and tells me that I need a crown. How much I said? He says it would be about $900.00 plus tax so we are talking almost a thousand dollars. He says he can fill it but it might last a week or might last a year or so. I say "Fill it!" He gives me the dreaded needle. I rise up in the chair, nerves starting to get shot. So while he's waiting for the deadening to take effect, he goes to the next cubicle to pull a mans tooth. I hear loud groans from the man and then the man shouts out "Oh my Jesus." Now my nerves are completely shattered. Should I get up right now and walk out...I convince myself that seeing I've already had the needle I might as well go through with it. So three quarters of an hour after sitting in the chair I'm all done. It took me a few minutes to haul myself out of the chair as my legs were very wobbly. Roger, when he saw me says "You don't look to happy." I say, "I'm not, get in the car and take me home." lol

Before the dentist we went to a department store to pick up a few things and in the Hallowe'en section I saw a lovely Skull, which I bought. The only good thing that happened. Have it proudly sitting on one of the bookshelves.

Today is just beautiful. Almost summer like. I saw a butterfly on the butterfly bush so got the camera and took a few photos. Also a few of the blue jays. Tried to get some shots of the chick a dees and nuthatches but they were so fast that the pictures came out blurry. Ah well, will try again.

September 29th., 2007

After the chilly days this past week, woke up this morning to a warm day although overcast. Threw open all the windows to let the lovely warm breeze blow through. I can't believe that we are almost into October. Time seems nothing anymore. I was talking to a couple of friends a few nights ago and the subject of mice came up. I related to them a recent story of my daughter saving the lives of two little mice that a cat had cornered in her driveway. She saved the mice and put them in a safe place. Afterwards another story came to mind. She heard what she thought was a fluttering sound in the wall in her house. Thinking that a bird somehow got stuck between the wall, she got her trusty little axe and proceeded to beat a hole in the wall. Then squatting down to peak in, a little head with big ears popped up. A mouse!! She put her hand out and the mouse ran up her arm and sat on her head. Another little head popped up!! She tried to get the one off her head but it wouldn't budge, so she got a bucket and moved her head up and down over it till the mouse jumped in. Then she somehow got the other four or five mice in the bucket, took them outside and let them go in the back yard, only to come back inside I expect. lol.

We went for an hours walk yesterday morning so thought I'd take the camera with me. We started off up the beach.

The sky looks thunderous but actually it was quite nice with no wind.




This is the pathway off the beach. I find it quite magical any time of year. I'm sure there are fairies in here.


At the top of the path, this lovely tree.
One of the roads on the way back home.

Then our road.


Back home in the driveway.

September 25th., 2007

Autumn is well on its way it seems. Rather chilly here and have had the fire in all day. I do enjoy autumn days but then I know it leads to winter and I don't enjoy that at all. I was looking at some pictures I took last winter and to tell the truth, it puts me off my oats to see them. Ah well, can't stop it!!

I've been reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Martha Grimes, and to tell the truth I can't make sense of parts of it. I'm beginning to wonder if my brain is going dim with age. Who ever says it's wonderful, this getting old bit, must be mad.

Absolutely nothing happening here lately. I decided to take the day off and not do gardening, instead took a few pictures of "signs of Autumn."

Leaves changing on some of the trees.



One of the archways, vine with berries.

Sedum, one of the last plants to bloom.


Burning Bush, already starting to turn red.

And of course a sure sign of fall....preserves my mom made and brought out to me the last time they were here.

September 20th., 2007

The friend from Nova Scotia flew back yesterday and after the party the night before I wasn't feeling all that great. Slept most of the afternoon and went to bed very early last night. It was a good visit as always.

Got up this morning feeling ready to take on the world. I decided it was time to start in at the garden. There was a fair size raised bed that had gone to mostly weeds so figured I'd tackle that. I dug it all up, added lots of manure, went up in the woods to get some leaves off the ground and added those. Ever watchful for bears as the woman down the road said her cats wouldn't go outside....something big must have scared them. The plants I dug up out of the raised bed were bagged to give away and I then dug up Phlox and Black Eyed Susans to put back there. That finished, I had a Russian Olive Tree that was in the wrong spot. So I then dug up an area where it would be better off, again added manure, leaves, etc. I got the tree out of the ground and planted it in the new place. That done, I figured I'd better quit for the day as my body is starting to ache.

In the meantime the Grey Jays had put in an appearance. First time I'd seen them in ages. I did get a couple of pictures but still not as good as I wanted.

Grey Jay


Blue Jay


Junco


Mushrooms on log