Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween

Sunday Outing

After a morning of yard work and a few inside chores Iain and I headed to the wonderful little town/village of Merrickville.
Had a lunch at Baldachin pub -- totally destroying our pre Christmas pound challenge!
Then off to the shops.
I would like to think out strolling worked off that Steamwhistle beer but who's kidding who?

 Our daughters love this artist.
She has just opened her own gallery  Anarchy Gallery on the main street.
 Always have to take a wander around Mrs. McGarrigle's.
Lots of terrific ideas for the foodies in our lives.
 Miller's Landing.
Terrific potpourri of country inspiration.
 Halloween corner at Country Bumpkins.
Spooky antique shop!


Have a Spooktacular Day!!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Afternoon Gardening

I have had this hibiscus for going on 10 years.
It was an 88 cent deal in a 4 inch pot from an at the time Kmart.
I have nurtured it to this fabulous plant now sitting in a 12 inch pot.
I cut it drastically in the fall after it has finished blooming .
Then it sits in the brightest window in our family room for the winter.
Part way thru the winter it graces us with a few flowers.
Then in the spring I cut it back again.
It spends its summer on my patio drinking in all the beautiful summer sunshine.
It gets an occasional visit from our neighbourhood hummers.



Visiting my Peas

Spent the day with my lil momo Holly and her hubby and of course my peas!
After lunch we bundled them up.
Walked over to Aunty Sio's and enjoyed a walk on a wonderfully chilly crispy day!


 My girls!!

 Don't you just love her chapeau?

 Miles is feelin very toasty.

Lucky and Addy enjoying a basket of sunshine.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

October in the Garden

Is it really October and are we really starting to put the garden away for the winter?
It seems only a few short months ago I was excited to see the first appearance of green grass and the snow drops popping thru the last remnants of snow

 Iain has built a bird feeding station to make it a wee bit easier to keep the feeders filled.

 My vegetable/potager is ready to be turned over.
I am going to plant garlic this fall.

 We do have a few Hungarian peppers still hanging on.

 And the Jalapenos are ready to be popped into some home made salsa.

 I left this cosmos plant in the garden.
Actually it was an oversight then just kinda lazy to pull it out and voila.....
It has regifted itself and if we don't get a heavy frost in the near future there will be a few more flowers popping out!!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Here we go.........

So here are the promised pics.
 This is how we felt about seeing Grizzly bears!!

 This is the "office" for Aboriginal Journeys.
 That's our skipper -- Gary!
Some of the money from cost goes to the local Homolka tribe and goes to keeping up their salmon hatchery.
When you arrive at the inlet you are met by a couple of tour guides who take you to the info centre.
Thoughts are " tourist trap"!
Absolutely not!! No t shirts no caps just information!! And maybe a complimentary coffee and yes a washroom (after bumping around on the boat everyone was happy to see that! 

 Only in BC would the back of a Zellers look like this!

 The mass of 5 to 600 dolphins that surrounded us for a short time. Hard to really get a good pic.

 Mama and baby

 "Hey mama wait for me"

 The views are spectacular


 Eyeing up one of the many salmon in the river.

 Baby

 One of the viewing stands that we walked to.
We had to stay in a group and the tour guides were very very aware of all the bears around especially the mama and baby.
Funny -- I wasn't at all scared but I think the whole group was on high alert!

 See don't we look like we aren't nervous!

 These guys are prettty fast when they have a salmon in their sights.
I managed to get a quick action shot.

 Here's another fella enjoying his salmon on a sun drenched log.

Our crazy guide and one of our companions got a wee bit too close but I think the bear was just more interested in finding himself some lunch.

 The salmon had layed their eggs in what was the river but then it drew back leaving them totally exposed for the bears.
They did have to dig but with those huge claws it wasn't too big a deal.
Nothing like a bit of caviar before your sushi!

 Our boat.
It held 10 of us quite comfortably.
A 2 hour boat ride from Campbell River up to Bute Inlet!
If you do get a chance to do this or anything like it  DO IT!!






 

Monday, October 24, 2011

Open Wide

Had a dentist visit this morning.
Dare I say it has been 10 years since I had one.
Probably wouldn`t have gone if I hadn`t broken a tooth.
So now I am all sparkling and have another appoinment to have a crown!

I
I promise I am working on editing my pics from BC and will post ASAP!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

More cuteness

 Visited Deb the other day for a hit of cuteness

 And I got it!


 Lots of great cat info and a fun blog to read.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Teaser

Back from BC !
Had a terrific time.
We have bought a new computer but now can't find photo shop so I can convert my pics.
Here is a pic from our grizzly bear adventure that I manipulated on my camera.
Hope to get the program going on the weekend!!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Just cuz



Cleaning and Grizzly Bears

Why is it when you are going away on a holiday there is
 just so much to do and you want to clean EVERYTHING!!!!

 Off to the left coast AKA British Columbia tomorrow.
Going to do some family and friend visiting!
And on a boat tour in search of grizzly bears.
I am more nervous of the boat than of the bears.
There will some very large aboriginals with us with equally large guns!!
Hmmmm ----

Should I take a pic a nic basket??

Friday, October 7, 2011

Turkey Day

Will be busy doing turkey things for the next few days.
Enjoy the weekend my Canadian friends.
Looks like a fabulous weekend here in the Ottawa area --- sunny and in the mid 20's (celcius that is) about 70 F!

Happy Thanksgiving!!