BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

I had to hunker down this weekend and get some lawn clean up done. Before we know it the snow will be falling and the shovels will be calling. 

So this post is all about the beauty and the beast of fall clean up.

Here's the backyard - this falls under the category of beauty. But that is a lot of leaves to rake up! 

Hence the beast - raking and bagging, raking and bagging...

Found another beast....she is "helping" me round up those leaves. I use the term loosely as her idea of help is to rip through the piles with glee. 

Beauty - Firebush

Beast - in the midst raking I have to stop and clean up Lulu's special treasures that she leaves me. Here are my weapons of choice.

Beauty - leaves are bagged and ready to go! 

Beast....definitely beast. Hope you all appreciate what it took for me to get in close and take a shot of this fatty.

Beauty - the dahlia are still blooming but I will have to dig them up soon. 

I'm ending this post with one last beauty. After a back breaking day, I made a meal of roasted cornish hen with mushrooms, rice and vegetables and finished it off with apple crisp. Then I enjoyed a well earned glass of tummy warming wine. 

I was speaking with my neighbour who is battling a serious illness at the moment. She was commending me for my hard work and she noted "it's great that you are well enough to do it." So true. 

The beauty in the beast of labour.

LULU'S FALL ADVENTURE

On Saturday, Sheldon and I drove up to Hamilton to meet our son Adrian and his girlfriend Carolyn for a fall adventure. Lulu tagged along, cause she had really nothing else on her agenda and it really is a great time to get out and see the colours. 

Adrian has wanted to take us on this little hike for quite some time and I'm glad we went! I'm increasingly aware of the fact that it is a blessing my legs (and hips and knees) still allow me to do this. 

This will be a photo heavy blog - it is really so beautiful out there right now. 

I really don't mind a grey backdrop and the colours are amazing. We went to the Webster's Falls Conservation area. If you ever get the chance, I would recommend it! 

There were a number of waterfalls to enjoy, but this one was my favourite.

I expected Gandolf and the Elven King to show up from behind a tree anytime.

I know the name of the blog is Lulu's fall adventure - and she was a real trooper taking on the rocks and  hills, though we did have to carry her up some stairs....but she charmed most everyone we met along the way! This is Lulu with Carolyn - talk about a couple of cuties!!!

Afterwards we went to this very hip restaurant called "The Burnt Tongue". It is a hole-in-the-wall kinda place that seats about 18 people and run by a bunch of young lads. I don't think there was one whippersnapper over 30. 

The menu is small: fries, burgers, soup, ice cream, maybe salad. But what they do, they do real well!

I had a lovely squash, cauliflower and fennel soup topped with crumbled feta cheese and sunflower seeds. It came with a roll the size of an average loaf of bread. HELLOOOOOO NURSE!

I'm not a big eater, but I like and enjoy good food

Now here is a confession and I mention this restaurant (you can find them on Facebook) partly to make amends . When you order your meal here you pay up front, which we did. But after we received our meal the boys decided some fries would be good with their burgers so we asked for an order of fries as well. Then we left....dined and dashed as it were. Somewhere on the way home between Oshawa and Brighton I realized we did not pay for those fries. Sorry young whippersnappers who made me a really yummy bowl of soup. It does not make a good impression when you publicly pray before a meal and then walk out without paying.... I texted Adrian and he went back and paid the wayward fare. 

This morning, while it was still dark and all were snug in their beds, I took Lulu for her walk.... in a snowstorm. Little white flakes swirling all around me. 

So get out there people and take a Lulu adventure in the fall, before it's too late! 

AN ABUNDANCE

When my kids would come home from University, one of the first things they did was open the cupboards and fridge to check out what there was to eat: Sooooo much food, sooooo many options! Above is my fridge door - nary room for one more jar or bottle. This is what you call a "first world problem." And it is not uncommon. I'm sure many of us have a grandparent with a full fridge including 30 year old Miracle Whip. 

But not all of us in Canada have this problem. In fact, there are a number of fridges with nothing but ketchup, white bread and maybe some juice on empty shelves. 

At the drop-in centre I volunteer at the patrons want triple-triple coffee and hot chocolate made with 3 packets. They want the sugar rush and energy kick. We always have a snack of cookies, chips or sometimes  cheese and crackers. Occasionally we have a cake to celebrate someone's birthday. Many struggle with addictions and mental disabilities. Their fridges are usually bare and most are dependent on ODSP, the Ontario disability support program, for finances. At the beginning of the month the cheque is fresh and there is food to be had, but by the end of the month, the cheque is gone and they are hungry. 

This is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada where we celebrate our abundance. And rightly so. At my in-laws there was so much food we had no room left at the table. Everyone had more than they could possibly need to eat. The next day at my parents house was another amazing meal - except for the mushy peas (blech...)

I hope you have all had your favourites and celebrated the abundance most of us are privileged with. But, let's remember not everyone has such plenty, which is even more reason to be thankful for what you have. 

TRYING TO PICK FAVOURITES

A few weeks ago I was challenged on Facebook by a childhood friend of mine to name 10 books that have impacted you the most. 
Thus began my dilemma...
The problem is, I'm not so sure I can name 10 and I'm likely to bleed into authors. As much as I enjoy books, I enjoy how they are written too. Writing is a hobby of mine so I'm fascinated in the writing process and how people come up with and write down their thoughts. 
So, Billy, sorry I'm so late at answering your challenge. I have not forgotten, I simply did not know how to proceed. I will take a stab at it, more or less!
1. The Bible, for sure. This is a book I've read almost daily for about 30 years. I particularly love Proverbs and the verse that kept me afloat when things were (and are) dark is Proverbs 3:5,6. 
2. My world opened up when I learned to read and I can thank Dr. Suess for that! What a wonder! What a sense of understanding and clarity! Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Suess' ABC, The Cat in the Hat - boy I went through the school library like a candle in a dry forest. 
3. When Marnie Was There - this is also a childhood book but I just loved it! For years, I would wander in second hand book stores trying to find a copy to no avail. Then one Christmas, my good friend Denise surprised me with a copy that she had hunted down from somewhere in England. 
4. Speaking of children's books, Four Puppies was a book I read to my kids often. "Leaves as crisp as cornflakes" - love that!
5. Pride and Prejudice - classic. Writing perfection. 
6. Not My Will - not sure what to say. This is a cheesy book from the 50s or 60s but for some reason was the catalyst for me writing my own book....guess I thought if she could do it, so could I.
7. I'm bleeding into authors here - I Love Elizabeth Goudge - love the way she writes, love her novels. So I could rhyme off about 8 books here but let's just say, Elizabeth Goudge.
8. C.S. Lewis- the whole Narnia series and almost anything else the man has written. He's a genius who can see around corners while the rest of us walk blindly until we turn the corner and things start to come into focus. 
9. J.R.Tolkien - another genius who takes me into worlds full of fantasy and detail so I can forget all my troubles and live vicariously with the elves. 
10. L.M. Montgomery - wrote the Anne of Green Gables books and one of the only Canadian authors I enjoy and appreciate. For some reason, Canadian authors are inclined to be somewhat macabre and miserable. But not L.M. Though her real life was difficult and quite unhappy - her books are pure joy.
So there you have it - there are so many more, authors and books but I'm keeping it down to 10. 
Winter is coming. I suggest you find a good book, blanket, cat, and a cup of wine or tea and escape.

GOOD VIBRATIONS

I spent as much time as I could outside this past weekend. Why? The obvious answer is because it was incredibly beautiful outside, but also because I know what's coming. And it's not pretty. So I got out there under the golden trees and the brilliant blue sky.

I biked around the east end of Belleville where "Porchfest" was going down. I have never been to this  and a friend of mine recommended it to me so I thought I would go check it out. Basically, it is a community event where you go to different homes and enjoy music ranging from pop, folk, classical and bluegrass - all kinds. Musicians are out there, entertaining the masses and you just wander onto their yard and voila - a free concert! There is a great sense of community as we walked, or in my case biked in groups to each area.

These guys were rockin the street! Really tight band with a great rhythm section - right on the money. And the singer just belted out the tunes. We were all head bopping in no time.

I enjoyed this band very much and wish I had a better shot of them. They were eclectic with violin, stand-up bass, mandolin, guitar and a lot of fun to watch.

I also came across the occasional lonely troubadour. There was this fellow playing guitar and I also found a pianist tinkling the ivories on his porch. Music sounds soooo much better out in the open.

Everywhere you went, there were good vibrations.

Afterwards I headed down to the market to stock up a bit on fresh veges and fruit.

Apples, beans, flowers, peppers, squash, honey - you name it.

Life can have it's struggles and throw you curve balls.

But it also sends you so many gifts of food and music and love in many forms. Good and perfect gifts, given freely to everyone who cares to enjoy or appreciate. Yes, there are lots of Good Vibrations out there, just lower your resistance a little and you will find them!

WHEN YOU'VE HAD A BAD DAY

Had a bit of a rough start last week....there were some very frustrating things going on at work. I think my co-workers thought I was going to lose it and start yelling expletives! Something like this....

You should know I kinda swore myself out by the age of 20 so swearing is not something I do anymore.

But sometimes, you just gotta say it....

I was biking home and I passed a man sitting in his car in a parking lot. He was not yelling but just stating an exasperating fact. I will use replacement words here, and you are all smart people, so you will figure it out.

"Duck......duck, duck, ddduuuccck!"

Thank you stranger, I understand completely.

One time I was driving around with a girlfriend who was so angry at a situation she was about to blow So I just cried: "JUST SAY IT!!!"

So she did - good and loud.

'DDUUUUCCKKK!!!!"

My mother, who was working shift work at the time was trying to get some sleep. We kids, all 4 of us, were making a ruckus and she came stomping down the stairs.

"Spit in Well! Will you kids shut up!!!" Yup - she just had to say it.

But frustrations don't last forever, things eventually turn around. 

Yesterday, after a week of mitten wearing cold, the weather finally turned around and I hopped back into my shorts and basked on the deck. 

I mowed the lawn, topped up the fountain and the bird feeders.

I cleaned the bathrooms and washed up the bedding with fresh sheets.

I love fresh sheets.

I made some killer chocolate chip cookies.

We went to this very cool building and checked out quartz for the island that Sheldon is working on.

I was fascinated with the structure. Would this not be a great place for a photo shoot?? And the quartz was pretty nice too...

Then we headed out to Campbell's Orchards for fresh vegetables. I bought garlic, a jalopeno pepper, a bushel of apples and a pie pumpkin which will be turned into homemade applesauce and pumpkin puree for pumpkin pie, or pumpkin thai soup or whatever.

Finally I bought myself this delicious caramel apple

I suggest you do not eat this in public...they are gooey, chewy and messy. I had sticky caramel on my nose and fingers, juice running all over my chin and onto the table. I just let that mess happen until I was good and finished. 

So, the moral is, if someone is having a bad day, they may have to let it rip. No judgement here, happens to all of us. Things will turn around - the weather will change, the sheets will be fresh, and there are caramel apples to eat.

THE DOG ATE IT

The age-old excuse, used by children centuries, I'm sure. 
"The dog ate it." 

I want to say this urban myth is actually true. I can vouch for all the kidlets who said those words as they innocently looked into the doubting eyes of their teacher, Miss Rothbottom, and watched as her eyebrows raised sardonically.
In fact, let me just add to that statement - "the dog at it, and everything else she could get into her nonstop need-to-chew-on whatever-is handy baby mouth."

I've been through the puppy stage 3 times (actually I'm going through the 3rd time right now). 

Sam - the monster lab, aka Dogzilla, ate, just to name a few: shoes, a whole chesterfield, a banister and more socks than I cared to pull out the other end.

Amelia- my lazy sleepy houndog ate: my glasses, a chair, also lots of shoes, my banana bread.

And now I have Lulu - little tiny Lulu - really how much trouble could she be? So far she has destroyed a library book, made several attempts at shoes, all her toys and the cats, my fingers, a computer cord, the cord off my flat iron and almost the tasty cord attached to the vacuum as well. I've caught her gnawing on my rug, the metal legs of the stool and today she took a turn at my IPad. Best not touch the electronic toys Lulu....there will be Big Trouble in Little China for you. 

I had wanted to bring Morrie the cello out of the basement this year. Although quite bearable through the summer it is dang cold down there in the winter and makes moving frozen fingers nimbly on strings most difficult. But I would be a fool indeed to think Morrie would be safe and sound up here by the fire. No you can bet Morrie would be a prime target for Lulu!

So, until those baby teeth get gnawed out, until Lulu is spayed and fat and lazy, Morrie shall have to stay in the cold basement, safe from those little razors. 

So. teachers, you can believe all those little angels. It is no urban myth - the dog ate it.