FIRST SNOW AUTUMN 2011

We had a snow fall last night. Not a huge amount, but enough to still be on the ground in the morning.

Weeb and I rushed out to enjoy it before the rain washed it away.

WIND STORM

There was a big wind storm today. I don't think I've ever been in wind this strong. Weeb and I had fun blowing bubbles, but it was so cold and the wind was nearly knocking us down, so we came in. Much of the city has been without power most of the day.

Some trees in Weeb's school field did not fair the wind storm well.

This sweet gum tree snapped off right at the ground. With it down, we had a chance to take some up close shots of the spiky fruit/nut thingies.

At least two other trees were snapped nearly in half. It was quite a sight to see!

FROSTY PERIWINKLE

When Little Sicky and I headed out this morning to buy some cough medicine, it was 2 degrees (35.6 F) and there was frost on the complex rooftops and the cars. My car was enshrouded in thick frost that required I 'get my elbow into it' to remove from the windows, much to my daughter's delight. Why scraping the windows is so funny to her, I'll never know.

Below, my car antenna; it was a frosty fun-land of crystals.

There was frost in the Periwinkle Patch.

There was a frosty Periwinkle in the Periwinkle Patch!

JUNCOS AND SPARROWS AND TIBBS, OH MY!

We have loads of these little birds near our house. I thought they were chickadees until I was showing Weeb pictures of chickadees, online, and realised they were totally not.

I'd never heard of a Junco until now. But that is what they seem to be.

These photos were taken through our (dirty) sliding glass door (while I was sitting on the couch), so I apologize for the dirty blur, but they are cool little birds. They were teasing me most of the morning, too, flitting away as soon as my camera focused (as well as it could through the grime).

The bird below is a sparrow of some kind. They share the big tree behind us with the juncos.

Tibbs was not impressed with the feathery teasing. This is my excuse for leaving the windows dirty - so the birds know they are safe from the evil fur beast that is Tibboh the Terrible.

DAY OF THE DEAD 2011

Dear Crazy Neighbor,

You have often proven your instability by doing things like making quacking noises while alone in our complex pool, and playing the same Justin Bieber song over and over and over again at absurd volumes (so glad we share a townhouse wall) in the middle of the day or just after normal kids our childrens' ages would be going to bed. You're a grown man, listening to Justin Bieber. There is something very wrong with that.

The loud and equally strange fights you and your wife have are also keeping you high on my crazy list - but my family and I thank you for no longer having them at 2AM. Your decision to throw an assortment of frozen vegetables on the ground outside the drivers side of your car may have been a kind offering to the birds or perhaps one of your children dumped some lunch left overs (much to the horror of the guy who parks next to you on that side - he also thinks you're insane, by the way, and he's not exactly the picture of normal either!). You are the poster boy for Unstable.

Today, Fever Girl (day 4) and I were heading to the parking lot on the way to get lunch. When Fever Girl finally has an appetite, she can have whatever she wants and she wanted Chicken McNuggets. As we got to the car, we realized that you had added to the Halloween decorations that are still up in front of your house.

I get that it's Day of the Dead in Mexico. I get that several other cultures have similar celebrations around November 1st and 2nd. But you are as white as I am. And what you added, though cool Halloween decorations, are not especially Day of the Dead-ish. They are more 'added two days after Halloween because I am a total and complete nutter'-ish.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that perhaps you just got these on sale and are displaying them for your children to observe as they get home from school. Perhaps it's another demonstration to your wife that you are completely insane and should be back on your medication. Nah, I'm just going to continue to believe you are a full on nut job.

And you need a boot to the head.

NaNoWriMo - OFF TO NO START AT ALL

It's National Novel Writing Month. I signed up to NaNoWriMo, the goal being to write the first draft of a 50,000 word novel.

I signed up a couple of weeks ago, confident the universe would push me in a writing direction. I have NEVER had problems with becoming inspired. I've got several ideas in my head and I knew the universe would guide me to one of them.

But it didn't.

I've never had writer's block before. Granted, I haven't made much time for writing in many years and being a working mom of a primary school kid, I haven't beaten myself up much for not making it a priority as I had other things that needed tending to more with the little time I have.

I have made peace with the fact that I am a mediocre writer, at best. I have made peace that the grand stories in my head will mostly never be told and certainly won't be told in a manner that is as awesome as they are in my head. Maybe these stories are just meant to be my own personal daydreams. I'm okay with that.

But I am a bit disappointed that I'm off to a bad start. Beyond the fact that my child is on day 3 of a fever over 101 degrees, the husband is sick and I'm fighting off something in addition to digestive and anxiety issues this past few months, I just feel disenchanted somehow.

Perhaps the challenge was a matter of 'bit off more than I can chew'. I wonder if would have been different if I were a stay at home mom or my daughter was older. I used to write so much when I was younger. My dreams weren't as shackled by having a family AND a job. I was unhappy and pouring my dreams onto paper was very therapeutic. Am I too happy now? Am I making excuses?

All I know is that it is the first of November and I've still got no direction, no hint of where I should be going. I'm worried that my dreams are fading. Maybe the stories don't need to be told after all.

AUTUMN ROSE

While Trick or Treating in Steveston Villiage (BC), we saw this pretty rose with a few rose buds keeping it company. I thought it was too cold for roses, these days (48F / 9C highs), but I guess not!

I couldn't resist taking a few more pictures of the colorful maple leaves. It was a nice day for Trick or Treating. Glad we did it on Saturday, too, since my poor Weeb seems to be a tad feverish today.

AUTUMN 2011 CONTINUED AGAIN

This first photo is from Weeb's trip to the pumpkin patch with her class. It's been a nice dry October, for the most part, so the pumpkins were in pretty good shape, rather than half rotted due to weeks of rain.

These next couple of shots are from where I park, at work. Some of the leaves are from a maple tree right in front of where I park, but there are some other leaves, smaller ones, in the second shot that I don't recognize.

We took this photo in the mall parking lot, about a week ago. Just looked like an awesome Autumn display.

Another shot from my parking spot, at work. I just loved all the reds and oranges. There was a rainy day a week or so ago where I didn't bring my camera with me. Of course THAT day, the tree outside my car was just gorgeous, all reds and oranges. When the sun came out for a bit, this tree was just beautiful! Then we had a lot of wind and when I got to work the next day, most of the leaves were blown away. Sad. That'll teach me not to carry my camera every day!

AUTUMN 2011 CONTINUED

Autumn continues to be colorful, this year. It's not too often that we get a dry-ish October so we don't often get to see the bold colors that drier parts of Canada get to see. It's been nice.

THEY JUST MAKE ME HUNGRY

We were at a farm on Sunday and I was trying to get some photos of chickens, roosters and ducks. Seems they were all intent on thwarting my plan by mostly posing butt first.

Caught this shot by fluke when Mister Rooster raised his head, momentarily.

Ducks. They were intent on facing away from the camera, as well, for the most part. Not a terrible shot, but they were a bit too far away for my camera and the sun was at a terrible angle. Plus, the photographer needs to learn how to take photos without using the AUTO settings...

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND BEGINS

I know you've all been on the edge of your seats, wondering what I've been up to since Friday at noon. It's exciting stuff. Brace yourself.

The short version: Shopping, sitting, sleeping, waking, bathing child, groceries, more shopping, laundry, dishes, putting laundry away, making cranberry sauce, making cupcakes, more dishes, Weeb baby videos, hair dying, blog entry. And that's just Friday evening and Saturday to around 3PM!

And now the long version. Because I know how much my many readers love to read about me in great detail!

Friday we went and got a Halloween costume for Weeb. Princess Peach. If you don't know who that is, then you must be into living your life outside and playing outside, or something. Hats off to Toys R Us for having it in her size and being cheaper than buying anywhere online.

Then shopping for some rain boots. My child has been coming home with the world's most foul smelling feet due to her playing in the wet grass in her running shoes. The moist season has hit, so time for some new Wellies. We found some snow boots, but no rain boots.

We then got suckered, by a pair of batting blue eyes, into letting Weeb enjoy some Halloween themed kids carnival rides at the mall. She rode a Halloween train, a carousel and some Swings of Doom, which she wasn't keen on going on and once she did, she didn't want to stop.

We spent the rest of the night watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and making certain that our couch didn't float away. They'll do that, you know. Luckily we won out and it stayed right in place. I've no idea what it did after we went to bed. You never can tell with couches. However, it was in the right place this morning, so that's a bonus.

Up early Saturday morning. I thought I might get a few minutes alone with the husband before the offspring awoke. Yeah, I can hear you parents laughing. Weeb sensed there was attention being given to someone other than her and protested loudly by having far more energy than any person should have that early on a Saturday morning.

We did our usual Saturday morning grocery run. I was surprised how busy it was for how early in the morning it was, but it is a long weekend (Thanksgiving in Canada) so I guess people are getting prepared.

Then we went on a second hunt to try and find rain boots for Weeb. Success! When we got home, I was putting the old winter boots in a pile for donation when I notice that they appear to be EXACTLY the same size as the ones we bought yesterday. How can a size 12 look EXACTLY the same as a size 13? Wonko thinks maybe they are different on the inside and the soles just look similar. Weeb insists the new ones fit. I should have made her try the ones from last year on first, especially since she wore them all of five times last year because all of the warnings of a brutal winter spawned about five minutes of snow.

Our Saturday of fun continued with my doing some laundry and some dishes. And Wonko helps with laundry folding, so how lucky am I?

Now, there are few things that I can actually do in the kitchen (aside from dishes) and not completely screw up. I am the master of making cranberry sauce. Yes. I am. I rock it. And Richmond, BC is well known for it's cranberries. According to Wikipedia, Richmond had approximately 47% of BC's cranberry acreage. Have bog land, will farm cranberries! So yeah, I made some cranberry sauce. It's in the fridge, setting, to be enjoyed in a Thanksgivingy way for the better part of the rest of the weekend.

Last weekend I was advised that we would also be contributing cupcakes for Thanksgiving dinner. Weeb has a nut allergy, so we often make cupcakes for family events, since we can't buy anything from bakeries. We've got an awesome cream cheese frosting to use (though I doubt the amount of anything close to cream cheese in it) and some little pumpkin sprinkles to add. Wonko actually made them, with a little Weeby assistance. If I was Super Mom I'd make the cake and frosting from scratch (Weeb asked what 'scratch' is - made me laugh), but I'm not Super Mom. I'm Buy Cake Mix and Tub O' Frosting Mom. And I'm okay with that.

We spent some time watching videos from when Weeb was around 2. That was good for a laugh. What a cute kid, then and now!

Later I think we'll dye my hair. Why? Because it's super short and why not? I think a nice dark cranberry color would be fun. My mom will hate the cut, my dad will hate the color and I'll feel like a teenager again!

Hm. This isn't nearly as interesting as I thought it would be. But that's never stopped me from posting. What? You wanted a picture? Fine.

AUTUMN 2011

Autumn has definitely come to the lower mainland of BC.

I do love Maple trees. The leaves turn such fantastic colors.

I thought these, below, were some kind of maple tree. They look similar. I think they may be called Sweetgum trees. Seems to match the leaves and spiky nut thingies that I found on a Google search, though I could be wrong. The colors of these trees turn in a similar way to maple.

OSTEOSPERMUM

I blogged a photo of this flower (or one from the same bed anyways) earlier this month. I think they are Osteospermum, which, from what I understand, is a type of African Purple Daisy. One of my parents' front flower gardens is full of these. They are absolutely beautiful.

FUCHSIA FLOWERS

My mom always has a beautiful fuchsia hanging basket in the front of the house.

I'll have to read up on photographing dark pinks / reds, because the color seems... not right somehow. Still beautiful though.

SQUIRRELS, SPARROWS, AND BEES, OH MY!

I was outside yesterday trying to take pictures of little birds that hang out in the big tree in the yard behind me. I saw this little fuzzy staring at me. I like squirrels. Unless they are decaying between the walls of my townhouse. But otherwise, I quite like them.

House Sparrows, aka English Sparrows, 2 males and a female, I'm told by someone who is more astute in regards to birdy business than I am. I love these little guys. They're always flitting and hopping around. They've been known to tease poor Tibboh the Terrible (our cat) through the sliding glass door to our back yard.

This poor bee seemed to lose its way on a chilly September night. I found him/her covered in dew on my wind screen in the morning. It was still alive. I'm kind of hoping he just flew away when I started my car (though I rather know this is unlikely when they're wet like this). But you never know. You never can tell with bees.

METALLIC BLUE MIDDLE BITS

Many of my latest photos have been of wild flowers, but this one is from the front garden at my folks' house.

I've no idea what it is, but I love the pretty violet petals and the metallic blue middle bit.

LIVING NEAR THE AIRPORT

When you live and work near the airport, you get used to seeing and hearing airplanes overhead.

In fact, there is only one time I recall NOT seeing or hearing a plane in the sky (the afternoon of 9/11) and that was completely eerie and weird.

At this time of year, when the clouds roll in and cover us for what feels like months, the sounds of planes seem 100 times louder than on a sunny day. I'm sure there's a brilliant scientific reason for that, but I don't know what it is.

I took this when I was at work, a couple of years ago. I should have taken it with a street light in the shot, so you could see some perspective.

We're not that far from the airport, so this isn't an unusual sight. And though I occasionally worry that one (or bits of one) may come crashing down on top of me, I think I'd much rather see them up there, flying around, than not.

CONFESSION TIME

I have a confession. And I know it's going to throw the world into chaos. Black will be white, up will be down, blue will become a flavor. Brace yourself.

Here it is. I'm just going to say it.

I don't actually like Slurpees anymore.

I know, I know, it's a big concept to try and grasp all at once. Take a few deep breaths.

I suppose the Universe was trying to tell me something when it threw my digestive system into complete and utter higgledy-piggledy, earlier this year. I cut a lot of things out of my diet, including pop and Slurpees.

I've had fewer Slurpees this past summer than I have had during some of our coldest winters. And I started buying small Slurpees. But it was never the same; the love never came back. They are too sweet or... something. I can't quite put my finger on it. I just don't care for them anymore.

I knew they weren't GOOD for me. Heck, I even knew they were rather BAD for me. And now that I have a kid, I knew that it was a habit I had to break because I didn't want my 'little monkey' seeing and doing every bad habit that lead me to complete digestive meltdown.

Sorry 7-11. You must be feeling the pinch.

Goodbye, my dear, too-sweet friend, and thanks for all the memories.

PS: Blue will forever be a color, not a flavor.

STEVESTON, BC

There is a fishing village near Vancouver, called Steveston. You can buy fresh fish on the dock at certain times of the year. There are a few fabulous fish & chip shops. It's quite a cute little village.

There are some enormous boats that come up the Fraser River to drop off what must be hundreds of cars. They get dropped off down the river and go by train and truck throughout BC, and likely beyond. These boats are HUGE. I've seen smaller apartment buildings.

This is a shot of the Fisherman's Memorial. The Steveston Fisherman's Memorial is a freestanding memorial commemorating the lives and deaths of fishermen working out of Steveston, BC. It takes the form of a giant fishing net needle and stands a few meters from the sea, at Garry Point Park (from Wikipedia).

Here's a couple of shots of the memorial from father away. You turn your head for one second and another boat will show up in view. I love Steveston!

AUGUST WEEDS

My love of weeds / wild flowers that are invading my back yard continues.

I thought these must be dandelion puffs at first, but then I noticed that all of them seem to have this same seed pattern of a few seeds making a star-like pattern, not a full puff.

Plus they aren't attached to dandelions.

I don't know what they are. But they're cool.

ICE ICE YASHER

Still grumpy and not in a bloggy mood. Still haven't figure out how to use my month old new camera.

I took this picture of some ice cubes a while ago. Then I over sharpened it and went crazy with a high pass filter and added a photo filter. Because I was bored. And ice amuses me.

This looks way cooler when not reduced to 72 ppi, but what are ya gonna do?

YOU NEVER CAN TELL WITH BEES

I haven't been in much of a bloggy mood lately. And I refuse to let my online ramblings become a chore, so there ya go. Perhaps a grand disappointment to all the three people who read this stuff, but I'm sure you'll all manage to keep from dwelling in darkness the days I don't post anything.

I have a new camera that I've been VERY slowly getting used to. It's a Canon Power Shot G12. It makes me drool with all the buttony bits, but it is equally frustrating as I've not quite grasped how to use it terribly well yet. Mostly I tell my husband what I want to do and he figures out how to do it and then explains it to me. I'm rather useless that way, but I've come to terms with it. Eventually I'll master this sucker.

To be very truthful, Wonko actually took this photo. But I noticed the bee. It was such a weird color. Wonko figures it was just heavily laden with pollen. I think it is a rebel bee and just didn't want to conform to the regular black and yellow coloring. Probably a dye job; you know how radical bees can get.

I was surprised how, after buzzing around for a few minutes, this thing just flew down to the ground and sat there and let Wonko snap the photo. Poser rebel bee, apparently.

This is a SOOC shot. Well, except that I cropped it. And added annoying text. But no other photo tweaks.

FLOWERS AROUND THE COMPLEX

Weeb and I went for a scooter ride / walk around our complex and stopped to take some flower photos along the way. I have no idea what any of these are.

I think this last shot is Rhododendron again (I took a photo of the same type of plant a few days ago, at my folks' place). Weeb make me take the picture. I don't especially care for them. This bush was certainly humming with bees though. I swear I felt vibration with the hum when I leaned it for the shot!