maple

It seems that as I live on Maple Avenue that I should have a maple tree or two. Here is one of the maples, which I look at through my bedroom window. I prefer spring to fall and beginnings to endings.

ante deluvium

A couple of weeks ago there was a footbridge here, but then came the flood waters. I gather that the bridge is now several miles down stream.

This photo was taken from the Castle Bridge. The photo for September the ninth showed the Castle Bridge during the flood. The footpath went under the bridge and then crossed Trout Creek at this point.

I took the photo when I walked back from a 10,000 Villages sale at the Anglican Church. Last year I was in Timmins setting up a similar sale in my former church. I always love their unique selection. I have never seen a similar sale near where I am in Nova Scotia, but there must be one somewhere. I am a passionate advocate for fair trade.

late bloomers

A friend gave me a nasturium seedling in a little pot last May. By the end of July nothing much had happened to it. But near the end of August it began to take off and now by the end of September there is a blaze of colour. I am not too good at waiting. Will I bloom late in my life?

edge of another tropical storm

After a glorious week another storm has blown in from the south. So I'm home catching up on emails with Miss Johnston curled up beside me.

first squash

A friend in Northern Ontario gave me three envelopes with "squash" handprinted on them. When I came to the home I'm making in Nova Scotia, I cleared out three years of weeds and planted the potager with whatever was on hand, including the three envelopes of "squash" seed. my neighbour came over the other day and checked out my squash vine jungle and said that this type should be harvested before frost, but the other two would be better if I waited until after a frost or two. This is what is left. I piled my little harvest on the porch and friends came by and helped themselves. I brought one back to New Brunswick with me and it sits proudly in the middle of my kitchen table.

painting

When I tell folks that I spend my days off painting, they think that I am an artist. I've had three gloroius days of Indian Summer painting the trim around my house. It had been a sad house for many years. I am painting it into a happy house.

pretty feet

Yesterday afternoon I got my feet done. What a wonderful feeling! They still feel all lovely this morning.

This afternoon the cats and I are heading home for four days of gardening and house painting. This means that I shall have to borrow a computer to get on line, so there will be a day or two without postings.

breakfast

After last night's party the Session met for breakfast at a local eatery at eight o'clock this morning. The turnout was not stellar. We listened to a speaker from the local Bethany Bible College. We stayed awake.

Bob's party

I am just back home. The church gave a party to honour my colleague's fifty years in the ministry. This is a good place where people of faith can laugh and celebrate. I sometimes wonder, being a preacher, why I just don't have much to write - except that we are so loved, so, so loved.

Sunday School Tree

I was working away on a report this morning when the gals who had put this together rushed to get me to show it off. So I took pictures of the pictures. They had taken the children's pictures last Sunday and it will be ready for them when they return this Sunday. The wall is curved.

rough tough life

It's a rough life, at least it was this morning. Now both cats are having hissy fits as a strange cat is looking in their front door.

weeds

My landlady didn't weed the Michaelmas Daisies, aka New England Asters, (?) out of the bed on the front lawn. Now they are clouds of loveliness

happy birthday, Joanie

This is the "Curves" alarm clock. The alarm is a woman's voice telling you that it's time for "Curves". If you don't turn it off the voice gets louder and louder."Curves" is a chain of gyms for women. I actually hate boring sweaty exercises, but apparently my body does not. It's three times a week. And they phone you if you miss a session. So happy birthday, little sister, I wanted you to have a clock just like our littlest sister. Now if Iwork out at the gym, maybe I can get little, too.

hockey

yesterday I was at a confernece, this morning, church, of course, and a church concert this evening. So I went geocaching this afternoon. The clues for the co-ordinates were in ten murals. I had tie to acculmulate the clues, but i stillhave yo find the cache. Here is one of the murals. It seems that this celebrated hockey team was in the 1920s. Of course, they still play hockey here, but this particular team produced the NHL champions.

curly fries

Curly fries are the regional speciality. I've only seen them at the market and at the fair. The boy in the background was waiting for this plate. I took the picture and did not have any. I couldn't justify them having just come from the gym. But I have had them once, and they are very good. I won't be able to resist forever.

Sussex Ginger Ale

There used to be a soft drink bottling company in Sussex. The ginger ale was very good. They still sell Sussex Ginger Ale in the Maritimes, but it is no longer made here. The lime rickey was also really good.

It all started when a regular well was drilled in town and it turned out to be an exellent source of mineral water. The mascot was Gurgles, the clown. I'm sorry that I missed him.

wild side

This is a trail in Quispamsis - but after the rains and the floods it really proved much too soggy for me without any rubber boots. I did find a geocache nearby. Then I went to Tim Horton's and had a celebratory cup of coffee.

aftermath

The rains stopped. Here is Trout Creek. The paved walk goes under the bridge.

Hanna's hit

The rains came with post-tropical storm "Hanna". This is my little car, which you can hardly see through the heavy rain.

more balloons

Here are some more balloons. There were two specialty balloons in the show. Jack-in-the-Box and Mr. Peanut. I really preferred te regular balloons. They are so, so elegant

balloon fiesta

Here are some of my balloon pictures from standing in the crowd. My favourite is this one called"Firefly". It has the black stripes and the multicoloured stain glass effect.

balloons at dawn

At sunrise ( You can see that the street light is still on in the first picture.) I looked out to see these balloons. The Atlantic Balloon Festival began today. I then went out and sat on the stoop with a neighbour, introducing ourselves, and marveling at the beautiful sight. There is something wonderful about a balloon gliding silently by, and even better when there are a few.

purple carrot

Last May, when I returned to reclaim my home, I had to pull two years of weeds from the vegetable garden, the potager. I planted it with some gifts of old seed, and I purchased one packet, purple carrots, because I had seen them do so well in Northern Ontario. I put in a row of carrots and left for work in New Brunswick, returning a month later for my holidays. Now carrots germinate quite slowly and anyway they look a bit like little sprouts of grass when they start. A dear friend came over to the garden and thinking that there was nothing there, planted a row of lovely violas where I had sowed the purple carrots. Between the blue and purple flowers was one small carrot. It grew. I pulled it yesterday and ate it today. It was very sweet.

parlour ceiling

I've been painting at my home, High Hopes, for the past three days. This is the parlour ceiling. It was still drying when I left to return to New Brunswick this afternoon. The colour is "Hurricane". In my next life I want to be a paint colour namer. Yesterday I started the exterior house trim in "Simply Suede".