Undergrowth

In Golden Ears Provincial Park, a few minutes from my home. Although Maple Ridge is a thriving town, it is really on the edge of the wilderness.

Beneath the cedar canopy, lush ferns carpet the forest floor and moss cloaks tree branches. A world of green!

AKA Rainy Haney

Maple Ridge is fondly nick named by the locals, "Rainy Haney".

Nestled right up against the coastal mountains, riddled with sloughs, and bordered by rivers. Maple Ridge is in a temperate rain forest, so massive downpours are not unusual. Our kids made up the name Rainforest Ridge when they were little.

One day this week it rained over four inches in less than an hour. Days like that , our front road looks more like a river than a road, more like a stream than a street! There are benefits to the rain. Every thing gets a good wash down, the air is cleared and the foliage in the region is as lush as anything in the Amazon!

If you go to my personal website, I posted a video there of the rain drumming on our patio cover! I am mesmerized by the sound of it and never get tired of sitting on my patio and soaking up the rhythm of the pouring rain!

Take Care.

My dad walks along the train tracks. This photo taken March 31st. We had been on a photoshoot on the waterfront that evening. He had wanted to get some good shots of the sun reflecting along the tracks.

Sadly this week, a young woman was hit by a train in this location. As she tried to photograph a train, she sliped on the wet track. She was taken to hospital but has since passed away from the severe injuries.

A reminder for photographers that sometimes the perfect shot just isn't worth the risk.

Eye to Eye

This one is from my archives.

My nephew Nick, was visiting from Edmonton last summer. We took him for a walk on the local dikes and met up with this horse and rider. There are a lot of horses in these parts and Maple Ridge is affectionately known as Horse Capital of Canada!

Nick looks into the soul of this gentle equine being.

Blue Truck

This wonderful old pick up truck caught my eye.
It was parked in a farm yard on the west side of town.
A blackberry hedge protects the perimeter of the property. I'll have to keep this spot in mind when blackberry season arrives!
Does anyone know what model and year this truck is?

Dike

Click on the picture to enlarge for best detail of the snow caps.
The Alouette River is receding but still high. The fence post here are still partly submerged. The dikes are holding all this water back. This is where we love to canoe. Nice calm waters and no speedboats to contend with. You can see the mountains in the distance still have snow on them, which is really unusual for this time of year.

Canadian Bandstand

This is the bandstand in Memorial Peace Park. So named for the war memorial just on the other side of the bandstand.

This little park is in the center of town, surrounded by a horse shoe shaped drive. All around are civic buildings. The ACT arts club theatre, the leisure center, city hall, youth center, and police station.

This park is used for the Santa Claus parade, The Jazz festival, Caribbean Days, Remembrance day ceremonies, and Canada Day celebration. Every Saturday, there is an open air farmers market here too.

Lamp Post

Maple Ridge is gearing up for summer.

Floral hanging baskets swing from every downtown lamp post. There are new banners all along the main street. Everything is looking so pretty.

The city has been making improvements to our downtown core over recent years. Its all coming together and starting to really make a nice impression.

Summertime

Happy first day of summer.

Here's to....

Frosty cold lemonade.

The smell of Hawaiian Tropic Sunscreen.

The heady scent of roses in the evening.

Birdsong at four a.m.

No more school.

Neglected

Our old canoe, in need of repainting.

Table and Chairs

Brightly coloured seating out front of the local art center and theater, the ACT. There is a little coffee shop nearby and people like to sit in this quiet spot to drink their ice-caps. It looks over the town green, with the bandstand at its center.

Flagged

June 14th is Flag Day in the United States.

Canada's flag day is Febuary 15th. But in honour of my neighbours to the south, I am posting a flag also.

Click here to see a list of flag days from around the world.

This is the Maple Ridge Flag.

Emblazoned with the mountains and rivers logo.

What do you think of it?

Does your city have its own flag?

Busy Lizzy

Known in Canada as Impatience. This is one of my favorite annuals. This shade loving plant brightens up the dark parts of the garden with its abundant blossoms and gay colours.

Birthday Boy

Happy Birthday Matthew.

My little nephew is four years old today.

Tug

One of the many tugs that work along this river. Ideal for cruising this debris ridden water. Its rubber tire bumper pad will protect it from alot of bumps. These puppies are made for bumping into things.

How Many?

Like the old joke goes.....

How many municipal employees does it take to get the job done?

One to pray, and three to stand and give advise.

Warning

The pending flood to some of our low lying areas is a very real threat. Some docks have been gated off as a safety precaution. The water has come up higher than anyone can remember in 80 years.

For more photos click HERE to see my personal blog.

Fountain.

I was spoiled for my birthday yesterday. My family bought me this cute little fountain. It floats on the pool and makes a nice relaxing water noise in the back garden.

For more on my birthday please stop by my Personal Blog by clicking HERE.

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Guiding Hand

My son, (18) working with his Grandfather, my Father-in-Law (74). The firm hand of experience guides the novice carpenter with love and pride.

For more photos on this subject click HERE.

Red Light, Full Moon

Full moon at a traffic light. The sign reads Lougheed, the name of our main road in and out of town. Pronounced Low-heed

June Theme Day

The June 1st theme is "the view from your window in the morning".

The sunrise from my bedroom window silhouettes the huge pines in our neighbourhood.