Bluebells

From my garden.

sit spot

My sitting spot. This is the place on our back deck that catches the last of the evening sun.

I could sit here dreaming for hours. Listening to the birds and the local children at play.

Home Again

The dog is thrilled to have the master back here in Maple Ridge after a lengthy out of town job. I must say I am glad to have him back too.

After dinner the first order of business was....WALKIES!!!

TAKEN BY OUR DAUGHTER

Missing you

Where oh where could my master be?

The dog has been almost as forlorn as myself while hubby has been away. Counting down the hours now!

Fence Line

I love some of the barns in our area, so well kept up.

I recently saw this old barn on my travels to the Okanagan that was more than slightly neglected. But was very interesting to photograph.

Feel free to stop by my personal blog A Thousand Wordsworthy at any time. I'd love to see you there!

Greening

Everything is green again.

Suddenly, spring is here.

Waters Edge

Looking over the side of the wharf.

I have been tied up with family doings and work, so I have been scarcely posting this week. Hoping to get back to dailies shortly!

Road Trip

Sorry about my absence over the last few days. I was on a road trip to here....

Oliver, B.C. also known as the Wine Capital of Canada. Its largest crop is grapes for wine which is produced locally.

I will be posting more photos of this area on my blog, A Thousand Wordsworthy. Feel free to pop by throughout the week for more Oliver.

Maple Bloom

The maple trees which line most of our downtown core, are full of blooms. The blossoms are so big this year, due to the delay in our spring arrival. Those little buds kept under wraps for so long, were busy growing within their cocoons. The leaves that in a few weeks will be as large as dinner plates, are currently as tiny as a small butterflies wings. Seen here at night by the streetlight's glare. Soon everything will be covered in yellow dust as the pollen blows from the trees.

Rock throw

Against the reflection in Alouette Lake, a father and son throw rocks into the water, breaking the smooth surface. Soon, docks will be attached to these posts and this spot will be bustling with boaters.

Pastoral

The spring grass is shooting up, carpeting the rural areas in fresh green.

19285

A colourful post box. In our more rural areas, each farm or home has a mailbox on the road in front of their property. This saves the post man having to treck up to each farm house. They can be in many different styles and colours.

The horses seem to be enjoying the sunshine.

H is for Hospital

A busy intersection in Maple Ridge.

Sharp Left

This sign almost appeared to be growing right along with the dandelions.

Fiddleheads

Unfolding ferns. Growing along the side of my house. These plants grow prolifically in our local forests.

Named for their resemblance to the end of the violin. I just looked it up.. that part is called the Scroll - This is located at the top of the violin. It is a decorative part, mostly hand carved.

So bright and fresh. They look good enough to eat.

Leather Work Gloves

In the hardware store yesterday.

Sunny Break

Tulips and forget-me-nots lit up by a moment of sun on an overall cloudy day.

Duly and Officially Installed

Now there's an interesting tie! Bought of course, by his Mother-in-Law. Covered in the star insignia of our Order. My hubby proudly wears it to all our Star meetings. On his lapel is a crocheted dogwood flower. The official flower of British Columbia, chosen my our Worthy Matron as her flower. Our lovely model is also wearing a hand made lace angel, which each officer was presented with.

I miss you sweetie.

Angles and Perspective

Coming up to the wharf from the lower dock. The steel ramp partners with the rough timbers at this site.

Dandy

The dandelions are popping up all along the banks of the dikes.

Taken from my archives.

Grilled

This darned thing is the very pretty grill on the front of my very "not starting" van. Luckily, I had access to my husbands car to get to work today! Cars these days may as well be disposable. Once they hit the 10 year mark, they just need throwing away and a new one buying!

Easter Sunday

May the light of the Lord shine in your life.

Happy Good Friday

Nothing like a sunny Easter and spring flowers to harken the arrival of spring.

Tunnel

This pedestrian tunnel runs under the Haney Bipass, a busy stretch of road. I like the way the lights cast shadows into the corrugated walls of the tunnel, causing a rib-like effect. This tunnel leads to the Haney Wharf , where the two previous photos were taken.

Rail Crossing

Moon Light

As the sun was setting to the west, the moon was rising in the east. Almost appearing to be hung from the lamp post. Taken at Haney wharf, on the south side of Maple Ridge. This is directly across the street from yesterdays picture.

Liquor Store

This old building is the liquor store in Port Haney, the old part of town. One of the original buildings. It has been well kept up and is part of our towns heritage. I dont know what it was before it was a liquor store.

Theme Day

This months theme day is Public post boxes. My daughter joined me as we went hunting for a shot of a nearby Maple Ridge post box. This one was on a busy corner in town.

64 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st April theme, "A Public Mail Box", please use the links to below to visit them.

Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.

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WIndows and Doors.

CLICK IT TO BIG IT

Almost done. The doors and windows are al in place. Just a few finishing touches left. We have to stain the shingles siding. Plus install a few more in the peak above the door. Then paint the shutters gray and put them back up. One more job to cross off the list!

Drafty

All the old aluminium windows were removed. Also the drafty old doorway.

It was pretty cold having no windows for the most part of the day! At least it was'nt raining. Thats me drinking tea and watching the men work!

This Old House

This is our home.

Also known as the ongoing renovation project!

This is what It looked like a couple days ago. Tommorrow Ill post an 'under construction shot".

Notice the little face in the window?

Uplifting

That which falls as rain down here, falls as snow up there. The Golden Ears, when the clouds lift, are a welcome sight.

Wet Truck

Yesterday I was stuck in traffic in the ongoing deluge of rain we are receiving. This large truck pulled along side me. The rain was just pouring off its side panels. Our weather has been so gray and soggy, we are starting to grow gills!

Wick and Wax

We light candles for birthdays, on cake. For weddings, christenings and funerals. We light them to say a prayer. We light them to give that romantic glow, to set the mood. They are lit during a power cut. They are great for subtle lighting at your dinner party, especially when the house is dusty.

They would be placed in a lantern on the windowsill, so folks could find their way home in the dark. Some of them are scented and fill the room with fragrance.

Lunar

I'm no astronomy buff. But on my way home this evening, I noticed the moon looked so pretty. I dont know which star that is up in the top left corner. I just wish I had a tripod with me! This was the only clear shot I got, before it dipped into the clouds. Message to self... Put tripod in car!

Timmies

One of the biggest Canadian successes is Tim*Hortons Doughnut and Coffee Shops.

Want one?

Sunday Morning

St. Andrews Heritage Church. These little chapels are our church heritage in the "New Frontier". I have been in catherdrals that the europeans were building, before white man even set foot on this land. Hundreds of years later, this is the heritage of this area. A modest little chapel. You could even say it is cute. I suppose they were built to suit the needs of the sparce population of the area at that time.

Mother

A Mom comforts her crying lad.

My sister and nephew actually.

I feel so much love in this photo.

On The Fraser

Early morning tugs on the Might Fraser, round up stray logs for the lumber mill.

A clear bright morning. You can almost see steam rising off the wet wood.

Whats For Dinner?

Hungry?

Puddle

Finally. it has stopped raining.

Today we got a fair bit of blue skies.

The downpours of the past few days have left everything soggy and wet.

Timepiece

At 2 am the clocks sprang forward an hour. We are now in Daylight Savings Time. This pocket watch belonged to my husbands Uncle, who worked on the railroad.

Banners

UPDATE: In answer to your question. No they arent for any special occasion. These are just for decoration. They were put up all throughout the downtown core as part of a city core beautification project.

Banners on the lamppost in the grocers parking lot.

Inside Hamada

Miso soup. best slurped directly from the bowl, piping hot.

Goes great with rice paper lampshades!

Notice the steam rising up against his black clothing.

Hamada

My favorite sushi restraunt. In the heart of downtown Maple Ridge.

Timberline

The Gate to Timberline Ranch. The tops of Golden Ears Mountains are framed by it.

The Town Hall Clock

ENLARGE FOR A BETTER LOOK

This is the town hall clock. It stands outside the Municipal Council Chambers. The mechanical horse rears up on its back legs when the clock strikes the hour. Tourists and locals alike, will often stop to watch. It takes almost 10 minutes for the horse to completly rise and come back down onto all four.

Maple Ridge is known as Horse Capital of Canada, as we are supposed to have more horses per capita than any other part of the country.

Sunday Morning Church

This is St John the Divine Anglican Church. The oldest church in the area. Outside, it looks like a humble little chapel with wooden siding. Painted white, it is clean and neat. Well tended and looks cared for.

The inside is its real glory. Highly polished dark wood, intricately carved archways and sashes. From out side you can hardly notice the stained glass windows, which seen inside, take your breath away.

Landmark

When we see these peaks, it's a sure sign that home isn't far away.

The Majestic Golden Ears, sentry to Maple Ridge. Silently watching over the town.

TEST BUS

No it is not a bus full of students writing exams. Nor is it a learner bus driver. It is a new line of busses designed to reduce fuel consumption and emmissions. They have been on our roads for a couple years or so.

Powered by natural gas and Hydrogen. It is a cleaner bus, emiting mostly water vapour in its exhaust.

Testing the Power of Tomorrow.