Strung

Working mans hands. Gently playing.

The Washburn accoustic has a beautiful tone.

Deer

Not the best photo at all. I didn't have my more powerful zoom camera with me when we spotted this deer wandering up a nearby driveway. Probably on the hunt for their vegetable patch!

DQ

Not my favorite place for Ice cream, but has been in business here for many years and is always busy.

Click on the photo to enlarge and get a better look at one of the new banners the town has hung on the lamp posts.

Way up.

The Tower in downtown Maple Ridge.

Built recently as part of the downtown revitalization project.

RED

The July theme day is "RED". Being that July 1st is also Canada Day, I though the Canadian flag would make an appropriate subject. Also called the 'maple leaf', as it is affectionately known by Canadians. Hapy 140th birthday Canada!!!

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.

Sundown

Sorry to have been so long since my last post. Unfortunately, I have been having technical issues with my computer.

Last night the sky was broody and made for a very dramatic sunset. Sometimes I see a sky like this and can't help but think that God has painted yet another masterpiece. This one was seen over the greenhouses. No filter or edits. Just a raw natural light show!

On Golden Pond

On the pond. A duck family amongst the water lilies.

Early Morn

Reflected ruins of the old dock on the Fraser River. Taken from Kanaka Park.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Happy Mothers Day Mum. Did you get it yet? I doubt it. I was a bad, bad daughter, and didn't get your parcel in the mail soon enough. It's just a small gift, but it is sent with love.

You have always encouraged me to follow my dreams and to reach for the highest attainments in life (Hmm, that sounds familiar!). But whenever I have fallen short, you still made me feel good. You let me know you were proud of me for even trying. Do you know though, that I am proud of you? For always succeeding at everything you do. With hard work and determination, everything you touch turns to gold. Well, apart from the odd pie that got left to brown a bit too long! We have been through some trying times these past few years, faced some terrible losses and heartaches. But we came through because we have a loving family that will never let us down. You are the heart of this family, a heart of gold.

THANKS FOR BEING THE BEST MUM A DAUGHTER COULD ASK FOR.

This is your gift. As you suggested, I started making the photo note cards. Yours are the first. I hope you like them. I can only hope I will be as successful with my photos as you have been with your endeavors.

Thanks for the inspiration.

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.