Street People

People crowd the main street at a recent community festival.

Always a good turnout and a good time to be had at these Maple Ridge events..

Welcome!

This is my husband , my Brother in Law in the middle and our nephew in the foreground. T

he later two have just moved here today from another province. We are very happy to have them here in Maple Ridge with us.

Here is to new starts!

In the spirit of our September theme day.... Brake lights and reflector lights. Not a very clear shot , but interesting non the less.

Fungi

Is it a mushroom or a toadstool? I am not sure.

Lots of huge mushrooms growing in our forests.

I wonder if it would have tasted yummy fried up, but I don't know which ones are poisonous so I left it.

I should look for a little mushroom identification book.

OAR

Wooden Paddle.

Stirring up the water.

September Theme Day

The first of every month is Theme Day

at Daily City Photo Blogs. This month the theme is Street signs and Street lights.

Early one morning this shot presented itself to me. I stopped at this stop sign, as the sun was coming up. Glinting in the sun was a perfect spiders web. Perhaps the flies would like to stop there too?

The following City daily photo blogs also participated in the September theme day.

Seattle (WA), USA - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Singapore, Singapore - Boston (MA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Kajang (Selangor), Malaysia - Mainz, Germany - Evry, France - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Sequim (WA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Nottingham, UK - Toulouse, France - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Manila, Philippines - Mumbai, India - Montpellier, France - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - Moscow, Russia - Paris, France - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Lyon, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Hyde, UK - Hong Kong, China - Joplin (MO), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Chandler (AZ), USA - St. Louis (MO), USA - Arlington (VA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Sydney, Australia - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - San Diego (CA), USA - Bandung (West Java), Indonesia - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Nelson, New Zealand - Quincy (MA), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Bend (OR), USA - Wellington, New Zealand - New Orleans (LA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Detroit (MI), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Selma (AL), USA - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Arradon, France - Sheki, Azerbaijan - New York City (NY), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - North Bay (ON), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Tenerife, Spain - Auckland, New Zealand - Forks (WA), USA - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Chateaubriant, France - Madison (WI), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Ajaccio, France - Baltimore (MD), USA - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Budapest, Hungary - Lyon, France - Saarbrücken, Germany - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Le Guilvinec, France - River Falls (WI), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Naples (FL), USA - London, UK - La Antigua, Guatemala - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Paris, France - San Diego (CA), USA - Trujillo, Peru - Haninge, Sweden - Prague, Czech Republic - Oslo, Norway - Grenoble, France - Shanghai, China - Toronto (ON), Canada - Durban, South Africa - Zurich, Switzerland - Cape Town, South Africa - Singapore, Singapore - Torino, Italy - Flagstaff (AZ), USA

Still Waters

Canoeing on the glass like surface of Allouette Lake. Be assured there were life jackets on board, but with the calm water and all good swimmers on board, we felt safe to just keep them near instead of on!

Camp Fire

We just came home from two days away camping. Siting around a roaring campfire is the best part of camping! More photos to folllow.

Arabian Nights

Maple Ridge had an Arabian Nights festival.

A colourful display of belly dancers, veil dancers and vendors and merchants selling Middle Eastern food and trinkets. I, along with a large crowd of fellow Ridgers, participated in the belly dance demonstration. Now I know how to shimmy!

Lots of laughter and fun.

Pearly Gates?

The gates to the Maple Ridge Cemetery.

Made of cast iron, and decorated with steel butterflies and leaves.

No pearls on these gates, but very pretty all the same.

Weather Vane

A south westerly breeze points this laurel bearing dove this way. Perched atop the bandstand on the Maple Ridge town center green in Memorial Peace Park.

Curvey

I love the sway of this path and the rails.

It is outside the Maple Ridge Art Gallery.

I look at this walkway as a bit of sculpture itself.

So much more interesting than straight lines.

Blind Lady

This vehicle was parked downtown and the words on the hood guard caused be to take a second look.

I presume that this lady does business in window coverings.

Sunrise

A few days ago, I woke up early and the sky was filled with cotton ball clouds which were lit up by the rising sun.

The New Binzen

Here he is....spiffied up, Maple Ridge's best looking English Springer Spaniel. I know he isn't a fluffy furball anymore. It's the lean , mean, easy to keep clean look! A new do and even had a pedicure and his ears cleaned! He feels good!

Now... about those weeds! Sigh!!!

Shaggy

Our springer spaniel, Binzen is getting pretty shaggy. He doesn't mind too much, but I do. All that long hair traps twigs and dirt when he is out on his romps through the forest. Then he wants to come in the house and shed the debris all over my carpet and couch. So he's got a date with the clippers. Tomorrow I will post his new look. Stay tuned for it and be sure to give him your opinions on his new "DO". One good thing about these dogs, is that they don't shed hair, hence the need to be groomed, so they make a great pet for people with allergies to pet hair. Their fur is like soft wool and doesn't cause itching and sniffling such as a regular dog.

Idle feet.

Lounging on the sundeck. Making the most of the sunny weather.

Ripening

Our first tomato of the year.

Notice the hairy stalks?

Rusty Bike

Leaning up on the side of Haney House, this old bike makes an attractive piece of garden bric-a-brac, its basket doubling as a flower planter.

Haney House

There is a heritage home in Maple Ridge named Historic Haney House. It has been preserved and is now a museum. This is one of the side windows.

If the eyes are the windows to the soul... . What are windows ?

The eyes into the home?

High Voltage

A wire was down and the firemen came to the rescue. They put up yellow tape which said DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE. Was that because of the downed wire? Or was it for the electricity that seeing young firemen causes?

Railing

lean on me! Ill keep you safe.

Golden Ears Goat

Mounted above the sign at the entrance to Golden Ears Provincial Park is this mountain goat. The only mountain goat I have ever seen in this park is this fiberglass one. A well recognized symbol of the park. Golden Ears Park is nestled in the mountains in the Northern reaches of Maple Ridge.

Fern Seeds

Taken in Golden Ears Provincial Park, a few minutes drive from my house. The forest floor is carpeted with huge ferns which are full of seed just now. I was there with my dad. We had taken two carloads of boys up there to hike. The top of the mountain is still not safely accessable, due to snow. We have never seen snow stay so low on the mountain this late in the summer!

August Theme Day

This months theme day topic is
'A Typical Breakfast.'
Just a couple of pieces of toast and tea, but as with most things, it is the company that makes the meal so special!

Visit these other City Daily Photo Blogs to see their breakfasts!

Saint Paul (MN), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - New York City (NY), USA - Tel Aviv, Israel - Hyde, UK - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Mainz, Germany - Stockholm, Sweden - Paderborn, Germany - Singapore, Singapore - Haninge, Sweden - Nottingham, UK - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Manila, Philippines - Boston (MA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Singapore, Singapore - Joplin (MO), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Paris, France - Sequim (WA), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Boston (MA), USA - Chennai, India - Madison (WI), USA - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Toulouse, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - La Antigua, Guatemala - Selma (AL), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Lubbock (TX), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Sheki, Azerbaijan - Sydney, Australia - Mumbai, India - Seoul, South Korea - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - New Orleans (LA), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Villigen, Switzerland - Montréal (QC), Canada - Stayton (OR), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Moscow, Russia - Springfield (MO), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - Arlington (VA), USA - Cologne (NRW), Germany - Anderson (SC), USA - Oslo, Norway - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Manila, Philippines - Kajang (Selangor), Malaysia - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Bandung (West Java), Indonesia - Stavanger, Norway - Bastia, France - Hong Kong, China - Wailea (HI), USA - St. Louis (MO), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Sydney, Australia - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Kansas City (MO), USA - Grenoble, France - Paris, France - Evry, France - Saigon, Vietnam - Prague, Czech Republic - Cape Town, South Africa - Brookville (OH), USA - Brussels, Belgium - San Diego (CA), USA - Wellington, New Zealand - Newcastle (NSW), Australia - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Shanghai, China - Zurich, Switzerland - North Bay (ON), Canada - Lyon, France - Naples (FL), USA - Olympia (WA), USA

Pool Boy

This young man swims almost everyday, doing lengths and just enjoying the cooling water. It only seems like yesterday that his father was just 18! My youngest son!

Full Moon

The full moon lights up the night sky. Click on the photo to enlarge for best viewing.

Would these be noctulucent clouds, perhaps?

I sat on my front strps to get this. Elbows braced on my knees, holding my breath. I could have run for the tripod, but by the time I set that up this moment would have passed.

Buddleia Bee

The Butterfly bush in our front yard is finally in bloom. With our nasty spring, everything was slow to start flowering. Also I cut it right down this year to try to stop it from getting too huge. The bees even came out to enjoy it.

Hollandaise

One of the many diked areas in these parts, a testiment to the many Dutch settlers that founded this region.

After a week of rain, the foilage is thick and green, the local rivers are running high. Having said that, It is nice to have the sun shining again!

Grilled

The other night we ate meat for dinner. Highly unusual in this household recently. With two vegetarians in the house, we are all slowly converting over. For the most part, I don't miss meat. Sometimes the thought of

chewing flesh turns by stomach! But occasionally I will cater to the meat eaters in the family. But it has to be marinated and grilled. It was actually really good. That should keep every one happy for a while!

Rainbow

Yesterday evening, the sun broke thgrough the clouds and cast this fantastic double rainbow over our neighbourhood.

Pottered

Our daughter and friend bought their Harry Potter books tonight and are having a sleepover to do a "read off". Its lovely to see them relishing the start of a new story.What is this spell that has the youth of our country mesmerized by a schoolboy. Maybe they all dream of having a little magic in their lives. Thanks to JK Rowling, that dream has come true in some small way through her very talented writing. You have to enlarge this to see the look of joy on my daughters face!

Jammy

Strawberries on sale, beg for a jam making session. Nothing like homemade preserves. My daighter and I, chopped and stirred this rainy morning away.

Doorstep Cat

Our cat roosting on the front steps. One of her favorite perches.

Wild Roses

Wild roses grow in abundance along the banks of our dikes. Their sweet fragrance filling the air.

This was taken on a section of dike called Blue Heron Loop. Though there is no heron in this picture, they are frequently seen in this area.

Kanaka Park Footbridge

The footbridge at Kanaka Regional Park.

Another one from the files.

Bikes on Dikes.

Cyclists on the dike. The Golden Ears Mountains bringing up the rear. The dikes are surfaced with packed gravel and are a wonderful riding place. No motorized vehicles are permitted on them.

Taken at the end of last April. Much of the snow is melted away now by the summer heat.

Caribbean Festival

Are we having fun yet?

People came early to get seats for this annual event. There were live Caribbean performers all afternoon, I love the steel drums. The main street was closed off to traffic. By noon, the place was thriving with people. Waiting for the show to start.

Metroblogging Vancouver

Just a bit of info.

This blog was featured on Metroblogging Vancouver in a series of posts about Suburbs of Vancouver.

My thanks to Rod for the mention.

CP

A Canadian Pacific train. refered to as CP.

The tracks run right along the river. We have to cross the tracks to get to the wharf shown in the previous two posts. I stood safely at the crossing gate to take this. Still, it is very frightening to stand this close to a fast moving train as it thunders past blowing its whistle.

Ramp

The ramp at Haney Wharf which leads don to the dock. The river is high and the angle of the ramp is not as steep as it usually is.

Bolts

Large bolts on the Haney Wharf at dusk. We went here yesterday evening.

Classics

Every Thursday night through the summer, Maple Ridge has a Classic Car Show at the local A&W Drive Thru.

The restaurants parking lot and the vacant lot beside it, are filled with shiney old beauties.

This weekly event, attracts car enthusiasts from all over the Lower Mainland. Giving car owners an opportunity to show off their vehicles and chat with each other and the public that come along to view the sights.

This event is not just about the cars.... its also about the coming together of people.

Bird Feeder

Cheeky little birds. The sparrows , the chickadees and the house martins squabble amongst themselves for supremacy at the bird feeder. I love to listen to them carrying on.

Get in Line

Maple Ridge kids line up for their turn on the diving board.

Making a big splash to cool down on a hot summer day.

777

Today is the seventh day of the seventh month of '07.

It also marks the arrival of my 4000th visitor to my Daily City Photo Blog.

Thanks to all who have who stopped by since my first post in November. Thanks to all who leave comments, I love comments. Thanks also, to those who quietly lurk behind the scenes. Not all 4000 visitors have made comments, still I am glad you were here. All these visitors mean that somebody must be looking at my photos. Hopefully, I have been able to show what my town means to me.

I am having a lot of fun and I have met some awesome photographers through this venue. My list of places to see has grown substantially after visiting so many of the wonderful Daily City Photo Blogs.

My Daughter took this picture.

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!!!