Morning Aster

The morning frost has melted on these asters, now glistening like dew.

Oh What a Beautiful Morning

The clouds which dusted the mountains in their first snow yesterday, are almost gone. This morning arrived brilliantly with skies of blue. I hopped in the car and drove down the road for a better view of the mountains. Taken at the north end of 224th st., looking up towards the UBC Research Forest.

First Snow

This morning the clouds lifted for the first time in a few days. The air has had a cool snap to it. When I glance out of my kitchen window this morning, I was delighted to see the Golden Ears Mountains have received their first dusting of snow. They looked magnificent peeking out between the clouds and lit up by the sun. Our mountains are always a grand sight, but with a little snow upon their peaks, they are breathtaking.

This photo was taken from my winter files, as I did not have a chance to shoot this morning.

Ice Cream Shop

Despite the turn in the weather, Marina's Gelato on 224th street, continues to do a roaring business in Ice Cream sales. This grandfather is creating memories that will last this little girl a life time. When she is a grandparent herself, she will fondly recall the times her Grandpa took her to the ice cream parlor. I know I cherish my own such memories.
My favorite flavor is mint chocolate chip....What's your favorite flavour?

On and Off the Branches

A stroll through Kanaka Creek park reveals that although many leaves have fallen,many remain green and still on limb.

October City Daily Theme Day

The first of the month is always Theme day for City Daily Photo Blogs. For the month of October the theme is Cemeteries or tombstones.
This is the grave stone of Thomas Haney and his wife Annie, one of Maple Ridge's Pioneer families. They came to Maple Ridge in 1876 and in 1882, subdivided their land to create the town site of Port Haney, the original town core which is now known as Maple Ridge. Haney locals still refer to our town core as Haney.
Please feel free to visit these other City Daily Photo Sites which are also participating in the theme day.

St. Louis (MO), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Mainz, Germany - Hyde, UK - Arlington (VA), USA - Cape Town, South Africa - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Toulouse, France - Arradon, France - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Joplin (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Seattle (WA), USA - Baziège, France - Baltimore (MD), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Sequim (WA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Anderson (SC), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Nashville (TN), USA - Tenerife, Spain - Manila, Philippines - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Jacksonville (FL), USA - River Falls (WI), USA - Chateaubriant, France - Quincy (MA), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - Lubbock (TX), USA - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Moscow, Russia - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Minneapolis (MN), USA - New Orleans (LA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Christchurch, New Zealand - London, England - Paderborn, Germany - The Hague, Netherlands - Selma (AL), USA - Sunderland, UK - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Stavanger, Norway - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Portland (OR), USA - Forks (WA), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Boston (MA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Wellington, New Zealand - Montpellier, France - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Evry, France - Saarbrücken, Germany - New York City (NY), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - North Bay (ON), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cypress (TX), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Paris, France - San Diego (CA), USA - Wichita (Ks), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Prague, Czech Republic - Zurich, Switzerland - Budapest, Hungary - Paris, France - Saigon, Vietnam - Grenoble, France - Zurich, Switzerland - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Toronto (ON), Canada -

Rainy Haney

Monsoon season has arrived in Maple Ridge. Locals affectionately nick name our town Rainy Haney. Time to get out the rain gear.

Web Drops

This spiders web, looked like something magical with these rain drops glistening on it like diamonds in gauze. If you look closely, each drop contains the reflected image of my camera.

Ferns Revisited

In yesterdays comments, 'Scenic British Columbia' suggested that the photo may be improved with some editing to brighten it up. When I had loaded it, I thought it looked a bit dull, but didn't have time to play with it. So here today is an improved version of yesterday's post. Go visit Scenic BC'S site if you would like to see more gorgeous photos of this very beautiful province, of which Maple Ridge is just a small part.

Ferns

Nature always prevails.

Any small crack where a tiny seed can wedge can become taken over by new growth.

These ferns are growing on the side of the wharf.

Up in the Air

Taken exactly one year ago. I wish I could be on that plane today so I could be closer to someone very special to me.

Vernal Equinox

Today is the first official day of Autumn.
The vernal equinox, which roughly translated means equal hours of daylight and darkness.
Following a relatively dry summer, September brings cooler nights. The results are very colourful. Suddenly the trees are filling with brilliant colours that just a couple of days ago were mostly green.

First Fall Finds

We are starting to feel a snap in the evening air and the first leaves are fluttering to the ground.

Jam

My least favorite type of jam. I much prefer strawberry to traffic jam.

Recently, Vancouver was voted #1 city in the world. Based on

A: geography and attractiveness

B: Safety & crime stats.

C: Infrastructure such as roads and public transport

Maple Ridge is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. I was stuck in this traffic jam a while ago when this announcement came on the car radio. The DJ uttered the same words as myself..."Obviously the judges hadn't sat in rush hour traffic trying to get out of Pitt Meadows when there is an accident on the bridge!"

Load 'er up!

Officially, summer will be over on September 21st. How about one more canoe trip before then? Pack a picnic and a blanket and head down to the river. The early mornings are getting cool, but its warm by mid morning.

Benched

These seats are red hot. One of my favorite Maple Ridge sittin' spots. They are on the wharf, Facing South, over looking the Fraser River. A spectacular place to watch the sun come up or go down. I enjoy taking my morning tea here on my days off.

Greenday

In Maple Ridge, the sun is shining and the weather is fine. It is warmer now than it was all of August! The evenings cool off nicely though with a feel of autumn promise.

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.