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.