Autumn in the City

Photos: October 12, 2016

A walk on Mont-Royal always restores the soul. We are so fortunate to have access to nature in the middle of our city. This is not just manicured parkland, but natural forest, as well.



I think this is sumac. The bright red leaves wave in the breeze like flames.



It does not matter how many years I have seen autumn changes, each year brings moments of amazing beauty.



Oranges, reds, yellows - the trees seem to be on fire.



Each tree in its time, depending on species, exposure, altitude... takes its turn to change out of its summer greens. And we get to enjoy the whole spectacle.

On Walking and Photographing

Photos: October 11, 2016

Daily photographs can be quite a challenge. When on vacation it is easy to find things to photograph; everything is new and exciting. When at home, it is harder, particularly when also looking for something that inspires writing.

I love to walk, especially when I have a destination. Walking with a camera in hand brings another level to walking. There are certain routes I walk frequently and it is not always easy to find subjects for my photographs. The camera focuses me to look, to be aware of all the possibilities and to notice. To notice the way the light hit the dogs, making them glow.



To notice a fallen leaf and totally be in the moment with it as I photograph. A walk becomes a sort of meditation; a search for beauty and for details.



Flowers become a reason to stop a moment and admire. And while my destination is the reason for the walk, the way there no longer feels like the same old route.

Architectural details catch my eye - the beautiful wood door, the decoration surrounding the windows and the filigreed wrought iron balcony.

Each time I walk this route I find something new to catch my eye, things I would never see in a vehicle. And with the chaos of all the road repairs, I know when I walk I will get to my destination both relaxed and invigorated.

In All Its Glory

Photos: October 10, 2016

The glory of autumn is hard to describe - that incredible riot of colour as the trees are painted in fiery hues.

It happens in stages as each kind of tree has its time. The colours move from reds to oranges and yellow and then the browns take precedence.  The city always is slower than the outlying areas - the climate is affected by the density of buildings and vehicles.

The wonders of autumn continually surprise me; the beauty of the season can never be ignored despite its annual occurrence. Each year brings a new feast for the eyes.

Pumpkins at the Market

Photos: October 9, 2016

Pumpkins seem to be spilling out of bins and racks and baskets at the market. They come in every size, shape and colour along with all the other forms of squash.



It is hard to imagine that all these pumpkins, big and small, will be sold.



These macabre looking specimens would be great for a scary face.

How many of these will be used for food? Will people roast the seeds of the pumpkins they carve? I love the bright spectacle and enjoy seeing jack-o-lanterns as I walk around my neighbourhood, but I do wonder at the idea that so many of these will just be bought to be thrown out the day after Hallowe'en. It is only in a country with excess food that we can think of growing things just for fun.

Getting Ready to Make Stuffing

Photo: October 8, 2016

It's hard to buck tradition, so as Thanksgiving approaches (the Canadian one, not the American one) I get ready to cook all the usual dishes. The cranberry sauce is made and the bread sits ready to be made into stuffing. I follow the recipe my mother made (not a real recipe) who followed the recipe my adoptive grandmother made. She came to us as our nanny but became my grannie. She lived with us some years and other years she lived with her son and his family. She cooked and baked without recipes, just following her instincts. I try to emulate that as I make a bread stuffing with lots of celery and onions. One change I have made is I use whole wheat bread instead of white bread. It always feels good to put food on the table that has a story and tradition behind it.

Dinner is Ready

Photo: October 7, 2016

I know I have probably posted a photo of this tofu dish before, but there is something wonderful about relaxing while dinner is being prepared. My spouse made this and all I had to do was sit down and enjoy it. Sometimes he cooks; sometimes I cook and often we cook together. We each have our specialties. The result is we eat well and each get to have evenings off from cooking. Win-win

Sunflowers

Photos: October 6, 2016

I love the big, bold sunflowers so I decided to bring a little sunshine home. I purposely bought flowers that were no yet really open so they would last longer. They have been determined to show I made a bad decision.



Instead of opening they have shyly hid their faces. I had to prop their stem with splints, but I fear my efforts have been in vain. So much for indoor sunshine; they remind me that fall weather is on its way.