Part 7: autumn means to me

Fall clothes come out

Skirts

Long boots

Warm sweaters

Fuzzy mittens

Tights

Hats

Feelings of being cozy

Love

Part 6: autumn means to me

Raking leaves

Cool breezes

Damp air

Cleaning out flower pots

Cleaning out birds nests

All with my partner

Love

Part 5: autumn means to me

Pickling

Beets

Carrots

Cucumbers

From the garden 

Love

Part 4: autumn means to me

It's not always good. 

Autumn also means fruit flies. 

Thus the apple cider vinegar traps are out. 

But....

Autumn also means the fall decorations come out. 

Quilts, pumpkins, candles. 

Oranges, reds, yellows. 

Love

Part 3: autumn means to me

Visiting old co-workers on a road trip to small town Alberta

Seeing a new little one that is only two weeks old

Getting a tour of the town

Having the best pumpkin pie I have ever tried

Looking at the beautiful fall fields, filled with cows, spotting hawks and deer

Meeting baby kitties, even if one was a little crabby spitting at us

Seeing combining up close and personal

Laughing hysterically at road trip shenanigans 

Good fall day overall with friends

Love

Part 2: autumn means to me

Biking in the river valley.

All the pretty leaves crunching against the tires

Enjoying a beautiful day.

Love

This is what autumn means to me

Warm days with leaves bright yellow and orange.

Markets filled with juicy fruits, sunflowers, and final veggies. 

Pumpkins. 

Crisp night air, winds during the day, sun shining. 

And pies. Lots 8 at this moment to be exact. 

Even if they did get a little toasted. 

Love

Beauty

Sometimes it just takes a moment to be present in a situation and marvel at the beauty around us. 

Love

What I learned about my family

My Great Aunt Elizabeth, who was an RN in the armed forces, delivered a baby all by herself. The doctor's wife, in fact as the doctor wasn't there.

She is also quite hilarious and had me laughing. Not only that but she is fiercely loyal now but even when she was young, it was her and my Grampie against the world. I love that about her and them. But I didn't learn that...I already knew.

My mother, who travelled all around the USA and Canada went on her first trip to Ottawa (along with myself) during this trip. Took a tour of the parliament and visited the pioneer ladies.

My dad with his brother had pet pigeons growing up. Homing pigeons. But when they set them free to get them to "home" back. They left....to their original home. Prior to them being set free, dad also had the pleasure to sell two of them at a local fair for 5$. Apparently that was a big deal. 

Lake Superior is very huge. The birth place of Winnie the Pooh is in Ontario. And in Wawa, ON I found a giant goose (AB isn't the only one with the world's biggest).

My mom's cousins Joanne and Greg seemed destined to bump into famous people all the time. In PEI they met the lead singer of RUSH.

Not only that buy Greg seems to look like famous people (Martin Scorsese and Mike Love...beach boy fame).

My Nan's family owned a mountain prior to the deep depression. 

Card games continue to be loads of fun. Especially with competitive people (cough cough, Great Aunt Elizabeth). Even when you lose. 65 was the game. 

I have some family members with some eerie psychic connections. My Grampie, my aunt, and great aunt.

My Great Aunt Helen smiles with her eyes and has the same smile as my Grampie did. That makes me happy and feel warm inside as I feel him here with us. She also has the same soft voice. I don't have any other family members with that soft voice and it was another gentle reminder of my buddy.

I continue to have a love for kayaking...even if it can involve "bumper kayaks" and I get accused of being a river hog (wink, wink...dad).

My cousin Heidi is a truly hilarious and honest new mom. She and her little one had me laughing quite a bit. It was nice to see her, and I am sorry I couldn't get out to see the others!

Till next time,

Love