A Beautiful Sunset Scene - Skywatch Friday

Hello friends and fellow bloggers, 

Welcome to my Skywatch Friday post.  I trust you are all doing well and that you have some fun or restful plans for the weekend.

Recently I had to go to the downtown hospital for a medical test. We took a quick drive along the waterfront so I could share some new scenes with you.
 

The sun was setting and we noticed just how quickly it went down!

I noticed much cooler temperatures about 3 weeks ago but we do have alternately cooler days and then we'll have a warmer day thrown in.  Many people are still walking around in sleeveless shirts and tops or short sleeves and shorts. These kinds of people are either oblivious to the cold or they want to hang on to summer for as long as possible.  Personally I find it a little too cool for summer clothes especially if the wind blows a little. I think the summer is well and truly over here.

On yesterday's news I heard that we'll likely be having a milder winter than usual in Canada.  I was puzzled because not terribly long ago the weather experts were saying the exact opposite and that we could expect a colder winter this year. I guess I'll have to wait to experience whatever comes.  But personally I'm hoping for a warmer winter.

Thank you for stopping by!

What Are You Going to Do? ~ Tuesday 4

Welcome to Tuesday 4 continued in the memory of Toni Taddeo, its original author.

Here are a few questions for you to consider.

1.   What things do you enjoy doing when you have time on your hands?

Reading, sewing, knitting, crocheting, various other handicrafts, going for a walk, having lunch & get togethers with family and friends, going on a day trip to see something new and outside of the neighbourhood.

Currently reading

Newest hobby

2.   Last minute company coming tonight for dinner!   What do you cook?

In cooler months, chili with cornbread.  In warmer months, baked salmon with rice and salad.  Maybe some corn on the cob.  It's been a long while since I've cooked for company.

3.   You've got a day to do anything and the weather is perfect outside, how are you going to spend the day?

I'd go for a walk, preferably by the waterfront.

Village of Steveston

4.   It's morning and you are asked out for breakfast.  What are you ordering?

Probably bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast with coffee and orange juice. If it's a Dutch pancake house I'll have a ham and cheese pancake.

Favourite breakfast

I made this breakfast. I don't often make or eat breakfast but if I do, it's often bacon and eggs or a variation of it.

That's all for today. I hope you'll visit again soon.

End of Summer 2026 - Skywatch Friday

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

The end of the first long weekend of September signals the end of summer and back to school and regular schedules.  

It also coincides with the end of the annual Pacific National Exhibition (PNE).  I try to visit once a year or at least every other year.

I didn't forget to Skywatch but mostly was there to soak up the atmosphere, people watch and eat. 

I had the Bannock Burger because they were out of Indian Tacos.  The fry bread used in the burger was absolutely delicious.

I also took in the concert featuring award winning singer, Crystal Shawanda and her family.  The price was included in the ticket.  

There were many singers I would have liked to see, The Guess Who, Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo, Earth, Wind & Fire & Sarah MacLaughlin among them.  You had to pay separately for these performances and tge tickets were sold out well before the event unless you didn't mind standing at the back somewhere.

And just like that, another summer was over.

All in all, I enjoyed my visit.

Thank you for stopping by my Skywatch Friday

 

Reading in August 2026

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I haven't been diligent about sharing the books I've been reading this year. I think some months I read 4-5 books and there were a few months where I read nothing due to illness.  I've been trying to make up the reading time I lost and I keep track of the books I've read on Goodreads. I read quite a number of books in the month of August so I'm very close to my goal of 50 books for the year.  Some years I read more and other years I read less but one of my blogging friends told me that she likes to keep track of the pages. That makes more sense given that some books are quite short and others can be quite long. I strive for about 20,000 pages per year. If  I make that or close to it, I am satisfied.  I only count the pages of books that I've completed not books that I've only partially read.  To date, I've read 47 books and I'm just shy of 16, 000 pages.  It will take more than 3 books to reach 20, 000 pages so I'll have to increase my reading goal a bit.

It turns out I'd read The Evening and the Morning several years ago. When I saw the book on the bookshelves I didn't remember that I'd already read it.  It's over 900 pages long and as I re-read it I remembered different aspects of the book and enjoyed it once again. This novel is the prequel to the series Pillars of the Earth (which I also read several years ago and enjoyed immensely) and is set in 997 AD covering a period of the Middle Ages & Viking raids through to the year 1007.  It features a love story between an unlikely pair and a strong female character despite the lack of power among women of those days.

From Cradle to Grave is a murder mystery by prolific writer Rhys Bowen. I've read a few of her books and enjoyed them.  I wouldn't say this particular book is one of the better ones.  I shelved A Summer Affair. I got 63 pages in and realized it really wasn't a book I wanted to continue reading.  I shelved it!

The next two books are cookbooks and entertaining books. The Healthy EveryDay book is a cookbook organized into easy to make high protein dishes in every category (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks). I really liked the book because the recipes seem very doable but this is the kind of book you need to have out of the library for awhile to really use and enjoy it or you need to have it in your personal library. Alas, I'm in downsizing and decluttering mode so I'm not buying any more books.  The author of Having People Over was featured on the Homeworthy You Tube channel which is how I learned she'd written a book about hosting parties.  I promptly borrowed the book out and was suitably impressed with it.  Everything you need to know about preparing for parties and get togethers is shared in a very accessible format and in a non-intimidating manner.  Simple recipes and tips for making hosting easier are also provided if you need more help.   It's another good reference book but I'm not adding anything new to my personal library at this time. 

(Click on the images below to enlarge if you'd like to see the book covers)

The Last Garden in England is an interesting book of historical fiction using a special garden as a connecting point to tell the story of 5 different women over several generations.

A Girl Like Her is about a young woman with autism and a prickly personality.  It's really about her finding a boyfriend and relationship in her new neighbour; someone who accepts her despite her prickly personality. It really wasn't my cup of tea. I would say it is more a coming of age book for young adults with lots of explicit language.  Having said that, I did finish reading it.

Nobody's Girl is the sad life story of Virginia Giuffre who by now is a household name in North America and England.  But just in case you don't know who she is, she is the young woman who was sex trafficked by the late Jeffrey Epstein.  She's also the person responsible for successfully exposing the former Prince Andrew's active involvement in Jeffrey Epstein's trafficking activities ultimately leading to his ouster from the British Royal Family.

The Last Love Song deals with the age old themes of love and loss and is set in small town, west coast Ireland and the big city of London.  This novel was written by Lucinda Riley under the name Lucinda Edmonds.  The book was reworked by her son Harry Whittaker after her death.  To be honest, this was not my favourite book.  I found it a bit ho-hum.

The Summer of Songbirds is about the lifelong friendship of four women who met as young girls at summer camp, their lives as the seasons progress and how they join together to save the camp.  I enjoyed it as it deals with many themes, friendship, love and loss in relationships and memories of summer and life that sustain you throughout your lifetime.

That it for August reads. For my first book in September, I'm reading one of Kristen Harmel's novels, The Paris Daughter by Kristen Harmel.

A Week of Skygazing ~ Skywatch Friday

Hello friends and fellow bloggers,

I hope your week was a good one and that you have something to look forward to over the weekend.

I'm looking forward to taking in the annual Pacific National Exhibition in the coming days.  I don't go every year but I like to go now and then and enjoy a bit of food, people watching and taking in a few shows.  Sometimes I go with a friend or family member but most often I go alone so I can zip in and out of displays and shows.

Another thing I like doing is showing a week of skies for Skywatch Friday.  Over the spring and summer the weather and the skies can be so variable. In winter the skies are mostly cloudy or rainy with the occasional day of sunshine.  In summer the skies are mostly sunny with occasional rain. 

This weekend is a long weekend ending on the statutory holiday on Monday September 7, 2026.  Labour Day falls on the first Monday in September each year.  It's meant to celebrate the achievements, contributions and rights of working people. For most people, it's the last day to rest or to get ready for back to school the next day and back to regular scheduling with work and other activities.  Thankfully the sun is expected over the weekend.
 

August 27, 2026

August 28, 2026

From my patio

August 29, 2026

Brighton Beach looking east

Brighton Beach looking north to North Vancouver

 

The Second Narrows Bridge

August 20, 2026

The steeple at the condo building (formerly a church)

First high rise in the neighbourhood. More coming.

August 31, 2026

September 1, 2026

In the neighbourhood.

Popular coffee shop.

Thank you for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post today.  I hope to see you again soon.

Traditions ~ Tuesday 4

 Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4.  

Tradition is an important part of any family or community and so important that people will fight to be sure they are not neglected or done away with.

From the first day of Autumn, to Halloween, All Saints Day, and Thanksgiving autumn brings many different traditions from all around the world.

School kids cut out paper leaves, pumpkins,etc. Homemakers change decor to reflect the new season.

Sweaters come out of storage... the weather is changing.

1. Why is tradition important to you?

I believe it's the glue that can hold families and communities or even nations, together.

2. Have family traditions helped to shape who you are?

Absolutely. I have many fond memories of celebrating holidays and traditions whilst growing up. Even today I try to carry on some of those same traditions albeit it in a much smaller way because my family is much smaller now and extended family members live very far away. 

3. Do you believe that tradition helps a community or shapes the unity of family and community?

I definitely do. Family traditions such as having dinner together on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and Easter give a sense of unity & working together toward a purpose.  Even if it's only making sure you get to the family celebrations on time, these traditional holiday dinners and celebrations are ways that help bond a group of people together. Many families, including mine, have a tradition of extending invitations to dinner to foreigners or visitors from outside the family.  So it becomes a wonderful way to meet people from afar and show hospitality.

Today, I live far away from my childhood home and relatives but I've carried on the practice of inviting people from elsewhere to my home whenever I can.  

Traditions such as a nation's birthday can also be a unifying time for the citizens of a country to celebrate such as on the nation's birthday.  It's a time for citizens to celebrate together in a way that is sanctioned by the governing leaders of the day.  People can enjoy coming together regardless of political persuasions.  Even if it's only for the day.

4. Are there any traditions you would like to bring back and why?

When I was a child in elementary school, the entire school would have a brief patriotic moment with greetings from the school Principal, announcements and singing the national anthem.  After that, the classroom teacher would lead his/her class in prayer and daily Bible reading.  Today that is no longer allowed in deference to the fact that there are others in the class who are not practising Christians and the number of people in this category has grown over time. 

Personally I think we should bring back these morning practises, readings and prayer.  After all this was always part of Canadian culture.  We shouldn't have to change it just because others have moved here since that is often their voluntary choice.  They don't have to be Christian to respect the way the country respects its origins.  Sadly the Christian aspect in public institutions has been watered down in every way and I'd like to see the trend reversed.

A Painted Sky

I feel happy looking out my patio balcony every day. Each day gives me something different to look at and on this evening the sky looks like a beautiful painting (click on photos to enlarge).

My niece made the heart for me several years ago.

All these zinnias and marigolds are the beautiful colours of autumn.

The echinacea is winding down for this season. I haven't grown them for years.

The petunias were taken out of the pots and put into the garden.

Most of the plants in the garden were in pots first. They were taken out and put into the garden when we thought scaffolding was going to be installed in order to repair balconies on the upper levels. It turns out the scaffolding may or may not be erected. If it does go up it won't be until the end of summer.

I get to enjoy breathtaking skies on a regular basis.

I hope you enjoyed them too.

 

One Night in August ~ Skywatch Friday

The moon was quite an orange colour but it's a bit hard to tell from my photo. Nonethless I like all the colour in the night sky.

Thank you for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post. I hope you'll visit again soon.