Autumn Arrived ~ Skywatch Friday

Hello everyone, 

Welcome to my blog. I'm sharing a few photos taken near the end of September showing some of the autumn foliage. The weather had been quite hot for some time but autumn arrived suddenly with lots of rain and colder weather.

I feel the chill in the air as I sit and write this post.  The cold air blows through the vents in the hallway and in the apartment.  It happens every year when the heat of the summer turns to the chill of autumn.  I always have to remind the caretaker to adjust the air flow.  I don't think it bothers too many people.  There are really only 2 or 3 units that are most affected because of where the vents are located and I'm often the one bringing the issue up at this time of year. 

Anyway, I took the following photos when I exited my class at the community centre from a different door from where I'd entered earlier in the day.  I was surprised to see how the leaves have turned from green to the golden colours of autumn.  You can see in the photos that a lot of leaves have already fallen because it got quite windy and rainy over the past few weekends. 

The white bags and the umbrella have been set up by a local group that was organizing a community clean up.  Many people had signed up to help out and they were waiting around for things to get underway.

This building with curved windows was built quite some time ago.  It was one of the tallest buildings in the general neighbourhood at the time.  However there are now multiple building projects awaiting development in the neighbourhood and they'll be 25 to 30 stories high.  

Part of the City's plan is to mandate developers to build residences in the immediate vicinity of the new sky train and subway stations in the neighbourhood.  One of the new stations is about a block west from where this condominium building is located.  The details are in a document called The Broadway Plan which I've read.  It gave me good insight into the plan for how high the buildings can be built and where they will likely be located.  There isn't any land left to continue building single family dwellings.  Such an expansion of high rises will definitely change the nature of the area.

By the time this post goes 'live', our weather may well have changed. It will be nice to see the sun again but at this time of year we begin seeing much more rain.

Take care and thanks for stopping by my Skywatch Friday post.

Autumnal Equinox ~ Tuesday 4

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4... are you ready for Autumn?

Monday,  September 22 is the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of the Autumn season.  

Autumn is the name of the season and fall is the term for the time of Autumn when leaves begin to fall from the trees.   Let's discuss it.....

1. Are there pumpkins or chrysanthemums on your porch or are you planning on putting some out?  

No. Most of us in Canada do not decorate for the seasons. We generally only decorate for the major holidays.

2. Are stores around you showing Autumn clothing and decor now?  Here in New Jersey, leaves on some trees are changing slowly and temperatures are way down. What is it like in your neck of the woods?

I haven't been in the stores for a long time other than grocery stores and pharmacies. A few days ago, I noticed that the pharmacy has their Hallowe'en items out on the shelves. It means that clothing stores and other retail shops likely have their autumn items out now. The leaves have only just started to turn colour but not much yet. 

3. Do you have plans for Thanksgiving yet?

I have thought about the Thanksgiving meal. We'll probably have chicken with stuffing and all the sides instead of a big turkey.           

4 . If we can arrange an autumn trip or get away for you, where will you choose to go and why?

I don't much feel like travelling with all the turmoil in the world. DH has been away in Kenya for some business related matters and to see family. I hope he'll get home before long. He didn't want to be away so long but dealing with the government business can sometimes take awhile.  

If I did take a journey I would only want to go up country a bit. It's fantastic weather and scenery at this time of year. We call the area the Thompson Okanagan, around Kamloops, Chase, Kelowna. I would also like to go even much farther north to Prince George and beyond into northern British Columbia around Dawson Creek and Alberta around Grande Prairie and Edmonton. Autumn is the best season to see the beauty of the area. 

Here is a map so you can have a look (Click on the map so you can read the names).

Also, if you click here you can see some posts and photos of the area I've made in previous postings. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Things to Ponder ~ Tuesday 4

Welcome back to another of Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4 memes hosted by Annie at Cottage by the Sea.

Across much of the USA autumn has arrived early.   

Annie writes that while she was enjoying her cuppa she was pondering a few things to do with her home and suggested we ponder a few questions.

Here are the questions she asked us to ponder:

1. If you could live in the world of any movie, which one would you choose and why?

When Harry Met Sally.  I chose the movie because of the wonderful fall scenery and because I love the vibe of New York City.

2. If you could have coffee or tea with a woman from history or from fiction come to life, who would that be and why?

Mary, the mother of Jesus.  I think she was such a courageous and strong woman to deal with being with child before being married and all the social stigma that must have arisen from that.  I'd love to talk with her about how she managed the stresses and responsibilities of becoming a mother in the way she did and also how she handled her married to Joseph.  I also think Joseph, the step-father of Jesus would be a wonderful person to speak with.  I've often thought what a wonderful man he must have been to support Mary in her condition and marvel at his obedience in following the message he received from the angels through his dreams. Surely he must have had many questions and most likely, even doubts about what he had to do. Another woman I'd like to speak with is Josephine Bonaparte. Her marriage to Napoleon only lasted for 6 years because she could not bear him a child. Even after their divorce they corresponded a lot and he continued to declare his love for her.

3. If you could create an autumn-themed festival, what unique events or foods would it feature?

I have no idea. I love festivals but I don't think I'd be good at planning them. Maybe some pumpkin carving, bobbing apples, face painting hay rides and warming drinks like hot chocolate and some good funnel cakes which we don't really get where I live. I think they now sell funnel cakes at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) an annual summer event. I went this summer (see my post here) but I didn't indulge in any sweet treats.

4. If autumn had a personality, how would you describe it, and what kind of friend would it be?

Warm, comforting, happy, peaceful yet invigorating.