September Note Cards

Once again it's time for Vee's Note Card Party so here are my September choices.

 I accompanied my mother in law to a beautiful farm 10 days ago and enjoyed the beauty of the lovely gardens that had been created there. These note card photos were taken on that farm...what a lovely day for an outdoor brunch.  All the seniors who attended were delighted with their scooter rides through "Lasagna" gardens created by their very ambitious hostess.  Later she entertained them with a dog show and visits to the horse pasture.

  September is such a busy time on the farm and I am trying to get the garden in.  Everything has grown so well.  We've picked 8 pails of green tomatoes, 10 large squash, the last of the rhubarb, the onions and we still have the corn, carrots, beets and potatoes to bring in.  The swiss chard keeps on growing and so I keep picking it and freezing it in baggies.  The canola has been swathed and after a two week delay while the swather broke down and was repaired time and again the barley is being swathed.  The weather has been wonderful with only two nights of light frost.  It may be awhile til I see you again but I'll be back - I promise.  Take care and I hope you have time to stop by Vee's and see the lovely note cards this week!  Thanks for visiting - sunshine always!  Sheila

Back to School

Every year on Labour Day I experience a touch of nostalgia. I remember looking forward to the beginning of each school year.  I started teaching in Vancouver, BC with a Grade 4/5 split class.  Today I had a great time sorting through my two remaining boxes of Kindergarten and Primary resources.  I have sorted and deleted several times over the years, but I've always been looking for a teacher who could make use of my really good teaching things.  When I switched to Kindergarten for the last couple of years of my career, I had a friend who was very artistic and offered to make me an alphabet.  It's an original in that she designed and illustrated it herself.  
So imagine my delight when I spoke to a friend a couple of days ago and her future daughter in law is going to teach Kindergarten this year.  I know her well and have no doubt that the children in her class will be most fortunate to have this young woman as their teacher.  My two boxes will be going to a beginning Kindergarten teacher and my one of a kind alphabet will be going back to school.  Best of luck to all the teachers and students who are going back to school tomorrow! Have a great year!

Summer's End

With the cooler nights I've heard a few friends mention that they are "over the moon" with the approach of fall.  Years ago I loved the cool crisp days and the crunch of oak and maple leaves underfoot but the reality of autumn in our corner of the world is that it's over and done with in a matter of weeks and then there are potentially 7 months (or more) of winter to face.

Every year at this time we hope to get the crop in before it freezes and to harvest the garden before we have to start dragging old blankets out to cover things when there's a risk of frost.  It hasn't happened yet - but could any day now.  This year we had no grasshoppers munching up the garden but there are bigger creatures around.  Just this morning I saw a big cow moose steps away from the garden but by the time I got my camera she had moved away a little farther.  I'll keep the camera closer to our east window with it's garden view from now on and not venture outside without a good look around first. Our corn will be terrific this year if we get a week or so of hot summer days and although the squash have been just sitting there, they have exploded in size in the past few days.  It would be wonderful to have another month of hot weather and I, for one, hope it stays warm until at least Thanksgiving.

Canola in bloom

Summer views

I love perennials!

Swathing the canola is about to begin. The farmer will need help moving equipment from field to field and he appreciates substantial meals as harvest progresses.  It's generally quiet here on the farm but thanks to visits this year from good friends and family we had a very busy and enjoyable summer.   Hope that you did too!

Island Note Cards

 

Today I'm thinking back three years to a wedding I attended on one of the Gulf Islands off the coast of Vancouver Island. It was a lovely day for a late afternoon wedding and the weather co-operated for the ceremony.  The bride and groom smiled in the sunshine and exchanged their vows on a lawn which had a magnificent view of the ocean.  Later that evening during the reception, the light began to change and there was a small exodus from the party.  Cameras in hand, several of us walked across the lawn to capture this beauty.  It was an evening to remember. I made a few choices of that spectacular sunset that I think would make beautiful notecards and I'll  direct you now to Vee's Note Card Party.  It's a good way to meet new blogging friends.  See you there!