Come for a walk...

Perhaps you'd enjoy a walk with me...

 A short walk along a trail from a dirt road leads to this pristine little lake close to our farm.

These pictures were taken a few years ago and bring back memories of how wonderful autumn is early in the season.  We have only leaves to rake now, although there are a few stragglers on the empty branches.

Geese and ducks love Canoe Lake at this time of year.  It's a magical place where not a single home or cabin is built.  If framed and mounted on card stock these prints might become note cards...do stop by Vee's to view the other choices for October's Note Card Party.  See you there...

Autumn Days

Hello again.  This is the time the summer's harvest is picked and carefully stored by home gardeners.  Our garden is always productive in one way or another and because I was minding our neighbour's garden while they travelled in the British Isles, I was lucky enough to be picking from two country gardens in September.  Ripe tomatoes, lettuce and green beans abounded just a mile or more down our road.  In contrast our tomatoes were still green here but have been picked and are safely stored in the cool room, to be eaten after they have ripened in the dark.

By far, our biggest success this year was the squash we grew; summer, spaghetti, hubbard and zucchini of course.  We didn't leave for summer visits to friends without one or two zucchini to tuck under their arms and once we took a boxful to be placed by the door for the other barbecue guests to take home with them.  Our local library had a table filled with zucchini for library patrons and even the grocery store had carts full with the sign " Free - help yourself" written above the giant zucchini.   Cucumbers, raspberries and carrots came home with us when we visited friends.
This summer's vegetable exchanges reminded me of our summers in BC's Okanagan Valley.  When our children visited friends they almost always returned home with a box of peaches or plums just as I was finished canning our peaches.  The summer our daughter was born, neighbours helped pick cherries, grapes and apples and our next door neighbour even made pickles and bottled grape juice for us while I was busy with the children.

We worked with neighbours to get the cherries picked and sent to market and celebrated holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter together. Do you find that gardening brings you closer to your neighbours ?  Isn't it a great experience?  We are lucky here on the farm to be able to experience gardening together with our family and neighbours.  Thanksgiving dinner is always such a great day - hope you enjoy the tasty turkey and traditions whether you celebrate it this month or next.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

A Glimpse of Summer

These past two months have not been typical for us but we have appreciated the comforts of home and will enjoy the wonderful fall days ahead.  We have been here and there but not to the city.  We've taken lots of drives and have enjoyed the visitors that have stopped by through the summer.  It has passed by slowly but the moments of peaceful country living have been appreciated more than ever.  These four notecards are a glimpse of summer in our corner of the world.

If you are so inclined be sure to stop by Vee's Note Card Party to see some lovely notecards.  It's a great summer excursion!

Big Sky Country

One of the nicest things  about living in the country in northern Alberta is that the sky is always changing.  The clouds today are fluffy and white and it's a wonderful change from the overcast and dull skies that were overwhelming last week.  This summer is quiet but as the farmer improves little by little from his total hip replacement, it makes us want to plan a vacation.  But that will have to wait...and as the days go by I'm trying to do some sewing...making gifts for birthdays that are coming up in the fall.  Hope you are all enjoying the lazy hazy days of summer and the time spent with family and friends in the great outdoors.  Sunshine Always - Sheila