Fall Days

These days I'm so grateful that we are still looking at the grass and a few leaves and the stubble in the fields. The colours aren't as brilliant as in this collage but just for fun I enhanced a few of my photos. Sometimes when the days are slow I really enjoy visiting other bloggers. It's amazing to realize how much we can learn from one another.  In this world of blogging, its entirely possible to take a wonderful trip with another blogger to see sights one has never seen before.

Tonight I'd like to share an amazing blog with you.  Michelle lives beautiful Vancouver Island on the West Coast and her blog, Relics and Tales is fascinating.  With curiosity and an interest in getting the original story on artifacts that have come to her attention, Michelle investigates until she knows the real story.  One of her posts is about the beautiful paddles her husband carves.
Do pay Michelle a visit and check out her previous posts - if you have a fascination with history, you will be so glad you did.
Tonight I'm linking up with Mary's Little Red House - a great place to meet new friends...

Ostia Antica

One day while we were in Rome this past summer, we decided to take our friend's advice and visit the ancient Roman harbour of Ostia Antica.

Talk about taking a trip back in time!  This remarkable archeological site is filled with ruins from the 7th century BC.  The main road is paved with flat large field stones and it was easy to imagine the rough ride the Romans must have had as their carts travelled along the road.

We climbed up to a viewpoint to look down on the mosaics of the Baths of Neptune.

The streets were lined with apartments known as insulae.

We walked among the ruins of military camps.

My daughter climbed to the top of Theatre Teatro but I was satisfied to view the theatre from below. 

The house of Diana dates back to the reign of Hadrian in the 2nd century AD.  This house was a public house.   The mosaic floors are beautifully preserved and the kitchen contains display shelves for food and a bar where the patrons were served.  As we relaxed for a few minutes in the public courtyard we tried to imagine what life might have been like so many years ago.

Ostia Antica is a huge area rich with artifacts and away from the crowds of tourists in Rome. In just one afternoon we wandered back in time and we saw no more than 25 or 30 tourists.   The streets are easy to navigate and there are many signposts with the history explained in detail.

I'll be joining Mary for Mosaic Monday tonight.  See you there...

Happy Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday with the traditional meal and a gathering of my husband's family (13 in all) and on our farm it's always a special time of year. Harvest is not finished but hopefully we'll continue to have good weather and harvest will be wrapped up before the snow flies.  "Que Sera Sera -whatever will be will be".

In the early morning light I captured these views and as the day continued on the sunshine grew brighter.  By the time the family arrived we were all able to enjoy the wonderfully warm afternoon on the deck before moving inside to enjoy the traditional harvest meal.  Hands joined in blessing, good food and wine,  cousins, aunts and uncles sharing stories and laughter.  We are thankful for the visitors from the big city.  It's always great to get together here on the farm.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend.  In Canada we have so much to be thankful for. If you have time to do a little armchair travelling you will find the links to the Provincial Tourism websites in my previous Canada Day post here.

I'm linking to Mary's Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.
Thanksgiving day wishes from our home to yours!

Autumn Leaves

Forty years ago I was living 500 miles from my home town and I looked forward to letters that my grandmother wrote to me on a regular basis.  One day I opened her letter to find an autumn leaf enclosed and this is what she had to say...
   " Dear Sheila,
The enclosed leaf is from a silver birch tree & last week, 
when a slight wind was blowing, 
a number of leaves were running,
on three points, across the street,
as if they were chasing one another or playing tag.  
I watched them from my window.
          Love Grannie "
A few years ago I found the leaf in the letter and framed it. The memories of my grandmother are special as I gaze at that still perfect leaf and her words.

Our autumn leaves are only here for a very short time.  I took these photos last week and now the branches are almost bare...too soon!

Enjoy your week and thanks for your kind comments.  I'm linking with Mary's Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.