Farewell, October...Hello, November!

Hello dear friends!  How lovely it is to be in your company again!  I have been absent from my blog for far too long (since September). I could hardly find the time to write a post considering October was full to the brim with excitement and much goings-on!  I will try to compensate for my absence with a visual account of the past month.

my neighborhood in October

"Oh, Marilla," she exclaimed one Saturday morning, coming dancing in with her arms full of gorgeous boughs, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills?” - L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

The crabapples on our tree out back turned from green to red in early October.


Look at the vibrant fall colors!  I am in love...

Nuno, the girls, and I had tons of fun at the Pumpkin Festival at Chappell Farms!  We took a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch and picked our own pumpkins - right off the vine! 

We enjoyed getting lost in the corn maze, walking atop the hay maze, and visiting with some of the farm animals there (sheep, goats, bunnies, chickens...even turkeys!)  Speaking of turkeys...

In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving in October, unlike my American friends who celebrate in November.
  This year we were extra thankful, as we were treated to three, yes, THREE Thanksgiving celebrations!  I would like to thank my parents, my in-laws, and my brother-in-law and his girlfriend for hosting and serving such scrumptious food.  The time spent with family on days like these is priceless!

 Here is Nuno, my husband, carving my mother's turkey on Thanksgiving weekend.  Isn't he adorable?

The beautiful view of Canal Lake in the fall.  We spent Thanksgiving day here with my in-laws at their home-away-from-home.


I was amazed to see several robins in our yard the following weekend!

I have never seen robins so late in the season in my yard before.  The last time I had seen one was in late August.  I found it odd to see them back again.  Maybe they came for one last farewell?  Goodbye robins...I will miss you!  I look forward to seeing you again in the spring!

I am happy to inform you that although some birds have flown south, many others are still regular visitors to my yard.  The black-capped chickadees (on the left) visit daily, as do the house finches.  Occasionally, I see mourning doves feeding off the ground and I've even spotted a downy woodpecker (on the right) three times last month!  Oh, and a cardinal came to visit one day, too!


We also got some snow!  Not much, just a tiny dusting one week before Halloween.

Snow on the rose blooms in front of our house.

It didn't last very long, thank goodness!  I'm not ready for winter yet!  There will be plenty of time for that!  By mid-day the snow was nowhere to be seen.

With October came breath-taking sunrises, like this one; the sky ablaze in pink!  It' so very beautiful to look at, yet fleeting; one minute you see it, the next, it's gone! (This shot was taken from my bedroom window).


And finally, it's Halloween!

We each designed and carved our pumpkins while listening to a medley of Halloween songs.  My favorite part is scooping out the pulp!  Nuno and I helped Annabel carve hers!  I saved the pumpkin seeds and roasted them.  We also made caramel apples!  Mmm!

Even our cat, Buddy, shared in the Halloween festivities!

This year, Annabel dressed as a Southern Belle!  She looked so darling!

And here is Anita, dressed as Cleopatra!  She looked gorgeous...I still can't believe how much she's grown in the last year!


How was your October?  Did you have a fun Halloween?  This last month was filled with beauty and blessings at our house. I hope the same can be said for you!

Happy November, dear friends!  I hope this new month brings you much health, happiness, and blessings! xoxo

The Week in Pictures

Sunday morning coffee on our front porch; watching the beautiful sunrise

My magnolia tree in full bloom!

Cherry blossoms blooming on a perfect spring day

Daddy teaching Annabel how to ride her two-wheel bike

The Spirit Catcher in downtown Barrie

I love it! 

Watching the sunset with my Mom

Re-filling the bird feeder with new food

A pretty new addition to our side garden - astilbe - thank you, Mom!

Hanging laundry out to dry in the warm sunshine

I found this brand-new-in-box bird clock while thrift-shop hunting with my mom.  It is now hanging on my kitchen wall!

My mom and I in the garden.  How I enjoyed spending this precious week with her!   

Wishing everyone a happy spring and a wonderful Mother's day weekend! xoxo

Enchanting & Glorious Spring!

I consider myself to be a happy and optimistic person.  Much of what makes me "happy" comes from my love and admiration for nature and the changing seasons.  I have a deep appreciation for birds, flowers, trees, sun, sky, and nature overall.  I don't let my surroundings, their constance and ever-after, allow me to take them for granted.

Here are some photos I've captured so far this Spring.  They all make me smile...



The robin enjoying a cool bath

Rub-a-dub-dub...



The American Goldfinches eating at the feeder

The goldfinch with a sunflower seed in his beak

A black-capped chickadee sharing the feeder with goldfinches

A black-capped chickadee cracking a seed open on our lilac tree

The following photos were all taken this morning...

The beautiful tulips blooming in my backyard

Our crabapple tree bursting with blossoms, preparing to bloom

Our purple leaf sand cherry tree blooming as I type this

One of our peony bushes, growing tall and beautiful. 

I can't wait for the flowers to bloom; I love filling teapots with them! 

I can almost smell their heavenly scent...ahhh!

Our lilac tree; soon to bloom and release its sweet scent!

The blue sky and warm sunshine peeking through the pergola

and lilac tree on the side of our deck.

Last night's full moon - the flower moon!  It was so big and bright in the sky!  

Did you get to see it?  I hope so!

Wishing you all a happy new week filled with sunshine, blue skies, birdsong, pretty flowers, and all the  beauty of Spring!  xoxo