Tag Archives: fall

A counting of blessings . . .

Caledon Hills, Festivals, Leisure, Nature, , , , , , , ,

Skies blue enough to swim in, Fall sunshine, still warm but gentler now than summer’s pounding intensity.

Apple Factory - Harvest
   
Apple Factory - Harvest

Pumpkin, squash and indian corn; orange dominating, but highlighted in shades of yellow, cream and gold, with dashes of green for contrast – resonant with the gratitude of harvest. Farm-store feeding frenzy – the busiest day of the year; pies, pies and more pies – apple, blueberry, bumble-berry, pumpkin (of course) and more, flying from the shelves.

St. Elias Church
 
St. Elias Church
  
St. Elias Church

A fantasy of domed turrets from a Russian folk-tale beckons, resolving into fabulous, wooden Eastern Catholic church, St. Elias. Ukrainian folk-song, hauntingly wraps round me as I absorb the sense of shared thankfulness of the apple festival, of a place truly built to the glory of God.

Counting caterpillars as we walk (along with blessings), furry brown and orange, exuberance bursting from us, hearts full.

Hills of the Headwaters

” Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue”, over a jewelled landscape; flying, flung free a while –  it is not difficult to relate to the thought of “touching the face of God”. (Read more)

Terra Cotta Conservation Area
   
Terra Cotta Conservation Area

Terra Cotta Conservation Area
 
Terra Cotta Conservation Area
 
Terra Cotta Conservation Area

Terra Cotta Conservation Area
  
Terra Cotta Conservation Area

Reflected reds, golds and greens; the shimmering of Aspens caressed by a warm breeze; an occasional flurry of yellow leaves, swirling like snow; a single splash of red, spiralling downward; cathedral columns, drawing the eye heavenward.

A perfect day for thanks-giving!

The Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend, 2013

A perfect Sunday in late fall . . .

Sightseeing, ,

We picked up breakfast-to-go at the Remarkable Bean (our favourite coffee shop on Queen St)  – great coffee, a roasted pepper and cream cheese muffin and a pear, walnut and blue cheese muffin.

An hour and a half or so of driving round Lake Ontario and we took off from the highway into the vineyards, fields and woodlands of the Niagara peninsular, soaking up the last of the fall glory before winter strips the trees.

fall-1-of-12-medium A vineyard in Niagara wine country, fall 2009
fall-10-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
fall-11-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
fall-12-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
fall-2-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
fall-3-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
fall-4-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November) - looking across from Niagara on the Lake to the US
fall-5-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
fall-6-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
fall-7-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
fall-8-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
fall-9-of-12-medium Late fall 2009 (1 November)
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A quick lunch and wander in Niagara on the Lake, the first capital of the province and a lovely, small historic town, whetted our appetites for future visits, perhaps taking in the Shaw festival (as in George Bernard Shaw).

Then on down the Niagara Parkway, along the banks of the Niagara river, to catch our first glimpse of the falls before heading back.

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The Falls Mascots The Falls Mascots
Niagara Falls - December 2011 Niagara Falls - December 2011
Niagara Falls Panoramic Niagara Falls Panoramic - from the Doubletree Hilton
Niagara Falls Panoramic Niagara Falls Panoramic - from the Doubletree Hilton
Horseshoe Falls - Niagara Horseshoe Falls - Niagara
Niagara Falls Panoramic Niagara Falls Panoramic - the Falls
Horseshoe Falls - Niagara Horseshoe Falls - Niagara (Gina)
American Falls - Niagara American Falls - Niagara
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Driving towards downtown Toronto from whatever direction, the CN Tower already gives me a sense of ‘homecoming’ to our adopted city, especially when it is surrounded by gilded skyscrapers giving back the day.

Oh, and then we bought a house . . .