A Walk in My 'Hood'

  

Just a reminder to click on the photos to make them large. They are high resolution and the colors and detail are lost unless you do this. 

I was concerned on the Cruise, that when we arrived back home, the Autumn colors might be gone. There are few things, for me, more enjoyable, that photography in the Autumn. 

The weather has not been cooperative lately, but today, there were some breaks in the clouds and I did a bit of wandering, just in my immediate neighborhood. 

 

The Friendship Garden behind our Public Library is always photogenic, but especially in the Fall. 

Two photos of our home, the LaGalleria. 

The high-rise in the distance is the Towne Centre Tower. I had many very good customers there when I was working and I got to know the building and many of the people intimately. I have stories. 

The Trethewey Towers, across Simon Avenue from our LaGalleria, is another building that I am very familiar with. busylizzy's parents lived there for many years. Again, many good customers and some doozy stories. We were in the building just yesterday where we met some new people from our church. 

 

Farewell to Colour

 

I will leave you with a little sampling of the leftovers of Autumn of 2013, now that the bitter winds have come out of the east to snuff out any remaining life in the leaves.

 

The beautiful red barn on Mt. Lehman Road.

 

A fresh early morning mushroom growing outside my front door.

 

 

 

The North Shore mountains from Nicholson Rd.

 

A llama and a different red barn just off McTavish Rd.

 

The last Angel Trumpet bloom trying desperately to open before the frost comes.

 

The Creeping Virginia growing up the chimney of my house.

Farewell to Autumn.

A Pity

 

What a pity that these beautiful vine leaves were growing on a side of our house that we rarely see. I stumbled upon them quite by accident one day and there was only this small cluster of leaves left to photograph.

Isn't that the way it is? We search the world over for pleasure, treasure and happiness and it is usually right there in front of us, waiting to be discovered.

Those 'Boomers'

 

Delays, postponements, cancellations, indecision, medical emergencies, etc., etc. This is the way my whole Autumn has been going for my business. In 38 years I have never had an Autumn with so little work. It is usually my busiest time of year.

 

I read an economic forecast that shed a bit of light on this situation, which apparently is not uncommon in the building trades of late. It is the 'boomers' they say. Blame it on the 'boomers'. I am a 'boomer' so I guess I can blame myself, and it does help me understand it. Here is the reasoning:  The 'boomers' are reaching retirement age so they are not spending money on their homes because they are also contemplating a downsize in the near future. Why spend money when you are going to sell and you may not get the money back from your fancy renovation. And the younger generation are all in debt up to their eyeballs so they are not spending money on renovations either. So we are in a transition. As soon as the 'boomers' buy their cheap little condos, the older ones with adequate parking and elbow room in the suite, they will spend money on renovating it so they can live in up-dated surroundings until they are ready for the old folks home. That market is already starting as we have been doing a few of these this year. It is what I would consider for our near future too. Meanwhile, there is no work, and it is apparently my fault for having been born when I was.

Shedding a Little Light

 

I was driving past this entrance to a townhouse complex near our home when my attention was arrested by a red glow. It was not a very bright day, but there was red emanating from this dark driveway as if it were a 'red light district'. Shafts of light in the darkness are photogenic and revealing, as are shafts of light in a situation where there is something unknown lurking.

Case in point. I was at a 60th birthday party for a friend last night and because I am older than him by a few years, I thought I would shed some light on what his future held in terms of aging. Free advice is a service I provide frequently. I suggested that there is little difference between 55 and 60, but when you hit 63, the slide downward takes an accelerated leap forward. This is based on my own experience and was not meant to be a prediction. He was incensed and confided that his last few years were bad enough and thanks for the encouragement.

Good thing there was cake because that was my cue to head straight for it.

What To Do

 

I am still digging through the last of my Autumn photos, but they are really looking too summerish for November. I walked in the cold wind today and was not really dressed warm enough. I thought I would turn back and put on a heavier jacket, but then decided to just buckle down and walked at a very brisk pace. Soon I was over-heating and my jacket was flung open to let the heat escape.

 

I dare not miss a day of walking my minimum 5K or I begin to feel sluggish and lose my desire to walk again the next day. It is surely getting to the stage with the weather where it would be much easier to sit and enjoy a second cup of coffee on the mornings that I do not work. It would be a slow death.

 

As we think about downsizing, we are realising that a condo or townhouse with exercise facilities is going to be a must. My own father was blessed with great genetics but we saw him deteriorate due to lack of activity more the usual ravages of old age. I am a fairly disciplined person and also one who is a creature of habit. Getting into the habit of a bit of a workout everyday is a must for general health, but also achieves the goal of having a feeling of well being and creates energy for other tasks. Photography has been an impetus to get me out and about, but come winter, something else will have to motivate me.

 

Photogenic

 

You would think it would get boring walking the same route several times a week. It can be, if one is not observant. The trail at Fish Trap has its moods, changing as the day progresses and as the seasons change.

 

For example, I noticed two days ago that the Buffleheads and Teals are back, ducks that winter here instead of in their natural summer hangout in northern Canada. I also noticed that the thick covering of Water Lily is subsiding as it dies and is washed away by the heavier rains of Fall.

 

This favourite thing of mine to photograph also has its moods as the reflections vary, as well as the light and surrounding foliage. Sometimes there is a human on the deck to give the structure scale.

 

The leaves are all gone now, as is any colour in the park. I still walk there and will all winter. It is quiet and peaceful, I meet and greet friendly people, and there is always something new and interesting to see, if you watch for it.

The Tower Series

 

I had the pleasure of re-decorating a suite on the 10th floor of Tower One at the Regency Estates. The work was excellent, the customer was the best, and the views were out of this world.

 

Needless to say, I brought my camera to work a few times.

 

It was amazing to see the mood change as the light changed and weather systems moved in and out.

 

And the Autumn colours added to beauty as I looked in every direction.

 

It was looking rather gloomy in the north, toward Mission, but here the sun was shining.

 

Early morning, long shadows, the best light.

 

You can see how the reflection of the sun off the windows of Tower Three are hitting the north facing windows of Tower Two.

 

 

 

 

I don't think I will ever live here, but I would work or visit here anytime as  long as I could bring my camera. There is an advantage to high-rise living, and it is the view. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed taking and developing them.