More Japanese Anemnes?

I've discovered that flowers either do very well in my flower beds - or they die and disappear.

When they do well, they spread until they're hard to control.... like the Japanese anemones in our front garden bed, above.

Those that don't do well, diminish - then completely disappear... Like pink echinacea flowers and "bleeding hearts" that used to grow here.

I love them - I've planted them several times... But this year none flowered. Perhaps they can't toletate the acidity of the soil with the pine trees overhead.

Last year, Terry asked me to dig up some of the Japsnese anemones. The roots had spread and the flowers were taking over the lawn... (Not that I mind!)

So I dug up a few spade-fuls - and replanted them in the middle of the flower bed. I see they've taken hold. I wonder what next year will bring... More flowers? Or diminishing blooms?

What is That?!

What is that? I remember thinking, as I caught a glimpse of a giant elevated grate in my daughter's Toronto neighborhood. 

Was that an outdoor art fixture? Or did it serve some practical purpose - like covering a very large water reservoir?

Let's go check it out, Terry suggested - so we did.

We discovered that it covered two commuter train tunnels that extended below street level for several blocks.

Were it built for aesthetics? Or did it serve a practical purpose? I wondered...

When I googled my question, I saw that I wasn't the first person to wonder about this...

They were needed to support the walls of the train tunnel - to prevent them from caving in. (I'm glad they look nice, as well!)

Chasing the Harvest Moon

Last night, Terry and I were driving home from Andrew Haydon Park at dusk...

We had just watched a beautiful pink and blue sunset.

Then - as we were driving - we spotted the large "harvest moon" in the south east.

I tried to capture the perfect picture on my cellphone camera. I wish I could have found a hilly spot with a clear view... No streetlights in the way! But there was none.

At times the clouds made the moon look like ringed Saturn!

So beautiful! So awe-inspiring! What a beautiful world we live in!

Looking Back

Today is our day for looking back and remembering OUR BIG DAY, all those decades ago.

We looked so young. We really had no idea what we were getting into! 

We also had no idea all the GOOD THINGS life had in store for us - as well as the BIG ADJUSTMENTS we'd have to make, two firstborn with strong opinions, each thinking they were right.

Here we are now... It's hard to believe we're the same people! (And in some ways, we really aren't!)

Hunting...

At first I wondered if the animal next to the car was a fox.

Last year I saw them from time to time - but none so far this year.

No, it's a cat - very focused on something under the car...

A few nights ago Terry noticed a large black cat, hunting something in the flower bed: Baby bunnies, pethaps? Mice? Chipmunks?

Then there are the quiet neighborhood skunks that dig up our lawns looking for grubs...

Occasionally we catch a glimpse of them, too. All live in our neighborhood..,

It's a busy place outdoors!

Swimming Fun!

Yesterday was warm and sunny - a perfect day for brunch and a swim in our older son's home.

Ivy created an island oasis in the deep end of the pool...

.. while her brother had fun in the shallow end.

Chipmunks ran back and forth with nuts and seeds... I sat in the shade and watched.

A perfect afternoon!

Skyscrapers and Planes!

In early September, Terry and I were in Toronto, visiting our daughter in her new home.

She lives in the heart of the city - in a neighborhood called "Liberty Village" - where tall apartment buildings and condos are springing up all around.

Her "picture postcard" view of the city, includes the CN Tower, beautiful by day or by night...

Also commuter trains... and an elevated expressway.

One morning, after enjoying the view, we headed out for brunch in Liberty Village.

Walking back to her place, we suddenly heard planes - overhead. 

It was an air show!

I pulled out my camera - and managed to get pictures of ... mostly buildings! 

So we headed up to the penthouse garden of her building to get a better view...

From that height, the view was really breathtaking!