Getting Warmer

Compilation of a few days in this post and perhaps the next depending how long it gets. We begin our journey last Friday, the 28th March. I was in an online poker tournament where I would become $200,000 richer (sadly not real money but still) when Katy shouted about a double rainbow. I seconded Rachel to keep folding and grabbed my camera.

Double rainbow over Burnaby.

Pretty impressive if I do say so myself, I love rainbows. The day Mark and I got engaged we saw a double one, always makes me smile. As I was taking different pictures I noticed this on the house next door.

Burnaby homestead complete with weather cock

Not just the beautiful light on the trees but the weather cock. No wind today - actually as I wrote that I heard the old Admiral in Mary Poppins. I never knew his name was Admiral Boom! Anyway I got back to the game in time to take second place and $200,000 to add to my $34 million muahahahahah!!! If only it were real.

Last thing before we go back to cherry blossom and walks with the dog, a tale of food. Etta is a pain sometimes, she eats the cat food at every opportunity. We have tried many things and most recent is using the cat tree as a barricade. For those of you who saw Katy posted an appropriate picture on Facebook. But this weekend the tables were turned. We are feeding both cats and dog grainfree food and had just given Etta her first from Costco. She LOVES it btw. So does George, our georgeous ginger tom (misspell intended ;)).

Here he is helping himself to Etta's food. The look on her face was priceless and as soon as he sniffs around her bowl her food becomes the most delicious thing ever. The photo is from my phone not the camera hence the poor quality.

So, onto walks. We have still been restricted to Squint lake Park because of her stitches. She had them out yesterday but the vet's assistant said to still keep her quiet for a couple of days. It was a beautiful sunny day, hot enough I almost considered no coat but resisted. Soon though (in fact today!)

Cherry blossom, one of the many trees filling Greater Vancouver

I start with the blossom. A slightly higher angle that actually I like as it shows the trees in the background and they are worth seeing. I shall try and keep that in future. They are definitely pinker and what I find really interesting is that across the city we seem to have 'timezones' the blossom trees further west definitely are more bloomy as are the trees higher up the hills. Perhaps someone can explain to me why.

I also took a few pictures of various growth in our garden mainly because I like it and think there is beauty in many things we sometimes overlook.

Cherry laurel getting ready to bloom

This is cherry laurel, it is a very common tree here, all three houses have had it in their yards and it propagates very quickly and easily. I said a few pictures but I seem to have lost them, will have to try again and you will have to make do with laurel.





Enough about my garden, off we go, I noticed on the drive up to the park a glorious magnolia tree. I love magnolia, they are just exquisite. In our first house there was a magnificent one outside my study and I miss it. I say study - it sounds better than spare bedroom but one day I should like a study with many bookcases lined with books. Even though I actually read mostly on my kobo now I still love the feel and smell and look of books.

Magnolia tree in Burnaby

So this is the tree, I stopped the car, got out and took pictures so you could see. How beautiful is it? It is only going to improve too as more buds flower. Sadly they don't last long but then again what does?

Squint Lake trail

When we got to Squint Lake it was lovely, the mildest breeze, hot sun and perfect walking weather. Here's our tunnel. I am not sure it is much greener than last time but the couple ahead of me were enjoying it all the same. The golfers were also out in force making the most of the dry weather. Ladies are allowed at Burnaby Mountain Golf Course and here's the proof.

Burnaby Mountain Golf Course

Ok, I admit you can't see the ladies, not very clearly the carts they were using, I am having difficulty focussing past the closer twigs. I need to work on it because with a dog it's not always simple to get to a twig free zone. Trust me on this then, there were two ladies playing golf just there and those were their golf carts. No caddies.

Etta was in an incredibly sniffy mood. Every two steps she wanted to spend several minutes examining the scent in a spot. he had a great affinity I noticed for ferns. I was talking to a lady I met before, she has an incredibly beautiful chocolate lab called Dusty, and we were considering if the dogs could smell the coyotes. I haven't seen any on this side of the inlet though I did in North Vancouver. She said she has seen them on the golf course and Katy has been warned about them by fellow dog walkers. Etta also refuses to enter one part of a wood after dusk. So that's possible, of course she could just be enjoying the spring like me.

Our Siberian Husky taking the scent in Squint Lake Park

One more picture and I am going to leave the rest for the next post along with our reconnection with the lovely Indie and Helen. This is the space along the side of the softball courts, it is full of blackberry brambles. So I post this in eager anticipation of blackberry jam, pie, crumble and maybe even a glaze for some juicy pork chops! These are everywhere and with a hound as an excuse I foresee much autumn fruit in my future!

Blackberry brambles in Squint Lake Park

I hope you enjoyed this little trip with me, come back either later or tomorrow for the remained.

Thanks for reading and PLEASE leave a comment. x