Sunday, September 30, 2012

A Bishop, A Crosier and a Little Girl

Today our church, St. Paul's Lutheran in Maple Ridge, welcomed our Synodical Bishop, The Reverend Doctor Greg Mohr. http://bcsynod.org/

On the way to church we told the grandkids that there would be a very special visitor today.  They were a little disappointed that it wasn't "One Direction", but were interested in hearing who it was to be.  I told them that when The Bishop enters the Sanctuary, he will be holding his Crosier, or Shepherd's Crook, which is a symbol of his office in our church.  In childlike terms I said, he is our shepherd, the big boss, we are the sheep! 

On the way to the mailboxes Bishop Greg was standing there and we introduced the children to him.  He was dressed in his street clothes.  Sitting waiting for worship to begin, both our Pastor and The Bishop enter the Sanctuary now wearing his green Chasuble and carrying his Crosier and Catie sitting beside me, sees Bishop Greg with his Crosier and  says:  "there's little Bo-Peep."  I guess my explanation in the van on the way to church wasn't very good!!  I must work on that. 

During worship the Bishop explained to the children what he was holding and what it signified.  I took the liberty of taking a few pictures.


(I think this was a "static" picture.)  Static on our sound system was bad today, of course it was because we had such a special guest!  Murphy's Law.
Bishop Greg demonstrating how a shepherd in the field might use it on his sheep.

After worship, on the way out of the Sanctuary, the Bishop greeted everyone and I told him about Catie's comment. (She was in Sunday School by this time.)  He got a good laugh out of it and said he was going to use it, and use it he did in the Fellowship Hall.  Out of the mouth's of babes!

During lunch I snapped this shot of Bishop Greg and Catie chatting and eating together. Bishop Greg did not know that Catie was responsible for the comment which made it even more perfect. I love these pictures.


Blessings abound!

Happy Sunday. 

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Intriguing Cargo

Motoring home yesterday we ended up at a stop light behind this 18-wheeler.  I found his load to be not only intriguing but also somewhat sculptural.  I wonder if you agree.


Cool, aye what?

What we couldn't tell from sitting behind the truck was that they are actually just empty blue tubes, with the ends covered, to prevent, I'm assuming, dust, bugs and grit from getting inside.

I live an exciting life wouldn't you agree?

Happy Saturday!



Friday, September 28, 2012

Mug Shot

I simply couldn't resist taking this picture today while My Beloved was posing for his passport picture.


My goodness both of our pictures made us look like total undesirables as far as Canadian citizenry goes.  Yikes, I sure hope they will allow us back in the country when we next use our passports!

Happy Friday!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

For the Birds

At this time of the year, I always joke with My Beloved that our back yard becomes a Disney-esque cartoon.  We see the Blue jays, Woodpeckers, Finches, Robins, Starlings, you name it, birds, swooping, flitting and flying around.  You look on the lawn, there there they are.  You look in the trees, there they are.  You need only to sit outside a few minutes  and you can hear them calling to each other.  We've watched this ritual repeated these past 7 years and it is something. An annual event that I really look forward to witnessing. 

I don't know, but when you call someone a "bird brain", you'd better rethink its' meaning. Somehow or other they send each other messages.  "It's time, it's time!"  It is really quite magical. The birds in The Grove know that the tree in the back yard will soon be bearing soft, red berries.  Tasty treats ready for them to devour and I mean devour.  A tree that barely a bird even sits in all season long, gets attacked for these berries.  In they swoop and within 3 days, they are all gone.  

If you enlarge this picture you will see a woodpecker digging around under our birch tree, probably eating grubs while waiting for the berries to ripen.

This is what it looked like after he was finished.  Our own personal lawn aerator.

A close up of one of the clusters ready to be devoured.  They are getting pretty soft, so I think in the next few days the feasting will begin. 


I took these pictures last year, all that is left are stems and one berry.

 

Happy Thursday!




Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Pssssst, Do You Wanna Buy a . . .

White cab for your eighteen wheeler trailer?  If you do, call me!


Our walks don't always produce a picture - which makes me worry - what will I blog about today?  Speaking of today, today marks a countdown for Motoring Through 2012.  This blog is number 266 which means ladies and gents, only 99 more photographs to come up with. So the travels with our camera continue. 

I have to say, all in all, I am amazed that two-thirds of the year is gone.  One thing I  know, I have appreciated all of the lovely comments you have left here.  Thank you.

Here's to 99 more!

Happy Tuesday!   

Monday, September 24, 2012

6 Chairs, No Waiting

One never knows what one will find when you go out walking.  Today's picture is yet another surprising happened upon.

Wishing you nothing but Happy Surprises today.

Happy Monday

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Upon Closer Inspection

I am always amazed at the things I find to Blog about, when we are out walking.  Yesterday's shorter walk was no exception.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen an 18-wheeler roll by on the freeway, loaded down with compacted items such as cars.  Also too, how they wrap the items up so that nothing falls off when they round a corner or hit a bumpy patch of road.

Yesterday we got an up close and personal look at one such truck.  It was parked by the side of the road so naturally...








All of the cargo was shrouded up like a pumpkin bride.

I wonder how many bends and twists this next will bring you and I?

Happy Sunday!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Curiosity

How often have you used this phrase?

"Curiosity killed the cat!" 

If you've spent any time around cats then you too know why the phrase "originated" with cats (at least in my world it did!) If a cat is in the house, you can be sure that he or she will always be poking its' whiskers into an open box, hole, bag, cupboard, engine, you name it.  I am glad to report that never, ever has a cat been "killed" on my watch, but then again, perhaps we've been just plain lucky.

Today, just as we were crossing our street, we saw the neighbour's cat poking her huge head into an open hood of a car. 

 I hope she's not sniffing around for anti-freeze!


 Oh kitty cat, don't press your luck!

Happy Saturday!

Friday, September 21, 2012

Do You See What I See?

Returning home for a long walk yesterday, we happened upon a Surveyor's "Transome".  Well I don't know about you, but I've always wondered what it was like to look through one.  Since the Surveyors were down our street, we took a peek.

What we saw was us upsidedown!  I still can't say what they see when they are looking through, but I couldn't help but take a picture of the reflection.

Okay, I just realized it was My Beloved who took this shot, I cannot tell a lie!  Isn't it cool?  I love this picture.


It turns out our neighbour Bill, who runs a surveying company out of his home down the street, was surveying another neighbour's yard for boundary issues before the new fence goes up.  Well, that's the official story, and I do hope the only story because, that property is 3 lots wide and receives several offers a week to sell it.  We neighbours all agree that would be a fate worse than death for us, so Joan, please keep on keeping on!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Chalk Dust II

The street artists have been busy in the Discovery Park area of our walk.  Today's are a mix of young and old.  As you will see from the pictures, mainly old!



That said, it's nice when you are feeling rather hot and parched, to receive encouragement.  Thank you kind stranger!

I hope you received encouragement from an unexpected source today too.

Happy Thursday!

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Chalk Dust

I love happening  upon children's sidewalk art.  Today, because the walkway we use detoured us down the side street rather than the wooded pathway, we made a happy discovery by a local resident artist.  A picture tells a thousand words.

 Let's face it, some people can't help themselves, they are just ham bones!

These pictures were large, running the full width of the sidewalk.
 I love all of the details!



I hope they brightened up your day as much as they did ours!

Happy Tuesday!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Out on a Limb

I was sitting at my computer yesterday afternoon when I looked out the window and spotted a really big bird in our apple tree.  A rare and exotic bird too, who didn't like to be photographed, but I did my best to capture him anyway.









Aww, there he is now!

Thanks for picking all of the lovely apples honey.



* * *
Glove sighting count: 4 ( A spiderman glove no less!)
Sock sighting count: 3
* * *



Happy Monday!