Les Chutes du Niagara

For years we have been tripping to Niagara Falls--les chutes!--to picnic, to bike, to trek Clifton Hill, but mostly to gaze in awe at the ever changing, always thrilling Niagara Falls. Here are a few shots from last Monday's 1 1/2 hour walk (while my husband was giving a seminar at a conference there) around the area.
A cool but comfortable morning it was as I took the walk from our hotel, through the Marriott where we had stayed a couple of years ago, by the magnificent Casino Niagara and down the curving street to the centre of attraction.
Here is a view of the American Falls across the Niagara River. I loved the play of the red leafed vine on the old reservoir in the corner.

I liked it so much I tried a few more angles, the one below with lush green grass in the foreground.

And this is a landscape shot where you can easily see the American side of the Niagara gorge--this is the longest undefended border in the world, quite a feat today, I think.

This is the bridge to the U.S., a shot I've captured countless times but which still calls me with its suggestion of human conquering of a wonderful wild space. Magnificent.

So popular are the Falls, both American and Horseshoe that every day of the year sees tourists from all over the world lining up for trips behind the Horseshoe Falls, eating dinner at one of the many overlooking restaurants, or even up in the Skylon tower, and getting soaked on the Maid-of-the-Mist boat tour under the Falls. Here is one of the boats taking its passengers back to dock opposite the American Falls, having survived the biggest thrill under the Horseshoe Falls. The famous blue raincoats, hats and heavy rubber boots are required if somewhat stinky wear.
Turning away from the water for a moment I caught this blue sky dominated by the Skylon Tower.

Being fall the abundant flower baskets are overflowing with colour all along the Falls walkway as though trying to compete with the natural splendour just a few feet away.

This is the Niagara River before it races over the Horseshoe Falls; the water level dams which slow the water as it approaches the Falls intrigued me as I know that a number of years ago the water was diverted so that repairs could be done to keep the Falls flowing beautifully and I wonder if this is part of the plan. Interestingly much of the water is diverted from flowing over the rocky Falls in order to keep them from eroding, but still providing a stupendous roaring sight.


This is my favorite picture of the bunch, I think, with its splash of sumac making the scene vibrate. Nature is the best painter!

On my walk back to the hotel I paused directly across the road and soaked in the sight one more time. What a treat. I wonder if the people living there forget to be thankful?

Of course I have written about the Falls before. For more pictures check out this link.

Garage Sales

Yesterday we had a big garage sale but didn't have as many people as I would have liked, though we made about $200 for a morning's time invested. Not too bad. My nephews were here overnight and helped get everything out of the house for the early birds. As soon as you put up the signs people come, whether you have the stuff out or not. A bit of a pain to this organization freak actually.
The day was cold though sunny and we needed cups of apple cider and hot chocolate to keep warm. My friend, Donna, came and helped out a lot--I am sorry to leave her when we move. Two of my sisters came with family and that was fun. I kept giving things to their kids, happy to see their faces light up with their treasures. Another little girl came across the street with her Oma and Opa (Dutch for Grandma and Grandpa) and I gave her some little glass animals and a cute wee vase all of which had belonged to our daughter a long long time ago, and seeing her smiling eyes was rewarding. Reminded me of Glass Menagerie.
Our house is starting to look a little bare, an exciting thing to both of us as we have just too much stuff. We haven't moved in 31 years so there has been way too much hoarding and saving going on. Purging is good.
We have decided to have another sale next Saturday as we still have piles of stuff to get rid of, good stuff, too. I should be putting it on E-Bay or something but don't want to take the time. So. Next Saturday, October 20, we'll be carting goodies out bright and early for our eight to twelve sale. See you there?

Moving On--Finally!

We've done it! After two and a half years of on again, off again, we're selling, we're not selling, the house is finally sold. And we are jubilant. Smiling, singing, laughing--and planning a huge garage sale in a week. I am so ready to pare down and refocus. Maybe by decluttering (the new tv buzz word) our house, we can simplify our lives. Oh, we're not going to give up too much. I'll still have my beading, knitting, sewing and painting supplies, as well as a few of my favorite books, and hubby will still have a few tools and books, but a lot of our hoarded collections will go.
Below our realtor is as happy as I to finally be able to put up the Sold sign.


In the seventies--read MANY years ago--I had a wonderful subscription to the Canadian Author and Bookman magazine, and I still have all of the back issues, kept because I've always known I would write some day and would reread them. Imagine! Thirty years of saving them and Thursday I decided to put them in the pile of things to go.

Our many LP's will be in the garage sale, too, unless I can think of somewhere else to get a little more money for them. We have Sinatra and Louis, Coniff chorals and many other records that we used to love to listen to in the seventies. I remember when we were living up north in Schreiber and our son was a year old we would put on the records, pick him up and dance around the room, his little feet kicking for more whenever we would stop.

The basement is a treaure trove of memorabilia, Coke and old car stuff, sixties posters, funky art pieces--even a picture of old cars whose tail lights turn on when you plug in the cord. All of it has to go, I'm afraid. There is no more room in our lives for collecting--too many things to clean and dust.

Our garage sale is next Saturday and may even be worth a major trip from Vancouver, California, Scotland, Carolina--wherever you are! Well, maybe not Scotland!
Here are a few memories in picture format for me to sigh over: