Laowai

We took advantage of a four-day weekend that the girls had and headed to Montreal. It was a great trip with beautiful Fall weather and so much stuff to see.

We started out our first day walking along the waterfront old port area.

Then we went to their Museum of Archeology and History which was very interesting. Lots of underground bits of buildings layered on each other that told the history of the city. This old dishes display was a favorite part for me.

We saw their Notre Dame Basilica and then walked around the old town some more.

After that we hopped on their Metro to go to the site of the 1976 Olympics. They had interesting pivoting doors at all the Metro stops. 

When in Rome… we had some poutine.

Here's a shot of the Olympic area. This olympics had Nadia Comaneci and her perfect 10 and also Bruce (Kaitlyn) Jenner won the decathlon.

Now part of the Olympic complex houses a biodome with lots of fish and birds and other creatures.

The antarctic area had cool (ha) ice walls.

That evening, after dinner, we walked around and saw some of these projected video displays that were scattered around the Old Town area.

The next day we made our way to Mount Royal – a big park in the middle of the city. On our way there we popped into another big impressive church.

Here we are at an entrance to Mount Royal – it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (who also designed Central Park). These neat 3-D maps were scattered around the park.

There are a few old buildings within the park including The Mount Royal Chalet. Oh, it was so pretty! Look at the squirrels that are perched up high.

Here's the view of the city from outside the chalet.

There were so many people enjoying the park – what a treasure for the city.

Next we walked to a revitalized industrial area along a canal. We stopped at a big outdoor market along the way.

We walked along some locks above and below is an old industrial building along the canal that looked like it was converted to apartments. 

On our last day, before we headed to the airport, we explored St. Helen's Island and the Biosphere. It's very confusing that Montreal has a Biodome and a Biosphere… hmmmmm. 

The biosphere was built as the United States pavilion for a world's fair type exhibition in 1967. The geodesic dome was designed by architect Buckminster Fuller. Fire destroyed it's acrylic window panels in the 1970s and now it holds environmental exhibits. Unfortunately it was closed for remodeling, but I really didn't mind because you can see how interesting it is just by walking around the outside.

Before we left we had a delicious lunch and a great beer for Brian. 

Merci Montreal!

We spent a long weekend in Montreal and saw so many pretty things. I'll get around to posting some Canada photos but first things first – I have get out into my garden and pick some Zinnias.

I'm enjoying every moment in my garden as fall closes in on us.

I keep checking on my caterpillar friends hoping that they don't get gobbled up by a bird.

I gathered a whole wagon-load of hydrangea flowers and made a wreath.

My little woodland native garden is coming along. It's looking good despite the fact that it was just planted this spring and the bunnies have been grazing.

My White Wood Aster is blooming and that makes me so happy. You can see a photo of the White Wood Asters at the Chicago Botanic garden below. Hopefully mine will be big fluffy clouds like that next year.

Wasps love my flowering fennel.

I'm so pleased with the flower bed next to our patio. It looked ho-hum for much of the summer but now it is full of color. I wish I could capture it better it's such a nice view to see out my banquet window.

And it's been giving me a constant supply of bouquets.

I've been wanting to make this pattern for so long. I'm kicking myself for not doing it before because it's such a fun little pattern. It's the Woodland Stroll Cape from Liesl + Co. It has only three pattern pieces and it's not very big so you can afford to buy a fancy fabric. 

We're goiing for a weekend trip to Montreal soon and I am going to wear it all over town. I should call it the Montreal stroll cape.

Another window finished. A small step to helping this old house go on with its job of keeping us cozy. 

Befores and then afters:

Here are a bunch of photos that I've taken in the last few weeks. Sometimes I wonder why I keep taking photos. Year after year I am drawn to the same things and I take similar photos. But since I enjoy it I just keep doing it.

At this time of year the gardens are very photogenic.

It's amazing that this little jewel of nature is right next to the highway. Interstate 94 runs between the gardens and that building in the photo below. I remember my mom often noticed (as we were hiking or skiing) when the sound of roads would disappear. It was pleasant to notice the lack of sound and sometimes I get that here at the gardens even though we are so close to the noisy highway.

I've been going to The Chicago Botanic Garden once a week since the beginning of this year. I take a photo in the same spot each time I go. I haven't posted those photos but I'm already thinking of next year. I'm thinking I might take the photo below throughout the year. The little prairie is the most varied and interesting spot for me, so it would be a good spot to capture all year long. 

My morning glory is hugging the purple coneflowers. 

The bed next to our patio is full of blooms right now. I'm particularly happy with my Japanese Anenomes and my blue sage. 

Who needs fussy dahlias when you can grow big beautiful zinnias so easily.

I ripped all the pachysandra out of the bed by our back door. It was looking a little ragged after we had a big tree taken down and the plants were getting more sun. I wanted to try something new – something more nature friendly. So I've planted a bunch of prairie petunia which is a native plant with pretty little purple flowers. And I've ordered some daffodils for the space too. I really hope the prairie petunias fill in. I put up a temporary fence to keep the hungry rabbits out until the plants are bigger.

I always forget (until it comes) that September is a great month for flowers.

Brian went to Sydney this week. Here are a few pictures that he sent back to us.

Back at home the girls started school. No pictures but they are off to a good start.

Shadows are getting long.

I went to the Chicago Botanic Garden. It's hard to decide which part I like best – the English walled garden or the prairie?

There is a change in color in the prairie – more brown, less bright green. 

I see so many goldfinches this time of year but you know how shy they are – it's hard to get a photo of them.

After dinner one night we took a walk along the lake at Northwestern's campus.

After our couple 100 degree days last week the cool wind felt wonderful.

We went to Glacial Park on the weekend (Brian rode his bike and Bea and I met him with the car)

The asters, which are my favorite, aren't putting on a show yet – it was a sea of goldenrod.

This park is remarkable because there is a hill – yes, a hill in the Midwest! Here's the view from the top.

And lastly, since our mini heat wave, it's been so good to throw open the windows at night. And also to enjoy evenings outside while we can.