OCTOBER 26 - Breehy-less Outing, Wildlife and Going Nuts

There were three reasons not to go out today:

1. Rain pouring from the heavens
2. Carrying a 75 lb head on my shoulders, with absolutely none of that being brain, and half of it being whatever is stuffing my ears with cotton
3. It was a day off all to myself, where I could just stay in and sleep all day if I wanted - this is the first day in 2 weeks I haven't shared my day offs with someone who likes to plan things for the day

However, there were also three reasons to go out today:

1. Patricia wanted an update on the Viagra Plant, which I had entirely forgotten about, to tell the truth
2. I needed a can of Hunts Four Cheese Spaghetti sauce to add to my slow-cooker delicious spaghetti sauce for supper
3. It stopped raining and I figured I could walk - I'm not sure how slippery Breehy's tires are on wet pavement and didn't want to chance skidding into a transport truck.

So off I went. I didn't take Georgia, as I was only planning a can of spaghetti sauce. I took my camera, my phone, my MP3 player, my grocery bag, my inhaler, my notebook and pen, and my umbrella, just in case. I should have taken Georgia.

As I walked up King George, I passed by a stream. I think it's Bear Creek, but I'm not sure. There's more water in this one too - soon there may be salmon jumping, and I can't wait to see that. I remember when we were little, in Scotland, we used to watch them jumping up the dam behind our house.

 In front of the pub by the Sky Train station, I found the plant. I think it's dead, or maybe it just caught a STD. However, I grabbed the top and twisted it off, a mere 3-4 inches, in hopes it might provide a few seeds to invade an Albertan garden.

 There was a youngster growing nearby. The dying plant must be very virile.

 This sassy fellow was busy looking for nuts, so I joined him in his search - not right away, of course, but on the way home.

 After picking up a few heavy things at PriceSmart, I headed home by way of Holland Park. Still pretty, but not as amazing as Bear Creek Gardens. However, this was a grey, overcast day, and the colours were very muted.

 Another empty playground.

 As I was walking down 134 Street, I noticed a huge Monkey Puzzle tree in someone's front yard. There is still a lot of green in the neighbourhood!

 And - I found some nuts!

If you know what kind of tree this is, you know what kind of nuts these are. I think they are chestnuts.

 And yes, there are still blackberries available. However, believe me, they aren't as sweet as they were in August and September, as now they are full of water, a bit mushy, and best spit out.

 I walked through Queen Elizabeth Meadows Park, as I saw a whack of squirrels and a bunch of groundhog pyramids.  If there were any nuts in the neighbourhood, I would add to their number.

This tree was amazing. I wonder how many creatures lived in it?

 

 And I'm not absolutely sure, but I did pick up a couple of what I do believe were hazelnuts under this tree. Is it a Hazelnut Tree? Maybe.

 And this tree had a blanket of nut cases around its feet (and I don't mean me.)

 

 I mean these, in the slightly off-focus picture. I really should use both hands when snapping a picture.

 And to finish off - two signs* I passed by today.

*This video has a lot of signs, some you may agree with, some you may not. Freedom of speech and all that.

This one is just not right.

And this one marks the spot where Steve sometimes drops me off at King George skytrain station.