We spent the morning in the rain. We're trying to embrace it. Sebastian and I walked into town for art class, wandered around the streets in the downpour. Sebastian doesn't mind the rain in his full-body rain suit and often trudges along saying, "I like the rain. I like it. I like the rain." But I haven't been as patient, not when the stroller is pooling and we have a long narrow-shouldered highway to make our home on. We headed down to the kiosk for our last burritos and tacos of the season, stood under the patio with the dock folks-- the island workers (Alex amongst them), the water taxi driver, sailboat dwellers, dock kids (Sebastian and friends)-- and watched the rain come down. Something of a camaraderie. We took a walk on the dock, watched the big fishing boats rock, no one really coming or going. I remember now why we love cafes, and how clothes and walls grow mouldy (but not this year, dammit), and that we still have never bought an umbrella. 

The garden is more or less tucked away for the season. We have one lonely raised bed half-full of chard and kale that will supplement throughout the winter, half a dozen beets stored in the ground somewhere and garlic planted for next summer, but that's about it. Everything else is covered in maple leaves. We have been collecting leaves like we're hobos and they're beer bottles. Leaves are a hot commodity for us, with only a few cherry trees in the yard and the rest acidic cedars. We've been dragging dozens of bags home throughout the month, and now the compost is full, the beds are covered, and we're happy to know our hard work will finally extend into seasons upon seasons as we stay in this house and build up the yard. We're planning for spring and summer gardens already, shovelling grass over for new garden beds, dog-earing and circling pages in the seed catalogue (well, maybe that's just me). In the meantime, we'll be collecting rain (and hoping all the Easterners protection from the storm today!). 

My new rain shoes and a pathetic brussels sprout plant.

Goodbye lawn, hello winter garden.

The cabin, empty and cold. 

Rock gardens and raised bed.

Little lion in mama's sweater after a long night walk in the rain.

Sneak peak at a halloween lion.

First day with the "wall off." 

What adventures will this boy have while we are sleeping? 

Winter Hares

Self Portrait with Rabbit

Evening

We had a great visit to Ottawa and Montreal this month. It was surreal to be back in Montreal and totally comfortable and familiar to be in Ottawa (family helps with that, I suppose). Sebastian was constantly doted on (subsequently rather difficult to deal with upon returning to BC, mostly in need on constant Mommy cuddles and waking up throughout the night) and Alex and I enjoyed being childless for a lot of the week. The highlight of the trip for me was definitely walking through Montreal, wandering around all the old neighbourhoods that had such a punch of nostalgia, and seeing the beautiful faces of old friends. It's reassuring to know that even after being away for a year and a half, it's pretty simple to show up. I forgot to take many Ottawa pictures (Alex's parents have approximately 1000 photos on a disk, barreling our way via Canada Post), but here are some Montreal highlights:

Sebi's morning in Montreal started with a chocolate croissant and a tiny steamed milk in an espresso cup at Blanch de Blanch. Petit Henri!

Fabienne and her beautiful zoetrope.

Alex, Sebi, Julia & Emmy. Oh, and Restaurant John 2.0, best reno ever. 

We broke into our old place! Well, sort of. 

Saint Henri

Rue Sainte Philomene, where it all went down.

Sebastian's first Ottawa Halloween pumpkin carving. Took much convincing to get that hand in there.

The best way to come home after a long trip on a chilly October day is to light a fire. The stillness of the house quickly gives way and it's like having a wild creature take care of the strangeness of an unlived-in house while you crawl into bed and have a nap. It's good to be home.