I’ve taken to calling this just-passed summer season  The Summer of 40 Days and 40 Nights, referring to those weeks and weeks of blue sky, rain-free, lazy days. It was followed by Soggy September when along with the fall equinox, the weather shifted, forcing me out of my seasonal denial (aka flip flops). September brought heavy rains and the first of what will be many gale-force winds out on the water. I heard that Vancouver was reporting the third wettest September on record. Over here on the island, we don’t get as much rain as Vancouver, but it was clear that summer was over.

Fall in Qualicum Beach means never a dull moment. Most days are a combination of everything – fog, clouds, drizzle, sun, blue sky, more rain – which actually is kind of cool. I grab those moments of sunshine to go walking and exploring – carpe that diem – then watch the clouds roll in from the mountains safe by the warmth of The Bunkie fireplace.

Of course the equinox may not be the start of fall. Perhaps it’s Labor Day that heralds the autumn season, just because habits change at that time. Our little tourist town, which welcomes travelers and summer people in the July and August months, is back to its quieter self, although still with a lot of people being outside, walking the trails and roads and enjoying the beach walks. The kids are long back to school, and I have been slowly gravitating towards The Bunkie Studio, where I hang out in the fall and winter. I have a number of projects on my mind for this new season, although I’ve learned that the key to happiness is to have no “to do” lists, or if I really must have one, to have no more than 3 things on it, and still not to count on them actually getting done. So what am I going to do this Bunkie Studio season? Let’s just say for now that I’m thinking about it, waiting for the muse to show me the way (or lead me astray), although one thing is for sure, photography will be part of it.

I’ve taken hundreds and hundreds of garden images this year, trying with, often, not a whole lot of success to capture its delights. Now that it’s autumn, along with the fading beauty there are some pretty interesting realities to photograph as well. There was that day when the 4 pots of cherry tomatoes I’ve been feasting from for months, decided enough is enough and had given up. What a mess. So long till next year.

Here is a peek through the GreenHouse windows showing some of the glass art I’ve been collecting to hang inside, keeping me company with its color. When the fuchsias moved outside, and the GreenHouse became very hot in those 40 Days, I filled it with the tropical colors of the potted hibiscus to keep company with the large,shallow pots of succulents. In there as well, enjoying the Left Coast tropics, is a Kaffir lime I finally sourced for Thai and Vietnamese cooking along with a couple of curry trees. Take a very good long look at these pristine benches, and applaud if you will, for all that has changed and this showcase once spruced up for its portrait has once again has become a working GreenHouse with dozens and dozens of pots making their way in, for trimming and spraying and bedding down for the winter.

Here’s what it looks like today, with 18 fuchsias so far cut back and drying out for their upcoming winter rest sojourn under the benches (and lots more to come). “Time for your nap, Mommy’s tired”, echoing what I used to say to The Little Boys all those years ago.

Earlier in September I signed up for a day long photowalk with a couple of local photographers. I’ve been taking pictures for 6 or 7 years, but now it seems I’ve become more interested in figuring out what I’m doing. Or not doing. What the heck are all these buttons and dials for anyway? So off I went for a day of taking pictures with the pros.When I showed up on the Saturday I was delighted to find that there were only 3 of us taking part plus the two photo leaders, meaning it was like having a couple of private coaches.

Besides getting photography advice and having fun with a small group of people out in the fresh air, the other benefit from that day was exploring 4 different locations. We went to the top of Little Mountain in Parksville, to two waterfront parklands in Nanoose and a woodland trail – all of these places, although within a half hour drive of my place, were new to me. That day has inspired me in recent weeks to go off by myself exploring with my camera. I’ve found new beach access areas along the coast, found a trail along a gorgeous ravine on the west side of town, climbed down banks underneath bridges to follow pathways along side creeks and rivers to find their estuaries, photographed fog, played with manual settings (still can’t say I know what I’m doing), taken panorama shots later to play with stitch assist software, looked for owls, photographed hawks, and generally have been having a grand old time exploring this playground at my own back door. Enjoying the season.

Happy Day