When I said we had spent the last three weeks in Vancouver I wasn't being very accurate - most of that time we were actually in Burnaby. A couple of days after we arrived I decided to go a for a walk with my camera after breakfast. I wanted to get to know the area a bit and I see differently when I'm thinking through my camera lens.

I started off near the hotel and meandered down the street, crossing to the other side of the block when the sidewalk ran between buildings. I found small formal bits of garden near the hotel and around businesses. There were trees turning beautiful colours and lawns covered with leaves. Eventually I found my way to a bit of nature reserve I'd noticed from the car the day before. It turned out to be full of blackberry brambles. I found a small path that led to a pretty bridge. A sign told me this was important fish and wildlife habitat. I took advantage of a rustic bench to do a self portrait but had my less zoomed too far. I liked it anyway. I found the biggest rose hips I've ever seen and some blackberry flowers that promise more fruit later in the season.

The whole time I was walking around I was in love with the light. So many of the things I'd learned to notice in the Light Hunters course I took in July were there for me to take advantage of. I found sun flare, dappled light, backlit subjects and interesting shadows. The colours really amazed me too: bright green, golden yellow and deep red. When I think of BC - specifically the lower mainland and the Island - I always think in saturated colours.

We went for a hike to Cameron Falls with our friend Katy and her (borrowed from another friend) dog last Sunday. We thought it might be a bit cool and overcast, and sometimes it was, but it was perfect - not too hot, not too bright and with a bit of a breeze. The trail was easy to follow and just challenging enough to work up a good appetite for the hot dogs and s'mores that followed.

Abby had a fantastic time running around off-leash (as long as we were not too close to either the road or the river). She's wearing her lifejacket for visibility and to slow her down a bit. She was really good about staying where we could see her even if we couldn't keep up (you should have seen us on the way back - four of us happily tired with the walk and Abby still full of energy and running back and forth - she probably ran the trail about three times all together).

It started to rain just as we were heading back to town. The perfect, lazy evening to follow a busy day outside. There are loads more pictures over on flickr. It took me ages to whittle it down to the ones that are here:

Happy Thanksgiving.

The sun always seems a little brighter once we've had a dusting of snow. I hope I'm not the only one eating leftover pumpkin pie for breakfast today  :)