Boo!

Happy Halloween from Little Leia! She's out trick or treating with daddy right now. We've been working on getting her to stay 'trick or treat' instead of 'I want candy', but I'm not sure that lesson in manners was effective!

It's darn cold out there, in fact, there was snow today when we were in Peterborough - brr! So I'm glad that I made her Leia-buns as a hat, rather than just a headband. Warmer, especially for a girl with little to no hair!

Hope you're all having a spooktacular Halloween. We've got enough candy for 40 kids and have had 1 so far. Might have to eat some chocolate myself!

And to see a video of Evy, very excited about candy, click here.

Little Leia

Evy's playgroup is having a Halloween party today. Lucky Rob got to
take her while I'm stuck at work. Here she is, in her little Princess
Leia costume (made with love by mummy) ready for the party.

I'll get some better pics on Halloween, just wanted to send a sneak
preview!

Screeeeech!

I saw a Peregrine Falcon on my walk to work today. I'd heard rumours that a pair visited Peterborough on occasion (presumably to control the pigeon population, not enjoy a night out at The Purple Rooster). Normally, they are seen on the clock tower or the steeple of George Street United Church, two of the loftier downtown perches.

This morning, I heard a crazy cacaphony of crows and looked up to see a lovely fuzzy-pantalooned peregrine on the chimney of St Veronus pub, one of Peterborough's finer drinking establishments. (I love how it looks like they are weary downy puffy pants tucked into tight yellow boots. I'm pretty sure that's how the biologists describe them).

The crows were dive-bombing the falcon, I guess telling him the rooftop was their turf, or maybe protecting their crow-babies with a group show of force. The falcon just ignored them and finally flapped off to find a feathery breakfast elsewhere.

It totally made my day. I know for some of you (esp you East and West-Coasters) catching a little biodiversity on your way to work is no big deal. Bald eagle? Pshaw. Whale? Yawn. Moose? Zzzzz. But, for me, it was a lovely sight, especially considering that a few decades ago there were only a few hundred peregrines left in Ontario (thanks, DDT). They are definitely on the rebound, as can be seen in cities and cliffsides across the country.

Thanks Falcon Fuzzy Pants, for bringing a little excitement to an otherwise boring Tuesday morning!

Day-off fun!

There's nothing sweeter than a Monday off work. We've made the most of it by doing absolutely nothing. (Isn't that the best?). We did make some time to play outside, considering it's yet another 10/10 fall day.

Rolling in the leaves, playing on the slide, burning off some calories from our mega-Thanksgiving meal-fest.

Showing off the size of the leaves on the special tulip tree

Climbing the old maple like a chimp

Appreciating that when your hair's like dandelion fluff,
the static from the plastic slide is quite amusing

And the obligatory autumnal splendor shot

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Evy, mackin' in the bracken

Potatoes = vanquished
Pie = destroyed
Stomach = sick

Yep, just your average Thanksgiving with the Lee/Higginson clan. 17 people and 5 pies... seems about right I think.

Little madam had a very jolly time with her 3 cousins, all of them chimps. The menfolk went for a swim ('cause they're insane) and a good time was had by all!

Happy Turkey (Tofurkey) day to one and all. (And the best part is, I get tomorrow off work too! Woot woot!)