Winter preparations

On my walk yesterday I witnessed these muskrats getting their home in the pond ready for the winter. I had been doing similar work in our yard at home, so I felt a sweet affinity to these furry neighbors.

Fluffy and tough

These two characters came to our house yesterday. They had lots to say about life in general and were lots of fun to hug too!

Beautiful UW

I get to teach a class in a lecture hall across campus this semester and the walk is spectacular! Here is Lake Mendota in all of its fall glory from the top of Observatory drive. The walk is always this fun later in the cold season, but now it is great!

Moon over Verona

This time of year the moon can be spectacular! These pictures don't do justice to the size and majesty of this thing tonight...it was amazing...

Another rainy and blustery day here in Montreal...perfect for Halloween! So many people are in costume here. Whether they are out for a run, shopping or going to classes, there are costumed people all over the place! I went back up Mont Royal again today..beautiful...and then after the sessions at the conference, I headed down to old Montreal. Notre Dame cathedral was the standout, but the entire walk was filled with lovely old architecture.

The Museum of Art



Notre Dame



Grand Central station



Really cool bird houses



Then after all the rain, God provided this beautiful sunset to end the day.

Continued...

Today was way better in terms of my luck...our presentation was well attended and thought provoking (at least for me!). The sessions I went to were great too. Then I got to take a hike up Mont Royal and was treated to a beautiful view of Montreal.

Here's my hostel from last night...didn't get to stay...a little problem with the air conditioning...among other things like big holes in the wall!



Sights from the city...



This beautiful Bascilica was even more remarkable inside, and at 5pm there was an incredible bell concert for 15 minutes! It was amazing...the sound bounced off of the buildings around and it echoed through the streets...



The hike up Mont Royal...

Did you ever have one of those days when nothing went to plan, but it was kind of fun because the whole experience was way more of an adventure than you could have planned? That was my day! A two hour delayed flight that was rerouted through New York. An airline employee that had about a dozen of us on the wrong plane out of New York. A very friendly, but extremely talkative Canadian that took me on a two hour bus tour of Montreal. A metro station that offered French-only directions. And a hostel which was closed because it fell down! But throughout the entire day, I was filled with an understanding of the funny sense of humor that God has, and although nothing went to plan I never felt outside of His care. What fun! I can only offer these two pictures of the beautiful scene coming into New York because the rest of my adventure took place during a constant bus ride conversation or in the dark...much, much more to follow! Now a little rest before the presentation tomorrow...