the thanksgiving weekend

first off, i went into a forest in the city!
these pictures are montreal too. parc-nature bois de liesse, even if this might have been too early for "the colors"!!! all i hear about these days is "the colors" and our new PM, but on my street the leaves have already gone.

so anyway. paths, trees with leaves mostly green or barely yellowing (this is 2 weeks ago already, and it feels so long), and wild walnuts (more on that later). and the river, which seems to pop up everywhere.

and the very charming wooden watching decks and fence-like things and picnic tables; from a point on everything was painted green, which i appreciated.

and then, traditionally, the yearly botanical garden visit to see the lantern fest. and, laterally, a pumpkin exhibition as well.

i always roll my eyes at myself when i see i end up taking pics of half the exhibition. but these simpsons butternut squashes deserve an honorary mention, also because it's my first time attempting to classify north-american pumpkins.

attempt at an overall view

best idea pumpkin

chinese garden. the night was warm and pleasant, and the line at the entrance went on and on for miles. approximate waiting time 30 mins. bonus, though, they were supposed to close the gardens at 9, and they had them open til 10:30-ish.
And theeennn... once inside the gardens, everyone (and their cat) was crowding up into the chinese garden. went to see the reast of everything, came back 45 mins later when it was empy-ish and quiet. 

i was very satisfied that they changed the theme visibly this year. no matter what the topic was, and how nice the lamps are, for about 3 years i've felt that they were using the same decors and just barely switching it up a bit. i think this year's theme is a meta thing: deconstructing fishing rituals, or something like that. also, lanterns representing lanterns, oh well. 

the main fishing scene in the middle of the lake

satisfied with the new lantern designs

also, i ate the best green tea cookie. no documentation of the cookie, just of the olimpic stadium: it's still there

another emblematic scene of the night

i do go to the botanical garden for lantern fest, but i have wised up to the idea that there are other things to see there, even/especially in the fall. I have a particular fondness for the Japanese gardens too, one that doesn't translate well in photos. there are light shows, sounds, the chance to sit in the sand on a dark quiet shore, small things to discover.

and then, to the river again on thanksgiving day, the warmest day since summer (at one point i was wearing a tank top. for 5 minutes ok, but still, it's me). 

first real glimpse of "the colors" 

i usually stop at the tourist square, or more likely don't even go there. but walking east along the river is nice too, and felt new. 

lucky view

there used to be a beach behind the horloge, all summer. i kept hearing about it and never went. now i saw it. 

thanksgiving dinner, traditionally eaten after midnight, i.e. after thanksgiving,

and strawberry wine, which i'll plug here: Danube Reserve zinfandel, 2015, www.vintnerscellarwaterloo.com

and the best discovery (ok, a discovery for me) dish: butternut squash baked in the oven, with salt, pepper and garlic. i have baked pumpkin in romania before, and that's sweet and i know exactly what kind to buy. i think the butternut squash is less sweet than other types and more...butter-y...which is why the garlicky glaze complemented the taste so well.
i may or may not have done this 3 more times since.

i never manage to take instagrammable photos, because half of me is rolling her eyes (one eye?) at the other half of me, so at best the picture looks badly focused. this is probably that best. 

i owe you a walnut story. tty,c.