Sometimes all you need is a mother's love

So, it has been a crazy month so far. I have been on the go non stop and it is just starting to slow down.

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At the end of last month my Mom came to town for a visit. She was here for an all to short two week visit. It was quite the whirl wind couple weeks. They were filled with food, motherly love, some shopping, more food, lots of hiking, bird watching, good food and lots of catch up on mother daughter talks. It was quite sad to see her go.

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As you may have guessed my mom has a taste for good food. I don't mean the normal motherly good food. I mean gourmet good food. My mom is in the catering business in Whitemouth, Manitoba. She is chef, owner, creator and entertainer for her company Woodsmoke Adventures and the Greenhouse Supper club. So, you can imagine, she loves going out to as many restaurants in town as possible, this meant lots of great food. Then there was the amazing meals that she made for Dave and I! (we did not put her to work in the kitchen, she wanted to cook us dinner. Really! Aren't mom's the greatest!)

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Mom is also a huge outdoor enthusiast. That was actually the reason she moved to the small town of Whitemouth, so she could be closer to the Whiteshell Provincial Park. This meant that while she was down we were out every day hiking on the trails around the city. (Maya thinks that she is just the coolest.) It was lots of fun to be able to get out every day in the nice fresh air, but at the same time my new, heavier, pregnant body was exhausting to haul around every day. By the time she left I was really happy for the rest!

Mom and Maya walking on a trail in Dartmouth

Beautiful fall colours!

Maya having a blast in the waves

On the weekend of the 3rd-5th (the only weekend mom was down for) we decided to make the best of it. Dave took the Friday and the following Monday and Tuesday off so we could all get some touristy stuff in. On Friday we headed up to the Valley for the Pumpkin Fest. I have never been to the valley before and have been looking forward to this for a while now. Dave's dad drove down to help tour us around. (He used to be a tour bus driver for White Point Beach Lodge, so he knows all the spots to check out) It was a great tour, so many beautiful sites! Then for the end of the day we went to Noggins Farm to do the corn maze. I have been wanting to do this ever since I heard about it! It was a blast. Though I think Maya and I were the most excited about the maze, every one else was just laughing at me and my excitement. I got to just let loose and run around like a kid. It was great! I suggest it to anyone, especially if you have kids or have strong childish instincts... Though I would like to point out that I was the one who led us all the way thought the maze in only 45min! (it is quoted as taking over an hour) It was a blast :).

Mom standing with the chainsaw carvings of Howard Dill and a giant pumpkin

On our way back from a look out I saw this in a field beside someone's house, too perfect a shot to not take it!

Then we headed down to Liverpool to spend the weekend with Dave's parents. On Saturday we ended up going to the Kejimkujik Seaside Adjunct just a little ways out of Liverpool. It was a beautiful walk and we even got to see some seals!

I swear, there are seals in that picture!! My first time seeing them...

The colourfull walk down to the ocean

Mom checking out the sea weed and other sea creatures

I think Maya had the best time of us all!

It was a busy weekend, but lots of fun! Mom had a great time.

While she was down I was even able to get some knitting done! First, before she arrived I quickly knit up Beech Wood by Ilga Leja with some beautiful Mirasol Yarn Hacho. The colours were so "Mom" and I knew that she would love it. Also missing her birthday and Mothers day inspired me to give her something when she got here.

Look how cute Maya looks modeling Beech Wood!

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of mom with Beech Wood on...

Oh, and I was even able to get a Christmas gift knitted up! I was able to make Christmas socks for *mumble mumble* They are with a beautiful colourway (201) of Estelle Arequipa in the River Rapids socks pattern by Sockbug. I am so happy with how they turned out! I also developed a strong sock knitting addiction... I blame this on Mrs Yes...

So, now mom is gone and Thanksgiving is over, and I am back to work. (I took a nice two week vacation while mom was down to really get to visit with her) Things were back to normal for about a week there, now Dave is off to sea. I dropped him off on the ship this morning and he will be back for Halloween. Then in November he leaves again on the 10th and gets back December 7th. So, I go from a house full to an empty house. Looks like it'll just me Maya, baby and I for a while... At least I have lots of knitting to keep me occupied.