Living

Volunteers Veronica Wahl, Stephanie Levy and Myrna Bennefeld brave the rain to yank invasive blackberry at Mosquito Creek Park.

It's time to pack away the summer furniture and dust off the indoor fireplace. Fall is officially here and as sad as it is for some, there's something warm and inviting about sitting by the fire on those rainy days with a good book.

Stepping away from the comforts of routine is a wonderful way of clarifying why we do the things we do and why we keep doing them.

GARDENSMART WORKSHOP - MARVELOUS MUSHROOMS Join Scott Henderson to discover how you can grow your own edible mushrooms indoors and out Saturday, Oct. 19, 1-2:30 p.m. at Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre, 3663 Park Rd., North Vancouver Fee: $8.25.

TEEN PHOTO COMPETITION North Vancouver District Public Libraries invites youth ages 13-18 to submit a photo influenced by something they've read. Prizes to be won. Deadline for submissions: Monday, Oct. 21. 604-990-5800 x8118 alicam@nvdpl.

Turkey isn't a favourite of mine, but I sure like the things that go along with it. Let everyone else fight for a drumstick or the perfect slice of breast meat, just pass me the sweetpotato casserole.

Norvan Saguiped, 17, Argyle secondary Art teacher: Murray Bulger Favourite art: Surrealism/dream art Favourite artist: Salvador Dali His teacher writes: Norvan expresses his personal experiences through strong symbolism and surreal designs.

Recent rainstorms serve to remind us that when it rains in the rest of Metro Vancouver it pours down by the bucket on the North Shore and few things are more damaging to the soil than heavy rain falling on unprotected soil.

Autumn on the North Shore is truly a wonderful time of year. Big leaf maple tree leaves are turning to lovely gold and oranges, mushrooms are popping up in the woods and the birding is great.

It was September and my friends and I had returned to school to begin second grade.