I am not a fan of the cold. I am very open about the fact that once the temperatures drop, and snow flies, I hibernate. I am not the greatest of "outdoorsy" or "nature girls" out there. I am very okay sitting inside for hours reading, binge watching my favorite movies/television shows, trying to express my creative side and going through my photographs. I am happy as clam to not leave my house for days at a time during the winter. This all changes once the weather becomes fair however, and the itch to get outside takes over. During the winter months I do start to go a little batty though as some cabin fever does set in. So, to compensate this winter I decided to go visit a friend and see the “big ol’ blue”. I got on a plane, left my winter world behind and woke up to a beautiful sunrise, a city, and the ocean. Seeing all the green was just the thing I needed to shake up my insides, and dispose of my winter blues. Seeing a dear friend of my friend was just the cherry on top! Getting to explore this foreign to me city with one of my dear friends who accepts me for all my oddness, and even adds her own special spice, made the trip truly amazing! Wandering the streets with my friend with all her awesome suggestions made me enjoy my time in Vancouver. I am not truly a fan of city, and people, but being able to wander with it someone who knows me inside and out made the trip one I truly enjoyed. We both have a love for the ocean, and so we spent some great time walking the seawall enjoying the site of the water. However, we both questioned why we couldn’t “smell” it compared to other places we have travelled to visit it. My friend agreed to tour me to the Vancouver Aquarium, and allowed me to take it in with all my ridiculous excitement. It is definitely a stop I would suggest if you in the Vancouver area. There is some amazing sites, great information, and the Vancouver Aquarium do some great work to help out in the marine biology world. The colors of the fish, the jellyfish, other animals, and getting to see the turtles and sharks, truly made my day. As I took note of the art students taking inspiration and working on projects I couldn’t help be jealous. I wanted to spend more time, and grab some colors, blank paper, and have some more fun. As I watched I knew at some point in my life I would love volunteer there, and now I have found another thing to add to my “future to-do list”. It was a great week get away, to indulge in an old friend, and let my mind rest. Once in a while a person needs to get away from their regular life to help put life in perspective. Sometimes the best thing a person can do is... runaway!
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At the end of August was the Twin Valley Rodeo weekend, and I was very excited lady to enjoy some local entertainment. Mother Nature on the other hand had a very different idea as the rain started on Friday night, and had it rain for the rest of the weekend. However, this did not stop Friday night from happening as Bull Fighters geared up in garbage bags, and bull riders toughed it out. Through the muck, and the mud, the Friday Night Bullarama was a go. It was one of the most difficult events I have photographed as I attempted to get shots through plastic bags, and rain drops. Though I came out of the event drowned in my clothes I enjoyed my time on the side of the fence. The night was definitely one I would not forget anytime soon. I am thankful for all the people that were willing to stick it out through the cold, and wet, weather to make sure the night happened as planned. Due to the rain the rest of the events of the weekend got rained out which I was thankful for. Due to this change of plans I found myself on a late September day back out at the local rodeo grounds. With the beautiful changing leaves as a backdrop I watched the ladies attack the barrel pattern. Though things didn’t go exactly as planned for the Twin Valley Riding Club I did thoroughly enjoy myself at all the events that took place in that month span of time. It was great to get out to enjoy the people, and to see the talent displayed each night. I am thankful to the Twin Valley Riding Club members who put in time and effort to put on the events. It takes a lot of hard work from dedicated individuals to make events like this occur, and without them I wouldn’t get to enjoy photographing such awesome subjects.
As we experience cold temperatures for the last few days here in Saskatchewan we get back to our regular winter programming. We had a beautiful run this winter with a surprise spring in January, but now as we start February we have frozen back into winter. As a person who is hibernator in winter these cold temperatures mean I am confined to my house wishing for warmer weather again (however, secretly thankful to have the cold weather to blame so I can just have time recharge). This time inside is allowing me to get through some photographs I was unable to get through this busy fall. This means I am finding all these wonderful warm photographs of fall on the Saskatchewan landscape. I have written about the beauty of Saskatchewan fall and the great colors on the landscape many times. I have a sort of obsession with the Saskatchewan fall, and the beauty of harvest time. I can say I know where this obsession developed from, and it can be traced back to the idea "you don't know what you have until it’s gone". Spending every fall for 6 years in Northern British Columbia made me crave the prairie fall. It was always hard going back to school knowing what I was missing out on, and would not get to see. The 2 trips I made back during those 6 years were not enough to quench the thirst I had to see it. For 6 years I watched the cottonwood trees turn gold amongst the conifers of the Northern British Columbia landscape, and I dreamed of home. I walked hallways where the sight of rain, or a sunny day, passed without much of a notice beyond what it meant for recreational play. It did not cause panic, nor excitement. People weren't in tune with the weather and watching the skies, though I admit it would be difficult to do past the height of trees. I spent time with lovers of nature, and people who were obsessed with being out in it. However, they were not in tune with the season in the way I had come accustomed to. They were in tune a different way, and watched it come and go with an appreciation for the beauty it brought. Whether it rained or shined, did not affect the work they had to do. So they did not watch for it, or get upset by the weather changes. It just changed, and they adapted to it. Amongst the beauty of the changing forest I felt alone, and disconnected. The buzz of the harvest season I had come to love was not in there, and I could not feel it. No one was there talking of combine parts, grain bushels, and businesses were not affected by the weather. Businesses were not left quiet, or overrun, depending on the weather. They just moved as usual, like any other time of year. Peers were not rushing home on the weekends to hop on the tractor, and coming to school tired after working in the fields all weekend. My peers were free to enjoy the hunting season, or hiking trails, that suited their fancy to break up the stress of studying. I felt out of touch, and it took a few years before I adjusted to the new seasons that I experienced. On the "outside" they were the same, but the on the inside they were worlds apart. This past fall was the third fall I have experienced back in my home province and I still find myself obsessed with the season every year. August is my favorite month as that's when the buzz of harvest begins to grow, and the landscape begins its change. In September this buzz overruns my system, and in October the buzz turns to one of panic as people want to get harvest off before the frost hits to hard, or snow falls. I drink in all these sights with a craving of that of a person who has been wandering a desert without water.
Each of the 3 falls I have experienced have been unique on themselves, and have shown me different landscapes within my beautiful province. Each and every fall I have found myself thankful for being able to take them in. This is the reason this blog becomes over run with fall photographs. I no longer take this season for granted, and enjoy it with every ounce I can. I pray for long, good weathered, falls. I run out to capture every piece of it I can, in a desperate attempt to make up for what I have lacked. On these cold winter days, when the skies are darker, and I find it hard to be cheery. I look back at these fall photographs to remind myself that no "fair weather" winter is worth losing these fall landscapes. I will bear the cold, and wind, that pushes on the prairie persons mind and makes us question "why do we live somewhere where the air hurts our face?". We all have our reasons why we stay, and the beauty of a Saskatchewan fall is why I stay. My heart will always be here amongst the living skies of Saskatchewan, and my buzz will be found amongst the harvest landscape. |
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