The Challenge: Walk everyday from April 6 to May 22, and capture nature & wildlife looking excellent. The Reason: To participate in the Canadian Wildlife Federations Walk for Wildlife & raise money to help support species at risk in Canada. Find my donation page here. Preface: I am almost 2 weeks late on posting this update and I apologize (I have been pretty diligent about posting a picture a day to help track the walk on my tumblr page though on a positive note!). The fourth week of my walk for wildlife, and things started out a little rainy then turned a little snowy. The snow was wet, and dense, covering the landscape in a slushy white mess. It was to my delight that the snow disappeared by the following afternoon. I walked to work the morning after the snow came in winter boots through the snow. I left work a few hours later in the warm spring sun, with no snow around, and feeling really out of place with my boots. Out of place, and very happy that the snow was gone with the bright warm sun shining. Every week I hope that the snow that falls will be that last bit of snow for the year. Every week so far we keep getting more. However, with this being the last week of April one can only assume that with May next week this last 24 hour showing of snow will truly be this year's last. With the snow melting its winter partner, ice, was also melting with it. As I examined the lake surfaces I could see that the ice was starting to let go of the lake. The lakes were finally being freed from their winter entrapment, and getting a breath of fresh air. The water was crisp, but still made me want to walk in. It was so beautiful to see the water shimmer from the sun in the ice free patches. I am sure the lakes were happy to finally join their river friends in throwing off their ice cover. The ice has been off the river for a little while now with water flowing freely. Though the week started of cold and wet, with weather I am sure even the ducks weren't enjoying, the weather changed. It quickly turned the opposite way as the sun felt a bit warmer, shone a bit brighter, and I started to see the trees trying to get their green out. In between the death of last year you could find the rebirth of Mother Nature this year. It was a glorious sight to know that things were indeed going to turn green soon. And turn green Mother Nature did. She light up the night sky that week with a show of green, so gentle and so sweet. To watch the green lights dance across the sky while the evening wasn't so cold to scare you into the house was an amazing moment. The green washed across the sky, and made me even more excited for the green that was to wash the landscape in the near future. Each day I was out this week, be it during the night or during the day, the amazing spring season never stopped surprising me. Though the landscape looks a little drab at the moment, in its yellows and browns, I know that soon the landscape will be covered in green. I check the trees buds each day and see them developing more and more. Soon our deciduous trees will burst forth with those leaves. The grass keeps trying to grow through the old growth, and soon it will. Everything is alive, and busy, out on that landscape. Getting cleaned up, and getting ready to put on their summer's best. I will close this blog entry with a couple shots I took of some Sandhill Cranes while out on my walk. I was blessed for a second time that when I made the choice to take the road less traveled these wonderful birds would be spotted. This time I was lucky enough to see them approach over the trees, and fly freely through the wind scoping out the landscape below them. It is said that when a Crane enters your life they bring a message of good-tidings. If you see them flying they are encouraging you to lift your eyes skies to remind you to keep your spirit lifted and inspiring you to trust in the universe. Well these two definitely gave me a inspiring sight to behold. I am going to say they have been showing up in my life as a sign to keep reminding me that good things await me on the road less traveled. May these pictures lift your spirit as much as the sight of them lifts mine. May they also bring you good luck in your upcoming week!
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The Challenge: Walk everyday from April 6 to May 22, and capture nature & wildlife looking excellent. The Reason: To participate in the Canadian Wildlife Federations Walk for Wildlife & raise money to help support species at risk in Canada. Find my donation page here Preface: I am almost 2 weeks late on posting this update and I apologize (I have been pretty diligent about posting a picture a day to help track the walk on my tumblr page though on a positive note!). The third week of my walk for wildlife found me with a little less snow, and more of a spring time feeling. The week started out with a great opportunity to catch some glances at some bison. Though these were tame, and not "wild", but one can only hope to catch these creatures as such when they have been removed from the prairie landscape. Every time I see them I think how amazing it would be to catch the sight these creatures out free on the landscape, like I do with so much of our other native wildlife. This weeks walks were made special since on the Tuesday of this week it was also Earth Day! I wrote a special day only post about it here. It was great to get out, walk and enjoy nature at its finest on such a celebrated say. I got to see so much that day! I thoroughly enjoyed walking down on the river bank, and seeing a new part of the Qu'Appelle River. Much of the week was spent along the river as possible as each day felt more like spring. I started seeing more and more water life as the ducks were coming back in more and more numbers. Life along the river was waking up more each time I took my walk down by it. The sound of the water in the river, and the splashing, were very comforting to hear. I also got the very pleasant surprise of finding some fresh and fuzzy willow buds! One of the signs that spring is truly in full season mode, and I was very glad to have found them. They are probably one of my favorite things to find in the spring, and I love taking the sight of them in since they are only here for a short while. They are spring only occurrence, and one I love seeing every spring. Another sign of spring during that week was that we finally got our first true Spring Rain. No snow occurred with it. Just grey clouds, humid air, and the gentle drops of cool spring rain. To me, this was Mother Nature's way of saying Spring is truly here. I enjoyed it so much that I actually put on my rubber boots, and took some time to go and explore while the rain fell. At the end of the week while spending time in an area of the river that I know, but haven't spent time down for a while, I found something else I love to see. A busy beaver at work. Beavers are one of my favorite water mammals, and water engineers. I find them to be very cute, and the work they do on trees & building water structures to be very impressive. The patterns that are left by their chew marks on trees is always something I stop to take in. If I could have a table with wood accents of beaver chew marks I would.
The weather was dreary all week with heavy grey clouds. This, however, was something I enjoyed. The clouds give the landscape such character, and I know they bring rain that is going to turn the landscape from yellow & brown, to green & bright. Welcome back Spring! I look foreword to spending the few short weeks I get to spend with you, and your awakening of the landscape. Welcome out of the transition period, and into your own full beauty. |
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