In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb As the snow continuous to endlessly fall over these past couple of days I have had the above poem playing in my head over & over again. This winter, my first winter, in the Northern Prairie has been an interesting adventure as I experienced winter like I rarely have before. Firstly, this is the second winter where the warming effects of El Nino have been extreme enough that I truly have seen the "benefits" of the warming temperatures, & will remember them for years to come. Secondly, I have gotten familiar with the beautiful winter phenomenon of a Chinook wind. Who knew for the this prairie girl the answer to finding a milder winter was in fact going North?! A contradiction, but one that has proven true in this move... or at least for this winter season. With these milder winter temperatures I have been finding myself out enjoying the outdoors a lot more than I usually do. My inner hibernating bear is a little upset, but come next winter I am sure she will get all the sleep she needs as we move back into a regular winter cycle. This getting out has been an excellent opportunity to explore my new home as I develop my new routine, which includes finding my favorite spots to wander & let my puppy run wild. It's beauty has not stopped producing amazing views as I explore in the depths of winter. The Northern Prairie has been an amazing new home to me, & I often forget how far North I am actually living, or the fact that I am living within British Columbia & not in my beloved forever home province of Saskatchewan. The amazing sunsets, & paths amongst fields, have me feeling like I never left home. It has made the transition to the Great White North a lot easier. Then I have moments, that are a quick drive away, that remind me that I have very much left my beloved provincial home far behind. One weekend this past winter I got to enjoy a quick jaunt to Liard Hot Springs. On the way there I got to check another species off my list, the Stone Sheep. It was amazing to catch a sight of these Northern dwelling animals, & I loved that I got to catch a glimpse of their babies. I fell in love with this very interesting animal. It was neat to actually drive amongst the mountains on this trek, & enjoy the unique geography that created the area. The Hot Springs themselves were a truly amazing piece of nature to behold, & I can't wait to go back to experience them some more. It was definitely one of the neatest places I have ever been during the winter. The mountains, the landscape, the plants & animals, all combined with the experience of swimming in hot naturally occurring water in the middle of winter with beautifully delicate frost hanging from the trees is not something I will ever forget. Something that I will definitely head back to next winter when the cold chills me to the bones... however, I will remember to pack better to keep myself warm after a dip! This winter has been an amazing adventure, & I can't wait to see what the next season has in store. Tomorrow when I wake up I only hope that I will get to explore all the new fresh snow that has fallen in better weather conditions, & let my puppy run through it all. For a person who admits readily her distaste for winter I am strangely growing a new kind of fondness for the season. The adventures that are possible, & the things I can't wait to do the next time this season comes around, has me excited. Though my inner bear rumbles upset at the prospect of losing yet another promised seasoned of sleep. I guess it will be a challenge learning to balance the two sides for I truly enjoy winter for it's quiet, rejuvenating, beauty. So, don't get too excited to see me turning into a winter crazy girl. I don't know if I will ever wear the "Northern" badge fully, as I do love my winter hibernation a little too much. “You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” ― Dr. Seuss
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So it is a Monday night & as my New Years pulls closer I find myself going over memories from the summer. There is one specific one that sticks out in my head tonight, on this Memories Monday. It was when my family & I decided to go back to Riding Mountain National Park this past summer. On a whim, & a quick change in our family vacation plans we found ourselves in a new direction & packed up to enjoy an oTentik. *Side Note: if you ever have the chance to camp in one of them, please do it. You will not be sorry!* This spur of the moment trip that got planned, when we realized our original family vacation for the summer wouldn't work out, was a lesson in taking a moment to remember. That is because while planning the trip we realize that it was 18 years since we had last visited the park. My mother & I pulled out the old photo album & began to share memories of that amazing first "big & full" family vacation. As we went through the old photographs we thought back to the old memories & noted which spots we would have to stop again in. Upon entering the park from the original direction we first visited it in it was like a case of extreme deja vu. However, for me, that would be replaced with a sense of accomplishment & pleasant realizations on how far I had I come in those past 18 years. As we toured through the park I tried to bring up all the old memories I could of who I was, what I felt back then while being in the park, & what all that meant to me now. It was a very pleasant, & accomplished, feeling to realize that I was now visiting this park while also being a Parks Canada employee. As I explored all the different parts of the park I began to think more, & it was one of the most eye opening trips of a lifetime. Sometimes the best thing a person can do is take a break & find somewhere they can walk in the shoes of their own at a different time in life. You stop to take notice of things you didn't the time before. Admittedly I was too young to appreciate what an amazing & unique place the park was. I didn't understand the importance of the geology or history it now held (being the last national park to be decorated by the gate displayed in the first photo). As we toured around the east part of the park exploring the history, & taking in a road side view from the escarpment, I took in the views in a way I never would have understood in my young age. I am glad I got the chance to re-experience this spot & take notice of something I missed the time before. That moment of awe was repeated later as we toured around the park with the help of our great guide during one of the driving/walking tours of the park. The little spots we were taken to in the park & the details about the ecosystem & history of park development were appreciated in a whole new way. The hike, & drive, with guide was excellent in itself. However now being a graduate of a Wildlife & Fisheries Management program, along with the beginning of a working career in grassland (along with watershed) conservation, it gave me a whole new set of eyes. Now I understood the importance of the history found in the fun bison song that explained the expansion of the native wild bison herd in the park. Along with understanding the incredible uniqueness & importance of protecting the ecologically diverse spot that the park is founded on. I was able to pick out the amazing native wildlife flowers that were growing in every spot we visited, & I was often left behind the group as I tried to grab photos of these treasures. Riding Mountain National Park is an excellent spot to go capture photographs of some of the unique & beautiful wildflowers that grow within Canada. The park is full to the brim with moments that you can get the chance to see the many amazing parts of nature that make Canada unique. Some of these have to do with the things on the smaller size, but it also includes the large ones as well. Keep your eyes out while camping you might just notice a Black Bear, or while driving/walking through the park you may notice Moose, or Deer. The park is home to hundreds, & even thousands, of the amazing animals that make Canada their home. Of those animals, that also includes the amazing Bison. These amazing animals are healthy & strong at Riding Mountain National Park, & other Parks Canada sites in Canada. They have to be one of my favorite wild animals, & the reason for that is simple. Every ecosystem needs that one "superstar" animal to help promote awareness for it. The prairies, & more importantly the grasses, have the bison to speak for them. Though there is two types of bison out there, the wood & plains, & I have a passion for both species. Each one speaks specially to the ecosystems they are attached to, & speak for conservation of the grasslands they feed on. Every chance I get to be able to spot true, wild descendants, of our native bison populations I jump at immediately. Though I have nothing against our domesticated stock (I actually am quite in love with them), it is amazing to see where they started from. Including getting the chance to be able to watch & analyze how much has, & has not, changed. I will admit I owe my family a lot on this trip & that they allowed me the chance I got to see the beautiful creatures. I forced my family up early in the morning so we could get out there to see them before the descended into the trees to take cover from the heat of the day. As we made our way into the viewing platform of course I made notice of the sign that discussed bison conservation. Though it is something of a good conservation tale that we have been able to bring bison numbers back from the brink. That good tale is only half of the real story. You see, their habitat is not as lucky. The habitat that supported many of these great creatures over vast miles is very small in amounts in our current world. Looking at grassland ecosystems as a whole only 25% of them remain. If one actually looked at every grassland eco-type as they looked at specific tree habitats in the forest, then there are ecosystems that have 5% or less left. It is a great to know that Parks Canada is taking a step foreword in the protection of these unique habitats & the animals that exist within them. I am truly thankful for all those that put the effort in to study, & assess these cultural gems (furred & otherwise). This trip truly reminded me why I have taken the path in life I have chosen. How I ended up in university in a Wildlife & Fisheries Management program rather than an agriculture centered related field of study. I can only hope that if I had the chance to run into the young girl I was the first time I visited that park that she would look back at me proud of where this life path has taken me. I can say I can't wait until the next time I get to explore this amazing park, & that I look forward to accomplishing my "bucket list" goal of visiting every National Park in Canada. I am excited to see what other wonders await me at the other Parks within Canada, & what inspiration will hit me there.
As I close this blog I must strongly urge you if you haven't visited a Parks Canada National Park or Historic Site that you add it to a "must do" to your summer adventure list. I am thankful everyday for the forethought of the people who conserve these spaces & tend to them for future generations to enjoy. Each one protects at least one unique Canadian gem, & each gem deserves to be seen. Also, if you enjoyed the wildlife photos seen in this blog, & would like to try your hand at some, please first do some reading to ensure the safety of yourself & the animals your photographing. A great place to start would be here (Parks Canada specific rules), here (National Geographic), here & here. As Christmas season is upon us & I get ready to visit with my Saskatchewan family, my thoughts drift back to my "Last Saskatchewan Summer". As I moved away & now carry a very blue licence I can't help but think back to the amazing landscapes I left behind this year as this year winds down. I was blessed to have such an amazing summer to be my "Last Saskatchewan Summer". I take solace in knowing that it will in fact not be my last summer in Saskatchewan, & looking at these photos just makes me eager to start planning my vacation time (Sorry, Range Boss). I started out this summer/spring, with my usual walk for wildlife. If you recall from my previous, & sporadic, posts on my walk this year was all about the birds. I saw so many birds every time I stepped out of my house, & I took extra notice of these beautiful creatures. See, most of the time like most Saskatchewan residents I take them for granted. I am not what you would call a "bird person", so I don't tend to go out of my way to see them. However, with the knowledge that I wouldn't be spending another summer day in and day out, everyday, back in this feather filled province I seemed to pick them out. In Saskatchewan, we are blessed to have a home filled with not only a high number in variety of our feather friends, but also in sheer population numbers. This was something during my time at university that I took notice of, as I found during my homework of "bird watching" the numbers in British Columbia's north bird population to be a terribly disappointing while away at school. The numbers we get to see fill our prairie skies are something to always be thankful of. This summer I found myself living within Regina's city limits & like a good Regina resident I spent a lot of time wandering the edges of the Wascana (both lake & creek). Wascana Park, & trails, were amazing spots to run away to from the city streets. The beauty found in the valley, along the water, & hidden beside the paved in city trails was a place my mind could go to to rest. The sunsets, the animals, & all the plant life I found living in these areas were a treat. Definitely one of Regina's best assets is the beauty that is held within the Wascana. Of course, like every summer I made sure to make some time for my fishing rod. Not nearly enough, but I still found myself pole in hand on a lake's edge. From the beautiful Last Mountain, to Buffalo Pound, I enjoyed taking in some new fishing spots. The sunset over the beautiful lakes is always a great sight to behold, & the moment is made even sweeter when you notice a fish fin waving in the distance. However, being able to visit one of these fishing spots on horse back was just the cherry on top. This summer was not a summer to forget, & delivered in Saskatchewan beauty like none-other. The stormy skies that took too long to get there for the summer were well worth the wait. The stormy skies colored the Saskatchewan skyscape with an amazing assortment of colors & clouds. There was Northern Lights, & flowers bursting to bloom all summer long. Everything I could have asked for as I sat down to enjoy the Saskatchewan landscape. So much color, & so much vivid life. I am very excited to share even more of my views from the summer. This little snippet, shows only the beauty I was able to capture in my walks, drives, & quick fishing ventures into the province for the summer. There is much more to my "Last Saskatchewan Summer" & this is only the beginning of the story... setting the stage if you will. As I step into this new year, & to share my new life, I first will recount the world I left behind. Giving thanks for its beautiful bounty, & the honor the life that gave me the solid base I needed to take the next step I am taking. I will always be proud of my "Made in Saskatchewan" roots, & this last summer was a perfect climax to the amazing life that I found in my birth province. So it is October 15... October is half way over! I can't believe how time has flown in the last 5 months. It seems to move faster every day. As I watch the landscape change around me in my new home I can't help but think back to my old one. October in Saskatchewan hast to be one of the "warmest" time in Saskatchewan. It's certainly not due to the weather on the gauge, however it's due to a much different reason. The way the colors turn in October in Saskatchewan make you understand warmth, not blazing heat but true comforting warmth. Each leaf, blade of grass, and flower finds itself in transition. All the green bursts of summer start to calm down, and are replaced by hues of gold, yellow, brown and red. As they transition from bursting with summer growth to saying good-bye before the winter's cold breeze blows through. It is one of the most glorious times of year. It's nature's climax for the year, signalling the end of the great symphony of a growing season. This transition happens slow as Mother Nature attempts to hold on to the green, as hard as I hold to the hope of a delayed winter. The wind finds a certain chill to it as it brushes across the landscape. It is more crisp than it's summer counter part. Warning of what is to come in the few short weeks ahead. Anytime spent down by a Saskatchewan lake will show the truth of what is come as waves crash on the shore. Though the air may be crisp, and speak of what is to come, fall is a kind season. As fall takes care that as you go to bed with the sun, on those days that are starting to get shorter by the moment, that you think of fond warm memories. As during fall, and the month of October, the golden hour takes on a special sweet glow. It's not as blazing as the summer, but instead softer in its hues of hushed gold, and soft pinks. As the sun sets on skies filled with harvest dust the light catches just right. Giving rise to an amazing "rose colored" landscape. One that warns of the cold night ahead, and chases you inside with a soft kiss. As I enjoy my new home I am introduced to a new fall as things at this latitude hugged against the rockies happen a little bit differently from my home in the Qu'Appelle Valley. As I get adjusted to this new interpretation of fall I think back to the days that signaled a harvest complete, and the "calm before the storm". Very fond memories of taking in that last bit of heat before winter drops her cold coat of shimmering white on the world.
Fall in the Saskatchewan prairies is something truly unique onto itself. One thing I am glad to have spent many years appreciating, with the most important years being the last three falls I got to enjoy. I can't wait for next fall as I know I will visit during that precious time. No fall captures my soul quite like that Saskatchewan Fall. It's truly one of a kind, and I am proud that its beauty is a part of me (even if it is only in my memories). So... I have not kept up as well with updating on my Walk for Wildlife as I had last year. Sorry! Things have been pretty busy in my personal life as I have been trying to get settled in my new home. I will also admit, with great disappointment, unlike last year I have not been able to get out everyday to capture wildlife looking amazing. I have done my best to get out at least half of the week, but unfortunately I have been missing days. So the photos you are seeing in this blog post are taken during that time. I am still sharing one photograph for each day of the walk, but some of these may have been taken on the same day since I was unable to capture any great wildlife photographs on the remaining days. It has been approximately a month since I have last posted on the walk, and lots has still happened to me. There have been an abundance of opportunities for me to catch multiple bird species this year and I have been truly thankful for it. While taking a walk in one of my favorite places in the Qu'Appelle Valley I was able to capture my first ever Wood Duck. It stunned me with it's beauty, and I am over the top glad I was there to be able to capture it. It is such a stunning duck, and is often seen as North America's most beautiful waterfowl. One of the reasons I was so happy to capture it was due to the fact it is rarely seen on the prairies. I couldn't be happier that Mother Nature afforded me this opportunity to capture such an amazing animal. The theme this year for the Walk for Wildlife is all about "Wild Migrations", and mother nature has delivered many feathered migratory animals to appreciate. This walk for me is becoming known to myself as the "Year I Walked With Birds". You can see it by how many feathered friends are the main points to my pictures. This year was also the year I had a Downy Woodpecker decide to "wake me up" to capture a sunrise (photo below; read about it here). It has been a magical winged adventure this spring. Between all the feathers I have managed to see some animals of the furry variety. I did manage to spot river otters again this year, but was unable to capture an appropriate picture of the cuties swimming. The deer this year have not been as cooperative for pictures as the blessed abundance of forage has not left them clinging to forest edges unlike last year's harsh winter, and snowy spring. Though it has made my job difficult to capture them I prefer the challenge knowing that this year Mother Nature may be giving them a rest, and providing them with a year they can truly recover their numbers in. All in all, I am very thankful for everything I have had the chance to enjoy in the limited time I have gotten to enjoy them. I am thankful for those that in their wisdom have protected the lands that I have used to capture the photographs I have. I can't wait to see what will come out in my last two weeks of the walk. Bring it on Mother Nature! I can't wait to see what you have for me... I am listening. ^ Why it is always good to listen when Mother Nature comes calling in the form of a Downy Woodpecker. 2015 Walk for Wildlife
The Challenge: Walk everyday from April 10 to May 31 to 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. Any money gained from my top photographs will go to a Saskatchewan group that is working to help protect Species At Risk in Canada. This year's theme is "Wild Migrations", and I will do my best to capture species making their migration back to the prairies this spring. Thank you for *your* support. I hope you enjoyed seeing the photographs from my last 28 days of the walk! Happy Earth Day, & Happy #farmvoices day! It was on this day 3 years ago that the Farm On foundation kicked off the Farm Voices campaign, and I began this blog site. Lots has happened since then as the movement has grown, and I have tried to learn how to blog along side it. Three years ago I wrote about why I started this blog: I am a amature photographer with a love for agriculture, conservation, rural life and the outdoors [espeically fishing]. I am excited to start this blog to help give people an insight into all those topics by using my photography skills as a window into a world most don't get to see Since then I, and this blog, have under gone many growing pains as I tried to figure out what we are doing. I want to send out a sincere thank you to every one that has followed along this blog as it, and I, have grown to be what you see today. Without your support I would not be where I am currently. I truly hoped you have enjoyed seeing the photographs that have introduced you to the world I have lived. Many things have changed over the years, but in these past few months, and upcoming months, I have been, and will be, under going big changes in my life. Big things are coming, and I can't wait to see where it takes me and the moments I will get to share. I want to thank you for the past years, and hope you will be there as I continue to share my little part of the world. This past year introduced me to many new experiences, and I got my hands a little more dirty as I began to learn more life skills to direct me down the path I want to travel. Each day I get a little closer to the life I have imagined for myself, and I am so happy that you are there with me as I take these next growing steps. In this past three years, I have found my way back to the farm and I found my own niche I wish to fulfill. I have spent time on the combine, ran the grain truck, been along side my friends as I experienced farm auctions, and been there as they experienced some of the most difficult planting years. I have experienced what it is like to "give a calf an earring", the feeling of community while working through the muck during branding season, and begun to learn how to throw a rope. In this past year the seeds I planted in my life began to sprout as I found confirmation that I had chosen the right niche to grow into. This past year I have found encouragement, amazing mentors, and a community that has given me a sense of belonging I haven't felt before this point in my life. My mentors ranged in age, and in the eyes of some very special young cowgirls I have found who I want to become. I just wish there was a way I could truly thank all these amazing people that have been good to me, and let them know just how important the roles they have fulfilled, by just being who they are every day, have made an impact in my life. On this Earth Day I find myself grateful. Grateful not only for the beauty of natural world I am blessed to be a part of, but also all the of the people that exist within that world. I am grateful for all those that I have met in this short life of mine, not only those I have met in this past year but also for those I have known for much longer that have been there for me through it all. I am grateful for the people that have kept me in their lives even though I may wander far from where we started. I am grateful for the people that have come into my life path and chosen to show a confused girl where to go (whether or not they knew it). As I finish this blog I find myself thinking back to my seasons of life, and last year I wrote about how I felt I was coming into Spring. This year I find myself watching spring slowly transition into summer, and I am excited to see how things will grow in this next year. My cup is over flowing with inspiration. I hope you will continue along with me. So I just had to say this... I think... I think.... Spring is finally here! I am so excited, and so very pleasantly surprised as it came a whole lot quicker this year. This winter had a case of the milds and truly I did not mind that one bit. March came in, and I watched as the first day of spring by the calendar actually LOOKED like a the first day of spring! I was a very happy woman. Though throughout the month of March, and up to pretty much a little over a week ago we were still experiencing bouts of snow. This snow would come just when I thought we had finally seen the last of it, but it didn't last long... sometimes less than a day. The snow hung around tightly as it could this year not wanting to give up its spot on the prairies. In all the dark places where the suns warmth could not hit you could find it and its accomplice, ice. Though go it did as the warm spring sun found its way to thaw the winter world, and wash the prairies with its warmth. The golden color of the sun made this springs welcoming sparkle on the landscape, and made one feel warm even if the wind blew cold. Spring in all her beautiful glory has been here I dare say a month, and it looks like she is truly here to stay... if I jinx this snow-less run I apologize already for getting prematurely excited. The skies have been so welcoming with their warmth, and down below everywhere the light touches it brings that spring in a little stronger. The landscape is still quiet though as it is awaiting that first spring rain to help wake up the fresh greens for the year. In some spots I have been blessed to find the first sightings of this years green, and I can't wait for it to take over the landscape again. I explored every nook and cranny I could find as I watched the snow disappear. I even found myself out on the Trans Canada Trail this spring in a spot I haven't visited for a couple of years. It was there I found the Easter Bunny! The Easter Bunny was quick though, and I was unable to ask it for it's picture. I was able to capture the beauty of the whitetail deer coming down to enjoy the spring sun. However, even they showed me their tail pretty quickly and bobbed back up into the hills. With the coming of spring also comes my 2015 Walk for Wildlife The Challenge: Walk everyday from April 10 to May 31 to 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. Any money gained from my top photographs will go to a Saskatchewan group that is working to help protect Species At Risk in Canada. This year's theme is "Wild Migrations", and I will do my best to capture species making their migration back to the prairies this spring. Thank you for my support. I hope you enjoy the next 8 pictures from my first days of the walk! "On 20 December 2013, the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim 3 March as World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora. The date is the day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973, which plays an important role in ensuring that international trade does not threaten the species’ survival." March 3 is World Wildlife Day, and it is a day that is used to recognize the importance of wildlife. Wildlife is an important part of my life, and is one of my favorite things to photograph. I have decided to celebrate this day by sharing a few of my favorite wildlife photographs from the past year. It was a great year out, and it was a great growing opportunity for me. One of my goals is to become better at capturing wildlife, and sharing a bit more into the world of the many magnificent animals that are out there. I am an avid supporter of wildlife conservation, and am very proud of the multiple organizations that exist in Saskatchewan in this effort. I have been lucky to meet people, and be a part of some the great work that is being undertaken in our province to protect our wildlife (Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, Saskatchewan Provincial Parks, Nature Conservancy, Nature Saskatchewan, and Ducks Unlimited to name a few). Two major areas of work within the province of Saskatchewan to protect wildlife is in numerical counts, and habitat protection. Hunters, anglers, bird watchers, wildlife photographers, and outdoor enthusiasts in the province all play an important role in both methods. It is the money, and countless hours of personal time that help make sure our provincial wildlife populations are healthy. Agriculture has also taken on a role of becoming great partners to assist with the many programs. It has been through partnership that many great projects and habitat has been able to be protected. There are still wildlife populations in our province, and country, that need help and there will always be work to do as we figure out the right way to balance our lifestyles within our ecosystems. However, I am an optimist as due to my young age I now get benefit from the work of those before me as wildlife populations grow, and more habitat land is protected. The trick is to make sure the great work doesn’t stop and that we continue to do the best we can with the best available knowledge we have. One can learn more about Species At Risk within Canada by looking at the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as they are the major number holder. You can also visit Parks Canada website on Species at risk. “The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) determines the national status of wild Canadian species, subspecies, varieties or other designatable units that are suspected of being at risk of extinction or extirpation. COSEWIC uses a process based on science and Aboriginal or community knowledge to assess wildlife species at risk. All native mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods, molluscs, vascular plants, mosses and lichens are included in COSEWIC's current mandate.” To learn more about Saskatchewan’s Species At Risk you can visit Ministry of Environments Species at risk page, along with visiting the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre website. The Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre is our provincial number. To find their species lists click here.
To learn more about Species at Risk, wildlife in general, and conservation work please visit: Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Candian Wildlife Federation Nature Saskatchewan Parks Canada Nature Conservancy of Canada Ministry of Envrionment Canada Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre COSEWIC Ducks Unlimited Saskatchewan Provincial Parks Ministry of Envrionment Saskatchewan This summer was a wet one, & with that came a lot of mud! This gave me plenty of great opportunities to get my feet dirty this summer. Now to most, hiking around in flip-flops seems like a bad idea. However, for myself I adore the feeling of mud between my toes & so I love the chances I get to feel it between my toes as I wear my flip-flops. Sure they break on occasion, which leave me walking barefoot, but nothing could replace the feeling of that Saskatchewan mud in between my toes. With the summer colors coming through on the landscape, & the water that accompanied these colors, there was no lack of amazing photographic opportunities. I felt so lucky this summer to get the chance to witness how flooding can change a landscape, & watch the floodplains of the Qu'Appelle Valley come to life. To see this natural "washing" of the landscape is an immediate reminder of the strength that water can hold. It is also a stark reminder that as we develop as humans on the landscape mother nature will always have the last say in what happens, & when it is time to "take a bath". The areas surrounding the water were alive with color, & movement, as animals & plants enjoyed the fresh green foliage drenched in the summer sunlight. The mud left clues as to whose feet have graced the landscape before I came, & some tried to hide their presence as they attempted to blend into the landscape. The landscape that surrounded the flood plains were alive with color as well, as the agricultural landscape did what it does best... grow. Yellows of the canola fields brought forth a yellow sea that reflected the golden glow of the summertime sun. The cattle, & other animal neighbors, that grazed on the range land looked very pleased with the abundance of green foliage that surrounded them. As the landscape turns to be blanketed with its sheets of white I find it is always comforting to look back at the warmth in these summertime pictures. Pictures that remind me of what is hidden under the snow, & that even though first it will get colder, there will be these colors to treasure this following year.
The colors of summer are always an amazing treat. There is something comforting about getting to watch that sky turn brilliant orange, pink, & red while enjoying warm weather. There is so much color in the skyscape in the summer it is hard not to be distracted by it all. Then on top of the sky it is the landscape that keeps changing throughout the summer. As wildflowers bloom, & now the fields are turning color. It is so amazing to watch a canola field come into bloom. The seas of gold I get to now witness come & go from the landscape never stop to amaze me in the brilliance of yellow they display. Oh summer, how beautifully distracting you are as Mother Nature continues to change your colors. It is amazing how Mother Nature can keep us guessing what we will see everyday as she works to add changes in the colors we get to see. With the warm weather, & plentiful landscape we aren't the only ones to be out enjoying it. All the critters that spent so much of the winter hiding away are now out exploring & soaking up the sun along side us. If the colors weren't distracting enough the added element of catching all of Mother Nature's beautiful creatures has just increased the pressure on a person to enjoy those sites rather than doing actual work.
The sites, sounds, & colors is why summer is a time not made for work but enjoyment. Mother Nature has designed it that way. She has given us a reason to really break from our lives, & give us a moment of rest before all the work begins again. So take a break, & soak it all up. As we know all to well in the prairies, this beauty is not around nearly long enough. Which perhaps is part of its beauty, making summer so bittersweet. |
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