I can't believe it, another year has passed. I am not exactly sure where the time went, but it has come & gone. Earth Day is here & with it another #FarmVoices day as I watch this website turn another year older. This blog has been very quiet, and I do have to apologize. This past year was a year of "lost" time. I don't know if it is because I am getting older but the days seemed to have gotten to end faster than I was prepared for. I have spent my time this past year living the quote below... I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye! I'm late! I'm late! I'm late! - White Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll It was a year with a beautifully early spring, & one of crazy environmental events. From fires in April to floods in June the year certainly started out on an exciting note. But between all the excitement Shadow & I still were able to find some peace while out exploring some of the best that the Peace Region had to provide us. From new hiking spots, to new fishing spots, & finding new farms to spend our time on, we certainly had a year we wouldn't forget. The summer was filled with many adventures, including the chance to see more of the great Northeast region in British Columbia & kissing the tip the Yukon at Watson Lake. The wildlife, & different ecosystems I got the chance to explore did not disappoint in any way. It was amazing to see landscapes so different, & some so close to the same as my home province, tied so close on the landscape together. The Northeast, & Peace Region, have many beautiful secret spots that are just waiting to be discovered. And as always, I found myself covered in some rodeo dirt. Some of it new, & some of it was old familiar dirt. And as fall, & winter, came blowing in I found myself settling into some of my more regular places. Trips back to Saskatchewan filled my time, & taking in as much of the harvest view I could around the Peace Region in between. When the snow started to settle (a little earlier than hoped) I found myself trying to beat the winter with enjoying some winter hikes. This past year certainly was filled with some magical moments, & I can't wait to see what all next year has in store. I can feel adventure biting at my heels, & I am excited to see what will unfold in front of me. Thank you for your support over this past year & I can't wait to share more with you.
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“Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can fall together”
The above wording could not be more on point. Last year was a year of transition, changes, & a whirlwind of unknowns. Last year I wrote "in these past few months, and upcoming months, I have been, and will be, under going big changes in my life". But I had no idea what those changes would be, & what they would mean. I underwent one major change before Earth Day last year, which included a sudden career path readjustment, & I knew that shortly after Earth Day I would be leaving behind a community I loved growing to be a part of during that year. I had no idea what I was moving to, and what was going to happen. I had no current work lined up that I was moving for, & was still on the job search trail with many applications floating around in the job search world. I had no idea which one would turn from application to work, & if amoungst those applications was a career path I would enjoy & follow.
To my pleasant surprise, & very good fortune, I ended up landing two amazing job opportunities last year. Both, to my enjoyment, were surrounded by agriculture. Though neither what a person would consider a "direct" agriculture job, but both being a perfect fit. I first got to work for a dream organization of Parks Canada, & enjoyed a job in "agriculture/history tourism". With one call on a sunny Friday afternoon while I unpacked my things in my new place I got word about the job. I was very excited,& thankful, lady. It was certainly a summer to remember, & working for Parks Canada will always be to me a "Job of a Lifetime". I would write more on it, but instead I encourage you to check out myprevious post on the amazing experience.
It would also be the summer that Fish Girl Photography grew from a solo operation, to a partnered one. My Shadow came into my life at the end of June, & has been at my side ever since. It has been amazing to have a hiking partner, & with my luck I even have a partner who loves plants as much as I do! We have many grand adventures together, & he has become the focus of many of my photographs. You can check out some of my favorite ones here. I am really excited for the upcoming year & all the adventures we are going to have together.
It would be during the summer, & during my job of a lifetime, I would get word about another big change in my life. I got word about another job application I sent out in the job seeking universe. I had been the successful applicant for a Range Agroloist job, & I would be moving to Dawson Creek come fall. The ultimate career path job was now mine, & I was excited to begin the job. Though, I was also sad because I knew I would miss my beloved home province of Saskatchewan. The knowledge of the move ahead had me dropping many things in favor of experiencing my favorite things in Saskatchewan. So began the experience of my "Last Saskatchewan Summer". Though I know it was not, & is currently not planned to be, my last Saskatchewan summer experience I knew I needed to make the most of the last time I would be a "Saskatchewan resident" for an indefinite amount of time. It lead to many great experiences this past summer, & will not be a summer I easily forget.
I was lucky to see so much of Saskatchewan's amazing beauty this past year. Right from the start of the year with my Walk for Wildlife, right through to the end of the year. The trips back home this year delivered beauty I was very lucky to experience in the trips that were, & will always, too short. In my Walk for Wildlife last year I was even lucky enough to spot a Wood Duck in Saskatchewan! They are an amazing bird, & I am glad I got the experience. Of course though, I can't forget to talk about the amazing landscape that I had moved into in Northeastern British Columbia. Dawson Creek, with it's strong agricultural ties, reminds me so much of my favorite places in Saskatchewan. Though, it has the extra ultra cool factor that when I travel an hour out of town I can see the Rocky Mountains & waterfalls! I know that I will have many amazing experiences in the upcoming year as I explore more of this beautiful, under appreciated, part of British Columbia.
Things have certainly changed in my life, & I do not yet know what all those changes will mean. I know I am excited to explore my options for starting my much talked, & dreamt, about farm here in Northeastern British Columbia in my coming future. I am extremely appreciative to everyone that has been in my life this past year that have filled me with knowledge. I am grateful to have a job that challenges me, along with letting me indulge in both my passions of conservation & agriculture at the same time. The opportunities that are ahead of me are great & I have the many people in my life to thank for that. My mind is excited, grateful, & ready. I am truly grateful for those that have been with me in the past & continue to teach me as I step into the future, even if some of that will occur at distance. The distance does have me scared, but I know I will be able to bridge the gap. I know I will miss Saskatchewan dearly this summer, but I am optimistic that Northeastern British Columbia, & the Peace District, will win over more pieces of my heart as I get to experience my first summer here.
As I close this blog, & review of my past year, I want to express a thank you to all the people that have been a part of my past, & to all those that will join in my journey forward.
Cheers to another year! Thank you for all your support in this past year, & upcoming support. Every like, comment, & follow, means the world.
Happy earth day! Happy #farmvoices, & best of luck in the upcoming year!
After a whirlwind trip home to Saskatchewan as I try to get my life together in one piece, I find my memories still drifting back to home. Back there, in some parts, it seems that Mother Nature can't decide if she wants Saskatchewan to shed it's winter coat. Too be honest, I can't really blame her. The province looks pretty beautiful in that sparkling white coat. So I thought I would share some of my favorite snow filled photos I caught this winter on trips back to the homeland. This winter was an amazing one, & I am so glad I got to take some of that in even though I was far away exploring winter in the Great White North. The tree's sparkled with the hoar frost that clung to the branches of the trees. It made the area look like a beautiful snow globe wonderland. Shadow, & I, got out to enjoy it as much as we could; out at the farm, walking down roads, and even visiting the local regional park that looked like a perfect winter wonderland. The colors were also amazing too boot! There's something truly special about that winter light that washes the world in a pink, & purple, that can't really be found at another time of year. It's truly special the way the snow reflects the light & makes everything look like a water color painting for the briefest of times. So, even though it is frustrating for those who live with it, I understand Mother Nature's dilemma. The beauty of a Prairie winter is truly a miracle to behold. Even though it is so cold you find yourself wondering why you live somewhere where the air hurts your face. I know I have wondered that many times, & then I find myself rushing outside, battling frozen fingers, to just try & capture the gorgeous landscape that is opening up in front of me in those early sunsets. The days are getting longer now, & even though you can feel the winter cold in the wind sometimes the sun's warmth is getting warmer. After my last trip back to Saskatchewan, I know it will be the last I see of a Saskatchewan winter for another few months. I am glad I got to see it once more before it all melted away though. I am not really a lover of winter, but this will be a winter I look back on fondly. It's beautiful mild temperatures, & sparkling snow hanging from the trees, is not something I want to forget.
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 And here we are. It's January 13th, & New Years Eve for me! I choose to celebrate the Julian calendar New Years, Malanka, because I enjoy having the time to truly review & give thanks for my past year without the buzz of the "holiday" season. Tonight is my final blog post about my "Last Saskatchewan Summer", & will be my last tale of my "old" life. I thought an excellent way to commemorate this would be to give a "tip of the hat" to Saskatchewan's Natural History. This summer I visited the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, & what an amazing eye opening experience it was! Saskatchewan's natural history is as amazing as the history of the people who live there. The things I learned while at the RSM were definitely something to take notice of. The amazing animals that walked the land before Saskatchewan became the landscape we truly know today was eye opening. Learning at one point Saskatchewan was an inland sea & had one of the most interesting fish swimming in the waters that covered the province was one of the highlights of my time there. Just after that entrance, there was the chance to be able to touch one of the displays which made the inner child inside of me smile, on the outside. The amazing collection, & wealth of information was more than I could have asked for. To learn the details of Saskatchewan's development as an adult was worth the visit. I loved getting the chance to walk through Saskatchewan's history. Learning about the animal development, & then getting to experience displays that walked you through the people of Saskatchewan's land history was eye opening. The RSM really takes you for a walk through history, & you feel like you're transported through time. This walk through time then transitions to a walk through the ecosystems of Saskatchewan. Each display taking you through one unique habitat to another. You not only walk through time, but through places. One of the most inspiring aspects that I am glad I got a chance to see before they have been changed was the displays themselves. The amazing artwork that it took to create the murals, & displays, made my inner artist vibrate. A new life goal has been set for myself as I figured out one of the directions I would LOVE to take my work. It would be such an honor to be able to create displays like the one's displayed at the RSM. Displays that literally make you feel like you're in the ecosystem they are displaying to you is an under appreciated art form. In my Last Saskatchewan Summer I couldn't think of a better way to experience "Saskatchewan" before I got in my leaving truck. Through the amazing information & displays, I was transported to some of my favorite parts of Saskatchewan without leaving Regina. A chance I was unable to coordinate between work, farm, family time, & rodeo. I am thankful that there are spots in Regina that can introduce & immerse people into parts of Saskatchewan if they are unable to make it outside Regina's city limits. Though the ending is a lot more thought provoking than I expected to find, as a question of our future is posed. I walked through it & thought of my own consumerism, my own footprint. Am I doing enough? Am I treading lightly? What does the future hold for these beautiful landscapes that I love & devote my life to protecting? A question of "what would my future be", well I couldn't think of a better way to end this post. 2016 truly starts for me in the morning & I have no idea what this next year will bring. I am excited at the prospect of the brand new adventure. I am excited to start telling the tale of my "new life" here in the Northern Prairies. This past year I didn't do a lot of planning as a lot of my life was out of my control it seemed in 2015. I guess life wanted to tell me to relax, & teach me to be flexible. I am going to take some of those lessons forward in 2016. I do know however, I want to make the most of this next adventure. It's a wide open world out there, & as John Muir has been quoted "The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” .... well I would say I want to do the same. So good-bye 2015, & my beloved Saskatchewan. It has been an eye opening adventure, & it is time for this girl to move on to the next one. But don't worry Saskatchewan, my future will involve many planned visits to make sure I stay centered, focused, & most of all.. reminded that the world is a wide open place & the sky isn't a limit, but instead it is home. ** All copyright to displays to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, & their creators. My photos are only there to give a glimpse of the displays & to help encourage visits. Please take the time to visit, & donate, to keep this provincial treasure open & doing their excellent work (including research work).
This summer I was lucky enough to get the chance to spend time with some of my favorite people at a couple of my favorite events of the summer. My summer employment was flexible enough to allow me to get to these events, & I am very grateful for it. My Last Saskatchewan Summer would not have been complete without the experiences the Eastside Heritage Horse Show, or the Twin Valley Bullarama & Rodeo. The horse show, as previous years, was a great time. It was great to be able to catch up with everyone & the weather seemed to hold pretty good compared to the year before. The turn out was great, & it was awesome to see everyone do so well with all their horses. There was excellent talent there, & it was great to catch all the events. It was also great to meet some new people as the horse show this year was co-hosted with the Good Spirit Riding Club. It truly seemed like a great event & I encourage anyone that loves horse shows to go check it out. The Sabre Quarter horse ranch was an excellent host, & everything seemed to run smoothly (with excellent effort from some amazing volunteers). Then a few more weeks passed in the summer, & I found the end of summer coming way to quickly. However, that summer was going to end with a BANG! Instead of packing I found myself rushing out after my last official day of work for the summer to Lee's rodeo grounds to take up my spot next to the arena. The Twin Valley Bullarama & Rodeo, is one of my favorite parts of summer. But shh, don't tell Range Boss... I may already be trying to figure out my holiday-days at work to find myself back there for 2016. I got to enjoy one of my favorite events this year that I haven't seen since I was out in British Columbia... the Wild Horse Race. The teams did a good job putting on a great show as they managed to get the horse saddled & rode. The one teams facial expressions that I caught on my camera will go down as some of my favorite rodeo pictures to date. The smoke was in the air again as the fires in Northern Saskatchewan kept burning. The smoke, the dust & the people sure made for some excellent photographs that day. The determination in the riders of every age was great to catch on lens, & the supportive crowd was great to be surrounded by. The time I spent with all the great people I met through the Twin Valley Riding Club will be something I miss the most. Those times will hold some of my greatest memories, & finding a new club to fill the void that now exists in my daily life where Twin Valley existed will be challenging. I have hope that I will find a new one, but I also don't plan on ever truly giving up that spot in my life. So we shall see how the next year pans out as I begin to network, & make new connections. I will admit I have been slow, but now that 2016 is here, & I am looking at how fast summer is approaching... well, maybe things will change. It is amazing what can happen in just one day, & what going to one event (like an Equine Extravaganza) can do to change a person's life. I am optimistic for the moment that will happen for me in my new place, & can't wait to share the life that comes along with that change. My New Years Eve is tomorrow, & 2016 will be full here come Thursday... I can't wait to see what the New Year has in store for me!
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 always I found myself hanging on the edges of the rodeo arena as much as I could. Unfortunately, it meant only two photographing opportunities. Due to work commitments & trying to fit in every possible thing I wished to accomplish I found my summer days running out before I could catch up. On the bright side I spent them at two of my favorite rodeos. To kick off my summer season I found myself at Pilot Butte Rodeo. I can always count on a great time there, & was glad to find myself in those windy stands. As always it provided a challenging day as Mother Nature couldn't decide if she wanted to storm, or be sunny. Thankfully for me she only wanted to be a little windy, & push tons of clouds across the sky. It meant that I could catch all the action without being chased out by the rain. The animals were in good spirits, & the constants did a excellent job showing off their best in the wind. It was an excellent way to spend an afternoon with my "partner in crime". I was able to catch a glimpse of Randy Lewis (Lewis Images) doing his thing and as always I found myself imagining what it would be like to have rodeo photography be a bigger part of my life. Then later in the year I couldn't miss Whitewood rodeo, & so I rushed from my work shift to get my butt down to the Whitewood rodeo grounds. I don't know if it is because the rodeo is in August or not, but I find myself making Whitewood rodeo the top of my list of favorites. I always have a great time, & there is something about the timing of the whole rodeo. Nothing beats watching a rodeo in the golden hour; just wish I had a camera/lens capable of capturing better photographs in the low light so I could capture the bulls. Even though my Last Saskatchewan Summer only featured two rodeo photographing opportunities, there was a lot of great times that were had. I do wish I could have had a chance to photograph more, but I guess it just means I got a new region, & associations, to explore. However, I just might have to organize my holidays back to Saskatchewan around the rodeo schedule. I guess we shall see what the new year brings when it comes around, but either way I am excited at the prospect of it.
It's the beginning of January, & with it has come the cold temperatures. So I thought it was time to share some images that should hopefully make you as "warm & fuzzy" on the inside as they made me. Of course my Last Saskatchewan Summer included some much needed time out on the farm. I was lucky enough to be able to explore not only my own, but also had a few people welcome on to their farm. I learnt a lot this summer as I explored different places than my own, & different from this previous years. From seeding right to harvest there was a blossoming of color that painted every subject I looked at this summer. I was able to get out to experience a branding day yet again this year. This time at a brand new location & where I got witness an actual fire brand placed. The calves as always were cute & there were many moments that will fill my memories for sure. The landscape I got to experience it in was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It could not have been a better place to experience a branding in my Last Saskatchewan Summer. The family was very welcoming & I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. To be honest I would love to head back to that property to explore it more, & to capture more of the beauty that I saw in the amazing place. The summer went from one burning smell to another one entirely. With the fires burning in the forest to the North, Southern Saskatchewan was covered in a smokey haze. As the canola bloomed it created a very interesting look on the landscape. It was haunting in it's beauty. Made a person all to aware that there is more to Saskatchewan than the open fields & pastures. It reminded me of the Saskatchewan North; the trees, & the people. The smoke subsided though, & beautiful unfiltered summer colors blossomed through. Fields, pastures, flowers, & gardens bloomed with flowers of color that tempted a person to think that perhaps just this summer will stick around at least just a little bit longer. I enjoyed taking in these landscapes as I traveled back & forth from one destination to another. Of course I had to take up my seat next to our yearly oat crop & soak up the sun, barefoot & all. My ShadowDuring this exploring at the farm however, you will notice I had a new little friend. At the beginning of July my life was changed in a great way as I welcomed my Shadow into my life. I am now the happy owner of one full of energy, smart, pile of love of a dog. A mix of breeds my little farm dog became my walking partner, & I soon found a lover of alfalfa, & plants, as well. The little lady girl at the farm found herself with a new, & fast growing, playmate to explore the farm with. He was a happy addition, & one I am glad to have chewing away on one of his toys, ready for adventure, while I write this. As always the the colors did change, & soon I found myself enjoying the onset of harvest colors as August found it's way into my life. I am so glad I got to enjoy my favorite month in some of my favorite places. Watching the harvest come & begin (& end on our farm) made me ready for a change. However, I will forever miss seeing the simple beauty that is to be found in the month of August in Saskatchewan. Perhaps, I will need to request from Range Boss some time during August so I can still enjoy it no matter how short. So closes Part 3 of my Last Saskatchewan Summer, & I come closer to starting to tell tales of my new life in the Northern Prairie. I am excited to know, that as I leave these Saskatchewan prairie scenes behind I will fill my life with new ones to experience in this upcoming year. I am excited to see what this summer holds as the region I have settled into is home to the largest agricultural region in British Columbia (with close to 2.5 million acres in production). I am sure to enjoy all that agriculture has to offer, however in a nifty Northern package. I am excited to see if I will love August as much as I loved it back at home, or if a new month will claim my heart. So many new adventures to be had alongside the comforting scenes of "home" (i.e. agriculture). Agriculture will always be my "culture", & I am glad I get to see the many sides to it as I do. I am truly lucky to be able to experience things most people are removed from (sometimes by generations). It is my blessing, & my passion.
As we all settle back into our routine after the holiday season I am sure you, like myself, are finding yourself back at work. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to tell you all about the amazing experience I had this summer. I got a call on a beautiful May Friday morning while I was moving my things to Regina, & not entirely sure where my summer was headed, that would change my direction entirely. I found myself employed with what will surely be remembered as the "Job of a Lifetime" for me. I started work with Parks Canada at the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site. It was absolutely one of the BEST ways I could have spent my time in my "Last Saskatchewan Summer".
As a lover of animals, there is absolutely no better job then getting to take care of animals & baby animals at that! I got a summer full of taking care of cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, a turkey, & of course the amazing Toby. Being the descendant of a Saskatchewan homesteader family one of the best experiences I got was learning how tough & resourceful, first hand in some ways, my fore-mothers had been. I have been blessed to have lived, & grown up, working the very homestead land my family had but I had never worked it like I worked at the Motherwell. Learning how to do it not only in 1912 ways, but in 1912 dress well that was a whole new eye opening experience. It truly gives one an appreciation for not only the new ways we have to do things, but also makes you wonder why we changed some? I truly to this day as I clean new stalls, wish I had the very handy wheelbarrows that I got to use at the Motherwell. Sure, the modern ones are "lighter" & have better wheels, but I truly miss being able to take the sides off the wheelbarrow that makes unloading & loading so much simpler.
I took a vow to myself that if I ever got in a position where I could do it, I would try to reverse the idea that farming is a subservient occupation - William Richard Motherwell
It was pretty neat to learn about William Richard Motherwell, his wife Catherine (Gillespie) & his daughter, as I dug around the house, listened to more experienced staff & went through some of the older books. I will say this, I am glad to know that even back in 1912 there were still young lady's who would rather be in the barn than washing dishes. It was very interesting to learn about how much Agriculture had evolved in the province of Saskatchewan, & whose hands were a part of that evolution. It was also really neat to talk to descendants of workers of Motherwell family that came to visit, & hear the stories they were told about the family. The type of people the Motherwell's were remembered to be, & how working for the Motherwell's influenced their family. One of my favorite, not nature or agriculture related, parts of the Motherwell site can be found in the house. On a wall you will find beautifully crafted First Nations bead work clothing that was gifted to the Motherwell's. The story behind that I would love to tell, but I think it would be better for you to explore the site & learn about them. SPOILER it has a good ending, & depending how you look at history a rather unique one.
The site has so many amazing spots & so many amazing stories to be told. Even working out in the garden & helping out with the aspects of "homesteader" life that I was more knowledgeable on I still learned many life skills. If you truly want to learn what it is like to live a homesteader life, well toss your tablet with the latest 10 Things list on how to be a "urban homesteader" & take up a summer at the Motherwell. The beautifully big garden, that also demonstrated summer fallow conditions, was a challenge as it was beautiful. Making sure everything had appropriate water during the dry days, & enough weeding to keep the weeds at bay... well my hands could have been lost out there (& some days they were). As an avid gardener I truly found it a treat that I could weed away stress while at work.
As the summer came to a close with fields ready to harvest, I think I may have just learned in the my last couple weeks how to pitch loose hay correctly.... I think. The people at the Motherwell Site were absolute pleasure to work with & I was finding myself very sad at the prospect of the fact this may be my only summer to get to work there. However, I don't think I cheered more to myself to see poppies bloom than the ones that bloomed on time for the Symphony Under the Sky event that was held at the end of summer. I have seen poppies come to bloom before, but these ones were extra special as they were ones blooming from seed from the actual Flanders Field. It was so neat to be connected to so much history in such an unique way that summer.
Hands down, this summer was one of the best experiences of my life. I highly suggest if you ever get the chance to work for Parks Canada to certainly JUMP at the opportunity. It is truly an unique experience, & you get to experience more than you thought you could in a summer. There are more stories, & favorite moments/spots, than can be shared in just one blog about my summer. I had an amazing time, & will be back often. Every time I look at historical photographs, or watch television/movies that depict the time period I am connected with a unique bond of knowledge that I'm forever thankful for. It will be the summer job I will NEVER forget, & with people who I am thankful to still have in my life. I hope this entices you to visit the site (I have added a map at the bottom of the page), & if you do find yourself there I hope you enjoy your time there as much as I did.
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