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.
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On this Sweet November Sunday I find my thoughts drifting back to a year ago. A year ago I was sitting in the stands, & enjoying the sights & sounds of Harvest Showdown in Yorkton. It occurs at the end of the harvest season, & is a place where everyone can come to show off their talents of the past year. It's one of the only times in a year I sit down to enjoy a horse pull competition.The big beautiful horses at work is a sight to behold. It is amazing how much power can be found in the gentle giants. After I enjoyed taking in the horse pull competition I got to take in a couple more demonstrations of the unique teamwork that horses & humans can have. First it began with a beautiful display of unqiue horse work with the equally unique Gypsy Vanner horses. The horses are absolutely beautiful, & it is always a pleasure to be able to watch them work. Then it was onto the team spirit portion of the night! The local 4H club puts together a drill team that has preformed at both years I have been able to attend of the Harvest Showdown. It is awesome to see all age groups work well together, & to watch the hard work of the team come together as they maneuvered beautifully through their routine. After that the local Football team decided to show their muscles & challenge the winning horse pullers to a tug of war. The football team put up a good fight, but the horse team took home first place on that challenge... even after the rodeo clown jumped in to help! As always the harvest showdown showcases the agricultural world from all aspects, & so they always have room to show off their "western" roots. Each year at the showdown there is a roping competition, & last year they brought in a mounted shooting demonstration. It was time to put the cowboy hat on straight, & get serious in that saddle. Like everything else at the showdown it was top notch entertainment! The night ended with one of the greatest shows. It was awesome to watch as "wild" mustangs were worked by the "One Armed Bandit". Yes, the gentleman in fact truly has only one arm. This, however, did not stop him from working off his trusty mule to maneuver the three free horses around the area at the crack of his whip. I have to say it was neat thing to watch him ride his mule without a touch of the reins (as his working hand was busy with the whip, which only cracked loudly & never touched a horse). It takes quite the riding abilities, & core strength, to be able to manage that.
photographs of (link to them in the green button). I don't know when I will back for the Showdown, but as I sit here knowing I have missed it... there is a large part of myself telling me this will not be often reoccurring thing. I will be back for as soon as life lets me! If you find yourself in Yorkton during the Harvest Showdown I highly suggest stopping by to check it out!
A moment in time separated by a year and over 1000kms... Last year at this exact same time I was taking a walk down a country road while listening to the song I'll Be Fine by Erick Macek. As the song played in my ears & I watched the sun set I had this calming moment of peace (top photo). I knew within my core that a chapter was closing with that setting sun. That my life was about to change in a way that I didn't know how. I just knew. Its like Mother Nature whispered it to me through the wind. Last night as I took my puppy for a walk down my favorite country road I watched the sun set in a glorious array of colors (bottom photo). I felt a piece of my soul fall into place & I knew I was "home". Two country roads. Two sunsets. Exactly a year apart. Over 1000kms & different latitudes apart. My life came full circle. A new chapter has begun & I can't wait to see where it takes me. "Colors they change in instant[...] My chapter is closing, something tells me that I may just like it; I know this is my time [...] I know I keep in mind that I may find a better a life a head this time; I don't know why but I hide my pride; still I wonder if I am losing my mind; or am I blind not to see the time; either way I know I will be fine" - Erick Macek, I'll Be Fine 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). Hello Everyone!I know it has been a super long time since I have last posted, & that I truly need to clean out the cobwebs on the blog page. I want to apologize for my absence, & express a great amount of gratitude to those who have been patient enough to stick around the page. However, if you can remember back to when I discussed that big changes were coming my way I want to say they have come! I have spent the summer "off", without notice, to get everything in order and enjoy my last summer of being a Saskatchewan resident for an unknown amount of time. Yes, you read that right; I will no longer be a proud resident of my beloved home province of Saskatchewan. I have chosen to follow my other passions of agriculture and conservation. I have decided to take a risk and take on a new challenge in the most northern extent of the Boreal Plain/Aspen Parkland Prairies. I am looking forward to connecting to the agricultural community up here as I work my day job. I am also looking forward to connecting you with a truly unique gem of a place that many are unaware of. So as I take this next step, I hope you will continue to join me. I promise I will be back to visit in Saskatchewan... because my heart will always lie with those big beautiful living skies. Though I hope the place I share will steal your heart as it did mine so many years ago.
So, again thank you for sticking around as I went through this big change. Keep your eyes out as I will be blogging very soon about my "last Saskatchewan" summer, & my new home. Fish Girl is back, & ready to share! 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! So this weekend is the first rodeo of the year for the Canadian Cowboys Association, and even though I won't be making it to that rodeo I can't help but reflect on this past year. It was a pretty great year chasing rodeo for me. I made it out to a few new ones, and to some old ones. I got to meet a group of excellent people, and have enjoyed the encouragement I have received to keep doing what I do. The weather for the most part was good, and if it wasn't.. well it made for some great pictures. This was probably the best year to date I have had out chasing rodeo. I have had many great opportunities, and can't thank everyone enough for providing me with those opportunities. All the hard work that is put in by the many people who are a part of each rodeo truly means the world me. Without everyone's hard work I wouldn't have one of my favorite subjects to photograph. I was lucky enough this year to even get to spend more time talking, and shooting with Randy Lewis. He has been an amazing mentor to my work, and I appreciate every time I get to talk with him. Below I have some of my favorite photographs from this past year. Each event I got to make it to brought its own special memories. So as I reflect in photographs on this past year I want to say thank you to all that have be a part of this excellent year! Find even more photographs below: "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 |
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