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.
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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 I am not a fan of the cold. I am very open about the fact that once the temperatures drop, and snow flies, I hibernate. I am not the greatest of "outdoorsy" or "nature girls" out there. I am very okay sitting inside for hours reading, binge watching my favorite movies/television shows, trying to express my creative side and going through my photographs. I am happy as clam to not leave my house for days at a time during the winter. This all changes once the weather becomes fair however, and the itch to get outside takes over. During the winter months I do start to go a little batty though as some cabin fever does set in. So, to compensate this winter I decided to go visit a friend and see the “big ol’ blue”. I got on a plane, left my winter world behind and woke up to a beautiful sunrise, a city, and the ocean. Seeing all the green was just the thing I needed to shake up my insides, and dispose of my winter blues. Seeing a dear friend of my friend was just the cherry on top! Getting to explore this foreign to me city with one of my dear friends who accepts me for all my oddness, and even adds her own special spice, made the trip truly amazing! Wandering the streets with my friend with all her awesome suggestions made me enjoy my time in Vancouver. I am not truly a fan of city, and people, but being able to wander with it someone who knows me inside and out made the trip one I truly enjoyed. We both have a love for the ocean, and so we spent some great time walking the seawall enjoying the site of the water. However, we both questioned why we couldn’t “smell” it compared to other places we have travelled to visit it. My friend agreed to tour me to the Vancouver Aquarium, and allowed me to take it in with all my ridiculous excitement. It is definitely a stop I would suggest if you in the Vancouver area. There is some amazing sites, great information, and the Vancouver Aquarium do some great work to help out in the marine biology world. The colors of the fish, the jellyfish, other animals, and getting to see the turtles and sharks, truly made my day. As I took note of the art students taking inspiration and working on projects I couldn’t help be jealous. I wanted to spend more time, and grab some colors, blank paper, and have some more fun. As I watched I knew at some point in my life I would love volunteer there, and now I have found another thing to add to my “future to-do list”. It was a great week get away, to indulge in an old friend, and let my mind rest. Once in a while a person needs to get away from their regular life to help put life in perspective. Sometimes the best thing a person can do is... runaway!
My Monday's this past summer were spent on the hill of Sabre Quarter Horse Ranch. Upon this hill within the series of hills of the Qu'Appelle Valley I learned each day how to push myself harder. I learned the humbling beauty of developing partnerships with amazing animals. I got to enjoy taking in the sights, & sounds that come with the open pastures & horse barns. One evening after my lesson time I decided to head out on foot to get a little closer to the grounds I have come to appreciate dearly. While out walking I found many beautiful blooming native plants in this last flowering, as September was around the corner. I found tons of purple decorating the landscape as it does at this time of year as blazing stars and asters come into their "wildflower season". I also saw spots of yellow as goldenrod joined it's friend the aster in this final blooming, along with the coneflowers slowly losing their petals as they finished their season. Wondering the tops of the hills of the Qu'Appelle Valley from the Sabre Ranch vantage point at sunset was a beautiful experience. My mind drifted from the pleasant thrill of finding the thriving native wildflowers, to my day dreams of futures to come. I drank in the beauty of the valley, & let the wind wash over my worn out body. I let myself be awe of the natural beauty that was to beheld among the rocks. I wondered as I sat on them how they found their way there, & was thankful for their placement as it gave the perfect perch to take in the views. As the sun ducked low underneath the clouds I made my way back to my truck. Between the yellow washed skyscape a little speckle of red caught my eye. I stopped, turned left, & there in a tree near by I found evidence that fall was truly coming. The first sign of the leaves turning was the evidence in front of eyes. What was once green was now red. I smiled to myself, & continued onto my truck. While I made that drive back to town along my "detour" route I took extra note of the fields that passed by my truck. As the sun dipped lower washing them in yellow, orange, purple, & pink hues I knew what I was seeing. My favorite season of the year had come... Harvest was here! The crops were ready to come off. The combines, & swathers, would soon speckle the landscape to get the crop off before the cold. As the sun set on that day, the crops were setting themselves. The crops were ready to be harvested. Fall in Saskatchewan was truly upon us, in all its amazing colors! Always Keep DreamingThe 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. Wildflower chasing is probably one of my favorite past times. I am addicted to their fragile color & the urgency in which they need to be captured since their color only lasts a short time as they bloom. My spring & summer are divided into their own special "seasons" that revolve around the blooming & the colors of these flowers. I am now in the height of the peak of the wildflower bloom, & am transitioning into the final blooms. Seed pods are showing on the early bloomers, & starting to show on mid bloomers. The last colors are springing forth each time I travel down back roads. My time spent wandering down back roads to find these flowers, usually greets me with some other fun faces to enjoy. One of my favorite places to wander is my Grandparents farm, which always comes with a golden, smiley, & excited walking partner. The farm also provides time spent with the farm feline family, which sometimes gives me an opportunity to catch great "family" photos. Seeing all these faces, plus all the green & the plants, is one of the great gifts that summer brings me. This year was a great year as some, that had not previously bloomed for a very long time, decided to show their face. Sometimes wildflowers can stay in seed form for years waiting for appropriate growing conditions to spring forth in. One of those characters I got to see this year is the beautifully pink Red Paintbrush flower. This has to be one of my favorite wildflowers as it is uniquely beautiful, but also so incredibly soft to the touch it is hard to believe it is indeed a wildflower.
I am so lucky to live a life in which I get to experience all this natural beauty that Mother Nature has to offer in this great province. Some people ask me why I don't leave much on holiday's in the summer, & truth be told it is because I don't want to miss this beauty. I should however, maybe add a few holiday days in in which I just send myself out to random locations to go chase wildflowers. Maybe next summer... Maybe next summer. This summer though I am going to take time to appreciate my new home. Over the last couple months I have had the pleasure of taking in multiple events that span over the many different ways people can have a relationship with horses & cattle. I took in a reining horse show, a multiple discipline horse show, a calf branding, & a couple rodeos. Since it is "Western Wednesday" I thought would take some time to reflect on all these disciplines. In May I took in a Reining horse show. Reining is defined* as: " Reining is a judged event designed to show the athletic ability of a ranch type horse within the confines of a show arena." A reining horse is defined* as: “To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but also to control his every movement. The best reined horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. Any movement on his own must be considered a lack of control…” *as defined by the National Reining Horse Association This is what you see being displayed in the first two photographs above. Specifically, you're seeing the "big finish" slide that is the pride of the reining pattern. It is an amazing site behold, & shows just how strong, along with talented, both horse & rider are. In the third photograph you see the horse I spend my Monday's learning to ride properly. The final end game of my education however is not to learn reining, but instead to learn how to work cattle. One area of this I am currently learning about is cutting horse work. Cutting is defined as: "During the two and a half minutes of work, a rider demonstrates the ability of his horse to out-think the cow with terrific short bursts of speed, the ability of turns in mid-air, fabulous foot work and coordination between horse and rider that is unexcelled in any other arena event." " It then becomes the objective of the contestant to quietly pick from the herd an animal that will give him maximum play and sustained action to test and show the ability of his cutting horse. Along with action goes the risk of penalties; out of position, reining, and many others, not to mention a severe penalty if a cow is lost back into the herd." * as defined by Canadian Cutting Horse Association As you can see the two different styles of working a similar horse in a similar area can be quite different. One is about control of horse through reining abilities, & the other actually has reining listed as a penalty. Too be good in both styles it takes great equitation skills, & lots of time to improve these skills, along with the allotted skills needed for each style. The remaining pictures above, including the top picture, display yet two more different events in which on can participate in. The two styles above would be a Tail class & an example of an English event class. A definition of both can be found on the American Quarter Horse Association website, along with the many different competition classes one can participate in. The horse competition world is varied, & each type comes with its own history that connects it to the working world it developed from. All share one thing in common that the people & horses that participate in it work hard to be able to display their talents with pride. There is something for every type of person out there, & there is tons of knowledge to learn. I am looking forward to spending much of my life learning all I can about the various styles out there. This past month I got to also take in branding (without the iron brand). It was a very interesting day as I got to see just how hard of work ranching activities can be. I got to enjoy the faces of many young calves, & watch how they interacted with all the people that worked with them. The people there worked through all kinds of weather, & it was an interesting, along with enjoyable, experience to say the least. I will forever value the things I had a learned while out there. Finally, in the last couple weeks I got to take in one my favorite sporting events, Rodeo. As I watched from the side lines I enjoyed the power I seen out of all the animals & the skills that I had seen displayed. I thought back to everything I had experienced in the past months, from the horse shows & to the branding. I could not then, nor now, understand how one is allowed to share challenging activities in such varied ways in one area but not another. There are some out there that say rodeo is not based on anything, but from my time out the branding it was made very apparent that rodeo is in fact based on a ranching history.
I won't argue that doesn't look different, because in fact what happens in a rodeo area looks different than what happens in a cattle pen. However, the difference to me seems t0 be the same amount there is between each of the varied horse competition events. It has the same amount of difference that each of those events shares with the history they are based on. Rodeo also shares in common the drive to be best in the skill sets it takes to accomplish each event. I have yet to meet a rodeo person who doesn't show respect for the animals they work with, or take any easy way to do their event that would harm the animals they work with. They show the same amount dedication to their sport, event, & teammates that I have seen displayed at horse shows. I will admit I fell in love with rodeo because it doesn't look as "pretty" as the other events. There is no doubt that rodeo is rough around the edges. However, the part that wins my heart is the way that the "rough around the edges" personality of the animals is allowed to run free in that rodeo arena. Every animal is bred, trained, & encouraged to do their best to deter the rodeo contestant from completing their job (exceptions to this would be the working horses, barrel racing & chuckwagoon/chariot racing). The sense of pride felt from the stock contractors & from the contestants can be felt everywhere around the rodeo arena. Pride in themselves, but most importantly the pride in the animals. There are people in society that think when rodeo personal discuss their animals that by calling them "animal athletes" this somehow belittles the animals. Where this thought process came from I will never understand, since I have seen nothing but empowerment come from that way of seeing the animals. By using this term they put the animals they work with equal to themselves, even the calves. This respect for equality & acceptance of the rougher side is what won my heart over, & over again. It has allowed animals to be truly what they are, & take pride in it. If you ever had the pleasure of watching cattle in a rodeo I hope you made note of the pride displayed in every animal that did it's job well. I have seen many bulls, steers, & even calves, prance around the arena as the contestant sat in the dust. The horses are always busting out of themselves with excitement to get the job done that it takes great handlers to be able to rein that horse in until it is time to be unleashed. I am very proud to be supporter of the sport of rodeo & because of this you will find me, with every opportunity life allows, up against the fence capturing the event with my camera. I was very proud in the last few months to be able to take in & capture all the events, in their various forms, that I did. I am glad to share this world that many don't get to see, & hopefully be able to tie people back to a past that wasn't long ago apart of many people's day-to-day lives. On June 21st in the wee hours of the day we welcomed in the new season of Summer. It is officially here, & everyone is excited for all the summer memories they know they are about to make. As we approach on the end of July I can't help to think how much of that summer is already past. I reflect back to how I enjoyed that first glorious day of the warm summer under a rainbow sky. I took a little drive, & had myself a little walk. I took in the beautiful golden hour as it washed over the Qu'Appelle Valley. I took in the warm tones & animal surprises Mother Nature had in store for me. The beauty of the Saskatchewan Skies & the Qu'Appelle River Valley to this day do not cease to amaze me. The tones & colors, so vibrant & rich, that decorate a unique landscape always make me catch my breath. I am very thankful that as each time I ask Mother Nature for the chance to experience the amazing views that can be experienced in this valley she is kind enough to oblige. That night I was extremely lucky as I not only caught a glimpse of two Moose calves, but I also got to catch the site of my first elk in the valley.
I ended my adventure that evening as the last of the setting sun closed on the valley by taking in a common scene in the valley, cattle in a pasture. I love watching the calves of the year explore their world. They are truly some of the most adorable creatures that I know. I count the days till when I will get to have this experience with cattle are indeed my own. Till then I will enjoy the faces I get to watch through the fences. On May long weekend I found myself on the road, & I had my truck pointed west. I was on my way to big beautiful British Columbia for the weekend; a 5 day round trip. That traveling day out to B.C. was as interesting, as it was beautiful. The weather would change from rain, to sun, & there was even a tornado warning at one point. The sights I got to see on the way up were amazing, & the roads were quiet. Traveling on a Thursday of a long weekend is a brilliant idea. I stopped many times along HWY 16 to stop & take in some of my favorite sights. I was extremely thrilled when I found myself to be one of only a handful of travelers on the road while I passed through the Robson Valley & McBride country. The area around McBride, B.C. is hands down one of the most beautiful landscapes in British Columbia in my opinion. Every time I travel through my heart skips a beat, & my breathe catches at the beauty that is found in that valley. It was made special that day since I could drive slow & didn't have to keep up with traffic to go through, also I was enjoying the green scenery that Saskatchewan was severely lacking at that point in time. My final stopping point on the road that day was Prince George, B.C. to visit with a dear friend. Prince George welcomed me with one of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen while being there. I also got greeted with a good hug, & one very cuddly puppy. It felt great to be "home" again. On this visit I also got to capture a reining event, & watch as some talented riders (& horses) showed off their skills. It was an awesome weekend of capturing spins & big stops as rider & horse worked seamlessly together to complete the prescribed pattern. I also took some time to soak up the local beauty that is the Prince George region. I enjoyed some time down by the Fraser river, attempting to catch frogs. The only one caught was caught by a friend who handed it off to me however, my skills were not up to par. Later during the trip I took a tour of a local farm, & got to spend some time with some farm animals that completely stole my heart. I have to admit that I was sad to leave that beautiful country side, in all its green glory, so soon. The trip home I made sure to soak up as much of that wet, green scenery I could while I prayed that Saskatchewan would greet me with the same site. As always, on the drive up & drive home, Jasper National Park provided an excellent break to the trip as I got to take in the sights of the mountains & wildlife.
I will admit though I was happy to be home when I arrived back at my real home. The province of Saskatchewan will always be my soul mate, & even though I love to travel, I do love coming home. When I arrived home I guess Mother Nature heard my prayers, & Saskatchewan was happy to have me back, because when I came home I found fresh green leaves, & a beautiful sunset to welcome me home. |
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