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 Dreaming
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The colors of summer are always an amazing treat. There is something comforting about getting to watch that sky turn brilliant orange, pink, & red while enjoying warm weather. There is so much color in the skyscape in the summer it is hard not to be distracted by it all. Then on top of the sky it is the landscape that keeps changing throughout the summer. As wildflowers bloom, & now the fields are turning color. It is so amazing to watch a canola field come into bloom. The seas of gold I get to now witness come & go from the landscape never stop to amaze me in the brilliance of yellow they display. Oh summer, how beautifully distracting you are as Mother Nature continues to change your colors. It is amazing how Mother Nature can keep us guessing what we will see everyday as she works to add changes in the colors we get to see. With the warm weather, & plentiful landscape we aren't the only ones to be out enjoying it. All the critters that spent so much of the winter hiding away are now out exploring & soaking up the sun along side us. If the colors weren't distracting enough the added element of catching all of Mother Nature's beautiful creatures has just increased the pressure on a person to enjoy those sites rather than doing actual work.
The sites, sounds, & colors is why summer is a time not made for work but enjoyment. Mother Nature has designed it that way. She has given us a reason to really break from our lives, & give us a moment of rest before all the work begins again. So take a break, & soak it all up. As we know all to well in the prairies, this beauty is not around nearly long enough. Which perhaps is part of its beauty, making summer so bittersweet. 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. As the clouds hang low it is a perfect time to go catch all the flowers blooming. The grey skies give a whole new feel to the greening valley. You can feel the water in the air, & if you're lucky enough see you will see it on the petals. The gloomy skies give a whole new backdrop to the amazing flowers that can be found outside this time of year. Many of them native ranging from anemone’s, to pea vines . The colors are start to really bloom as the purple, pinks, & white come forth. Sometimes easy to miss if one is not paying enough attention. I was lucky enough to catch on that Friday a doe grazing along the quad trail. I was able to get pretty close to her before she noticed me. We stood there & watched each for a bit, while I edged closer. Unfortunately, at one point I got too close & she took off. The quad trails are looking more beautiful by the day with each soft touch that beautifies the trail.
The valley in it's greys & greens opens into a magical world that did not exist a few short weeks ago. The transition from white, to brown & yellow, & now to grey & green has been an amazing transition to be a part of. I am so happy to live so close to this magical valley & be able to experience any chance I get. 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. Last Monday started out with one can call, a terrible case of the Monday's. Though it was Monday morning fresh out of a weekend I found myself feeling very tense, & not at all like I had just finished a relaxing weekend away from my work life. Last Monday, however had a beautiful surprise waiting for me. It started after my workday at my "day job". While on my way out to my Monday horseback riding lessons I stumbled upon some very beautiful yellow lady slippers in the ditch. Of course I took the time to "stop & smell the flowers". This was step one of the surprises Monday held for me. Time around horses has always found a way to bring a calm to me, & last Monday was no exception. While out Monday some extra time was given to me by my riding instructor to just let everything go, & relax. This was probably the best thing that could have happened that day for me. After my lesson I felt very refreshed, & knew that I just wanted to keep this relaxing state going.
So after I got a bite to eat I set out to get some fishing done. One of the most calming moments in my life is when I am out casting a rod. Fishing will always be one of my favorite forms of personal therapy. To be outside, next to the water (perhaps in it), & flicking that line out just slows my life right down. Mother Nature was a beautiful helper that night as she gave me a beautiful show of birds & sunsets to keep me entertained while I just relaxed. For the first time in a couple weeks I just slowed down to enjoy being outside. I didn't think about the 101 things I had to do, or the 100's of pictures I needed to go through. I just breathed the calm air in, enjoyed my surroundings that had limited people, & let myself be amazed by the changing light around me. Sometimes Monday's can be the best weekends. I hope this Monday finds you well, & if it doesn't at the start I hope that it finishes on a good note like my did last week for me. “Green was the silence, wet was the light the month of June trembled like a butterfly.” ― Pablo Neruda, 100 Love Sonnets June is an amazing time of year as the sun shines a little warmer, & for a little longer. The rain kisses the earth, & from those kisses beautiful plants now grow. They add a special touch to the landscape with all their colors. They come in all forms, from native plants to human planted. Gardens are planted, & farms are seeded. Young calves run over the landscape. Their cute beauty bringing a sense of youthfulness to the fresh green landscape. As you travel the back roads you can see them out enjoying the pasture as they run. The face on them that I can't help but fall in love with every time I see them. Along with the renewed landscape the beautiful Saskatchewan Skies begin to paint the skyscape with a whole new set of colors. The clouds hang heavy with rains that bring all the color, and make the landscape sparkle with a fragile beauty. Summer in Saskatchewan also shows the fragile beauty if your keep your eyes peeled for the little fluttering beauties. Butterflies arrive in June in full swing to remind us all how fragile the season's beauty can be as it flies out of our life as quickly as it flies in. Butterflies come in all kinds, & enjoy all kinds of flowers. June in Saskatchewan is the gentle month in between spring & summer. A space where it is warm & colorful enough to get us excited for the upcoming summer. June brings all the summer colors, & extended days. With its storm clouds & long days it gives us many Living Skies to appreciate. It's fresh leaves, wet with warm spring rain, gets us excited for summer that is to come into full bloom soon.
If I had a second favorite month June would take my heart. As it is a time that reminds me to get out there and appreciate all the new, reborn, beauty that Saskatchewan holds after a long winter. Mother Nature is kind enough to give us some extra-long days to enjoy it in, between the rain. The Challenge: Walk everyday from April 6 to May 22, and capture nature & wildlife looking excellent. The Reason: To participate in the Canadian Wildlife Federations Walk for Wildlife & raise money to help support species at risk in Canada. Find my donation page here. The last two weeks of my walk were amazing as I watched spring fully take hold on the landscape. Things were greening up, buds were forming, all sorts of birds were chirping, & I even got to see my prairie crocuses this year. Finding them was a bit of a adventure as I kept trying new places, as all the previous places I went to came up with none. Finding them ended up leading me to my new favorite picnic spot that I am excited to use plenty of times on the nicer days. They were on a beautiful flat hill top that gave a gorgeous view of the valley. The birds were very active as they were out finding nests, & the sun was a little bit warmer each day. It was beautiful getting out to see all that Saskatchewan has to offer a person in Spring. I found new spots as I explored some of the beauty I didn't know that was hidden in my own backyard. I also went back to appreciate some old spots, and even finished the walk at the same location I started it at. Fresh new plants, Ruddy ducks, and Sunsets were some of my favorite parts of the two and half weeks. The deer at this point were now full from spring feeding, and a lot more frisky on the landscape. With their bellies now full, and food sources plentiful, they now made sure to dash at a moments notice. As the deer were running away there were some other new residents I got to experience in the valley. I got to experience my very first set of Saskatchewan River Otters! I also was able to get my first decent photograph of some resident turkey vultures. They apparently don't listen to signs, & hunt where they please. The last two weeks of the walk were amazing as they showed me spring in her true colors. The area opened up beautifully just like the crocus I had seen on that hill top. There was so many amazing things to see, both wild & agricultural on the local landscape. Times that I will forever remember for their beauty, and the re-wilding of my heart after a long hibernation indoors this past winter. I am so glad to participate in this walk. I can't wait for next years.
*Side Note: My May long weekend also provided an excellent opportunity to take my walk outside of Saskatchewan. That post will be a separate one as I tell of my 5 day whirlwind trip to British Columbia. The Challenge: Walk everyday from April 6 to May 22, and capture nature & wildlife looking excellent. The Reason: To participate in the Canadian Wildlife Federations Walk for Wildlife & raise money to help support species at risk in Canada. Find my donation page here. Preface: I am almost 2 weeks late on posting this update and I apologize (I have been pretty diligent about posting a picture a day to help track the walk on my tumblr page though on a positive note!). The fourth week of my walk for wildlife, and things started out a little rainy then turned a little snowy. The snow was wet, and dense, covering the landscape in a slushy white mess. It was to my delight that the snow disappeared by the following afternoon. I walked to work the morning after the snow came in winter boots through the snow. I left work a few hours later in the warm spring sun, with no snow around, and feeling really out of place with my boots. Out of place, and very happy that the snow was gone with the bright warm sun shining. Every week I hope that the snow that falls will be that last bit of snow for the year. Every week so far we keep getting more. However, with this being the last week of April one can only assume that with May next week this last 24 hour showing of snow will truly be this year's last. With the snow melting its winter partner, ice, was also melting with it. As I examined the lake surfaces I could see that the ice was starting to let go of the lake. The lakes were finally being freed from their winter entrapment, and getting a breath of fresh air. The water was crisp, but still made me want to walk in. It was so beautiful to see the water shimmer from the sun in the ice free patches. I am sure the lakes were happy to finally join their river friends in throwing off their ice cover. The ice has been off the river for a little while now with water flowing freely. Though the week started of cold and wet, with weather I am sure even the ducks weren't enjoying, the weather changed. It quickly turned the opposite way as the sun felt a bit warmer, shone a bit brighter, and I started to see the trees trying to get their green out. In between the death of last year you could find the rebirth of Mother Nature this year. It was a glorious sight to know that things were indeed going to turn green soon. And turn green Mother Nature did. She light up the night sky that week with a show of green, so gentle and so sweet. To watch the green lights dance across the sky while the evening wasn't so cold to scare you into the house was an amazing moment. The green washed across the sky, and made me even more excited for the green that was to wash the landscape in the near future. Each day I was out this week, be it during the night or during the day, the amazing spring season never stopped surprising me. Though the landscape looks a little drab at the moment, in its yellows and browns, I know that soon the landscape will be covered in green. I check the trees buds each day and see them developing more and more. Soon our deciduous trees will burst forth with those leaves. The grass keeps trying to grow through the old growth, and soon it will. Everything is alive, and busy, out on that landscape. Getting cleaned up, and getting ready to put on their summer's best. I will close this blog entry with a couple shots I took of some Sandhill Cranes while out on my walk. I was blessed for a second time that when I made the choice to take the road less traveled these wonderful birds would be spotted. This time I was lucky enough to see them approach over the trees, and fly freely through the wind scoping out the landscape below them. It is said that when a Crane enters your life they bring a message of good-tidings. If you see them flying they are encouraging you to lift your eyes skies to remind you to keep your spirit lifted and inspiring you to trust in the universe. Well these two definitely gave me a inspiring sight to behold. I am going to say they have been showing up in my life as a sign to keep reminding me that good things await me on the road less traveled. May these pictures lift your spirit as much as the sight of them lifts mine. May they also bring you good luck in your upcoming week!
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