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).
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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: At the end of August was the Twin Valley Rodeo weekend, and I was very excited lady to enjoy some local entertainment. Mother Nature on the other hand had a very different idea as the rain started on Friday night, and had it rain for the rest of the weekend. However, this did not stop Friday night from happening as Bull Fighters geared up in garbage bags, and bull riders toughed it out. Through the muck, and the mud, the Friday Night Bullarama was a go. It was one of the most difficult events I have photographed as I attempted to get shots through plastic bags, and rain drops. Though I came out of the event drowned in my clothes I enjoyed my time on the side of the fence. The night was definitely one I would not forget anytime soon. I am thankful for all the people that were willing to stick it out through the cold, and wet, weather to make sure the night happened as planned. Due to the rain the rest of the events of the weekend got rained out which I was thankful for. Due to this change of plans I found myself on a late September day back out at the local rodeo grounds. With the beautiful changing leaves as a backdrop I watched the ladies attack the barrel pattern. Though things didn’t go exactly as planned for the Twin Valley Riding Club I did thoroughly enjoy myself at all the events that took place in that month span of time. It was great to get out to enjoy the people, and to see the talent displayed each night. I am thankful to the Twin Valley Riding Club members who put in time and effort to put on the events. It takes a lot of hard work from dedicated individuals to make events like this occur, and without them I wouldn’t get to enjoy photographing such awesome subjects.
As we experience cold temperatures for the last few days here in Saskatchewan we get back to our regular winter programming. We had a beautiful run this winter with a surprise spring in January, but now as we start February we have frozen back into winter. As a person who is hibernator in winter these cold temperatures mean I am confined to my house wishing for warmer weather again (however, secretly thankful to have the cold weather to blame so I can just have time recharge). This time inside is allowing me to get through some photographs I was unable to get through this busy fall. This means I am finding all these wonderful warm photographs of fall on the Saskatchewan landscape. I have written about the beauty of Saskatchewan fall and the great colors on the landscape many times. I have a sort of obsession with the Saskatchewan fall, and the beauty of harvest time. I can say I know where this obsession developed from, and it can be traced back to the idea "you don't know what you have until it’s gone". Spending every fall for 6 years in Northern British Columbia made me crave the prairie fall. It was always hard going back to school knowing what I was missing out on, and would not get to see. The 2 trips I made back during those 6 years were not enough to quench the thirst I had to see it. For 6 years I watched the cottonwood trees turn gold amongst the conifers of the Northern British Columbia landscape, and I dreamed of home. I walked hallways where the sight of rain, or a sunny day, passed without much of a notice beyond what it meant for recreational play. It did not cause panic, nor excitement. People weren't in tune with the weather and watching the skies, though I admit it would be difficult to do past the height of trees. I spent time with lovers of nature, and people who were obsessed with being out in it. However, they were not in tune with the season in the way I had come accustomed to. They were in tune a different way, and watched it come and go with an appreciation for the beauty it brought. Whether it rained or shined, did not affect the work they had to do. So they did not watch for it, or get upset by the weather changes. It just changed, and they adapted to it. Amongst the beauty of the changing forest I felt alone, and disconnected. The buzz of the harvest season I had come to love was not in there, and I could not feel it. No one was there talking of combine parts, grain bushels, and businesses were not affected by the weather. Businesses were not left quiet, or overrun, depending on the weather. They just moved as usual, like any other time of year. Peers were not rushing home on the weekends to hop on the tractor, and coming to school tired after working in the fields all weekend. My peers were free to enjoy the hunting season, or hiking trails, that suited their fancy to break up the stress of studying. I felt out of touch, and it took a few years before I adjusted to the new seasons that I experienced. On the "outside" they were the same, but the on the inside they were worlds apart. This past fall was the third fall I have experienced back in my home province and I still find myself obsessed with the season every year. August is my favorite month as that's when the buzz of harvest begins to grow, and the landscape begins its change. In September this buzz overruns my system, and in October the buzz turns to one of panic as people want to get harvest off before the frost hits to hard, or snow falls. I drink in all these sights with a craving of that of a person who has been wandering a desert without water.
Each of the 3 falls I have experienced have been unique on themselves, and have shown me different landscapes within my beautiful province. Each and every fall I have found myself thankful for being able to take them in. This is the reason this blog becomes over run with fall photographs. I no longer take this season for granted, and enjoy it with every ounce I can. I pray for long, good weathered, falls. I run out to capture every piece of it I can, in a desperate attempt to make up for what I have lacked. On these cold winter days, when the skies are darker, and I find it hard to be cheery. I look back at these fall photographs to remind myself that no "fair weather" winter is worth losing these fall landscapes. I will bear the cold, and wind, that pushes on the prairie persons mind and makes us question "why do we live somewhere where the air hurts our face?". We all have our reasons why we stay, and the beauty of a Saskatchewan fall is why I stay. My heart will always be here amongst the living skies of Saskatchewan, and my buzz will be found amongst the harvest landscape. On a hot and dry July afternoon I was seated in the grass, up against the fence, at the Whitewood MRCA Fundraiser rodeo. It was a very fully day of events, and as I ate dust, I snapped off some pictures in the hot sun. The day had a mixture of different competitors show up, and there was a very relaxed feeling in the stands. I felt especially odd that day as it was the same day I usually show up the Sheho Ranch Rodeo. I am a person of habit, and Sheho Ranch Rodeo & Sports Days had been something that has been a staple in my calendar for more than a couple of the past years (it was a day that "I did not miss"). However, the change of scenery was definitely a good choice that day. It was a great day to be outside in the hot sun, and to experience the flying dust. It was a challenge to shoot into the mid-day sun, however one I was ready to accept as the light bounced off all the surfaces into my camera creating the images. I personally enjoyed the reflection off the sunglasses worn in the photographs. The bulls did not disappoint me, and gave me some excellent opportunities to capture. The calves, along with steers, also were great subjects that day. With each photograph I fell more in love with the day as the loose dirt gave a grit feel that I couldn't have previously prayed for to make the photographs look that good. I was perfectly happy to eat some dirt to capture them. The people were extremely friendly, and the relaxed feel in the stands made the day a pleasurable one. It was definitely one of the favorite days this past summer; however it would have been better if I wouldn't have gotten ill the same day. I am sad I was not able to stay for the whole thing, but what I got to see was well worth the drive. I can't wait to go back to Whitewood for another rodeo.
During the Saskatchewan fall we see the last great burst of golden colors come in. These colors are warm, & the last burst of color you will see from that summers flowers. The wildflower season changes into purple asters, & the yellows of the goldenrod. At the end of August, & beginning of September you, can hear the frantic buzz of the busy working bees as they do their best to gather up the last bits of pollen from the late blooming flowers. As September comes in the trees begin to change. The leaves on the trees lose their green color, & we get to watch the landscape wash with it last natural golden glow for the year as leaves take on their gold color. End of August, & the month of September, is this delicate limbo time for Saskatchewan. We see the fruits of our labor, which nursed the plants we seeded in spring, displayed as our plants come into their final stage for the year. We see it everywhere, from the last picking of our beautiful flowers from flower beds and gardens, to the out across the expansive landscape that harvest season has claimed. Fall is my favorite season, as it makes me reflect on how grateful I am for the spring & summer seasons I am able to experience. It makes me come to face with time, & accepting of endings. It's a season of change, & reflection as we harvest the hard work of the past year. We reflect on what worked, & what didn't. Where Mother Nature was kind, & where she wasn't. Fall is beautiful in it's seasonal mortality. This seasonal mortality reminds this warm day loving, beautiful summer color chaser & sun worshiper that not everything we love may last forever so we must treasure our love while we have it. Cheers to warm, & colorful, fall days
This August I had the pleasure of capturing some of the most beautiful summer skies. Seeing the clouds, rainbows, & varying colors I got to experience the true idea of Saskatchewan's "Living Skies". The landscapes I experienced were paintings brought to life. The colors that filled the skies, & were reflected onto the landscape were colors I could only wish to replicate in my paint palette. In this month I also got to experience some beautiful natural phenomenon’s of the astral type; the Perseids metero shower, & the super moon! This opened up the night skies to a show that that is best scene from a landscape that gives you an unobstructed view. Thank goodness for Saskatchewan’s back roads which lead a person to just such a landscape. I unfortunately was not able to capture as many meteor’s as hoped, but I did get to see the moon looking her best in that night sky. I will forever be thankful for Saskatchewan's livings skies, & miles of back roads to enjoy it from. I am very blessed to live in this province, & can't wait to spend many more days capturing the beauty of the "living skies".
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