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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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. “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. As June winds down and the clouds wind up it always brings some very interesting weather. It is one of the signals that summer is here. The storm clouds bring rain for all the freshly planted things, along with tons of interesting skies to see in the evening. I tried my best to get some good shots of the storm clouds, but alas I never seemed to be quite in the right place at the right time. Though I may have missed the storm clouds, I did manage to find a few pleasant things. Like fresh flowers, and raindrops! Cheers for spring raindrops, and fresh plants!
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