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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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!
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 third week of my walk for wildlife found me with a little less snow, and more of a spring time feeling. The week started out with a great opportunity to catch some glances at some bison. Though these were tame, and not "wild", but one can only hope to catch these creatures as such when they have been removed from the prairie landscape. Every time I see them I think how amazing it would be to catch the sight these creatures out free on the landscape, like I do with so much of our other native wildlife. This weeks walks were made special since on the Tuesday of this week it was also Earth Day! I wrote a special day only post about it here. It was great to get out, walk and enjoy nature at its finest on such a celebrated say. I got to see so much that day! I thoroughly enjoyed walking down on the river bank, and seeing a new part of the Qu'Appelle River. Much of the week was spent along the river as possible as each day felt more like spring. I started seeing more and more water life as the ducks were coming back in more and more numbers. Life along the river was waking up more each time I took my walk down by it. The sound of the water in the river, and the splashing, were very comforting to hear. I also got the very pleasant surprise of finding some fresh and fuzzy willow buds! One of the signs that spring is truly in full season mode, and I was very glad to have found them. They are probably one of my favorite things to find in the spring, and I love taking the sight of them in since they are only here for a short while. They are spring only occurrence, and one I love seeing every spring. Another sign of spring during that week was that we finally got our first true Spring Rain. No snow occurred with it. Just grey clouds, humid air, and the gentle drops of cool spring rain. To me, this was Mother Nature's way of saying Spring is truly here. I enjoyed it so much that I actually put on my rubber boots, and took some time to go and explore while the rain fell. At the end of the week while spending time in an area of the river that I know, but haven't spent time down for a while, I found something else I love to see. A busy beaver at work. Beavers are one of my favorite water mammals, and water engineers. I find them to be very cute, and the work they do on trees & building water structures to be very impressive. The patterns that are left by their chew marks on trees is always something I stop to take in. If I could have a table with wood accents of beaver chew marks I would.
The weather was dreary all week with heavy grey clouds. This, however, was something I enjoyed. The clouds give the landscape such character, and I know they bring rain that is going to turn the landscape from yellow & brown, to green & bright. Welcome back Spring! I look foreword to spending the few short weeks I get to spend with you, and your awakening of the landscape. Welcome out of the transition period, and into your own full beauty. Today is Earth Day, and that means two things: 1) Time again for another big #FarmVoices day, and 2) it is Earth day. This year I am very excited that I got to actually spend my time really appreciating some natural beauty that I am in love with. The beautiful Qu'Appelle River & Valley. Today I got wander along the banks, with a friend, explore, and leave my prints next to where those of who have been there before me left theirs. It was an amazing afternoon down by the river. This past year has been a year of big change for me. Last year I kicked off this blog with the #FarmVoices movement, and so much has happened since then. I have watched the seasons change, I have been a part of watching things grow and be harvested, and I have watched the landscape of my life change before my eyes as I moved from one place to another. I went from one small town on the northern hills of my watershed, and now I enjoy the valley & the river. It is amazing how our lives can change, and just how that change can occur. Last year while on the FarmOn website I came upon a talk from a Gregory Schroeder about Seasons in our life. It is amazing how right he was when he discussed each Season of life, and how we will experience many different "planting years" within our life. Our life will only change, & grow, as fast as it can for the season it is in. If last year was a Season I would say last year was Winter. Nothing I worked on really came to bare full fruit, but lots of planning for upcoming year occurred. Lots of things that needing tending & repairing got the TLC they needed. I researched, planned, and attempted to figure out where I needed to be for when the new season came upon me. And come upon me Spring did. Somewhere in the last month Spring blew into my life with its warmth embrace, waking up me & my life. All that planning, repairing, and preparing I did is finally being put to good use. Things are starting to roll ahead for me. I may not be living on my farm yet, but I have a home that lets me hear birds sing, frogs croak, and watch sunsets over a hay field every night. I may not have my farm yet, but I am learning skills now I will need to work with the many animals I want to work with. I may not be a farmer yet, but each day I know I am getting closer. Each day, I talk with more and more people who love doing what I want to be doing. I get the benefit of slowly becoming part of the agricultural community I dreamed of. One day I will have my farm, and I will be able to be a true agvocate by putting words in to practice. My story is just beginning, but my love for agriculture, & stewardship, will be written on every page. This past year was a year of waiting, planning, learning, and preparing. Now is my time to start planting all the seeds I have picked that will bear the fruit of my life. I am incredibly blessed to be doing that somewhere I feel so free, and encouraged. I am blessed to work a job that keeps in the community I want to be a part of. This year was a big one for me. I found my way back home, and repaired myself there. I found my way back home, and found a way to start again on the path that I want to try. I will finish this blog by saying, don't rush your season. Accept your season for all the beauty, and purpose, it holds. The right season is coming, I promise. Please take a moment to enjoy some of my favorite shots from this past year. I hope that you can see my love for agriculture in every one. This is the story I want to tell the world. This is what I want to share. I hope you will enjoy hearing it.
With the month of October flying by, and thoughts of winter gathering in my mind, I thought it would be a good idea to take a walk to appreciate what little fall we have left here. I decided to do this on the walking trails close to my home since well I have never visited them before, and now was a better time then later. The trails did not disappoint. They gave an amazing view of the local surrounding habitat, and even a good view of the local golf course. I can't wait to spend more time out on these trails. I might actually have finally invest in a set of snow shoes or cross country skies! Oh my! These trails are a true little hidden gem in my local area. I am so glad that they exist so close to my home. The best part of the night was walking it during the golden hour, which in the fall makes everything not just golden but seems to have almost pink hue to it as well. All the leaves, and branches, and other things that are now brown instead of green give the meaning of the golden hour a different perspective. It is a truly beautiful time of day, and I am so glad to walk the trails soaking up the last sun of the day. Hope your October is treating you just as well! The month of October has been a month where I have been able to actually explore my new home a bit. It has been some excellent time running around the country side and finding all these neat little places. The Cutarm Reservoir is one of my favorite finds. I happened it upon it one evening right around sunset, and I have to say it was rather an amazing experience. The fall leaves with the pink water gave an at calm feeling. I was also visited by some little locals while I was down there. It was a welcome surprised as they swam in the water around me. The night was warm, well as warm as a October fall eve can be, and the surroundings quiet. I took this time to explore my creative side of nature photography. The lensbaby lens helped out a bit, but my favorite shot would be the blurred abstract I got of the water and fall leaves. It was a night made for creating something special, and I enjoyed every minute of it. So the end of my September found me spending not doing just one thing I love, but all three. Fishing, Farm time, & Rodeo. I wrote about the Kamsack Rodeo in my last post, and now I get to write about the other two here. I will start with my time down at Theodore Reservoir. I was down on there celebrating World Rivers Day by participating in a Great Canadian Shoreline Clean up Event put on by the Assiniboine Watershed Stewards. It was a beautiful September Sunday, and the day was a success. I only spent a few hours doing the clean up, and then hopped out early to do some fishing, along with go to the farm. However, with the great weather and good amount of people that showed up from what I saw the day was a great success. The reservoir itself looked like the perfect fall scene with all the fishermen along the shoreline, and all the changing leaf colors. I had lots of fun scampering along the rocks picking garbage, and stopping to capture the beauty of the fall colors. I happened to manage to find a woolly bear larva , and was able to deduce from the band & lack of spikes that our winter prediction is that we won't have much snow, and it should be a milder winter [hopefully this is correct]. It was a beautiful afternoon that I couldn't have asked for anything better. After I was done with the garbage I moved on to some fishing, and even caught myself a Northern Pike [but I let him go instead of having him for supper]. It was a perfect September afternoon. The farm looked amazing decorated in it's fall gold. It gave a beautiful "sparkle" to the yard, and surrounding fields. It, like the reservoir, looked like a perfect fall scene. I was so happy to be out there to experience it. I tried my best to capture the fall gold leaves out their true glory. Along, with spending time doing that I spent some time with my beautiful kittens that went from being garage kitty's to full on full-time farm kitties. They adapted to the change so well, and were ripping around the yard with all the full excitement that only cute kitty's can have. It was a very relaxing way to end the month, and brought much happiness to me. Then the day could not have been more perfect, Mother Nature gave me the most amazing sunset I could have asked for to end that perfect last Sunday in September. The colors were amazing, and I was very happy to be fortunate enough to be able to experience it. Rural life has so much overlooked beauty that it makes me so happy to be able to share the moments when life, and Mother Nature, line up just right. |
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