Wednesday, November 20, 2024

smitten smittens November 20, 2024



This morning's pink hue comes to you by way of a frosty foggy sunrise!  It was the first time this season that the weather for being "out & about" up on Nose Hill called for long johns, a "tuque" with hood over top and my heat wave gloves.  I was ready to face the elements, my only concern was would my vehicle make it up the very short steep hill to the parking lot! Thankfully the road was sanded, salted and pickled.  


Another thing I was thankful for was that sometime yesterday, fat bikers, I mean fat-tire bikers, biked some of the dirt paths leaving packed trails.  After getting the elevation out of the way, I found some of those packed trails and went about my business along them.  The lone leave beckoned for company!  

No one else was up here in this area.  A light layer of snow lay on top of the tracks from yesterday.  The fog and snow muffled any distant surrounding sounds.  I could only hear my foot steps crunch in the snow and each breath that I took.  


the clouds ahead looked like gigantic snow banks



🎵🎵🎵
When it snows, ain't it thrilling 
Though your nose gets a chilling
Walking in a winter wonderland!


For some reason, it felt magical to see them this morning!

Time came to begin the hike back to the parking lot. Either of these three routes would take me there, left, straight ahead or to the right.  Let's see, which way would be longer, to the right would be so I took that route.  

I'm smitten for my smittens! I took my smittens with me for a photo opportunity in the snow. I purchased these a number of years ago at a store in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. They were made from old sweaters that were donated to the crafter.  I have no old sweaters for cutting into pieces to sew together to make smittens.....

.....but I do have watercolour paints, so I painted my pair of smittens! I did think of buying a cheap sweater or two to cut up to make smittens, but instead..... 


.....I bought yarn and needles to knit a pair of mittens!  I never knitted mitts before!  This past January and February, I knitted a basic bunch of squares then stitched them together and called it a blanket which I absolutely love.  Now with the cold weather settling in, I am using the blanket on a daily basis.  I hope I have as much luck with knitting these mittens!   




Monday, November 18, 2024

from this : to this : now this

from this

One of my missions for visiting Carburn Park on this day was to check out the Bald Eagle Nest situation to which I have nothing to report because there was absolutely nothing going on.  Once I took care of that mission, I then moved on to taking in all that Mother Nature offered up.  The moon was still full, the wind was non existent, the pond was open water, these packaged together created this gorgeous reflection.  It was a bright sunshiny day.  

I spotted a Buck basking in the bushes

the sun shone bright on the Chickadee's feathers 

the Canada Geese formed a perfect V in the sky

the muskrat raised its tail to warn me away

the long shadows lit up the ground cover








to this

One of my missions while visiting the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary was once again to seek out the Great Horned Owls to which I have no photos to share because I had no success with finding them.  Once I took care of that mission, I was free to wander and wonder.  The moon was still big yet not quite full and I was able to capture it and its reflection.  It was a cool, crisp morning with a sky full of those fluffy puffy white clouds that I love so much.

it was joyful to watch the Robin taking a morning bath

the Canada Geese working on forming their V

the Lagoon was mostly open water with a pretty reflection

the muskrat decorated with water droplets 

female & male Mallard Ducks after their bath









now this

One of my missions while visiting Confluence Park was to check out the Siberian Larch Tree in the birth forest to which I found what needles were still on the tree were holding new fallen snow.  Once I dealt with that mission I then meandered along swishing through the snow.  We were walloped with more snow than was forecasted.  The moon was no where to be seen in a sky full of grey yet the sun tried its best to shine but with no luck.

the Canada Geese were flying over head in droves 

tis the time to sport my winter boots

the Mallard Ducks were all in a row 

the forest dressed in a new collection of winter white

it was perfect snowman snow so I made one







I am ready for "now this" and welcome it with open arms!  With what is in the forecast over the next number of days, I believe the snow is here to stay.  This means new seasonal doors now open, it leads to taking each day as it comes, needing to be more flexible and spontaneous. I will embrace winter, all the while being cautious with conditions.  Winter can be full of wonderous sights and experiences!

   

Saturday, November 16, 2024

2 not so short stories

lessons

I did not even realize until well into my visit at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, that I was recognizing activities and sounds that I recently learned about in the first dozens of pages in my new book "What the Robin Knows!" I arrived once again to an autumn-like look but this time around, a thin layer of ice is beginning to form on the water.  The open water offered up crystal clear reflections while the reflections were muted through the thin ice.  I took note of the beauty and imagine the next time I am here, the ice should be prevalent.   

I had hoped to see the Great Horned Owl with her youngster but had no luck with that.  Watching the activity of the Belted Kingfisher and the Red-breasted Nuthatch, I recognized what I learned already in my book and that motivates me to make time to read which I am not good at doing.   While I am in a learning stage, I put in an effort to learn about the lonely rabbit that hangs out at The Sanctuary.  It is a Mountain Cottontail, also know as a Nuttall's Cottontail.  It does not turn white in the winter.  The information in  "What the Robin Knows" carries over into other wildlife behaviour and I recognized that with the Cottontail. 

There were two Red-breasted Nuthatches hanging around on this morning during my visit. The above collage shows one of them.  I often capture good photos of the White-breasted Nuthatches but not so much with the Red-breasted.  I had good luck this time and ended up making it my muse for a watercolour painting.  While I am in a learning stage, I invested a little time to find out more about this sweet little bird.   

During these days and going forward, the sightings are limited at The Sanctuary.  I do look forward to when the area is dressed in winter white offering up a whole different vibe.  


eye on the sky

I had my eye on the sky the past few days, watching the Beaver Moon become full.  Our weather has not been the greatest, we are experiencing lots of cloudy nights and foggy mornings.  When I am at home, I have better luck witnessing the moon in the mornings due to its location.  I captured this shot on the morning of November 14th. The way it moved through the sky, it did not appear about the tree line from my vantage point.  


Just after 4:00am on the 15th, the clouds parted ways and the moon was fully visible above the trees.  The view lasted only a few minutes before it was covered by clouds again.  By the time the clouds cleared, the moon was too low to see from my back deck.   

I was out on my deck at 5:00am this morning (November 16) and captured the full Beaver Moon in all its glory. It appeared closer and it took on a different hue. I declare this to be my official photo of the Beaver Moon for 2024.  

By the time I was "out & about" yesterday morning, the moon was below the horizon.  The fog was thick and while hiking up on Nose Hill, I could see nothing in the distance and what was visible up close was not so interesting.  Just like for the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, I am ready to see Nose Hill Environmental Park dressed in a new collection of winter white which will add a whole new vibe.  

I named this not so short story "Eye on the Sky", "Eyes in the Sky" would have been fitting too!  With not much to capture my attention on this morning and wanting to be drawn in by at least something, I kept my "eye on the sky" when I saw the sun try to force its way through the clouds. That captured my attention and became my focus.  I took numerous photos a few minutes apart.  When I got home and downloaded my photos and saw these four together, it caught my eye that it looked like there were "eyes in the sky", in fact it look like a face in the sky.  
a close up of the sun peeking through with unusual cloud formations


What is your take away from these two stories? 

This is mine: 

#1: it is healthy both mentally and physically to always be learning

#2:  don't forget to look up, there is lots going on up there 


Wednesday, November 13, 2024

over the Beaver Moon

The full moon for November is called the Beaver Moon and will be at its peak on Friday November 15, 2024 at 2:29 PM Mountain Time at which time it will be below the horizon.  This Supermoon will be best witnessed at sunset when you can watch it rise.  The Beaver Moon will orbit closer to the earth than any other moon this year and will be the brightest Supermoon of the year. This is the four consecutive and last Supermoon of 2024.

At this time of year beavers are actively building their lodges.  Beavers are mainly nocturnal and work under the light of the full moon.  Once they have sufficient food storage for the long winter they will begin to take shelter in their lodge.  This is why the November full moon is called the Beaver Moon.

This is my watercolour painting of the Beaver Moon and will represent November in my 2025 Calendar. I took various ideas from numerous photos to create this painting to make it my own.  My reference photos are below the painting.  The two photos at bottom right in the collage were the main influencers in designing the look for the painting.  Those photos were taken on November 20, 2010  at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park and at Lake Louise in Banff National Park.  This was a memorable day shared with Adventure Designer.  


Wherever I am on the night of November 15th, 
I will be over the moon if I get to witness the full Beaver Moon!

OOOPS: I based my 2025 Calendar Full Moon Names on the same names as 2024.  I thought I knew it all but now know that for 2025 the Full Moon names for September and October are Corn Moon and Harvest Moon respectively.  In 2024 September and October are Harvest Moon and Hunter Moon respectively.  It's too late now as I have my 2025 Calendar in hand, ready to be hung beside my cork board on January 1, 2025.



Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Forgetmenot Pond & Big Elbow Trail November 11, 2024

My choice was to spend a few hours out side of the city for Remembrance Day.  I picked Forgetmenot Pond as the place to be! I went with intentions of capturing photos of my Poppy in the snow or ice.  Each year in November, I make my way out to the Little Elbow Provincial Recreation Area to get one or two last visits in before the gate closes on December 1st. Every November that I go, The Pond always has some degree of ice formed on it.  On this trip, Forgetmenot Pond was wide open water, there was not even an inkling of ice to be seen on it nor anywhere near it.  So, my Poppy was propped up on a piece of wood instead of in snow or on ice. 


Upon arrival at the parking lot, I saw four wild mustangs feeding in the field.  
Before heading towards The Pond, I strolled closer to the horses 
and used my zoom from the opposite side of the road to capture their beauty. 

I have been so fortunate to be presented with gorgeous mornings here whenever I go early.


I picked this spot to acknowledge Remembrance Day!  

After the most important task was complete, I then grabbed a selfie.


With no ice, nor snow, nor mud, it was easy going along the Big Elbow Trail. 

I was along this route in early November of last year and decided to go for it again today.

This time around, I went further along the trail.  Next time I am in this area, I will go even further.  I have never hiked beyond before but know there are sights to see. 

view of Nihahi Ridge which I have hiked up a few times
the route goes up the other side

on Nihahi July of 2021
shows further along the trail I was on today winding along the creek 

on Nihahi July of 2022
today I would have been below and to the left from where I stand in this photo

It was so pretty and peaceful here with the blue sky and fluffy puffy white clouds, add the sound of the creek running and on top of that the autumn shades covering the ground.  I made this area my turn around spot.


It was also the spot I picked to sip a hot beverage.


"Lest We Forget"
as Forgetmenot Pond