resourceful responsibly repurposing

It all started when I took a detailed inspection of my 2024 Vision Board and realized I accomplished all the visions that were written on paper and pinned to the cork.  That meant it was time to put the board to other use.  I already knew I was not going to prepare a Vision Board for 2025 so I brainstormed for a few seconds, yes it was only a few seconds when ole heck broke lose!  My mind wandered in all directions and I became resourceful with responsibly repurposing!   Before doing anything with the cork board, I went off on another tangent! 

In January of this year, I received a precious gift from a precious Valley Girl friend! She became aware I had a thing for nice pieces of paper.  She was holding on to several pieces of fancy paper until she could find a use for them.  I entered her vision of being resourceful and responsibly repurposing.  Along with a lovely letter she mailed me the papers.  These are a few of the sheets and there are sheets behind each of these sheets. When I received them, I had an idea of what I would use them for knowing it would be a few months down the road for when I was ready. Well, now is go time!

I have many watercolour books that are filled with my paintings.  They were sitting in a box in my basement, out of sight out of mind, oh what a waste.  Each coiled book has a couple of blank pages at the front and at the back.  I removed those pages so they could be used in a homemade watercolour book.  I also removed the cardboard back covers to use at the front and back.  I had twine and lots of washi tape packed away not being used.  This is the front of my homemade watercolour book.  The blue is the special paper from my friend with pieces of washi tape holding it in place and adding a bit of decoration.  

 

The left is the inside of the front cover with the green being a piece of the special paper and the flower washi tape holding it in place  I painted a background on the first introductory page and wrote the words with a marker. Four pieces of twine hold the book together. 

This is the back of the book.  The special purple sheet of paper is being held in place by the butterfly washi tape.  The pieces of twine were threaded through holes I made with a hole puncher and the twine is knotted then I made bows to finish if off.  

This is my first painting in my new homemade watercolour book.  I replicated this from a tutorial.  I wanted to learn how to paint this kind of people.  Oh they were friggie to paint!  It took many practices on scrap paper before I attempted to do in on my painting.  I am so happy with how it turned out!  

Now back to the vision corkboard!  With many pencil sketches on separate sheets of paper and lots in my mixed media sketch books, it was time to be resourceful and responsibly repurpose them.  I picked out many of the sketches and cut out sections from some of them and used the whole sketch of others.  After clearing off the visions from the board, I then pinned my sketches to it. The board measures 18 inches by 24 inches and is on the wall by my computer.  Now these "works of art" are no longer out of sight, out of mind. They are right there in front of my eyes where I will see them daily.

My mind continued to wander with how not to waste!  After every painting project, I am left with leftovers in my pallet.  I always wash it clean before starting another project.  Instead of washing it clean this time, I was resourceful with responsibility repurposing.  This is what it looked like to start.....

.....and this is what it looked like when I was finished!

I used the left over paint to paint a project!  I used a piece of wet twine pressed it in place on the paint beneath the bird and when it was removed, it created a snowy branch.  I also used salt to give a snowy look and added a little bokeh effect.  This is the outcome! It definitely would look better with more paint but the idea was to not take more paint from the pods and add it to the pallet.  This is the second painting in my new homemade watercolour book.

I have many more coiled books filled with sketches and watercolour paintings.  There are enough blank pages at the front and back of each book that I can use in another homemade book.  There are about ten special pieces of paper left from my friend that I will use to decorate the new book.  

I need to brainstorm again to come up with ideas to be resourceful with responsibility repurposing all the additional sketches and paintings!  I am not into selling them, I did throw a bunch out yesterday and I cut lots into smaller pieces to use the backs as practice paper.  I am hoping ole heck breaks lose again and my mind wanders in all directions!  

Bald Eagles at Carburn Park November 3, 2024

love birds

I have a story to tell!  This morning I went to Carburn Park for a birding outing plus to walk 8.3 kms to reach my new goal of covering 2120 kms in 2024 to beat what I did in 2021 which was 2119 kms, the most distance I ever covered in one year.  I had good intentions and set off into the forest with a pep in my step.  Then, I got distracted when an American Bald Eagle flew over top of me holding onto a large branch.  I took this photo then watched where it went and then I went there!  

I ended up at that spot by the Bow River where I spent much time in the spring waiting for the birth of the Eaglet and then watching it grow.  It grew so quickly and vacated the nest and now the two Bald Eagles are empty nesters.  Well, when I arrived at that spot this morning, I joined four guys.  They told me the two Eagles were building a nest.  I did a  little homework when I got home and I learned that a pair of Bald Eagles will begin to build a nest one to three months before mating season.  OK so I guess they will begin to mate in February of next year!  Anyway, back to my story!  

These are the two resident Eagles who come to this location each year.  This time they are building a new nest not far from the one they used earlier this year.  The four guys and I watched the Eagles for an extended period.  From their conversation, I made an assumption that the one on the right is the female and the one flying away is the male.   

The male Bald Eagle kept flying off and returning with a branch.  

In this photo it was breaking off a branch.

returning with another branch

While the male was off collecting branches, the female stood guard shooing away Magpies and accepted the branches upon the males return.  They appeared to work together to get each branch in place in the nest.  While googling, I learned that a Bald Eagle nest ranges from four to five feet in diameter and three to four feet tall.  They take great care and are meticulous in building the nest.  

two videos showing the Eagles at work

While watching the Bald Eagles busily building the nest, the guys pointed something out to me that I had not noticed.  Look at where the Eagles are in the tree, the nest is to the right and just below them. Follow that tree down to the bottom.  Do you see what the guys saw and pointed out to me? 

This is a close up of the bottom of that tree where they are building their nest. The Beavers' intentions are to use pieces of this tree in constructing their dam.  The guys believe this tree will not be standing for much longer.  

If only there was such a thing as a "Bald Eagle Whisperer" who could tell this beautiful pair of Love Birds to move along and build their nest in some other tree.  This whole scenario has peaked my interest and I will definitely be following this love story with hopes of their nest being safe and come spring time they will no longer be empty nesters!  When I was googling about them, I learned that Bald Eagles are strong and independent and they are survivors.  They are majestic, bold and faithful!  

Oh by the way, after being stationary for the entertaining show, I then got that pep back in my step and covered the distance necessary to reach my goal of 2120 kms covered so for this year! No more goals, it's just a free for all now!

Hello November : November 1, 2024

 I love how November hit!

When I woke this morning and saw what weather we were in for this morning, I thought I can’t do two “out & about” free days in a row!  I needed to be out there no matter what, so I went, up to Nose Hill, an easy short drive.  I drove through very dense fog and began ascending The Hill in fog. It was like entering into an abyss!  

Everything was covered in a layer of hoar frost which is normally white but this morning it had a golden glow.  The sky above was clear and blue yet at eye level I could barely see what was in front of me.  October is over as is Hallowe'en but the spookiness stuck around and drew me into November's atmospheric eeriness!  

The sun was fully up!

I continued to ascend and eventually hiked up out of the fog 

to a clearer view where everything was white.  

a layer of frost on the steel crocus markers

hoar frost on every blade of grass and twig

it even began to form on the ends of my hair

a very thick layer of frost lay on every leaf

on the top of Nose Hill where it is flat and wide open

silence was golden this morning

the far off sounds were drowned in the fog down below

A couple of hours after exiting the abyss then enjoying the blue, the white, the frost and the fresh air, it was time to hit the trail back down. The fog had not lifted, it continued to shroud the lower laying land. Back into the abyss I go!  

view to city centre where only the highest towers peeked above the fog

 The trail to ______!

This was quite the introduction to November and I was so thankful to have accepted the invitation and did not RSVP with a negative response. The atmospheric look gave The Hill a little bit more of a wild feel. I got my fill of what I went in search off!  

Happy Hallowe'en!

It's been awhile since I took a day off from being "out & about" so I declared today an "out & about" free day! Even though I was not "out & about", my mind went to a day that I was "out & about".  A way back on Hallowe'en Day in 2009, was the first time I dressed in a costume to hike.  It was the first time, but not the last time, yet the best time!  The full story with photos is in the link above.  I enjoyed playing the part of The Devil and when the curtain went up, I put on a show!  I bet Boulder Pass & Ptarmigan Lake in the Skoki Region never looked like it did on that October 31st in 2009 when we invaded it!  

The whole day was worthy of framing and I have done that numerous times since, in varies blog posts over the years.  Today I framed that day again but in a different way, I did a watercolour painting of my favourite photo from the dozens that I took.  This is my painting with the reference photo underneath.

In addition to rereading that blog post a few times, I also looked back at all my photos and remembered how much fun the day was from the beginning right to the end when we crazy carpeted down the long and winding four kilometre road back to the parking lot.  

at Boulder Pass

on Ptarmigan Lake

the crazy carpet ride

4 short stories

After being "out & about" today, I am now at 2095 kms covered to-date in 2024.  My goal was to cover 2024 kms this year and once I reached that my goal became 2087 kms to surpass what I did last year which was 2086 kms.  Now I have a new goal, I want to cover 2120 to beat what I did in 2021 which was 2119, the most distance I have ever covered in a year.  This new goal will be easy breezy and after that, I guess I will just make it a free for all and go for whatever!  Now on to my "4 short stories" ! 

checking out & searching for

On this day, I had two main objectives to accomplish in addition to the usuals of getting fresh air and exercise.  I went to Confluence Park to "check out" the Siberian Larch Tree.  As you can see it is looking quite vibrant in the morning light which is so great for being very late in October. The other main objective was to "search for" the two Great Horned Owls which were reported to be living somewhere in the Park. I had no luck with seeing them but I did see a mink.  A flock of Northern Flickers is hanging out here too.  The autumn shades are in full force for as far as you can see.  Temperatures during the day have been well above freezing and there is no rain nor snow in the forecast for the foreseeable future.  I will be back for more "checking out & searching for"!  

woodland wandering & swishing

Most leaves now lay on the ground and that makes for great "swishing".  I've been doing lots of that lately when the opportunity is presented. I have been aiming for "woodland" lots too lately.  While I do like being out in the open for the views that go on forever, I also enjoy "wandering" through the "woodland".  On this day up on Nose Hill, I aimed for the aspen-lined trails and went "swishing" until my heart was content.  I created this watercolour painting from the special split seconds in time I savoured.  When I was "swishing" shades on the paper, in my mind I was back "wandering" at that "woodland" forest!

my reference photos

what's new with you

These days weekends work better for visiting the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.  The traffic on the Deerfoot 500 has been out of control and scary the past few weekdays that I drove it. That's really nothing "new" though.  Upon arriving at the parking lot, the first thing I noticed was the moon.  It is on the verge of being a "new" one come November 1st. A few weeks ago I purchased "new" hiking shoes, but I bought them for walking.  I have been going through walking shoes like there is no tomorrow and needed something more substantial.  These are warm & waterproof, have a good sole & grip.  There have been four muskrats in the lagoon, three of which are smaller than the other.  This is one of the small ones.  I believe the small ones would be "new" borns this summer.  While at The Sanctuary, the "new" weather began to come in, in one swoop.  With that cloud came much cooler temperatures.  

for my eyes only

What would I witness on this day up on Nose Hill?  There's always some kind of sighting to treasure!  I arrived at the tail end of the golden hour where my shadow lined up directly with the trail.  This was a shadow only "my eyes" saw!  With the golden hour gone, the sky now had a look of bursting open with pinks & purples forming an arch and sending an invitation to enter under.  Filling the sky, not only was this for "my eyes" but for everyones.  There to the west for all to see was a mountain peak peeking through the clouds with a touch of alpenglow hitting it!  I waited for the clouds to dance away and make the reveal.  Well, that was what "my eyes" saw!  The clouds did dance then the mountain disappeared! That was no mountain, it was just another cloud!  I still like what "my eyes" saw better! The two deer were down slope when I spotted them so only "my eyes" could see them.  A few seconds after I captured their beauty, they ran up hill to the wide open space for all others walking in the area to see. 

Banff National Park October 25, 2024

After hiking up Sulphur Mountain yesterday to get a grand view of all Banff, today I stayed low visiting many pretty locations.  I enjoy winter at Lake Minnewanka when I can skate and when the ice formations and methane bubbles are plentiful making for a photographer’s dream. That’s only in my dreams right now. It could become a reality in two months.  I walked a portion of the shore and admired the views.

It has been ages since I was here in another season other than winter.  I forgot what it looked like without ice. In a couple of months, I should be able to walk from where I am standing to that little island with the trees on it.

the sun catching the mountain peaks with the glow reflecting in the water 

a Black-capped Chickadee 

The picnic tables, shelters and food storage cabinets are available for use read round.

It’s rutting season and there are warning notices throughout the Park.

Luckily there were no Bull Elk close to where I was walking but I did have to stop to let this one cross the road. It was walking in my direction on the road so I backed up and pulled to the wrong side to give it a wide berth.  When it got to this spot, I rolled down the passenger window to snap this shot.  There were two more of these guys further along the road that were behaving erratically, I zoomed on by,

Two Jack Lake is another location that is so dreamy in winter.  While the Lake is still open water, ice lined the shore. I broke a piece off to play with.  This slice measures about four inches in height.

reflections at Two Jack Lake

a female Common Merganser 

Time came to venture into downtown.  Even at noon it was very quiet.

Tomorrow could be a different story as it’s the first day of the Banff Mountain Film Festival.  I looked in many shops but my heart was not into shopping today.  I do better at that in December during the spirit of the season.

The walk along the river was beautiful!

squirrel with lunch 

female Mallard

I eventually made it back to the free parking lot near the train station.  This was the view from my vehicle just before leaving to head back to my home away from home.