Banff National Park November 12, 2025

Not only did I want to be surrounded by a late autumn tease of a winter-wonderland during this getaway to Banff National Park, I also wanted to test my cross-country ski skills since having surgery, going through physio therapy and now living life to the fullest again. I want to report my success rate to the surgeon when I see him in December.  The tracks are in very early season condition but I can’t wait for when they are prime. 

I drove over the border into British Columbia to begin skiing the Great Divide from the O’Hara side rather than the Lake Louise side.  No one else was there yet which I was thankful for. I was a tad apprehensive as I clipped in and glided off. 

The kilometres I planned to cover were predominantly flat with a few very small gradual hills. The temperature was a few degrees above freezing with no wind. This called for light layers.  This area also calls for carrying bear spray which I had at my side with easy access. 

Today was not about being speedy, it was about staying upright, being happy and wearing a smile. 

I opted to take the skis off and walk the downhills.

It was overcast yet the views were beautiful!

I arrived at the border between British Columbia and Alberta.  I stayed on the B.C. side, not feeling ready yet to climb the big hill then have to descend it.  It was here where I finally met up with another skier. He was a serious speedy skate skier in his black tight tights! He disappeared just as quick as he appeared.  

This was a good spot to stop and stretch.  

the shelter

still smiling

Even on the way back, I still removed my skis to walk down the hills. My confidence will return!  Portions of the flat sections were on the icy side but that comes were early season and warm temperatures. As I neared the end I began seeing more skiers just heading out.  I was happy to not be in the midst of them. 

Upon reaching the end, I let out a big happy sigh, I stayed upright the entire ski and I was still smiling!  Aaahh success!  I am not sure when I will get to cross country ski next but I do know now that I will be absolutely fine. 

Banff National Park November 11, 2025

We will always remember!

What are the odds that the opening in the clouds should look like ❤️ this when I arrived at Lake Louise today!  I’ve had the desire to be around snow so put a plan in place to make that happen.  Being Remembrance Day, I made sure to be extra grateful that I have the freedom to make choices on what I do in life. I love when I go searching and find what I am looking for.  

That late autumn tease of what is to come!  Right now Lake Louise is wide open water.  The surrounding peaks are dusted with new white gold while the ground is covered in a few centimetres of snow with icy walkways. Sporting my spikes, off I went. 

I am sure if the canoe rentals were still available, the business would have made a mint today.  

In a little over a month or so the Ice Castle would normally be built and the ice groomed for skating. Will that be the case this year? While walking the shoreline, a few flurries fell, one landed on my cheek, aaahhh winter I thought!  This is what I came looking for!

a Clark’s Nutcracker

a Duck

(a family had the mold to make them)

The shade of the water was so incredibly beautiful at the base of Fairview Mountain. 

Then as crystal clear as could be near me.

I built the snowman on the right on my way to the end of the lake.  

Upon my return, I saw someone built another one.

View from the backside of Lake Louise

looking towards The Chateau and The Ski Hill.

Time came to check into my home away from home. 

I enjoyed the view from my picture window 

while the sun began to set on this day 

that I was so grateful to experience. 

autumn days

After arriving at two separate Parks outside the city only to see loads of construction vehicles and some closures at both (I should have done my homework), my third choice became Elliston Park. By this time I had almost lost total interest in doing anything other than heading back home. I was here, a very slight interest remained, I made the most of it!  There was no ice whatsoever in the lake, the ducks and geese swam freely throughout.  

female & male Mallard

Great White-fronted Goose (juvenile)

I recognize what this male Common Goldeneye is up to!

He put on a show.....

.....splashing about!

He was working at making an impression on her, the female Common Goldeneye.

I spent about an hour strolling about the Park.  It felt good to have done something after all that unnecessary driving around. I did wonder with all this gorgeous weather so late in the year, would the wildlife be confused!  

"My Name is Maverick"

If you have been following me since June then you will know I wrote and illustrated a children's book about a Canada Goose Gosling.  The title of the book is "My Name is Journey", I shared information about it here blog post.  I had three requests to purchase copies but I declined the offers. During the time of putting the book together, I was on a very personal journey of my own. Being deeply creative helped me along and I now feel I successfully reached the end of that journey. I still have a connection to the book but I've let the possessiveness of it go. I am happily beginning another journey, it's called "My Name is Maverick"! It's about a Bald Eagle Eaglet!

a recent watercolour painting

This unusually warm dry weather we are experiencing locally, so late in autumn, has been great for easily getting around while being out & about. Bodies of water are open, trails are dry, roadways are clear. It confuses my mind while my soul yearns for otherwise. Stay Tuned!

3 short stories

 story #1

With the sun rising earlier since the time change, I don't have to wait forever to get out the door, hit the secondary highway then begin hiking to be in place as the day dawns by lighting up the sky.  The panorama photo shows my view as I began to descend into the valley at Glenbow Ranch. The Bow River was calling me so that's where I aimed.  There were only a few slices of ice, what was lacking in quantity made up for in quality. With the sun well above the horizon, I noticed the day old Super Beaver Moon still shone bright as seen in the left middle photo. It was a beautiful morning to immerse myself in the sunrise while the deer were immersing themselves in searching for breakfast.   

story #2

The third knitted slipper is complete which means I now have a pair.  If you have been following along for a couple of months then you know the first slipper was a disaster.  The second one which is to the left turned out quite good, the third slipper is perfect. What's that saying "third time's a charm!" I'm in a groove again and ready to start another knitting project.  

story #3

After sharing a photo in my last blog post of the Eaglet I painted, I decided I can do better than that!  I can paint a version that is more realistic yet still comical in a way.  So, this painting is better than the last one.  As a reference, I used a photo I took of the Inglewood Eaglet I saw from a very far distance this past May. After painting the Eaglet, the idea of painting Bald Eagle's eggs came to mind.  As I was painting the eggs, yet another idea came to mind. These two paintings may be the beginning of something much bigger. I need to come up with a name for this Eaglet! My Name is_____!

IT'S TIIME! November 2, 2025

It was November 3rd of last year when I began to share photos and stories while monitoring the two Bald Eagles at Carburn Park. It all started with the Eagles building a nest in a tree that was doomed to fail as the beavers chewed away at the base.  A week later the tree was laying on the ground. That sparked my interest in following the Eagles with hopes they would have success with their second nest. They were successful with building a nest in another location but had no success with producing eaglets the following spring which was spring of this year. 

Fast forward to today, November 2, 2025.  From a distance I spotted a Bald Eagle in a tree in the location where the doomed incident occurred last year.  I quickly headed over to get a closer look, the closer look was still on this side of the river with the Eagle perched on the other side. The two guys who also monitored the Pair last year were already in place this morning. They believed this was the male Bald Eagle.  I watched for awhile but there was no activity, so I got active and moved along for a hike to Beaverdam Flats.

An hour or so later as I was returning from Beaverdam Flats, I noticed two Bald Eagles in a tree near where the Eagles constructed their second nest last year.  If you look closely you can see them as two tiny dots almost on top of each other, in the tree at the left.  You need to have an eagle eye to spot them so far away.  I joined up with the same two guys who were now in this location. They reported one of the Eagles was the one that we saw earlier.  

At this point I decided that I wanted to make it a project, this winter, to monitor the Pair again. 

IT'S TIME!  My monitoring begins.  

The two Bald Eagles just sitting in the tree.....

.....going about their business!

The Bald Eagle to the left broke off a branch.

I watched to see where it went with the branch.

It landed in a tree to the far right in the second photo from the top. I watched it rummage around here for awhile then it flew back to the join the other Eagle.  At this point I bid the two guys a nice day and then went about my day knowing in a couple of weeks I will return to see what has transpired.  

I felt happy for the pair of Bald Eagles that they are relentless and trying again to begin another family. I put together this watercolour painting of an Eaglet. This is my rendition of an Eaglet, not looking anything like what they actually do look like.  

I learned lots about Bald Eagles while monitoring the Pair last year and following through on them to this past spring.  I have loads more to learn and look forward to doing so over the next number of months.  I also want to have fun playing with watercolour painting various renditions of Bald Eagles. I hope you will follow along on my "Carburn Bald Eagles" journey with me!  

mood of the day October 31, 2025

 Then just like that Hallowe'en arrived!  

This morning's look and feel offered up perfection for the mood of the day.  I squeezed into rush hour traffic to venture down the "Deerfoot 500" to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary to cover some kilometres on foot, to "forest bathe", to bird spot and to come away feeling like I got a full dose of nature.  I arrived to see everything covered in a very thin light layer of frost.

the other youngster was not as curious so dashed off

It was early and even though that adventure on the "Deerfoot 500" woke me up, I was not quite up to snuff with making ID's.  All the while, I thought I was admiring a Muskrat.  There was a baby boom of them this summer and I thought this was just one of the many.  

It was when I saw it swimming a bit later, I knew it was something other than a Muskrat. It was a very similar size to one.  I asked a City Parks Person who happen to be strolling my way, he told me it's a baby Beaver.  An ID can be made by checking out the tail.  

White-breasted Nuthatch

male Common Goldeneye

Muskrat

small sections of light layers of ice are forming 

frostiness

While I was snapping shots, I realized all my photos were dull in colour, muted shades with no vibrancy.  I wondered would any of the scenery shots be cause for an "oh wow"!  Once I got home and loaded the photos onto my big screen, I vocalized "OH WOW"!  I like the look of frostiness and light layers of ice. The photos fit the bill for a mood ideal for Hallowe'en!