three stories

These days are gifts to grab hold off to make the most of each one!  The ways to make the most of them are boundless. I am never at a loss for what to do. That alone is a gift. My preference is normally to get up and get going but recently the get going is not necessarily getting out the door due to darkness until shortly before nine.  Get going can now mean getting downstairs to my watercolour paints, to my book, to my journal making.  Today I have three stories to share with you on how I am making the most of my days!     

Story #1

On this morning, I was out the door in darkness, arrived at Forgetmenot Pond in darkness, waited in my car for a bit of light to see the way, then was on my way.  The snow you see is about all there was.  The Pond is wide open water but thankfully not at a low level.  The surrounding hills and ridges are quite bare.  

There was a warm breeze so reflections were not precise yet the colours in the Pond were pretty. The mountains have a dusting of white gold which took on the alpenglow shades after the sun came up.  

The Elbow River looks pretty in pink!

After hiking a few kilometres, I found a spot by the river to sit for awhile.  The plan was to sit but of course I had to let the child within come out to play first. At this time of year I do like to play with ice but there was none to be found.  So,  I spent time just throwing rocks in the water. 

finally time to sit for awhile

On my way back to the parking lot, I met many people in the early stages of their hike.  By now the wind was picking up and there was not as much blue in the sky.  The winds were bringing in warmer temperatures.  Being Remembrance Day many people were off work and also it was free for the day to enter Kananaskis Country.

Story #2

When get going means getting to my watercolour paints, I usually have an idea in mind of what I would like to create. Sometimes I search for a tutorial and lots of times I have my own photos to use as references. At times I pair the two which was the case for this project. My thoughts have turned to ice skating, the season is just around the corner. I used a tutorial that I found online to draw the bunny.  I incorporate colour from my reference photos. 

Note:  Before skating, my friend used her ice screw to measure the depth of the ice in various locations.  We had ice picks around our necks to use for rescue if we were to fall through. We had packs to the side of the ice with rope, poles and many extra layers of clothing.

Story #3

On this morning is was warm with no wind.  The sky was a most gorgeous blue with a few of those fluffy puffy clouds that I love so much. The pond and river at Carburn Park were wide open water and no doubt will be for weeks to come.  The reflection was perfection!  I was later arriving due to a very extra slow go on the Deerfoot.  A few large groups were already ahead of me which I tried to avoid. I veered off to where I saw no one.  

I am not that knowledgable on most ducks.  I thought this was a female Mallard until I saw it swim towards a female Mallard. This duck was much smaller in size.  This was the only Green-winged Teal I saw on this morning in the pond, it was socializing with a group of Mallards.  

Buffleheads numbered in the dozens and were hanging about in the river. 

They were frisky and appeared to be frolicking. 

When the sun hit their heads, they glowed 

I was told this was a Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk.  The Magpies gave away its location yet it took time to spot what they were excited about. After snapping this shot, it was done with the harassment and flew off.   

It's been almost two months since I saw one of the Great Horned Owls at the Park. During a few of my past visits here, people told me the Owls moved on. On this morning, it did not cross my mind to even look for the Owls.  While scanning the trees for birds of any kind, this is what I saw!  The Great Horned Owl was already scanning me. It blended in with the branches so well.   

These are just three of the many ways I have been making the most of these days.  

Time to sign off and get going to make the most of today! 

Field of Crosses November 9, 2026

Today (Monday November 9, 2026) I went to visit the Field of Crosses along Memorial Drive. I arrived just as the Sunrise Ceremony was ending. Monday's ceremony was dedicated to honouring Canadian Women who lost their lives in service of war.  I spent just short of two hours walking between row after row after row of crosses. When I got home I created this watercolour painting of a poppy with a soldier as the centre piece.  

It was a beautiful morning!  The temperature was well above freezing, no snow, a slight breeze, all made for comfortable conditions to spend time honouring the fallen soldiers.  Groups of school children were gathered together sitting on the little hills leading to the crosses. One group was listening to an instructor. In another group each student was busy writing. A third group were looking at photos and reading.     

honouring Michelle Lang

a small portion of where I walked

Each of these 120 crosses symbolizes the ultimate sacrifice of 1000 Canadians. 

Many Crosses had photos and stories attached. I read a few dozen. 

There are not enough hours in a day to read every one. 

I am sharing a few with you. 

Confluence & Nose Creek November 5, 2026

Not long after hitting the trail for this morning's "out & about", I knew I was overdressed. The hat was not necessary, nor were the gloves, nor were the new lined pants I wanted to test, nor was the mid-weight jacket necessary.  The sun was up over the horizon as I entered the Birth Forest.  It has been quite some time since I ventured into these woods.  Lots of work has been done by the Parks People to clear deadfall and cut down some trees before they become deadfall with the next round of wicked winds.  The views are more open and the trails much wider.  They have worked wonders here and it is a nicer experience wondering through the forest.  

The new sections of the the Birth Forest look healthy.  The baby Siberian Larch Trees are doing very well.  This one is still holding its needles. The tall trees at the back are catching the tail end of the morning golden glow.  

After exploring the newly cared for Birth Forest, it was time to wind down the trail to follow Nose Creek. My shadow says take the paved path but my heart said go for the dirt.  My heart spoke louder than my shadow.  

Just like yesterday while hiking the Mustang Hills, the clouds once again were splendid.  

It was unusually quiet people-wise and wildlife-wise.  I did see this Northern Flicker.  

I spotted two Muskrats. This one was near me so it was very easy to capture a photograph. There is no ice anywhere in the Creek.  The water level is high and it is flowing quite clear. A very small pond does have a thin layer of ice starting to form.  With what we have in the forecast over the next week or so, there will be no additional ice any time soon.  

The wind picked up, dark clouds showed up to the west, the dark soon disappeared and what remained were plain old dull light grey clouds covering the sky. It warmed up even more.  I was happy to have gone out when I did and see the sky looking the way it looked.  Two hours had passed, I covered the ground I wanted to cover, it was now time to head on home.

With adding kilometres to the soles of my shoes complete, it was now time to add paint to paper.  Previously I saved two online tutorials to attack when the time was right. That time was now!  They were two very different styles that I enjoyed following, I like both equally. I did switch up the clothing colours in both paintings to shades that appeal more to me.   

Between paintings, I spent time savouring this story about 

a few friends who are on an adventure hiking in  Norway. 

Mustang Hills November 4, 2026

The Elbow Valley part of Kananaskis Country was calling my name so I answered the call by hiking Mustang Hills. It was pitch black when I left home, an hour later the sun was coming up.  It was just fully up when I arrived at the trail head. It was a later start than I like but I am not hitting a trail head in the dark.  I geared up, crossed the road, got my map running to see where I was suppose to enter the forest. It helped that there was some snow with footprints in sections, and ribbons here and there.  I worked my way up through the forest then popped out where I had this view.   

On the drive to the trail head I watched for Wild Mustangs but it was not until I was up on one of the Mustang Hills that I saw a Mustang!  This was the best shot I could get.  I was not sure what was down slope from the horse, I did not feel comfortable going any closer.  I used my zoom to capture this photograph.

The Spruce Grouse was posing on the log. 

I was happy to come upon enough snow to swish through. 

If I want more, I will have to drive further west.  

The clouds were incredibly beautiful the entire time I was hiking.  

A section of Powderface Ridge stretches the entire length of the photo. 

At this point I could see across to the first hill I reached which is the far end of that open slope area that's covered in snow. Those clouds were mesmerizing, they captured my attention.  

that's Banded Peak in the middle with the dark band near the top

Of course when I found enough snow to play with, I let the child within come out. The snow was not fluffy nor was it sticky.  It was solid and broke off in pieces.  I piled a few pieces together and this is what I ended up with. Each piece is only about two inches in size length and width. How about those clouds!  

How about these clouds on the right!

This is a better shot of those clouds!  Between the clouds and the red ground cover, I was loving where I was and what I was seeing.  It was so pretty and peaceful.  There was no one else hiking in this area at this time.  

another Spruce Grouse

I did not have to zoom in for this photo.  

Oh my goodness, those clouds are amazing.  

That's Moose Mountain in the middle and Prairie Mountain on the right. 

I see the perfect spot for sips and snacks.  That log up there in the middle is calling me! 

Before settling down on the log, I captured a selfie as I admired the clouds.

view while I sat on the log sipping and snacking

I picked a time as to when to turn back rather than pick a location to return from.  I opted out of the loop as that would have me in the woods for a long stretch. I wanted to be out in the open as much as possible so hiked back on the same trail I came in on.  

I saw no more Wild Mustangs nor did I see other hikers.  I did see many Mountain Chickadees and Boreal Chickadees but my photographs were not that good.  They are more wild than the Black-capped Chickadees in the city so they fly off quickly.  I am not sure if I will get another opportunity to get out this way before the gate closes at the end of the month.  I feel content and fulfilled from today's outing.