Welcome Winter! February 17, 2026

When I looked out this morning I saw exactly what was forecasted and what I had hoped to see!  White and more white and nothing but white! Before it got even more white, I went out to get a couple of close by errands accomplished.  Then it was time to get all comfy and cozy enjoying being inside looking outside.  Being "out & about" outside will come tomorrow!

I have been watching lots of the Olympics! The scenery has been interesting to see almost as much as the athletes competing.  While figure skating will always be my most favourite sport to watch, I also enjoy those that are rough and tumble.  Watching the freestyle skiing and the snowboarding inspired me to do this watercolour painting.  

I was also inspired to look back at my photos and my blog posts from when I hiked in The Italian Dolomites in June of 2019.  While I am no olympic athlete, I like to think I am an "athlete" (the definition of "athlete" is in the heart & soul of the participant) and I can tell you I felt like a winner when I posed for this photo.  

Yesterday was a whole different story!  I walked from Carburn to Fish Creek and back while capturing the essence of a spring-like day in the middle of winter.   It was a beautiful day yet very dry and very dusty.  In fact, my black winter hiking boots are now brown after the last few "outs & abouts".  The clouds caught my full attention!  The Deer did their usual morning river crossing.  They know the safest place with the lowest water level to cross.  The coyote gave me the eye then took off over the hill.  The Carburn Bald Eagles were busy building their nest. The Ducks:  Female Common Merganser with the red head, Male Bufflehead with the white and green head, Male Common Merganser with the black head and red bill, Male Common Goldeneye with his head bent back. 

I am caught up once again on the thirty day watercolour challenge.  The instructor has been incorporating the use of coloured pencils and crayons but I have been sticking to watercolour paints to complete my version.  There are just a few more days to go.  I am feeling I am ready for this challenge to end!  

Beaver Lodge & Route 66 February 13, 2026

The sun was up for a short while by the time I arrived at Beaver Lodge off Route 66 out in the Elbow Valley. I was a bit surprised at the lack of snow.  That meant spikes were not needed so stayed in my backpack, nor was it necessary to be wearing winter hiking boots. It's pretty out here when it is white, yet I embraced what I was presented with, after all beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I was seeing lots already. 

A very thin layer of ice covered one of the beaver ponds.  

Even though the sun was up, it was not up high enough to brighten up the treed sections along the trail.  I heard birds but I could not see them.  I also heard a scuffle in the bushes which turned out being this deer.  Just after capturing this photo, the deer darted away with its white tail in the air.  

reflection in a pond of open water

While hiking along the Beaver Ponds Trail that was mostly surrounded by trees, I could see it looked lovely out in the open.  I decided to find my way out to Route 66, hike along there, then return to the Ponds Trail on the way back. Gosh, I definitely could have donned my regular hiking shoes or hiking boots.  These winter boots were too much!  This eight kilometre stretch of road is closed for the winter months so no snow plowing is necessary by the Parks People.  During a typical winter, the snow would be ankle to knee deep along here.  I know because I have been here many times when it was!  

view behind me

View ahead of me!

I found snow on the road!  

I hiked up to the high point on the road across from the Timber Harvesting Lot.  As you can see behind me, the road is clear of snow.  Another three kilometres and I would be at Forgetmenot Pond.  I did not come prepared to hike there so made this my destination. 

view from the rock I settled down on to sip and snack

a short video enjoying my hot beverage

I found a small slice of ice which became my muse!

It measured about two inches in height. 

During the hike back, I met two people with two dogs heading up to the high point.  I also met a guy and gal hiking there too.  As I was nearing the entrance back to Beaver Lodge, I met a lady starting her way up Route 66 on the clear dry road.  It was much bright now along the Beaver Lodge Trail.  

I heard lots of birds and saw some of the ones I heard.  This American Dipper is standing on the very edge of the ice with its reflection in the water.  It bobbed up and down and even went for a swim or maybe it was a bath as it splashed about.  

This is a Boreal Chickadee, one of many that were flitting about.  

I also saw Mountain Chickadees and Black-Capped Chickadees. 

All species of Chickadees were plentiful.

I heard a very familiar sound, a sound I had not heard yet this year!  This was my first sighting of a Robin this winter and this year. There were a few but I focused on this one as it stayed still.

Time came to leave then head on home!  

a thrill up on Nose Hill February 9, 2026

It was about time I hit the hills of Nose Hill Environmental Park!  I have not been there this year! With everything being brown in the city,  seeing a dull brown hill after another dull brown hill after yet another dull brown hill has not appealing to me.  It could be worth it though if the sunrise was nice, I saw wildlife and the trails were free of snow, ice and mud. If this was to be my experience then I know I could find lots to love! So just go!  Just do it!  So I did!  

I started out in the dark! 

As I ascended, colour started to conjure up in the sky!  

I see five deer!  Do you?

The sunrise was putting on a show!  

The view played a number with my mind!  

Those are clouds not mountains! 

That's the sun peeking through the clouds middle right!  

At first my mind told me this is a reflection in a lake with the mountains behind the lake!

 a wider view with a line of pink from the sun between the land and the clouds

With the sunrise behind me, I could not have planned it if I tried, to have the sun where it is!

 Once the sun was fully up, I took this panorama shot!

I had a permanent smile on my face!  I was loving how this hike up the hills was turning out!  As I carried on down a couple of hills, I spied a coyote dashing through the field.  I watched it, I photographed it, I waited until it went on its way!  But.....

.....as I was watching, another coyote came upon the scene! I watched, I photographed them, I waited until they went on their way!  But.....

.....as I was watching, another coyote came upon the scene!  I watched, I photographed them, I waited until they went on their way!  But.....

.....they were going down the trail I was aiming for! I watched, I photographed them, I waited until they went on their way!  Then.....

.....I did an about turn and hiked off in the opposite direction!  Even though, I was still smiling wide! Everything so far during this hike up on these hills was what I hoped for.  Yes, the hills were brown, yet I saw a spectacular sunrise, I saw wildlife plus the trails were in summer-like condition. The mountains look beautiful no matter what!  

a Buck

As I came down the last hill, I took one last look back and I was still smiling because I felt fulfilled and full of love for everything so far today! The plan was to head on home and check to see if the video was posted for today's watercolour challenge.  I did two more painting challenges yesterday to finally catch up. Now I am back on track and excited for what today's challenge would be! 

Today's challenge was this!  I painted it to fill the 11 x 15 inch page. The painting showed us how to paint the word "LOVE" using negative space! I did not need to smile when I saw what the challenge was because I was already still smiling from everything there was to love about my thrill up on Nose Hill!

embracing a bright cheerful colourful February 2026 week

While I know the weather we have been handed this past while offers a false feeling of spring, I have been making the most of it. I also know winter will, yet still, wallop us! I do know too that when it does I will embrace it!  It was no challenge at all to find bright, cheer and colour this week! It was here, there and everywhere. 

I enjoyed a walk at The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary as a new day dawned.  

The birds were not plentiful nor unique.  

The scenes throughout the entire place were photo worthy.  

This was the view from inside my car at Bowness Park as I waited for my friend to arrive. 

The view was vibrant over The Ice Trail as the sun rose!

The ice looked dangerous to skate on.

We walked through Bowness, Baker and Bowmont Parks.

I worked at catching up on the 30 day watercolour challenge!

These four challenges showed me how to exaggerate animal paintings to make them look cheerful and cute.  I used those lessons to paint the deer that popped up from behind a log on Thursday. The exaggerations give her a perfect personality and attitude!     

I made another visit to Carburn Park knowing the warmth and sunshine would bring out the best!

The Bald Eagles were busy building their nest. The famous Glaucous Gull did a fly by. Ducks of all species were frolicking about.  Then this male House Finch was the icing on the cake in all its colourful glory.   

Whatever direction your path in life takes you these days, 

I wish you brightness and cheer splashed with lots of colour!  

Brown Lowery February 5, 2026

When I walked out my door at 7:20am this morning, the temperature was at +12 Celsius accompanied by a strong warm wind.  I debated whether I was over-dressed yet knew it's always colder further out into the foothills. Well, it was not colder when I arrived at the parking lot for Brown Lowery Provincial Park.  Then I thought I will leave my layers on because it will be colder in the forest where the sun does not shine. Well, it was not colder in the forest!  

It's been five years since I hiked here.  Many trees were downed yet recently cut to clear the trail. The trail was mostly clear of snow but had lots of ice so I was thankful for having my spikes with me.  Intermittently I looked up to see those wispy clouds that I love so much.  

All the while, I too looked for birds. I heard many but was not able to spot them, or if I did they were too quick to snap shots of.  A herd of deer probably heard me from far off as my spikes were rather noisy on the ice.  This one was curious enough to come for a closer look.  It monitored me until I was long gone further up the hill.  

trail near the summit of the hill

When I reached the top, a few Canada Jays (also known as a Whisky Jack) flew in for a visit. 

This is the back view of one perched on a tree close by.  

The plan was to spend a little time here at the Lookout. 

I dropped my backpack then pulled out snacks and the thermos.  

Before settling in, I made sure to capture a location selfie. I kept the hat on to keep my hair under control, it was certainly not needed for warmth.  I could not layer down my top any further but eventually pushed the sleeves up.  My winter hiking boots were way to warm.  

My beverage was coffee mixed with hot chocolate!  

The winds gusts were not constant which allowed me to get all the beverage into the cup.

Many squirrels of various species scurried about, this one stayed put!

male White-winged Crossbill

Canada Jay

female White-winged Crossbill

By the time I completed the loop and arrived back at my vehicle, I was a hot mess of sweat.  The temperature showed +18C which means another day of record breaking.  When I arrived home after the hour drive, I quickly delayered and cleaned up. It was time to open all the windows in my home and let the fresh air blow through.   

With these winds along with the high temperatures, with no moisture of any kind for days on end and none in the forecast, a fire advisory has been put in place.