Powderface Ridge East May 31, 2022

The early morning drive along Route 66 is a wake up call to the peace and beauty of nature in the foothills.  I ditched my vehicle where the pavement meets the dirt, geared up, then headed up, almost straight up along a winding, rooty, rocky trail.  I could hear the sound of my breathing, the odd time the tip of my pole met a rock, a tweet here and a chirp there.  I left reality behind and became one with where I was!   

I felt the embrace of the tall trees while ascending through the forest.  When I left the forest behind, it was then that I took the time to "remember to breathe".  It was early enough, damp enough and cool enough that dew drops were still on the crocuses.  It's May 31st and the prairie crocuses were in their prime on this open meadow and grassy slope.    

I spotted one Alpine Buttercup and dozens of Shooting Stars.

There was lots of mud, some ice and sections of dirty packed snow along the last part of the forested trail. In the wide open section before beginning the final push to the summit, lots of snow still remains.  With just a few more sunny, warm days, this will be gone.  

While ascending the last stretch to the top, was when the sky to the east began to offer up a window of blue.  There was not a breeze to be had and the humidity level felt high. The slope and summit were clear of snow.

the summit cairn

I have been on this summit a few times, each of which was early or late season, and have taken my destination shot with the snow covered peaks in the background.  This time I opted for something different, I like the view with the rolling hills and blue in the background.  

Much of what I packed for this hike was not necessary such as spikes, hat, heavy gloves, extra jacket. 

Yet, that's what we hikers do as we have learned from experience and always go prepared, for what ever!

I spent forty-five minutes at the summit enjoying the scenery & serenity and some sipping & snacking.  I was wishing I had a sketch book and pencils with me.  Note to self:  put a small sketch pad and pencils aside with my usual gear.  I took more time to enjoy the sights and sounds on the way down and watched as that blue window began to fill with those white puffy fluffy clouds that I love so much.  

a Gray Jay looking at me as if to say "What are you looking at?"

I like how the forest reflects in the eye of this Spruce Grouse

Each crocus that I saw, sported a few dew drops.  It took getting down and being one with mother earth to capture these photographs.  In some of the drops, I could see the intricate designs inside. There were dozens and dozens and dozens of crocuses there to admire.

While the drive along Route 66 first thing this morning was so very quiet, the return trip was another story.    People were out to savour this gorgeous day just like me.  Good-Bye May!

being artsy

I am not ready to let go of how the lifestyle of that seaside village touched me so I have been working at holding on tight.  Sipping sangria and rendering paintings from my pictures has helped keep me there in spirit.  

The inspiration for this 6" X 8" watercolour painting was from the same photos I used to make the beach glass scene that I shared in a prior post.  In actuality, that slope is embedded with the name "CALELLA" surrounded by flowers but I opted not to include that.

This is my rendering of Tossa del Mar, the seaside village along the Costa Brava!  It also measures 6" X 8".  When I do these types of watercolour paintings, I first draw the scene with a Prismacolor Col-Erase Non-Photo Blue pencil.  When I lay the paint, it absorbs the pencil lines.  All my drawings and paintings with regards to Spain are done in a coiled book and it has turned into a wonderful memory journal.

this is my reference photo

Shifting from working with water-colours to drawing with graphite pencils is as easy task.  I just need to pull out a different sketchbook and my tin of leads and I'm ready.  I rendered this project from my favourite site of tutorials.  I need to improve my technique using blending stumps so skin tones and shadows are more even.  When I look at this, I can almost hear a tune!  

 Then it's on to laying shades with coloured pencils on toned tan paper!  

Wyndham Carseland Comfort Camping May 23 - May 26, 2022

The last place I feel like I want to be at, is anywhere in the city!  With a wonderful weather forecast and full vacancy for Comfort Camping at Wyndham Carseland Provincial Park, I signed up for three nights.   I enjoyed the experience here last August and at that time knew I would land back here one day.  This time though I stayed for three nights.  I checked in just before four and while doing so, the host came by in his golf cart to see that everything was AOK and to let him know if I needed anything.  I needed nothing more than what I brought and just being away from the city was more than enough!  

I arrived too early to check in so ventured along the path that went by the comfort camping units so I could see my home away from home.  This is looking at it from the pathway.  I zoomed in with my camera and could see the zippers had been unlocked.  I could check in if I wanted to but I first strolled the trail towards the main campground to see how things were there.  It was quiet!  

This is the inside of my unit after unpacking and setting it up.  The right photo shows a view through the screen.  The bottom photo shows the view when I stayed inside reading for a couple of hours while a rain shower passed over.  I was thankful they provide an electric heater, I turned it on when I woke each morning.  The three nights of sleep were the best I have had in ages other than the sleeps I had while in Spain.   

Mornings and evenings are all about a fire!  I enjoyed coffee by the fire, reading by it, sipping wine by it, journaling by it and chugging beer while eating chips by it.  Even doing nothing but being by it was nice!   

These are just a few of my favourite scenery photos I took while walking the trails.  

The provincial park sits between prairie land and the Bow River.  

 

I knew the birding would be fabulous!  I created two collages below that show just some of the species I saw.  There were numerous others but for one reason or another I liked these ones the best.  I have recorded what kind each is but I feel too lazy to type in all the names here.

In addition to birding, walking the trails, sitting by the fire, I also enjoyed lots of time reading.  I purchased the book before going to Spain with the intentions of it being my book to read for that trip, getting there, while there and for the flight home.  I got through six pages during that entire three week stretch.  What I needed was lots of quiet, down time to truly get lost in it, and I had great success with that!

I am home now and feeling refreshed and full of fresh air!  

I am ready to take on the city once again!  

a memory made

While walking "My Beach" in Calella, Spain, I collected more than one hundred pieces of beach glass.  As I picked up the pieces, I began to explore ideas of what to create with them.  I browsed through my photos, drew draft pencil sketches, placed pieces of beach glass on paper, worked at designing a scene and even tested the glue I had. I also experimented with what archival ink would look like around some of the pieces.  I purchased  a  9" x 12" canvas panel which was the perfect size.   It was time to get serious and begin glueing individual pieces of beach glass onto the canvas.  It takes time for the glue to set so I was able to move pieces around to get the look I wanted.  Once all the pieces were in place, I let it sit laying flat for an hour or so.  I then completed the project by doing some outlining with various colours of archival ink.  

This is the memory I made!  It shows the many shades of blue of the Mediterranean Sea.  Where the sea meets the sand I included a palm tree which there are many of in this seaside village.  A wall above the beach gives rise to a lighthouse that watches over the waters of Calella.  There is much vibrant greenery on display and you can see that in the bushes at the base of the lighthouse.  I love fluffy puffy white clouds so included a few.          

I 💗 beach glass!

a small selection of the beach glass I collected

These are photos I took at Calella that I used as a guide for the project.

Forgetmenot Pond & Little Elbow May 16, 2022

It's time once again to carry out a tradition!  The gate opened yesterday and with that being a Sunday, I opted to wait until today to drive along that now opened road that takes me to a place I love, Forgetmenot Pond.  I enjoy seeing the Pond still bearing some ice yet wide open enough to show off reflections of the snow capped mountain peaks.  I got to see that today, plus a whole lot more!

Not far from the turnoff into Little Elbow, I had to stop to let a young moose cross the road.  I waited and watched expecting to see Mom cross too, but that would not be the case, I guess this moose is now old enough to venture alone.

It's times like this that I am thankful to have a great zoom on my camera.  I spotted a brown lump in a field and when I zoomed in this is what I saw.  I wondered was it napping, was she protecting a little one or maybe there will be a little one soon!

As if those early morning gifts were not enough, I arrived at Forgetmenot Pond to see this spectacular sight!  Forgetmenot Pond looked like I remembered it to look at this time of year.  What was different was the Pond was at a very low level, the lowest I have ever seen it.  

I was wishing I brought my hammock, my sketching supplies, fire wood, book, chair, tea and lunch.    Note to self:  plan that for another day, in fact for many other days.  It was very quiet, I saw three other people the entire time I was in the area.

Of course, every time now that I am out anywhere, I play bird nerd!  I had much more success than I was expecting.  Of the other three people I saw, one was a big bird nerd in her camouflage clothing and even camera lens blended in.  

After spending time at Forgetmenot Pond and the trails veering off around it into the woods, I then carried on along the Little Elbow Trail to go a bit deeper into Little Elbow area.  There was a tad bit of snow in areas that was easily avoidable.  I am sure as the day warmed up the trail would become mud.  The spring run-off has not started yet but it could come anytime now.  We need it as the fire conditions are rated at high.

Still less than a week ago, I was walking the beach along the Mediterranean Sea in Spain and I loved that, yet it sure does feel good to be back out playing in my playground!  I think about this spring and the coming summer and what I want to do and where I want to go and what I want to see.  Spring always brings so much promise and I hope for the best for everyone!

Spain April 19 - May 11, 2022 Barcelona

Here goes, a quick recap of being out and about around Barcelona!  I visited there for a day early in the trip and for a day later on.  If you know we well, then you know I am not a big city girl, so two days here was enough.  On the first visit to Barcelona we covered lots of territory: Olympic Stadium, The Rambla, Old Town, Historic Market, Gothic Quarters, Plaza Sant Jaume.   A few of the places I have photos to share, other places I did not take pictures. 

view overlooking Barcelona

zoomed in on the Sagrada Familia

government building

Spain and Catalonia Flags

walkway through the Old Town 

Olympic Stadium

Olympic Caldron

orange tree in the city

On the second trip to Barcelona we saw the Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Spanish Village and the Magic Mountain Light & Sound Show.  There was a mix up with our tickets so we were not permitted to go inside the Sagrada Familia.  In hind sight, I am absolutely fine with that.  

a view from the outside of the Gaudi Sagrada Familia

near the entrance of Gaudi Parc Guell

photos from Gaudi Parc Guell

Spanish Village

Font Majica de Montjuic

waiting for the sun to set and the show begin

almost time

a sample of the show

the play list for our show