2024 OH the Joys you Brought!

Creating this post to highlight 2024 turned out to be much more monumental than I anticipated!  A week or so ago, I began to gather some memories while perusing my photo albums.  What transpired was mentally becoming joyfully lost in reliving this year.  I eventually managed to select a shot that stood out for each month to share in this summary.  The photos I picked may not be the prettiest pictures but each evoked a feeling that spoke a truth of some sort.  

JANUARY:  I stopped by the Ice Bar at Lake Louise just after arriving to savour an adult beverage as my kick off to a few days stay to play.  The Chili Chocolate Orange drink, the ice sculptures, the snow, the cold and the mountain scenery all packaged together ignited a fire & spirit within! This was my first visit to Lake Louise this winter! 

FEBRUARY:  I experienced so many wonderful times skating to date this season but this day offered up everything to enjoy a perfect Canadian iconic winter sport.  I took this photo along The Canal at Bowness Park.  The Ice Man had completed working his wonders making it magical for me.  

MARCH:  I made a return trip to Lake Louise for another few days.  I captured this image while cross country skiing along the Upper Tramline.  It was truly a winter-wonderland. The track had been groomed the day prior yet a new light dusting of white gold decorated the track, the trees and the mountains.  I have skied the trails at Lake Louise many times and know what is around each corner but I still can hardly wait to get around that next corner as if I would be seeing what's there for the first time!    

APRIL: As soon as this month arrives, it's time to go crocus hunting!  This was my first sighting this year which was during an early morning visit up on Nose Hill.  In some areas the crocuses were still covered in a touch of icy snow but the sun shone brightly on this one and melted winter away.  I feel a sense of optimism when I first see the new crocuses!

MAY:  I became consumed with monitoring the Robin's nest. I checked in on the nest every other day or so.  I created watercolour paintings from photos I captured.  Seeing four eggs in the nest filled my heart with much joy!  I googled to gain knowledge about what I was witnessing.  This side of Mother Nature was a learning experience in so many ways.

JUNE:  Visiting Austria was a dream come true!  Hiking in Austria was the sweet icing on that dream!    This was a solo trip to The Netherlands and to Austria. I have been called "intrepid", this trip felt like it fit that description of me.  This trip fueled a spark that I will not deny! Here I am on a mountain summit with the Dolomites of Italy behind me and Innsbruck Austria far below me. When dreams become reality it makes me feel like I am on top of the world!

JULY:  Passing hours at Forgetmenot Pond always brings joy!  Spending time "in" Forgetmenot Pond creates memories never forgotten.  The only ripples in the water were made by my paddle. When the hours of daylight are long, it's easy to be the only person "out & about" very early morning which was the case on this day.  Aaaahhh, stretched out in my kayak listening to the sound of silence and savouring the scenery!  

AUGUST:  Luck was on my side with securing accommodations in Many Glacier in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA.  I hiked to Grinnell Glacier a few times many years ago which was long enough ago  I could not remember much about the trail.  It took digging deep mentally and physically to accomplish the hike on this day as the temperature was scorching hot when I hit the trail at 7:00am.  Reaching Grinnell Glacier and Grinnell Lake then holding the slice of ice in the shape of a heart was so rewarding!  

SEPTEMBER: Along with September comes Larch Season and also comes the closing of the gondola ride up to Sunshine Meadows in Banff National Park.  The closing date was late enough that the Larch Trees already began to turn colour.  For the last day of summer and the second last day of the gondola running, I hit the trails high on Sunshine to witness Larch Trees in their prime of the season shades. To also have a touch of brand new snow made for a photographer's dream!

OCTOBER:  There was no time spent, not even a second, wondering what October's highlight would be!   The night of October 10th was an experience that added a whole new dimension of evoking a feeling that I cannot put words to.  When I was standing on top of Nose Hill surrounded by the Aurora Borealis where I felt I could reach out and touch them, I felt them touch me!  

NOVEMBER:  To see, you need to be, to be out there!  It was a morning that took extra effort to get out the door. I had been seeking out an Owl sighting at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and at Carburn Park numerous times with no luck.  Seeing an Owl was the furthest thing from my mind while meandering through the Birth Forest on this morning.  To see, you need to be, to be out there, I was out there and I saw this Great Horned Owl!  

DECEMBER:  I took a mid month trip for a few days to Banff National Park.  I went in search of the spirit of the season which I found a bountiful of.  Of all the sights I saw, this photo spoke the loudest to me.  It speaks a truth!  When the child within comes out to play, there is not a care in the world!  

2024 Felt like a year of learning, gaining, exceeding, excelling to an extent not matched before.  I got back into macrame, learned to knit, gained a wealth of knowledge about birding and took many watercolour painting lessons.  Creating the 2025 Many Moons Calendar was a fun project.  I finished knitting three pairs of mittens, one scarf and I am now knitting a child's size pair of mitts. I set a goal of covering 2024 kilometres in 2024.  At the closing of 2024 my final count was 2401 kilometres.  Skating 68 kilometres in the past two weeks did the trick with getting the number up there.  

I continue to enjoy the pleasure that comes from blogging. I found much joy in following your blogs, both those I have followed for years and those of you I newly discovered.  Reading your stories and seeing your photos brought inspiration and motivation to gain knowledge and try new things. You have opened my eyes wider! I give lots of credit to you for some of my accomplishments in 2024. While I blog for myself to have a place I can go to relive experiences, your interest and comments keep me motivated to continue sharing what life is like in my little part of the world. 

2024 OH the Joys you Brought!