when windows open

When my windows are open it's because I am welcoming the cool, fresh air into my home! That's not happening enough these days! When windows of opportunity are open, I have been taking advantage one way or another.  Being "out & about" lately comes very early in the morning and for a shorter period of time.  While I have been working at getting my fill of nature, I have also been participating in searching for a boy from my neighbouring hood, who has gone missing.  Those walks are slow and deliberate, off trail, with 99.9% of my focus not on nature.    

When nature was my focus, the air was somewhat clear and my camera was in hand. 

 The Wild Roses are thriving!

Brown-eyes Susans are at or past their prime!

Wild Daisies are in abundance!

This season has been the biggest Bird Baby Boom I have ever seen! A fellow told me he noticed some birds have recently started their second round of nest building.  Cries for food are spilling out of the trees, shrubs and bushes.  While the babies are easy to photograph because they stay in one spot, they are a challenge to photograph because they are hidden amongst twigs and branches.  

This baby Grey-Catbird bellowed out the entire time I was in the area.

This baby House Finch fluttered and fluttered while hollering for food!

Only when it stopped for a second was I able to capture a clear photo.

The baby Northern Flicker was very hard to spot with the lighting.  

I focused on where the cry was coming from and eventually spied the right spot.

This baby Yellow Warbler was easy to find as the bright yellow stood out!

I saw many other baby birds crying out or being fed but my photos were not the greatest. What was great was seeing this beaver having breakfast. It was right there below the bridge I was standing on, it was not concerned with me.  To capture this shot of the Kingfisher, I was behind a bunch of bushes with a very small opening where I could zoom through. I like how the photo of the Deer turned out.  It looks like it is smelling the flowers yet it is not, it is just the angle.  

Shades of orange are my favourite colours yet not when this is the look.  A view like this happens when the wildfire smoke is at a high level.  On this morning the rating was on the lower  side of moderate.  For me this was a window of opportunity to get "out & about".  I took advantage of this open window and enjoyed getting my fill of nature and also opening the windows in my home. 

On Friday the rating was at the worst. I woke to quickly closing my windows and turning on the air purifier.  The wind shifted direction, not only did the smoke from the west and north make its way here, the smoke from the wildfires in Washington state in the United States arrived also. I accepted this as another category of when a window opens!

Windows in my home remained closed and the air purifier remained running. I settled in for a day of watercolour painting, a FaceTime session and trip planning. Lots was accomplished this day behind closed doors. These are the two paintings that filled a few hours.  Both reference photos were captured while I was in  Waterton Lakes National Park. 

It appears windows will open and close off and on over the next little while.  

I will find a way to enjoy all opens and closes!

The Eyes July 20, 2026

👀What came to the forefront these past few days was related to the eyes!👀 

The day after returning from my get-away to Waterton Lakes National Park, I paid a visit to The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary to see what transpired there over the past week. Within the first thirty minutes after passing through the gate, I saw at close range an Osprey, a Great Blue Heron and the Inglewood Eaglet! While I saw many other sights, it was these three sightings that stood out.    

The big yellow eyes of the Osprey were intensely focused on the water!

It was early and I may have disturbed the Great Blue Heron from sleep!

When I pointed my lens in its direction, the eyes then opened!

The best sight of all this morning was seeing the Inglewood Eaglet, right there in front of me, when I walked to the edge of the trail towards the water.  This Eaglet hatched around May 9th.  I watched it on a weekly basis from the first time I saw the little ball of white fuzz peek about the edge of the nest. I spied it a week ago sitting on a branch a few trees south of where its nest is. This morning it was on my side of the river sitting between the trail and the water. The eyes were focused on the water. I wondered was it learning to fish.  

During this visit, I checked out the location where I knew there was a Cedar Waxwing nest. The previous visit before this one, the Mom was sitting on the nest. This time I saw two heads with brightly coloured beaks pointing upward from the nest. I saw an Adult fly in to feed the babies. I was not quick enough to snap shots so was not able to capture reference photos for a painting. I know what I saw with my own two eyes during those few seconds. I closed my eyes and made as crisp a memory as I could. This watercolour painting reflects what I saw. I don't know what the babies were being fed so I just picked a berry to add as the snack.   

Full focus has not been paid to July being "World Watercolour Month".  I took a few of the daily topics and incorporated them all into one painting. The topics were all about blending colours using various techniques.  For this watercolour painting which I completed in about an hour, I combined four separate lessons from four different days.  I have missed numerous days' lessons due to time constraints.

The wildflower show was wonderful while I was in Waterton!  The colours, the variety and the multitude of flowers were a feast for the eyes. I enjoyed painting this from one of the photos taken while hiking to Summit Lake.  

This was my reference photo.

I hope your eyes are getting to feast upon beautiful sights! 

I hope you enjoyed your virtual visit with me!

Waterton Lakes National Park July 16, 2026

Well before sunrise, I was out and settled waiting for a new day to dawn in this little piece of paradise called Waterton Lakes National Park! It was a most gorgeous morning to start, with the day forecasted to be another hot one. It was me, another lady, and one guy up on Bears Hump watching and waiting. There may have been others elsewhere but it was only those two I could see.   

I like how the colours show through the trees.

Good Morning Waterton!

Next on my agenda was to go somewhere along the Red Rock Parkway to have breakfast. I got distracted while driving the Parkway, the flowers were amazing as was the scenery.  It was shortly after 6:30am and there were no other vehicles in sight.

I had to stop to let a Grouse cross the road! 

Wildlife had free reign this hour of the morning. 

As I crested a hill, I saw a baby Black Bear sitting on the side of the road.  I stopped to wonder what its intentions might be. I wanted to make sure it could cross the road if it wanted to.  

It darted off into the tall grass that was right beside it.  It probably saw Mom and its two siblings come from the other side of the road and it was patiently waiting for them. I snapped the above and below photo through my windshield.  Most of the windshield shots were a blur.  

They were all safely across and now in the bushes looking for breakfast.  At this point, I pulled off to the side, rolled the passenger window down and capture many photos of this beautiful family.  They ended up working their way in my direction so I just backed up a bit.  Mom going about her business!

The three Baby Black Bears went about their business!  

These are just a few of the dozens of photos I took. 

trying to climb a tree

The only other person to come along was a guy on a motorcycle who parked behind me and enjoyed this amazing view too.  Both of us stayed for about twenty minutes.  He went on his way and I went on mine to find my breakfast spot. I ended up turning back and drove out of the park to the Maskinonge Overlook to have my breakfast.  I wanted one last look from the location where I took my acrylic painting lesson yesterday. 

Waterton Lakes National Park July 15, 2026

This was our view when we arrived down slope from the Maskinonge Overlook.  It was me and a local hiking guide/artist. The event was supposed to be hike into a location then paint the scene and hike back out. I arrived at the meeting location and explained I did not feel like hiking, I would prefer more time painting.  She asked what kind of scenes I like, I told her then she suggested we try the Maskinonge Overlook. Inside I was beaming, I love that location. I signed the waiver, she loaded the vehicle with the painting supplies then off we went.  

I set up my hiking chair and settled in.  She organized my supplies then set up herself beside me.  I told her I can paint from my photos yet I have trouble painting an actual scene I see live in front of me. She guided me through the process. There are similarities between watercolours and acrylics which was beneficial. I was open to all her guidance when laying  the acrylics on the canvas. 

It was a hot few hours with no wind nor even a breeze.  I was thankful to not be out hiking.  My new chair was comfortable.  The canvas sat on an easel box that contained brushes and acrylic paints which rested on my legs. The water and pallet sat on the ground by my side. I was in my element enjoying every second. 

This is my finished painting.  I could have taken more time to paint the flowers but I was feeling like I had enough.  I was happy with the outcome of this first time ever experience.  It definitely ignited a new fire which I want to explore.  I learned enough about the process, working with acrylics outside and how to put together a setup.  Now I just need to put these lessons to use and be on my way to new experiences!

I took a photo of my painting when I got back to my room.

I like the outside lighting better.

While I was snapping shots in my room, something outside caught my attention.  

I am not sure if this deer saw me or it saw its reflection in the window. 

Before going for dinner, I strolled around the townsite.  

Twin Fawns chasing after Mom!

An only Child was chasing a ground squirrel!

Dinner time!