where I wandered this week

Oh where should I wander?  It depends on the weather and the driving conditions, what else I have going on during the day and most importantly I listen to what my heart and soul tell me!  I am not much for routines yet I do like to get up and get out to some place every day.  There are times I end up at a parking lot with no plan to follow any particular trail, I just wander off!  

On this day this week, I wandered off along this trail up on Nose Hill.  It was a snow free day, a wild wind day, a day where I collected ten kilometres on my winter hiking boots.  Those boots were needed for warmth not for traction.  During the majority of my wander, I was in the wide open yet I could see wildlife hunkered down where there was shelter.  The wildlife know when there is wild wind, it is not the time to wander!  Should I learn a lesson from them? I say no, just wander if you wish! 

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While on my most recent wander to monitor the Carburn Bald Eagles, a fellow told me about the two Bald Eagles at the Douglasdale area near Fish Creek Park.  Oh, my curiosity kicked in!  I monitor the Carburn Bald Eagles along with the Inglewood Bald Eagles, do I really need to monitor another set of Bald Eagles! Yes I do! So off I went a wandering to Douglasdale near Fish Creek.  It was a snow free day, as calm as could be and warm too. I still wore my winter hiking boots which on this day I added twelve more kilometres to the soles.  While wandering along, I spotted this coyote who had already spotted me.  I saw an unusual looking Goose to the right of the Canada Goose.  It is a Cackling Goose.  Then!  Do you see what I see?  The two Douglasdale Bald Eagles were sitting on the top of the tree on the far left.  I was too lazy to go back and cross over the bridge to get closer to them.  I captured this close up of one with my great zoom lens. On this day it worked to wander further!

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On this day with the snow pelting down, I still wandered out the door for the drive along Deerfoot to The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.  I hoped the Inglewood Bald Eagles would be in the area.  Upon arrival, I could see nothing through the snow that was falling.  A little while into my wandering, the sky began to clear to where I had wonderful views like this.  So pure! So fresh!  So white!  I was thankful to be wearing my winter hiking boots for both warm and traction and to which I collected eight more kilometres to the soles.  The deer were nestled in the bushes under branches.  A pair of Canada Geese snuggled into themselves along the edge of the inlet.  Two Seagulls curled up for shelter against the cold and snow.  Then, there they were, the Inglewood Bald Eagles busily building their nest through the cold and snow.  When the blue sky appeared so did a few Robins.  I was happy to be wandering through the cold and snow to see sights like these!  

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When I was done of my outside wandering, I returned home to let my mind wander!  I have been enjoying painting in my new home-made watercolour sketch book.  I wondered what to fill the pages with. I accidentally happened upon a theme which is paint the main subject on the right and let portions trickle over to the left.  This is no specific species of bird, what is specific about this painting was just laying colours then letting them blend together to see what transpires.  Oh how I like where wondering and wandering takes me!  

I have never seen a Snowdrop!  I should say I have never see a live Snowdrop but I have seen numerous  on many of your blog posts.  I wondered what were these sweet little flowers all about!  Once again, off a wandering my mind goes again!  I followed a tutorial using a scrap piece of watercolour paper.  I was happy with the outcome.  Using what I just learned, I created my own version of Snowdrops amidst a flurry of snowflakes falling!  I wonder will I ever see a live Snowdrop!   

Now time to wander outside for a little while this morning to swish through the snow in a blizzard then I'll be wandering off to meet a friend to watch her daughter in a live musical performance. What a wonderful week filled with wandering and wondering!