Inglewood Bird Sanctuary October 15, 2023

Yesterday I went to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for a usual weekend wander and came away disappointed!  The fog was dense offering very little visibility which also meant there was no way to even recognize that a partial eclipse was taking place.  I cut my visit short and returned home feeling chilled to the bone and with no photos to admire.  This morning, I had a plan in place until the very last second when I came to the Sanctuary turn off, I took that turn off instead of carrying on.  Something inside me said go back!  I arrived to a most beautiful sunrise!  

After admiring the sky and the reflections, something looked different, that was when I noticed the closure fences were no longer in place after almost two years of being in place.   I found out from a fellow who was there yesterday closer to noon, they were removed just before he got there.  I got excited!  I followed the now open trail to see where it lead.

The trail followed along side a new creek which flows from the Bow River to the Lagoon and beyond.  I stopped here to look back at the trail I followed and to admire the view. 

The trail now leads directly to the Outdoor Learning Centre. 

Just before the learning centre is a new pedestrian bridge, it's called "Log Jam".

sitting on one of the benches on the "Log Jam" bridge

At the far end of the bridge are windows.  This is the view out the northwest window.

this is the view out the south window showing the new creek

After crossing the new bridge the trail winds around and leads towards where the old trail was.

The old trail was shorter and came out here.  You would never know there was a trail behind the logs.  

After exploring the new area, it was time to carry on and visit the old.

I have no bird photos to share with you.  It's that time of year!  There were the usual suspects which I watched off and on.  I preferred the scenery today as days like this are numbered.  With so many leaves down now, you can see into the soul of the Sanctuary.  I spotted deserted nests I never knew were there.  

lots of leaves in the lagoon.....

.....and loads more on the trails

After collecting many photographs and kilometres, I called it a day and aimed for the exit but took one last look down the new trail and thought what this might look like in a month or so with some new white gold.  

I want to be an "Artist"!

This is my most recent creation. It was completed last week yet remains untitled and not dated.  I am choosing to call it a creation rather than a painting.  The word "creation" leans more towards what goes into "The Process" to come up with a completed project.  "So You Wanna Be an Artist" has opened my eyes to so much more that goes into being an "Artist" than I ever thought. I still want to be an "Artist" but I now know I do not want to be a "Professional Artist" nor a "Working Artist".  I don't want to be a "So You Wanna Be" either.  My goal is to be an "Artist" which is a place I believe I can get to.  

On May 29, 2023 I hiked to Bertha Lake in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada and stopped at this lookout point along the way.  That is Upper Waterton Lake below and the mountains of Glacier National Park in Montana, USA are the grey ones in the middle.  

I used two of my photographs from that day as references.  This being the first.....

 ....and this the second photograph.

This is my track from that hike.  

The orange star marks the location where I stood at the lookout spot.

The first thing I did was sketch then paint the view without me in it.  In hindsight, there are things I like in this version more so than in my completed creation.  I wondered now how do I replicate this with me stuck in the middle.  

I let the above version sit there for a while and I kept coming back to it.  

I made notes on how to improve it.

Next came sketching a rough outline in my practice book.  

It was time to get down to business and go for it! A couple of days later, I declared it a completed creation.     While going through "The Process", I may have entered into the "flow state" although I am not totally sure.  I wonder when you are in it, is it recognizable!  

I have a goal in mind right now and that is to create a piece that can be used as the front page or cover of something, I am not sure what that something is yet.  I want that front page or cover to be a back view of me doing something somewhere that brings joy and makes my heart sing.  When looking back at some of my coloured pencil drawings and watercolour paintings that contain that thought, I see a theme.

I see orange, mountains, being sporty and I see all seasons.  I am not sure though if I see an original style that would be recognizable! While I do have this goal of creating a front page or cover, I do not have a time frame set on when to reach it.  This is a work in progress as I continue to find my way to becoming an "Artist"!  

Being Thankful I Can Chase Colours

On this long Thanksgiving Weekend, I am thankful I have the freedom to be "out & about" when I want and where I want knowing I have no worries.  This is something I wish for everyone in our world!  Where I wander, we are in the midst of warm weather with beautiful autumn hues, which are more things to be thankful for at this time of year.  

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation

It's been two years since I hiked at Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation south west of Calgary close to the foothills.  I have never been there at this time of year, yet I was quite certain I would find what I was looking for.  I drove there while the sun was rising and was ready to start hiking shortly after it was up.  Everything was incredible on this visit, from the views to the colours, from the sky to the temperature.

the sound of swishing is so satisfying

look up, way up 

Two years does not seem that long ago, but it was long enough that this hike seemed new to me in places.  Or, maybe, it's just the fact that this was my first time here in October.  I think this visit was my favourite!

in the middle of a foothills meadow with the mountains lining the horizon

It's being able to capture shots like this that I am thankful for having such a great zoom on my camera.  Over the past little while, lots of new snow fell making the high mountain peaks glow from that white gold!  

this is called snapping the shot at precisely the perfect fraction of the second

wandering along the rolling hills that are alive with the sound of leaves being swished

the trails on this private land are groomed

By now the temperature was in the mid 20's celsius and I felt it.  Shorts would have been the wiser choice.

Shortly after passing through this gate, I completed one great big loop.  Then came a short stretch to cover before arriving back at my vehicle.  I sure got my fill of Mother Nature's beauty today and now I was ready to get my fill of turkey!  Happy Thanksgiving!    

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

 Bottomlands & Back

A little loopy was the way to go on this day!  The plan was to incorporate Bottomlands Park, St Patrick's Island where I would bypass the Zoo, Fort Calgary, Pearce Estates Park then around back to Bottomlands making up a thirteen kilometre route where there would be colourful sights for the entire stretch.

What has been catching my eye lately other than the colours, are the ways the sun shines through the trees.    It took numerous tries stepping an inch or so to either side until I caught the sun at the perfect angle.  Not all of these photos are in order of the route I followed. They are how they loaded and I was too lazy to place them where they should be.

See the sky above the bridge?

That caught my eye!

Just wait!

a vibrant cheerful colourful splash of autumn

The clouds were becoming more distinct and making waves of a sort in the sky! 

These three are in order!

Then they did this! I was so mesmerized by the clouds!

Then I remembered why I was out here and that was to take in all the gorgeous shades of autumn.

With still a couple of kilometres left to go, I was already feeling fulfilled! 

🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

Chasing Colours at Carburn

Normally when I hike around Carburn Park, it is to chase birds but on this day it was to chase colours.  Enough leaves had fallen that it gave me my first opportunity to swish along through them in a child-like manner.  

a double sun burst : the real thing and its reflection 

one of the trails I followed along

another trail with gorgeous colours : it felt like I was wandering into a painting

Can a reflection be more perfect than this?

a golden glow beaming through the trees creating glorious shadows

the trail alongside where that golden glow was coming from

Along some sections it felt like I was being hugged by the warm shades!

It is hard not to ignore what is happening in our world!  If only for a few hours each day, I got to escape to places of beauty, peace, tranquility and where my world is gentle.  Once again, I am reminded to not take this for granted.  I have much to give thanks for on this Thanksgiving weekend!