It's been a while but I'm back. I just took a look at my last post from November 19 and noticed the mention of a lot of snow falling. Well, most of it is now an icy layer that covers the trails, the walkways, the parking lots and anything else that it collected on. I had to bring home some pails of rock chips so I could walk on my driveway without falling down.

My granddaughters were over for a visit. We took out the kicksled and they had a great time with it on the driveway. It is much easier for them to maneuver it now that they are taller. 

Two weeks ago I tried heading to the trails. I almost made it to the edge of the parking lot; operative word is 'almost'. My feet went out from under me and down I went. My hiking spikes were not on my boots but they certainly were a couple of minutes later. Spikes and poles were required to navigate the ice.

The icy surfaces were created by a number of days that reached double digit temperatures. I could skate down the ski tracks that I broke in November. After the parking lot tumble, I decided to stay away from the forest trails for a few days.

I went to the Leduc Country Christmas Lights to try and get myself into the spirit of the season. The lights were beautiful but the paths through the displays were just as icy as the parking lot at the trailhead. I'm hoping for at least a little bit of fresh snow to make it feel more 'Christmas-y' but will be using those spikes on my boots daily to avoid spending more time on my rear end.

Today was set aside for some outdoor time. I was going out no matter what. I didn't think there would be anyone on the trails. The woods at the Beaverhills Biodiversity Trail were quiet and just what I needed. For almost two hours I made my way through the forest.
The hard crusted snow crunched under my hiking spikes. There was no sneaking up on any animals today. The squirrels chattered at me and the chickadees sang their cheeseburger songs from the bare branches as I trudged along.

The ponds that were home to the beavers and the swans last summer are frozen over. They will be perfect to venture onto when more snow falls and I can put the snowshoes on. The ice was too bumpy for skating.

On the way home I decided to detour and drove to the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area to see if the snowbank rink was ready for skating. The rink is still being flooded. They should be able to get a good layer of ice over the next week as the we are supposed to get some overnight temperatures in the -20Cs. Here comes winter.

The cookhouse close to the rink is filled with tables but the wood box was empty. It looks like anyone wanting to use the stove must bring their own wood this year.

I think I'll be taking the kicksled out tomorrow. The slippery trail conditions will be perfect for running the sled. I'll be back next week. I'm winding down the final tasks for 2017 at work so there will be plenty of outdoor time to be had.

Merry Christmas to all!

Another four inches of snow has fallen over the past week so there is now enough to explore the trails on skis. I dusted off the adventure skis; shorter and wider that a x-country ski and made for breaking trail. I had the skis out only once last year and am hoping to bring them out more often.

After dusting off the cobwebs from skis, poles and boots, I ventured to the Biodiversity Trail. It was developed as an interpretive trail; one that is meant to hike and explore so it would never be groomed and track set for skiing. That is where the adventure skis come in to play.

The snow was deep and fluffy. Branches on the shrubs and trees held snowflakes like ornaments on shelves. Animal tracks crisscrossed the trails and ponds. There were imprints of moose bodies in the snow where they rested overnight.

The forest was a winter wonderland. The morning sun shone through the trees, casting a warm glow on the fresh snow. Blue jays squawked and squirrels chattered.

My first outing created a trail and the second outing the next day was to enjoy what I missed the day prior as I watched for fallen logs and debris that may have been hidden under the snow. The weather was perfect. After going over my trail a second time, I think I'll be able to take my classic skis out the next time.

The trail is short but it is perfect for someone who hasn't skied in a while. There is nobody zipping by and it allows for a slow, enjoyable pace where I can stop and enjoy the scenery without feeling like I'm about to get run over by the experienced skiers.

My goal is to get out at least 3-4 times per week with either skis or snowshoes. Today will be a rest day. The muscles that I haven't used lately are telling me that they need to recuperate.

I was provided with some colorful beginnings to a number of days last week.

There was a post circulating by a magazine that asked how you begin your day. Mine begins the same way each morning. Open the curtains. Make a cup of coffee. Sit at the kitchen table and watch the sun come up. There were some very colorful mornings last week.

I love watching the intense color come through between the tree trunks. As the sun rises the clouds reflect the blues, pinks, oranges and yellows; making for a colorful canvas. As the sun rises the intense color fades and the show is done about the same time that the coffee is finished.

Early morning is my favorite time of day. All is calm and quiet. The animals are usually out on the trails; making for great photo opportunities. The smells are intense from the dew or the frost of the night before. 

Those who are not 'morning people' miss out on an amazing time of day. That's just my opinion; coming from a person who has had two cups of coffee before 6am.

What a difference a week can make. Winter has arrived and provided enough snow to x-country ski and snowshoe. Outstanding!

I had to play in the snow. There were no human tracks on the trails; only the woodland creatures were out before me. The air was crisp. The day was calm. My outing was amazing.

The fresh snow glistened when the sun came out from behind the clouds. It crunched under my boots. The sound of the squirrels and the birds echoed through the now leafless forest.

I love winter and all the activities that I choose to do to celebrate the ice and snow; snowshoeing, x-country skiing, kicksledding and skating on the outdoor rinks and ponds.

One has to be dressed for success, so to speak. You must ensure that you are comfortable, safe and warm before heading out. I use cleats on my boots because you never know where there is a patch of ice under the snow. Hiking poles provide stability on the winter walks. Fleece lined pants provide warmth. Lots of layers provide the ability to adjust your temperature by being able to add or subtract items. My fingers keep warm with a glove liner inside some fleece mittens. I also invested in a reusable pocket hand warmer that gets filled with lighter fluid. Once it is lit, it stays warm for hours and is used to warm up the digits when I stop for a rest.

My biggest 'beef' each winter when the snow begins to fall is that enough falls with the first storms so there is an ample layer to enjoy and this year I have no 'beef'. There is about eight inches of fluffy, flakes on the ground to enjoy.

There is a bench in woods that I consider my 'thinking bench'. A lot of thinking has been done there. It sits under towering spruce. The aromatic branches overhead helped with the decision making that was done.

It's been a while since the last post and a lot has transpired since then. My resignation letter was submitted at work a few weeks ago which in turn lead to the decisions made of late.
My walks through the paths in the woods where the squirrels chattered in the treetops and the leaves crunched underfoot, helped me decide on my own new path.

With the resignation letter in, a new chapter of life begins so my house is going up for sale. Why write a chapter when you can write an entire book?

I love the area that I live in but it's not the only area where trails are close by and wildlife is abundant. I love my house but I can find and love another. I love my yard but I can find one that needs some love and make it my own. So the journey begins.

I have been house hunting already; at another lake where ski and hiking trails are close by. There's easy access to get the kayak in the water. There are yards that need TLC and little cottages that just need a personal touch. I am excited for the adventure ahead.

Even though my brain has been in overdrive, I didn't let that stop me from enjoying the beauty still abundant on the trails. There are still pops of color everywhere. Colorful leaves are holding on to branches that shiver in the wind. Mossy logs are vivid as they lay on the leafy brown carpet. Red rose hips hang from thorn covered bushes.

My outdoor time may be irregular which in turn will make posts irregular but I will continue to carve out as much outdoor time as possible as boxes are packed and a new journey begins. I will share the journey with you as it unfolds. Stay tuned

I've had daily visitors to the backyard. They haven't been the two-legged kind.

A doe and her twins showed up in early September. They are stopping by almost daily. If they are not in my yard, they are in the yard next door. Yesterday they were mowing and fertilizing the neighbor's lawn and pruning the shrubs. They hit the jackpot in that yard because that lawn hasn't been mowed since July.
 
I love watching the trio. They have been nibbling the leaves that were still holding on; thankfully leaving the twigs intact.

Yesterday they started their tour in my yard with the hope of reaching the sunflower seeds. Mama didn't get the seeds but she did get a candid close up taken by my trail cam.

I went for a short hike yesterday to see what was happening at the local ponds. The waterfowl are gone and there is a thin layer of ice forming. The forest was quiet except for the crunch of leaves under my boots. 

The trees are bare except for the rose bushes. Their leaves are hanging on and provide a burst of color against the bare underbrush. 

There's a bit of snow on the trail; a reminder to hikers that winter is on the way.

It took a few days for the snow to melt in the yard but there are still patches of it in the ditches. The moisture was welcomed but the damage it did was not.

The backyard shrubs have recuperated from the heavy snowfall but many of the trees along the range road and on the trails have snapped off under the weight of the blanket.

What the snow didn't damage, the wind took care of the last couple of days. The brilliant colors of fall are now strewn on the ground. Most branches are bare while the trails are covered with a leafy carpet.

I got the water barrels emptied and the broken flower stems pruned. The tent came down yesterday. The area by the fire pit is looking bare without it. I'm hoping the weather will hold out for a few more days so the lawn furniture can get covered. 

Even though the colors of fall are no more, it is a great time to take a walk in the woods. You can see between the trees and may notice the wildlife that the leaves had hidden through the summer. The ducks and geese are still frequenting the ponds. They are in no hurry to leave. The air is crisp and fresh and inviting; just like the cup of coffee or hot chocolate waiting for you upon your return.

I am so ready for some outdoor time. September is the busiest month of the year at work and my favorite month of the year for trail time. I managed to get a couple short jaunts in to enjoy the beautiful fall colors but they were only about 40 minutes long. Better than nothing.
I love being on the trails in the early morning. The sun casts long shadows over the trail. The yellow leaves on the aspens glow in the morning sun.

Each season has its own smell. Spring is fresh. Summer is floral. Winter is crisp and clean. Autumn is earthy. 

The smell of ripe berries, decaying leaves, and wet earth remind me that Mother Nature is shutting things down for a long winter nap.

The smells, the colors and the calls of gathering flocks of birds preparing for a long flight make autumn a wonderful time of year to explore.

I woke to a layer of snow on the yard this morning but the temperature will rise later in the week and will melt that snow for some added moisture. This coming weekend is the first one in the last 5 that I'll be able to spend some time in the woods. I can't wait.

It sure pays off to be on the trail in the early morning. The warm rays of sunlight stream through the branches. Long shadows are cast across the trail. The forest is quiet and calm and the ideal place to be after spending a few noisy days at work.

I got to my favorite spot on the trail where the spruce trees tower overhead. I caught sight of two moose but they caught sight of me as well and ran off into the trees.

As I approached where I saw them exit the trail and enter the forest, I could hear them crashing through the underbrush. I knew they were headed to the same place that I was and knew more or less where they were going to come back on the trail.

I was right. The female was on the trail already and I could hear the male making his way up the steep bank. It pays to be patient as I caught him on video as he came out of the trees.
What amazing animals. They paid no attention to me. I couldn't pass them so spent about forty five minutes observing as they made their way slowly down the trail; nibbling here and munching there.

It was the best outing in a long while. In addition to finding the moose, I found the swans! I thought they were gone for the season but they had moved to another pond. All four young ones survived and are almost big enough to start their journey south.

Starting my day on the trail was a great way to get motivated to get my deck stained. I need one more sunny day and the job will be done and I can spend more than a couple of hours in the woods. Can't wait.

I was supposed to be staining the deck today but Mother Nature had other plans for me which was okay. It turned into a day of rest which means a couple naps in the tent. I thought a tree would come crashing down on top of it but that thought lasted only until my eyelids closed.

The wind gusted and broke branches. Twigs and leaves littered the deck that I had cleaned last week. Oh well, tomorrow is another day and I'll have to spend an hour or so picking all the leaves out of the cracks between the boards before I can bring the can of stain out.

Last week was HOT! The temperatures were unusual for the month of September in Alberta. It made for some nice days to enjoy the outdoors.

I spent a lot of time in the yard admiring the autumn blossoms. The bees are still busy gathering pollen. They are really enjoying the sunflower heads. Their pollen laden legs get heavy which makes for some slower flying.

I ordered more Alberta wildflowers for the yard. They arrived as healthy plugs. I planted them and there is lots of new growth showing. I was so excited about this that I ordered more! They should be arriving this week so I'll have to prepare some places to plant them.

I found time for a quick hike at the Beaver Hills Biodiversity trail. Some new way-finding markers and interpretive signs have been installed. 

The number of birds on the ponds has diminished. They've begun their trek south. As I sat on my 'thinking' bench, flocks of cranes flew overhead. What a glorious sound.

The leaves are turning color along the trail and the berries are ripening. I could smell autumn in the woods and for me that is a great smell because the fall/winter season is my favorite time of year.

 

It's the Labor Day weekend and most of the neighbors have left for a last chance at camping. I didn't have to leave. The tent has been up in the backyard for more than a month so when the urge to camp hits me, all I have to do is head to my private campsite.

The fire pit gets lit and my favorite chair gets pulled up close. Steam from a hot cup of coffee dissipates into the cool autumn air. I only got to go camping at Nordegg once this summer but that's okay because I accomplished a lot around the yard and got to spend the overnight in my backyard tent.

The cool night time air makes for great sleeping conditions. I like listening to the rain on the tent dome and the morning birds as they awaken. Once I roll out of the cot and unzip the door, I'm ready to enjoy the backyard and the projects planned for it. 

It's the best of both worlds; after all, I do live at the lake and can hear the water birds and can smell the lake smells. I just don't live water front but my tent is probably closer to the water than what I would be at a camp site.

I'm finally able to see the vision that I had for my backyard. The shrubs are filling in nicely. The perennials are inviting the bees and butterflies into the yard. The berry producing trees had fruit for the first time in four years. It's no wonder I didn't want to leave home.

I'm in the process of staining the back deck. The temperature is one that I can tolerate now and the birds provide the entertainment when I want to take a break. The geese and the cranes circle overhead as they prepare for their trek south.

Autumn is next favorite season to winter and I plan on spending as much of my time enjoying it as I'm able to.

I see signs of autumn everywhere. The leaves are turning color. The geese are more active. The hummingbirds and finches are having a daily feeding frenzy. The bees, butterflies and other garden insects are taking in all the food they can find.

The autumn perennials are in full bloom and the bees and butterflies are visiting them constantly. Every time I walk by them, it doesn't matter which ones, they are filled with insects.

I happened by the hops vine on my deck and noticed a stray branch growing through it from a shrub sprouting from under the deck. There were 11 caterpillars on the leaves! What fun it has been watching as nature prepares for fall. 

I came home today to find two spotted fawns in the backyard. The doe was still in the woods behind the yard. The young ones happened to venture into the yard while my 'deer sprinkler' was in the shed. I mowed the lawn and put it away, thinking that it wasn't needed anymore. It's been put back in the yard. I've still got vegies in the garden that I'm not willing to share with the deer just yet.

I visited the Biodiversity trail to see if the swan family was still around. I didn't see them but they could have been hiding in the reeds. I don't think the young ones are large enough to fly any great distance yet. I'll have to visit again this week to see if they are around.

If you've the opportunity to visit the trails or just wander in your backyard, watch for the signs of fall. There are things changing; big and small.