The mountain views on the Fernie portion of the Great Trail were outstanding. There were mountains in every direction.

The trail meandered through the woods and a couple of open areas where the majestic snowy peaks provided some great scenery. We explored just a short portion of the more than 130km of trail that connects the small communities in the Elk Valley.

The sun shone and blue sky prevailed making for a stunning snowshoe outing.

It was a great weekend for a road trip. Snowy peaks against a bluebird sky made for some great views along the Cowboy Trail (HWY 22).

The trip to Fernie, BC takes me longer than most because I like taking in the scenes. I love the snow covered mountain tops! I could park and stare at them in wonder for hours on end.

On the way I stopped at Lundbreck Falls. I noticed the sign on previous trips but had no idea that they were so close to the highway. 

There's a nice little parking lot with picnic tables and washroom facilities by the falls. Two viewing areas allow you a glimpse of the falls from above and a staircase takes you down to the catch pool at the bottom.

The falls were frozen with only a small area of open water. The staircase was covered in snow and once down at the bottom, you couldn't tell what was rock or shelf ice. Not a good time to venture close to the falls.

This is definitely a location that I will visit during a summer trip. I'll be sure to check out the provincial campground at the same time!

As I was leaving the the falls, a small herd of deer grazed alongside the rail line. They didn't seem to be bothered by my photographic intrusion.

Highway 3 took me west through the Crowsnest Pass where my windshield was filled with mountain scenes all the way to Fernie. 

The lakes were still frozen but the small streams were beginning to flow. Deer and sheep grazed beside the highway. Fly fishers were trying their luck in the open areas of the river.

I brought skis, cleats and snowshoes for the weekend adventure. Next week...views along the Trans Canada Trail, now known as The Great Trail.

Snowy mountain tops along Highway 22

Lundbreck Falls

Some of the Lundbreck locals

It was an experience like no other. I've never had a wild bird eat out of my hand. I've tried to entice the chickadees in my yard but they wouldn't have any of it so needless to say when the redpolls landed in my hand, I was shaking with excitement.

The redpolls were late in arriving this season but when they showed up, they have been providing me with lots of entertainment since that day. They have also been emptying the feeders daily. This is what happened when I decided to try getting them to eat out of my hand.

The willow tree next door was filled with redpolls just a chirping away. They were waiting for me to fill the feeder. I filled my hand first and that was enough to lure a couple brave birds out of the tree.

They were so light that they were landed and feeding before I even realized what was going on. You have no idea the excitement I felt when this happened. I was even more excited when a couple of them were having a little squabble right on my arm!

Nature amazes me every day. This experience proves that you can enjoy it in your backyard. You don't need to head out to the middle of no man's land. You just have to go outside. There are natural experiences every where.

There is something magical about having a wild bird eat from your hand.

I checked the forecast last night before bed. What was supposed to be -28C overnight turned out to be -39C. The red extreme cold banner is back. How much longer can it last? It's March 2 after all. I'm dreaming of gardening season.

The backyard birds have been trying desperately to keep warm. Sunflower seed minis appear to be their favorite food. When the little birds are not hiding in the spruce boughs they are fluffed up and waiting for a turn at the feeder.

The redpolls have been really greedy. They share with no other bird. In fact, there are times when they don't share with their own kind. I've been witness to some aggressive behavior in the feeder just outside my window. Beaks were snapping at each other.

If something happens to scare the redpolls off, the mild mannered little chickadees and nuthatches fly in to take their turn. 

I had a good laugh this morning. A chickadee was not going to let the redpoll bully him at the feeder. It flew down to the snow and then up to the underside of the feeder. The sunflower minis were small enough and the holes in the bottom of the feeder were large enough for the chickadee to feed from below. The redpoll was outsmarted!

The larger birds have been visiting as well. The hairy and downy woodpeckers came for the suet. The bluejays came for suet and seed. The pileated woodpecker made its presence known by pecking at the power pole in front of my house. The sound resonated through the entire neighborhood. It was louder than usual because of the cold. I don't know what it was going after but it was really trying to get at it.

If there happens to be seed left in the feeders at the end of the day, the deer have it finished off by morning. They have a well worn path through my yard from the woods to the feeder.

It was too cold this morning to be outside so I looked back at my archived photos to see what was happening during the first week of March in years prior. I found a lot of photos with a lot of snow but much warmer temperatures.

I sure hope it warms up to a bearable temperature soon. I'm outside when it's -25C if there is no wind but the wind has created temps near -41C when windchill is factored in so I've had more days of hibernation than I would like.

It's hiding. I just looked and the spring countdown clock says there are 24 days, 12 hours and 39 seconds til it arrives. Spring is hidden under more than 30cm of snow.

I thought it may have nudged Mother Nature in the right direction this past week but the forecast for this weekend leads me to believe this isn't the case.

The overnight low is supposed to plummet to -31C again and the daytime highs are still in the minus mid-teens. I had to create my own spring.

There were a couple days where the sun came out and I managed to get some snowshoeing in. What a treat! Bluebird sky and warm sun rays. It was beautiful.
Back home where the garden beds are under more than a foot of snow and the shrub branches are bare, I decided to create some spring inside.

I dug out my little indoor greenhouse and brought it upstairs. The seeds for the garden got ordered and the seeds left over from last year got planted into their little pots.
 
Gladiolus bulbs from last spring got planted and they have sprouted their new growth. Tulip bulbs that I was forcing have bloomed and are showing off their spring colors. 

I found some information on square foot gardening and I am going to change my way of growing garden vegetables. This method makes so much sense in every way if raised garden beds are used. 

Why do you need to plant in rows? You don't. Space is not required to walk or to cultivate the garden so why waste the precious space. Square foot gardening is planting using the seed spacing; not the row spacing in garden beds. One can double or even triple food production by following this method.

I created the garden beds on an excel spreadsheet and divided up each 4 foot bed into 16 squares. Each square gets planted with vegies according to their seed spacing. When I began plotting out my squares as to what will be planted where, I was left with many blank squares because my method of planting is changing. I can see how production can be increased. This will be a fun experiment.

If you have raised garden beds, search out square foot gardening and read up on it while the snow still blankets the beds. Let me know if you agree with the concept or if you are already square foot gardening.

The garden beds are wearing snow blankets.

I created some spring by forcing tulip bulbs inside.

So much wasted space in the garden beds.  Square foot gardening will change that this year.

Using a trellis will create more growing space as it takes crops in a vertical direction.

My square foot garden plan for the upcoming season.  The spaces not filled in will be used for succession planting and for trying new crops.

It's still there. That bright red extreme cold warning banner is still there. The morning temperature at 7am for the past three days has been in the mid to high -30Cs. 

By 10am the sun warmed the air enough to get the thermometer to rise to -21C with no wind chill. That's my kind of day to enjoy outdoor activities again.

I took the snowshoes out yesterday and today. Yesterday was a real work out because it had snowed. Between the fresh snow and the wind earlier in the week, the trail needed to be packed down again. How is it that I'm usually the one to do the trail breaking?

There were lots of animal tracks in the fresh snow. Moose, deer, hare, weasel, squirrel and coyote tracks crisscrossed the trail and the pond. I love being the first out after a snow so I can see who lurks in the woods.

The sun was shining. The chickadees were singing and the moose were crashing through the trees today. It's Valentine's day and Mother Nature was showing her love. I came across hearts everywhere! Happy Valentine's Day from the woods.

Well, the extreme cold banner still decorates the top of the weather website. The cold has arrived and has not left. I've lived at this location for almost 17 years and this was the first winter that the temperature actually dipped to -44C overnight.
On Monday it was -28C at 7am. On Tuesday it was -43C at 8am. On Wednesday it was -34C at 7am and this morning it was -29C. I need not say more. It is extremely cold. 

I could tell without looking at the thermometer. The house creaked as it contracted. The furnace ran constantly. The poor little birds were puffing out their feathers to stay warm. Brrr, glad I'm not a bird.

There are some things that you can experience only when it is cold. Yes, things other than cold fingers and toes. I had five days off work so the actual plan was to get some x-country skiing done but even I was not goofy enough to venture out of the yard in that cold. 

I did venture into the yard though. That was while I was running my vehicle so I knew it would start if I needed it. The bird feeders needed filling each morning after the deer emptied them the night before so while I was out there and dressed like a marshmallow I did a walk about.

The garage is not heated so the windows were wearing a layer of frosty 'lace'. Icicles hung from the eaves troughs; left over from the temperatures that were on the plus side of things last week. The dried flower heads wore caps of snow. Bird imprints and deer tracks were found close to the feeders.

I decided to try a couple science experiments. It was so much fun watching what happens when hot water hits the cold air that I had to try it a few times! If the neighbors were watching, they probably thought that I was a little crazy but who cares. 

I also tried freezing bubbles. I didn't have corn syrup at home to add to the soap solution to strengthen the bubbles but they stayed whole long enough to land on the snow and then roll around like tumbleweeds. I wanted to see crystals form on the spheres but will attempt this again when I can make the proper solution.

Today the sun was shining. It got to a balmy -25C which felt really warm compared to the minus thirties and forties from the past few days. I started up my vehicle and decided to go for a drive to warm it up quicker. I was going to make a pit stop and go for a short hike at my favorite trail but the parking lot hadn't been plowed yet and I couldn't see ditch from road so rather than guessing where the road was, I gave up on the hike idea. 

Instead, I drove a loop to see what was happening on the range road over from my place. It happens to border Elk Island National Park. There were a lot of animal tracks in the fresh snow on the park side of the fence. One lone bison was out foraging for food. 

At the south end of the lake that I live at, there were a lot of deer tracks; probably belonging to the small herd that visit each yard to empty the bird feeders. There were tracks from snowmobiles on the lake surface.

As I pulled into my driveway, I scared off a white tail deer that was half way up my yard. It was headed straight for the bird seed. The chickadees and nuthatches were singing. The redpolls were having a feeding frenzy at the tray feeder. The woodpeckers rested in the old willow tree next door, waiting for their turn at the feeders.

Even though it's cold, life goes on. All I can say is that when it is this cold, I'm grateful that I can go inside, light the wood stove, put my feet up and hunker down waiting for the temperature to be decent enough to enjoy my outdoor activities again. 

Stay warm everyone!

A redpoll waits for a turn at the feeder.

Deer track in the snow on my driveway.

Bison at Elk Island National Park.

I had only one outdoor 'play' day this week when I was able to get to the trails for a walk in the woods. All was calm and quiet and peaceful. Now I'm looking at that day as the calm before the storm.

Exactly one week ago the temperature was a balmy +6.3C. Mid week things changed. The extreme temperature / snowfall warnings that have been decorating the weather website all week are still there.

My driveway is about 100 feet long. It usually takes me a half hour to clear. Today it took almost two hours. There was about 10 inches of snow on it. Good thing it was light and fluffy. The snowbanks are the highest they have been all winter; probably because it has been a freeze/thaw kind of winter. There would be a snow day and then the next day it would be melting. 

This morning I checked the thermometer before I started shoveling and it read -18C. Luckily there was no wind. I dressed for a colder temp and ended up having to peel off a couple of layers.

When I was done and came inside, walked by my office door. My Christmas cactus is in bloom and the tulip bulbs that I am forcing are reaching above their glass bowl. I have to say I quite enjoyed seeing that bit of color on the cactus and can't wait to see the tulips in bloom. I just might break out the gardening books this afternoon to start planning out what will go where in the yard this spring. I'm ready for gardening season.

I may dig out the little indoor greenhouse and trays to begin preparing for some seed planting later this month. I saved seed from the hollyhocks, poppies and cosmos last fall and plan to start that seed this year.

Do you start flowers and vegies from seed?

There is a sense of satisfaction when I look back at a clean driveway.

I'm loving the pop of color from the Christmas cactus blossoms.

The tulip bulbs will be blooming soon.

I have a lot of seed saved from last year.  Hopefully they will sprout and grow!

On January 20 there was a total lunar eclipse.  It went down in history as a super blood wolf moon according to those in the know.  I just know it was a sight to behold.

The forecast a few days prior to the event was for a cloudy evening.  That changed and the night was clear.  Some wispy cloud came over but it was gone by the time the eclipse began at about 8:33pm mountain time.

I was supposed to be in bed early because I had the early shift at work but who can sleep when there is a spectacular celestial event happening outside the bedroom window. 

I managed to get some photos at 10-15 minute intervals until the moon was totally covered and red/orange in color.  What a beautiful sight.  I didn't stay up to watch the second half but was ecstatic to be able to witness the first.

 

The dishes had to wait. I glanced out my Dad's kitchen window, through the evergreen branches, and caught a glimpse of two moose in the field behind his place. I grabbed my camera, took a quick look, and determined that it was two bull moose that I was looking at.

It took about 5 minutes to get outside to find a good vantage point for a few pictures. Okay, more than a few; 67 to be exact.

This was the second time in two months that I saw two bull moose together. The first was on Weed Creek where it flows under Highway 39. There was an oversized load in front of me so traffic was slow. I glanced to the north and saw two huge bulls sparring on top of the ice. They pushed back and forth, sliding from one bank to the other. There was no opportunity to stop so the only image I have is in my head. 

This was a prime opportunity to watch so I found a spot where they couldn't see me. It wasn't long before the tussle began. I was a good distance away from the two but I could hear the clash of their antlers. After about ten minutes they went their separate ways and the show was over. That meant back to the dishes for me.

This opportunity was quite the treat! There have been more and more wildlife sightings of late in that area. I've seen a fox run through his yard, huge flocks of waxwings in the same field where the moose were and deer grazing across the road.

You just never know when nature will surprise you!

Wow! 8 days into 2019 and I went snowshoeing on 5 of them. I took the longer snowshoes out and broke trail on the pond so I could extend the hike a bit. It's now 3.8km instead of 3.45km. It also gives me a different perspective. In the summer I'm looking through the trees toward the pond and now I'm on the pond looking toward the trees.

I love going early in the morning or after a new snowfall so I can see all the animal action from overnight. Last night was an unlucky night for a few mice and a lucky night for their predators. I saw one spot where a bird swooped down and grabbed a mouse; leaving wing imprints in the snow from the dive. There were two spots where coyotes caught mice that were tunneling through the snow. 
 
The moose were out and left a pile of 'gifts' right on the path that I created on the pond. They had an entire pond to do their business and chose to do it right where I walk. That made me laugh.

How did you do with your outdoor time in the past 8 days? Did you get out just for the fun of it? Did you go out for just 10-15 minutes of fresh air?  Tell someone what you did. It might inspire them enough to go with you on the next outing.  If you didn't get out for fun, try to set aside 10-15 minutes to get started with some 'you' time outside this coming week.

Baby steps. That's all it takes. If you are not spending as much time outside as you would like but are hoping to increase the outdoor time in 2019, start with a small goal. It could be a couple times a week that you go for a walk around the block. 

The following week try to add an additional day for a jaunt around the block or add another block. If you use a step counter, set a goal of so many steps per outing and try to increase that number. It doesn't have to be by much. Just take a few more steps each time you go out.

Set a different goal for yourself on each outing. Go for a color walk and take note of how many different colors you see in nature. Yes, even in winter there is more than white. There are red rose hips and green moss. There are yellow and orange lichens on trees. 

Go for a texture walk and discover how many different textures there are in nature in your neighborhood. Look for the different textures of bark on trees, the different patterns in snow after the wind has blown it around. Look for animal tracks and make note of how many different types you see or how many different birds are around you.

Give camping or kayaking a try.

It doesn't take much to get out more. You just have to decide on a goal and just do it.

For awhile I thought that I made the wrong decision. You see, I work the next three days and I should have gone to enjoy some outdoor time today. In fact my skis are at the back door. 

The snow stopped falling, the sky cleared and the sun came out but I chose to stay inside and light the wood stove. I made it as far as the couch. After hearing the snap and pop of the sap in the logs and watching the flames dance in the fire box, I decided that my decision was okay. There was no need for me to change out of my comfy pants and there was no driving involved. It was going to be a time to reflect.

2018 was the year for change. I left my full time job on December 31, 2017. January 01, 2018 marked the first day of 'retirement' as it is known today. That means the beginning of a new beginning.

I thought why not. You only live once. Gone were the days of working three, then two and then one job. The decision was based on the fact that I now only have to look after me and my needs are very simple. Give me trails, a pair of hiking boots, my camera and a good cup of coffee and I'm happy.

As the winter snow melted and garden and flower beds emerged, the planning began for what to plant in the spring. My days began on the back deck in my lawn chair, listening to and watching the birds. The garden flourished because I actually had the time to care for it properly. 

Halfway through 2018 I began looking for a part time job that would get me out for some social interaction a couple of times a week. Little did I know that I would be working the week after an interview and that it would be full time for a couple of months.

Once that little stretch was over and my part time hours actually appeared, I began to enjoy the fall and winter which are my favorite times of the year. Now I have a nice balance of work and play.

Sadly there was no camping excursions except for some backyard naps in the tent that I had set up for just that purpose. I was able to go on a couple of road trips. One involved kayaking in a mountain lake with painted turtles and loons. It was wonderful. 

There were many memorable photographic opportunities and first time experiences this year.

1. Kayaking amidst the turtles and loons was a first.
2. Watching two bull moose sparring on a frozen creek was a first.
3. Witnessing live, the life cycle of a ladybug was a first.
4. Growing and harvesting ground cherries in my garden was a first.
5. Harvesting sea buckthorn berries off a tree that once was just a foot tall little stick was a first.
6. Finding a red necked grebe resting in the middle of a hiking trail was a first. I came to within three feet of it.
7. Coming across a skunk as I came around a corner in my yard was a first. Thankfully it didn't turn into a smelly situation.

This is just a sample of some of the many firsts in 2018. I also had the time to finish some stained glass projects that I had started and set aside due to lack of time. I found time to make burlap wreaths and some of the Christmas gifts given this year. Many of my photographs submitted to the local paper got published.
2018 has come full circle and I ask myself again if it was the right decision to quit working full time and the answer is a resounding YES! 

I am hoping that 2019 offers up more opportunities for creative endeavors, more camping and outdoor time and above all the capability to enjoy them all.

Happy New Year! May your year be filled with all the things that you love to do.

I got to watch the life cycle of ladybugs in my yard.

Beavers were busy in the spring.

I found a red necked grebe on a hiking trail.

Butterflies were plentiful on the spring flowers.

My daily dose of wildlife in my yard.

It's the final year to visit the Leduc Country Lights. This display lights up the night sky. I'm sure every person leaving there has a big smile on their face.

As you turn off the highway and head toward the acreage, it is as dark as it can be. Soon you begin to see a glow in the sky. The colored lights are bright against the night sky.

I can't imagine the effort it must take to set up the pathways, the displays and coordinate the volunteers that help. That is a major undertaking. It is no wonder that the family has pulled back from spending so many hours on the event; hours to be spend with friends and family in the future.

When we pulled into the parking lot last night, parents were getting sleds, wagons and strollers ready to take excited children through the Christmas wonderland. We were in awe with the display of colored lights, displays and animation. It makes you feel like Christmas.

I hope someone steps up and offers to continue the tradition in another location. It was a great spot that people looked forward to visiting every year. 

The weather was perfect last night for a leisurely walk in the crisp night air. The lights twinkled. The carols could be heard over the speakers and laughter echoed through the yard. What a wonderful way to spend an evening one week ahead of Christmas.

They were everywhere. I heard them before I saw them. Each tall spruce held a portion of the waxwing wave that swooped over the field and that eventually came to rest atop the trees. The Bohemian waxwings arrived to be included in the Christmas bird count.

Watching them was like watching a ballet in the sky. They left as one big wave, tree by tree. I could see them land in the distance in the empty grain field. They gleaned the remaining grass seeds and grain. Once finished they swooped up again as one big wave and converged in the spruce tops until it was time to feed again.

After hearing and seeing them in action, I had to dig out my bird book to determine if they were Bohemian or Cedar waxwings. The red under tail feathers were signature markers of the Bohemian waxwings. According to the book, they are common winter visitors to this area.

I've seen Cedar waxwings clear a mountain ash tree of it's berries in a matter of hours but I've never seen them in such large flocks. To hear and see the Bohemians in such numbers was a first time treat and it was a delight to watch them in action.

The next time you are out for a walk and hear an amazing number of birds, look up. You may be as lucky as I was.