two stories July 4, 2026

I have far too many stories to tell. 

I picked two to share with you! 

story #1

For a few hours every day, I make time to be "out & about" somewhere.  With camera in hand and a pep in my step, kilometres are covered (which are quicker these days to keep ahead of the bugs). Even though the  pace is speedy, I still stop, I listen and I look to left and right. There is loads of looking up too. The clouds always capture my attention and they have been lovely lately.  Between seeing the cloud formations, the wildflowers and the wildlife, I always arrive home with a treasure of photographs and a smile on my face.  

two Wood Duck Ducklings in a cuddle

a House Wren captured a snack to bring home to share

the Cedar Waxwing was swallowing the berries whole

one of about fifty White Pelicans

a Robin ready to feed the young ones

I learned a little more about Double-crested Cormorants after seeing these two.  Males and females look alike, it is hard to distinguish which is which so I don't know what the one on the left is. I learned the one of the right would be a non-breeding female as it is predominantly dark.

Blue-winged Teal with her Ducklings

One day while "out & about", I garnered a nickname, it's "chatty birder". I met a birder on a trail and asked what have you seen so far.  I then shared what I saw.  She made a click on her device and said "met a chatty birder".  She was playing bingo while birding and I fit one of the boxes.  

 

story #2

July is World Watercolour Month! There are numerous sites that offer daily challenges. While I don't care to do a challenge each day of the month for July (during a winter month I would),  I still want to participate in some capacity. I picked one of my favourite watercolour sites and will play along with their challenge.  July 1st, Day 1 was a wet on wet wash. This is my outcome, the words were put on afterwards via photoshop.  The challenges are not meant to take much time.  I did another one on another day.  But.....

 .....I did another painting outside of the challenge!  If you have been here, you know where it is!  I worked on this watercolour painting a few days ago during the rain event and when the wildfire smoke blew in. The thought of painting this came to mind when a friend shared with me a painting she purchased from a local young budding artist which was of this location but done in acrylics. I have been fortunate enough to visit this place many times over the years but not in the last four years.  I am sharing a few of the times I was there which were always stop for a photo before veering off on a trail for one of many big hikes in the area.

This is my photo which I used as a reference. 

This photo was taken on June 28, 2021. 

September 18, 2010

May 28, 2016

with Helen from Walking with Friends Down Under

October 12, 2019

This was the last time I visited Moraine Lake in Banff National Park! It was for sunrise on June 29th, 2021. I shared the space with no one before heading off for a hike in snow up to Larch Valley. It was when our world changed and borders were not open yet. I cherish every second I ever spent over the years in this piece of paradise! Our world is different now, I doubt very much I will ever get back to Moraine Lake. 

a simple ink and wash to pass a few moments while dinner was cooking