Reflections from Whitecourt

Fall Animals

2011-10-14T23:18:00.013-06:00

My daughter and I were watching this deer eat rosehips and twigs while we played on her swingset just a few metres away.

A few days ago we took a drive and saw this swan just off Highway 32. I couldn't get any closer - I think it was a rare Trumpeter Swan, but it's hard to tell the difference between that and a Tundra Swan at this distance. Either way, it was beautiful to see on the shimmering water.

As I was walking down closer to see the swan, I came across several trees that beavers were working on. They sure are hard workers!

There was a path from the trees going down to the water.

They should be all set for winter.

Honeymoon Suite and Sweet at Whitecourt Party in the Park 2011

2011-09-05T11:28:00.028-06:00

The final performers at Party in the Park were Sweet. They delivered a fantastic performance for what must have been the largest crowd yet at Party in the Park. They sang many of their popular tunes from the '70's, infusing them with more energy and power.

Joe Retta, lead vocalist, was having fun with the crowd, encouraging them to sing. Love the gold chains and the leopard print pants!

From left to right: Stuart Smith (guitar/vocals), Richie Onori (drums), Joe Retta (vocals), Stevie Stewart (keyboards) and original Sweet member Steve Priest (Bass/Vocals).

Honeymoon Suite got the crowd moving, with their many popular songs. It doesn't matter if the songs are from the '80's - both the young and the older audience enjoyed the show.

The talented Joe Public played just before Honeymoon Suite. They can always be counted on for great music in Whitecourt.

Many of the kids were dancing and enjoying the bands, but the three inflatables were being well-used by the kids to take a break.

Thanks to the Joint Economic Development Committee for Party in the Park 2011!

Rotary Park Fun

2011-08-20T23:21:00.007-06:00

My kids have been complaining that summer's going by too fast. We headed down to Rotary Park today, making the most of a hot summer day.

After many trips down the river slides, my son and his friend got some relief from the "summer's almost over" blues.

Irresistible Peas

2011-08-02T21:51:00.009-06:00

No luck with the Spongebob scarecrow. This little buck was getting his fill of peas this morning.

This deer has been travelling with the doe I saw yesterday and a spotted fawn. I just wish they would eat the swiss chard instead of the peas.

What's New in the Garden

2011-08-01T10:51:00.010-06:00

I transplanted a few of my irises last year to the back yard. They're just blooming now.

I was having my coffee outside on the deck this beautiful morning, when I heard some noise in the garden. A mule deer was eating the pea plants again. We had just started eating peas a few days ago. They're so tasty this year- probably because of all the rain.

With my pea plants in her belly, the doe decided to have a rest in my neighbour's yard.

I've had to resort to serious measures to protect the peas.

After putting up the raincoat for a scarecrow, I thought the Spongebob face in my daughter's colouring book finished the look. Hope it works!

Sunset from Toboggan Hill

2011-07-26T07:38:00.012-06:00

Last night, I was on my way to the store to pick up a few things before closing, when a storm started brewing. I made a detour to Toboggan Hill to get a better view. I took a few pictures, but didn't stay too long, as I was the tallest thing on the hill with lightning all around. The swirling clouds turned pink as the sun was setting. You can see the mill to the lower left of the sun. Then it was off to get my groceries with about three minutes left before the store closed. I love how you can travel from one point to another in Whitecourt in less than ten minutes.

Photosynthesis

2011-07-25T08:56:00.017-06:00

The sun has really made my garden perk up. I can see the peas growing in their shells. This group of plants had a setback earlier when the deer ate the tops of the plants.

The first section of the new fence went up yesterday. I don't think the deer can jump 6 feet. I'll miss watching them in the back yard this winter. But the front yard will still be open for business.

I had some swiss chard in a salad for the first time the other day. My husband thought it was lettuce when he picked it. I don't mark my rows when I plant. The swiss chard was good - just a little tougher than lettuce.

The white onions are getting bigger below the ground. I love how the sunlight brings out so many shades of green.

Rising Athabasca River

2011-07-10T23:26:00.019-06:00

My daughter and I went to see the Athabasca River at the end of 47th Street in Whitecourt. The road disappeared into the river.

We weren't the only ones who came to take a look. The water is very high and fast, eroding the banks and carrying trees and other debris.

Disappearing island.

We walked west on Flats Road to get another view of the river. Here, the river is backing up.

There are some nice trails in this area. I got sidetracked by the wildflowers and mushrooms.

Pink Wintergreen

Various Mushrooms

Carson Lake Camping - Wildlife Encounters

2011-06-28T18:15:00.032-06:00

This young moose was eating grasses in a ditch, just off the highway near the Carson campground. I got a few pictures from my car window.

Smile for the camera!

Male Mallard Duck

I love watching birds - not just glancing, but really observing what they're doing. There was a pair of Mallards on the beach, dipping their heads into shallow water by a clump of reeds. I didn't know what they were looking for, until the female brought something out of the water.

Female Mallard with a tasty crayfish

You don't have to feed the ducks - They do just fine on their own.

Carson Lake Camping - Day 1

2011-06-26T23:02:00.014-06:00

I went out to meet my family after work to the Carson Lake campground on Wednesday. It was a beautiful evening. We were camping in the D block, next to the lake. Taking a walk along the trails following the lake is a great way to unwind after work. This picture was taken from the shore, just below our campsite.

Northern Bluebells

Just look off the path and you'll see pretty Northern Bluebells in bloom.

Don't forget to bring marshmallows and a good book.

First Day of Summer

2011-06-21T22:05:00.020-06:00

Reflections from a Whitecourt Puddle

Our back lane has a low area that doesn't drain well after a rain. I think my neighbour was wondering why I was taking a picture of a puddle.

Our provincial flower - the Wild Rose, is in bloom. There was lots of action on this rose today. I guess the sun shining on the first day of summer puts everyone in a good mood.

Slave Lake Fishing Derby

2011-06-20T22:20:00.019-06:00

My family spent this past weekend at Faust, Alberta on Slave Lake at the Millar Western Fishing Derby. The only pictures I took were on Friday night, which was beautiful. Both the Slave Lake area and Whitecourt have had endless rain, so we were excited when we saw the sky clearing for a change. Unfortunately we awoke to more cloud and rain for the next few days.

Sunset on Slave Lake.

One of the last boats returning to shore.

Some Whitecourt kids fishing.

Despite the rain for the rest of the trip, we had a good time. We managed to pull a few pike in on Saturday, and almost a walleye. We had lots of bites, and would have caught more, but my rain-drenched kids needed a break. Saturday night we had a beautiful steak dinner, followed by a later fish fry, and hot breakfast the next morning. And even with the occasional rain, we managed to keep the campfire burning.

Snow in Summer

2011-06-05T21:46:00.018-06:00

On Friday we got a nice rain, but the weather turned cold, and overnight it changed to snow. This was the scene Saturday morning when we drove to Edmonton (looking back toward Whitecourt).

Despite a little snow, everything is growing well here - like these pretty bell-shaped flowers of Bergenia.

I planted potatoes early this year. They're looking nice and green after the rain.

My large crabapple tree has finished flowering, but a smaller one is now in bloom.

The raspberries are spreading. My family is looking forward to their delicious fruit. You can't have enough raspberry plants as far as I'm concerned.

What's Ready in the Garden?

2011-05-15T21:51:00.011-06:00

One of my favourite vegetables is asparagus. It started popping up a few days ago. My daughter got to eat the first one. It's so good raw.

Vibrant green chives are the earliest edible around here.

As I was finishing up on writing this, I heard that the town of Slave Lake is on fire. I hope everyone is safe there! Damn winds.

Evening Grosbeaks and Purple Finches

2011-05-14T17:41:00.014-06:00

The birds are busier than ever in the morning. This Evening Grosbeak (male) was one of many at the feeder. Their loud single chirps may be heard above the other birds' songs.

A female Evening Grosbeak, stopping in for some sunflower seeds.

This Purple Finch, with its bright red crown and deeply notched tail, likes to feed both on the ground and at the feeder.

Their colour and sounds bring life into my back yard.

Hard Luck Falls in May

2011-05-05T22:41:00.018-06:00

This is the best time of year to see the falls at Hard Luck Canyon. Today was cloudy and a little rainy, but the lower light allowed me to get some pictures with a longer exposure.

Be careful if you climb down to the bottom - one of the guide ropes came down, and the slope is muddy and slippery at times.

I love coming here. I've talked to people who have lived in Whitecourt for years, but have never been here. It was one of the first places I wanted to visit when we first moved to town.

The creek at the bottom of the canyon is full and fast. Later in the summer when the water is low, you can step across the rocks to get to the other side. But not now!

After a good rain, and even some hail, the day ended with a beautiful rainbow. and a pink and purple sunset.

A short video clip of the falls today. Press play to start.

Snowshoe Hare in the Composter

2011-05-03T09:49:00.019-06:00

I was about to throw some food into the composter this morning when I saw a Snowshoe Hare sitting in it. He just sat there for a while without moving. Early this past winter the deer ripped the sides of my newly built composter down, and most of what I've thrown in has been eaten.

As I got closer, he made off with a piece of Romaine. I'll have to come up with a more secure composter style.

Green Beaks and Buds

2011-04-27T22:35:00.016-06:00

I've seen quite a few Evening Grosbeaks this week in my back yard. Their cream-coloured bills in winter turn green in the spring to blend in with tree buds, leaves and spruce needles.

The first buds in my yard are from the Mayday tree.

Following close behind are the Lilacs. In fact the Lilac buds in this picture are from a branch that we pruned last fall. It was a large branch, and I used it for a Halloween decoration for a while - stuck it in the ground and hung cobwebs and ghosts from it. Then, all winter, the branch lay on its side in the front yard. Earlier this week, I was going to bring it to the Transfer Station to be chipped, but I noticed there were some buds on it. Lilacs are tough! I cut some smaller branches off and put them in a pail of water. Hopefully they'll root and I'll plant more incredibly tough Lilacs.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T23:49:00.007-06:00

The kids enjoyed a well-deserved beautiful Easter today. It was a day of nerf guns, bubble blowers, bikes, and barbecued lunch.

A few tulips have poked out of the ground. Can't wait to see what's going to come up next!

Icicles and Robins

2011-04-17T23:05:00.010-06:00

Spring is taking its time arriving this year. A heavy snowfall has led to more icicles.

The American Robin is one of my favourite songbirds. They were in the yard by the dozens yesterday. I always wonder if they're sorry they come here so early.

Hard Luck Canyon in April

2011-04-14T19:35:00.010-06:00

Yesterday, we went to Hard Luck Canyon to see if the falls were running.

Not quite yet, but it was nice to get out of the wind and go for a walk on the trail.

Be sure to wear good boots if you go now. This picture was taken before today's big snowfall.

Spring Pussy Willows in Whitecourt and Bald Eagles in White Rock

2011-04-11T20:37:00.043-06:00

Our weather has been beautiful - much of the snow has melted and the pussy willows have been out for a few weeks. My daughter, her friend and I picked some on Friday off Dahl Drive. Well, I actually did the cutting since there was a lot of water and snow at the base of the trees. My boots are still drying out.

You may have seen or read on the news about the eagle cams in B.C. that the Hancock Wildlife Foundation (HWF) set up. Please visit their website to see amazing live streaming video of Bald Eagles in their nests. The eggs are expected to hatch soon. http://www.hancockwildlife.org/index.php?topic=cam-sites

I took some screen shots on my computer while I watched the video from the White Rock location. These images are posted here, courtesy of the Hancock Wildlife Foundation http://www.hancockwildlife.org. I'll describe what I saw in each screenshot.

April 11 - The Bald Eagle incubates the eggs.

There are two eggs in this nest.

This eagle was calling out for quite a while, and looking all around for her/his partner. I'm not sure if this is the female or the male. They look so similar. Females are a little larger than the males. I didn't know what they sounded like before - The sound is similar to seagulls calling, but more choppy.

A second eagle arrives at the nest to relieve the first eagle.

The second eagle now incubates the eggs.

The Bald Eagle, incubates the eggs as she sleeps. The light at night is infrared only, which the birds don't see.

The Bald Eagle is Canada's largest bird of prey. I encourage you to watch some of the live video to appreciate how they care for their eggs, and soon to come - their young! If you are a parent, you will especially respect and relate to what you see.

Spring on the Athabasca River

2011-04-06T23:02:00.023-06:00

Athabasca River at Sunset

Reflections

I've been hanging out by the rivers lately to watch the ducks and geese. I saw a pair of ducks on the Athabasca River tonight - I couldn't get very close, but the markings on the male were distinct from a distance - I identified them as Goldeneyes - probably the Common Goldeneye. They breed in northern and central Alberta.

Bohemian Waxwings in the Back Lane

2011-03-31T12:51:00.015-06:00

The melting back lane may be treacherous for walking on, but the Bohemian Waxwings were enjoying it this morning.

Just above the watering hole, my neighbour's crabapple tree still has a large amount of fruit. It's amazing there are so many crabapples left after a long winter.

It's fun to watch them eat - they're so flexible.

Foggy Morning

2011-03-29T19:50:00.019-06:00

The spring meltdown is on. I stopped by the Athabasca River today (at the end of 47th St.) to look for migrating birds. I saw a few ducks fly by, and heard some geese, but didn't get close to any of them. Part of the reason may have been the man in the white truck whose vehicle alarm kept going off. He had stopped to talk while I was taking pictures, but couldn't stop the annoying alarm from sounding every few minutes. Fifteen minutes later, and after a lot of apologizing, he left. By that time my feet were cold, so I left too. When the fog cleared later in the day, the sun was strong for the first time in over a week.

The frosty trees and hazy background created a dreamlike landscape.

More Spring Sliding

2011-03-27T19:43:00.015-06:00

I was wrong in my last post about having a few last slides. I can't remember this much snow at the end of March.

We made the most of it today. Now we have a slide from the front of the house right to the road.

Backwards sliding.

The tube wins for the most slippery ride.

This little girl is going to miss the snow more than anyone I know.

A Few Last Slides

2011-03-15T22:40:00.010-06:00

The kids have been making the most of our hill in the back yard, before too much melts.

The fresh air feels good - Let's hope we all continue to have clean air to breathe.

As the sun rises here, I think of those in the dark in Japan.

Planning for the Next Change in Season

2011-03-07T21:29:00.015-07:00

I haven't felt much like taking pictures outdoors lately. With spring around the corner, my attention has been focussed on what I'm going to plant this year.

I'm planning big changes to my front yard. The lawn is going to be replaced by drought-tolerant plants, gravel and rock. I've decided to "xeriscape" - or landscape to minimize water use. It will likely take a few years to complete. I'd like to incorporate some kind of sculpture - maybe a "living sculpture". And, I want to plant some edibles like swiss chard and squash, that have lower water requirements. Why limit the vegetable garden to the back yard? I remember walking past houses in my grandmother's town of Melville, Saskatchewan and seeing front yards filled with vegetables. It makes more sense than grass.

I started selecting native wildflowers to plant. I made up a template to keep track of what I want to plant. The first flower I chose is "Prairie Smoke". I remember seeing it at the Living Prairie Museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba. If you ever get the chance to visit, it will be a memorable experience. It's one of the last remaining fragments of original tall grass prairie.

Back Yard Tobogganing

2011-02-11T22:25:00.026-07:00

The warm weather has melted about a foot of snow, but we still have huge mounds that the kids used to make their own sliding hill.

My son and his friends planned and built some jumps, as my daughter watched.

Since the run wasn't very long, it was important to jump into the slide.

The kids took turns doing 360's and other moves, while one of them judged.

It was great to see them forget about their video games for a while, and have some real fun!

Ice Everywhere

2011-02-04T21:59:00.021-07:00

Lots of snow, followed by cold weather - then warm weather, rain and freezing at night has resulted in an icy landscape. This is my favourite garage a few houses down - it makes the best icicles. It's funny how people are suspicious when I'm taking pictures in the back lane. The neighbourhood dogs don't care for it either.

The vent coming from our high efficiency furnace makes a nice ice sculpture that has to be knocked down every few weeks.

Ice pellets on the windshield this morning. The school buses weren't running today.

Icy back lane.

My back walkway this morning.

Icy snow chunks.

Natural inukshuk.

The weather can always be counted on to change, and be a topic of conversation. It was a beautiful day today, despite all the ice.

Beautiful Winter Day

2011-01-23T22:43:00.018-07:00

Warm temperatures, blue sky and lots of snow - You couldn't ask for a better winter day. Even at sunrise, it was close to zero degrees Celsius. The forecast shows above zero all week.

My daughter worked on expanding her fort. It's going to be about four times as big when we're finished.

But even at this size, there's room for entertaining.

Getting some Vitamin D

Aftermath

2011-01-18T20:57:00.013-07:00

After a few feet of snow, it's comforting to see the sun and blue sky. This is our front walkway.

First sunset I've enjoyed in a while.

The snow is as high as our fence in places. This is the site we've picked for a future snow fort.

My husband pulling some snow off the roof.

Roof shovellers across from us, taking a break by the full moon.

Snowy Deer

2011-01-16T20:10:00.018-07:00

I think everyone is thinking the same thing around here - Is it ever going to stop snowing? The deer come to my back yard composter every day now. I cleared a path for them after all the snow. We put out fresh apples for a treat.

The pine branches, heavy with snow, are lower now for the young deer to reach.

The bird feeder gets emptied again.

The pictures and video were taken from inside, looking out my back window. (Too snowy to bring the camera out today!)

Watch Your Step

2011-01-09T14:24:00.019-07:00

We've had a lot of snow over the past three days. This is a view of our back deck yesterday morning.

Warm weather on the first day of the snowstorm, followed by much colder temperatures made perfect conditions for some nice icicles.

Some of the branches of our pine tree in the back are touching the ground.

A view from our front door, looking to the west.

There is potential for an awesome snow fort this year. We'll have to wait until the weather warms up.

New Year's Day on Lesser Slave Lake

2011-01-03T22:06:00.024-07:00

We headed back out onto the lake on New Year's Day. It was snowing, with high winds all day. Driving out to the ice village was a challenge, as the road that was clear yesterday was starting to disappear. It's a 3-kilometer ride, but somehow our 2-wheel drive truck made it out there.

The portable ice shelters were contorted by the strong wind.

Inside the shanty, we were again warm and comfortable.

If you bring kids ice fishing, make sure you have lots to eat. It keeps them busy for a while.

The fish weren't cooperating today.

The wind didn't let up, and we thought we had better head back to shore before it got too late. By this time, there were lots of drifts, ruts and no road. We made it back about half way, and then had to be towed the rest. Bernie from Ladyhawk Cabins came to the rescue. This was one of the highlights of the trip for the kids - being towed through the deep snow - It was a pretty bumpy ride.

Back on land, Jason and Adele entertained everyone with their awesome guitar music and singing.

Ladyhawk Cabins the day after the storm.

A view from the shore, the day after the storm.

New Year's Eve on Lesser Slave Lake

2011-01-02T19:23:00.032-07:00

We were invited out to Joussard for a few days to do some ice fishing on Lesser Slave Lake. The first day out was cold, but calm and sunny. My son was thrilled to be able to drive Jay's quad. We don't have toys like this at home. I think he wonders why - we do live in Whitecourt, and most people have stuff like this. Get a job I usually tell him and you can buy toys like that - You are eleven now. But he just looks at me.

A view of our village on the lake. The green shanties belong to Ladyhawk cabins. This was ice fishing in comfort! It didn't matter what the temperature was outside - We were warm and comfortable inside. There's even a 2-way wood box that gets magically filled so you don't run out of wood.

More of the ice village to the northeast.

One of the best places to watch a sunset.

My son keeping busy.

My daughter and her friend having a rest.

Walleye!

I couldn't capture the stars without a tripod, but they were brilliant. This was the shanty we were in the first day.

After fishing, we went back to our cabin, and joined others from Whitecourt and Gibbons, Alberta for a fire and lots of fireworks. I left my tripod at home, but was able to get a few decent shots.

Purple Haze

The Menace

Happy New Year!

Deer Vandalism

2010-12-29T16:07:00.009-07:00

Back in September I did a post on composting, and compared my new wired-in homemade composter to a purchased closed bin. See http://reflections-from-whitecourt.blogspot.com/search/label/composting. One more negative I would add to the open style is it can be ripped apart by hungry animals. I'm guessing the deer pulled the one side open.

The deer have been coming into the yard every night and cleaning out my open bird feeder. They leave behind lots of evidence as seen above.

I'm not going to bother fixing the composter until late spring - By then the deer stop coming around.

Working off the Christmas Dinner

2010-12-27T15:16:00.016-07:00

We were the first ones out at Toboggan Hill this morning. But it didn't take long for the parking lot to fill up. There's a killer jump now near the bottom - Had to do lots of steering today to stay away from that one. The snow was packed and very fast today! The long wooden toboggan could have made it over the highway, but my Flintstone brakes were working fine.

Scarves were a must today. Even though it was mild and sunny, there was a cold wind at the top of the hill.

Taking a needed rest.

Homemade Christmas Bird Treats

2010-12-22T20:12:00.017-07:00

Instead of throwing out the bacon grease today, I mixed it with some peanut butter, pumpkin seeds, raisins and wild bird seed to make high energy snacks for the birds.

I used cookie cutters (tall-sided ones), and placed half the mixture inside the cutters (which were set on a plate). Then I placed a string in the center (curling it around a few times for strength), and poured the rest of the mixture on top. I put the plate in the freezer for a half hour, and then removed the treats from the cookie cutters. They came out easily without breaking. All that's left to do is hang from a tree and watch the birds come!

December 2010 Lunar Eclipse from Whitecourt, Alberta

2010-12-21T13:48:00.012-07:00

We had a pretty clear night for the first half of the total lunar eclipse. Once the moon was covered in the red shadow, it was time to thaw out inside. The kids didn't want to miss out, so managed to stay up, coming outside every so often to see what the fuss was all about. These pictures are a composite from various times. I wasn't set up to see the total eclipse very well - no remote shutter release, and a 200 mm lens was the best I could do. I used the self-timer to minimize movement, but the self-timer doesn't work for the darker pictures, so the last few shots are blurry. You can click on the image to see a larger view.

On such a cold night, we still managed to have our neighbours drop by to join us. And one of my son's friends stayed for most of it. Hopefully, the next big astronomical event will be in warmer weather.

Festive Bird Treat

2010-12-20T16:10:00.007-07:00

It's been a challenge keeping up with the bird feeders. The deer have been cleaning out the big feeder every night. They seem to just come around at night lately - maybe they're tired of getting their picture taken. I thought I'd try some popcorn and raisins on a string. It looks nice and doesn't cost much. Although it's harder than I thought to string the popcorn.

It's a cold one today, but I hope to see the full lunar eclipse tonight. From Whitecourt, it will start at 12:41, and the full eclipse will happen at 1:17 am!

The Shapes of Winter

2010-12-16T13:02:00.010-07:00

With the heavy snow we've had recently, and sculpting winds, nature's transformed my back yard into a wintery exhibit. The snow has been hanging down past the eaves, revealing the layers of several accumulated snowfalls.

My bird "snow" bath.

The sun is so low in the sky, and when it does reveal itself, there are shadows everywhere.

What was once a rock, is now a powdery snow dune.

Extreme Body Tobogganing

2010-12-12T20:59:00.013-07:00

Rather than loading up the kids and toboggans in the truck today, we took a short walk on the Pumphouse trail to the hilltop overlooking Highway 43. The hill is too steep and close to the highway for toboggans, but just right for body sliding.

Be prepared for a difficult climb back up.

The little ones were worn out, and happy to be pulled back home.

Nothing like a good walk in the fresh winter air the day after a late night Christmas party.

Ruffed Grouse in the Trees

2010-12-06T19:44:00.007-07:00

This is one of three Ruffed Grouse I saw in the bush behind our house today. They froze as I got closer, thinking I couldn't see them. If you've ever had the chance to hear them taking off, it's quite the experience. After letting me snap a few pictures, they erupted into flight, leaving me in awe. They're a lot faster than they look.

The Ruffed Grouse are more reddish brown in western Canada, like this one, blending in with the heavier forest floor.

Enjoying the Snow on Toboggan Hill

2010-11-28T20:41:00.012-07:00

Saturday was our first trip this winter to Toboggan Hill. My son and his friend had fun on their snowboards and foam toboggan, looking for the best jumps.

My daughter and her friend had a blast going down the hill.

But going back up took up most of our afternoon.

Chickadees and Woodpeckers

2010-11-21T21:27:00.013-07:00

The chickadees and woodpeckers have been enjoying the bird bagels and suet feeder. This is a female Downy Woodpecker, having a snack as the snow was coming down.

The Boreal Chickadees have been hanging around. They're not as common as the Black-capped Chickadee, but are quite recognizable with their brownish head and darker belly.

The Black-capped Chickadees are my most regular visitors to the back yard.

Sudden Winter

2010-11-18T22:39:00.007-07:00

Winter came quickly. We've got a few inches of snow on the ground, with more in the forecast. My daughter is pretty happy about it. Her middle name is "Snow" - My son picked the name for her when he was 4. I think somehow he knew she would love it so much.

Rosemary wins the hardiest herb award. It's still green and has lots of flavour.

Bird Bagels

2010-11-16T20:01:00.009-07:00

I thought I'd make some treats for the birds, now that the cold weather has arrived. These are bagels (sliced in half), smothered with peanut butter, and coated with pumpkin seeds, raisins and wild bird seed mix. I just pressed the seeds and raisins into the peanut butter. I don't know if the deer will try to eat these, but I strung them up, making sure to tie a good knot.

My son and his friends have been doing scooter tricks in the garage where it's warm.

Mule Deer Favourite Foods

2010-11-09T10:16:00.016-07:00

With the deer fattening up this time of year, my back yard has become a popular feeding ground for the many mule deer in the area. Below are some of their favourite foods.

Cedar. I have since covered this one with burlap.

Young trees like this lilac and willows.

Sunflower seeds.

Crabapples. They prefer the larger varieties, but will feed at my neighbour's ornamental tree mid-winter when food is scarcer.

Geocaching off the Sakwatamau Trail

2010-11-07T16:42:00.034-07:00

As we were leaving to go geocaching, the back yard was busy with Bohemian Waxwings - competing with the deer for the remaining crabapples on the ground.

We didn't have any luck finding the "Whitecourt Pumphouse Trail Cache - GC2CJ2Y". After reading the log on geocaching.com, I guess we're the first to miss it - we'll try again another day. We brought our own cache to hide - details will follow in a later post.

When we were finished our hike, we thought we might see the sun on this overcast day. But we caught only glimpses before sunset.

And sunset came early after the time change last night- just before 5:00!

Clean-Up Crew

2010-11-06T11:32:00.007-06:00

The crabapple tree is now bare, with a layer of sticky fruit on the ground below. The deer and birds share what's left. The sweet scent of the apples will soon be replaced by the fresh smell of winter.

Warm Halloween Night

2010-10-31T19:26:00.009-06:00

Everyone enjoyed a very mild Halloween. No winter jackets this time! My son on the left and his friend in the middle were characters from Naruto. My daughter was a pretty cat. "Guy" - the stuffed man sitting down - did a good job handing out candies, while I took my daughter trick or treating.

Bohemian Waxwings in Flight

2010-10-28T11:13:00.007-06:00

I like trying to photograph birds with their wings open. These Bohemian Waxwings show their beauty as they fly between treetops.

They've been cleaning out the crabapples, leaving only the lower branches.

White Blanket

2010-10-25T10:47:00.010-06:00

The drizzle last night turned to snow, and by morning everything was transformed. Looking down Dahl Drive, the valley is somewhat obscured by the still falling snow and fog.

Along the road leading to Toboggan Hill.

From the back yard.

15 Degrees Celsius and Sunny

2010-10-21T11:22:00.011-06:00

Another beautiful day and sunrise in Whitecourt. Although the weather is turning colder tomorrow, with some snow possible in the next few days.

I've seen this doe and young deer a lot lately around the neighbourhood. They avoid my front yard now since I put up my scary Halloween decorations.

Frosty Sunrise

2010-10-17T13:46:00.016-06:00

There was a thin layer of ice covering this creek off the Athabasca River this morning.

The cold has been too much for the last of my garden flowers. But I enjoy the change of seasons. There is always something new to watch for.

I like the contrast between the fall grasses and the frost just as the sun was coming up.

Some Things to be Thankful For

2010-10-12T11:24:00.015-06:00

With Thanksgiving winding down, I thought I'd reflect on some of the recent things I have to be thankful for. First is the beautiful weather we've been having in Whitecourt. It's so nice to see flowers in the garden in the middle of October!

Second - my husband just started a new job, after a recent lay-off. No, he isn't an exterminator. We have an addition at the back of the house that was poorly insulated below. When my husband pulled out the insulation, he found many old wasp nests. We're going to have new insulation put in - just in time for winter.

Third - It looks like we'll be staying in Whitecourt. It's great having such diverse wildlife right in the back yard.

And in the neighbour's yard. The Bohemian Waxwings have been flying from our Crabapple tree to the neighbour's Mountain Ash. The fourth thing I am thankful for is our wonderful neighbours.

Fifth - pumpkin pie. There's no better food in the world. It's great for breakfast or dessert.

My Little Girl's Photos

2010-10-09T08:34:00.017-06:00

My daughter and I went for a walk yesterday on the Sakwatamau and Pumpouse trails. I let her use my old Sony camera, and told her she could take some pictures for the blog today.

The next four photos are hers.

I like the angle she used on this one.

Looking downtown from the hilltop.

We had a hard time finding pretty leaves, but managed to see a few bright wild rose leaves.

This is my favourite - some thistles going to seed. We changed it to black and white. She has a steady hand for a six-year-old.

Hungry Visitor

2010-10-07T09:12:00.021-06:00

You never know who's going to drop by for a snack at the bird feeder.

This mule deer was pretty good at tilting the feeder and licking up the sunflower seeds.

Colourful Sunrise

2010-10-06T09:56:00.011-06:00

Now that the days are shorter, it's easier for me to catch a beautiful sunrise.

There are still loads of crabapples in the back yard. With the leaves gone, they look more like clusters of grapes. The Waxwings and Robins have been feeding on them.

Good morning Robin.

October Evening at McLeod Lake

2010-10-02T20:41:00.024-06:00

Another warm autumn evening, and I found myself drawn to the lake.

Most of the leaves have been shed, but the grasses and shrubs are bronzed and crimson.

Mallard Duck preening near the beach.

As I move closer, she follows me with her eyes. My daughter sees a duck up close for the first time.

A Few Things I Learned About Composting

2010-09-29T13:08:00.017-06:00

Making compost can be easy, and it's so useful when you have a garden. I find the soil here to be quite sandy, and needy of organic material. I've included some basic rules, and a few tips I've learned through the years.

To make compost, you need four basic ingredients: nitrogen, carbon, water and air.

Nitrogen comes from green or wet materials like vegetable and fruit trimmings and peels, grass clippings, coffee grounds, egg shells.

Carbon comes from brown or dry materials like dry leaves, wood chips, sawdust, small twigs, hay.

Water may need to be added if the compost gets too dry - The compost should be a little moist, but not soggy.

Aerate the compost by turning or loosening with a pitchfork or shovel. If you have a large compost pile, you can move the compost to one side to aerate. Decomposers need oxygen to live.

This is one of my composters - the lower front panel slides up to remove compost when it's ready. There is a flap on top to dump waste in, and the whole lid lifts off if needed.

Pros: The compost is fully contained with a lid. It is space-saving.

Cons: The composter fills quickly, if you want to add a lot of lawn trimmings and leaves. It is awkward to turn the compost because of the long, narrow design.

I recently made a large compost area, enclosed with plastic mesh wire around some steel posts. I used bricks and soil around the bottom to keep the compost from spilling out.

Pros: This is a lot roomier - You can size it how you want. It is much easier to turn the compost because of the larger surface area. The compost naturally receives more air in this design.

Cons: The compost is more susceptible to drying out in dry conditions and becoming too wet in wet conditions. It takes up more space. It may not look attractive to some people. (I plan to plant some climbing flowers in the spring in front, so they climb the wire and hide the composter. This composter is right beside my vegetable garden, so it seems to fit in).

Random Composting Tips:

Crush eggshells before adding them to the composter. They have an amazing ability to stick together because of the tough membrane on the inside of the shell. I read somewhere that you don't have to crush the eggshells - that the membrane will break down in a few days. NOT TRUE! (Egg shell membranes are actually sold as a health supplement for arthritis).

Bag your raked, dry leaves in the fall, and save to add to the composter throughout the winter. It can be harder to find the carbon (dry, brown) materials in the winter.

In the late summer, you may find the wasps getting into the composter to get at rotting fruit. It isn't recommended to place a composter near an outdoor sitting area. You can also bury the fruits and vegetables to deter wasps, and other pests.

Don't compost animal products, plants with fungal diseases, weed seeds or rhizomes.

Watching the Moon and a Fire

2010-09-26T18:14:00.008-06:00

I cancelled our satellite tv programming in July. I think it's great, but the rest of my family isn't as enthusiastic about it as I am. I really don't think any of them actually missed it this summer - winter may be different. Saturday night we had a little fire. The moon was almost full, and the passing clouds put on a good show.

The clouds look like a witch's face, with a moon for an eye.

Can you see the ghost face in the fire?

Fall Colours at McLeod Lake

2010-09-24T18:06:00.016-06:00

I decided to take in the fall colours at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park. I went to the day use area on McLeod Lake.

The lake was calm on the boat launch side.

There were quite a few fishing, boating and sailing today.

I stopped to talk to a few people fishing, just as a woman pulled in a rainbow trout. She didn't want to be in the picture. When she brought the fish in, it snapped up and landed on my camera case.

First Day of Fall

2010-09-22T21:05:00.016-06:00

The Sakwatamau and Pumphouse trails were busy on such a beautiful fall evening. We passed people walking their dogs, and even one family walking with their two cats.

Not far off the path are many different fungi growing on the trees.

Walking down the path to Beaver Creek.

Whitecourt Mountain

2010-09-18T19:10:00.025-06:00

Last night we went up to the Whitecourt Mountain Natural Area. I wanted to see the sun set from up there. It's one of the few spots around Whitecourt that you actually see a flat horizon.

View of Whitecourt and the area west of Whitecourt, from the top of the mountain.

The setting sun on the fall forest colours made everything glow like it was on fire.

Whitecourt Riverboat Park

2010-09-17T21:05:00.023-06:00

Where the Rivers Meet

I spent a lot of time outdoors today. My daughter and I went to Riverboat Park. (No school today!)

There's a play structure, some swings, picnic tables and fire pits - And of course the boat launch.

View of the McLeod River from Riverboat Park

While we were having fun at the park, my son and his friend were raking neighbours' leaves. They're trying to make money to buy new BMX bikes next year. I don't understand how a bike can cost more than my first car.

Crabapple Cake

2010-09-15T21:17:00.009-06:00

I've been looking for recipes for crabapples. I tried a crabapple bread last year that was too crumbly. I made a crabapple cake today. It turned out really nice - moist and flavourful. It's great served a little warm with ice cream.

Here is the recipe:

2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups finely chopped crabapples (skin on, seeds removed)
3/4 cup chopped nuts or hemp seeds

Stir flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a bowl. In a large bowl, beat oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Stir in chopped crabapples (food processor works great to chop them). Gradually add the dry ingredients. Stir in nuts/hemp seeds. Pour into an oiled and lightly floured 13 x 9 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 50 - 55 minutes, or until done.

Making Crabapple Jelly

2010-09-12T20:44:00.017-06:00

What do you do with a tree full of ripe crabapples?

First, you ask your husband and children to pick a few. I decided to first make crabapple jelly. I used a combination of a few different recipes - the final recipe follows:

Ingredients

12 cups fresh crabapples

water as needed

6 cups white sugar

Directions

Remove stems and blossom ends from crabapples, and cut in half. To save lots of time, use a food processor only for a few seconds to coarsely chop them (as opposed to cutting up each one into quarters or smaller). Place them in a large stainless steel pot. Add enough water so that the water is about an inch below the top of the crabapples. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and let simmer for 20 minutes, until the apples are softened.

Strain the apple mixture through 4 layers of cheesecloth. I bought a no-name piece of cheesecloth for just over $1, unfolded it, and then folded it in half twice to make one piece - 4 layers thick. I hung the cheesecloth from a cupboard handle, tying the ends through the handle. (I placed the cheesecloth over a colander, and poured the crabapple mixture into the cheesecloth before hanging it up).

Let the crabapples strain - I find nothing much comes out after an hour. I ended up with 8 cups of juice in the end.

Discard the pulp and pour the juice into a stainless steel pot. Bring to a boil, and skim off any foam that comes to the top. Stir in the sugar until completely dissolved. Continue cooking at a low boil until the jelly is ready. To test if the jelly is set, you can put a small plate in the freezer to chill, add a teaspoon of the crabapple liquid to the plate, and then put in the freezer for one minute. If the jelly is not liquid, and more like a pudding, it has finished cooking. (There are other ways to test if it has set). If it is not ready, you will have to cook it longer (and you may have to dissolve more sugar in the mix). You shouldn't have to add pectin when making crabapple jelly, because the crabapples have lots of natural pectin. Remove from heat, and pour into sterilized jars, leaving approximately 1 cm of headspace. Process in a hot water bath to seal.

Today happened to be my wedding anniversary. I always remember because it follows 9/11. While I was making crabapple jelly, my husband was cementing around the garage. Aren't we romantic?

Enjoying the Last Days of Summer

2010-09-10T16:03:00.015-06:00

Nothing like a good swing on a nice day. My daughter stayed home from school today to get over a cold. Fresh air is the best medicine!

Sometimes the flowers look just as pretty before they bloom. This Monarda (bee balm) is a good companion plant for tomatoes and cabbage - bee balm is supposed to improve their growth and flavour, attract beneficial insects (like the little spider hiding on the left), and repel pests.

Invasion of the mushrooms?

We've had a fair amount of moisture the past few weeks. The mushrooms are loving it.

54.40 at Whitecourt Party in the Park 2010

2010-09-06T09:34:00.008-06:00

It was another great Party in the Park in Whitecourt. 54.40 put on an awesome show, while fans found clever ways to keep warm - including grasping coffee cups, cuddling with their dogs, and most importantly - dancing.

More Purple Flowers

2010-09-03T15:04:00.011-06:00

I mentioned in an earlier post my favourite flowers are purple. These are some of my favourites that grow well in Whitecourt. The above Osteospermum is a hardy annual that blooms all summer - Just be sure to dead-head the old flowers.

My Liatris bloomed late this year - Some are just starting.

I have some "peony poppies" that popped up in a few places. I haven't planted any - I don't know where the seed came from. They're fairly tall with thick stocks and lettuce-like leaves. I hope they're legal.

The Potato Lasagna Garden is a Success!

2010-08-25T21:48:00.013-06:00

In an earlier post: http://reflections-from-whitecourt.blogspot.com/2010/04/lasagna-gardening.html I described the process I used to make a "lasagna garden" from layers of coir, sheep manure, bonemeal, leaves, wood ashes, and compost, on top of wet cardboard. I prepared the garden in April, and planted potatoes there near the end of May. The hose doesn't reach far enough to the back of the yard to water this area, so I only watered during the first two weeks. Not having to weed is really a bonus. I only pulled out a few pieces of quack grass the whole season. These are the first potatoes - I will definitely do more with lasagna gardening again. As a note, the lasagna garden beneath the play structure with flowers didn't fare as well. The rain doesn't get to the plants because of the above structure. I just let the toughest plants survive. I'll have to make a conscious effort next year to only plant drought-resistant plants there.

A few more treasures from my above-ground gardens.

Spider Webs on a Dewy Morning

2010-08-22T21:40:00.013-06:00

A nice dewy morning is a great time for seeing spider webs. This is an orb web - found at the top of our swing set.

Spiders make lots of different types of webs. This web is very 3D as you can see in the next picture.

Scientists have been trying to create synthetic spider silk for uses like bullet-proof vests, surgical thread, artificial tendons... There are so many potential applications.

I took this picture at night - best time to see a spider repairing its web. This is the Jewel Spider - an orb weaver that likes to build webs outside of homes. They like to build near an outside light, to catch lots of flies. It's also called a "cat spider" because of the "cat face" on its abdomen (See picture below).

Garden Delights

2010-08-21T20:30:00.013-06:00

I was out picking some vegetables for supper. The carrots are small but taste so good! I planted lettuce and radishes a few times - this later bunch is a lot better. The weather has been a lot cooler this week - We're even burning wood tonight in the woodstove.

I planted a few strawberries this year. This is the second time they're bearing.

We've had two chipmunks hanging around. I thought they were cute until I saw one taking a strawberry. I guess he's still cute.

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

2010-08-05T22:28:00.008-06:00

My daughter and I picked Saskatoons this morning. We got quite a few in about an hour. Definitely worth the work!

We've been picking peas from our first planting the last few days. We never end up cooking any - We just prefer to eat them fresh.

Mushrooms at Hard Luck Canyon

2010-08-04T15:02:00.013-06:00

Be careful where you step when hiking around Hard Luck Canyon. We found so many different mushrooms in the area. If you have an interest in mushrooms, you'll know it's difficult to identify them with a picture alone. Although this first one is quite recognizable as a Hericium mushroom. I believe it's a "Comb Tooth" (Hericium ramosum). They're found on decaying deciduous logs. Mushrooms like this are being studied for their medicinal properties. The Hericium erinaceus may be a potential nerve growth stimulant to treat Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

This mushroom looks like one of the Clitocybes with its convex/sunken cap and funnel shape.

These last two pictures have many look-alikes, and all parts of the mushroom would need to be examined, including a spore print to identify them.

So tread lightly. The next mushroom you see could contain a cure for a debilitating illness. AND PLEASE DON'T EAT WILD MUSHROOMS UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED THEM AS EDIBLE - WITHOUT A DOUBT!

Wildflowers and Wild Berries at Hard Luck Canyon

2010-08-02T21:59:00.018-06:00

While hiking around Hard Luck Canyon, we saw lots of wild flowers and berries. Here the Police Car Moths (named after the old-style black and white police car with orange lights on top) are taking nectar from the abundant Fireweed flowers.

The Police Car Moths also like goldenrod.

Delphinium (poisonous)

Asters

On the trail to the canyon we saw lots of Canada buffalo-berry / Russet buffalo-berry (Shepherdia canadensis (L.) Nutt.) The leaves are dark green on top, and silvery on the underside.

Strawberry

At the bottom of the canyon there are tiny strawberries. Small, but so tasty.

Raspberry

Hard Luck Canyon

2010-08-02T13:56:00.014-06:00

My family and I went to check out the recent upgrades to the Hard Luck Canyon site. (See the new bridge at the top of this photo). Unfortunately there wasn't a drop of water running down the wall this visit.

New interpretive trail map in the parking lot.

Here is another view of the bridge from the top. There are guard rails around most of the top of the cliff.

A nice place to stop and have a rest or picnic.

To get to the bottom of the canyon, the old pathway with a guide rope is still there. Here we are going back up to the top after hiking, geocaching and looking around.

New stairway.

I was amazed to see so many different mushrooms and fungi. (More on that in another post). We found two geocaches on our visit and picked up a bag full of cans and garbage. For info. on getting to Hard Luck Canyon, please visit my earlier post: http://reflections-from-whitecourt.blogspot.com/2009/05/hard-luck-falls.html

Bluejays

2010-07-31T20:27:00.011-06:00

We have a family of bluejays that have been feeding together in the back yard. Sometimes there will be four of them on the ground at the same time, taking some spilled sunflower seeds.

This one seemed to be getting insects from our pine tree.

Hailstorm

2010-07-29T21:21:00.014-06:00

We had a pretty intense hailstorm following a hot day today. That's my son's hand holding a good-sized one. (He sure has beautiful hands!)

Hailstorm July 29, 2010 in Whitecourt (looking out to my front yard)

Wild Berries

2010-07-23T22:43:00.007-06:00

My daughter and I went for a walk today to see how the wild saskatoons and raspberries were doing. Only a few saskatoons were ready. Many have been pecked by the birds. We saw a few finches eating the berries, but I wasn't quick enough to get a picture.

Did you know? Eating 100 grams of raw saskatoon berries gives you over 100% of your daily required riboflavin, 67% of required biotin, and 70% of required manganese.

Nothing beats the taste of wild raspberries.

After a Good Rain

2010-07-23T11:44:00.008-06:00

We had another thunderstorm and a long rain last night. Just when things start to dry out, we've managed to get rain this year.

This is my first planting of peas. They grow so well in Whitecourt. I planted more three weeks ago, and the latest ones are already 5 inches high.

Blue and Purple Flowers in the Garden

2010-07-20T19:23:00.010-06:00

I didn't do much with flowers this year. But I try to have a lot of blue and purple flowers - my favourite. The Bachelor Buttons are blooming everywhere.

Verbena

Potato Flower

Mayday!

2010-07-13T20:58:00.007-06:00

We had a pretty heavy rain and winds last night and today. Part of my favourite Mayday tree came down late this afternoon.

Nature's way of pruning I guess. I'm glad there weren't any bird nests in that part.

We just returned from a holiday a few days ago, and the grass was very dry. After a few days of rain, it's looking a lot greener now.

Thunderstorm at Sunset

2010-06-28T22:43:00.021-06:00

The sky was pretty spectacular as a thundercloud moved over Whitecourt at sunset. It only lasted a few minutes, but we had a nice show. I managed to get a few pictures from the front yard before the rain came.

This was looking out from the back porch as the storm passed.

Swallowtail Butterfly

2010-06-16T13:09:00.013-06:00

The lilacs are blooming and attracting these pretty butterflies.

Flower Buds in the Garden

2010-06-04T22:34:00.011-06:00

Chives in the garden are pretty, and discourage aphids. They taste great too!

The peony buds secrete a sugary liquid and are covered with ants.

Wildflowers on Sakwatamau Trail

2010-05-28T15:00:00.016-06:00

I went for a walk on the trail behind my home today. It was cool and windy - didn't even hit 10 degrees Celsius today. But once I was in the forest and out of the wind, it was peaceful and calm. I saw this beautiful Purple Clematis in bloom just off the trail. It's a woody vine - native to Alberta, and was trailing along the forest floor and had climbed up and around some other branches.

As a note, I was reading up on this wildflower and found out that it is poisonous - It contains protoam (a poison that causes respiratory paralysis). Just one more reason not to pick wildflowers!!!

Another Lasagna Garden

2010-05-24T16:56:00.010-06:00

The space below the kids' play structure was just dirt and some grass that didn't do well. I prepared the area for another lasagna garden.

I put down cardboard and thick newspapers first (wet). I then covered with a thick layer of peat moss and leaf litter from last year.

I added a layer of mushroom compost, more leaf litter, and the top layer was a mixed topsoil/compost/peat moss mixture that I bought. I planted a package of mixed flower seeds (hummingbird garden) and transplanted a few small pansies and violas.

In another part of the back yard, the raspberries are coming up nicely. (Snowball - the neighbour's kitten is checking them out).

Good Day to Bake

2010-05-21T20:55:00.018-06:00

Looking out from my Front Yard

I finished planting my vegetable garden yesterday - Wanted to get it done before the rain and snow came. (Last year the snowstorm came on May 19th).

View from the Back Deck

It was a good day to catch up on some housework and bake. Here's a recipe for chocolate chip cookies - I try to make the usual recipes a little more healthy. These are delicious - My kids love them.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup softened butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups unbleached flour (or 1 1/2 cups unbleached and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp Himalayan rock salt

3/4 package dark chocolate chips

3/4 cups hemp seeds

Cream together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually blend into the butter mixture. Add a little more flour if the mixture is too wet. Stir in chocolate chips and hemp seeds. Drop dough by the tablespoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.

Cherry Blossoms

2010-05-12T20:43:00.018-06:00

It's starting to feel like summer. The cherry trees are in bloom. This one in the back yard blooms so early - the leaves are just starting to come out.

The beautiful Mayday tree in the front yard is in full leaf and just bloomed also.

I planted some lettuce, spinach and some radishes yesterday. I can't wait to get out there again and do some more planting.

Groat Creek

2010-05-08T16:34:00.007-06:00

My family went to Groat Creek today to try geocaching for the first time. I got a new eTrex Legend HCx for my birthday yesterday. We found GC19WJ5. Please visit http://www.geocaching.com/ for info on geocaching. There are a lot of caches in the Whitecourt area. The kids were looking forward to finding a "treasure" - although this cache only contained a log book.

The Groat Creek park area is a nice place to stop and have a lunch or look around at the creek and rocks. There is an area with a few picnic tables and cooking firepits.

My daughter likes to look for pretty rocks, and my son and his friend had fun exploring - although they did have to be told to stay away from the ice a few times.

The Groat Creek day use area is about 10 miles outside of Whitecourt on Highway 32 (or 9.56 miles from my house according to my eTrex).

More Signs of Spring

2010-04-27T14:25:00.018-06:00

My daughter and I went for a walk yesterday and saw these beautiful flowers from a Box Elder tree.

Perennials are popping up everywhere, including these lilies.

The ice is breaking up on Lesser Slave Lake (picture taken April 24, 2010).

Earth Day Tribute

2010-04-22T21:31:00.015-06:00

Thought I'd put together some of my pictures and make a slideshow to commemorate Earth Day.

"Nature Through the Seasons" Slideshow

For a higher resolution slideshow, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbl3dXfLxis.

Lasagna Gardening

2010-04-17T21:21:00.020-06:00

Several years ago my mother-in-law gave me a book on Lasagna Gardening - a no-till system of gardening using layers of natural elements. I hadn't tried a true lasagna garden until now. There is a lot of information on the internet about lasagna gardening - You can use what you have available in your area.

The first step is to choose a site, paying attention to the available sunlight throughout the day, and what you would like to grow.

We have several gardens, but never enough room to grow everything I want. We used to live on an acreage and had unlimited garden space. It's more challenging living within a town. I chose a low spot that's in an unused part of the yard - at the back and out of sight. The ground was sunken since it's close to a ravine, so I added some fill (from an area that was dug out last year to make a patio) to even out the base and raise it so it will get better drainage.

The first layer is either a thick layer of newspapers or cardboard (soaked in water).

The next recommended layer is peat moss. I used coir - a substitute for peat moss that comes from coconut shells. Coir is considered a good alternative because it doesn't cause the environmental damage from peat mining - and it deters snails. Coir from Mexico is also supposed to have a beneficial fungi which controls against other harmful fungi.

I realized I would need to contain the garden from spilling out, so I just used some old wood and bricks I had in the yard. I layed landscape fabric beneath the wood and bricks to deter weeds. Obviously if you're making a garden that is more visible, you'll want to make a neater border.

Next I added a layer of sheep manure. Even though my daughter thought it was gross, she wanted to help, and insisted on helping spread the manure. I also sprinkled some bonemeal on top at this point.

Next, I added a thick layer of old leaves from last fall, and sprinkled a layer of wood ashes from the wood stove on top.

I added another layer of coir and some compost from my composter on top.

I watered the garden well and then covered it with black landscape fabric weighed down with bricks. This will help the garden to "cook" and further prepare it for planting.

I think my next garden will be an area for more raspberries.

Beautiful Spring Day

2010-04-16T19:33:00.010-06:00

In the last few days, we've had very warm temperatures. The grass is starting to turn green, and many of the trees are budding. The aspen poplars are filled with fuzzy catkins.

The squirrels are stealing seed from the bird feeders as usual. This one seemed to be standing guard for a long time at the feeder, while the Pine Grosbeaks tried to feed.

The neighbour's cat Boots (a.k.a. "The King") was enjoying his naps on our deck again.

And I started making a "Lasagna Garden" in the back yard. I didn't get finished, but will go through the steps in my next post.

Memorial Point at Sunrise

2010-04-07T07:41:00.018-06:00

This morning, I was up early enough to see the sun rise. Just a few blocks from my home is the "Memorial Point" monument. This metal tree monument honours Woodlands County residents who have lost their lives while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces, police, fire and ambulance services. Each bronze leaf represents a life lost.

Memorial Point can be found at the top of the stairs connecting Sakwatamau Drive with Highway 43 below.

Sun Setting Through the Mayday Tree

2010-04-06T21:48:00.021-06:00

I have a huge tree in my front yard - I believe it's a Mayday tree. It's one of the first trees in the neighbourhood to come to life in the spring. The branches are still bare, but it does look kind of pretty against the sunset.

This is what it will look like in early summer (picture taken June 2, 2009). It really is one of the most beautiful trees I've seen.

Tulips and Soccer

2010-04-01T16:04:00.011-06:00

In the last two days, my tulips and a few perennial ferns have popped up. These tulips are in the front yard. I have yet to see them flower - the deer always get to them first. Maybe this year will be different.

While I was looking at flowers, my daughter was playing with the neighbour's cat. We found out he likes to play soccer.