Trip to the Prairies

this is a canola oil pump.  :-))

We camped in the Kikomun Creek provincial, park on our way back home, and were right at the shore of Lake Koocanusa. 

One of the jpeg snaps of the Hoo Doos in the Red River Valley just out of Drumheller, Alta.  It hardly ever rains here, but on the last two trips through Drumheller we had rain.  The clouds lend a nice backdrop to the Hoo Doos.

This is to show our campy wine glasses. They go perfectly with the decor.   We eat pretty good in the camper van.  We try to get an early entry to the campgrounds so as to be more sure of getting a spot.  This gives us time to settle down from the driving and prepare a good meal.  I usually finish the dishes and have time to check for sunsets or any photo opportunities before nightfall.

We have been home from our trip for a week.  I have managed to get the laundry finished, mowed the lawn, and did a bit of garden weeding and pruning.  Watered the house and deck plants last Saturday, so they will need food and water tomorrow.  The garden needs more weeding and watering, but it is looking not too bad.  I had to add water to the pond, of course.  I had the waterfall pump unplugged, but the evaporation took the level down about a foot.  While viewing the pond, I was surprised to see that I actually still have some big fish left in there.  I have at least 3 of the big old ones, and more than a dozen little gold ones... two of which are white.  Earlier this Spring, I bought 4 new ones, as I thought I had no fish left, that the predators had got them all.  It seems they were just not ready to come to the top... too cold.  We have had a very cool Spring and Summer, so far, and I am glad of it.  East of the Rockies they are having a very bad heat wave. 

I have been spending time reading as well.  And I seem to need to catch up on my sleep.  The Model T Fords meet was held at Pincher Creek.  It was very windy and I got quite a lot of sun the first day out.  We toured the area for a week.  Later in the week it was cooler and so there was only the wind to contend with.  Nevertheless, it was a good time, even though the car did not run perfectly. 

I filled the humming bird feeder and have noticed that we have a little rufous hummer, as well as the larger anna's.  My hummingbird and butterfly plants on the deck are doing fine.  The only butterfly I have seen on them so far is a white one.  I did see a dragon fly and a swallowtail butterfly in the back garden, though.  We have lots of the little wall lizards, and the brown bunnies do seem to be multiplying.  I can see no damage in my garden from deer or bunnies, though.  I picked up a pamphlet on dragon flies, as I seem to be finding a few to photo on our trip.  I am presently tweaking photos from the trip, of friends, to send out in email.  I have some RAW photos taken with my new camera.  Even the jpeg's from that camera have more data.  But I still like the S3 IS for its light weight and the ease of shooting.  I will have to find a good longer telephoto for my Rebel, if I am going to start carrying it around... maybe one where my filters will fit.  (58 mm).