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).

Sing another prairie tune #2

Impressionistic buffalo. Click the photo for large and stand back from your computer screen to view.
Impressionistic Buffalo. I have been influenced by the Impressionistic photos of "Uncommon Depth" .. google it.. my browser is tied up.

July 26 - Kelliher - Leross
While the guys had coffee I wandered around The Junction in the perfect morning light and found so many wonderful Prairie Tunes to record.

Sing another prairie tune

On July 24 after arriving at Don and Debbie's we decide to go out for dinner at Lakeshore. Nice upscale restraurant. Don and Debbie are renovating their home and doing a fine job of it. Looks very nice.
On July 25 we have a leisurely morning with breakfast/brunch at the Husky. Visit with Albert K. Don drives us about a bit.. no photo stops. Its another very hot day. We get back and all go for naps or breaks. Don, Pat and I go out to Silton about 4:00 to arrive 5-ish. This is to be a surprise party for Albert and Audrey B.'s 40th wedding anniversary. We are suppose to hide our cars on the side streets of Silton... oh yeah right, and go into the hall to await their arrival at 6:00. There is dinner, cake, pictures and visiting. Pat and Don were both in the wedding party. After the dinner we go back to Regina before the dancing starts. The sunset photos are from Silton. My party photos did not turn out at all. More talking of old times when we are back. Don goes out to The Junction where people he knows from the Kelliher Leross area meet for coffee every Sunday morning. Pat joins the guys for coffee and I manage to spend some quality time with my camera. .. more of this morning to follow.

At home today: I have frozen 4 1/2 more jars of yellow plum sauce. I picked 48 plums, peeled and pitted them. Boiled them with 1/2 cup of sugar for about 5 minutes to kill any bacteria. I then put them in the jars, cool them and freeze them. We enjoy this sauce with ice cream or frozen yogurt, over little strawberry cake cups, on pancakes.

Saskatoon to Regina, Saskatchewan

Overlooking the railroad tracks at Imperial, Sask.
a canola field. I rather like this one and think I might call it Prairie Tapestry.
Regina skyline -- don't recall what street we came in to the city, on.
A fire hydrant and bell at Lumsden. This will be one for my web page album Fire hydrants if I ever get them finished and loaded.
This firetruck was on display in Lumsden
Lumsden valley
Lumsden valley
Lumsden valley
close up of a thistle
This is the railroad tracks at Imperial. I don't think these tracks are used now. I have a souvenier spike from this old track.
Distant cows
An old empty farm house. It doesn't actually look that old to me.
On July 22nd we had breakfast with Gerry and Bev, unplugged and headed down to Regina. We gassed up in Saskatoon (we keep a log of mileage between fill ups and the cost, in the van, so I don't record prices in my travel journal.) We have a lunch stop by the old elevator in Imperial .. the elevator photo was a bad compostion, so not included. However, the old train tracks and beyond afforded a few good shots. We got to Lumsden and took a bit of a drive about the town. It has grown so much since I was there, years ago. Its a very picturesque spot. My photos do not do it justice. We shopped for a few groceries, then phone Dan and Carol about our arrival time. They have taken a couple of days off work!! After dumping our tanks at the Husky we get to their place. Have a scrumptious dinner and good visit. Tyler comes over. We are plugged in and get to sleep in our Dodge Lodge later.

At home today, I managed to get a bit more of the cleaning done, and a lot of playing on the new site, as well tweaking these few photos. Some one Pat knows has asked for information on our Danube cruise. I sent him a link to the album on my web page. Man, what a lot of stuff on there. I forgot that I had done all that! Its a really good travelogue for the Danube Cruise! The photos are the largest size I could use on that Adobe Photoshop template. If I knew more I could change that. I really should get more things finished on my page! Can't seem to find the time or inclination. The page is quite archaic and takes so much time to make the albums and upload them.