Category Archives: nature

nature, Photography

Cloudscapes

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I enjoyed watching these cloud layers unfold themselves.

Capricious and swirling, they were never the same from one moment to the next, a sometimes very human characteristic.

Given the frequency with which we describe weather as moody, angry or brilliant, we should perhaps change how our weather forecasts are expressed: “wear your coat, it’s angry today” or “bring along the sunscreen; it’s brilliant today.”

Might be a problem for Environment Canada, though.

Happy Sunday.

Commentary, nature, Photography

Morning Walk

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I took stock of the deciduous trees while crunching through yesterday’s lovely leaf-strewn morning walk. The ash, maple and aspen trees are for the most part taking their rest now and the tamaracks aren’t far behind. Many others are still mostly green but are inevitably tilting toward yellow.

These are cottonwoods.

While living in southern Alberta I grew to appreciate the cottonwoods a lot. They thrive there and provide many advantages to humans, birds and animals alike. On the prairies they drop their leaves much earlier, so it’s lovely to see them wearing their summer garb well into November.

Happy Friday.

nature, Photography

Duck Attack!

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I stopped at the ducks’ favourite spot to provide them with a nutritious treat: cooked quinoa. They loved it and me too as long as I was scattering it on the ground. I was expecting more loyalty but as it turns out they’re rather fickle!

I was quite mobbed and one duck grabbed my pant leg and hung on, definitely wanting me to single him out, but how he was going eat and hold on, I’m not sure.

I wasn’t too concerned about making sure everyone got some, although I did try to do that. These ducks are quite well fed: just as I was finishing up, someone else was arriving with a big bag of veggies cut into duck-sized bites.

These birds are definitely the town pets – make no wonder they stay year round!