Between the trees

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all Americans today, whatever part of the world they may be living in. Our Canadian Thanksgiving was on 13 October 2014. We have so much to be thankful for, even when times are tough.

On 18 September 2014, I finally managed, for the first time this year, to get out to the mountains as far as Forgetmenot Pond - really an on the spur of the moment decision. The weather called for some sun and some cloud, which sounded good. After the two heavy snowfalls on 9 and 10 September, I wasn't sure what to expect before I reached the beginning of the mountains, but every bit of snow had disappeared. It's just a short walk around the pond - this view is from about half way. On a sunny, calm day, the reflections are beautiful, but, as you can tell, I got the grey clouds when I was there : )

Forgetmenot Pond is the only mountain drive I will do on my own and it's one of my favourite places. It only takes about an hour to get from home to the Pond, so makes a very pleasant half-day drive. The bridge over the river, just before Allen Bill Pond, has now been repaired. The high banks of the river had been totally washed away during Alberta's Flood of the Century in 2013.

On the return drive, I called in at a place not far from Forgetmenot Pond, where I have found a few mushrooms in previous years, and managed to find several that were in just about good enough condition to photograph. Other than that, I didn't see a whole lot during the few hours I was out. The scenery is spectacular, of course, and there were patches of trees that had turned yellow. Some of the trees looked as though their leaves were past their fall prime, and I came away wondering if I was a bit too early or a bit too late to see the best of the fall colours.

The final place I called in at was Maclean Pond, but the light was fading somewhat and so I didn't feel like going far into the forest. I had just got back into my car when I happened to look up just in time to see a family of beautiful Blue Jays not far from the parking lot. Managed to get a few shots, but they are distant and not as sharp as they should have been. A nice way to end the day, though.

It snowed here yesterday evening, fortunately only a small amount. I had a volunteer shift and then had a couple of places to go to afterwards and then I had to drive home in it. By that time, it was dark outside. Every time I stopped at traffic lights, the large, falling clusters of snowflakes looked so pretty against the street lights. I feel differently this morning, knowing that I will have to clear my car of settled snow before I drop my car off, ready to get snow tires put on tomorrow. More snow forecast for tonight, tomorrow and Saturday (when the temperature gets down to -18C (windchill -24C). After that, it looks like we should be getting some sunny, milder days, which would be wonderful.