by Suzanne Stengl | Sep 19, 2023 | Nature
This past weekend, we visited old friends in Edmonton. Before returning to Calgary, we spent some time walking in the Emily Murphy Park. At first, we could not find the road that led into the park, so we flagged down a car and asked for help. A friendly Edmontonian not only gave us directions but led us to the park entrance!
peaceful river
In much of Alberta, the wind is carrying smoke from the wildfires into the cities.
North Saskatchewan River . . . and smoky skies
quiet path
fall foliage
We are having a most enjoyable autumn this year. Usually there is snow by now. But, this year, the days are warm, the trees are holding on to their leaves, and the season is extended!
by Suzanne Stengl | Jun 7, 2022 | Miscellaneous Moments
On Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, we attended the Show N Shine in Three Hills, Alberta.
This event is hosted annually for auto enthusiasts. (And spouses of auto enthusiasts.) Apparently, it is the largest of its kind in Western Canada.
On the Friday night of this event, a parade (cruise) of classic cars and trucks—as well as motorcycles and hot rods—proceeds down Three Hill’s Main Street, and then to the little town of Trochu, and back again to Three Hills.
Saturday is the “Show N Shine” event.
Parked along Main Street and along First Avenue SE, the vehicles are polished, photographed and admired. This 1960 Chev Impala has mirrors in the hood to reflect the perfectly clean engine.
I don’t know anything about old cars, except that many of them look like pieces of art that you drive.
This Firebird in the next photo is similar to the one Isabelle drives in ON THE WAY TO A WEDDING.
Did I say they were shiny?
This is not a classic car. It’s a tiny home. The company that builds these had this one at the event and let us look inside. This four-season home is well-insulated and incredibly spacious, with beautiful workmanship.
VedaHawk Tiny Homes
In town, there is a fair-like atmosphere with retailers selling memorabilia, and local charities selling a variety of fast foods like burgers and hot dogs and ice cream.
example of fast food back in the day, and 1970 Chevelle
There are also drag races at the local airport on Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday night, we had dinner at the Harvest House Restaurant. Good thing we made reservations!
This year, like all years, the weather cooperated, giving us a mix of sun and cloud, and a pleasant temperature for wandering among the classic cars. We were told that the weekend has never been rained out. I think we were lucky this year, because it was raining on Sunday morning when we left to go back to the city, so the show just missed the rain.
spring blossoms on Main Street, Three Hills
Have you ever attended a “Show N Shine”?
by Suzanne Stengl | Dec 12, 2021 | Christmas
I’ve always wanted to make an outdoor Christmas arrangement of evergreens and I finally did.
This is a first effort and a “learn-as-you-go” sort of thing for me. I did try to research what to do—and I found many approaches. At any rate, I didn’t have much of a plan and I just went with it.
I guess you can use many types of foundation for your arrangement. Some sites suggested soil; some suggested floral foam taped on top of the soil; some suggested rice husks because they are good at absorbing water. I didn’t have time to find rice husks. Or floral foam. So, I went with one of the flower pots from last summer that had held chrysanthemums. There didn’t seem to be quite enough soil, so I dumped another flower pot on top. I’m in Canada, so the soil was frozen. Of course.
I heated some water and dumped that on the frozen soil. That helped, but this was a lot of frozen soil, so I brought the pot in the house overnight. I probably should have had it in the house for several nights to really let it thaw, and next time I’ll do that.
Anyway, the next day, it seemed thawed (it wasn’t, not quite) but I was excited to do this project. I had my pine cones and berries, which I’d found at Michael’s and some other places. I’m always buying stuff like this and never finding the time to actually make anything.
It’s late in the season, so I had trouble locating evergreens. I finally found some spruce at Lowe’s. And then some cedar and pine at the Safeway. We have pruning shears in the garage, so I gave each evergreen piece a fresh cut.
One of the websites suggested putting the spruce at the outer perimeter of the arrangement. Another site said to use it as a centrepiece. I only had one piece of spruce, so it became the centrepiece. Then I tucked the cedar and pine in around that, starting with the larger pieces and filling out things with the smaller pieces.
The embellishments came last. (I don’t know if pine cones and holly are called “embellishments” but that’s what they’re called in scrapbooking projects, and I do understand scrapbooking—if not, floral arrangements.
After that, I soaked the pot with water, and I hoped the evergreen pieces would not loosen and tip over. It looked quite festive when I finished.
And now it’s snowing. I wonder if this will withstand a Canadian winter?
Next morning’s update
The snow has added its own embellishments and the arrangement seems to be sturdy enough.
Have you ever made an outdoor Christmas arrangement?
How about an indoor one?
Or, like Emily and Noelle in A WEDDING AND A WHITE CHRISTMAS, do you love playing with scissors and glue?
Whatever your craft preferences, I hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Tea kettle from Bigstockphoto.com #434638226
Note: it really is spelled “centrepiece” in Canadian. 😊
by Suzanne Stengl | Sep 30, 2021 | Nature
After a long summer of wildfires and too many days that were 30+ Celsius, it’s soothing to take a walk around town in the cooler days of autumn.
We parked by the river in Kensington and then walked the loop to Sunnyside and back.
“Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods.”
– William Wordsworth.
The Peace Bridge
“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”
— Emily Bronte
“As for marigolds, poppies, hollyhocks, and valorous sunflowers, we shall never have a garden without them, both for their own sake, and for the sake of old-fashioned folks, who used to love them.”
– Henry Ward Beecher
the beautiful Bow River
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” — Albert Camus
We finished our walk with lattes at the the Espresso Café.
I think Anon says it best:
“If you don’t like fall, you can leaf me alone.”
Maple leaves from canstockphoto2523415
by Suzanne Stengl | Sep 21, 2021 | Nature
Earlier this month, Rolf and I hiked to Boom Lake. We’ve done this trip several times over the years. I wrote about one trip here. Since the last time we did the trail, this new boardwalk has been added.
Clear blue skies today!
Lots of wildflowers along the trail. This is Bunchberry Dogwood.
To the west, Mount Quadra . . .
. . . and to east, the “boom” – where an old moraine touches the surface of the water in a crescent to catch driftwood floating past, as if it were a lumber boom.
Here I am at the lake.
The sparkling waters of Boom Lake!
This is a favourite September hike. We had perfect weather and finished off the day with dinner in Banff. Can’t ask for more!
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