Headed West

As the sun was setting, the boys and I headed west.  Well ... first we headed west, then we headed north!  Not that it matters!  The important thing is we enjoyed a beautiful sunset while driving down a prairie road!

Afternoon Delight!

The sky, a perfect empty canvas, offers clouds nonetheless.  They shift and drift and beg interpretation... such is the nature of art.  

~Jeb Dickerson

WOW!  Another beautiful mild, January day!  Yes, that still seems like such an oxymoron to me!  However, if Mother Nature is going to dole out sunshine and warm temperatures, I guess we might as well enjoy them!  March and April are still to come!  

Winter Eh?

So here we are ... January 29, 2012.  Did I mention in Alberta, Canada?  With the crazy warm weather we've been having one might not believe it's Alberta, Canada!  Yes, we have a bit of snow on the ground but we enjoyed another above freezing day.  In fact, I believe we reached 5C and the remainder of the week is supposed to be above freezing as well!  If that stays true ... we certainly won't have much for snow come week's end.  Winter eh?

Just a Spec of Moonlight

The clouds are rolling tonight!  Shifting quickly across the skyline, one can catch a glimpse of the stars and moon one minute, and the next they are gone ...

Behind the Grey

It was overcast and grey all day!  BUT, every once in awhile, behind all that grey, the sun made the odd attempt of burning through the cloud cover.  Well, it had some success, late this afternoon ... just enough that I could capture a silhouette of some of the trees!

A Touch of Frost

We ... meaning my boys and I, are still holding out for a big dump of snow ... the kind that falls as big. fluffy flakes.  However, frost is always a nice addition to a drab winter scene!  

Those Northern Lights!

Fortunately for me, my slumber was disrupted by our dogs needing to escape to the great outdoors very early this morning!  Initially not paying attention to the "GLOW" outside, I came back in ... just to realize that the northern lights were putting on a show!  With that, I grabbed my snow pants, jacket, boots, mitts and toque and dashed outside with my camera!  The northern lights (aurora borealis) are such an amazing phenomena!!!  And with that, just as the height of the show drew closer ... the clouds rolled in!!  

The Hunter!

Meet 'Missy-Mouse,' our small, rather senior, ... but fierce mouser!!  Always on the hunt, this lil' tabby cat loves to snuggle up on the couch in her down time.  However, despite her little frame, this 'hunter' brings home as many gophers as she does mice!  Unfortunately for the mice ... in her world ... they are always in season!  

Five O'Clock Delight

The sky will forever amaze me and it's great when you can end the day by taking in a January sunset!  Definitely today's 'five o'clock delight!'

A Little R & R ...

Sunday ... and a much warmer Sunday!  Considering we had -45 C temperatures earlier in the week, the -2 C temperature we experienced today, felt like a heat wave!!!  With such a beautiful day bearing down on us, we spent the day with our boys just having some fun!  We finally have enough snow (barely) that the old '78 Enticer and the early 80's vintage BR250 can conquer the prairie fields!

Rose Hips in January

It was a busy day ... a 'let's clean the house and get some order back' day!  Hahaha!  Yes, I realize I live in a house full of boys but sometimes a girl has to put her foot down!  Thank goodness the weather cooperated with me ... not that it was miserable out.  In fact, it has warmed up significantly from mid week.  However, it was overcast and lightly snowing, which made for a great day to be inside!!!  After cracking the whip for several hours, the boys escaped for some fun on their snowmobiles and I escaped with my camera ... only to find a stash of rose hips yet to be plucked from their winter branches!

Pigeons, Pigeons and More Pigeons

There is certainly no shortage of pigeons around here.  Yes, you can find them around the shop, out at the bins and certainly out at the corrals.  However, usually there is enough 'other' birds to overshadow the pigeon's presence.  Unfortunately, with the extreme cold the last few days ... those 'other' birds seem to disappear, leaving the likes of pigeons, pigeons and yes, ... more pigeons everywhere!  

FRESH ...

... Air that is!  It was a beautiful sunny day, here in Central Alberta.  However, we still had a wind chill warning in effect this morning.  With that being said, you could certainly see one's breath!  And while feeding the horses, there was no shortage of steamy noses inhaling some 'fresh winter air!'

Brr ....

Let's just say my fingers, no matter what kind of mitts or gloves I wear, do not function very well in -45C temperatures!  So with that in mind, all I managed to snap for a photo today was the sun setting!  The weather man still has a wind chill warning out for us tonight.  Hopefully this arctic air moves on and we return to more seasonal temperatures.  

Stone Cold!

I think this is how every bird felt today.  And certainly, anything outside is going to feel 'stone cold' after tonight.  We are supposed to reach a low temperature of -38C but combined with wind that low could feel anywhere from -40 to -50C.  With these temperatures, my camera and I are quite content staying close to home!  

Arctic Air Arrival

Well, we started the day off with -30C temperatures and our power being out for about 7 hours!  And as evening approaches and the clouds clear off we are back to -30C temperatures!  However, the 'Weather Man' has also posted a Wind Chill Warning!  Yes, we are supposed to reach wind chills of below -40C tonight and tomorrow night!  Stay warm and stay safe everyone!  Brrr ... it's cold out there!  

Windswept ...

When there is nothing else to do on a very cold, windswept prairie day ...

... Take to the ice!  Yes, the arctic air has landed!  It is currently sitting at -23C.  Top that with the windchill it feels like -32C!  Thank goodness the wind went down!

Progressive Prairie Gem!

When you drive across the prairie, one can still find old hip roof barns and you can still find old 'water pumping' windmills!  However, it is NOT very often you find the combination of the two!  In fact, I have never found that combination, with the exception of this little prairie gem!  This is my absolute favourite little barn!!!  Progressive for their time ... indoor plumbing in their barn!  I am guessing this is likely an early 1900's vintage barn with it's AERMOTOR Windmill.  The Chicago Aermotor Works dominated the world windmill market.  So with that being said ... this really is a progressive "prairie gem!"  

Along the Antique Trail ...

Year to year, season to season ... I just love this truck!  It has character and stories to tell!  And with a cold front bearing down on us, I think I should've rolled up the windows!  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  

The Old Corral

Another grey day ... but certainly a bit warmer!  While out checking on the critters I walked past the old corral.  Most of it still standing and some of it, desperately in need of repair!  However, these old corral boards have certainly embraced the weather over the years.  Then again, the cattle have in turn, certainly welcomed these old corral boards, especially during inclement weather!  

Olive is That You?

It's been awhile since I was able to capture you on camera Olive!  We've seen you when I don't have my camera in tow.  We hear you in the night ... but alas, I spotted you on this crisp evening!  No ... I guess we will never be 100% sure you are our 'Olive' ... but we like to think you are!  If you don't know who 'Olive' is check out my post back on Sept 21/2011.

Cold Snap ...

... Or maybe I should say 'cold SLAP!'  Having reached +10 C again yesterday, Mother Nature definitely slapped us with some reality today!  A fast moving storm system moved in with a few snow flakes but was blown out of here as fast as it arrived!  Apparently, Mother Nature felt the need to turn off that 'southern' heat and opened the doors and let the gale force winds blow in from the the northwest ... straight off the polar ice caps I'm sure!  I guess she was 'airing' us out and continues to do so.  With the 40km/h winds continuing to howl through the night, our windchill temperatures are to reach -26 C (thats an awfully big temperature fluctuation from +10C).  Let me just say ... "Brrrrrrrr!"