Goodnight September ...

As the moon rises over the eastern horizon, we bid farewell to September, 2012!  

Wow, did that month ever go by quickly!  

Goodnight Sweet, Sweet September!

Under the Harvest Moon!

I love documenting 'life' through my lens, especially when there is a harvest moon and a dramatic sky!  

Greater White-Fronted Geese

Forgive me ... late with another post!  I have no excuse, other than my wool blanket, my cat 'Clara,' and the couch have called my name at about the same time I usually post my blog!  Pure laziness on my part!  However, here it is ... a flock of Greater White-Fronted Geese (Anser albifrons).  Cousins to the Canada Geese, they migrate through Alberta, usually in flocks with their cousins!  Lately, these slightly smaller geese have been enjoying 'feeding' in our pea stubble!

Oh ... and some good news for me, I have some photos published!  Check out the Carseland Connection, a community newspaper in southern Alberta (http://carselandconnection.net), as they utilized my Old School House photos for their September issue and I think there will be some harvest photos in their October issue.  The Carseland Connection can also be found on Facebook!

Mr. Moose ... The Younger Version

For a girl who has always 'loved' moose, I'm rather fortunate to see them fairly often!  And knowing the 'boys' are about and it's rutting season, I am certain there will be a bit of a battle over the ladies!

Waiting on the Flax

Yup, I'm certain we are likely the last one's in our neck of the prairies to still be in 'harvest' mode ... with the exception of those growing 'flax.'  And seeing that our flax is still not ready for the bin, the combine will wait.

A Duck ... Or Two!

With Fall Migration in full 'wing,' there is always something to see and hear in the sky!  This evening, there were no shortage of ducks on hand for viewing!  

Oh Those Trembling Aspens ...

Populus tremuloides

In my mind, there is nothing prettier than a grove of Trembling Aspen in the Fall!  

Papa Moose!

Ahhhh ... meet Papa Moose!  This is the 3rd year in a row that I've spotted this handsome looking lad!  Judging by his size I would say he definitely 'rules' these parts!  

Quackers for the First Day of Fall

Judging by these ladies taking a calm 'paddle' in our dugout, so called 'Fall' might have arrived in the form of an 'Indian Summer!'  Although the colours throughout the landscape say 'Fall' is here, the temperatures are certainly still those of summer.  I won't complain.

Summer's Final Eve ...

As the geese head south and the sun sets, summer is put to sleep.  

Fall officially arrives at 8:50am today.  

Good-bye summer ... 

Into the Night ...

A Tragic Goodbye ...

Having to say good bye to animal who has been a part of your world for so long is one thing but tragically having them taken away, is definitely another.  My mare, known as 'Spritz' appears to have been mauled and killed by a cougar.  Not the way you want your beloved horses life to end.  I had raised 'Spritz' out of my Mom's mare, broke her, trained her and have had her in my world for almost 23 yrs.  She was a damn fine horse, who had character and quirks.  She had the kindest eyes and the most beautiful flaxen mane and tail I have ever seen.  I can't even begin to add up the hours we spent together through the years ... a girl loves her horse and she was definitely mine!  It was an honour to have had her in my world for as long as I did, yet definitely not ready to say 'good-bye.'  They say 'horses lend us the wings we lack.'  Spritz you gave me wings daily ... till we meet again my friend ... ❤

Feathered Remains ...

The shallow sloughs no longer hold water.  The earth is dry and filled with deep cracks.  The scattered remains of feathers are found here and there.  A simple sign that says, there was 'life' not too long ago!  As the final days of summer are whittled away, the evidence of a season coming to an end surrounds us...

Slowly But Surely ...

Sorry ... another late post, and late it is!  BUT, the field peas are done and we are in the middle of our canola!  I still think my favourite time for harvest is at night!  I love hearing the hum of combines and grain trucks across the landscape and seeing the lights working off in the distance.  It gives you the satisfaction that you know you are not working alone!  

You Can't Beat a Prairie Sunset!

People might complain about the 'flat-land,' stating that its dull, 

there's nothing to see for miles.  Trust me, never judge a book by it's cover!!!!!

As 'Wives Tale' Go ...

Trees loaded with berries may ... and I do say 'may' indicate that a bad winter is in the forecast!  Hmm ... some swear by it and others, not so much!  All I know is all of Mountain Ash trees are LOADED!  I guess there will definitely be some berries for the birds!  

Birds of a Feather ...

Indeed Flock Together!

My sidekick 'Sam,' (my trusty old hound) and I startled what sounded like a thousand black birds this morning on our way back into the yard!  Although there were not thousands, it was certainly a substantial sized flock (I should've had a wide angled lens on!).  Definitely a sign that Autumn is creeping ever closer!  After circling above, a few of them settled back into the trees!  Have a great weekend everyone!  

As The Sun Set ...

On this beautiful evening, I headed down to retrieve my 2 lil' farm boys!  They were helping their Dad take off another hopper of peas!  I love the view we have from the big hill in this field.  You can see for miles!  After another hopper was emptied into the grain truck, my other 'farm boy' decided to 'call it a night!'  So for now, the combine will rest.  However, it won't rest for long!

Life is a Highway

Indeed it is!  And now that Autumn is around the corner and the kids are back in school, it would appear that a bit of 'our life' will be spent travelling on this highway to and from various 'after school' activities!  At least there's not much traffic to contend with!  LOL!

The Great 'Gather' Has Begun!

Although it is not officially 'autumn or fall' until the 22nd of September, the fall migration of migratory birds has definitely begun!  Everywhere, you can see and hear small and mid-sized flocks of geese gathering about the countryside!  It won't belong before the large flocks start arriving or passing over!  With our pea crop on our home-half off, we might have a 'few' geese flying overhead these days!  This lil' flock flew in from our big slough!  Perhaps it's 'Mama and Papa' goose along with their young?

Fast Moving Clouds

At one point, earlier in the day, it was actually clear, sunny and fairly warm!   BUT oh, how those clouds rolled in quickly this afternoon!  The weatherman said they would arrive and indeed they did.  Along with the wind ... oh that miserable wind, and the rain! Well, the skies have cleared off again but it is CRISP outside!  We are sitting at 5C and I am wondering if it is going to be a bit 'frosty' tomorrow morning!  I guess at this stage, it's only a matter of time before 'Jack Frost' does pay us a visit!

The '53 Chevy!

I didn't want to subject you to yet another combine/harvest picture ... at least not today.  But between the field and home and not much in between, it's sometimes hard to 'switch' things up a bit.  However, I did have to run for parts this afternoon (please don't ask!) and the boys favourite conversation piece south of us is still there!  Yes, not only does Long Lake still have water in it (always a bonus at this time of year) but the 1953 Chevy is still holding up the fence.  Well, perhaps 'holding up' is not the right term ... the fence is looking a little tired!

On the Combine ...

After breaking down a couple of times this past week, I am happy to say, 'she's a runner!'  Yes, the mechanic was back out yesterday and fixed her up again.  However, the combine is now purring like a kitten and my husband is back in the saddle ... on the combine!  The peas close to home are done and we've moved on to the next field. 

Morning Hawk!

I love early mornings in rural Alberta, especially during late summer!  The air is crisp and cool, the smell is sweet yet 'aged' and along the fence posts sit hawks!!!!  And what's not to love about hawks??  These beauties won't be here for much longer.  Many of them, like so many other birds, will begin making their voyage south!  I've come to realize that is what I don't like about winter ... no birds (well, not as many!).

Prairie Crops and Prairie Clouds!

Brrrr ... it was only 3C this morning (it's definitely only a matter of time before we have a 'frosty' morning)!!!  However, the warmth of the sun returned along with that amazing prairie sky!  I love watching golden crops sway in the breeze against that magnificent big blue sky and clouds!  Oh those wonderful clouds!

Rusty Roses and Naked Trees?

How Can That Be?

Hmm ... Fall was certainly in the air today!  Crisp, cool and at times a bit wet!  And although the rain put a damper on harvest it was actually nice to have the wee bit of rain that we did!  Alas, our combine would not have been field ready today anyhow!  LOL!

It's on these cooler September days that one really notices that summer is disappearing rapidly!  The leaves on the rose bushes have turned rusty orange, yellow and red.  The rose hips are plump and vibrant and some of the aspens, depending on their location, have yes, already lost their leaves and are naked!!!  Although the forecast is for a bit of cloud, the sun and heat are supposed to return by the weekend.  The combine was fixed and running by the end of the day so, fingers crossed, we will be back in the field very soon!