What does a Canadian Do in Texas?

Why, go on an African Safari, of Course!

The above picture is that of my eldest son and 2 of the grandkids

This one is that of the grandkids out of the Monkey Cage. (They appear to have escaped!)

 I have no idea what this is!

 Horney in more than one way

 Lots of cute deer

 Feeding the EMUs and Ostriches is risky. They look like they can be mean and also peck hard 

 A baby calf being  (spoiled) cuddled in the petting zoo

Mean looking!

 Can you guess what this is?

Here is a clue

They had lots and lots of Giraffes

All in all, it was a very good trip and a lot easier than going to Africa!

Back from the Warm South (Texas)

Our winter vacation took place in Houston Texas this year when we went to visit our oldest son and family. We missed out on a week of -35C weather and enjoyed shorts and sandals time.

The highlights were family visitations, both on the way down with our youngest son and family and with our oldest and his.

In Texas we drove over to an African safari Place and enjoyed watching wildlife uncaged. We were the ones in the cage, our car, for our own protection!

The trip had a lot of high lights such as some very good dining and watching Andrew, Ta`Lana, and Graeme train for their roller blade completions, and also hearing about Camryn`s acceptance into the University of Ottawa on a Rugby scholarship.

There is too much for one post, so I will keep this short, and will swamp everybody with details in the future ones.

Stay warm, everybody. It was -31C with a windchill of -41C this morning!

Cold Day on the River!

A few ducks over winter on the River. I haven't come across many this year. Here is a female  Common Goldeneye that decided to be a northerner. She was staying in the current and letting the new formed ice flow around her. There is enough current here that the river stays open.

A Warm Day and a Chance to Get Out

The temperature went all the way up to +5c or  about 40F. I grabbed the dog and camera and took a long walk, It was very nice not to have 3 layer on, a toque, hoody and two pair of gloves!

Even the Athabasca River looked warm, but not quite ready for swimming.

 The Mule Deer were enjoying some sunshine along the park boundaries

Just a Mulie Mamma and this years fawn

Finally they eased off into the woods

Pretty Quiet in the Frozen North

I have been having fun preparing and uploading photos to my home town, Kenora. Here is one you don't see often. This was way back in the 1880 to 1904 era. The name of Kenora was then Rat Portage

 As you can see from this Mule Deer, we have a Lot of snow!

The bird feeders have been occupied by Pine Grosbeaks

And lots of Blue Jays, all pluffed up trying to stay warm

It Is Done!

After about 3 months of work, I declare it done! It started as a rough carved block of Tupelo Gum.

After the feathers were carved in, they were detailed with a wood burning tool

The body started to look not bad after a month or so of burning

Here it is carved, burnt and sealed

The final product, an American Wigeon!

Happy, Happy, Happy!

 Happy New Year to All Out in Blogland!

And an end to 2018!

Welcome to 2019, a new beginning!

Winter on the Athabasca River

Today was a nice sunny day after two weeks of bad weather. It was time to take Daphne, my camera, and me and go for a walk. I had been down this access road during the summer, but never in the winter. The walking was good! The temperature was mild at -8C or 17.6F for you non bilingual folks. I followed the road about a mile and a half, hoping to see some wildlife. There were lots of tracks, but no critters.

The road came to the river. There was lots of ice floating down with the current. This part of the river never seems to freeze completely.

 Here is more ice floating down along with some shore freeze.

About 2 miles down, I came to an Indigenous Peoples ceremonial site. I must be politically correct and not use the Indian word, even though most of thenatives that I know refer to it themselves.

 We are coming up on the shortest day of the year and here is the sun behind the trees at high noon!

 I stopped following the road at this point because the river was rising and the water was flooding up where the road was. The slush was about a foot deep.

Here is another picture of the ceremonial site. It is being used as there is fresh wood cut and the snow has been cleared. That's all for today. 5 miles of walking and now time for a nap!

You all stay warm!

Remembering the Acreage

I was poking through some photos and found this one of Tucker, my first horse. She left us at 28 years. She is still on the Acreage, the place she really liked

This fellow came back for 4 years straight. He must have liked my fence post!

Riding with the hounds. There was only Boots and Brooklyn on this trip. Sometimes I had upwards of 10 dogs along. The neighbours dogs seemed to know when I was saddling up and joined in. After 5 hours of riding on the mountain, their butts were dragging

Life Goes On

I just noticed that it has been 3 weeks since my last posting. I wish I could say that things have been too busy around here, but alas, not the case.

It was hunting season and I got out 4 times. I saw 6 deer. 3 were Mule deer and I didn't have a draw. The others were a doe Whitetail and two fawns. I didn't want to in effect kill 3 deer, so I passed

The weather has been miserable, with everything, from rain, to snow, to a mixture and black ice. Not much fun being outdoors in that!

I did spend some time carving in my man cave in the garage. I got this American Wigeon to the paint stage after 3 months. Another month and I may have it finished.

In the meantime, Life Goes On!

Out for a Drive

I came across this immature bald eagle watching a deer carcass. I was hoping he would come down, or fly, but no such luck.

 He was blended in quite well and I didn't see him at first.

 A very regal bird, but still a scavenger.

Also there were lots of Blue Jays

 And a Downey Woodpecker

 The Athabasca River is making ice at a good rate

 The Magpies were settling for left overs.