January Blaaas

We have had quite the run of cold weather! Too cold to walk the dog. Too cold to go ice fishing. Too cold to even do some wild life photography. I mean it has been COLD! The offer to trade places with you folks in the deep south US of A, the Caribbean, etc is still open for negotiations.

As a result, I got to browsing some of my old, favourite shots. Bare with me as I really like how the moose and Brooklyn co-existed. Brooklyn was 90 pounds, so figure out the moose size.It's too bad that people can not get along like this.

Another favourite are the three horses being released to pasture in the spring. Now why would that be a fav? Spring maybe has somthing to do with it, I think.

Alternate Paths

Today was a nice warm day and I was planning on going ice fishing when a better offer showed up. A friend with two slightly overweight horses was looking for someone to go for a ride. It was hard to say "no"to so I agreed. Monty was a 10 year old horse that might have been difficult. Instead, she turned out to be very well behaved, backing with leg pressure, turning and spinning with indirect rein. The only time I used the bit was to hold her back on the hills when it was very icy. We rode for an hour and a half through the trails in the woods. Surprisingly, I was able to get off and walk normally! We were going to go further but the hills ahead of us were too slippery. A quiet return home was the better idea

Thanks Michelle! It was fun

Now I have a few pictures taken during the -32C  session.

Once Again it is Time...

Time to say "Goodbye"  to another year  and also to wish all my friends out there in Blog Land a very Happy New Year!  Yes, I know it is early by quite a few hours, but I plan on being in bed and asleep by 9:00 pm (9;30 at the latest).

So all I can say is Happy New Year 2018 and

THE END
to 2017

On the way to coffee this morning, I went by the toboggan hill and did not see any kids sliding, even though it is a Saturday and the tail end of the school Christmas break. I do not  understand this!
Kids these days must be getting soft.

On the way home, my tires were squarish, but I managed to get back OK.

Excess Energy in the Cold!

When it's too cold to go outside, Mad Max and Daphne make their own fun!

Two fingers should bigify it.

A Sunny Afternoon at the River

There was one lone duck, a Common Goldeneye female that was swimming in some open water on the Athabasca. Either she was a late hatch, injured or just reluctant to go south, I don't know. She has a few tough months ahead of her.

This big Mule Deer was just standing, munching on some grass and enjoying the sun shine. Oh, yeah, he was keeping an eye on his harem, three of them.

This was the only doe that was co-operative.

Bush Walk

It was a very windy day, too windy for ice fishing, so I took Daphne on a 4 mile walk, looking for some critters. Even in the bush it was blowing. That let out seeing deer, moose or elk. They were all hunkered down someplace. The Bohemian Waxwings were very co-operative.

 There were three Pine Grosbeaks, fluffed up and trying to stay warm The Male,2 photos below, were exceptionally fluffy.

The female Pine Grosbeak was a little more "normal".

Just in case you were wondering what its like taking photos in Whitecourt, this is the sun at high noon. The light is only good from 10:00 am to about 2:30. Otherwise it is a challenge to get a good picture.

Ice Fishing Plus...Day 2

Another gorgeous day in the frozen North. It was actually +3C with no wind. A perfect day for ice fishing. There were about 18 folks on the lake, all enjoying the outdoors. I caught the most fish (2) and I think only two others were caught. 

Rainbow Trout are delicious! I plan on a bunch of home made fries to go along with it.

It wouldn't be a good day without some bird pictures.I present some Pine Grosbeaks eating berries

 They are regular little pigs!

Then of course to round it out is a Bohemian Waxwing competing for the berries.

A Day on Carson Lake

 It started out as a bright , sunny day, just right for some ice fishing. I drilled the allowed holes and set two lines baited with maggots. Yecht!

 Carson Lake is part of the Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park. They stock the lake with about 5000? Rainbow Trout each year. The trout show up in a tanker trailer and are pumped into the lake.

There was some worry about whether the ice was thick enough yet. It was and remind me to get new blades for the auger. There was about 12 inches of ice over 25 feet of water where I was fishing.

My trusty sidekick enjoyed the day out and was very well behaved. Daphne tended to lie in the shelter of my pail/chair and my back pack out of the wind. Speaking of wind, it started to blow about 30 miles/hour right down the lake becoming very miserable.

We didn't catch any fish and after about 3 hours of blowing snow, we packed it up. I figure on trying again Thursday.

Two Partridge or Roughed Grouse showed up on the way home and co-operated even though the light was not ideal. Still, it was  a good outing.

How to Wear a Dog Out!

A guy could walk the dog, but better yet, let another dog wear her out before the walk.Percy is a young Golden Retriever and just as stubborn as Daphne, a Rough Collie.

They performed for about 30 minutes before they mutually wore out.

Bad November!

It has probably been the coldest November on record! It has snowed, frozen us out and even rained! Of course, the rain froze on contact which made driving and walking miserable for a few days.

The Athabasca River froze early this year and jammed up quite well. There is still lots of water flowing under the ice, and the current would make it very treacherous to walk on.

Above is a back flow area on the Athabasca. Below is the Groat Creek camping area along Hwy 32 South

Excitement? What's that? I have been watching lots of television and walking my 4 miles per day with the dog.We did get a new 58 inch TV to make things more view able. Any body got some favourite Netflix movies? We have exhausted all the Christian movies and a bunch of Golden Oldies.

Think Warm!

My Friend Hairy

A quite morning in the bush looking for Mr. Big Whitetail resulted in a sneak on this Hairy Woodpecker

 He was not bothered by me at all!

The light snow falling did not bother him at all.

He was quite happy picking grubs out of the tree. He was very successful at the task. As for me, I need to find a deer spot off the mountain due to the almost knee deep snow.

Out For a Short Walk

Not much doing today. I took the dog for a walk, ran her ragged at the Dog Park then wandered down the river trail. There were lots of Mule Deer hanging around, so I took a few portraits.

 Please, not when I am eating!

 I thought I saw a dog. Nope,

 

Two of My All Time Favourites

Due to the fact that I have not managed to get out with the camera today, I dug out two of my favourite Red Fox photos

Unfortunately, They are not from this year. Next year I will visit the den earlier.

Leave of Absense

Besides playing with Daphnie and friend Percy, I have been busy about the house.

Percy is a one year old Golden Retriever that gets along famously with Daphnie, to the point where they will play tug-of-war for quite some time, neither of them willing to give up.

I installed new hardwood floors in the living area. It looks good, but just about killed my knees. Every joint is glued.

 

 The old carpet was removed and hauled to the dump with my SUV. Sometimes I miss the truck!

 

Yep, It"s Monday, Again!

What's it to you?

 
Just another day in the feeder!

In the Yard Today

With the temperatures below freezing most nights now, and the highs just above freezing, the birds are showing up in swarms

At times we need an air traffic controller.