These five photos were taken on 15 September 2023, when I went to the Saskatoon Farm to buy vegetables and fruit. Afterwards, I did a quick drive SE of the city, without seeing very much, other than our beautiful rolling hills and distant mountains.
At the moment, the farm has a large bag of mixed vegetables that you choose yourself, for $21. I haven't been able to get to the Farm very often this year, so it was good to be able to go this time. Their bright and cheery Sunflowers are always a welcome sight at this time of the year. Bees love them and, this time, I spotted an Alfalfa (?) Looper Moth as well.
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Five photos taken on three different days, 15, 18 and 19 September 2023. The two images posted from 19 September have been added just so that I could create an album as a record of a short birding walk I did in Fish Creek Park. After barely walking the last two years, I have finally started to do an occasional walk - only short walks, but important to do.
I only managed the first half of the walk on 19 September, and that was enough. Good to see a few friends, though. Two photos of the Bow River and an extremely distant shot of a Belted Kingfisher, were all I took. I had intended posting the only photo I took of the Kingfisher, just as a record, but it was an awful photo that I was unable to improve, even slightly.
The photo of one of my absolute favourite barns was taken on 18 September 2023, on the way home from a long day's drive SE of Calgary. I was happy to revisit a small ghost town, despite the wildfire smoke and strong winds.
The remaining two photos (Dahlia and pumpkins) were taken on a quick visit to the Saskatoon Farm on 15 September.
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Five photos taken on three different days, 15, 18 and 19 September 2023. The two images posted from 19 September have been added just so that I could create an album as a record of a short birding walk I did in Fish Creek Park. After barely walking the last two years, I have finally started to do an occasional walk - only short walks, but important to do.
I only managed the first half of the walk on 19 September, and that was enough. Good to see a few friends, though. Two photos of the Bow River and an extremely distant shot of a Belted Kingfisher, were all I took. I had intended posting the only photo I took of the Kingfisher, just as a record, but it was an awful photo that I was unable to improve, even slightly.
The photo of one of my absolute favourite barns was taken on 18 September 2023, on the way home from a long day's drive SE of Calgary. I was happy to revisit a small ghost town, despite the wildfire smoke and strong winds.
The remaining two photos (Dahlia and pumpkins) were taken on a quick visit to the Saskatoon Farm on 15 September.
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On 18 September 2023, the weather forecast was pretty good, though the mention of wind did concern me a little. However, as time is running out for making long drives, I decided to take the risk. Shortly after leaving home and just out of the city limits, I could see smoke haze hiding the distant hills. I was so tempted to turn around and return home, but instead chose to continue.
Most of my driving was on the main roads, in order to get to my destination as quickljy as possible. The total drive of 473 km took me eight and a half hours, between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm. Much as I would have loved to check out a few back roads, I knew I absolutely had to get home before the light started fading. The wind was strong and stirred up all the dust from the roads and fields and made it a real challenge to take photos. All my images were taken from inside my car and, even then, the rocking motion made things more difficult.
The small ghost town, that I was so keen to revisit yet again, had to be seen from my car, because it was too windy to walk, which was a shame. Fortunately, I have photos taken from a couple of previous visits. If I remember correctly, this was my third visit - the others were in July 2020 and August 2022.
Once I reached the ghost town, I was the only person there. It is only a small place with a handful of old buildings, but very nicely kept. One of its main buildings is a small, country United Church, kept in great condition both inside and out. I had read online beforehand that people can go inside the church and sign their Guest Book, otherwise I probably would not have gone in. Really like the door knobs to the front door. The link below gives a very interesting, detailed history, including an old photo of the church in 1980, before restoration. I would love to have seen it back then.
www.facebook.com/LethbridgeHistoricalSociety/posts/retlaw...
As well as the old ghost town, I also wanted to check on a favourite abandoned house - simple, old and leaning. It was a relief to find that it was still standing.
From there, I took more or less the same route home, Too late in the season for wildflowers. Very few birds to be seen, too, though I did see four hawks that were too far to photograph. Fortunately, I still had a little gas left in the gas tank by the time I reached home. Always a concern when I do a long drive.
Despite the strong wind and the smoke haze, it was a good day. SInce then, we have had a tiny bit of rain, and I noticed that the golden leaves are already falling.
Tags: Alberta Canada SE of Calgary on the way to Retlaw building two wooden old barn house homestead field grass tree countryside rural rural scene outdoor summer 18 September 2023 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2023 © All Rights Reserved
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Four of these five photos were taken on 15 September 2023, when I went to the Saskatoon Farm to buy vegetables and fruit. Afterwards, I did a quick drive SE of the city, without seeing very much, other than our beautiful rolling hills and distant mountains.
At the moment, the farm has a large bag of mixed vegetables that you choose yourself, for $21. I haven't been able to get to the Farm very often this year, so it was good to be able to go this time. Their bright and cheery Sunflowers are always a welcome sight at this time of the year. Bees love them and, this time, I spotted an Alfalfa (?) Looper Moth as well. The amazing Artichoke plants in bloom are so spectacular.
There were so many domestic bunnies in the greenhouse enclosure. These three little black-and-white ones decided to snuggle up behind an old wagon wheel.
Tags: Alberta Canada SE of Calgary The Saskatoon Farm animal domestic rabbit small bunny black and white three hiding old wagon wheel spokes indoor greenhouse enclosure summer 15 September 2023 Canon SX60 Canon SX60 Powershot annkelliott Anne Elliott © Anne Elliott 2023 © All Rights Reserved
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