Life’s Sweet Ordinary — through my lens

Invigorating: giving strength or energy to
 

Canada Geese in Spring near Valhalla, Alberta. Copyright © Diane Schuller. All Rights Reserved

Yes, that is the best word to describe my weekend. There are two reasons why it was invigorating: I spent the weekend with people and interacting with them plus I was able to get away from the farm and being tied down by the dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I love the dogs but because of them I can’t go anywhere unless my husband is home to take care of them. As for the former reason, a reminder that I often go weeks (very literally) without seeing another human being. So, this weekend was fantastic! Saturday I was in Grande Prairie all day attending a workshop where I also led a session on goal-setting for writers. Sunday I spent several hours driving through the spring countryside heading north of Grimshaw to meet a woman for a writing consult. We spent a few hours together talking about writing projects and I helped get her started on setting writing goals as well as other writing-related discussion.

Spring calves, northern Alberta. Copyright © Diane M. Schuller. All Rights Reserved

Just being around people, interacting with them, plus the time away from the farm was so invigorating. What invigorates you?

An optimist is the human personification of spring.  ~Susan J. Bissonette

Canada Geese, Trumpeter Swans, and a wide range of ducks on frozen ice here in Alberta. Copyright © Diane Schuller. All Rights Reserved.

... notice the Northern Pintails in flight. Copyright © Diane Schuller. All Rights Reserved.

I see the beauty there within you. Do you see it in yourself? It’s right there.

I’m a tad late posting a photo for you to use as wallpaper. This month I’ve waffled about what two to offer you and hope you find the two soft ones I chose to your liking; they’re yours to use and to freshen your days. You are welcome to send others here as well to share in the soft backdrop as most of you are already well into spring (even if we aren’t there yet ). Right click to save it and then add it as your wallpaper.

A gentle reminder: these wallpaper images each month are being made available for personal use only. They are not to be used for commercial purposes.

May you have a weekend filled with joy, laughter, and don’t forget to take some photographs!

PS: Two upcoming blog posts next week will cover tips on photographing dogs (applies to kids too) plus a post on what book helped me make the most improvement in my photography skills.

Flirt's "Fantasy Island": with light lemon icing & smothered in coconut

I promised more cupcakes from Flirt plus I thought I’d also share a few thoughts on spring north of 55.

In the blog world and on Flickr photos, everyone has been posting scads of photos indicative of their individual signs of spring — and for quite a while. They include bare streets!! (I wish), grass, budding leaves (what!), and flowers (you have got to be kidding, right!). As you can tell from my comments (hoping my humour is coming through!), we aren’t anywhere close to any of those so I thought it was high time I share the reality of living north of 55. You see, even though we had plenty of snow on the ground already, a huge blizzard raged in last week that added to the snowfall but it was the winds that caused drifts as high as 5 and 6 feet — that is NO April Fool’s joke.

We still have a few feet of snow on the ground, not a single tree is anywhere close to opening buds, let alone the perennials that are still buried beneath the snow and frozen in the solid earth. Yes, the first crows returned a few days ago and the Canada Geese are apt to arrive in the next week or two. But nesting — not a chance for quite some time yet. We’re beginning to get forecasts of days that will be above zero (single digits) but that doesn’t mean warm overnight temperatures. In fact, it’s uncommon to plant our gardens prior to the third week in May. Even at that we still get overnight frosts and need to protect our young seedlings or tender bedding plants after planting in May. There are a few exceptions to this but that’s primarily people who live in the city. It’s always warmer in the city because of the heat from the buildings and paved streets, not to mention that they don’t get the same effects from the blowing snow in winter (so snow melts sooner in the cities and towns).

Hansa shrub in my backyard before last week's storm -- now it's barely visible

Thanks to our neighbour, we no longer have to trudge through the deep snow or don our snowshoes to take our dogs for a walk down our driveway (our driveway to the back is approximately the length of two city blocks). On Sunday he nearly got his huge 8-wheel tractor stuck when he attempted to go through some of the deeper drifts but what a relief to be able to go outside and actually walk upright like normal people. You have no idea what a relief that is rather than slogging through deep snow trying to make new tracks each day. Needless to say we are incredibly grateful when he comes by!

getting plowed out -- but earlier in the winter before the heavy snowfalls!

All that said, there truly is hope for spring! It appears we are right at an important turning point. Hopefully from now on, the days will be warm enough to melt the snow and eventually thaw the ground. Spring is in sight even if it’s not actually here! I soon hope to begin reporting on the true signs of spring up here, north of 55.

Partly because I have finally found the ideal site for posting a-photo-a-day photoblog but also because I have so many other responsibilities (not to mention several dog walks each day ), I’m falling behind.

I’ll be unavailable all day tomorrow and, as usual, I seldom go on the computer over the weekend. So I wanted to wish everyone an enjoyable weekend. May you have fun times with family and friends and may you be rejuvenated in whatever you do.

For those who have asked, my new photoblog is going to be a permanent installment but I must admit it’s much easier than blogging because I can post several photos in advance and it automatically posts them without me even being on the computer — talk about convenience! So, I will continue with this blog though my time spent blogging may be less than it has been. (I’ve also had a lot of Internet problems lately — very slow and lots of crashes.)

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

PS: For those who are interested in checking out this great photoblog community or perhaps in starting your own photoblog, visit Aminus3. I love the format and that it has specifically been created to showcase photographs.

Today is when the world stands together, in the light, to see what we thought we’d never see, and when we all unite behind the new President of the United States of America. Perfection does not come easily or by wishing, but when everyone stands together, positive change occurs.

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery