Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Canadian flag

I meant to post this and the next photo yesterday, as they were seen on the drive home from our bio-blitz at the Cartwright property, on 30 June 2018. We had passed this delightful display on the way to the bio-blitz and said that we would stop on the way home, to take photos. The tractor and trailer were not far from the edge of the road - such a cheery sight. Friends and I had such a great day on 30 June 2018, travelling westward into the mountains for a bio-blitz on the 40 acres of land belonging to such a delightful family - the Cartwrights. Tonight, I decided to edit and post the remaining photos that are really just record shots, in one go, completing my documentation of this most enjoyable trip. That means that I can go back and edit and post photos from other recent trips and bio-blitzes, as I have fallen way behind. There were about a dozen family members who were there to join us on our bio-blitz, which was great. Each of the adult brothers and sisters live elsewhere, but share this precious land and return whenever they want some good old nature therapy and family time - even weddings! After spending a few hours strolling through their forest and exploring their wetland, I can completely understand why they love returning to this precious spot. Not only are all these siblings such friendly, welcoming people, the family has also generously placed this huge area into a trust, to make sure that it is forever left the way it is. "Property was acquired by parents 50 years ago (1968?). An easement was placed on the land preventing any family member from disposing of their 'share', thus disallowing the fragmentation of this biologically rich area." Information from Gus Yaki. Coffee and baked goodies were waiting for us on arrival - what a treat! Later in the walk, more coffee and goodies were waiting at a spot just before a long, wooden boardwalk. When I say boardwalk, I mean it was just one plank wide, with water and bog on either side. I do not have good balance and I immediately regretted attempting this, ha. Every single, tiny, slow step was taken with great care, I can assure you, and I was amazed that I didn't fall in. Two members of the family, Michael Glaser and Courtney Lawson, have made a documentary about conservation in Southern Alberta. Clear-cutting of the forest is a huge concern - we saw evidence of this on our drive to the Cartwright's property. This is one of two short films to be shown by CPAWS on 4 July at Cardell Theatre in Calgary. They will be followed by a panel discussion with local experts and conservationists. Tickets have to be reserved. (Added later: I went with a friend to see these two videos this evening. Beautifully filmed and very interesting. A lot of information to make one really think and be concerned.) This film was selected to be shown on Feb. 24 2018 at the Central Alberta Film Festival in Red Deer. www.eventbrite.ca/e/documentary-double-feature-with-cpaws... "In Alberta, public lands in the foothills are being clearcut at a rate faster than they can recover with little opportunity for public input or understanding. Forests, Fins & Footprints is a community-funded documentation of clearcutting in the Ghost Valley — a watershed located just upstream of Calgary, on the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Wondering how to make a difference, we asked for answers from environmentalists, biologists, geologists, and people who live and work on the land. How does clearcutting affect an area's water, landscape, and wildlife, as well as the people living in that watershed? How will clearcut forestry impact the future? And how can we as a society move forward more thoughtfully?” Taken from the link below. www.forestsfinsfootprints.com/ It is always puzzling to me how our Naturalist leader meets so many people who live on ranches or acreages. It was a very different story two days ago, when we learned that he had offered a free bio-blitz (mind you, our bio-blitzes are always free!) at a Silent Auction : ) This family had won this "prize", and we couldn't have asked for a more appreciative group of family members to offer our help to. As always, the landowners 'win' by being given a very detailed list of every plant, etc. that is growing on their land. We also 'win' because we get to meet so many great people and see so many places that we would otherwise never get the chance to see.

I meant to post this and the next photo yesterday, as they were seen on the drive home from our bio-blitz at the Cartwright property, on 30 June 2018. We had passed this delightful display on the way to the bio-blitz and said that we would stop on the way home, to take photos. The tractor and trailer were not far from the edge of the road - such a cheery sight. Friends and I had such a great day on 30 June 2018, travelling westward into the mountains for a bio-blitz on the 40 acres of land belonging to such a delightful family - the Cartwrights. Tonight, I decided to edit and post the remaining photos that are really just record shots, in one go, completing my documentation of this most enjoyable trip. That means that I can go back and edit and post photos from other recent trips and bio-blitzes, as I have fallen way behind. There were about a dozen family members who were there to join us on our bio-blitz, which was great. Each of the adult brothers and sisters live elsewhere, but share this precious land and return whenever they want some good old nature therapy and family time - even weddings! After spending a few hours strolling through their forest and exploring their wetland, I can completely understand why they love returning to this precious spot. Not only are all these siblings such friendly, welcoming people, the family has also generously placed this huge area into a trust, to make sure that it is forever left the way it is. "Property was acquired by parents 50 years ago (1968?). An easement was placed on the land preventing any family member from disposing of their 'share', thus disallowing the fragmentation of this biologically rich area." Information from Gus Yaki. Coffee and baked goodies were waiting for us on arrival - what a treat! Later in the walk, more coffee and goodies were waiting at a spot just before a long, wooden boardwalk. When I say boardwalk, I mean it was just one plank wide, with water and bog on either side. I do not have good balance and I immediately regretted attempting this, ha. Every single, tiny, slow step was taken with great care, I can assure you, and I was amazed that I didn't fall in. Two members of the family, Michael Glaser and Courtney Lawson, have made a documentary about conservation in Southern Alberta. Clear-cutting of the forest is a huge concern - we saw evidence of this on our drive to the Cartwright's property. This is one of two short films to be shown by CPAWS on 4 July at Cardell Theatre in Calgary. They will be followed by a panel discussion with local experts and conservationists. Tickets have to be reserved. (Added later: I went with a friend to see these two videos this evening. Beautifully filmed and very interesting. A lot of information to make one really think and be concerned.) This film was selected to be shown on Feb. 24 2018 at the Central Alberta Film Festival in Red Deer. www.eventbrite.ca/e/documentary-double-feature-with-cpaws... "In Alberta, public lands in the foothills are being clearcut at a rate faster than they can recover with little opportunity for public input or understanding. Forests, Fins & Footprints is a community-funded documentation of clearcutting in the Ghost Valley — a watershed located just upstream of Calgary, on the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Wondering how to make a difference, we asked for answers from environmentalists, biologists, geologists, and people who live and work on the land. How does clearcutting affect an area's water, landscape, and wildlife, as well as the people living in that watershed? How will clearcut forestry impact the future? And how can we as a society move forward more thoughtfully?” Taken from the link below. www.forestsfinsfootprints.com/ It is always puzzling to me how our Naturalist leader meets so many people who live on ranches or acreages. It was a very different story two days ago, when we learned that he had offered a free bio-blitz (mind you, our bio-blitzes are always free!) at a Silent Auction : ) This family had won this "prize", and we couldn't have asked for a more appreciative group of family members to offer our help to. As always, the landowners 'win' by being given a very detailed list of every plant, etc. that is growing on their land. We also 'win' because we get to meet so many great people and see so many places that we would otherwise never get the chance to see.

Wishing all my fellow Canadians a really happy and SAFE Canada Day Take great care on the roads if you are going to be driving! How lucky we all are to live in a country that provides us with amazing freedom to do what we want to do and to be who we hope to be. Something to be remembered and thankful for, each and every day! A special wish and thank-you for all those Canadians who are serving our country, especially overseas! Now, if only the winters weren't so cold : ) "Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united three colonies into a single country called Canada within the British Empire. Originally called Dominion Day (French: Le Jour de la Confédération), the holiday was renamed in 1982, the year the Canada Act was passed. Canada Day observances take place throughout Canada as well as among Canadians internationally." From Wikipedia. This photo was taken on 27 June 2018, when I was at the Reader Rock Garden, looking across to the Stampede Grounds. The wind helped the flag stay unfurled, but was not helpful at all when trying to photograph the flowers.

We live in such a great and free country, which is something to be remembered and thankful for, each and every day! A special wish and thank-you for all those Canadians who are serving our country, especially overseas! This is Canada's 147th birthday - we are so young! "Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united three colonies into a single country called Canada within the British Empire. Originally called Dominion Day (French: Le Jour de la Confédération), the holiday was renamed in 1982, the year the Canada Act was passed. Canada Day observances take place throughout Canada as well as among Canadians internationally." From Wikipedia. Photo was taken on 17 August 2011. Not sure if this flag is actually standing in the Stampede Grounds, but it can be seen through the trees from the Reader Rock Garden, which is just across the road from the Grounds.

Today is Canada Day, so Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians, wherever you happen to be living around the world! This particular flag can be seen through the trees at the Reader Rock Garden - not sure if it is actually standing on the Stampede Grounds. Taken on 17 August 2011. It's going to be a hot day today, getting up to 30C this afternoon (feeling like 35C). Tomorrow, it's supposed to get up to 33C (feeling like 38C). I'm not a hot weather person! Most people in Calgary don't have air-conditioning, so you just can't get away from the heat. These hot, dry days, though, are thankfully helping to dry out a lot of the province after our Flood of the Century, but there are places that are still under water, such as a lot of High River, half an hour's drive to the south of Calgary. In that town, it could be several weeks before some of the homeowners can get back to their homes, most/all of which are going to be unfit to live in. Calgary has always been known for its sense of volunteering - this flood disaster is bringing out volunteers in an almost unbelievable way. www.flickr.com/photos/annkelliott/9183032901

Wishing all my fellow Canadians a really happy and SAFE Canada Day tomorrow and the long weekend. Take great care on the roads if you are going to be driving! How lucky we all are to live in a country that provides us with amazing freedom to do what we want to do and to be who we hope to be. Now, if only the winters weren't so cold : ) LOL, if you only knew how many photos of this flag I took late this afternoon. It was really windy out and the flag was blown in every possible way except showing the Maple Leaf! After my volunteer shift this afternoon, I decided to call in at Reader Rock Garden on my way home, as I knew there was a flag flying there. Much too windy for flower photos - the flowers blew in and out of the viewfinder - but I still took a pile of colourful shots, IF they are sharp enough. After that, I called in to see the family of five Great Horned Owls in Fish Creek Park. I don't go very often, as I'd rather give them peace and quiet (especially from photographers!!). When I eventually found them (in a different place this time), all three little ones were hanging out together on a curved branch. I did get one distant shot through the trees, but didn't want to get any closer and disturb them. Not sure if it's fit to post, but I might post it sometime. just to give you an idea of what I saw, especially for those of you who never get to see owls..

We live in such a great and free country, which is something to be remembered each and every day! A special wish and thank-you for all those Canadians who are serving our country, especially overseas! This is Canada's 142nd birthday - we are so young! Created with fd's Flickr Toys .