Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: I think

Happy 4th July to all Americans, everywhere! On 3 July 2015, four of us were lucky enough to visit and botanize the farm belonging to Meghan Vesey and Kwesi Haizel. This 53 acre farm, Akesi Farm, is a 90 minute drive from downtown Calgary and is near the town of Sundre, NW of Calgary. It is permaculture based with future crops of eggs, mushrooms, fruits and nuts! Hard to believe that this beautiful place has only belonged to this young, hardworking, enthusiastic couple since November 2014. A tremendous amount of work, thought and planning has already gone into adding to what was already there, with a little help from family and friends. Meghan walked with us to show us the different parts of the acreage - forest and grassland. Everything seen was listed, including plants, birds, fungi, insects, animals and so on. This list will then be given to Meghan and Kwesi, along with any photos taken while we were there for the day. We are always happy to visit someone's land and compile a very detailed list of our findings for them. It's always a win/win situation - we enjoy what we are doing and love to explore a new location, and the owner ends up with a record of what was found on their property. There are several wooden buildings on their property, including this large, fine barn which I had been longing to see. As you can see from this photo, the weather was beautiful, though still much too hot for me. Having been out on several outdoor trips recently in very hot weather, as well as being home in a place that felt like an oven, I really was not feeling all that great yesterday and perhaps did a bit too much walking. I do have to also mention that we had the company of their three gorgeous dogs and one cat. As for the cat, she followed us when we were walking around one of the ponds near the house, obviously hunting for "something". At one point, she disappeared a short way up one of the trees, only to come flying out of it a few seconds later. Judging by her behaviour afterwards, I suspected she had been stung in the eye by one of the bees and, sure enough, that's what had happened, poor thing. We were treated royally when we sat down outside to thoroughly enjoy and appreciate a delicious lunch of different salads and goodies - and cold lemonade that was more than welcome! Thank you so much, Meghan, Kwesi and Meghan's mother, Maurita, for all the work you put into preparing this feast for us - most generous! We all wish you the very best with your endeavours. With such hard work and obvious enthusiasm, I'm sure you will do well. On the way back to Calgary, we stopped and walked down to the Elkton Bog. I had been there before, maybe a couple of times. We wanted to see how wet or dry the area was, at the same time seeing a few plants including carnivorous Sundew and Cotton Grass. I knew I would be so disappointed if I hadn't gone and the others had seen Sundew. This little toad was seen - I think it's a Western Toad. This walk on extremely uneven ground (and very wet in many places) finished me off for the day - I was utterly, totally, completely exhausted!!

These are my maternal Grandparents, George Frederick Neal and Emma Neal (nee Billingsley). In a very quick search on Google just now, the address for the Hotel in the background is 29 & 31 Terminus Road, Eastbourne, Sussex, England. Need to look up more information on my Grandparents later - will be out all morning. George Frederick Neal: - Born on 14th November 1868 at Court 16, Weaman Street, Birmingham, England. - His parents were Edward and Elizabeth Neal. He was baptized at St. Mary, Whitnall (sp?) Street, on 13th December 1868. - He married Emma Billingsley on 27th December 1890 at St. James, Edmonton, Middlesex, England. - He died on 30 December 1945 at 2 South Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, England. - Emma Neal died on 27 February 1946 at 2 South Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, England. They had at least 8 children: 1. George Edward ("Ted"), born 24 November 1891 2. Rowland Arthur ("Arthur"), born 21 July 1898, died 1988 3. Gordon Ernest, born 17 October 1901, in Malaya. He married Jane Gregson in 1938. Died c.1974. Children are Valerie (who married Roderick Taylor) and Stephen (who married Elena) 4. Edna Dorothy ("Dolly"), born 27 March 1904, in Malaya (?) Died 1986 5. Leslie c.1906, in Malaya (?) 6. Beatrice Adelaide ("Billie"), born 14 August 1908, in Malaya (?). She married Frederick William Gregson (my Uncle Mick) in 1931. Died 1995. They had one child, Tony, who died from a hole-in-the-heart when maybe around 21 years of age 7. Clement Roger ("Dick"), born April-September 1913, in Malaya (?). He married Edith M. Wariner (or Warriner?) in 1936. 8. Vera Kathleen, MY MOTHER, born 8 May 1914 at 65, Thornbury Road, Handsworth, and was registered in June 1914. Baptized on 20 November 1915 at St. Mary, Kulala Lumpur, Malaya. She married Tom Carden Bassindale at St. John's Church, Polegate, England on 4 June 1938. Died December 1998 In the early 1920s, the family lived at 67, Bluff Road, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. George Frederick Neal was Master at Arms, Federated Malay States Police Force. There is a fascinating connection with William Somerset Maugham's short story, "The Letter", which was also made into a movie, starring Bette Davis. My maternal Grandfather was the person who examined the gun that was used in the real life shooting. This shooting incident caused a sensation in Malaya. viweb.freehosting.net/proudlock.htm en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_Proudlock_case

Looking a little like velvet, I think this fungus is some kind of polypore. Taken at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park on September 17th.

I was going to call these Orchids, but then wasn't sure if that is what they are. Growing in the new Enmax Conservatory at the Calgary Zoo. Whatever they are, they are very attractive. Later: I think this is Yellow Ground Orchid, Spathoglottis plicata.