Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: holiday

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.

"With its merging landforms, connected ecoregions and its mild, moist, windy climate, Waterton Lakes National Park is an amazing meeting place for an abundant and diverse collection of vegetation. Despite it's small size (505 sq km) Waterton is graced with over 1000 species of vascular plants . Over half of Alberta's plant species are found in this tiny place. The park's four ecoregions - foothills parkland, montane, subalpine and alpine - embrace forty-five vegetation communities. Sixteen of these are considered significant because they are rare or fragile and threatened. Waterton also has an unusually high number of rare plants - over 175 are provincially rare (e.g. mountain lady's-slipper, pygmy poppy, mountain hollyhock), and over twenty of these are found only in the Waterton area (e.g. western wakerobin, Lewis' mock-orange, white-veined wintergreen). Over 50 species are rare in Canada (e.g. Bolander's quillwort, Lyall's scorpionweed, Brewer's monkeyflower.)" From Parks Canada website. www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/waterton/natcul/natcul1/f.aspx I was so lucky to be invited to join friends Sandy and Heide on a three-day trip to Waterton Lakes National Park, from 19-21 (inclusive) June 2015. We met up with other members of the Alberta Native Plant Council for their annual Botany Alberta weekend. Most people who attended stayed at the Crooked Creek Campground, a 5.6 km drive east of the Waterton Park Gate on Highway 5, but my friends and I stayed at the Crandell Mountain Lodge on the edge of Waterton town. The ANPC people had a list of species that they hoped to find, and they were very successful. Our stay down south overlapped the annual Waterton Wildflower Festival, but we came across very few people on our various drives and hikes. Needless to say, I was extremely fortunate to spend three days with people who are very knowledgeable about plants and many other things. This meant that I got to see many wildflower species, including several that were new to me, such as the gorgeous Mariposa Lily. It was one of the flowers that was on my mental Wish List - and there were hundreds of them to be seen! I had also never seen the spectacular Bear Grass and I was so thrilled that there were still several plants in bloom. Absolutely made my day! Our two main hikes of the weekend were the Bertha Lake Trail as far as the Bertha Falls (on 20 June), and the Crandell Lake Trail (on 21 June). Makes me smile when a described "short, easy hike" in a book or on the Internet turns into a full day of exploration along the trail, taking hours to reach the destination, though returning to the cars in a much shorter time. The wind made photographing plants a real challenge, including the beautiful Mariposa Lilies in the meadow along the Hay Barn road. Though I took plenty of photos, I wasn't sure that I would end up with any that were sharp enough. Trying to catch a quick shot when a flower is blowing in and out of the viewfinder is not easy! Unfortunately, I'm no longer able to get down and take macro shots (my lens needs to be about 4" away from the subject), so my photos have to be telemacro. I've just been trying to find a list of plant species in Waterton Park, but have so far been out of luck. I do have the book, "Wildflowers of Waterton Park" by Jacinthe Lavoie and Ian Wilson, which has an Index of Plant names, but I was hoping to find a list that I could print out. It's going to take me ages to type descriptions for the various photos I'll slowly be posting, and I will no doubt keep adding new bits and pieces over time. There is just so much information I want to add. Also, my photos of quite a few of the plants will be posted for the use of ANPC members and are, unfortunately, really poor images. Need them added to my Waterton Lakes album, so please bear with me : ) Luckily, you don't even need to look at them. Thank you so much, Sandy and Heide, for a great three-day trip in such spectacular scenery, surrounded by amazing nature. The wildflowers were top priority, but I was so happy to see insects, scenery and even a bit of wildlife that included a very distant female Grizzly with a cub from last year and two Black Bears, one of which was along the Crandell Lake trail at the same time we were there. This was my very first time ever seeing the wildflowers of Waterton - a great experience. Thanks, too, Sandy, for doing all the driving - so much appreciated by Heide and myself! Also have to thank you both for being so thoughtful as far as my limitations go (lol, I can move much better than I was expecting today!) and for your patience in allowing me to take lots of photos! Heide, you'll be glad to know that I have a bottle of water sitting by my computer - thanks for all the reminders and insistence to keep hydrated while hiking. Two other people to mention - Arnold, it was so good to see you at the meeting place. Been a long time since our paths crossed. Jerry (from Calgary), good to bump into you in Waterton, and thanks so much for telling us about various sightings and even taking us to several of the locations, despite the fact that you had just returned from a major mountain hike that day. Loved seeing the distant Loon lying in the grass at the edge of one of the wetlands. Great trip, great company! How lucky I am.

Some of my photos were looking rather colourless, so I decided to try a different setting, which increased the colour and, I think, the detail. Taken on the final day's drive with such good friends from England, Linda and Tony, on an amazing week's trip from Calgary down as far as Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons and back to Calgary via the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (my second holiday ever in about 31 years!). We discovered that the Going to the Sun Road had unfortunatey closed for roadworks just the day before - but plenty of scenery was left for us to enjoy.

Hope those of you who do celebrate Halloween (in one form or another) have a really fun and SAFE weekend. Here in Calgary, we couldn't ask for more perfect weather for all the tiny witches and goblins (and Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber look-alikes, ha) to invade the neighbourhoods : ) Keep an eye open if you are driving tomorrow evening - some of these little guys can't see too well through their masks and costumes. Stay safe! New neighbours moved in today - their dog hasn't stopped barking through the adjoining wall and it's driving me nuts!!! There is only so long that I can stand having my music or TV blaring to drown the sound .... : )

Just realized I should post this tonight, as I will be out all day tomorrow and some of you will be celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, Sunday. My good wishes would then reach you too late. Have a happy weekend anyway, everyone! Happy Columbus Day to my friends down in the US, and Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in Canada and Canadians living elsewhere. We have so much to be thankful for, even when something unfortunate comes along in our lives. We still have our freedom and comparative safety.

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..

Happy Chinese New Year to all the Chinese people living in various countries around the world as well as their own country. I almost missed out on the new Chinese New Year stamp for this year - someone posted an image a few days ago, but used an old stamp from a few years ago! When I saw it, I thought it looked too similar and so didn't bother to go and buy any. Hope no one else missed out for this reason. Fortunately, I had to call in at the Post Office yesterday to pick up a text book (that had used one of my images for the cover, yay!) and I happened to notice a picture of the 2010 New Year's stamp. When I saw that it was like this, I grabbed a few (I buy a few every year). The central design is raised in gold and is quite attractive. I always reckon the Chinese New Year stamps are some of our nicest stamps.

Yes, a very out-of-place photo to be seen on my photostream, LOL, tucked in between the flowers and the birds. I was browsing a few photos on my hard drive, deleting quite a few that I had once thought looked OK, and happened to come across this very, very old one that I had scanned ages ago. Decided to add it to my Middle and Far East Set. I know I have the definite location somewhere, but don't want to spend the time searching now - I should be getting on with the rest of my overseas Christmas letters! However, I believe I took this at The Fort (?) in Agra, India, back in 1967. We spent four days in that country en route from a short leave in England out to Borneo, where we were going to live..

To those of you who celebrate Halloween, have a fun, SAFE time tomorrow! I took this photo a year ago, thinking that maybe by the time the next Halloween rolled around, I might not have a photo of a real pumpkin to post, LOL. Sure enough, my recent Turban Squash was the closest I've come to seeing a real pumpkin. Saw this "imitation" on the doorstep of someone's house while I was walking from Stanley Park all the way to the Glenmore Dam last October.

LOL, I needed a bright red Santa after just uploading two snowy photos! This is one of my favourite Santas - he has a more Scandinavian (?) look to him. I hope he will visit you tonight, or maybe he has already climbed down your chimney or opened your front door with his magic key. Have a happy day! Thank you for your friendship!

These are two of the gifts my youngest daughter gave me last Christmas when she came from Vancouver. For SOME reason (LOL), she seems to think I'm a birder! (Actually, I'm not a birder - I'm just someone who loves nature and taking photos of anything beautiful). I love the little Smores snowman with Field Guide, binoculars and bird on his hat.

Bought this Santa many years ago from Heritage Park (a heritage village which also holds special Christmas events) in Calgary. Based on a large, plastic Pop bottle, He always adds a cheery bit of colour.

A few of my familiar snowmen who make a ring around the base of my little tree.

I've had this cheap, plug-in, electric "fire" for maybe 25 years. It gives no heat, just a glow, which I appreciate at Christmas.

My little tree is covered in a whole mixture of decorations - my favorite ones being those from my kids (of course!). A little secret, though - these decorations have remained on the tree for about eight years now - I simply carry it down to my basement and cover it with a plastic bag till it needs carrying upstairs a year later!

If I could invite you over, this little Christmas table would greet you just inside my front door. Nothing fancy, but you would be welcome.

For those of you who "celebrate" Halloween, I wish you a Happy Halloween. It has become a huge holiday in Canada, with little ghosts and goblins, witches, Superman, fairies, pumpkins and the rest, everywhere! I think fewer and fewer children go from house to house hoping for candy, as there are now special Halloween events held in shopping malls, Community Centres and the like. This, by the way, is a photo taken by my son and family of their front garden last year. My son always did have a great imagination and is very artistic and creative. Even one of his hobbies comes in useful for this - woodwork.

For those of you who "celebrate" Halloween, I wish you a Happy Halloween. It has become a huge holiday in Canada, with little ghosts and goblins, witches, Superman, fairies, pumpkins and the rest, everywhere! I think fewer and fewer children go from house to house hoping for candy, as there are now special Halloween events held in shopping malls, Community Centres and the like. This, by the way, is a photo taken by my son and family of their front garden last year. My son always did have a great imagination and is very artistic and creative. Even one of his hobbies comes in useful for this - woodwork.