Near the end of June I took mom down to Calgary so we could go to the farmer’s market. Since I was driving we took the scenic route and stopped at Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. Mom had never been there so we did a short walk around. I love going there early in the day. It is so peaceful and virtually no one else is around.

3 small waterfalls.

Looks more impressive when you get closer and slow down the shutter speed.

Breeze picked up so it was hard to get them when they weren’t moving.

It’s so much easier to shoot there when it is a cloudy day but I still enjoyed it.

Mom checking out the water.

I don’t know what most of the flowers are but I take pictures of the ones that catch my eye. The water flowing through the forest and flowers and the wildlife in the area make Big Hill Springs one of my favorite places to visit. It is different every time, even if you visit 2 days in a row at the same time of day. Early in the day is the best time for the nicest light and no one else around to get in the way. I don’t know if I’ll get back there again this year, but I am going to try.

I know it’s been 2 months since Father’s Day but I am very slack in getting things ready to post.

Lynda and Adam took me to the Ellis Bird Farm for an outing. Well, I drove, but they technically took me. We had never been there and it was a nice day for an outing. I’ve driven past is a few times but it was always at times other then when it was open.

It was a fairly windy day but that kept it from being too hot.

We wandered around the farm for a bit taking photos along the way.

These little guys are not only hard to spot, but they move so fast.

Bird on a stick.

Sentry in a tree.

She doesn’t seem too concerned about the eggs behind her.

The calm after a Merlin visited the colony.

There is so much to see in such a small area. We went to the butterfly garden and didn’t see any butterflies but plenty of flowers and plants.

Shot with a Sony A6000 and lens adapter with my Minolta 100mm macro on it.

About as close as I could go without getting in with them.

As it was getting later in the afternoon we went into the Tea House for lunch. We had no reservation but got lucky and there was room for us. Mind you we had to switch tables, but still room. The lady that runs it is very nice and the food was terrific.

Nice cozy little place

A “selfie” of sorts.

Adam and I with our lemonade.

The missus and I again.

Adam and lemonade.

With lunch over we wandered back outside and were in time to join a walk to the West Woods with Myrna Pearman; the farm’s biologist. I’ve know Myrna for many years and she was genuinely happy to see us at the farm. Usually she comes into my work and I help her with stuff. It was nice to be on the other side for a change.

Bird on a wire.

Ready for takeoff.

Liftoff

Gone

I totally enjoyed the day with my family. It was a nice distraction from the stress we were under getting ready to move.  I would recommend checking out the Ellis Bird Farm to anyone. It is a very relaxed place to visit.

My bride.

It’s been a year and 2 weeks since I’ve tried to write anything on my blog and over 2 years since I actually published something. I tried to express my feelings on the day my dad passed away, but not only did I struggle to write anything, I couldn’t even save it properly.

I realized that I wasn’t going to get it done and kept telling myself that I would get to it. Sigh. Not so much. I’ve had a whole year to edit the thoughts in my head, but that doesn’t guarantee they will make sense as they are still changing.

I never got to say good bye to my dad.

Sure, he was back in the hospital when we were leaving on vacation, but he had been in there so much in the previous 9 months that it was old hat. He looked sick and had since he was admitted in October of 2012. I remember the first time I went to visit him after he was first admitted and the way he looked it hurt me physically to look at him. I thought he looked like a holocaust survivor. I was wrong of course as he looked more so at the end. We planned to bring Adam in so he could tell dad all about his adventure in China with his aunt.

When I got the message from my mom that he wasn’t doing so good I debated on coming straight home but I guess I never really believed he was as bad as he was. I missed the phone call from the hospital and they never left a message. By the time I decided to cut our vacation short and go home it was getting pretty late so I decided we would early in the morning to go home from Lethbridge.

We got to the hospital 20 minutes after dad had died. I was so torn up that I never made it back in time then I learned he had been in pain and was heavily medicated so I was thankful that I never saw that. I saw him weak and frustrated but never in pain.

It was hard enough watching dad get weaker and weaker and be able to do less and less for himself. My mom had to help him with everything. I did what I could to help but I really didn’t do very much for him. I know that even if I did more for him it wouldn’t of mattered, but still.

Dad hadn’t planned on attending his granddaughter’s wedding as he couldn’t even walk by himself anymore but changed is mind and we all went up together. I remember his sitting in his wheelchair watching the dancing and not looking too happy and I said “Smile, it’s a wedding.” He nodded and gave me a half grin. I believe he knew the end was near and that’s why he changed his mind. He lived to see his granddaughter get married and I think that was his goal. He died less than a month after attending the wedding.

Rest in peace dad. I miss you.