Cooler Temperatures are Here!

Hooray for cooler temperatures! We saw the last of the 90+ degree weather last week (fingers crossed). It was a summer of record-breaking heat waves. We’re now saying hello to a cool front and getting some sweet relief.

Our belongings are still a bit unorganized, but I found this cute hooked rug just in time for a little fall decorating here at the cottage. I ordered it several years ago from a rug hooker in the northwest. It is now hanging up in the front hallway. I also found the fabric leaves and acorns made by a friend of mine, and those are now arranged in a cut glass bowl in my home office.

A week ago, we got a huge pot of yellow mums in a basket, and it is strategically located on the front porch, next to the steps. It was a bit late to shop for a fall wreath this past weekend, but we found a lovely swag to hang over the door instead. And it was so inexpensive that I couldn’t have made one for less.

Fall has finally arrived! And the stores are already stocking the shelves with Christmas decorations. Sheesh!

Photo Challenge: Orange

It is time for another Brenda Photo Challenge!  The theme is Orange. It would be a dull crayon box and world without this spicy hue. For this challenge, I am featuring a few photographs that I have taken in the beautiful southwest USA. Everywhere you turn in this expansive countryside is the rusty color of the earth.

An endearing horn-blowing sculpture was on the outside wall of our balcony at a Sonoma, Arizona, bed and breakfast. I enhanced the image further by applying a textured background layer of a rusty metal drum. The photo was taken at f/5, 1/1250 second, and ISO 200.

I fondly remember our visit to Antelope Canyon in northern Arizona. We were completely immersed in the sandstone walls of this famous slot canyon. Light filtered in from above, scattering across the etched canyon walls and revealing intricate carvings created by centuries of erosion. The camera settings were f/3.5, 1/13 second, and ISO 400.

This gorgeous scene is part of the “parade of elephants” at Arches National Park, in eastern Utah. We saw the park on a tour, breezing through in just a few short hours. We would love to go back to see it on our own and spend several days exploring the rocky landscape. I digitally enhanced the image with a Topaz Adjust filter to give it a high definition, surreal look. The photo was taken at f/5.7, 1/400 second, and ISO 200.

Giveaway Winner Announcement

Marty is taking time out of his busy schedule (munching fresh clover for breakfast) to announce the winner of my giveaway prize!

And the winner is…

Jenny of I'm Having a Thought Here

Congratulations! As an expert wordsmith, philosopher, and southerner, I know that you will adore the book! I’ll be shipping it out to you this weekend. And thank you to everyone who entered! As a runner-up prize, Marty is blowing kisses to all of you!  (Please don’t mind the clover breath.)

Tweedsmuir Park Lodge

 

Our British Columbia wildlife tour stayed at Tweedsmuir Park Lodge, located in the southern part of the provincial park. It is hard to imagine a more picturesque location, nestled in a river valley. Accommodations are provided in 10 private cabins and dining and lounge facilities are available in the main lodge building. We were assigned the Caribou cabin, located on the right-hand side of the picture above.

Our cabin was spacious and comfortable, with a modern bath and even wireless internet. The staff was outstanding, making you feel welcomed and comfortable as soon as you walk in the door. The food quality was incredible, with a gourmet twist at every meal.

And you couldn’t beat the killer view. I took the picture below right from our front porch deck. This is a view of Mount Stupendous, shyly trying to hide its peak in the clouds.

I was rewarded with many gorgeous views, including a stunning sunrise.

I sat on the cabin deck one morning, leisurely drinking coffee and admiring the changing colors of the mountain as the sunlight cascaded down its face. What a wonderful way to start a day!

And the cabins near the lodge have a gorgeous mountain view as well, with a fishermen’s road that meanders down to the Atnarko River. We regularly spotted grizzly bears in this tundra landscape during the evening hours. You may notice a little brown spot on the left-hand side of the road. Yes, it is a bear patty, LOL.

We took a tour by Natural Habitat Adventures to experience this magical place. But you can also travel on your own and have the lodge staff arrange many different excursions for you, including helicopter sightseeing, float trips, hiking, bear watching, fishing, and helicopter skiing (in the winter). It is one of the few places in the world where you can see and experience such an adventure of a lifetime!

400th Post Celebration!

 

Time to break out the party hats and noise makers! This is post number 400 here on my little blog. It’s been grand fun since I started this adventure in January 2008, and I am so thankful to make new friends and share a bit about my life and travels. I’m offering a little giveaway to my dear readers in appreciation of your friendship.

The giveaway prize is a special book, Roll the Wheel - The Abundant Life and Wisdom of Mae Phillips. I got this literary treasure on our last trip to Berea, Kentucky. It is signed by the author, Phyllis M. EagleTree. Miss Mae lived a difficult life in the Appalachian hills. She was no stranger to hard work and tough times. Despite the hardships and heartaches, Miss Mae rose above her circumstances. She took pride in her garden; cherished her loved ones; and counted her blessings.

Along with poignant sepia-tone images, the book provides short stories told in her own voice about her life and philosophy. One of my favorites quotes is from Walking in the Light: “Every day you live, you’ll appreciate life more. If you can just walk down the road here and back, why it’ll be something big for you to think on. That’s the way I am about it now. Be content. The Bible says, “Be content with what you’ve got, and walk in the light as you see the light.” And when you get into a spot that you think ain’t good, get out of it.”

Here’s how to get your name in the proverbial hat to win this charming and inspirational book:

1. Leave a comment on this post to get one entry.
2. If you also follow my blog, please leave a second comment to get two additional entries.
3. Entries outside the U.S. will be accepted. However, only those from bloggers with active web sites will be eligible.

The last day to enter is Thursday, September 23. Good luck and thank you visiting with me!

Here Come the Bears!

Your patience has finally paid off. Here come the bears! Isn’t the furry fellow in this painterly photo conversion just precious?

Let me give you a little background about how we observed wild grizzly bears on this tour. We stayed at a beautiful mountain lodge in the middle of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. Just a few hundred yards from the lodge is the Atnarko River, which flows into the Bella Coola River. This time of year, the rivers are filled with spawning salmon. So it is a favorite fishing spot for the bears!

We immersed ourselves in the bears’ habitat by taking float trips down the river. We enjoyed the spectacular scenery while patiently waiting for our furry friends to appear.

We never knew when they would pop out of the thick grass along the riverbank.

Or when they would be searching for a good fishing hole along the river bank.

We were at eye level with them while they went about their business.

They would look our way every now and then, but they paid us no heed.

But this fellow swam close by and was wondering if we had an extra seat available!

Most of all, it was fascinating to see them get animated. They moved very quickly, always ready to pounce for their dinner!

For these magnificent creatures, it’s all about the fish.

Stay tuned for more pictures and stories later!

Cedar Forest in Bella Coola Valley

Are you ready for an installment post about our British Columbia vacation?  Yeah, I thought so!  My working schedule puts a severe dent into my blogging time, so your continued patience is appreciated.

On one of the tour days, we visited the town of Bella Coola, located on the mid-coastal area of the province.  With an average of 90 inches of rain a year, we stood a pretty good chance of encountering rain.  Travel luck wasn’t with us for this day’s excursion, so the camera had to be tucked away most of the time.

One of the places we visited was an ancient cedar forest on the edge of town.  There was enough shelter from the giant trees to allow me to take a few pictures.  A simple pathway quickly leads to into natural solitude.  It is impossible for my photos to truly capture the beauty and the grandeur of this old forest.  It has borne witness to the passage of time and changing of countless seasons.

With diameters up to five feet wide, one feels quite dwarfed in comparison to the stature of these magnificent trees.  And as you walk along, you almost expect woodland creatures, both mythical and real, to suddenly appear.

Among the immensity of the moss-covered timber, extra care has to be taken to also admire forest details along the trail.

Despite the rain, it was simply magical.

BC Vacation – Random Thoughts

Here is a collection of my thoughts, jumbling through my wee little brain, about our glorious British Columbia vacation (in random order).

• There is such a thing as a sunny day in British Columbia.

• Luggage is heavy.

• My road-traveling stamina leaves a lot to be desired.

• When I am in a turning and rocking boat, it is especially challenging to take good pictures with a telephoto lens.

• The beauty of digital photography is that you don’t spend money on film and processing anymore.

• Bears could care less about people when they are busy fishing.

• Natural Habitat Adventures is a great nature tour company.

• I know where my delete button is on my camera and also know how to use it.

• After spending quality time immerse in natural beauty, the big, impersonal city of Vancouver was a letdown.

• I love riding in a helicopter.

• When the helicopter pilot flat-out zips through a mountain canyon like a Star Wars fighter pilot, I love it even more.

• I enjoyed being with my sweetie and making memories.

• A postcard stamp in Canada costs $1 and 12 cents tax.

• I missed blogging and I didn’t miss blogging.

• Vancouver is a very expensive place to live.

• Traveling is lot more fun with a Kindle.

• It is nice to be able to take electronic gadgets with you on vacation, but packing all the power cords puts a twist in your knickers.

• Each bear looks surprisingly different.

• We over-packed, again.

• Never underestimate the small and quiet moments, particularly while you are sipping hot coffee on your cabin porch and watching the changing sunrise light on the mountains.

• We said “thank you” prayers for our great travel guide.

• Adjusting to unexpected events provides welcomed opportunities for adventure.

• We are too tightwad to pay Westin’s outrageous charges for internet access.

• The Tweedsmuir Lodge staff was terrific.

• I ate too much.

• Canadian beer is quite tasty and refreshing.

• It will take me a long time to go through 30 gigabytes worth of photos.

• A trip out to Stanley Park in Vancouver is worth it to see the totem poles.

• Small group tours are much better than large group tours.

• We now know about a (secret) shuttle between O’Hare airport terminals.

• Bears are very nimble and fast.

• We made new friends.

• The Fairmont at the Vancouver airport was gorgeous and quiet as a mouse.

• My bionic knee held up quite well.

• Canadian Mounties are quite charming, handsome, and friendly, regardless of whether they are rescuing folks from a wayward flight or standing guard over a male bear that just had a fight with a momma bear.

• Drift boat guides work very hard for the money.

• “The Hill” gravel road between Anahim Lake and Tweedsmuir Lodge (Heckman Pass) is guaranteed to wake you up.

• With an 18 percent grade, “the Hill” is not really a hill, by any stretch of the imagination.

• I really need to have a small point-and-shoot camera for those times that I don’t want to lug around a big camera and lens.

• There was a really snotty United gate worker at O’Hare airport that didn’t give a flip that our arrival flight was delayed and we only had 10 minutes to catch our next flight.

• Eagles are quite majestic.

• It was a special treat to visit with a talented Nuxalk wood carver in Bella Coola.

• Breakfast and dinner guests facing the window at the lodge always let you know when a bear has wandered into view.

• It is a lot easier to laugh when you are on vacation.

• A picnic lunch is very welcomed after a long ride in a drift boat.

• Unpacking is tedious but should be done as soon as possible after a trip.

• As soon as one journey ends, you look forward to the next.

9.11 - Freedom Will Be Defended

Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward,

and freedom will be defended.

We will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail.

~ President George W. Bush ~

Back Home

We’re back from our British Columbia wilderness trip! We had a grand time and took countless pictures along the way. I think I’ll have a “few” good ones to share with you, LOL. And YES, we saw many grizzly bears, including some that ventured on the lodge grounds and next to the cabins.

I’ll be catching up with all of you in due time. For now, I am off to bed for a little slumber…

Of Wind and Horses

The wind of heaven is that which blows

between a horse’s ears.

~ Arabian Proverb ~