What a difference a year makes

Earlier this month I celebrated my birthday. Last year it was a very memorable day for the whole city of Calgary as it was also the day the second major snowstorm in three days occurred. 40 cm of heavy wet snow damaged tens of thousands of trees, some of which are still waiting to be pruned or taken down. “Snowtember” will not soon be forgotten by anyone who was caught in the middle of it.

Our neighbour's willow branches draped themselves over our deck railing during Snowtember 2014

This year I refer to my birthday as “Suntember” because it could easily have been mistaken for a summer’s day. No need for a coat, and I wish I had worn shorts or at least capris on the two walks I did—Nose Hill in the morning and Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park in the afternoon. My “birthday twin” was in town and we spent our birthday together doing the two things we both love the most: walking and taking photographs. Our husbands were very patient with us when the one-hour walks became two hours because we got so caught up in taking pictures! It was fun to have a camera buddy, and we challenged each other with composition and manual settings.

Obviously I didn't take this photograph, but I thought it would make you smile to see it nonetheless

Most of the pictures I took that day were not spectacular and ended up in the recycle bin, but I had such an enjoyable day. Thank you, my friend and "birthday twin," for making it so.

This photograph from the top of Nose Hill intrigues me as the mountains in the background look like clouds

I love the late afternoon light through this aspen grove in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park

Enjoy the Journey

How many of us have driven the QE2 between Calgary and Edmonton and made a quick stop in Red Deer’s Gasoline Alley for a drink, some fast food, or gas? I see you nodding as most of us just want to get going again so we can get to our destination as quickly as possible. The 299 km can be done in three hours, and that’s not even speeding!

In the past few years, however, we have made a point of stopping for an extended period of time in Red Deer on the journey north or south. I find a couple of hours in the car is all I can handle at a time these days which makes Red Deer the perfect place to explore. We bring a picnic lunch, find a park, and enjoy some fresh air before continuing the drive. Heritage Ranch, Waskasoo, and Fort Normandeau are all great parks we have frequented, but on our latest drive to Edmonton we decided to visit Bower Ponds Park for the first time in a long while.

When we first arrived in Alberta in 1976 we settled in the Red Deer area. We decided on it by looking at a map and found Red Deer conveniently located between the two major cities… good enough reason when you’re 20-something! Members of the Red Deer Danish Canadian Club, who soon became friends, were very helpful in the transition to the prairies. We had no idea what a block heater was and why it was important to have one in our car!

The Club was part of the Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society (then called the Red Deer International Folk Festival), and they had just moved the Cronquist House across the Red Deer River to its present location. Quite the feat when you think about it. Bower Ponds Park was developed around the house shortly after, and today it is a beautiful and peaceful oasis within city limits. A handful of people had the vision 40 years ago to create this place for all to escape to without having to drive for hours. I am thankful they did, and although I was not directly involved in the shaping of the park, I feel connected to it through my involvement with the Red Deer Danish Canadian Club long ago. Spending time in the park both on the way north and four days later on the way south made me reminisce about the six years we called the Red Deer area home, the life we lived, and the friends we made. We were so young and adventurous!

We have all been guilty of getting so caught up in our destination that we forget to enjoy the journey, both literally and figuratively. Maybe it has something to do with my age, but now more than ever I enjoy the journey and reach my destination a little later. I know I am happier for it. So the next time you find yourself on the QE2 heading to Edmonton, do yourself a favour: rent a paddle boat and splash around Bower Ponds for half an hour. I bet you’ll have a little smile on your face the last half of your journey.