Thursday, December 31, 2009

Skywatch Friday - Cool blues




More photos from yet more dog walking pathways (I'm sorry for repeating a theme, but these are the only places I have been this week - see, even the dogs get out to more socially exciting places than me).


This is an off-leash area alongside the Bow River (which is not yet frozen - won't be too long) in Cochrane, Alberta. I won't go into my mini rant at the moment about the frustrating rules and regulations for walking dogs around here.

Suffice to say, this area is awash with every size and breed of canine imaginable, shouting at the top of their woofing lungs "I'm freeeeeee ... "

They then embark on a major exchange of bum-sniffing rituals - as the guys chat up the laydeez, and the boys check out the other boys with their "I'm well hard but I can't stop my tail wagging at you" killer-stare. And the girls just flutter their eyelashes and then squat with girly, gay abandon.

There are many cries of "He's nicked my ball" and "It was my stick first". And of course, in the summer time there are the perpetual whining complaints of "...but he's allowed to go swimming, why can't I?". Occasionally, the bad-boy behaviour erupts and an ear gets nipped, or a set of teeth are accused of gnashing a bit too hard.

And maybe (I can't say too much) - a dog sitting not too far from me right now, might rise up and place two distinct filthy muddy paw-prints on the back of a middle-aged woman's new white coat, but shhhh, I didn't say anything ....

But in an air of dog-loving entente cordiale, everyone rubs along pretty well.


But this is a quite lovely, peaceful, pretty and liberating (for the dogs) place to wander in the summer or winter time. Sometimes even the dog-owners stop and exchange pleasantries - but I draw a line at sniffing their bums too.


There is a campsite alongside the river here. Perhaps more enticing in the summer when it is not a frozen winterland when, I suspect, you would probably have to insulate the pipes on your huge RV with more layers than someone on a polar expedition.

And look at those skies. That photo is not enhanced - that really is the colour of the sky - and if you look carefully you can see a little splotch of a moon who forgot to go to bed last night.

So wishing everyone a really super, dooper New Year, and here's me raising a glass to a wonderful, fulfilling and rewarding 2010 for you all. May your Skywatches be beautiful, your blog entries be sparkling, and your friendships be all you wish for.

Cheers !



For more SkyWatch pictures from around the world, click here.

25 comments:

  1. The cool blue skies look so nice against the snowy landscape. We have the snow here but not the blue sky. Great shots!

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  2. I loved your blue skies and your cute dog story! Makes me kind of wish I was a dog - sort of anyway. Happy New Year!!!

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  3. Very coool blues indeed. Nice photos for the last day of the decade. Happy New Year!

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  4. Lovely cold blue wintery skies, beautiful shots. Have a great new year and thanks for sharing:)

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  5. lol! @ the bum sniffing! :D

    Happy New Year, Ann!

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  6. Great pictures and I'm glad you draw the line at sniffing bums! lol The first scene is so lovely...I love the cool blue tones! Happy New Year!

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  7. It does not matter how many times you use that theme, it is always breathtaking. I can see why you like to travel this path. A great post.

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  8. Lovely Blue skies! I wish you and yours the very best for 2010. Happy New Years.

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  9. I realy like the first photo...simplu beautiful winter day.

    Have Great New Year.

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  10. First off, thanks so much for visiting my blog and commenting! Yous photos are lovely, I particularly like the first one, just looking at that water sent a chill down my spine!

    I hope 2010 brings you nothing but the best!

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  11. Hi Ann,
    Thanks for yet another great blog entry!
    I love your writing style and sense of humour!

    Hope the job is going well.

    Happy New Year!

    T

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  12. The sky is beautiful in all these pictures -- the snow makes a nice contrast. This does look like a nice place to walk, in spite of the dog antics!
    Thanks for visiting my site.

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  13. Great shots of the wintery sky..Love the first photo the most.

    Happy New Year

    My entry

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  14. Great shots!
    Happy New Year 2010 to you and your family!

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  15. Those BIG blue skies are awesome! I miss BIG skies :( Looks like a great spot for the woofs to wander.

    Wishing you a fabulous, fun and fulfilling New Year!

    May the best of 2009 be the worst of 2010!

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  16. Hi F&S, Great pics - wonderful sky in the last one - how about we trade temperatures for a day or two?? we had 41C (106F yesterday)

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  17. Happy New Year Ann, a great blogging finish, I love the doggy conversations

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  18. I love your description of the dogs in the dog park---hilarious! Happy New Year to you.

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  19. It looks cold for man and beast. Our cold has left and been replaced by snow. Keep wark and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  20. Beautiful clear blue sky, and very cold looking! Your photos are fantastic!

    Happy New Year

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  21. I enjoyed reading your post. All the best in 2010!

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  22. Beautiful shots. They ALMOST make me miss taking my dogs to the dog park when we lived in Calgary. My two were always the worst-behaved dogs there! They're the real reason we bought an acreage!

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  23. Greetings from the Isle of Wight and thank you for your visit and lovely comment. I have similar dog bum sniffing stories, but generally without the snow. Your photos are beautiful. Those blues are gorgeous, and a perfect foil for the crisp white snow. That last one looks like next year's Christmas card to me!
    Janice.

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  24. Great photos! I'm a displaced Canadian, living in Ghana now, but I miss those crisp sunny cold winter days!!! It's 35 celcius here on Jan 4th!!!

    Cheers

    Holli in Accra

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  25. Wishing you a wonderful 2010 and many happy blogging days ahead.

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