SkyWatch Friday

And what is this?

It's lots of these!

Seen a couple of weeks ago in a northwest Calgary neighbourhood.

They were released by a large group of women who were gathered one Sunday afternoon, and I can only guess were celebrating or remembering something or someone special.

It was a beautiful hot and sunny day - almost too hot - (but shhhh, I shouldn't say that around here - we've had precious few hot days this summer)

And we had stopped off to look at a little water park.

Take careful note of the "look" in the above sentence.

Because my fully-dressed children conveniently forgot the word "look" at the water park, and proceeded to "play" in the water park. Rather completely!

They had a blast, of course.

Right up to the bit where they had to get back in the car.

"And you're not getting into my car like that young miss!"

These tufty clouds accompanied us on the way home - sadly, no longer a balloon in sight.

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Peter Lougheed Park, Kananaskis, Alberta

Another recent day-trip showing off some more bits of Alberta to the visiting relatives.

This time we headed to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park - take a drive from Calgary eastwards towards the Rockies and about half an hour later hang a left up Highway 40. Wave at Nakiska Ski Resort which is taking it's well-earned summer break, and keep going - all the while keeping an eye open for grizzly bears.

Absolutely delighted to see my first ever moose - I have lived here for three and a half years and begun to think these were elusive mythical creatures!

What a large and handsome young fellow - snuffling and snorting loudly as he bent down on his front forelegs to slurp a delicious Muddy Puddle

(not my favourite cocktail, it must be said).

I was so happy to see him, I could have just turned around and gone home after that!

But we carried on driving through the rocky valley - the grey clouds coming and going and the rain threatening.

Stunning formations through the mountains...and it is so lovely to see so much greenery - Alberta in August can often start drying out with the colour brown - but we have not had a great summer really, so the frequent rain keeps it all gorgeous.

The sun trying its best to illuminate Upper Lake.

Peek-a-Boo.

OMG - another Moose!

All my Christmas' have come at once!

Another very young one ...

Also with a penchant for the Muddy Puddle Cocktail.

Another Peek-a-Boo !

...and then time to head home.

This is a bear behind. Honest.

Yes - we actually found the grizzly bear too - casually munching his way through some undergrowth until the noise of a motorbike exhaust frightened him - and then he took off at a fearsome pace.

What a great day to see some wildlife.

Scenic Sunday - Elbow Falls, near Calgary, Alberta

Scenic Sunday - have a lovely weekend.

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SkyWatch Friday - After the storm

After last week's thunderstorm, with the sun shining through the rainclouds, this is how it all looked just 25 minutes later.

Happy SkyWatch Friday.

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Calgary Zoo

We have some family over visiting from the UK at the moment - our first family visitors - so it's been a busy week. Out and about to show them the delights around Calgary, all while meeting the needs of a busy 4-year old nephew on his hols. So one of the days was a wander around the Zoo.

So let's have a quick wash and brush up to start the day

... and then catch up on all the gossip!

Come with me as we take slightly silly view around Calgary Zoo.

A magnificent tail of fluff

belongs to one of the cutest creatures ever put on this planet - the Red Panda - who was decidedly shy, and quick, and hard to photograph.

Whirls of colour belong to .....

... this handsome but dozing fellow.

And somebody needs a manicure - Monsieur le Grizzly Bear.

And maybe this wee beauty is very common, but I can't find him on an internet search, so if anyone knows the name of this butterfly, majestically sunning himself on a fence railing, please let me know.

EDIT: with thanks to whatandysees - this butterfly is known as Mourning Cloak in North America, and known as Camberwell Beauty in Britian - Nymphalis antiopa.

Beautiful wild roses ...

The newly renovated Prehistoric Park now includes animatronic, roaring dinosaurs - enough to scare the pants off a young child!

And what does a T-Rex keep between his legs?

The Calgary Tower of course - not quite the Jurassic era after all!

The Wonder of Thunder

We are having a short but very loud thunderstorm - right now!

And yet the sun is shining really brightly, as it pours with rain outside - casting sharp shadows across my front room.

And as I look out of my back door, there is a double rainbow.

And in fact, this one is a complete arch.

I have never seen a whole rainbow reaching from one side to the other - unfortunately, I could not get a good enough view (seeing as how it was raining so hard), but ain't the weather grand sometimes?

Maybe I should have saved this for Skywatch Friday

but I was too excited!

Skywatch Friday - Shades of Blue

Quite simply, blue is my favourite colour

I relish blue skies and the clarity of the day ...

I delight in watery reflections ...

and the shade of the flower is to die for.

Blues belong to nature - she shows them off to their best.

Happy Blue SkyWatch Friday.