They have now produced proof that they exist, so we thought we would share some of the fabulous views they get from their deck.
Hidden again by fog!
A beautiful sunset...
A Chinook arch at night...
Snowflakes at night...
J&E
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sam & Andrew's
We recently went to visit our good friends up in Edgemont in NW Calgary. They have the most amazing mountain views from their home, but until this day we had never managed to see them. We have always laughed over the fact that every time we visit them, their supposedly great mountain views are always shrouded in cloud and we didn't really believe they were there!
They have now produced proof that they exist, so we thought we would share some of the fabulous views they get from their deck.
Hidden again by fog!
A beautiful sunset...
A Chinook arch at night...
Snowflakes at night...
J&E
They have now produced proof that they exist, so we thought we would share some of the fabulous views they get from their deck.
Hidden again by fog!A beautiful sunset...A Chinook arch at night...
Snowflakes at night...J&E
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Some of the Wildlife in Okotoks
While doing our weekend chores, we decided to take a little detour down some of the back roads around Okotoks. We were very well rewarded today with a sighting of a Coyote (something we have seen many times, but never managed to capture)... 
...two very proud stags keeping a watchful eye from their vantange point...
...and a Jack Rabbit just outside our house!
J&E
...two very proud stags keeping a watchful eye from their vantange point...
...and a Jack Rabbit just outside our house!
J&E
How the Skating Lane is Prepared
While having our breakfast last Saturday morning, we watched the tractor prepare the skating lane on the lake. He started by shovelling the snow with the big brush/shovel on the front. 
...and then followed up with what looked like a layer of water. Now we know how it gets so smooth and shiny.
Fascinating!
J&E
...and then followed up with what looked like a layer of water. Now we know how it gets so smooth and shiny.
Fascinating!J&E
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Day On the Lake
Monday 16th February was Family Day, which meant a public holiday here in Canada. Despite being around -10, we were blessed with lovely sunshine and we thought it was a perfect opportunity to take a stroll around the still frozen lake behind our home.
This is the path we took which is carefully marked out by a tractor. The path was so smooth and shiny that it took us by surprise. We knew it had been marked out for skating, but we didn't expect it to be done so well.
There were peple making holes in the lake using an auger, which made us a little uneasy! Hopefully it was just enough to squeeze a fish through.
Others were playing Ice Hockey
And some kind soul had built a lovely warm fire, which was perfect to sit by and get warm, before heading home for some Hot Chocolate.
It was one of those "feel good" days when you just wanted to be outside.
J&E
This is the path we took which is carefully marked out by a tractor. The path was so smooth and shiny that it took us by surprise. We knew it had been marked out for skating, but we didn't expect it to be done so well.
There were peple making holes in the lake using an auger, which made us a little uneasy! Hopefully it was just enough to squeeze a fish through.
Others were playing Ice Hockey
And some kind soul had built a lovely warm fire, which was perfect to sit by and get warm, before heading home for some Hot Chocolate.
It was one of those "feel good" days when you just wanted to be outside.J&E
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Cougar Spotted in De Winton
According to local news reports, a large cougar kept residents in the De Winton area close to home over this past weekend. The cougar was spotted on Saturday at an acreage just off 32nd Street. The advice given was to keep children and pets in the house. The RCMP, along with Fish and Wildlife Officers, searched for the cat over the weekend but as far as we know, they haven't managed to locate it!
The DJ on the local radio station said, "well we do live in the foothills of the rocky mountains"!
We can't decide whether it's really cool or really scary!! We think we'll go with cool!
J&E.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Eagles in High River
The eagles are back in High River and after about 3000 shots of blurred black dots, we finally got a pic that is someway recognisable.
J&E
J&E
Boxing Day
We started our Boxing Day with another hearty breakfast at Poppy's Brasserie in Chateau Lake Louise, perfect before a chilly but magical sleigh ride around the lake.
Mouse, on the left and Mutt, on the right, were the lucky pair who took us on our ride.
We rode through the winding path around the lake. All we could hear were the jingle of the horse's reins and the creaking of the sleigh.
Despite several blankets and lots of layers of clothing, hats, gloves, scarves etc, we were freezing by the time we got to the turning circle at the far end of the lake. The driver joked that this was the end of the line and we had to make our own way back. Oh how we laughed (while staying firmly tucked under the blankets!)
After our ride and a very large cup of hot chocolate, we made our way down to Banff and the Sulphur Mountain Tramway. Truly stunning, but absolutely freezing.
J&E.
Mouse, on the left and Mutt, on the right, were the lucky pair who took us on our ride.
We rode through the winding path around the lake. All we could hear were the jingle of the horse's reins and the creaking of the sleigh.
Despite several blankets and lots of layers of clothing, hats, gloves, scarves etc, we were freezing by the time we got to the turning circle at the far end of the lake. The driver joked that this was the end of the line and we had to make our own way back. Oh how we laughed (while staying firmly tucked under the blankets!)
After our ride and a very large cup of hot chocolate, we made our way down to Banff and the Sulphur Mountain Tramway. Truly stunning, but absolutely freezing.
J&E.
Our Christmas Day
Before we begin with our Christmas day activities, we just had to post this picture. Spot the Brit (one of our visitors), desperate to get out in the lovely white powdery snow at every opportunity!
We started our Christmas Day with a hearty breakfast at Poppy's Brasserie, followed by a stroll out onto the frozen Lake Louise.
We then went for a walk in one of our favourite places, Johnston Canyon. We have posted pictures of Johnston Canyon in the winter before, but the sheer beauty and strangeness of this place in the winter-time never fails to amaze us.
On the drive down to the Banff townsite, we were lucky enough to spot this herd of Elk on the frozen Vermillion Lake.
We decided to take a drive around the picturesque Minnewanka Loop and as the evening started to come upon us, we were treated to the most lovely Christmas Day sunset.
We droke back through the Banff Townsite to look at all the pretty Christmas decorations, all ready for our Christmas Dinner back at Lake Louise.
J&E.
We started our Christmas Day with a hearty breakfast at Poppy's Brasserie, followed by a stroll out onto the frozen Lake Louise.We then went for a walk in one of our favourite places, Johnston Canyon. We have posted pictures of Johnston Canyon in the winter before, but the sheer beauty and strangeness of this place in the winter-time never fails to amaze us.
On the drive down to the Banff townsite, we were lucky enough to spot this herd of Elk on the frozen Vermillion Lake.
We decided to take a drive around the picturesque Minnewanka Loop and as the evening started to come upon us, we were treated to the most lovely Christmas Day sunset.
We droke back through the Banff Townsite to look at all the pretty Christmas decorations, all ready for our Christmas Dinner back at Lake Louise.
J&E.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Happy Christmas!
Another year has all but passed and we wanted to wish all who know us, either in the flesh or via this blog, a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous 2009. Here's a couple of seasonal shots from Lake Louise. In fact, this first shot was on the way to Lake Louise and shows something of a Chinook Arch over the mountains.
This is an ice sculpture bench outside the Chateau Lake Louise.
Meet "Sonny", Director Pet Relations at the Chateau Lake Louise. His motto is that he "turns moments into memories, one wag of the tail at a time!"
Here's the sleigh ride horses, ready to pull the next set of riders around the lake.
J&E.
This is an ice sculpture bench outside the Chateau Lake Louise.
Meet "Sonny", Director Pet Relations at the Chateau Lake Louise. His motto is that he "turns moments into memories, one wag of the tail at a time!"
Here's the sleigh ride horses, ready to pull the next set of riders around the lake.
J&E.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Okotoks: A Little Bit About The Town
We've been asked by a number of people coming to Calgary and surrounds to create and publish a series of guides to areas that people may consider as their future home. The logical starting point for this task was our home town of Okotoks. We're going to tackle Okotoks in a number of parts and to begin with, here's some key facts and information regarding the town.
Okotoks is a town situated on the Sheep River. We've covered Sheep River before on some of our blog items:
January 2008 - Walk Along Sheep River
Autumn 2008 - Sheep River
Wikipedia gives an overview of the source and flow of what is, the lifeblood of the town...
Wikipedia - Sheep River
By Eurpopean standards, the town is very young. It was only incorporated in 1904. Okotoks has been and is still undergoing a significant growth in its population. As recently as the year 2000, the population was less than 10,000. Today, (and contrary to the population figure on the picture above), it is about to push through the 20,000 mark. Demographically it is a young town: 83 per cent of the town is under 45 years of age, with 30 per cent under the age of 19.
Despite its growth, Okotoks retains a friendly and small-town feel and there remains a strong sense of community pride and spirit. If you like your facts, you'll like this publication by Okotoks Town Council.
Okotoks Fact File 2008.pdf
Okotoks lies about 18km (11 miles) south of the southern edge of Calgary, Alberta. Okotoks to Central Calgary is approximately 46.7 km (30 miles). How long that would take you to drive is a subject of some debate. It depends on a number of factors, such as whether you were trying to get to downtown Calgary in the rush hour, whether you were driving legally and what the road and weather conditions were like. In the very best case, you would probably budget about 35 mins to drive from Okotoks to downtown Calgary and add time accordingly to reflect rush hour and poor conditions. You can be fairly predictable in estimating that it takes about 17 minutes to drive from the northern reaches of Okotoks to the southern reaches of Calgary in good road conditions.
There isn't any public transport to speak of, however, Southland, the people that run the school buses around here, do operate a morning and evening shuttle coach service to and from downtown Calgary. You can get the details here.
There is a live debate about the provision of a commuter bus service to Calgary in 2009 and longer term discussion about a rail link but it would be foolhardy to envisage the latter arriving any time soon.
Okotoks prides itself on its sustainability and even has areas (Drake Landing) with sustainable housing.
Sustainable Okotoks
More on areas to live, schools, recreation and more will follow.
J&E
Okotoks is a town situated on the Sheep River. We've covered Sheep River before on some of our blog items:
January 2008 - Walk Along Sheep River
Autumn 2008 - Sheep River
Wikipedia gives an overview of the source and flow of what is, the lifeblood of the town...
Wikipedia - Sheep River
By Eurpopean standards, the town is very young. It was only incorporated in 1904. Okotoks has been and is still undergoing a significant growth in its population. As recently as the year 2000, the population was less than 10,000. Today, (and contrary to the population figure on the picture above), it is about to push through the 20,000 mark. Demographically it is a young town: 83 per cent of the town is under 45 years of age, with 30 per cent under the age of 19.
Despite its growth, Okotoks retains a friendly and small-town feel and there remains a strong sense of community pride and spirit. If you like your facts, you'll like this publication by Okotoks Town Council.
Okotoks Fact File 2008.pdf
Okotoks lies about 18km (11 miles) south of the southern edge of Calgary, Alberta. Okotoks to Central Calgary is approximately 46.7 km (30 miles). How long that would take you to drive is a subject of some debate. It depends on a number of factors, such as whether you were trying to get to downtown Calgary in the rush hour, whether you were driving legally and what the road and weather conditions were like. In the very best case, you would probably budget about 35 mins to drive from Okotoks to downtown Calgary and add time accordingly to reflect rush hour and poor conditions. You can be fairly predictable in estimating that it takes about 17 minutes to drive from the northern reaches of Okotoks to the southern reaches of Calgary in good road conditions.
There isn't any public transport to speak of, however, Southland, the people that run the school buses around here, do operate a morning and evening shuttle coach service to and from downtown Calgary. You can get the details here.
There is a live debate about the provision of a commuter bus service to Calgary in 2009 and longer term discussion about a rail link but it would be foolhardy to envisage the latter arriving any time soon.
Okotoks prides itself on its sustainability and even has areas (Drake Landing) with sustainable housing.
Sustainable Okotoks
More on areas to live, schools, recreation and more will follow.
J&E
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