Family
5 photos

Owls
71 photos

I love owls..luckily I find most of mine in the wild. I do a couple in this set from the Coaldale, Alberta Birds of Prey Center. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this center it is amazing!!

Hawks, Merlins, Falcons
41 photos

Deer and Antelope
32 photos

Muskrats
24 photos

Porcupines
11 photos

Porcupines found in the wild

Black Crowned Night Heron
12 photos

Pelicans
6 photos

Something we don't see everyday here..pelicans on the prairie. Some of the evening shots are at Horsefly Lake (basically an oversized slough) south east of town. A nice suprise and even nicer that we had nice light when I got there.

Amphibians,Reptiles,Snakes
33 photos

Some of my own favorites
34 photos

some may have made Explore..or not...I really don't care. They are ones that I was happy with and happy to share.

Explored 2013
4 photos

EXPLORED 2012
6 photos

2010 Explored
10 photos

Some of my EXPLORED photos. I resized some of them to a smaller size and they were deleted. So these are the ones still in my photostream

2009 Explored
26 photos

Insects
20 photos

Little Animals
18 photos

WaterFowl and ShoreBirds
43 photos

Northern Flickers
24 photos

Flickers on Flikr!!

Small Birds
30 photos

Ringneck Pheasants
8 photos

Alberta Skies (2011)
11 photos

I am a sucker for a pretty sunrise or sunset. I think Alberta has the best! I hope my images portray just some of that beauty.

Sunrise/Sunsets
19 photos

Coaldale BOP 2011
17 photos

I love to visit the Birds of Prey center in Coaldale, Alberta. They have a wide variety of beautiful raptors and a staff that is so knowledgeable. This year they started construction on a new waterfall feature. It is going to be gorgeous when it is done! If you are ever in Southern Alberta this is a must see for any bird lover.

Coaldale BOP 2010
15 photos

I love visiting the center in any season. Always see something new to photograph both inside and outside of it. A wonderful place!

Coaldale BOP 2009
9 photos

A wonderful center for anyone who enjoys photographing birds of all kinds. They do great work educating the public .

Calgary Zoo
6 photos

Waterton 2011
17 photos

Southern Alberta has some of the most beautiful and interesting places you could ever want to visit. This just happens to be my favorite place. It is so beautiful and a photographers dream. Most of the shots in this set were done with my very well used old Canon 30D..and most are just pure "snapshots"

Waterton Alberta
23 photos

Southern Alberta
54 photos

Some shots from soutthern Alberta ...all within a few hours drive from our home

Autumn in Alberta 2010
8 photos

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love the cooler weather. I also love the vibrant colors and the earthy smells when I am out walking. Who can resist fresh crisp apples right off a tree or decorating with big orange pumpkins and crinkly gold and rust leaves?? I know that soon the snow will fly so try to make the most of each wonderful day !!

Blossoms and Blooms
29 photos

Flowers from Hubby
16 photos

Thought I would make a set of all the beautiful flowers my sweet husband gives me. After 35yrs I still think hes a keeper♥

Macro Mondays Set
14 photos

I have decided that I wanted to join a few groups and participate to get inspired and get my get my creative juices flowing again. I love doing nature photography but when the weather is lousy or my health prevents me from going out and finding critters and birds..well..I can stay inside and find something to shoot. I joined this group Macro Mondays in 2010 and never posted. I decided it was a new year and a good time to start. The first weekly challenge was "beliefs" I posted a shot of my little visionary statue from my friend Trish. I believe we all the ability to see how we want things to be ..and make it happen!

Toy In The Frame Thursdays
19 photos

A fun group!! It brings out the kid in me as I photograph my mascot, Cupcake..doing what she does best...making people smile :)) Cupcake is 8 inches tall from her pretty plaid bow to the bottom of her soft bear paws. She is fully jointed and has a wobbly head. This sweet bear is from the Ganz Cottage Collectibles collection. She was designed by Lorraine Chien and is handmade and signed on the bottom of her left back paw. Her number is 1391. Her sweet expression and soft fur makes this little cutie one of my beary favorites♥

Furry Fridays
5 photos

PocketMouse Mystique
4 photos

After loosing two dogs in less than a year (one to old age and one to disease) I was devastated. A friend,who had a Miniature Pinschers, and I were talking one night on the phone. She said to me " You need something to make you laugh again ! You need a MinPin!!" She contacted a friend of hers who had a litter of pups and on we made the arrangements to travel out to BC to get ours. On Thursday,Feb. 26th, 2004 we became the proud "furparents" to a teeny 2 lb 6 oz little girl! I was almost scared to hold her when she was put in my arms but hold her I did ....all the way home. Mystique is a little lady now who rules our home and our hearts. There has not been one day since we got her that we have not laughed at something she has done. She loves to cuddle with her "dad" and sleeps under a blanket on his lap when they watch tv together. The rest of time she is my girl and we spend every day together. She is spoiled (almost rotten lol) but thats ok. She loves squeaky toys and crisp fresh carrots, and car rides and Tim Hortons donut holes. She also loves to have me whisper into her cheek that she presses firmly against my lips lol She is my little dolly, my peanut, my Tiquey girl. My little pocket mouse..my Mystique.

Mz Pebbles
3 photos

On Dec. 08, 2011 we adopted a scared, little miniature dachshund. She was one of two brought to us after a couple of shelters turned them away. We did find a new home for the younger one..but Mz Pebbles had an air about her..I can only describe it as she seemed shattered. We learned she had been shuffled to two homes within a month. She is an amazing dog..knows all her basic obediance plus..and is house trained. She has bonded with my husband but loves me too..and the other furbabies she has to share her new home with. She will live out her days with us. We love her to pieces ♥

Moxy little ROXY
16 photos

January 22,2010 we brought a new little girl into our lives. She was a pre-owned dog, her people had a young, busy family and she was being abit neglected. They said she is a Maltese/Pomeranian cross.We think she looks like a yorkie. She is 8 months old, about 4-4.5lbs. and shouldn't get alot bigger. She is gentle and sweet and is friendly to the cats, my other dog Mystique, and to us. She is a little charmer..who does patty pats with her tiny paws on the floor when she is playing with you. She also gives the best kisses and snuggles into your neck with huge sighs when she gets tired. My wish is that she blends into our family and stays...forever. The hole that was left in my heart when we let Majik go is starting to fill up just a tiny bit already.

Miss Maggy Muggins
3 photos

On July 16,2010 we went to Cranbrook, British Coloumbia to pick up our new 3mth old puppy. She is a half sister to one of our other dogs, Roxy. They have the same dad, a handsome white Maltese. Maggies mom is a tan colored Pomeranian(so was Roxy's mom) She is a tiny little ball of fluff and totally adorable. We named her Maggy Muggins.

Shamus
4 photos

Cats and Dogs(not mine)
11 photos

Suki's World
74 photos

She was given to us because the people that owned her wanted a Siamese kitten for thier son and they had another older cat.The ladies husband said they were moving into a new house and were not taking three so she had to go. My husband and I went in with a little kennel and set it on the floor. She walked right in and made herself comfortable. We brought her home and she fit right in. Not to say it was all perfect from the start. She was very head shy and would try to bite or scratch if you touched her. It didn't take long for her to stop all that and with lots of treats and toys she even learned to play like a real cat. Her favorite game is "catch me if you can". She will come real close like she wants to be picked up ..but won't let you. She runs off with her tail all puffed up and arched and she hides until she thinks she can get to her next hiding spot without getting caught lol They had named her Lily. We changed it to Suki. It is a Japanese girls name We chose it as we were told that it means "like, beloved, or, one who is loved" She defineately is ♥ Update ...on April 23, 2012 we lost our precious Suki to a tragic accident. RIP my beautiful girl. I will ALWAYS love you and will never forget you.

Manny
6 photos

This is my son's Severe Macaw, Manny. He is a hand raised bird. He says a few words. He was owned by another person and was not taught manners. He is abit of a biter but with time I hope he will learn not too. * From Wikipedia:Severe Macaw (Ara severus) is one of the largest of the Mini-Macaws. It reaches a size of around 45 cm (18 in) of which around half is the length of the tail. They can be found over a large part of Northern South America from Panama south into Amazonian Brazil and northern Bolivia. Their lifespan is listed as anything from 30 to 80 years of age.

Peanut the BlueJay (to Dec 2010)
31 photos

A beautiful bluejay has recently decided to visit my backyard. He has befriended my husband and I. We have affectionately named him Peanut mostly because he loves the darned things so much . Also because we aren't sure if he is really a he or she and the name works for either /or. He has agreed to be my model and works for PEANUTS!! He deligently takes his precioius wages and deposits them in carefully chosen hiding spots, both in and outside of our yard. We have seen him stash them under leaves on the lawn. He will pick up one leaf and put it down, then pick up another until he finds one that he thinks is perfect. He then takes it to his peanut and covers it up. He looks around to make sure no one saw him then he comes and gets another one ...or ..more! He can also stuff up to three peanuts in his mouth if he wants and can flip them in the air to catch them! So amazing to watch! He usually comes all by himself and only occassionally have we seen two. He also comes if I go out and call him. I just have to wait a few minutes and soon I will hear his screechy call and in he comes to perch on the pole where his basket is. When he is really happy he makes a funny chortling sound. I can get about two to three feet from him now before he gets abit nervous and moves abit farther away. Maybe someday he will trust me enough to sit on my hand. :o)

Peanut the Bluejay (yr3)
4 photos

Spring of 2011 marks the third year that my pal Peanut found his way to our yard and our hearts. I had seen a seen a couple blue jays but never had any that frequented our yard. (they were not that common here) It took me a day of sitting out on the patio tempting him with peanuts before we were fast friends. If I was not outside when he came or his basket was empty he would come peck at my patio doors and then fly to his peanut basket where we "chatted". Hiding his peanuts under leaves, in a potted plant or up in the spruce tree, make me really LOL He brazenly scolds my cat and ignores my dogs. He comes when I call him much to my delight. He allows me to within approximately a foot before he gracefully moves to a nearby branch or back of a patio chair. In my opinion, he is a pretty darned neat bluejay. I am glad to have him for a friend :)

My Kitchen
19 photos

My kitchen really is the heart of my home. Friends and family usually find their way into the kitchen to talk to me or help sample some of the baking or cooking I enjoy sharing with them. We recently renovated, replacing the tired cupboards with painted maple. The worn out arborite was replaced with gleaming quartz. I always wanted a "farmhouse" style kitchen and had the cupboards built up to the ceiling. They put reproduction sparkle glass in the upper cupboards and bail handles and pulls on the doors and drawers. The nicest compliment I have gotten is from a friend who teared up when she said she remembered her grandparents kitchen. She said it even smelled the same...like a real home. :))

Treasures
33 photos

I am a collector of old things I love going to garage sales, thrift stores and antique stores in hopes of finding a piece that just calls my name.. I collect some old glass, wood furniture and many other things that I find interesting. They do not have to perfect because each piece is perfect in my eyes.

2011 Halloween
1 photos

Most people have thier favorite holiday and celebrate with gusto...at our house Halloween is the day that my 60yr.old kid of a husband can't wait for! He searches hi and lo to find that one perfect item to add to his ever growing collection of Halloween Scaries. I usually decorate the inside of the house and we invite friends and family to come have some fun with us. This year I am going to try to capture a few more memories for him to remember his favorite day by :)

Tora, Tora, Tora
6 photos

Lethbridge, Alberta Air Show (2008)

Taber Cornfest 2010
7 photos

Renos
9 photos

We have been slowly doing some renovations to our home ..I would NEVER do it again..but so far I love the results :) Cupboards done by Hiebert Cabinets in Bow Island.Shaker style painted maple Countertops are Hanstone quartz(Odessey) Tiles are Daltile Pulls and bale handles are Amerock Hardwood floors were done about 15yrs ago