Charley's Theatre Dept. BBQ Lake Minnewanka, Banff

Fortunately we did not have to eat gravel like the big-horned sheep.

We had a lovely evening with burgers, and sausages on the grill,

games of soccer with Santi

and beautiful scenery...even sunshine.

I have decided I am Santi's

"Pawpararazzi" always taking pictures of her.

The pictures you don't see

The pictures you don't see are of the hummingbird feeder with the rufous hummingbirds.

We have had 6 weeks of cold wet weather and I was so worried about how the hummingbirds would make it - so I bought a hummingbird feeder and the nectar and within a day we had several hummingbirds find the feeder and now every day from dawn till at least 9:30 pm we have them coming to the balcony.

The rufous hummingbird is bronze, and coppery coloured and absolutely beautiful. Quite different from the ruby throated variety which is what I was used to seeing.

I also planted my window boxes and bought a beautiful hanging basket for our balcony.

The first two pictures are from the annual car show that was here this weekend (and a sunny day! until it rained).

The red car I took a picture of for our friend Gordon because I thought it was a British Wolsley - which is what one of his antique cars is - the other being a 1952 (?) MG - but it turns out this is a Pontiac - what do I know.

The trucks I took the photo for my brother Bob.

The lilacs aren't even out here & it is late June.

The last picture is Santi saying "Don't tease me Charley - give me the cookie NOW"

pictures from the past few weeks

Grey for the entire month of May and early June - the past weekend

glorious, hot and sunny, now thunderstorms today.

Picture

1) nest of baby birds in a hanging basket at the greenhouse nursery where I went to buy plants

they say there is a nest every year and the fledglings hatch and fly away

2 & 3)

flowering crab(?) and mock orange blossoms against a blue! sky

4) one of a flock of Bohemian Waxwings in my friends backyard

5 -7) grey and Mount Rundle with a cloud spouting of its peak in a funnel

8) Killdeer at Vermillion Lakes

9) Calypso Orchids at Johnson Lake we saw dozens of clumps of these tiny fragile beauties

10) Loon on the nest on a tiny island in Johnson Lake

11)Red-wing Blackbird

12) reflection

13) surreal looking trees at Warner Stables with horse & rider (great birding spot in the marsh there - that's where the sora is)

14) baby mallard in that marsh

15) Northern Shoveller, male, in that marsh

16) grey - there was lots of it

17) the dappled section of grass is where the cougar killed the deer - that building (yes, just inches from the spot) is where Kathy, Charley and I all work - just so you don't think I am exaggerating when I say...near our offices.

My new Office Mate - always in a good mood

This is Oakley.

She is in the office a few times a week and we all are wrapped around her paw. She is so well-behaved.!

Often I turn around to find her lying on the floor behind me. Quiet as a mouse.

Just one reason to love the new office space into which we moved. We share the very nice offices of the Mountain Film Festival Department.

I am as excited at the large kitchen as I am with Oakley. Very nice.

What has not been very nice is the weather. Snow, cold grey fr most of May and June has continued to be that way too. It is like November here...but I will say the small amount of rain (and the snow) is needed since we were heading for a dangerously dry season.