I forgot the jellyfish & octopus

At the Vancouver Aquarium I was mesmerized by the 3 different species of jellyfish. I could have stood by the tanks for days - I took a zillion pictures - though they are not creatures you want to meet in water - they are spectacularly fascinating to watch behind glass - balletic, zenlike,

delicate and surprisingly beautiful.

It is -25 % today and we are about to take Santiago for a walk. BRRRR.

Vancouver Flora and Fauna Holiday

Long time No Blog

Busy gallivanting around with friends.

Took a fabulous road trip through BC to Vancouver with our friends Don and Linda - laughed all the way.

Ate all the way as well.

BC = lush vegetation. Very overwhelming after 2 years in the semi-arid area of Banff with pine trees and grass. BC is like a tropical forest.

Saw dear old friends in Vancouver after a long gap of years - it was as if we hadn't missed any time between visits.

The heron made me think of the East coast.

The turtle was at the Aquarium. LOVED Stanly Park.

We walked every downtown & loved the Sylvia Hotel on English Bay where we stayed.

Charley in a tree trunk.

A Coot - look at its feet - you can tell it's a water bird. It's a coot and I am an old coot.

Swan in the rain - oh yes it rained the whole time we were there but it didn't stop us from loving everything. Raccoons in Stanley Park begging for food from people.

Had to laugh that I was taking pictures of them - since my brothers would both say they are int he backyards all the time - knocking on the patio doors.

It's still here and so are the robins

What can I say! September 21st

Wow - I was knocked out by the sky today

A rainbow and clouds - wish I had my new camera with me but I didn't. The second last picture of grasses makes me think of Van Gogh's Starry Night.

Snow to shorebirds

The mountains ringing the Bow Valley are all covered with snow!

Maybe these shots will cool off those of you in the sweltering heat.

We are still waiting for summer and now we are deep into fall.

Charlie gave me a new camera for my birthday and I love it. I can now take closeups of flowers and birds. Hooray. I am still very inept using it and I hope to take a free course being offered at the centre.

The birds I think are Greater Yellowlegs. (Tell me if you think otherwise - I am not good on shorebirds). Migration has begun.

These 2 baby ducks were on the Bow River - can one of my knowledgeable bird friends please tell me what they are?

I searched the internet I wasn't successful in identifying them since the adults look so different from the immatures.

Wasn't sure if they were ruddy ducks, harlequins, or maybe they aren't even ducks at all...geese?

So much smoke in Alberta from BC forest fires I have had to stay inside for 2 days.

On the long weekend we had friends here from New York City - and we hiked up to the Plain of the Six Glaciers. very beautiful.

Up near the top - this was a big hike for me in terms of altitude and up- it was about 14 kilometres I think round-trip.

Lake Louise Hotel in the far distance - on the way back from the climb.

Morraine Lake, Lake Louise again, and Gladioli.

What could be more Canadian than a Mountie in Banff?

We had wonderful guests all through July and it made me realize something. I miss the people I love - all across the country - and beyond - and I love Banff (and it is a great adventure living here and we feel very blessed) but I do really miss family and friends.