You had to know there was going to be another bale post sometime

Beside Highway 16 in Saskatchewan east of Lloydminster.

I Tried to Call . . .

I tried to call . . .

. . . but the operator in Alvena said the lines were all busy.

- Michael Truman

Past Presence Website

Temporarily moderating comments

Got hit with over one hundred spam comments.

Had no idea this site was so popular.

Running back to Saskatoon

I was fed up with the government restrictions due to COVID in Alberta. Retail is open, personal services are open by appointment only, however restaurants are still takeout only. After six weeks of this I wanted to go to a restaurant, sit down, and enjoy a meal out.

Restaurants are open in Saskatchewan. Last Saturday I drove from Leduc, Alberta (I live in the area) to Saskatoon. There are closer places I could have driven to but I know a restaurant in Saskatoon with really good food. The trip was close to six hours.

The food was worth the trip. Ribs, brisket, shrimp, green beans, garlic mashed potatoes, chased with draught beer. Service was excellent. It was cold in Saskatoon.

Later I dropped in to a liquor store. I am always on the lookout for certain items. Sometimes stuff that you bought years ago disappears off the market in some places and if you are like me, you see if you can find it again. I lucked out and found an item that I had been seeking for a number of years. On the shelf was about eight bottles of Quails' Gate Late Harvest Botrytis affected Optima. The Quails' Gate British Columbia Okanagan Valley wine is a dessert wine affected by the growth of a micro flora known as Botrytis Cinerea. I had bought this years ago and loved it and then never saw it again. Now it was eye level on the shelf. I bought three bottles (I should have bought all of them but you never know if something is as good as you remember) and tried one when I got home. Very nice. The other two were squirreled away.

I am not saying where I got the wine. I might drive back to get the rest.

I stayed overnight because it felt good to escape cabin fever and I did not feel like getting back home at about two in the morning. It was definitely colder in the morning. I went out to start the car in -32C weather. I really have to wear something other than running shoes all winter. The car started, it always has. Screw global warming, I let it run for twenty minutes before driving off. I checked the weather reports, severe cold weather warnings for about half of the way back. The highways were bare with no snow. When I got back Leduc was more welcoming at -16C.

Canola

A reminder of what summer was like.

Last summer somewhere near Three Hills, Alberta.

Masefield School

Or, more accurately . . . what's left of Masefield School.

I believe this is where the fire was stoked on cold winter days.

- Michael Truman

Past Presence Website

Moose Lake

Moose Lake is west of Jasper, Alberta on Highway 16.

Late afternoon on August 16, 2020 I was heading back home from a quick road trip into British Columbia. It was over thirty degrees Celsius, air conditioning was not working well, and I was hot. I pulled over, slipped off my sneakers, and cooled my feet in the lake. 

Nirvana.

A touch of frost

Had some wonderful frost in rural Alberta so I tried to capture it.

Results are mixed.

Paintearth County, Alberta January 9, 2021

 

So . . .

We live in strange times.

COVID restrictions are kind of affecting my ability to get out and about and in turn are affecting posts.

In the last part of last year I was strongly thinking of just ending the blog for good on January 1, 2021. Without going into detail life was getting to be a bit much. There were too many things to deal with from too many sources. That has lessened somewhat.

Anyway what posts there are will be intermittent for now. 

Braddock Town Hall

Braddock Town Hall was established in 1927 . . .

. . . and is the home of the annual Harvest Stomp in October.

Braddock is near Gouldtown, Saskatchewan.

- Michael Truman

Past Presence Website

Somewhat back

Tired and needed a break.

Did not really feel like posting. This latest lockdown is depressing. We are working our way through six weeks of restrictions. The only plus is that with a number of businesses closed or restricted is that I am saving money simply because I cannot spend it. I do not shop online.

My turkey that I ordered and picked up on December 24th was fine. On Christmas Day I drove to my mother's place to drop off turkey with dressing, vegetables, and potatoes. At this date it does not look like I am getting my plastic containers back. I am not going to press the issue, I will just buy more. Mom either forgot or needs them more than I do.

I like to take a drive on New Year's Day. The world seems to be a bit quieter on that day and I think it is a good way to start the year. I drove from the Leduc area on Highway 16 to Jasper, then south on Highway 93, then east on Highway 11 to Nordegg, Rocky Mountain House, then at Red Deer onto Highway 2 home. This route was to get out into the mountains, stop and breathe the air, and enjoy the silence. Unfortunately the only wildlife I encountered was a fox and a very friendly crow at a roadside turnout. I expected more sun, some of the shots are a little bleak.

I would have loved to stay overnight in Jasper. With the latest rules all of the restaurants are closed, it is takeout only. I would rather spend more time when more is available and dine it. The lack of amenities will affect the frequency of posting.

Yes, the water is that shade of green.

More of you need to read this blog

Simply because it is a good one.

michaeltruman.blogspot.com

Taking a bit of a break

Which I should have mentioned earlier.

In the meantime:

glenbowe.home.blog/2021/01/01/the-bittern-lake-ranch/

What will the new year bring?

Three hundred sixty five opportunities.

May your 2021 be nothing but perfect.