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Tag Archives: Elbow River

Come on another walk with me?

01 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, Out and About

≈ 57 Comments

Tags

17th Ave SW, 4th Street SW, Alberta, Calgary, Canada, Diana Schwenk, Elbow River, happy, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, living in the moment, moody, photos, Spring, walk

IMG_20150327_133450 (2)

“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.”
― Pablo Neruda

I had so much fun sharing A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words with you that I would like to invite you along on another walk, so to speak.

Forecasters had called for a sunny day on Friday, with temperatures possibly rising to 20c/68f. Although it was warm enough for me to go out wearing only a jean jacket over my jeans and t-shirt, the sun was losing its battle with the clouds.

A moody sky with a sliver of a chance for sun

A moody sky at noon with a sliver of a chance for sun

I don’t remember why, but my mood was dark. It seemed to be reflected in the sky as I headed out. Walking usually lifts my spirits, so with my BlackBerry in hand, I set out to capture photos of places I hadn’t shared here yet.

On the corner of 17th Ave and 4th Str SW

On the corner of 17th Ave and 4th Str SW

If I had a nickel for every time I saw a tourist pose with, and in the same stance as, this piece of art – well, I’d have a lot of nickels!

St. Mary's Cathedral

St. Mary’s Cathedral

I crossed over 4th Street and turned south toward St. Mary’s Cathedral. Up the road, just a little past the FCJ Centre is a bridge that crosses the Elbow River and leads to pathways that follow the river. Back before Michaela was born, I used to ride my bike all through there. Calgary has an amazing pathway system, you can get most anywhere by bike.

Backyards along the way border the Elbow River

Backyards along the way border the Elbow River

I love the reflection of the house and trees in the water. If you click on the image, you can see that damage from the 2013 flood still remains along the riverbank.

I wouldn't sit on this bench!

I wouldn’t sit on this bench!

Last week I showed you my thinking spot. That photo prompted Don over at Candid Impressions to write Thinking Spots.

Don I thought of you when I shot this bench – I wouldn’t recommend sitting on it though – see how the bank is completely eroded under it?

The pathways are shared by geese and people alike

The pathways are shared by geese and people alike

It’s like they don’t even notice people. These geese didn’t even flinch or glance at me when I passed. I continued on toward the bridge (top right)

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View from the bridge

This was my view from the bridge. When I stopped to shoot this picture, a woman walked past me. I soon caught up to her (I’m a fast walker) and said a cheerful ‘hello’ as I passed her.

Westways B&B

Westways B&B

I’ve lived in this city 25 years and have never noticed this Bed and Breakfast before.  I took a few shots and settled on this one to share with you. My Smartphone doesn’t do it justice, the B&B and its property are so pretty. While I stood there, the woman I’d passed earlier walked by and said, “See you in a bit!” We both laughed.

Recycling, compost and trash bins

Recycling, compost and trash bins

On my way back home, I saw these bins and immediately thought of Mark’s post, Binished Fusiness.  Mark, this is what our bins look like. Blue for recyclables, green for compost and black for trash.

One of my writing spots (13th Ave & 8th Str. SW)

One of my writing spots (13th Ave & 8th Str. SW)

On Sunday, notebook and pen in tow, I headed to my outdoor office (above) to write my Tuesday post for my other blog. Often, writing in long hand helps the words flow better or maybe it’s just my age and it’s somehow more familiar to me, comforting, reminding me of an earlier time.

A Rickshaw on 17th Ave

A Rickshaw on 17th Ave

I also saw my first rickshaw of the year that day – like budding trees, rickshaws are evidence that spring is here!

Well I hope you’ve enjoyed your second tour of my city. It’s been fun having you along!

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

Walking does me a heap of good. How do you snap yourself out of a dark mood? Which of the above pictures do you like best?

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Capturing Ugly

21 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, Out and About

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

Alberta, beauty, black & white, Calgary, children, daughters, Diana Schwenk, Elbow River, Hump Day Chronicles, living in the moment, Stephen Avenue Mall, Tourist in my own city, ugly, walk

THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WENT OUT ON TWO LONG WALKS.

On Saturday, I headed north toward the downtown core. The phrase ‘Concrete Jungle’  entered my mind and I was inspired to take pictures of the things that aren’t so pretty. I chose to shoot in black & white as it seems more stark and cold when capturing ugly.

This artistic structure is meant to cut down wind gusts on Stephen Avenue
Bikes and a piece of garbage on Stephen Avenue
Greenery atop the 4th Street overpass
Broken glass and garbage can at a bus stop shelter

Toppled construction sign
Barricade in front of a dirty window on 4th Street.
Attend services and get towed?
Fast food garbage on 13th Avenue

Step on a crack and…
A pylon lays down on 5th Street.
Garbage secured to fence on 5th Street.
A woman’s reflection caught in the mirror

See? Pretty on 17th Avenue
Broken sign leans on building on 7th Street
Alley between 17th and 18th Avenue
Tagged dumpster in alley

Parking lot behind my building.

On Monday, I headed south toward the Elbow River. I haven’t been that way in a long time. One of my favourite thinking spots is at the Elbow River Park.

Once, when Michaela was little I brought her to the park. I was watching her from above as she threw little, smooth, white stones into the river down below. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw geese walking toward her, circling in on her. When they stretched out their necks, they were taller than Michaela!

“Stop throwing stones Michaela, the geese think it’s bread!”

Panic registered on her face when she noticed the birds approaching. I laughed nervously and raced down to scoop her up in my arms. To this day, Michaela is petrified of birds.

Life pokes through bricks and wood on 30th Avenue
Dandelions flourish in grass gone wild on 30th Avenue.
A one year memorial marks the spot where some grads were killed in a car crash on Elbow Drive.

A stone bench at Elbow Park
Cobblestone leads down to Elbow River
Fencing to keep away dam building beavers

The root exposed by last year’s floods, yet the tree struggles to live
My thinking bench where the geese once circled in on Michaela
Sad thing is, I know people who eat mostly this.

A discarded mitten symbolizes the end of winter.
Ok, this one is plain ugly! In Canada Cigarette packs have gross, graphic images like this. Maybe they should do that with junk food and pop too?

This weekend, I set out to find ugly. What struck me almost immediately, was how hard it is for me to see ugly. I naturally look for beauty and couldn’t help shooting it.  Even when I managed to shoot ugly, I saw beauty. And when there was no beauty, I saw potential for it.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

What do you see when you look?

7 Simple things that give me joy

04 Wednesday Jul 2012

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, My Stories, Out and About

≈ 26 Comments

Tags

Calgary, Diana Schwenk, Elbow River, Olympic Plaza, Red Mile, simple pleasures

Today’s post is inspired, in part, by a recent blog I read on simple pleasures by Broadside.

To read her post, click here.

It reminded me that a lot of the things that bring joy to me are really quite simple.

Activities that cost little or nothing at all.

Mornings

I’m not really a morning person. But I love when I wake up early on the weekend, especially in the summer.

I open my sliding door to the quiet street

listening while the birds are singing, I sip my morning coffee

and the sun warms my face.

Walking

Walking is one of my great joys.  I can choose nature walks, explore 17th Ave or go downtown.

Stephen Avenue, Calgary.

Stephen Avenue, Calgary. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I like leaving my Blackberry at home.

No phone calls, no texts, no facebook updates, no tweets.

Just me and my thoughts and the beauty or goings-on of my neighbourhood to inspire and refresh me.

Your blogs

More than newspapers

I enjoy reading the thoughts of people on the blogs I follow.

Often I am struck with the realization of just how similar we all are.

I feel connected with my ‘blogging’ brothers and sisters.

I admire the courage of those who are struggling. I am ignited by the passions of those who are driven with purpose.

I’m reduced to tears of laughter by those gifted with a funny bone. And I treasure the stories of each and every one of you as if they were a part of you – perhaps they are.

Rotic Dates

What!!

Rotic, a term first coined by my friend Carmen.

Rotic is Romantic without the ‘man.’

A rotic evening can be spent with my girlfriends sharing a meal together or going out dancing.

Or trying out a new recipe, eating the meal and drinking a glass of wine by myself.

Being a tour guide

On Canada Day I had the pleasure of showing off my great city to my friend John who lives in Alaska.

Olympic Plaza in the Arts District

Olympic Plaza in the Arts District (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

John is on a motorcycle vacation and has passed through

Washington State, the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta

with a pit stop here in Calgary. In the next few days he

will be heading to Banff and Jasper

and then eventually back up to Alaska.

We did a walking tour through downtown Calgary.

We walked the Red Mile, and then down to Olympic Plaza and Prince’s Island Park and then back up to my neighbourhood.

We encountered hundreds of people, and took in the scent of blooming flowers and the mouth-watering aromas of scrumptious food.

We probably walked 80 blocks that day!

Water

When I need to think things through or just clear my head, I’ve always been drawn to water.

Here in Calgary, I most often end up at the Elbow River close to where I live.

I love the way the sunlight dances on the moving river.

How the ducks and geese land and take off from the river.

I love watching the joggers and cyclists who take advantage of the pathways winding through our city.

Sandy Beach in SW Calgary

And I take it all in while pushing myself back and forth on a swing.

Writing

I’ve always loved writing.

Sharing my experiences and stories in the written word.

Being able to express my thoughts,

and encourage conversation.

Writing enhances and fuels my passion to relate with, promote and speak community.

N.B. I would like to take this opportunity to wish my neighbours to the South a very Happy 4th of July!

What are some of your favourite things?

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