Winter

It's been a hard winter this year. All of those "bad parts of winter" seem to have happened to me this year.

• I was stranded in a small town I was shooting a wedding in with now way to get home, had to spend the night. I was only 30kms from my house.
• A few days later I hit black ice while driving and wound up in the ditch.
• And this week, the furnace in our Rockyford house quit. The pipes burst. And we had some flooding.

Seriously, what's up?! Most winters are so-so, some cold, some snow but nothing major. This year it's been intense. I've got 7 feet of snow piled up on the front lawn.

There is a part of me that loves this weather though. Some years we'll get a little snow, but mostly just brown dead grass and muddy roads to stare at. This year has been white. And white is nice to look at. We seem to get a nasty cold front bringing temps in the minus twenties, followed by a few days of above freezing. Cycled on and off, over and over.

Right now I'm spending my days driving out to Rockyford, checking on how the dehumidifier is doing it's job, driving back and going about my typical business. Rockyford is a house that we used to live in, and then rented out as when we bought our new house in Strathmore. We haven't had tenants in it since August, and as such, no one noticed the temperature going down inside as the furnace was dying. And, snap. There goes a water line.

On the upside though, this winter has been one that I've been outside more than any other. With my new found interest in nordic skiing, some warm days for cycling and running, I've been outside in the beautiful winter a lot. And by beautiful, I mean gorgeous. This year has brought more picturesque scenes of perfectly smooth snow covered fields and tress that are all white with snow than any winter in recent memory. It's amazing. It's funny how a winter can bring the worst and the best of it's season all at the same time.

My direction: forget about the minor inconveniences of winter and focus on the awesomeness of this season. Winter, I'll take it!

Last night in Rockyford

Last night was our last night in Rockyford. We aren’t actually moving into our new house until next week, but I’ve got a bathroom that I need to renovate before our tenants move in, so we’re camping in our RV at my in-laws. The boys will have fun, and I’ll be able to make all the mess I need without making the family live in a construction zone.

So, being as it was the last night we would spend in Rockyford, we decided to head to the park, and then a walk around town. I brought my camera.

First, a healthy dose of playing at two of the parks in town.
Then, walked around and talk with others who were doing the same.

We checked out the fire trucks that were being serviced.

Then we came to a building that I’d wanted to shoot ever since we moved to Rockyford. I think it was a service station at one time. While I didn’t have my tripod (which would have made for many more possibilities) I was able to shoot some photos in the varying light conditions inside the building.

This was a great place to shoot. So many great compositions to be had. I could have spent hours shooting inside there, instead, the kids played outside for the 10 minutes I was inside. Some of the rooms were so dark that I couldn’t possibly get any photos without a tripod. If I had my tripod, there would have been so much more. Oh well, it’s good to be forced into being creative with what lighting and subjects you have on hand.

I love old broken down objects.

When I was shooting this, I wondered how many different cars it had filled up.

The restroom was out of service.

The fire extinguisher was gone, but the fire exit still worked, so, I left though it.

I'd love to come back to this building with a tripod and some flashlights. The outside light was still quite bright. I think the next time I come, I want to come right before dusk. With a tripod, you could get some more dramatic shots with dying light. Then, highlight certain areas with various flash light setups.

In playing around with simple flashlights, it's amazing how practical they can actually be in photography. Especially in shooting old buildings such as this one. Just get creative with how you use your light. Bounce it, defuse it, hide it. You name it. Just be creative and try using common household objects.

Rodeos like Xctracycles & Xtracycles like Rodeos

It's here. The rodeo in big R. Fireworks just ended, the mayhem ensues.

I've gotten some interesting looks on the extra tonight. First while my oldest and I went for a zip to pick up some Chinese food for diner. But, I must say, the Xtra is perfect for something like this. I don't have a stoker handle bar for my little helper, but he was just fine holding on to the seat post for the short distance we had. The old cardboard tray (I wonder if the restauraunt is trying to be a little greener - no more plastic bags) with our order, fit just great in the freeloaders.

My oldest waiting for the photos to be over. Anxiously awaiting the delicious food that is handled so nicely by them there feeloaders.

Second task; pick up all of the admission wrist bands and the float for opening the gate tomorrow morning. I walked over to get it, and had no idea I would also need to pick up the box full of programs and a several boxes of wrist bands along with a rather chunky home-made cashiers box with $600 spankies inside. I walked back home, grabbed the Xtra, and made easy work of the task at hand.

Free loaders loaded up with paper. Not a light load by any mean, but very well handled.

This bike just fills a void left by almost any other bike, and it has such an incredibly wide range of uses/errands/deployments, you always seem to be finding new tasks to use it for.



If you don't own one of these Xtracycle rigs, I highly suggest you get one. You'll be amazed at how much you'll use it, and how incredibly easy it make a difficult task on bike or foot, easy.

Back in the Day

Our little town (actually it's classified as a village) has a pretty neat history. Some of the key family's have celebrated more than 100 years in Rockyford. With the Rodeo coming up this weekend (I'll be working the admission gate) I thought I'd see what I can find out on ye ole interweb about this little shin-dig. I immediately was distracted by an interesting site with old pictures from all over Canada. Many pages of pictures from Rockyford alone! This one in particular stood out to me. Harwood motors in 1934. Notice the bicycle? Notice the jokesters filling it up with gas? Not much has changed. Lots of folks ride around in the summer, and most of the men in town (at least the ones that share with me Lion's membership) are always looking for a good laugh. I guess it's just part of our heritage. I love this little town.