I added a touch of filter to this image in post=processing.
It had been too hot to venture out recently and then we had two or three gloomy, much cooler days, with a bit of rain. Now we are back to heat.
The other night, I discovered what must have been causing the absolute chaos with my computer mouse. Every click, every single thing I needed to do, I would have to try 10-20 times in order for it to work. Things that would normally take perhaps half an hour have been taking me a few hours to do. Been driving me nuts the last few weeks. My place has been just too hot inside (high 20Cs to low 30Cs) and, with a couple of cooler days, all seems to suddenly be back to normal.
On 20 July, I went for my first physiotheray appointment for my injured right shoulder. Apparently, I have a frozen shoulder as well as the completely torn tendons from my trip and bad fall in September 2022. Great physio assessment and treatment for an hour and a half, which included acupuncture, TENS, ultrasound, and suction cups.
Like in so many other places, and for so many other people, the weather has been crazy - either smoky, hot, or rainy - or all three at once. The other day, the smoke from our Alberta wildfires returned to the Calgary area. Almost every day the past few weeks, the weather forecast has included risk of thunderstorm, rain, sometimes smoke. Some days, the forecast turned out to be accurate, many days it turned out to be wrong. Anyway, on 13 July 2023, I needed to get out for a while. Also, I read that the berry U-picks at the Saskatoon Farm start on 17 July, which will mean that the parking lots will be packed, so I wanted to avoid that.
I hadn't been to the Farm since last year, perhaps a couple of months after September, when I had my bad trip and fall. During all the (7!) winter months, there was no way I wanted to be walking on snow and ice, given all the damage to my body from my fall, and definitely wanting to avoid any risk of slipping or tripping again! I really missed calling in at the Farm and having either a delicious breakfast or lunch. So, finally, I made myself do this on 13 July 2023.
It felt good wandering the grounds and walking through the greenhouse, taking a few photos. Fresh garden vegetables have started being available, but not yet broccoli, etc.. Knowing that I only wanted a light bag to carry back to the car, I chose a few white potatoes (delicious) and a bunch of golden beets.
After the Farm, I had planned to drive straight home but changed my mind and took the longer way back, via Blackie. The canola fields were just beautiful. A few birds were seen, including one of my favourites, a Wilson's Snipe. I had seen a Snipe at this location before, but it was not my more usual place.
The weather was a mix of Alberta wildfire smoke, wind, overcast, and rain (part of the time). Far from ideal conditions for photography, but it felt good to get out.
