Souvenir Photo Studio, by Al Bourassa

Friday, February 28, 2014

Friday February 28, 2014 Canada

Please note that you can SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog if you enjoy the photos and the accompanying stories.

I certainly hope you enjoy my work which is displayed here, perfect or not. Comments are graciously accepted at aljbourassa@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Also please see my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com/

All work is COPYRIGHT protected and may not be used in any way without purchase, or without my permission.

Friday February 28, 2014

Pardon my long absence but before I sold my home in Okotoks I had to get rid of everything, including my computer.

I am now back in Cuenca and have selected a few photos from Feb 14-25 from Canada to share with you. While I will miss the fresh snowfalls and my deer, I won't miss the cold, the wind, the ice, and the shoveling.

It was wonderful to be with friends and family that treated me so very well and it makes a return visit much higher on the agenda.

Upon my return I made up some new nectar for my buddy, Tom Thumb, and he was waiting to be hand-fed this morning. That sure made me feel good that he hadn't forgotten me. I will try out my new 2x extender soon to capture his images for you.

Hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

This is Em + Gord's Cheemo

He is just a friendly giant Golden Retriever

A profile of his un-drooly serious look

This is his normal happy look

Jane is putting Cheemo through the paces in competition trainng

These poles are not far apart but Cheemo twists his big body through

His agility is absolutely amazing

He grins and is really happy to be pleasing everyone

He just roars through the tunnels

He knows that treats wait for him when he is obedient

More slalom through the poles

Ready to make the final jump

Mom looks great at 97+

Betty Mac treated me to supper

Loved the sign

Got a chance to visit Auntie Celine and Chris in St Albert

One of Jill's flowers

Memories on the mantle

My jock grandkids

Grandson Dawson and Ash

Jill and Grand-daughter Danai

My son Todd is a rock-hound. This is part of his collection.

Todd, Tyson and Heather in Wetaskiwin

Two coyotes crossing a frozen field

Buried snowfence

Beauty in winter

Pumpjack and rig near Red Deer

Train going past Red Deer

Another pumpjack

A long train crossing the prairie, in sight of the Rockies

Winter scene with the Rockies on the horizon

Calgary skyline seen from the new Stony Trail bypass

Emily teaches piano to new student Macie

It is hard to believe that tiny Macie is 7 years old

Em also teaches this lovely girl whose name escapes me

Busy learning music...

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Sunday February 9, 2014 Frost, Sundogs

Please note that you can SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog if you enjoy the photos and the accompanying stories.

I certainly hope you enjoy my work which is displayed here, perfect or not. Comments are graciously accepted at aljbourassa@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Also please see my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com/

All work is COPYRIGHT protected and may not be used in any way without purchase, or without my permission.

Sunday February 9, 2014

Almost down to the end of sales of home furnishings, so tomorrow we concentrate with the packers so everything is ready to go to Women In Need on Tuesday.

I managed to slip out to see Mom along with my sister Leonie and we saw some gorgeous hoar frost decorating the trees along the route. Mom decided we would play some tile rummy today. Even at age 97 she trounced us both! Then we had some pizza for supper and came home at dusk to view some sundogs trying to form. Then we had just a spectacular sunset... I have 3 more days to savour this from my deck....

Hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

Hoar Frost is truly one of the delights of winter

This is the land we tried to buy with the house we wanted to build

I still cry every time I drive by here

The trees look so pretty with all that frosting

Mom can still beat us at tile rummy!

Can you see the sundogs forming?

They are two rainbows well apart on either side of the sun

I have seen photos where they completely ring the sun

We still loved this beautiful sight

The sunset a few minutes later was fantastic

Sunset on the Rockies! What a fabulous sight!

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Saturday February 8 , 2014 Okotoks

Please note that you can SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog if you enjoy the photos and the accompanying stories.

I certainly hope you enjoy my work which is displayed here, perfect or not. Comments are graciously accepted at aljbourassa@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Also please see my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com/

All work is COPYRIGHT protected and may not be used in any way without purchase, or without my permission.

Saturday February 8 , 2014

We have accomplished a lot in the past week in organizing the sale of everything in Okotoks. In the next 3 days we will be rid of all the contents and in 6 days we will surrender the house and car to the new owners.

I was going to keep the car until the 25th but I am having my first cataract surgery on my left eye on Thursday the 13th, and I can't drive for a week. But then I follow that with cataract surgery on my right eye on the 18th, and I can't drive for another week,... and I leave on the 26th.

I thank my lucky stars for good friends like Em and Gord who are going to rescue my homeless self and drive me around too. They have been the greatest friends for 12 years and always are willing to lend a hand to a person in need. God bless them.

I have a few more photos over the last few days and one was a lucky capture of 3 squirrels in Ted & Janet's yard, one statue in the yard and two live ones attacking the bird feeders.... The sunsets, mountains and deer are a constant joy.

Hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

Feb 4 misty morning

Feb 4 Misty sunset

I had to capture this for posterior, ..I mean posterity

Before I sold these I needed to get these shots

Feb 5 at noon, gorgeous Rockies

I wish I could have kept these too

Feb 5 Sunset silhouetting the Rockies

Feb 6 sunset. Note there is no wind as the chimney smoke rises straight up

1 fake and 2 live squirrels in this shot Feb 8

A bunch of deer at dusk Feb 8 on the other escarpment

Monday, February 3, 2014

Monday February 3 , 2014 Deer, Sunsets

Please note that you can SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog if you enjoy the photos and the accompanying stories.

I certainly hope you enjoy my work which is displayed here, perfect or not. Comments are graciously accepted at aljbourassa@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Also please see my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com/

All work is COPYRIGHT protected and may not be used in any way without purchase, or without my permission.

Monday February 3 , 2014

My fingers are so sore from scrubbing, cleaning, lifting, sorting, and being washed 100 times a day. But I am beginning to see the light at the end of this tunnel. I have recycled tons of stuff and donated a bunch more so the place is emptying out.

My deer friends continue to visit, but not when there is a snowstorm like this morning. But the afternoon was sunny and bright so I managed to get outside and do a lots of my chores.

Hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

7 Deer friends visited last evening

I waited for the leader to jump the fence but he eventually just turned away

This beauty took a rest just below our dining room

I sure am going to miss these gentle creatures

I won't miss these snowstorms though

This is the late shot, manual, hand-held one second


We had a pretty tame sunset tonight

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Saturday February 1, 2014 Tracks, Rockies

Please note that you can SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog if you enjoy the photos and the accompanying stories.

I certainly hope you enjoy my work which is displayed here, perfect or not. Comments are graciously accepted at aljbourassa@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Also please see my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com/

All work is COPYRIGHT protected and may not be used in any way without purchase, or without my permission.

Saturday February 1, 2014

So busy with the problems of disposing of everything but things seem to be finally falling into place. Have sold a few things, at least enough to put a deposit on a packing company to get everything ready for final disposal. Women In Need will come and take just about everything on Feb 11th. At least I will have a telephone, computer, and a bed until I am forced out into the street on the 14th.

While I hate the necessity to shovel snow, I truly love a fresh snowfall making everything so clean and white, and making the Rockies so darn beautiful. The deer, rabbit and prairie chickens make such neat patterns in the new snow.

The actual SOLD sign finally went on our sign at the front. It is amazing how many folks cruise our cul-de-sac to see if any of these homes come up for sale. We are beginning to see the light at the end of this tunnel. Maybe now I might get a night's sleep...

Hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al