kitties

Tom, the farm kitty, is seriously snoozing during the hubub of customers picking up produce during the CSA!  I couldn't believe how unperturbed he was!

Tigra looks at me with earnest eyes.  I know what she's thinking.  something that is never far from her hungry mind--"Do you have food?"

sleepy Oliver 

Arizona kitty

getting comfy

PS:  to clarify-- Tom is my friends' kitty and lives on a farm; Tigra is my daughter's kitty and lives with her in Asheville;  Oliver lives with me!; and the Arizona kitty was photographed in a park in Phoenix where I was visiting.

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is  "K."  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!  


 
all iPhone--photos by me  © 2013 and 2014   all rights reserved

Plain of Six Glaciers

a favorite hike
in three installments

Part Three

The hike continues from last week's POST.

It's time to leave the wonderful teahouse with its delicious food and refreshing drinks and head down the path.  Going down is SO much easier!

Lake Louise is in the distance.  Can you see the 2 people?  Their size will give you an idea of the scale.  (hint:  They're on the middle left blending into the rocks.)

The path goes through this talus field but it has been cleared of rocks, so no climbing is required.

back down at the edge of the lake.  We've crossed the rocks-in-the-water path (6th photo).  The water really is silvery gray.


a truly wonderful hike with Jaw dropping scenery the entire way!  Then at the end of the upward/downward path, at the far end of the lake, I was totally enthralled by the colors.  the COLORS!  I took a bazillion photos.  I could have spent hours here just absorbing the beauty.  Joyful!

The silvery gray glacial water feeds into the lake turning turquoise.  It's September and Fall, so some of the leaves are becoming golden.  The yellow contrasts with the deep forest green of evergreen trees.  (Those are tall trees across the lake!)

The water is luscious and clear but oh so cold!  Later we dip our feet in but can bear it for only seconds!

commentary from the first week:
Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada is one of the most spectacular places on Earth.  My husband and I were privileged to visit twice in 2 consecutive years.  The Plain of  Six Glaciers is my top, number 1 favorite hike I've ever done.  This is because the scenery is breathtakingly spectacular every single step of the way!  My photos do not do justice.  Yet I offer them as a small taste of possibility.

There are links in the first week's POST.  You can also see a map of this hike and will note that it is basically straight up.

The color of the water is due to the suspension of fine rock ground by the movement of the glacier and called glacier flour.  The milky silvery gray water has the most glacial flour suspended in it. 

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is  "J."   --for Jaw dropping and Joy--  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!  


 
 
photos by me  © 2013   all rights reserved

a harvest

from the deck garden today...

a few of the edibles I picked

clockwise from top:  kale, cucumber, mixed lettuce/ mesclun/ Asian greens, banana petter (not hot), Thai basil, hot peppers, arugula, parsley
in the middle:  green/yellow/purple beans, variety of small tomatoes, sweet basil, cilantro blossoms

Last year's experiment of growing "green" beans in pots was very successful.  This year's experiment is growing cucumbers in a pot.  I've already harvested 4, and more are growing on the vines.

Wordless Wednesday/ Wordy Wednesday--where I linked up: 

  The Art and Tree Chatter of  Aquariann

  (Zombie Movie Night)

Create with Joy

(Tsunami [kitty] On Guard) 

photo by me © 2014  all rights reserved

Plain of Six Glaciers

a favorite hike
in three installments
 

PART TWO

 

The hike continues from last week's POST.  

surrounded by Intense beauty

Look closely and you will see that there is a metal chain along the rock wall.  Using it wasn't necessary because the path was wide enough and not slippery.

looking back at Lake Louise

almost there!

a bench on which to sit and absorb the views and pristine air

the tea house!  where fresh bread, soup, sandwiches, sweets, and tea are offered 

I love the idea of a tea house high up in the mountains where one can relax and revive after a hike.

How do all the supplies get way up here?  What happens to the garbage?

 

The scenery at this point and along the entire hike is Intensely beautiful.  From here there is a trail that climbs up to a glacier.  That's a hike for another trip!

 
commentary from last week:
Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada is one of the most spectacular places on Earth.  My husband and I were privileged to visit twice in 2 consecutive years.  The Plain of  Six Glaciers is my top, number 1 favorite hike I've ever done.  This is because the scenery is breathtakingly spectacular every single step of the way!  My photos do not do justice.  Yet I offer them as a small taste of possibility.

There are links in last week's POST as well.  You can also see a map of this hike and will note that it is basically straight up.

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is  "I."   --for Intense Beauty--  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!  


Thank you, Ms Jenny, for hostessing another round! 
 
photos by me  © 2013   all rights reserved

Plain of Six Glaciers

a favorite hike 
in three installments

PART ONE

Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada is one of the most spectacular places on Earth.  My husband and I were privileged to visit twice in 2 consecutive years.  The Plain of  Six Glaciers is my top, number 1 favorite hike I've ever done.  This is because the scenery is breathtakingly spectacular every single step of the way!  My photos do not do justice.  Yet I offer them as a small taste of possibility.

The hike begins on the far side of the lake after walking on the paved pathway.

The lake is a beautiful turquoise or emerald depending on sunshine, clouds, and time of day.  We're aiming for the valley between the mountains at the back of this photo.  

Looking back, see The Fairmont Lake Louise hotel, where this hike began.

 nearly at the far end of the lake now
NOTE:  We did not have to climb over these rocks.  They were beside the path which is still flat at this point.

a popular spot for rock climbing.  See the climber?  (turquoise jacket)

The path continues on and is still fairly level and even.

Now we must cross over the silvery water on a path of rocks.

The path begins to rise, traveling through forest and meadow.

aaahhh... the intense beauty!  (oops..that's next week's post!)

the intersection of several paths.  2nd to last arrow says Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House--that is where we are heading!  (Yes a tea house high in the mountains!  more on that next week)

The scenery is constantly breathtaking!  The silvery strip is the glacial stream that feeds into the lake.

I will leave you with this view and continue the hike next week.

source:  google maps from this website

The large blue lake is Lake Louise.  The hike we took is the long, rather straight yellow one that extends down and to the left.  (The path is basically straight up with some switchbacks.  3.3 miles [5.3km] one way, 1198 feet [365m] elevation gain)

LINKS: 
Parks Canada--Banff
Banff Lake Louise--map of Lake Louise area with hikes indicated and brief descriptions below
photos with descriptions of Plain of Six Glaciers hike (Steve Hall)

Alphabe-Thursday, hosted by Ms Jenny, is so much fun!  This week our letter is  "H."   --for Hike--  Come visit others' submissions HERE and join in the fun!  


Thank you, Ms Jenny, for hostessing another round! 
 
photos by me  © 2013   all rights reserved

feasting

on the nectar of hosta flowers

Wordless Wednesday/ Wordy Wednesday--where I linked up: 

  The Art and Tree Chatter of Aquariann

  (yellow lilies at Wagamons Pond)

Create with Joy

(Majestic Magellan) 

 
photo by me © 2014  all rights reserved