Natural Dyeing and a New Project

November 9, 2017November 9, 2017D

Naturally dyed in goldenrod and indigo.

A new project is in the works, Pure Wear Canada. This is an expansion of what started with my project Handmade in Canada. Pure Wear Canada is focusing on naturally dyed premium knits, but not contained to a Canadian theme.

Currently works are in progress and will be appearing in the online shop at www.purewearcanada.com over the next few weeks. This is an exciting direction that opens up more and more possibilities. Pop by the site, or check us out on Facebook and Instagram (@purewearcanada) if you have a spare minute.

Solar Eclipse 2017

August 21, 2017August 21, 2017D

Partial solar eclipse as seen from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

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Architectural Photography in Black and White

May 3, 2017May 3, 2017D

Yesterday I was shooting a few architectural images for a client. Even when I am shooting something specific, I often look to take a few shots that appeal to me simply for their artistic merit.

The contrast of the steep peak of the church against the clouds caught my eye. Such strong lines made it so interesting.

The historic home edited to black and white was like stepping back in time. Elegant and timeless.

Other images from yesterday’s shooting can be found by clicking HERE.

It is so nice that spring has arrived, the blue skies are back, and soon we may even have leaves making for prettier pictures.

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Last Ski of the Season? – Heritage Ranch (Red Deer, AB, Canada)

March 14, 2017March 14, 2017D

After days and days of cold temperatures and snow, it has finally warmed up . By afternoon the temperature had reached +2C and it seemed the perfect weather for a ski.

Today I decided to try Heritage Ranch for my ski spot, I thought a (literal) change of scenery would be nice, instead of skiing my usual route.

The trails were definitely a little bit slippy today with the warming temperatures. I will admit I paused at the top of the long hill before going down it, trying to decide how slippery it was going to be coming back up. After watching another skier tackle it with a slow “snowplow”, I decided to take the same approach.

As I only had a limited amount of time to ski, the plan was to go down to the base of the hill to the large open field and then turn around and go back up.

At the bottom of the hill I had a change of plan. It was pretty slippery in spots on the hill, and I knew it was not going to be fun going back up. I decided to go with “Plan B” and take the bridleway that snakes through the back way instead. It seemed to be a better option to break trail through fluffy snow, than spend the next 10 – 15 minutes sliding uphill. The “unofficial way ” seemed to be the most sensible option.

This just might be the last ski of the season, at least for skiing in Red Deer (Alberta, Canada). The forecast for the next six days is calling for temperatures above zero. Perhaps spring IS going to arrive.

iPhone pics by Debra Hunter

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The Start of Gardening Season

March 13, 2017March 13, 2017D 5 Comments

Last night was the start of gardening season. It may be -22C with windchill outside, and snow deep on the ground, but it is time to get ready for the spring and summer growing season.

This year we are starting quite a range inside, even vegetables you traditionally directly seed into the garden, in an attempt to get some vegetables early.

The list of what we planted is as follows: tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, cabbage, lettuce, cilantro, basil, spinach, chard and kale. We also planted seeds for marigolds and calendula. Little bits of a large range of vegetables to hopefully get a head start on our 2017 garden.

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Opus Daily Practice – day 9

February 10, 2017February 10, 2017D

Opus Daily Practice day 9. The theme was “muted”. As much as I thought about creating a muted piece to fit the theme I am currently working on, the more the weather outside called to the theme. So after a quick snowshoe, I set about to do a quick , muted, en plein air watercolour. […]

via Opus Daily Practice – day 9 — Debra Hunter – Canadian photography, art and handmade

First Ski of February

February 2, 2017February 2, 2017D

A quick afternoon ski in Barrett Park (Red Deer, Alberta, Canada) made for a nice afternoon break. The sun helped to warm up the cold temperature Environment Canada was reporting, but the wind chill reared it’s ugly head as I skied in the south-west direction.

The trails have hardly been used since I was last on them. I think many people are thinking they are too icy, but in truth they are only really proving to be a problem on the uphills.

It is such a treat to have urban parks with ski trails set. It makes going for a ski no more difficult than going for a neighbourhood walk. The only downside is my snowshoes are feeling pretty lonely this year, having been pushed aside for skiing and the great workout it brings.

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Ski Afternoon

January 11, 2017January 11, 2017D 1 Comment

This afternoon our weather finally improved. When I say “improved”, I mean it was -15C with windchill rather than -30C (with windchill), and the sun was out. The weather seemed nice enough to go for an afternoon ski.

We’ve had snow and wind over the past several days causing the set ski tracks to practically disappear. On occasion you could see roughly the direction they traveled, but for the most part it was breaking a brand new trail.

The first 5 minutes of skiing brought lovely weather, and then the wind whipped up, and with it came the blowing snow.

The few pictures I took were on my phone, and they were fast pictures as my fingers, outside of my mitts, were freezing fast.

Even in the cold there was a lot to look at. The Waskasoo Creek, frozen and covered with snow, was quite picturesque.

There were also a lot of interesting tracks in the snow……..

…..not just the ones I made.

(Skiing “selfie” before I had to put on my hat.)

*** Skiing area at Barrett Park, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

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Boxing Day and Ski Fun

December 26, 2016December 26, 2016D

With Christmas Day behind us, Boxing day always brings with it a very relaxed day. It is a nice break after enduring weeks over-scheduled with obligations. I like Christmas, I just don’t get the craziness. I like buying my family gifts, but it doesn’t need to be over the top. I prefer a rather laid back version of Christmas.

So as my family enjoyed the afternoon building with Lincoln Logs and Lego, and giving the PS4 a good workout, I ventured out to play with my new toys…..skis.

My husband and family treated me to cross country skiing equipment for Christmas. Years ago I skied a lot, but in recent years I had swapped skiing for snowshoeing. Now with everyone in school, I am able to sneak away during the day for an hour here and there, so it is the perfect time to get back into the sport.

We are lucky enough to have groomed trails just around the corner, with a lovely loop of trails in Barrett Park ( Red Deer, Alberta, Canada ). This makes for a picturesque ski with views of the woods, creek and bridges. This afternoon also included viewing a coyote in the distance, which is always a treat.

At -20C, it was cool out. My feet and body stayed warm with the skiing, but my legs, fingers and face sure felt the cold.

The final part of the ski also allowed me to watch the Boxing Day sun set. I’m sure there will be many more blog posts featuring skiing in the coming weeks.