Storm Clouds and Rain

The world is a fascinating place and when someone comes to our attention such as Mike Olbinski with his video "Monsoon III", storm clouds and rain are seen by us laymen in a different light. Would like to share this:

Monsoon III (4K) from Mike Olbinski on Vimeo.

If that didn't inspire you to get out with your camera and learn the art of time laps photography, then nothing will. 

So until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It"

Ken Helm's Farm Visit

Sunday October 15, 2017 

        

            A prefect day for a Photo Shoot. Starting out at 9:00am, we stopped for an Egg Mac Muffin to go. Our destination was the east side of Keremeos on highway 3, so we stopped at the lookout over the Osoyoos Valley and Randal inhaled his breakfast. Even though I had already eaten my nutritional, including the Body Balance, I didn't feel hungry but I ate the English muffin ham and egg sandwich anyway. Looking across the valley to the new development called Osoyoos Cottage County and then south towards Osoyoos to see a beautiful mix of green and gold fall colours.

 

        We continued west on #3 towards Keremeos, through Silkemeem Indian Reserve. Just before Keremeos we turned on Lowe Drive to get us to Ken Helm's Farm. The Osoyoos Photo Club visits yearly for a photo shoot. This year Ken was presented a beautiful picture book of photography taken by club members from past years.

 

 

The 14 acre farm was once an orchard and since 1975 when Ken bought it he has collected hundred's of old rusty vehicles and antiques which are housed in many small sheds and houses. The grounds are beautifully groomed as the orchard's water system is still in place. It over looks the valley and is framed by the mountain ranges.

 

The photographers began wandered around to capture their finest pictures. A group of dogs were begging to have someone through a very wet ball for them to chase.

 

I took the small Canon camera and wandered around as well. I took over 115 pictures. There was so much to see in this totally relaxing place. I took my pen and note paper to write what I saw. No cell phone to do texting or look at Facebook.

 

Ken has created many seating area for one to sit and contemplate. By an old trailer, sheds, under trees and by work shops.

 

A few cattle watched as the group enjoyed the morning.

 

 

Trees, vines and bushes grew around or through many of the vehicles that displayed many shades of rusty and aging markings.

 

Lower down from the main part there were several old vehicles of many makes. Hudson, Volkswagen, Pontiac, Buick, Nash, Chevrolet, Meteor, Packard, LaSalle, Desoto, Thames, Thunderbird, Austin, and Lincoln Zipher to name a few. As I sat there, my eye closed imagining the original owners and how they felt when they first drove their new car so many years ago.

 

The best place of all was Ken's "Man-Cave" where he had an early Emerson Roll Record Player and a Vinyls player. There were comfortable chairs, an old heater and many games in the room.

 

Video By Lorraine - one of Ken's records "Which witch is which: 

 

 

It was truly a serene environment and I could have spent more hours there.

 

Star: The original Dodge was a circle, with two Greek deltas intertwined representing the letter "D",[27] forming a six-pointed star in the middle; an interlocked "DB" was at the center of the star, and the words "Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicles" encircled the outside edge. Although similar to the Star of David, the Dodge brothers were not Jewish; they were Methodists. Although the "Brothers" was dropped from the name for trucks in 1929 and cars in 1930, the DB star remained in the cars until the 1939 models were introduced

 

All in all a good day in the sun.

 

 

 

So until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It".

Welcome Sunshine

Sunday September 10, 2017

 

Well I wanted to start by saying welcome to the clear skies and sunshine. It has been some time that the views have been obscured by smoke from the many fires to the North and South of us.

 

 

 Yesterday we had a bit of rain here and it did rain further north which help clear the skies last night. So getting up this morning there was a renewed freshness in the air.   

 

 

The highway into town was vacant of traffic.

 

 



Along the highway many of the attractions were preparing for the day's visitors.

 

 

Hold on to your hats as the good weather is bound to get everyone outside again. The lake was looking very inviting as some kayakers had the very same thought.  

 

 

 

 

The views are fantastic today, even the top of Mount Kobo can be seen. The parks have been watered all summer and now with cooler temperatures they are looking very green.

 

   

 

Well I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy the sun shine, I know I will.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Blackbird Sings

The end of summer has arrived and the Red-winged Blackbird calls but not as enthusiastically as it did in the spring.

Many of the birds in this area are gearing up for their trip south to warmer climates. Today Lorraine was thrilled to see White Pelicans on the lake, we had many sightings in Saskatchewan but not many here.

With the end of summer we will also start seeing more SnowBirds heading this way.

The summer has been dry this year. We have not had any rain since the beginning of June. This has dried the forests to the point that anything can start a fire. It has made the air quite smoky and visibility low. 

These fishermen try their best to catch something.

Hip deep in water makes it hard to land a fish. The gulls watch on from a high.

 Still others prefer to use boats and keep their feet dry.

Speaking of boats there is not many still in town, as the trailer parking area is almost empty.

 On a lighter note, the Monarch Butterfly stopped off for something to eat before heading to it's wintering spot in the deep south.

So we all hope the summer will end with a nice soaking rain.

May the spirit of the blackbird be with you to sing a happy fall tune.

So until next time remember to "Discover It and Live It".