AN AUTUMN COUNTRY DRIVE

NEARING THE TAIL END OF SEPTEMBER CAN MEAN FEWER AND FEWER WARM DAYS WHEN YOU LIVE IN NORTHERN ALBERTA.

SO BECAUSE I HAD MY WHOLE AFTERNOON FREE AND IT WAS A PICTURE PERFECT SUNNY DAY I DECIDED TO JUMP IN THE CAR AND HEAD OUT TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN TO SEE IF I COULD CAPTURE SOME OF THE BEAUTY OF THE SEASON.

HEADING WEST I SOON ENDED UP ON A DIRT ROAD WHICH WAS NOT THE IDEAL PLAN AS TERRY HAD RECENTLY WASHED AND POLISHED UP MY CAR UP NICE AND SHINY. BUT I DID ENJOY THE VIEWS OF THE ‘RIDGE AND FURROWS’ OF THE FIELDS AND THE BEAUTIFUL, SQUARE HAY BALES.

THE SUN SENT DAPPLED LIGHT THROUGH THE DANCING LEAVES OF THE ASPENS BUT THE SKY WAS A BIT SMOKEY ALL THE WAY OVER FROM THE CALIFORNIA FIRES!

I NOTICED SOME UNUSUAL COUNTRY DRIVEWAY DECORATIONS IN THE FORM OF STUFFED HORSES . BUT MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE DRIVE WAS STOPPING AT A PROPERTY WHERE ACTUAL, LIVE HORSES WERE HAVING THEIR AFTERNOON SNACK. I MADE MY WAY OVER TO THE FENCE AND ONE, BRAVE ,BEAUTIFUL MARE CAME OVER AND NIBBLED AT SOME GRASSES I HELD OUT IN MY HAND. SHE LET ME SOFTLY CARESS HER NOSE AND PAT HER FLANK. THERE WERE ABOUT 10 HORSES ALL TOGETHER AND IT WAS THE MOST LOVELY, PASTORAL SCENE.

IT FELT GOOD TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND ENJOY THE DAY IN THIS WAY. MY PARENTS INSTILLED IN ME THE LOVE OF GOING FOR DRIVES AND IT STILL IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PASTIMES.