Porte Photos’ Daily Pic: Saturday, September 27th, 2025 – World Tourism Day

Posted on by Porte Photos

“You can’t see the world
through a mirror”

~ Avril Lavigne
Singer and songwriter
Born on: 27th September 1984

Porte Ponderings:

The afternoon of our last day in Calgary, we met with Harold’s friend Cal. Cal had been an usher at Harold’s first wedding. Cal took us for a pickup ride to the Provincial Park near Carseland AB, Wyndham-Carsleland Provincial Park.

The size of the area was overwhelming. Thousands of seagulls, but none were close enough to ID.

Porte Photos’ Daily Pic: Friday, September 26th, 2025 – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

Posted on by Porte Photos

“Life is a lot like jazz…
it’s best when you improvise”

~ George Gershwin
Composer
Born on: 26th September 1898

Porte Ponderings:

Friday was our last full day in Calgary. I wanted to go hiking at Fish Creek Provincial Park. I followed the GPS to the entrance and started to walk, then I had to go to the washroom. None were open in the area I was walking. The swimming areas were closed for the season and so was all access to washrooms. So, I had to leave after only a very short walk. I ended up going to Winners (they always have a washroom) and buying a pair of earrings and glasses. I couldn’t figure out other accesses to the park and had promised I would be back by noon so…

But I did get to see a Northern Flicker, 2 great horned owls and a Downy Woodpecker. I would never have seen the Great Horned Owls if not for the generous birders on the trail.

  • Black-billed magpie
  • Fish Creek Provincial Park
  • Northern Flicker
  • Great Horned Owl
  • Great Horned Owl
  • Downy Woodpecker

Porte Photos’ Daily Pic: Thursday, September 25th, 2025 – Daughter’s Day

Posted on by Porte Photos

“To avoid criticism,
say nothing,
do nothing,
be nothing”

~ Robert M. Gates
United States Secretary of Defence
Born on: 25th September 1943

Porte Ponderings:

Even if you say nothing, do nothing and be nothing you will still be criticized…..

Once you get to the Alberta Badlands, you need to go to the Dinosaur Museum…Royal Tyrrell Museum. An amazing display of bones artistically arranged. The most complete collection of preserved dinosaurs in the world.

Porte Photos’ Daily Pic: Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 – Cherries Jubilee Day

Posted on by Porte Photos

“Imagination was given to man
to compensate him for what he isn’t.
A sense of humour was provided
to console him for what he is”

~ Horace Walpole
The 4th Earl of Orford
was an English art historian and politician
Born on: 24th September 1717

Porte Ponderings:

The main purpose for our trip to Calgary was to meet Harold’s biological brother Dave for the first time. We had an amazing meal that Dave’s wife Barb insisted on paying for at Taste of Italy in Calgary. The conversation and wine was amazing. With promises of a second meeting on Friday, I didn’t take any pictures of our intimate group. Never wait to take pictures. Our second meeting was cancelled and we may never be able to see them in person again.

On the Thursday, I went for a drive to see the Alberta badlands. Dave told me about how the Red River had cut deep into the ground and exposed layers of history. Even the glaciers hadn’t erased the huge cut into the surface of the earth. There was even the Royal Tyrrell Museum that I shouldn’t miss on my trip to Calgary. This wasn’t something Harold was interested in so I went solo into the badlands. So much to see.

  • Cotton-tail jack rabbit. At least 2X the size of Rickie.
  • Wilson’s Snipe
  • Alberta Badlands
  • HooDoo’s
  • Bus tour group at the HooDoo’s
  • Alberta Badlands
  • HooDoo
  • Alberta Badlands
  • Alberta Badlands
  • Alberta Badlands
  • My rental car
  • Huge ranches
  • Phoebe
  • Dorothy AB
  • Mountain Bluebird
  • Dorothy AB
  • Thanks to the cyclists for taking this picture of me on the Bridge at Dorothy AB
  • Red River
  • Dorothy AB
  • Pale Snaketail
  • Clouded sulphur
  • Dorothy AB
  • Dorothy AB
  • Dorothy AB

Porte Photos’ Daily Pic: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025 – Rosh Hashana

Posted on by Porte Photos

“Don’t retire
– inspire”

~ Mickey Rooney
Actor
Born on: 23rd September 1920

Porte Ponderings:

The first day of our holiday to Calgary Alberta started very early. We arrived at 8:30 AM and couldn’t check into our room until 4PM. So, after sleeping in the car and charging up Harold’s scooter, we went to Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. The building was only open until 4 so this worked perfectly. 400 acres in the city of Calgary, with pave walking paths, beside the Bow river. Lots of water birds to see. The Common Merganser stole the show but there were also lots of Wood Ducks and Canada Geese.

  • Calgary Alberta
  • Train tracks beside the bird sanctuary
  • Harold in his “native” home.
  • Canada Geese
  • Male Wood Duck
  • Canada Geese
  • Sweethearts on the bridge
  • Artistic touch
  • Over the bridge
  • Female Common Merganser
  • Still Water, but not deep

Porte Photos’ Daily Pic: Monday, September 22nd, 2025 – Fall/Autumn Equinox

Posted on by Porte Photos

“Dreams are the seeds of change.
Nothing ever grows without a seed,
and nothing ever changes without a dream.“

~ Debby Boone
American – Actress 
Born: September 22, 1956

Porte Ponderings:

Back in the office and catching up on all my vacation photos, starting with our Family September Birthday Celebrations: