Winter retreat

Photo Randy Vanderveen LaGlace, Alberta 3/11/2014 A foal sticks close to mom in a field east of LaGlace where several dozen horses were feeding on hay. The horse appeared to be the youngest of all the animals gathered in the pasture.After a long hard winter, it appears that winter is finally retreating in the Peace Country and that spring may have sprung — although I am sure Old Man Winter will have one or two kicks before retiring.

Here are a few photos shot recently which look forward to spring's arrival. The change of seasons provides plenty of opportunities for a photographer to hone his or her skills.

Photo Randy Vanderveen LaGlace, Alberta 2/27/2014 A late bison calf, born Halloween, stays close to the more mature animals on the Black Velvet Buffalo Farm northwest of LaGlace. Usually calves are born in May but despite its late start this youngster has managed to handle a hard winter.Photo Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie Alberta 3/4/2014 Todd Wagner, of Troyer Enterprises Ltd., is reflected in a hubcap as he fires off a burst of water from his wand to prevent it from freezing up as he prepares to wash a piece of bale handling equipment in preparation for last week's Peace Country Ag Classic at Evergreen Park. Photo Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie Alberta 3/4/2014 Todd Wagner, of Troyer Enterprises Ltd., almost disappears in a cloud of steam as he and co-worker Daryl English (not pictured) wash a piece of bale handling equipment in preparation for last week's Peace Country Ag Classic at Evergreen Park.

Space[s]

Here are a few recent photos. See if you can see the title of this post in the photos as a theme. Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta 2/20/2014 Col. Chris Hadfield appears to be re visualizing his first lift off as he talks at the Growing the North Conference.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta 2/25/2014 A deer warily looks up from foraging for food among a stand of trees on a farm south of Grande Prairie on a cold February morning. Deep snow and cold have resulted in wildlife seeking food where it is more readily available including on farms and near livestock feed.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Wembley, Alberta 2/25/2014 A pair of cows look down a narrow alleyway between two pens on a farm south west of Wembley. Cattle producers will soon be busy with calving, not made any easier by the extreme cold that hit the Prairies at the end of February and the beginning of March.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Wembley, Alberta 2/25/2014 A coyote looks back over its shoulder before heading into a stand of trees west of Wembley. The deep snow this winter has made it harder for wildlife to get around easily.•••

I attended the Growing the North conference at Evergreen Park and it was well worth it for the speakers and information.

It was also great to see Walter Paszkowski recognized by the organizers.

I first met Walter more than 20 years ago and I can't think of any one who could possibly have worked harder than he does to champion the Peace Country and northern Alberta. He appears to always be ready to greet you with a smile and a wave.

He started as town councillor and then mayor of Sexsmith and went on to run as an MLA. Once he retired as MLA in 2001 he worked hard as the County of Grande Prairie Economic Development officer and came up with the idea of Growing the North and worked at getting the annual event off the ground.

He recently retired from the county and is stepping back from the Growing the North to enjoy some much needed time for himself and his wife Marlyss.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta 2/19/2014 Walter Paszkowski, who retired as the County of Grande Prairie economic development officer, addresses the crowd as he was honoured in front delegates to the Growing the North conference at Evergreen Park Wednesday. The two-day annual conference, which marked its fifth year, was the brain child of Paszkowski along with several other leaders in the South Peace region.

Catching up

Photo: Randy Vanderveen Beaverlodge, Alberta Taegan Bradshaw works with Ban, a horse she is training in a paddock on the southern outskirts of Beaverlodge., while a second horse Blaze watches the proceedings. The temperature, while still below average, was beginning to warm up making it a pleasant morning to be outside.

Wow does time ever slip away. I had no idea it had been so long since the last post. I apologize. Here are some samples of recent work. I hope you enjoy.

Photo Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie Air bubbles circulating through algae growing in tubes provides an abstract image in this photo taken late last year for Grande Prairie Regional College.

Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta Deer look up from feeding on hay in a farmer's field southwest of Grande Prairie. Wildlife like deer and elk can cause extensive damage to bales on Western Canadian farms, although in this case it looks like the hay was spread out for the animals.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Wembley, Alberta Empty shot gun cartridges litter the ground near a small lake north of Wembley. Most hunters are responsible and will ask permission and clean up shell casings and spent cartridges.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Wembley, Alberta Steam rises from around the base of a rig operating south of Wembley. Farmers could be hit with higher input costs as the price of diesel, propane and natural gas have all been on the rise in recent weeks.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Beaverlodge, Alberta Elk feed on a bale in a pasture on a farm southwest of Beaverlodge, Wednesday, Feb. 12. Elk ranching, while not as popular as bison, remains one of the stronger non-traditional livestock species on Alberta farms. According to the Alberta Elk Commission website the current estimates for numbers of elk farms and farmed elk total 800 farms and 35,000 elk in CanadaPhoto: Randy Vanderveen Hythe, Alberta A tractor-mounted snow blower clears the night's accumulation of snow off the driveway of a Hythe-area farm. While the quantity of snow that's fallen in February doesn't compare to the amount which fell in November and December, there has still been enough to keep both snow removal crews and private residents busy removing the white stuff.

October Eve

The municipal elections in Alberta are traditionally held the third Monday in October. Here are some election night photos.

Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta Monday, October 21, 2013 Bill Given gives an interview to media after successfully being reelected as mayor Monday, Oct. 21, as municipal election results were coming in and being tabulated. Municipal candidates were voted in for a four-year term this election up from the previous three-year term.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta Monday, October 21, 2013 Bill Given, returned as mayor, is hidden by the camera as a scrum is reflected in a convex mirror in city hall. Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta Monday, October 21, 2013 Mayoral challenger Gladys Blackmore gives an interview election night at city hall. Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta Monday, October 21, 2013 David Olinger is silhouetted against early results displayed on a screen at city hall Monday, Oct. 21.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta Monday, October 21, 2013 Chelsea Lewis, a worker in the city's communication and research department preps graphics and results for the webcast Monday, Oct. 21, as municipal election results were coming in and being tabulated. Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta Monday, October 21, 2013 The election webcast is watched on a mobile phone Monday, Oct. 21, as municipal election results were coming in and being tabulated. Municipal candidates were voted in for a four-year term this election up from the previous three-year term.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta Monday, October 21, 2013 Rory Tarant accesses the live web cast at his election night headquarters Monday, Oct. 21, as municipal election results were coming in and being tabulated. Municipal candidates were voted in for a four-year term this election up from the previous three-year term.Photo: Randy Vanderveen Grande Prairie, Alberta Monday, October 21, 2013 James Palmer signs into the elections website at John Croken, his father-in-laws election night headquarters Monday, Oct. 21, as municipal election results were coming in and being tabulated. Municipal candidates were voted in for a four-year term this election up from the previous three-year term.

Autumn's look

Photo: Randy Vanderveen Wanham, Alberta Thursday, September 19, 2013 Combines work in unison as members of the Codessa Colony east of Wanham harvest a field of canola Thursday, Sept. 19. The crews are approximately half done as they were slowed down by an inch and a half of rain that fell earlier in the week.

Fall arrived a little later this September in the Peace Country. However, the warm late summer temperatures provided an opportunity for area farmers to complete harvest in good conditions.

Here are a few recent samples of work.

Photo: Randy Vanderveen Eaglesham, Alberta Thursday, September 19, 2013 Albert Cotton checks on the progress of the wheat he is loading onto his grain truck from a granary. Autumn is a busy time throughout the Peace Country farming community.

Photo: Randy Vanderveen Eaglesham, Alberta Thursday, September 19, 2013 A flock of Canada geese take flight into the evening sky east of Eaglesham. The birds gather in large numbers as they graze in area fields fuelling up for the long migration to winter grounds.