Hmm. A messy borrowed – sort of – title, and a short post.
We’re staggering towards the end of this academic year – I can’t remember it being this busy in other years, so I guess early middle age must be catching up with me. We did find time to take a short trip out onto the prairies and plains. We passed through grasslands and ranch lands, tracking the Red Deer river, and stopping in the small (very small) town of Big Valley. Friendly small towns and big spaces – that calls for Paul Brandt on the radio:
Big Valley is nestled in knob and kettle country, and what lovely scenery that is. Plus, you know, knob and kettle. The childish delight I have in writing that…Almost every kettle had ducks on the water – it was a waterfowl wonderland, and a very pretty habitat. And yet I don’t have a duck in any of the photos? To be honest, each little family of ducks looked so content, I couldn’t bring myself to stop and take a picture in case we disturbed them. The kettle lakes are close to the road, and although they were visible in all directions, we would have been too close.
Old train cars and trucks aren’t sensitive, and parked, they can’t escape. Yup, here comes another old truck photograph. This one, parked up in Big Valley, is the oldest we’ve seen recently, and a beauty:
The railway used to run through here, and enthusiasts keep part of the line open and run trains between Stettler and Big Valley. Maybe we’ll make time to take that short trip one afternoon, for the fun of it. We were happy enough to sit in the sun, and then wander around the train cars and old farm machinery. 
A couple of pleasant Big Valley hours, and then back through knob and kettle (can’t help it) country, heading home, with a little more Paul Brandt. He is Mr. Alberta summer soundtrack!
A brief post, as promised. I hope you enjoyed the music, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend – thanks for reading!
OldPlaidCamper 
What a wonderful adventure to Big Valley, pc, thanks for bringing us along. I love prairies, I find the open skies so freeing, and the wildlife peaceful. Fun to see the other parts too, the old railroad days, and the handsome old truck. Good luck in the closing weeks of your classes, I am sure it is not easy.
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Thanks, Jet! Yes, time out on the prairies and under those big skies is always enjoyable – it is easy enough, at least as a visitor, to be pretty carefree out there.
We’ve entered the last week of term, and all of a sudden, teaching has become a little more carefree. Strange, that…
I hope your week is off to a fine start (I read your comment over at Mike’s blog that you’re being treated to the sights and sounds of young chickadees close to home – wonderful!)
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Cool photos, Adam. Knob and kettle is a catchy phrase, isn’t it. I think we called it “pothole country” back in the day, which isn’t half as alluring, but those kettles or potholes always intrigued the birder-me, with their great assortment of avian life. Hope your early summer and your explorations are fine ones!
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Thanks, Walt! Yeah, knob and kettle is a catchy little description for a lovely landscape – aiming to head out there late summer/early fall armed with binoculars and a zoom to check out the bird life.
We are mere days away from the end of term and the start of summer. Phew! More than ready to take a trip…
Hope you’re having a fine time in/on and near the water!
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Knob and kettle, now that is a new one for me. Love the photos, more trucks, yay! love them gleaming or rusting critters 🙂 have a wonderful weekend, the end of the school year is looming. Or did it loom already? do I need to go back and re-read? lol my age is catching up with me too! cheers~
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Thanks, Margaret! Yup, summer has about loomed (what a terrible expression from a teacher, hehe) with four more days left of term, then school’s out and so are we.
I’m with you on trucks – love to see them, because gleaming or battered, they have character.
I hope your week is off to a great start!
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Loved the songs by Paul Brandt and had to add him to my music library! Wonderful photos, especially the clouds on the water and over the road. Good luck finishing up the school year and when you hear from that wealthy relative, text him a photo of the great truck you found in Big Valley!
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Haha, that wealthy relative is keeping a very low profile…
An album or two by Paul Brandt is a good addition to a music library! He doesn’t release new material that often, but when he does, it’s usually pretty good, with old school country and more modern sounds all in the mix.
A little aside – Mrs. PlaidCamper saw the latest Gabby photograph and now she’s googling local Yorkie breeders!
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I’m already looking forward to the first photo of your Yorkie in your new kayak! Yorkie’s love listening to music, but prefer traveling in a Jeep more than a pickup truck.🙂
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