Waterton Renewed

Waterton Park had its own kind of charm on Monday, Victoria Day, 2024. One park visitor exclaimed "It was 10 times more than what I expected it to be." On Monday afternoon, it was drizzly and rainy with a little bit of slush mixed in. My husband and I decided to make the drive to Waterton thinking that the bad weather should not dictate to us that we had to stay home. We enjoyed the beauty, serenity and, the sighting of wildlife. Prior to the town site, we were met, right and left, with a carpet of gold, arrow leafed balsam root plant, that from a distance resembled the yellow of daffodils.

Sometimes on the Victoria Week-end we see so many people we can't count them all. By late Monday many of the mobile home camping spots were vacant. The tent camping spots were totally empty. Some might have thought that the snow on Friday was a deterrent. After soaking in the quietness of the town, we headed towards Cameron Lake. Tiny white blossoms and yellow blossoms dotted the sides of the road. They were still few and small, but visible, as were the willows and bushes just beginning to bud out. There, we saw the new conifer seedlings carpeting the ground amongst the burnt out stand of the lodge pole pines. I was once concerned that the park was not doing enough to replenish the tree population in that area after the Kenow Wildfire came through Waterton in September of 2017. Now I see their wisdom. After a fire, nature does renew itself.

Rain met us at Cameron where there was still ice candled in the water. The pontoons for the docks were still on dry land. There, we visited with people from Texas staying at the Prince of Wales Hotel and a couple with German accents. Though they were wet, they were still thrilled with their week-end.

We found sunshine and wildlife on our way down the mountain road. A grouse was just sitting in the middle of the road. A black bear cub nibbled at the grass with its back just 20 yards from a few mountain sheep. Another 50 yards down the road, more mountain sheep were seen on an embankment intently watching for something. It could have been the mother bear.

Around the last bend, before the town site, 2 mule deer bucks in velvet sauntered in front of our vehicle with a larger one still in the bushes.

Close to the park gates, two Canada geese were wading in the water on the bank of the Waterton River. Willow trees were just budding out on the water's edge and new quaking aspens are now 4-6 feet tall. Then, six or more white tailed deer jumped across the road heading for the hills. We figured that the 3 hours spent soaking up the beauty, serenity and the wildlife was time well spent and certainly rewarding for a cold and rainy day.

Nature: How serene!

Value: Nature To Hadley, solitude is yoga. To Emily, solitude is reading the scriptures. Today, my solitude is sitting in my car at the park under the shade of a tree with a warm breeze whispering through the front windows. The cottonwood leaves were shimmering high above where wispy and powder-puff clouds hover above. The birds are chirping in the distance accompanied by the whiz of vehicles about 300 yards away. The squeak of the playground swings are accompanied by father and child interacting and mother and son playing catch with a beach ball. Sounds echo close by in the slam of a car door and the conversations of two cyclists swiftly passing by my car. How serene! Two roller bladers pass by on the walking path 30 yards away. A flag waves proudly in the distance on the top of a tall building and some quail run swiftly across the pathway and grass into the bushes by my side. Nature is serenity - beautiful and peaceful. Value Nature!

Hillside Funeral

Value: Serenity We were at the funeral last week of a first cousin once removed. As each of the five grown children got up to tell little stories about their mother it was evident that their mother loved a good time with her family laughing and singing, hiking and traveling. She spent many hours improving her education and researching her ancestors. As each child told of fun family experiences the congregation was entertained by their comical treasured moments with their mom. On a more serious note, the music and final remarks by her Bishop reminded us of the Gospel plan of where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. As the family and friends gathered at the grave site, we were surprised to learn of a delay in the final graveside service. Many could have found fault or could have been upset, but as the cool breeze blew across the hillside, family and friends waited patiently providing more time for family to visit and to meditate on the beautiful surroundings of the final resting place of this dear mother. Value serenity!