BT Edmonton Blogs

Room with a view

When can I check in?    You are looking out one of the windows of  Num-Ti-Jah Lodge on highway 93, just north of Lake Louise.    Crowfoot Mountain holds court facing east - with Bow Lake lapping at its base.    Chris and Andrea are the innkeepers of this legendary and wonderful place.    A colourful character named Jimmy Simpson started to build the lodge in 1940 —  he had camped at the spot 40 years earlier and vowed that one day he would “build a shack here” … and he did!

DID YOU KNOW?    Jimmy Simpson was a famous guide and outfitter who came to Canada from England when he was 18.    His personality matched his fiery red hair.    The name Num-Ti-Jah, is a First Nations’(the Stoney people) word for pine marten, a small animal similar to a sable.    The lodge opens in the spring.       http://www.num-ti-jah.com/

TAKE ONLY PICTURES, LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS.    AND WHEN YOU TAKE THAT PICTURE – PLEASE SEND IT TO US.    THAT WAY, YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF OUR FRESH AIR PHOTO NATION.

Mighty Tiny Nuthatch

Tiny?    This little guy is about 4 inches, but is mighty hardy.    Meet the Red-breasted Nuthatch.    Murray tells us the nuthatch visits them off and on all day, every day.   On cold days this little guy will sit on the un-salted seeds, eat when ready, and fly away again.    Up close and personal birdwatching is one of the benefits of a window ledge feeder.  

DID YOU KNOW?    The nuthatch has a nickname  “Upside down bird“, because he goes head first on tree trunks and branches, looking in nooks and crannies looking for bits of food.

IF YOU CAPTURE A MOMENT IN TIME THAT INVOLVES BIRDS, BEES, FLOWERS “OR” TREES – WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT.    ON OUR MAIN WEBPAGE , LOOK FOR  “CONNECT WITH BT”  THEN  SEND US YOUR PHOTOS.    UPLOAD YOURS TODAY.

Fall in Love Cape Breton

To a hidden gem on our country’s east coast.    Welcome to Cox Heath Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.    History runs as deep as the beauty there.    Imagine standing on the bank on a warm fall day – surrounded by green grass and trees just starting to turn.    Shout outs go to Jim and his daughters Nicole and Sophia … they were visiting family in October for a family wedding.

DID YOU KNOW?    From the history books come stories dating back to the late 1700s.    At that time, British soldiers were stationed in Sydney – defending against the French.    Battles won, the soldiers decided to stay … and really, who could blame them!
Captain William Cox loved it too.    He would sail along the Sydney River–but at that time it was referred to as “ Spanish River ”.    He stayed, aquired land,….and over time, the area became known as “Cox’s Heath”.

WE OF THE FRESH AIR PHOTO NATION INVITE YOU TO JOIN US.    MEMBERSHIP IS FREE (WELL, KIND OF),….ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS A PICTURE OF MOTHER NATURE OR HER CREATURES.    UPLOAD YOURS TODAY!

In case you missed the forecast this morning!

Just a few short weeks after its release, it’s already made more than a BILLION AND A HALF dollars around the world. It won big at the Golden Globes, including “Best Drama” and “Best Director” for James Cameron. But when Bridget Ryan, Jason Carter, Owen Strasky and I went to see Avatar, we were blown away at how…underwhelmed we were.

Based on the numbers though, we had to be in the minority. I mean, it’s being called a masterpiece! A crowning achievement! One of the most impressive movies of all time! Is criticizing Avatar like nit-picking over the Mona Lisa? Like turning down The Beatles’ White album? Like spitting out the latest culinary creation by Wolfgang Puck?

Well, we didn’t care. On Wednesday’s BT, Bridget and I went public and ripped…errrr, “reviewed” Avatar. That’s when the emails started to pour in:

“I am happy to hear I am not the only one who didn’t like Avatar,” wrote Teigan. “The effects were amazing but the story was hard to follow.”

“This will be the poster boy for ‘Movies that shouldn’t have done well at the box office,’” wrote Brad.

“I’m amazed that my seemingly-intelligent friends think Avatar is a great movie,” wrote Tony. “Yes, it’s visually stunning. But that doesn’t excuse the movie for its simplistic story line. It’s like they packaged this children’s movie for adults by adding 3D.”

And then Chris sent us this:

What did you think of Avatar? Let us know!

rpj.

Who-who's in the backyard

Bragging rights go to Barb and Bill for having this visitor just before Christmas.    The mighty and Great Horned Owl  was holding court in their backyard.    He or she,  is recognizable by the feathery ear tufts (hence the name ’Horned’ owl).    They are one of Canada’s most common raptors, they like to hunt at night, and mate for life.    Some of the big healthy birds have a wing span of 5 feet.      

DID YOU KNOW?    The Great Horned Owl was adopted as Alberta’s provincial bird in May of 1977.    An owl’s favorite foods are insects and rodents.    They swallow their prey whole, and what they cannot digest(teeth, claws, and fur) they store in part of the stomach.    Strong muscles roll the undigested pieces into small balls, called pellets.    The owl coughs those pellets up.    While looking through the pellets, scientists have come across the skull of a mouse, or the leg of a beetle.  Sometimes even the scales of fish!

COUGH UP THAT PICTURE YOU HAVE OF THOSE FALL TREES, OR OF THE SUNSET FROM LAST WINTER.    ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH MOTHER NATURE OR HER CREATURES … WE WANT TO SEE.    UPLOAD YOUR PIC(S) TODAY!

Episode three:  Jake takes the plunge with Vienna, the mob bites back (led by Corrie), Michelle’s bluff is called and Elizabeth leaves without a kiss. Click on the video link below to see our BT Bachelor panel tee it all up!

Don’t miss The Bachelor every Monday night at 9pm here on Citytv. Our panel gets together every Tuesday morning at 7:40. See you bright and early!

rpj.

In case you missed the forecast this morning!