While it's true that I hunt to feed my family, it's also true that I love nature. There is something amazing about being out doors and seeing God's beautiful creation and observing the wide open spaces around. This is why I love Alberta. Within minutes of my home, you can easily see herds of mule deer, whitetail deer, elk and the occasional moose – and I live on the prairies. This, of course, is in addition to the badgers, squirrels, prairiedogs, coyotes, eagles, hawks, falcons and a myriad of other creatures.

I do love Alberta. God. Nature. Hunting. Guns, and the freedom to partake in these pleasures on my land and around the area.

Posing Fuzzy Young Guy Curious Young Guy Coming Closer

This young guy was quite curious, but has a few more years ahead of him before we invite him over for dinner. In the meantime, he gets to follow around some ladies, shed, scratch his antlers on the trees (which I heard him do while I was quietly working at the edge of the clearing). It's a good day to be alive – even though it was super windy.

Christmas has the potential to be a really hard time and not all happiness and joy. I know that last year, I lost both my grandparents and in fact my grandma died on Christmas day 2013 (on her 92nd birthday). That being said, there is still something to be said about presents… I love the joy, excitement and anticipation that kids have and nothing speaks to excitement more than opening presents.

Remember, there is so much more to life that trials and you always need to look for the joy; in simplicity, in little things, in the everyday. At the end of each storm, there is peace and while some storms last longer than others, there is always something better coming.

God bless you in 2015!

 was recently challenged to a photo challenge on Facebook. With all of the hype on high dynamic range sensors and general HDR photography, we often forget the simplicity found in a black and white photograph. I'm a firm believer that the best camera is the one you have with you, and while your cell phone, point and shoot camera, or even an entry level DSLR may not be capable of incredible detailed pictures, they are not all "bad" pictures. 

If you've got a great camera, black and white photos are even better. The vivid detail captured with high contrast and no color saturation can be spectacular. I was given the 5 Day Black and White Photo challenge by Jay Morrison. This got me looking back through some old photographs and while I couldn't post all of my favorites in that five days, I am posting some extras and a few different ones here.