It’s been a really, really long winter for us. Having arrived in Calgary in October, we experienced most of the South African winter and then landed just as winter was setting in here, so we are so excited to finally see spring arrive in Calgary.
Almost overnight, it’s like we’re living in a totally different city. The snow has all melted from the ground and the city is brown and dry, and rather ugly, but there are beautiful sprouts of colour emerging everywhere and the landscape and the population are slowly starting to come alive. It’s been so lovely to see the cyclists, joggers and motor cyclists emerge, and the bits of green grass and leaves appear. The thing we have enjoyed the most is the sudden arrival of all the beautiful birds and insects, and the animals that have also started to wake up, including a black bear in the woods just down the road from our house.
Swainsons Hawk just arrived from Argentina 
The infamous Canada Goose
We planted some veggie seeds in boxes on our balcony and it’s been so fun to see them grow – we’re soon going to have to replant the seedlings into bigger boxes. Calgary is really undergoing a transformation and we just love this time of growth and renewal – in a world that has gone slightly mad at the moment, it truly is refreshing.
Our seedlings – corn, butternut, beans and peas. 
So excited to find a ladybug in the garden.
With the current COVID restrictions finally being lifted slightly, we’ve been able to get out to enjoy the spring a bit more and have had fun exploring the beautiful landscapes. We really feel blessed to live where we do. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be exploring the pathways of a lush forest or walking next to a beautiful Canadian river surrounded by snow-capped mountains and pine trees. It’s the stuff I only thought I’d ever see in movies. I have to pinch myself every time I get to experience this incredible beauty and the vast landscapes around me. We can’t wait to explore more of this beautiful country we now call home. Oh Canada, we do love you!
Exploring Griffith Woods. 
The Elbow River running through Griffith Woods.
The Bow River near the Peace Bridge and Downtown Calgary. 
Elbow Falls in Bragg Creek.
Cape Town to Calgary 
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