Keith's Odyssey to Planet Fitness: Coutts 1

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Coutts 1

So there was Saturday, me attending two Stampede events the same day. I think that's a first. For photography of course. First the Woodcreek breakfast, then the Braeside lunch. Lots of photos, lots of editing, on a day when the weather behaved.

Then Sunday we were off to the Coutts Centre for Western Heritage. Linda has been there before, going along with her Master Gardener buddies. I went along figuring it was a nice day for a drive, there was a picnic lunch, and I might see some interesting compositions.

As a side note, the weather behaved during our visit, but on the way back into town the clouds gathered. We wanted to stop at the market to see if they had more blackberries (they did not), and saw the mounds of hail in the parking lot. Cue ominous music. We stopped at the library to pick up a book on hold, and got light hail on the way home. Fortunately, we had no hail here.

There are too many photos for one blog, so I've divided them into 3 groups for ease of blogging. Today is what I think of as documentary photos. There I was, this is what I saw. The second is quirky things that caught my eye. The third relates to the world's most corrugated camera obscura. There was a book about the project in their library, and as it happens, the Calgary library has it, so I've placed a hold on it. I'll blog more about it when the book comes in.

1. It was a bit hazy in the distance but you get a lovely mountain view from parts of the property.

2. The path to the little writer's cabin.

3. The cabin inside.

5. The view from the cabin back to the main area.

6. The inside of the main building. It's a lovely space.

7. You might have been wondering why the Coutts name seems familiar. Yes, that Jim Coutts that advised Prime Ministers Pearson and Trudeau. I hadn't known he was born in High River and lived near Nanton.

9. Part of the view from the artist in residence home.

10.

11. The front of the artist in residence home.

12. Part of the gardens.

13. This is what's called the Hen House. Not at all what I had imagined. This was my favourite building and I had it to myself for a while. See the mirror at the far end. Of course I put it to good use. Stay tuned.