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It's the end of April, and once again, there's snow on the ground in Calgary, which although everyone moans about it, it is entirely... entirely usual. Each year, as soon as the tulips have dared to stretch their way out of their garden beds, they can expect a fresh blanket of snow to cover them right back up.
This is my favorite time of year in Deer Ridge. We've lived here for just over 10 years now. One of the things I look forward to in the spring, is walking along the ridge the community is named for... And yes, there are actually Deer on the Ridge from time to time. Coyotes, magpies and hares as well. I've walked along this ridge almost every day since our Bernese Mountain Dog, Rowan became part of our family. As a puppy, he'd prance along the off-leash area with his fat little tummy grazing the snow, and then stick his face right in the snow to find out what was underneath.
The great part about walking along the ridge in spring, is watching as each different type of tree transforms from black and white to full colour with new leaves and spring blo
ssoms in all of the yards of the homes that look out over the Bow River Valley. There's one particular spot on the ridge with a well-placed bench where I like to sit with Rowan and enjoy the view. From here, you look out over Deer Run, the neighbourhood that wraps around the base of the hill. Just beyond Deer Run, is Fish Creek Provincial Park, which wraps completely around Deer Run. Both communities are nestled in this private little pocket within Fish Creek Provincial Park. Click here to view the map.
People from all over the city enjoy the pathways that meander through the meadows and trees along the river. The Bow River flows right through Fish Creek Park to the East. You can walk right to the Bow River if you keep following the ridge across Canyon Meadows Drive into Queensland. The communities of Douglasdale and McKenzie Lake cap the river bank on the opposite side. To the south east, the bright green of fairways and putting greens of McKenzie Meadows Golf club catch your eye. Just west of the Bow River lies Sikome Lake, a haven for families looking to cool off in the summer heat. You can see all this from that one park bench on Deer Ridge. If you squint, you can even make out tiny cars crossing the bridge over the river on Highway 22X. This is one of the things I'll miss most. After 10 years, we've sold our house and are moving out of Deer Ridge. So I guess I'm feeling pretty nostalgic about my neighbourhood at the moment.
I'm even going to miss Deer Valley mall. What a strange thing to say... "I'm going to miss the mall." But you have to understand, it's a very personal mall. The people that work there live in this neighbourhood. Ted Stanescu has owned the Deer Valley Shoe Repair shop for over 20 years and everybody knows Ted. World class equestrian riders from Spruce Meadows come specifically to his shop to have Ted repair their specialized riding boots. When you walk into the mall, the first thing that hits you, is the aroma of fresh baked bread from the Deer Valley Bakery. This bakery will always hold a special place in my heart, this is where the owner, Tony baked our wedding cake -- three tiered and covered in fresh berries and real roses. The Deer Valley mall is home to one of the best gumball machines anywhere. My son runs to Dick's Collectables each and every time just to put his quarter in the machine, and watch as not 1 but 2... 2 perfect gumballs rolls down a complex ramp of chimes and bells to finally make it to the bottom to plop themselves into his tiny hand. If he get's the blue one... Jackpot!
I started this piece, thinking that I was going to reveal Deer Ridge to the world as a place with great home values, as a place unique in the Calgary Real Estate market... but as I write with nostalgia sweeping over me in waves, I can almost hear Stuart McLean reading the words with his unique intonation and sense of timing. BTW, I adore Stuart McLean, we listen to his program The Vinyl Café every Sunday on CBC Radio. Do check it out. He even has an episode dedicated to the glorious Gumball.
So there you have it, a glimpse into one of Calgary's best kept secrets. If you'd like to find out more, call, e-mail me or make a comment.
TO FIND OUT WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN DEER RIDGE...CLICK HERE: HOMES FOR SALE IN DEER RIDGE CALGARY
Bernice Dubon
Royal LePage Solutions in Calgary Alberta
http://www.yourhomeincalgary.com/
Here's a great opportunity for you if you're looking for your first home, and a place for your Dog to roam in 
