Through the Eyes of the Beholder

Bull~

2009-10-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

A bull elk bugles in a meadow in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado. I have always marveled at how quiet these huge animals are as they travel through the trees. I wish I could describe the sound of a bull elk's bugle but words seem so inadequate. I will never forget the first time I had ever heard it, it sounded almost like a flute, mystical and almost mournful, in the distant mountains. Purely musical, absolutely magical!

2009-02-28T00:53:00.000-08:00

Stand on your head to view the picture in its proper perspective.

BIRD OF SUMMER

2008-04-28T18:53:00.000-07:00

The weather man said it was spring. The school teachers smile because its almost summer. But it snowed last week. I didn't know what to believe, until I saw a splash of white floating gracefully on Carp Lake yesterday, marking the return of the birds of summer. Today, by mid afternoon there were over 35 American White Pelicans on the pond. This is the last pit stop before they make nest on Big Johnson Reservoir just a few miles away. Today they rested, fished and washed down their dusty feathers.

A couple of Canada geese took exception to the overnight invasion and paddled over to reclaim the pond but the much larger pelicans barely paid them any notice. After a few indignant honks, the geese flew away. They will return when the flock of pelicans leave for their final destination in a day or two.

Tags: American White Pelican

SHADES OF BLUE AND GREEN

2008-03-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

A male peacock basks in the early afternoon sun at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. Although not native to the area, the exotic birds have adapted to the climate and roam the mountain zoo grounds year round.

Its hard not to be mesmerized by the rich iridescent colors of the male peacock's plumage.

Tags: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, peacock, Colorado

FINE FEATHERED FRIEND

2007-11-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

I was able to talk my husband into letting me borrow the camera for the day so I went to Memorial Park. I went in hopes of getting a few shots of the Military memorials but was distracted by a large hawk who landed in a near by tree to pluck a pigeon. Once he got used to my presence and the persistent clicking of the camera, the hawk continued his meal. While he showed agitation at the approach of other visitors, he seemed to have accepted me and allowed me to get right up under him. In this picture he watches as I pulled a branch out of the way for a better shot. In fact he seemed so comfortable in my presence that I almost expected him to share his meal by tossing me a pidgeon wing.

VIDEO SLIDE SHOWS

2007-11-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

For those of you who were wondering, I composed my video slide show using the Windows Photo Story 3 which came preloaded on my computer. The program allows you to control the motion and transition of individual pictures as well as adding music. Once I got the slide show finished I uploaded it to my Youtube account. When I made my entry I clicked the little movie camera icon in the [Add Entry] toolbar, cut and pasted the embed link from my video's Youtube entry, saved my post and presto-whamo! A video slide show on my journal.

There are many other programs that are compatible with AOL journals. Different programs offer different features so you may want to check out a few to see if they offer what you need. I like the simplicity of Photo Story 3, and I already have a Youtube account so I just stick with them, but some of the other programs can compose your entire slide show right online... pretty cool!

To find a list of supported web sites, click here: Blogs Whitelist - AOL People Connection, or click on the [allowed list of selected Web sites] link in the [Add Entry] page.

I'm already looking forward to seeing a bunch of slide shows in your journals now.

WELCOME TO MY MORNING...

2007-11-06T22:11:00.000-08:00

UP, UP AND AWAY...

2007-09-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
We could float among the stars together, you and I
For we can fly we can fly
Up, up and away
My beautiful, my beautiful balloon

Colorado Springs plays host to the Balloon Classic each Labor Day Weekend. We have always made a point of watching the balloons as they float over head but this year we got up extra early and took a trip to Memorial Park where the balloons participate in a mass ascent. Upon arriving at the park I was immediately thrown into sensory over load. There were dozens and dozens of brightly colored balloons of every shape and size. To our delight, each hot air balloon skimmed over Prospect Lake and lightly skimmed the surface before taking off into the air in what is known as a 'Splash 'N Dash'.

Never been to a hot air balloon ascent? Make a point of going to one. It is definitely worth the trip, and you may find that you will rekindle your relationship with the child in you.

Tags: Balloon Classic, hot air balloon

NIKON D80

2007-08-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

Sadly, no, the D80 is not my camera. It belongs to my husband who was just as lost as I was with the demise of my D70 last month. My camera is in the shop, hopefully being repaired, but in the mean time Dickidoo couldn't bring himself to use a smaller point and shoot camera so he made an investment.

Unfortunately he doesn't share very well. I have only been able to take the camera out twice so far. I can see we will have to come up with a custody agreement like we had with the D70. Grrrr!

A little about this bright eyed grasshopper. I couldn't have asked for a better subject as I fiddled with the controls of the new camera. He sat quite patiently while I clicked and adjusted and clicked again. I think I may have bored him half to death, but the pictures came out so clear.

I miss my camera and really hope it can be fixed, but man, that D80 is sweet!

Tags: Nikon D80

4th of July

2007-07-08T18:13:00.000-07:00

My youngest son Art stands maybe just a little too close for comfort during our recent 4th of July celebration. This year was extra special, my oldest son Gabe was home on leave. He is scheduled to deploy to Iraq at the end of summer so this was a very special time for us.

Tags: 4th of July, fireworks

BIRDS OF SUMMER 2007

2007-06-14T16:39:00.000-07:00

Summer just doesn't begin for me until I see the pelicans. They seem to prefer to breed at Big Johnson Reservoir a few miles away, but always stop by at Carp Lake (aka The Pelican Pond) for the first couple of days.

I got some pictures late yesterday afternoon, and was delighted to see them still at the pond this morning, floating lazily over the misty waters. They were gone by this afternoon. During mating season the pelicans bills turn bright orange and the males will develop a plate on the top of their beak.

Tags: Amercian White Pelican

Colorado Renaissance Festival 2006

2007-06-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

These are the pictures I used for my musical slideshows that were posted on Youtube. Once again I recommend that you view this as a slideshow by clicking 'View Larger' and selecting the slideshow option from the top toolbar.

Tags: Colorado Renaissance Festival

COLORADO RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL 2005

2007-06-13T20:20:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season... tis Renaissance season. Huzzah! I found these old pictures stashed in my AOL album and thought I'd post them. These are from 2005. We have been going to the Faire since 1999 or 2000 (not really sure any more) but I didn't really start taking pictures until 2004 (still have to find those ones) after I went digital.

For best results I recommend that you click 'View Larger' and then select the slideshow option.

Tags: Colorado Renaissance Festival

FOXES PART 2

2007-05-04T13:27:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought a chain link fence would be such a big obstacle when photographing something on the other side. Maybe its not the fence, maybe its just me. Either way, this is the best I can do thus far. Yes, I used my 300mm zoom. Nope, it didn't really help much. I need a bigger zoom!

Still, I have to admit that these pictures came out much better... no doubt due to the fact that they were taken while the sun was still high in the sky. The kits are getting bigger but still show no fear. They listened reluctantly to their mother when she barked out a warning. They ran immediately for the safety of their den between the pipes, but kept poking their heads out to investigate.

I haven't seen the father fox since the first day when he ran off before I could even raise the camera.

Tags: red fox

Ever Wary

2007-04-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

A mother red fox warily watches me while her kit feeds on the carcass of a cottontail.

We have often caught fleeting glimpses of foxes in the residential area. Usually it was just a flash of orange out of the corner of our eye. Last night Steve was delighted to come across an entire family feeding near some pipes at a construction site. He was, as it often happens, without a camera so he called me and told me to be waiting when he got home.

The light was already fading but it was easy to spot the mother fox against the snow. 3 kits, their fur still dark, played near by. The mother instinctively moved off to a safe distance but kept an anxious eye on us as the youngsters continued to frolic, unconcerned by our presence or the clicking of my camera.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, the pictures were grainy due to the low light and and subsequent slow shutter speed. I was also forced to shoot through the holes of a chain link fence. Determined not to waste such a precious encounter despite the limitations, I lightened the picture up a bit and softened the edges to give it a painted effect. Hopefully I'll be able to catch the foxes out playing in the morning or afternoon when the sun is out and the lighting offers a better opportunity for decent shots.

Tags: Red fox

MID-MORNING REPOSE

2007-04-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

A bull elk rests after a long morning of bugling and sparring with other bulls. Apparently he was victorious as a dozen or so cow elk grazed contently nearby.

* Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This picture was originally posted in a test journal which was a trial attempt to update this photo blog. It didn't come out the way I had hoped (individual pages have an archieve column which throws off the setting of the photos and drops them to the bottom of the page), but I really REALLY liked the photos on the black back ground. Enter global photo community aminus3. I have been posting there since the end of March on my site "Colorado At The Speed Of Life". I invite you to take a peek there. You'll see some of my old favorites, and maybe a few new ones as well. I shall still keep this blog going because this is my home, my family and friend, but I really enjoy the interaction with the new global photo community. Check out the Community link while you're there. Photographers can feature a new photograph every day and some are just out of this world!

Tags: Bull Elk, Rocky Mountain National Park

Hawk vs. Snake

2007-04-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures from my encounter with the hawk and snake the other day (this one's for you justplainbill). I didn't take any pictures of their escape because my husband and I were busy 'mediating' at the time.

Tags: red tail hawk, bull snake

STALE MATE (edited 4/13/07)

2007-04-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Steve called me at home to come and witness the aftermath of a real life and death battle. When I arrived at the scene, this is what I saw. A red tail hawk had gone hunting and obviously underestimated the size and strength of its intended prey. The large bull snake wasn't about to go without a fight. Although it was badly wounded, the snake managed to wind itself around the hawk's tail and wing, pinning it to the ground. Stale mate!

Our presence proved to be a greater threat to the animals and the snake loosened its grip on the snake and went on the defense towards me. Eventually they untangled themselves (?), their eyes and body language indicating that they were more concerned about us than they were of their opponent which they were just in a death struggle with.

The hawk shook out its ruffled feathers, and took a defensive stance, feathers fluffed out and wings thrown back, but when I didn't make any threatening movement, it hopped up into the air and with a flap of its powerful wings it flew off. Although it had the hawk in an obvious death grip, the snake suffered greater injuries from the hawk's talons and beak. It hissed at me but also seemed to realize that I meant no harm and it slithered off slowly and painfully to find a safe place to rest.

As a rule I try not to interfere with nature, but after looking both creatures in the eyes and seeing the fierce desire to live in both of them, I am glad that I showed up when I did. It would have been a sad shame to see both of these magnificent creatures perish in a battle that neither would win. To be honest, I half expected the hawk to come back and scoop up the injured snake, but I guess it was just happy to be alive and free at that point that its hunger was forgotten.

Tags: Red tail hawk, bull snake

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: NATURE

2007-03-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

Nature~ my favorite photography subject. And this is one of my all time favorite photographs. This little green guy saw me long before I saw him, but he wasn't the least bit concerned by my presence. He was perfectly camouflaged by the pond plant life and I only spotted him when he blinked. Even as I inched forward for a closer shot he just floated lazily. I had no doubt that he was aware of my every move.

Okay, so its a close up of a green frog in a green pond. Its got good color and the composition isn't too bad. Those reasons aren't why its my favorite picture though.

I love this picture because for me its not a picture of a frog in a green pond. Its a picture of visual contact. The black and gold eye was seeing me at that precise moment. I was watching nature and nature was watching me. It didn't feel threatened by me. It didn't run and hide. In that moment in time I was a part of nature and that creature's life, and it didn't fear me. It merely watched with curiosity and trust. That is what I felt at that moment, and that is what I remember as I look at this picture and into the frog's bright eye. That is why this is one of my favorite photographs.

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: Nature

Tags: Round Robin Photo Challenge

HAWAIIAN SUNSET

2007-03-16T20:27:00.000-07:00

Growing up in the islands kind of made me immune to the usual run of the mill touristy type photos but I don't care who you are, nobody can resist a sunset... especially one as brilliant as this one. Next to dawn, dusk is my favorite time of the day when the world is winding down and preparing for the night. I suppose I could have made a run to the other side of the island to get a shot of the sun as it sank below the horizon over the ocean but I found this silhouette of the palms against the gold and turquoise sky much more captivating. Can you feel the warmth of the sun against your skin? Its magical, this time of day, it really is.

Tags: Hawaiian Sunset

HAWAIIAN SUNRISE

2007-03-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

These sunrise shots were taken on the same day, same beach just minutes apart. At first the sun just peered from behind the thick cloud cover and I didn't think I would be able to get a shot at all but I chanced it anyhow. I was pleasantly surprised to see Diamond Head in the distance.

In just a matter of minutes the entire coastline was lit up with the brilliance of the sun, giving the sky a rich apricot glow. I wish I could share the soothing sound of the surf with you, or the heady aroma of salt as the waves washed up over the crystal sand. I find it hard to hold on to stress when I'm at the beach in the morning, it always erases the chaos and offers a fresh beginning.

Thousands of miles away in the mountains I now call home I find solace by standing beneath the tall pines, closing my eyes and listening to the sound of the breeze as it blows through the majestic boughs, echoing the whisper of the distant seas. Ah, the best of both worlds.

Tags: Hawaii, sunrise

ON FROZEN POND

2007-03-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

I took this picture of Becca on the pond in early February when the Cattail Marsh pond was frozen over. The brightness of the snow and ice threw my manual settings way off... something I really need to start checking before hand, but even after the proper adjustments were made I found that I liked the washed out version much better.

Now, one month later and 40 degrees warmer, the pond is already thawing and getting ready for the spring community. The ducks and geese are returning by the flock. It will only be a matter of time before the babies start making their appearance. I love the springtime.

Tags: Cattail Marsh Colorado

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Cold

2007-02-07T06:29:00.000-08:00

I happened across this scene in December of 2005. The thermometer read 1° but the wind chill had pushed the needle way below that. This is not snow, and in fact it hadn't snowed for a couple of days. The icicles that clung to the fence and trees were caused by the steam emmited from a building on the other side of the street.

I was in awe of the natural beauty of the scenery and lost track of the time as I clicked away. That proved to be a dangerous mistake. I was wearing flip top mittens that folded back to free my fingers and allow me to maneuver the various settings on my camera. Unfortunately that exposed my fingertips to the extreme cold. My fingers were so painful that I was in tears by the time I finally made my way back to the warmth of the truck. To this day my fingers are extra sensitive to cold temperatures. I say they are having flashbacks but my husband hints that I suffered a minor but permanent cold weather injury. I don't regret it but I never want to be that cold ever again!

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: Cold

Tags: Round Robin Photo Challenge

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: MACRO

2007-01-25T08:10:00.000-08:00

It wasn't until Steven explained the intricacies of 'macro' that I understood the process and realized that not only did my camera have the capabilities but I had been utilizing it all along! I found these images in a file I shot over the Memorial Day weekend at the Colorado Springs Pioneer Days Celebration in Old Colorado Springs earlier this year. The market place was filled with booths that appealed to all of the senses. The sights, the sounds, the scents and the rustic textures recreated the atmosphere of the old west of days gone by.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Macro

Tags: Round Robin Photo Challenge, Macro

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: MAGIC

2007-01-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

Main Entry: ²magic
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to magic
2 a : having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers
b : giving a feeling of enchantment

The honey bee depends upon the sunflower for nourishment. The flower relies on the bee for pollination. Its fascinating, isn't it, how intertwined life of all shape and size really is. While I may understand the complexities of life more now than I did as a child playing in the field behind our house, it still captivates and amazes me. It was never parlor tricks performed with the wave of a wand or an 'abra cadabra' chanted amidst a poof of smoke that kept me spell bound. It was the wonders of nature, that was real magic to the 6 year old child that was once and still is 'me'.

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: "Magic"

Tags: Round Robin Photo Challenge

CATCH!

2007-01-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

Just messing around here. The mirror of my camera is so dusty that after a while I gave up on trying to remove the spots from the background. I'll have to reshot this after I get the camera dusted.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2006-11-22T17:47:00.000-08:00

No, its not a Butterball, its a wild 'merriam' turkey. Its not as plump or juicy as its pale, domestic cousin, but what it lacks in girth it more than makes up for in looks. Wild turkeys roost high up in trees and while they don't fly any more than they have to, preferring to run instead, they are actually very graceful fliers.

2006-10-26T17:23:00.000-07:00

Knowing that a blizzard was on the way but not sure how it would affect the ponds, I took a last minute trip down to the Cattail Marsh before winter converged over the Foothills yesterday afternoon. I was surprised by how peaceful it was there. The blackbirds flitted lazily among the cat tails and bull rushes, soaking up the warmth of the setting sun's rays. I don't doubt that they too knew of the approaching winter storm that was moving our way. I shall miss my little feathered friends once Old Man Winter moves in for the season.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Very Scary

2006-10-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

For this photo challenge I chose a favorite 'accidental' picture of mine. I took this picture two summers ago while experimenting with long exposures. My son Art was about to set off some fireworks and I was testing the settings before hand so that I could get his silhouette against the flare. Unfortunately Art is very bashful in front of the camera and when he became aware of me standing behind him, he moved out of range. I didn't get the shot I wanted, but this ghostly image more than made up for it.

You can find other scary images here:

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: "Very Scary"

A BED OF SUNFLOWERS

2006-09-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

This tree probably toppled sometime last year, and I know I must have passed it dozens of times as it lay there in the dry grasses without giving it much thought. After all the rain this fall the meadows are in full bloom and I couldn't help but to be drawn to the fallen tree as it lay there cradled gently by the sunflowers.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Nostalgia

2006-09-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

For some reason when ever I think of 'nostalgia' I think of music. I may picture in my mind an image of an item, but just as clear is a tune of a long gone era, usually associateted with the subject of my mind's eye. For that reason I chose to focus on music for my nostalgic post. Do you remember the old 33 LP's or the 45's? Or what about the 1/8 inch thick 78's!

My love for music began with a piano. While I never progressed further than a two finger rendition of 'Chopsticks', the piano is still one of my favorite instruments.

ROUND ROBIN: NOSTALGIA

A PAINTING, by Dorn

2006-09-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

If I could paint, this is what I would paint, and I would hang it on the wall above my couch. But I can't paint so I pretend and I hang my 'paintings' on my blog instead.

Every picture I take has a story that goes with it. While this picture itself appears serene and peaceful,don't be fooled by the tranquility it depicts. What is going on behind the camera is the exact opposite.

I had just attended the funeral of a friend and needed some quiet time. I thought a walk by my favorite ponds would ease my mind from the pain. What I encountered was a whole different type of agony.

Mosquitoes! A whole squadron of kamikaze, blood thirsty, life sucking critters with me on the menu! At first they flew along side me like escorts, then they were in buzzing in my ears, peeking up my nose and harassing me with their fly-bys. Before long they were sucker deep in my flesh, sucking more blood from my body than I ever knew I had. I probably lost a pound or two from blood loss alone. How I held the camera still long enough to take this picture, I'll never know.

But yeah, if I could paint, this is the picture I would paint. And I would hang it on the wall above my couch.

TESTING, TESTING, 1, 2, 3.....

2006-08-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I've been able to work with my camera. In the meantime I have been doing a lot of reading on how to take better pictures. My first accomplishment, moving out of the center of the frame. While it is necessary for some shots, so much potential is lost if the subject is always smack dab in the center.(thanks plittle).

This colorful, furry little creature is the larvae of the 'milkweed tussock' moth. I have seen hundreds of its younger, smaller and less hairy siblings during my visits to the milkweed field but this was the first time I'd ever seen the larvae in this stage. Ironically it will morph into a rather dull, mono-color brown moth.

ROUND ROBIN CHALLENGE: Transportation

2006-08-23T23:51:00.000-07:00

I did not get to go out today in search for inspiration for this week's challenge since my paparrazi husband decided that his need for MY camera out weighed mine and he took off with it. That left me with the easy task of finding my favorite 'transportation' pictures in my library of 100,000's of shots. I have always been fascinated with hot air balloons and it has been a long time dream of mine to one day ascend into the clouds in one. While I have never actually been in one, the hot air balloon is by far my favorite vehicle of transportation.

This may not be the best picture... in fact its a poor example of contrast, color and lighting, but truth be known it is my favorite balloon picture. Just looking at it transports me back to the moment in time when I took it. I remember that I was happy that morning, with my son home on leave before departing for the first half of his tour in Iraq. I can almost feel the peacefulness and contentment I felt that morning as the balloon floated with seemingly weightlessness high above the mountains in the crisp morning air. One day I hope to know the feeling of looking down on those mountains with the same peaceful contentment. For now I must be content with this picture and the memories it invokes.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: TRANSPORTATION

BIRD WHISPERER

2006-07-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Art was treated to a little interaction with some playful birds who have chosen our cul de sac as their nightly hunting grounds. At first the birds, whom I've not been able to identify yet, were chasing insects in the evening sky, but they quickly changed their target when Art climbed up on the truck. There were approximately 10 birds doing fly bys, coming very close, but never in a threatening manner. This picture is actually a compilation of 4 shots taken a few seconds apart. Close up shots of the birds were out of the question, they were just too fast for me.

TESTING VIDEO EMBED

2006-07-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

WONDERFUL WORLD by Louis Armstrong & Kenny G

Just testing out a new trick I learned over at Pixel Pusher Embedding YouTube Video In Your AOL Journal. If you just get this text along with an empty screen, don't worry, it just means I'm not smart enough to use this technology yet. If you do get the video screen, double click to start. Click again and it will take you directly to YouTube.

Tip: if you try to embed videos into your beta journal, do all the text editing before adding the video.

YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW....

2006-07-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I've posted anything. We've finally gotten some much needed rain which limited my photographic opportunities so I busied myself with other things I've been neglecting, like fine tuning my skills of procrastination. The rain has let up and I should have some time to get out with the Nikon soon, but in the mean time here's another little musical slideshow featuring some of my favorite recent pictures you might have seen posted here, set to the wonderful sounds of Louie Armstrong and Kenny G.

Sights and sounds of My Life (WONDERFUL WORLD)

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Flower Power

2006-06-28T07:41:00.000-07:00

Cyber-chromatic Quilt: Wild Flowers

I inherited my love for flowers from my parents. Unfortunately I did not inherit their green thumbs and must be content with enjoying flowers in other peoples gardens. These wild flowers were photographed with in the past few weeks during my many journeys to nearby ponds and meadows. I would however like to point out that the beautiful dandelion at the end of my collect is one of my rare successes from my own garden.

FLOWER POWER: Round Robin Photo Challenge

KIT CARSON (testing)

2006-06-22T22:08:00.000-07:00

Riding Into The Sunset

I was just poking around in my AOL YGP albums and I came across this old favorite of mine of the Kit Carson statue on Fort Carson. It was one of the first pictures taken with my Nikon shortly after I got it early last year. Originally I posted the picture in black and white, but reposted it in color (no, that is not the natural color of the sunset, I increased the contrast and red tones for effect). I also deleted the telephone poles and power lines to give an unobstructed view of the mountains in the distance.

Actually the real purpose behind the reposting of this picture was to test out the method of posting pictures directly from a YGP album, and it works great! It comes at the perfect time too, I've almost used up all of my FTP space.

MY FIRST BEAR PICTURE

2006-06-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

A large black bear was spotted in a tree not far from a training area and I was invited to take some pictures of it before it was shooed back to safer grounds. The healthy bear rose at our approach but stood her ground on the bough of a huge shade tree. It was soon discovered that she had a cub concealed in the branches higher up. The decision was made by the wildlife officers to leave the bears alone and let them make their own way back to the safety of the nearby tree line.

My husband returned to check on the bears later in the day and found them still lounging in the shade of the great branches. The cub even poked its head out for a quick introduction before settling back down for a nap next to Mama. You can see his pictures at: BEAR COUNTRY

A super dooper big 'THANKS!' to the guys who gave me this golden opportunity... (not sure I'm allowed to give names, but you guys know who you are.... THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!)

FOUNTAIN, Colorado

2006-06-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

I have photographed these lamp poles on many different occasions over the past two years but never seemed to get the right combination of wind, lighting, weather, composition and angle until this day. Fountain, Colorado was voted as an All American City in 2000 and the city proudly carries on its welcoming hometown appeal to this day.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Emotions

2006-06-13T23:25:00.000-07:00

This past year has been very emotional for my family with my eldest son being deployed to Iraq. Last month he was able to relax at home with us, away from the ugliness that is war. Needless to say it was very difficult to put him back on to a plane to rejoin his 'brothers'. This picture was taken at the airport shortly before he boarded the first of many planes that would take him once again in to harms way. I don't know what father and son said to each other, I was trying hard to keep control of my own emotions. Ironically I have managed to hold back the tears... until this very moment.

I am so proud of my son and his commitment to his country, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I am scared to death for him.

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: Emotions

SORTIE

2006-06-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

Like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's movie 'The Birds', this red-winged black bird flew circles over my head, occasionally swooping in lower while its mate and neighbors gathered in the nearby trees and reeds, chirping maniacally in my direction. Although I suspected the cause of the bird's agitation, it wasn't until I was almost upon it that I noticed the intricately woven nest cleverly concealed in a thick stand of reeds. I backed away so as not to disturb any little ones that might be in the nest, and continued on my hike around the pond, but the birds did not forgive and forget easily. They followed me from tree to tree, scolding loudly until I finally climbed into my truck and drove away.

WILD FLOWER SAMPLER

2006-06-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

If I did my homework right, these petite little blossoms are mountain blue bells. Never mind that my reference book was found in the tourist section at the local department store.

These delicate flowers ironically belong to the prickly pear cactus. I have tried to avoid cactus at all cost since my unfortunate mishap last summer... but could not resist these beautiful blooms. (read my cactus story here: CAN YOU SAY 'KLUTZ'? )

Cholla cactus is another thorn in my side... literally, but their flowers are beautiful as well. Initially I approached the plant to get a picture of the flower, but at closer inspection I discovered that the center of the blossom was crawling with beetles. I counted at least 20 insects of probably about 6 different species. Too cool! Creep, but cool!

WESTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL, Part II

2006-06-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

Up until a couple of weeks ago I had never heard of, let alone seen a Western Tiger Swallowtail. Now they flutter about every where I go. I wanted to post this shot close enough to my other swallowtail to make a comparison. The butterfly I found today at the pond had more distinct patterns and much more brilliant color. I'm thinking it might be a male. Neither of the butterflies showed concern by my presence, unlike their skittish Monarch cousins.

YAHOO!

2006-06-06T17:25:00.000-07:00

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Finally, my diligence paid off... or my stubbornness... which ever, but what ever it was, I finally got my butterfly picture. Even the breeze cooperated just long enough for me to get a focused shot. This may never happen again, so I am so grateful for the opportunity. I am content.

Now... for that elusive lightning photo...

STORMY, and a delightful discovery

2006-06-01T08:42:00.000-07:00

Storm To The West

Just the other night I was cursing the storm that grounded my son's flight and cost him a whole day of the short time remaining of his leave from the war in Iraq. Last night, with him back home again, I found the time to enjoy the beauty of nature in its full glory. Storms can be beautiful to witness under the right circumstances. I had no where better to be, and could view the storm from a safe distance. A hole in the clouds relected a brilliant sunset and reassured the residents that there were blue skies close at hand.

Storm To The East

I have been trying to capture a good shot of lightning for a year now but the majority of the times I am prevented by the rain. Last night I was fortunate to have the opportunity to witness the storm from a distance before the clouds opened up above me. Unfortunately I have reflexes as quick as sludge. I only caught this bolt because my husband was able to tell me when to click the shutter. I used a lower shutter speed and aperture setting to lighten the exposure and catch some of the fore ground. When I loaded the pictures on the computer later I discovered, much to my delight, the reason behind the absence of my pelicans. They had moved from the Pelican Pond and were now taking up residence at the Reservoir. (that's them just above the right side of the sandbar).

As for my storm photography, well, I still need a LOT of work on getting my settings and exposures right. But I wasn't disappointed with last night's shoot for the storm had led me to my old friends. Finally, summer had truly arrived for me. The pelicans, the birds of summer, had returned.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Reflections

2006-05-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

Pelican Pond

Every year, right about this time, a flock of pelicans fly in to the pond down the way, which the locals refer to as 'Pelican Pond' to herald the arrival of summer. They have not make their appearance this year as of yet. There is a surreal feeling in the air as I feel I cannot begin to appreciate the season until I have seen the pelicans. The water of the pond is almost always a dark, murky brown, but on this day it was lit up brightly to reflect the rich colors of the marsh surrounding it. The pond so far this year has remained murky and uninviting, as if it too awaits a sign that summer has arrived.

Cousins In The Creek

I love the many facets of light and this simple silhouette, lit up by the summer sun reflecting off the ripples of Fountain Creek remains one of my favorites.

Round Robin Challenge: Reflections (for 5/24/06)

DUSK

2006-05-20T23:34:00.000-07:00

Today was the first time in several days that I have been able to take my camera out and about. Sometimes I get so caught up in the chaos that is my life and I forget how beautiful and peaceful this same life can be for me, all it takes is a step back and open eyes.

There is something so intelligent about the piercing stare of an owl, even a baby one. These two little guys (who really aren't that little at all!) snapped their beaks loudly a couple of times but quickly calmed down when they realized that I wasn't coming any closer (I used my zoom lens for this shot). Although I couldn't see them, I have no doubt the parents were watching me the whole time, ready to attack at the slightest sign of a threat.

A storm loomed over head and the Canada geese were unusually quiet this evening as they paddled slowly across the still water. I love this time of night, when the world is just beginning to wind down and relax after a busy day.

MAY FLURRIES

2006-05-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

I woke this morning to the calming beauty of falling snow. I stood outside and closed my eyes, call me nuts, but I swear I could hear the snow falling. And the smell... its different from rain, its fresh and cool, and it stirs the memory of other scents like a crackling fire in the hearth and fresh pine needles, but by itself, it is the fragrance of clean air and mountain breezes. Its the soft aroma of fluffy white clouds. At the age of 45 I still get excited by fresh fallen snow.

NIGHT VISION

2006-05-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

Last summer my kids and I adopted a Canada goose couple who had nested on a little island near the end of the waterway at the Cattail Marsh. Sadly the nest was raided, probably by raccoons, and the geese mourned for a couple of days before abandoning the nest. Much to our delight they returned to the nest again this spring and successfully hatched a clutch of 6. These goslings are 9 days old. Believe it or not they were swimming before they were even a full 24 hours old. While the parents brought the babies right over to us for bread crumbs, they kept the other geese at bay.

This picture was never intended. My night vision is not the greatest and I used the flash to see if there were any animals near the creek. The light didn't reveal any creatures hiding in the dark, but the resulting picture is almost hypnotic.

NATURAL PATIENCE

2006-04-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

I became acquainted with this young Great Blue Heron last summer. I am almost 100% sure its the same one because while all of the other herons will take flight as soon as I come into view, this one will move to the shore, and then upon realizing that I am not a threat, it will resume its search for fish. Its patience is evident here in this extended exposure shot. I slowed the shutter down to soften the surface of the water but was able to keep the heron pretty much in focus because it was standing perfectly still while waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim by.

Patience is a virtue, and the key to survival. This heron caught and swallowed 3 fish while I watched from the dam.

NEW TO MY FAVORITES LIST

2006-04-15T23:31:00.000-07:00

'Spring Blossoms' (I took extra care to get this shot focused only to load it onto the computer and smooth the edges with the 'digital noise remover'. I like the resulting softer lines better than the original sharply focused image.)

I read a lot of journals in the course of the day, but my favorites are the ones that require no reading, just looking. They are the Photo-Blogs. Over the past two years I have come across and enjoy dozens of online albums by some super talented photographers, but I am always on the look out for new talent. Some of these newest favorites of mine are actually old aquaintences such as my husband and my sister. Others I came across by accident. Either way, they are full of talent and inspiration and it would be selfish of me not to bring them to the attention of others who might not already know and appreciate their works.

PAPARRAZI BY PROXY: My husband Steve (more commonly known as 'Dickidoo') has always had a good eye for photography and I finally got tired of his constant suggestions that I should shoot this or do that, and I handed him my camera with the suggestion that he take the picture his own darn self. He did, and he did it well. And now I have to fight to be able to use my own camera (I don't share well). However, I am always eager to see what he has captured during his outings and am rarely disappointed. While I am the actual author of the journal, all of the pictures are the works of my husband.

Retrospect USA: Meet my older sister 'Redbird'. She began her passion for photography several years ago with a 35mm SLR camera and recently evolved into the world of digital photography. I love how she uses color and angles. During a visit over the summer, she and I took our cameras out to a favorite scenic location of both of ours, the Garden of the Gods, and I was amazed by how differently we both captured the same subjects.

Anywhere Is....: This is a brand-spankin'-new find for me, and I instantly fell in love with the earthy talent of Shutterbug. When I first clicked on this link I was completely in awe, and the feeling remains with each new entry.

Photo Trek: Radar calls himself a 'hobbyist photographer', but do not mistake that for being amateur. There is nothing amateurish about this guy. His pictures are fabulous! Don't limit yourself to his journal, check out the links to his galleries. You won't be disappointed.

Involuntary Motion: I have mentioned this journal before for its written words but would be amiss to neglect mentioning the breathtaking photography found within the entries. His pictures reflect the simple yet beautiful lifestyle he has chosen to live.

Enjoy!

APRIL'S FULL MOON

2006-04-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

I missed the opportunity to capture the moon while it was a dark orange in the early evening sky due to the fact that I was on the road and my camera was at home. When I finally returned home, the moon was hiding behind a neighbor's trees. I'm sure that if I had the know-how to get the settings right, this could have been a really nice shot. For now I am happy with the mystical quality of the picture. As a child I had always been intrigued by the moon. As an adult I am still mesmerized by it. I don't think I will ever tire of its many faces.

GONE FISHING

2006-04-13T07:10:00.000-07:00

Its spring, the ponds have all thawed out and the anglers are on the shorelines every chance they get. A lone fisherman sat across the water, enjoying the sweet melodies of the songbirds as they flitted about in the nearby trees and reeds. Occasionally he would move to reel in his line and cast it out again, but for the most part he just sat there and enjoyed the day.

Me: Hi, how're you doing?

Him: Good, you?

Me: I'm doing great, thanks.

Him: Where's all the fish? Been here since 11 o'clock this morning, only caught 2 fish all day.

Me: Maybe there were only 2 fish out there and you caught them all.

Him: They said they stocked the lake... but there aren't no fish out there. They lied! There aren't no fish out there at all.

When I left the pond a while later, he was still sitting there, his stringer with the two fish lay in the water below his feet. He hadn't had a bite since I'd been there, but you'd never tell by the look of contentment on his face.

He had reached the point in his life when it was no longer about the fish, it was all about the fishing.

GOOSE SONG

2006-04-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

I spent the afternoon with this Canada goose. Despite its appearance, the goose was actually quite docile around me, making only soft grunts while begging for crumbs from my sourdough roll. It was obviously the dominant gander (?) on the pond for the other geese kept their distance and those who ventured too close in the hopes of scooping up some crumbs were quickly chased away with a flap of wings and a warning honk.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Obstruction

2006-03-29T14:42:00.000-08:00

When I think of the word 'obstruction' I usually think in terms of visual obstruction. In nature visual obstruction is rarely accidental. I have no idea how long this fawn watched me before I became aware of its presence but I'm willing to bet I only saw it because it allowed me to see it. In this case the obstruction became an enhancement of the setting. It is also a good example of how easy it would be to miss the wonder of life around you if you are not alert to the subtle signs.

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Photo Challenge: Obstruction!

DENVER MARCH POW WOW 2006

2006-03-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

A dramatic sunset just outside of Denver en route to the Denver March Pow Wow this weekend. This shot was taken while going about 65 mph along I-25. I increased the red tones to bring out jet streams crossing the power lines.

The Denver March Pow Wow is one of the largest Native American gatherings in the country. Veterans are highly regarded and are honored to carry in the American and Veteran flags during the Grand Entry (opening ceremony). Current members of the Armed Forces are equally respected.

A young drum group prepares to sing during the Grand Entry. An offering of tobacco was sprinkled upon the drum's surface. The drum is considered to be the heartbeat of the people. Standing next to the drum one can feel one's own heart echoing the beat.

I was not able to do justice to the dancers this year. The lowlight of the Denver Coliseum did not provide enough light to capture focused shots, even with a tripod. Flash photography is discouraged so I had to do a lot of experimenting. Unfortunately with my limited experience I was not able to come up with a happy in-between. My shots were all either too dark, or blurry. In truth though, the blur of motion is part of the beauty of the dance.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG... FINALLY! (maybe?)

2006-03-24T14:15:00.000-08:00

Temperatures reached the upper 40's this morning so I along with many other folk took advantage of a sunny day off and went outside. It has been a while since I visited the Garden of the Gods so I headed out that way. I always get such a nice view of Pikes Peak there, and today was no exception. I shot this picture while waiting for the hikers to move out of vision so I could take just a scenery shot, but after viewing the pictures later I found the initial shot with the hikers to be more appealing.

I happened across this old bridge and was setting up for a still shot when a biker rode past. Suddenly the bridge was no longer just a piece of scenery, it was part of a story.

These riders also crossed my plane of sight and I was lost interest in a distant hill in favor of their obvious enjoyment of the day and companionship. Yes, spring is definitely, finally in the air!

Note to self: Start carrying the tripod with you!

LIFE IMITATING ART IMITATING LIFE

2006-03-23T10:09:00.000-08:00

WEDNESDAY'S MONDAY PHOTO SHOOT, Signs of Spring

2006-03-22T07:50:00.000-08:00

I came across this gentleman taking a nap in the warm late morning sun in downtown Colorado Springs this weekend. By Monday the ground was covered in a blanket of snow. I have come to the conclusion that the weather in the Rockies is typically one season behind the rest of the country.

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Signs of Spring

ANCIENT ENGINE

2006-03-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

Engine 168, a narrow gauge engine, pulled the first Denver & Rio Grande passenger train from Denver, Colorado to Ogden, Utah in May of 1883. It was retired in 1933 after 50 years of continuous service. The engine was presented to the City of Colorado Springs in 1938, and it now rests in Antlers Park in downtown Colorado Springs.

I have set up a photo-journal to showcase some of my husband's pictures. Check it out when you have a chance, its worth the click: PAPARRAZI BY PROXY

GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER: My husband Steve

2006-03-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

PART 1: Monuments around Washington DC

My husband is in Washington DC this week and naturally took my camera so that he could take advantage of the abundance of photo opportunities to be found in our nation's capitol. I give him a lot of grief about depriving me of my camera, but the truth of the matter is that he has been taking pictures for just as many years as I have and really does have a good eye. These are just a couple of what I hope are hundreds of pictures he takes of his visit. The first shot is very easy to identify as the Washington Monument.

The second is the Korean War Veterans Memorial. This memorial, with its etched reflection wall and larger than life statues, was a priority because both Steve's and my father served during the Korean War. I also lost an uncle on my mother's side to the fighting there. I once asked my mother how her mother took the loss of her oldest son, and my mother said that my grandmother was strong and hid her grief, but that her heart had been broken by the loss. Now, years later and with my own son far away on a distant shore fighting for another country's freedom I have a better idea of just how strong my grandmother was, and just how fragile she must have felt at times.

Beautiful pictures Steve, I wish I was there with you.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE

2006-03-15T06:52:00.000-08:00

SIGNS~

My camera is still on a business trip out of state with my husband and I have been confined to the older files already stored on my computer for this assignment.

Oh, who am I kidding, I was planning on using this picture all along. I LOVE it! I found it during a walk through Manitou Springs in December of last year. It was hanging in the window of the arcade there along the strip.

This sign hung next to the ticket window for the old museum in Cripple Creek. "WE DO NOT WANT CARELESS MEN!" I'm sure nowdays that would be considered discrimination of some sort.

Wow, I almost forgot about this one. Las Vegas has some of the coolest store fronts in the country! My tequila sensor picked up on this one as soon as it came into view during a trip two years ago. I still haven't forgiven my husband for not stopping there for me.

The Round Robin Photo Challenges: Round Robin Challenge: Signs

RE-ACQUAINTANCE WITH AN OLD FRIEND

2006-03-13T21:57:00.000-08:00

My husband went to DC on a business trip and naturally had to take the Nikon to make the most of the treasure of photo opportunities that would be available to him. That leaves me with the 35mm Minolta. Once upon a time this camera was considered to be top of the line. I have captured many wonderful memories within its shutters. Now I stare incomprehensibly at the dials and buttons, switches and gauges. I have no idea how to use it any more. But the hardest to get used to is the drastic difference in exposures and the inability to review and delete unwanted shots. I went through 48 exposures in a matter of minutes, and there was no deleting of bad shots to make room for more. Then there was the long developing period (2 days not including the turn in and pickup day), not to mention the cost. ($7 per single print 24 exposure roll including disk).

No, the colors aren't really that vibrant. I had to increase the saturation to put a little life into the picture. I am hoping that it will all come back in time... so I can teach my husband how to use the 35mm and keep his dirty little paws off of my Nikon!

SPRING STORM, and a new lens.

2006-03-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

Last night while I was at work my husband went to the camera store uptown and bought a replacement lens for the one that I had fallen on during the summer. This one is an 18-55mm lens, the same size as the one I broke. Naturally I had to get out this morning to try out the lens. Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating and a storm hung menacingly over the pond. Within an hour of taking this picture the temperature had dropped drastically and we were dusted by little puff balls of snow.

Maybe they greet all of the trails visitors with the same enthusiasm, but I like to think that the deer recognize me. This doe didn't hesitate to walk over. I'm sure the fact that I had a couple of apples in my pocket had nothing to do with her response.

Lucky for this squirrel it hadn't shed its winter coat yet. We have had a relatively mild winter so far but it is not uncommon to get snow in April and May in the foothills of Colorado.

GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER: my son Gabe

2006-03-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

"Scouts Out", photograph by Gabe

Today I am featuring a photograph taken by my son Gabe who is currently stationed in Iraq. My first impression when I saw it was of Washington crossing the Delaware. There is something so comical about the shot, and yet its hard to forget what led those young men to that location. I honestly thought that was Gabe standing at the front of the boat and pointing, but am prouder of the fact that he was actually the taker of the picture. That's my boy! (Look, there's Gabe's shadow on the side of the boat!)

PUEBLO RIVER WALK

2006-03-05T23:53:00.000-08:00

A popular attraction in Pueblo is the Arkansas River Walk. In 1921 the river flooded and left the city of Pueblo submerged under 11 feet of water. The river was later diverted to a reservoir and the original river bed dried up, until it was excavated and brought back to life for the 2000 opening of the Arkansas River Walk. Tucked in between busy streets and tall buildings of Pueblo's historic downtown district, the park's boardwalk atmosphere offers a relaxing get away for tourists and residents alike.

This is just one of the many statues and sculptures that grace the pathways along the river's edge. This particular series of children at play is by local artist Rick Willits.

It is hard to believe that this peaceful river had once turned into a raging monster that took the lives of 100 people. What was once the cause of great devastation and despair is now the source of joy and pleasure.

Cool, clear, water.....

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: The Animal Inside

2006-03-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

My inner animal would have to be the silver back gorilla. But not just any old silver back gorilla.... THIS silver back gorilla! I met her at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo where I happily took advantage of the photo opportunity she availed me as she sat there nibbling on some grass. Unfortunately she did not take kindly to paparazzi and indicated her displeasure to the invasion of her privacy in no uncertain terms. I had to laugh and take one more shot, but I could totally relate to her attitude. Ah yes, the freedom of expression! She is soooooo ME!

STARR KEMPF

2006-02-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

Memories.... I visited Seven Falls in the Fall when I was stationed at Ft. Carson. Great Place!!! Donna
Comment from dhga30047 - 2/25/06 9:53 AM

If you've been to Seven Falls, then surely you'll remember Starr Kempf's kinetic yard sculptures at the base of Cheyenne Canon. A few years ago the residents of the neighborhood won a battle with the family, stating that the sculptures were in violation with the city zoning regulations, and that the tourist traffic was disrupting the neighborhood. The larger sculptures which were found in violation of the city's height restrictions were removed but the others remain.

Starr Kempf (1917-1995) was a local artist who's display of larger than life wind activated sculptures have delighted residents and visitors of Colorado Springs for decades (myself included).

One might view the sculptures as decorating the lush grounds of his home, but I always felt that the story book home that sat in the background seemed to be more of an afterthought that decorated the grounds of the sculptures. The giant sculptures shine brightly in the sun and move gracefully in the wind, but make not a sound. I have always marveled at that.

"With the steel sculpture, I can aim at the clouds. With the human form I am too sensitive to the possibility of butchering it. With these sculptures I am not bound by realism. That bird isn't necessarily a bird; he is both abstract and representational. Working in the steel I am most free." Starr Kempf (1987)

SEVEN FALLS, COLORADO

2006-02-25T08:35:00.000-08:00

Seven Falls is a popular tourist attraction during the summer but traffic slows down dramatically during the winter. When I got to the admission gate I was warned that the falls were frozen and the stairs to the the top of the falls as well as the hiking trails were closed for the season. I decided to take a risk and drive in any way. I am glad that I did because what greeted me was a whole new kind of beauty. Contrary to its appearance, the falls were not entirely frozen. Water still ran swift beneath the thick shell of ice on the surface.

At first glance I thought this was an unused road or trail but it is actually a stream that flows from the base of the falls. Like the falls itself, only the surface is frozen. Beneath the snow and ice runs an ice cold, crystal clear mountain stream.

My trip to the falls gave me the opportunity to practice my snow shots. The first was washed out, the second was dark. In my third attempt I simply switched to a night setting that automatically adjusts to the existing light, and this was the result. I'm happy with it for now but I know the camera has so much potential if I would just sit down and read the section in the owners manual about the different manual settings.

WASHOUT

2006-02-22T08:22:00.000-08:00

Photographing snow has always been a challenge for me being as I have not gotten around to investing in filters yet. Nor have I figured out the intricacies of manual settings for lighting and all that other mumbo-jumbo that serious photographers really should know. I took this shot of the cotton tail at a bad angle and the auto setting on my camera kept wanting to use the flash, which I decided to override and I made a bad attempt at adjusting the settings own my own. Unfortunately the sun prevented me from getting a good preview of my shots so I just clicked away and hoped for the best. Once the pictures were downloaded I realized my worst fears. The pictures were 'over-exposed'. Fortunately I was able to use my photo-fix program and got a little contrast and color back into my grumpy little cottontail. He really should have been celebrating. My family had actually gone rabbit hunting and I was just along for the ride. He could easily have joined his relatives in the cooler, but not on this day. He was nibbling on the landscaping plants in a no-hunting area.

OLD FILES, REVISITED.

2006-02-17T23:07:00.000-08:00

I haven't been able to take my camera out lately due to scheduling and weather conflicts. This opened up an opportunity for me to go back and look through my old files. On average I snap about 100-200 shots on my excursions, but only post between 2 and 4 of the images. That leaves dozens of images filed away to be forgotten as the next batch of pictures are uploaded. I spent several minutes with this bullfrog at the pond but ended up using another picture for my post later that day. Today I found I was drawn once again to his nonchalant gaze.

Porcupines used to be a common sight along the roadside in the evening, but construction eventually drove them deeper in to the woods. This was the first sighting of the prickly critter I've had in about 4 years. He was sleeping high in a cottonwood tree and completely ignored my attempts to rouse him so I could shot of his face so I had to settle for a shot of his Mohawk hairdo instead.

Mourning dove are no dummies. They know when dove season is and are scarce then, but during the off season they are as thick as mosquitoes. I used to have a pair of collared dove and mimicked their cooing to catch this dove's attention. I'm sure I didn't make any sense at all to it but the dove sat there and tolerated me and my camera without any apparent fear.

I know, I know... don't feed the animals, but he was looking at me with hungry little squirrelly eyes and I just had to share my granola. I love watching squirrels handle objects, their paws are more like little hands with hairy fingers.

ROUND ROBIN PHOTO CHALLENGE: Let The Good Times Roll

2006-02-16T10:35:00.000-08:00

Laisser le Bon Temps Rouler (Let The Good Times Roll):

My family is always looking for an excuse to party. Our parties usually include neighbors and friends, old and new. One of our regular gatherings is during the Super Bowl. Unfortunately this year my oldest son Gabe was unable to attend and root for his team, the Steelers. That didn't stop us from including him in the celebration. This halftime photo was posted on the journal Letters To Gabe that I have been keeping for him since his enlistment in the Army in the fall of 2004, and more recently during his ongoing deployment in Iraq. He may be far away but he is never far from our hearts and thoughts.

We miss you Gabe, be safe, hurry home so we can PARTY!

BEAR CREEK, January 24, 2006

2006-02-07T07:44:00.000-08:00

The chickadee is such a friendly little bird and doesn't seem to mind the presence of humans. This little one kept me company for about half an hour and seemed entertained by my terrible mimicing calls. The thing about these little birds though is that they are so hyperactive that they are near impossible to photograph. No sooner did I start to focus when he'd be off to another branch. I never did get a good shot, most are missing tails or just a blur of feathers.

It had been my first visit to Bear Creek in almost a year, and I had never seen the resident mule deer before. They were equally curious about me. Unfortunately I no longer have my regular lens and have to use my zoom on everything, which is so frustrating when I find myself in close proximity to opportunities such as this but have to pan out for a longer shot just to focus. This little yearling was almost close enough to touch at one point. What I love is making eye contact with the animals, to see that they are seeing me, that they know I am there but its okay. I don't try to hide because if the animals know I am there they are less likely to be startled when I make a sudden move or sound.

The mule deer herd grazed next to me for close to an hour until some hikers came down the trail with a beagle who had scented the deer from up the hill and barked all the way down. The does ran over towards me, not the least be concerned by my presence, and waited to see what the beagle would do. I ended up shooing the deer away before the dog could come off the trail since the owners had absolutely no regard for the park rules (No Dogs!). I don't blame the dog, it was acting on instinct, but idiots like those hikers who blatantly disregard rules that were set up to protect the animals while at the same time allowing us to observe them in their natural habitat... well, folks like that justbug the stuffing out of me.

SIMPLICITY

2006-01-26T13:50:00.000-08:00

There is something about this simple picture of one of our favorite fishing holes during a recent snow flurry that just mesmerizes me. Even now I can almost feel the cold right down to my bones and my nostrils search for the faint fragrance of sage that perfumed the air around the pond.

ROUND ROBIN CHALLENGE: SUPER MODEL

2006-01-18T22:37:00.000-08:00

My computer's online connection has been out of commission for several days so I totally missed the call for this month's Round Robin Challenge but I'm going to submit an entry anyhow because the theme is so fun. I'm not good at setting up posed pictures, but I think these ones actually came out pretty well. The models are, of course, my children.

Check out all of the other participants by clicking here: Round Robin Challenge, Super Model

LAZY DAY OFF

2006-01-18T17:25:00.000-08:00

With my computer offline I have not been inspired to go out with my camera until this morning. I drove to the pond immediately after dropping my daughter off at school. I went straight to the grove where the whitetails bed down but they were nowhere to be seen. In fact, with the exception of a couple of squirrels and a few birds, there was little sight of any wildlife at all. My disappointment was short-lived though. I love being out in the wild as the world is waking up.

I never get tired of the view of Pikes Peak, as you may have noticed by now. Ironically, for as much as I love the mountain, I have only actually been to the top a few times because of my extreme fear of heights. Now I will only visit the summit if someone else drives for me, the road is too winding, narrow and close to the edge of the mountain for my comfort.

2006 ARRIVES IN COLORADO

2006-01-05T21:41:00.000-08:00

Pikes Peak in 2006. The snow is slowly melting and rumor has it there won't be any new snowfall for a few weeks. The one thing I miss about my old house is the view I used to have of the snow blowing off the top of the Peak on windy days. Now I come to the Ponds to enjoy the view, but I don't mind in the least bit.

A nesting box stands vacant in the half frozen water, but the Canada geese have already returned and hopefully by late spring there will be a new generation of geese in the ponds.

A sleepy cottontail kept me company when I went for an early morning stroll at the Bluestem trail. It has already gotten its nice warm winter coat on but it seemed to be enjoying the warmth of the morning sun. It wasn't the least bit shy, and even hopped a little closer to investigate the sounds made by my camera.

EARLY BIRD

2005-12-30T12:51:00.000-08:00

I spent the morning at the marsh with my camera. I have missed my visits there, I always feel so at peace when I walk the paths that connect the many ponds and creeks. Even the animals greet me with almost enthusiastic familiarity. Perhaps its just wishful thinking on my part, but I always feel like I'm at home there among the cattails and cottonwoods.

TESTING, TESTING, 1, 2, 3

2005-12-29T21:30:00.000-08:00

My lens finally died from injuries sustained by my unfortunate collision with the cactus patch this past summer. My husband tried gallantly to revive it but the damage was too great. To ease my grief, my husband bought me a new lens. This one is a 55-200 mm zoom, kind of an in between lens, but very nice. These mule deer graciously posed as my first subjects.

What I like best about the new lens is that I made fewer lens changes to get the variety of shots that presented themselves to me. Hopefully this will result in less stress and wear on my lenses and camera. I have come to the conclusion that the best way to prevent wear on my camera because of the constant lens changing would be to buy a camera for each lens. That way I'll never have to change the lens and risk getting the camera and lens dirty! Sounds perfectly logical to me!

MANITOU SPRINGS IN THE MORNING

2005-12-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

My intentions this morning were to photograph the moon as it hung over Pikes Peak at daybreak. Unfortunately my camera had been plugged into the computer all night and the battery was completely drained. With my back-up battery MIA, I had to wait while my battery charged, and in that time snow clouds stole over the mountain and hid the moon from view. I settled for an impromptu visit to Manitou Springs.

Manitou Springs is a quaint little tourist town that even the locals love to poke around in. Many of the shops date back to the turn of the century. With business seasonal and mostly dependant upon tourism, it takes a special kind of personality to make it in this town.

While all of the other trees shivered beneath bare branches, the hearty pinetrees seem to thrive in the cold and provide lush color in the otherwise barren landscape. Alas, I too succumbed to the winter chill and had to call it a day after just a couple of hours.

IMAGES OF COLD

2005-12-07T14:35:00.000-08:00

When I left the house this afternoon it was 1° . My husband had told me about a photo op he had passed on his way in to work and I had no trouble finding it. Steam from some heating vents across the street blew over and against this fence, freezing it and everything in its path. I was only there for maybe 30 minutes max and by the time I returned to the truck, my fingertips were so cold they felt as if they had each been hammered mercilessly one by one. I definitely need to invest in some good cold-weather photographers gloves.

This is just one of the many trees that had become encrusted in ice from the steam. At one point I slipped and fell against the tree. The ice shattered and it sounded like glass falling. I half expected the tree to break but it just shook off the splintered ice and bounced back to its original position. I'm sure I provided the construction crew across the street with entertainment as I slipped and slid across the icy slope but I was bound and determined to get my shots. I actually only fell once, despite all of the close calls. Fortunately I was too numb from the cold to feel anything (except for my fingertips!)

After thawing off a little bit I went to the reservoir. The water was completely iced over and covered with a blanket of snow except for where a pipe emptied runoff from the other reservoirs into it. There the water still flowed and steamed. The forecast predicts an overnight low of -11°. Judging by the clouds surrounding the mountains in the distance it won't be long before the temperatures begin dropping.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE

2005-12-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

I have visited the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii dozens of times, and each time I visited I was overwhelmed by the same intense emotions. Each visit, whether it was the first or the 100th, transports the visitor to that tragic and fateful day.

In the early morning hours of December 7, 1941, 2,388 lives were lost. 1,177 were crewmen of the USS Arizona. Only 75 bodies were ever recovered. The other 1,102 remain entombed on the wreckage. If you stand on the Memorial and look down into the water you can see droplets of oil floating up to the surface like dark, iridescent tears from the battleship itself.

The attack on Pearl Harbor marked the change in not only our country but in the world. Much good has eventually come from the lessons learned, but the toll on all countries involved was great and the lives lost are still honored and mourned.

WINTER ARRIVES ON THE POND

2005-12-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

A cold north wind blew winter in over the Rockies and I woke Saturday to find my part of the world covered in a soft blanket of white. By the end of the day there was 6 inches on the ground.

Believe it or not I was not the first person visiting the pond that morning, but the other visitors stayed on the main path. I wanted to see what one of my favorite places looked like in its winter coat for although I have lived here for 11 years, this was my first visit to the pond after a snowfall. I was not disappointed.

The whitetail herd that I had befriended over the summer greeted me like a Beverly Doolittle painting. They are probably used to human presence by now, but I like to think that they recognized me from my many earlier visits. The fawns have all lost their spots but are still curious. I look forward to spending more time with them, but duty called and I had to return home to get ready for work. There is snow in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. After taking care of a few errands I plan to spend the rest of my day off at the pond.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2005-11-24T08:44:00.000-08:00

Textures of Tradition, Thanksgiving 2005

Sometimes, in light of all that is going on in our lives and in the world around us, it is easy to lose sight of things to be thankful for. Yet those are the very things that highlight the goodness in our lives. I am so thankful for the love of my family, for the support of friends, and for the strength my faith allows me. While I may regret the sadness that touches my life, it adds focus to the happiness I am granted. I give thanks every day, but on today I also give thanks to the spirit of our forefathers (and mothers) who pathed our way and to the traditions that remind us of who we are and where we came from. Happy Thanksgiving my dear friends and family. Thank you for being a part of my life.

STILL HOPPIN' MAD!

2005-11-21T23:24:00.000-08:00

Yeah, this was me the other morning when I first saw those hideous banner ads on the tops of all of my journals. And one week later I'm still not any happier. I have decided not to move my journals to another blog-host for the fact that I have too much time and work invested in my AOL sites, and I will be walking away from a community that I have grown to love. I will, however, continue to display my displeasure in AOL's actions regarding the addition of ads onto personal space by including a disclaimer in all of my journals titles until they either remove the ads or offer an acceptable compromise.

SOLOMN OFFERING

2005-11-13T09:24:00.000-08:00

Just one of the many flowers left at the memorials on Veterans Day.

VETERANS' DAY, 2005

2005-11-13T09:19:00.000-08:00

Colorado's Memorial Park is located in Colorado Springs, next to the International Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial. All branches of the Armed Forces are represented here in a memorial for Colorado's fallen sons and daughters during conflicts throughout the ages.

FOUNTAIN CREEK, AT THE EDGE OF FALL

2005-11-10T16:20:00.000-08:00

Its been about 2 weeks since I last visited Fountain Creek. The banks that were lush and green not too long ago are now covered with a blanket of dry leaves.

The cattails have shed their dark velvet coats and reach out for the breeze to catch its fluff and carry it away to distant lands.

The milkweed grew weary of waiting on the monarchs to show and went to seed without them. There was no sign at all that the butterflies had visited the patch this year, not even an old chrysalis.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

2005-11-10T06:38:00.000-08:00

This was my first opportunity to capture a picture of a rainbow with my Nikon. Standing on top of the mountain made it easy to see exactly where the rainbow touched down. It was merely a matter of running to the other side of the ridge.

Unfortunately upon arrival I discovered that the elusive end of the rainbow had moved and the mythical pot of gold would remain beyond my grasp.

My camera has never been the same since my tumble on it late this summer. Just the other day I discovered that my camera now had a very distinctive rattle to it. My daughter Rocky had some news to share with me this morning:

'Hey mom, you know that shaking noise from your camera? I have good news, it doesn't affect the pictures. Its probably just something from your lense that broke bent when you fell and finally broke off!'

Yeah, its just something that broke off of my lense, great news! Thanks sweetie. I feel better already!

MORE STUFF FROM MY OLD FILES (too tired to get new pictures)

2005-11-09T14:45:00.000-08:00

I used to call these two trees 'The Twins'. They grow in my neighbors yard behind my house. Once upon a time the trees looked exactly alike. Now they are like day and night. And yet they still reach out to each other.

Scrubjays are a common sight in the woods here in Colorado. I see them every time I go out to the mountains. They are curious and always flitter over to see what I'm doing, but so far I've not been able to get them in close like the ones that reside at the Garden of the Gods, which are used to encountering humans on a daily basis.

I'm trying to get back into the swing of being a member of the work force again, and its harder than I thought it would be, even after just a 6 month break. I haven't had time to get out with my camera in over a week. Normally that would bother me, but quite honestly, I'm too tired to care right now.

Congratulations to Nettie for winning the ViVi Award for the Best Use of Photography category with JerseyGirl ~ Jersey Girl Journal ~ JerseyGirlJournal.com . I have been a fan of her photography since I began journaling almost 2 years ago, and she was one of my inspirations to starting this photo journal (Sepintx was the other). It was an honor to be nominated with her and the other nominees for this award. Click here for a list of all of this year's ViVi Readers' Choice Award Recipients.

CLYDESDALE TEAM

2005-11-04T17:35:00.000-08:00

The first beer I ever had was a Budweiser. Why? Well, because of the Budweiser Clydesdales of course! My taste in beer has changed over the years, but I still love the beautiful Clydesdales. The team was at a Military Appreciation program on Fort Carson today. By the time I got there it was already dark, but the horses patiently tolerated my flash. As big as they are, I still wanted to throw my arms around their necks and give them a big hug. I probably would have too, if I could reach that high!

TREE CEMETARY (edited)

2005-11-02T07:22:00.000-08:00

I call the hilltop that I took these pictures from The Tree Cemetary. Once upon a time it was a thick, lush green slope that was a favorite bedding spot for deer and elk. I'm not sure if it was lightning or artillery fired during a military training exercise that set the hill on fire, but it burned to the ground and years later the charred and bleached skeletons still beckon eerily towards the sky.

One can't help but walk in silence through the pinons and junipers. The only thing growing are weeds on the ground. New trees and brush dare not cross the invisible line onto the scarred earth, stopping right on the edge to pay their silent homage. Even the animals avoid this area. I spent almost an hour there on the ridge and the only creatures that ventured near were crows. I couldn't help but notice that other burned areas have long since regrown, but this particular hill remains a scorched ruin. I could almost swear that I heard the soft, mournful sigh of a hundred trees as they reached for the wind that blew gently through their bare branches.

Edited 11/02/05: Sorry but all the typos were really bugging me.

SUNSET ON THE HUNT

2005-10-30T20:26:00.000-08:00

Sunrise, sunset. Its the same sun, and yet so dramatically different. Even a storm looming over head couldn't distract from the beauty of the setting sun.

My hunting season ended unsuccessfully in terms of meat, but the experience I had wandering the mountain, being close to nature and close to my husband was very fruitful. I am already looking forward to next year.

GOOD MORNING BEAUTIFUL DAY

2005-10-29T14:10:00.000-07:00

Sometimes no words are necessary. This morning was one of those times.

HUNTING, and online friendships.

2005-10-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

Flintlock by BlueDragonfyr; Powderhorn by Cayote44

Its big game season in Colorado, and although I am a nature watcher, I am also a hunter. My favorite method of hunting is with my .54 flintlock blackpowder muzzleloader. I have dropped two elk with it so far. Tomorrow I hope to make it three.

The rifle was custom made and presented to me along with other hunting items by some very special and wonderful people I had met online at a blackpowder message board. The powderhorn was also made for me as part of a barter by another member from the board.

While it is true that one must be cautious when meeting people online, I have been very fortunate then and now to have encountered some exceptional people whom I feel honored to share this piece of cyber space with. People I am honored to call friends. To all of my new friends here, thank you for allowing me to be part of your world as I share mine with you.

TRICK OR TREAT, Round Robin Photo Challenge

2005-10-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

My oldest daughter Becca is facinated with macabre movies and decided after watching The Grudge that she wanted to be a make-up artist when she grew up. She also decided that she wanted to be a zombie for Halloween. We actually took these pictures in April of this year when she was practicing her craft.

Round Robin Challenge: Halloween Happenings!

NEW VIEW OF OLD PICTURES.

2005-10-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

If I Were Judith... this would be a real painting.

I have always admired paintings like Judithheartsong's but my expertise is limited to fingerpaints so when I discovered the many different tools available in my Paintshop Pro I went crazy and turned just about every picture into a water color. Of course if I were an artist I'd probably be striving to get my paintings to look like a photograph. Theres just no pleasing me.

The Accidental Portrait

I gave up on this picture as soon as I took it several weeks ago. It wasn't until this morning when I opened it up and cropped the center to enlarge it that I discovered the bee who had been buzzing around while I had been taking pictures. Of course, if I had a camera like Sepintx's you'd be able to see up the bee's nose! Maybe if I'm good for the rest of the year Santa might bring me a macro lens.

Late October in the Mountains.

2005-10-24T08:41:00.000-07:00

Last Flight

Winter is almost upon us and this weathered monarch searches wearily for any remaining nectar before embarking on its last flight.

Doe Eyes

Female mule deer are protected from hunters in this area so they show little fear of humans. These little ladies gazed back at me with curious and trusting eyes. Sometimes I have a hard time resisting the urge to reach out and pet them.

Fog Bank Rolling In

As a picture of a mountain this would surely be considered to be mediocre. But this is not a picture of a mountain. It is a picture of bone chilling cold. I sat there in the early morning light watching the fog pushing back the sun. Not only could you feel the cold setting in, you could actually see it. Within moments the fog completely encircled the ridge I was sitting on. The temperature plunged drastically and then, just as swiftly and silently as it rolled in, the fog moved on.