Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.
― Helen Keller
You’ve got to love these happy flowers. They’re blooming all over now.
Blog Archives
Happy Flowers
Eight-Hour Drive
Patrón and I took an eight-hour drive that took me through Glenwood, Carbondale, Redstone, over McClure Pass, Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Cedaredge.
Crystal River
We drove over the Grand Mesa first on 65, then the Old Grand Mesa Road, and stopped at the small parking spot below the Crag Crest Trail so Patrón could stretch her legs. She and I enjoyed some time sitting at the lake and walking along the road.
I took a few pictures of sunflowers that were obviously past their prime, but they were so pretty anyway. There’s some serious standing water in the low spots, too — presumably from all the recent rains.
We then got back on 65 at the Visitor Center and soon took off onto the Land’s End Road. That first mile or so going down is kind of spooky. (I have no idea how they do that Lands End Road Rally [?] every year without someone seriously falling off the mountain.)
Looking South.
Looking West.
It was a really nice day, but Patrón wasn’t too thrilled with being tied down in the vehicle. I gave her enough lead to hang her head out the window (I’m not a completely horrible mother), but I need to find a better way to tie her down. She got herself completely tangled in her leash and the harness I bought just to keep her in place in the vehicle. I’d hate to buy a cage for her to travel in when part of the purpose is for her to have some “head-hanging” time. But she cannot wander the vehicle. I stopped several times for her to water and pee. She did neither, and she wouldn’t get back in of her own accord—I had to lift her into the seat. I also wanted to do a little exploring (like Redstone Castle), but couldn’t with her in tow. (Why can’t I lock the doors with the keys in the ignition?!! I have another set of keys!)
I won’t take her every time, but this was interesting and fun trying to figure out what to do with her. When she tried to wallow in a dead fish, I was not completely sold on this arrangement.
Outside of Paonia, I finally saw the coal mine(s) where my son used to work. While in Paonia, I visited the Orchard Valley Farms & Market and Black Bridge Winery and discovered a new, interesting addition to their vinegars—Ripe Peach White Balsamic Vinegar. Yummy! Not sure it’s new, but it is to me.
It was a pleasant day, for sure!
Funny Flower
It’s been awhile since I posted anything. Between work (busy season), work (finishing up what I started), bowling, school and the accompanying homework, and everyday stuff, I’ve been pressed for time and energy. Bowling and school are out for the summer and all work seems to have calmed down for a little bit.
I came home for lunch today and found this flower in my driveway. It’s a weed, really, but it sure was pretty, open and full. I took a lot of pictures with a real camera before I headed into the house to eat lunch. About 40 minutes later I went back outside to head back to work. I was going to shoot a quick picture with the iPhone to show a co-worker. By that time, the flower had closed up completely.
When I got downtown, I noticed these flowers as I walked through the breezeway from the parking garage.
It’s that time of year! Finally!
Springtime in Colorado
Last week it was in the 70s. This weekend, it will be rainy. Yesterday it snowed. This morning, it’s like I’m in Seattle. I love it all.
TGIF!
Not All My Garden Is Flowers
It’s a beautiful Saturday and I have some fun tonight to look forward to. My friends and I (of many years), will have dinner and paint ceramics. I believe that is the plan. Perhaps included in the fun will be wine. Well, I’m involved; there will be wine.
Last night I spent a lot of time writing a note to a friend and my mind is mush today because of the effort to spill my thoughts in an organized way, to allow someone else a glimpse into my inner world. Doing that doesn’t come naturally and it’s not a stingy thing. It’s that there’s so much more interesting to know about you than I have to tell about me. But I think sometimes people misunderstand that lack of forthcoming information as a lack of trust in them. It is more an interest in their stories.
Last night I “friended,” on Facebook, someone who has recently piqued my interest. She’s a much younger person and I am sure we are misaligned in many key areas of discussion, but I have read some of her posts, and think she has a lot of wisdom to offer this world. She’s an old soul and I think she has a story to tell about why she is. She provided a brief glimpse into that possibility earlier this semester. She has spoken in class and she’s articulate and thoughtful, and I find myself drawn to discover what she will eventually offer the world. Whatever it is, it will be good. I’m excited to get to know yet another person, even if it is from the safe distance of a Facebook friendship.
I am so pleased to be in the class I now attend. It’s not a difficult class, but for the first time in a couple of semesters, I am not surrounded by middle-aged, entitled, and lazy women who were given this educational opportunity they don’t take as seriously as they should. I am now surrounded by motivated, bright, young and young-at-heart women who will eventually influence our world—and from whom I will learn a great deal if I keep my mind’s doors wide open.
Well. I need to get something done. I played with this flower in Topaz Labs’ Impression this morning. I believe I’ll eventually play with this one a lot. It is perfect.
Happy Saturday!
Wine Tour
Toured some of the Palisade wineries today. We stopped at Red Fox Cellars. What a fun place! Among other attractions, not the least of which was their wine, was this arrangement of flowers that I have filtered.
Flowers
We wandered around Palisade Colorado via Clyde and his wagon.
Meet Clyde!
Meet Clyde
We had such a fun time. Palisade is a sweet little town that sits below Mt. Garfield, in Colorado. They grow grapes and make great wine. You should visit sometime.
It was a great day in Western Colorado.
#westerncolorado #palisade #winetour
Spring Hike, 2014
I took these pictures with an iPhone 5s. I think it takes pretty respectable pictures. Once I learned not to use the zoom (and I still forget) I am getting pretty consistently good pictures. I’ve also watched a few videos aimed at teaching how best to capture photos with the that camera.
This was a fun hike with my friend, Carol, on May 23, 2014. I believe she did some geo-caching along the way. And she knows stuff. I saw yellow flowers and greenish caterpillars. She saw [insert correct names here]. A hike with Carol is always informative and fun. We sat toward the top and ate lunch and enjoyed the view.
Unaweep Canyon is one my favorite places. It’s pretty every season; in rain, snow, or sunshine.
It WAS the Best Camera
I recently went to San Diego. When I go, I always haul my big camera, and this time was no exception. The difference was I only opened the case once, and I never did haul the camera out of it. I ended up carrying that thing through airports and back to my house, where it’s still sitting in its bag. Several times I’ve moved toward freeing it from the case and getting it ready for the shot. I guess I’ll get around to it.
The first shot I got that I really liked was of our ascent out of Salt Lake City over the Great Salt Lake.
On this visit, I had a bicycle at my disposal, and rather than haul a big camera with me, I simply used the iPhone camera that also keeps the tunes I listen to (at a low volume in San Diego’s traffic). With the bike, I covered more ground than usual, and I got some sun and good exercise. I ended up walking that bike up some of the bigger hills, but I surprised myself that I could navigate as many of them as I did without getting off the bike. I’m not so out of shape as I thought.
At one point during my stay, I got frustrated with work and so simply walked out of the house and around a few blocks.
I don’t know what these are, but I love them. Every time I take a walk in San Diego, I see these spiky-soft, red flowers. I never miss them.
Further on that walk, I happened to look up and saw these two palms leaning into each other. Light clouds kept the sky from being pure and uninterrupted blue, as it was so many times while I was there.
One evening, a spooky fog crept up the hills from the ocean. I watched it move toward the house, obscuring everything much past where I stood, in a progressively opaque screen of white, until I could see no further.
That night, I happened to awake and look out the window to see this. I had to remove color from this to make it a more realistic representation of what I saw, but you get the idea. It was spooky beautiful and fun to wake up to.
Sitting in my friends’ front yard, soaking up the warm morning rays, the sun hit this solar lamp just right and I noticed this spider web.
I did venture out several times on the bicycle and captured these two shots of the Sunset Cliffs area.
And then there was this bit-o’-silliness.
I did hate to leave the warmth of San Diego, and the company of my friends, but I had to. Bummer. I’m a window-seat kind of gal. I love the view from there. I had a somewhat better view before the flight attendant asked me to trade seats with a gal with a baby who was in an exit row (and we had together just struggled that car seat into submission!). I got the wing. Still, watching the sun rise at that elevation was a first for me. Even though the pockmarks on the window kept me from getting a clean shot (and it was an iPhone camera, after all), this was a pretty view and I love the picture I got.
When I left Salt Lake City headed home, it was snowing. We had to wait in line for de-icing. Watching the other plane and ours being attended to by these things reminded me of a science fiction movie, and it was too cool a composition to pass up.
And drops on the window.
Another window seat, of course. One time I caught a college-age kid in my window seat and I made him move. I’ll bet he wondered what the big deal was. I love me a window seat!
From Salt Lake to Junction, I sat next to a gal who was traveling to meet friends in Colorado. Because of our delay for de-icing, I didn’t have my ear buds in, trying to catch whatever announcements came across the intercom. As a result of that, she and I struck up an interesting conversation and chatted about her life, her family, her independent daughter and how her independence affects those around her. As we talked, we found our lives paralleled in so many ways. She was some 84 years old and probably only looked a little older than I. She and I were born two days apart in February, and we briefly hit on an astrological link to explain our similarities. She is well-traveled, though; had spent time in Kenya. Married to the same man for 30 years, she struck out on her own and had a relationship with another man for nearly 30 years more. It was serendipitous that we should meet, I think. She had missed her connecting flight the day before because of fog in California. I wish I had asked for contact information, although we did exchange names. I already regret not risking embarrassing myself to ask how I might get in touch with her. Silly silly me.
It was a great Christmas, a great break from cold, and a terrific start to the New Year.
Thank you KC and Doyle!
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