RANDOM THOUGHTS

nature

2011-03-15T08:09:00.002-06:00

nature
natural environment
wilderness working together
with all forms of being
plants, animals and other features
of the world
developing of their own accord...
the way that
particular types of things
exist and change...
together
making the most
amazing sights
and sounds
we experience every day...
nature is constant...
all beings
along side each other
entertaining us
with these amazing
art forms...

sunday shutterbugs

2011-01-12T09:01:00.004-07:00

the shapes of strawberries...

sunday shutterbugs

i would say
a perfect food
super food
or both...
super perfect food
summertime
sticky sweet
juicy
dripping down my chin...
the first bite
luscious
tender sweet
hitting my senses
showing me that
mother nature is...
perfection.

2010 photos

2010-12-30T12:17:00.024-07:00

i wanted to share some of my favorite photos i have taken this year...

this one i love so much as it shows such a joy on her little face, such an innocent joy of just being... being with her favorite friend that moment.. in the sunshine... rolling in the grass... and giggling without a care in the world.

the simplicity of this shot
with all the curves and shape is very interesting to me..
i love the way the sun picks up details in the leaves.

who wouldn't love this in their back yard...

the texture and color of this shot just relaxes me...

this one is very restful and relaxing as well.
the way the sun reflects off the stem...

who can resist a rainbow..
especially with sun reflecting off a red mountain
in the foreground
playing up the colors.

waterfalls one after another can grab some sunshine also..

this one captured the memories of finding all those
wonderful wild mushrooms...
all in the freezer awaiting a big steaming bowl of wild mushroom
soup with wildrice..

i take photos of the Crystal Mill every year...
this years shots are my favorites..
the wildflowers do something wonderful
and of course the sun is playing along very well..

there is something so serene with this one...

and this one...

trying to get a group shot with a crazy family is always
a challenge.. but lots of fun..
love the action...

flowers and flowers..
i can never take enough shots ..
the butterfly is of course a visit from Gma...

campfires and roasting marshmallows in the yard!!!

there is such a softness to this photo...

a brilliance to the colors here...
mother nature is amazing...

the waves of the ocean at a new angle..

wonder what this guy is up too...

the random things you find walking around your mom's property...
no idea who's boot this was..
or how and when it got here.

34th anniversary and jam...

2010-12-13T08:59:00.011-07:00

102 jars of jam later ...
we were beat.
Jamie and I spent one whole day making...
organic raspberry jam,
blackberry jam,
raspberry blueberry jam,
raspberry blackberry jam...
I have to say that it beats shopping for gifts...
and who doesn't love jam...

I want to blog about a contest I entered as well, and the prize is $150 visa card.. yeah I never win anything but it's always fun to try... Nicole at pinch my salt is taking entries and all you have to do is leave a comment ect. at pinch my salt reviews telling how you eat healthy during the holidays...
it's really fun to read all the other entries and see what everyone else is up to as far as staying in shape.. it's always good to get new ideas..

speaking of food...

this was our anniversary dinner...
delish...
spinach salad with caramelized red onion and corn,
caramelized with orange infused olive oil and turbinado sugar.
plump blackberries,
blue cheese crumbles,
toasted pine nuts,
and a drizzle of the orange infused olive oil and 15 year aged balsamic...

the shrimp was sauteed in red pepper olive oil with finely chopped
jalapeno and whole garlic cloves, with a little finely chopped onion...
and a splash of fresh lemon juice right at the end.

this was a great dinner and very healthy.

we also went downtown for first Friday and the lighting of main street...

I love small town life...

main street was closed down and everyone walked along with the horses
and enjoyed the lights...

merry merry christmas

I wonder where summer has gone

2010-12-01T08:23:00.007-07:00

I wonder where
summer has gone...
to the heavens above with a whisper ...
the days have grown short
and fall is long gone
only winter days are ahead of us...

don't think about the beauty of summer
for it has passed
only to return with color and song
after winter colors have faded....

for now lets rejoice
in the colors of cold..
blues of the colorado sky
shades of white
mounding on the green of pines...

the leaves have all fallen
with the passing of seasons
returning next spring
with the promise of lazy days in the hammock

the icicles will form
on the eaves all around...
the sun will reflect the colors
of the rainbow from within them

all we have left of summer
are the warm memories of flowers
and buds bursting alive with life
of family and friends relaxing.....outside....

for now lets gear up
and go out for a hike in the snow
the sun will be blasting
to warm our hearts and our bodies...

I welcome winter snow.........

one day at a time

2010-11-24T09:46:00.004-07:00

one day at a time...
this is enough...
do not look back
and grieve over the past,
for it is gone...
and do not be troubled about the future,
for it has not yet come...
live in the present,
and make it so beautiful
it will be worth remembering...

people

2010-08-09T13:18:00.002-06:00

the theme for sunday shutterbugs this week
people

this is our crazy family trying to take a picture together...

2010-08-03T12:59:00.005-06:00

In Memory of
Beryl Eileen Antoniou
Gramma Eileen
2.22.32
8.1.10

she stares into the blankness

until she sees my face
the sparkle in her eyes
can never be erased

what goes thru her mind
when no ones there
does she know where she is
does she know we care

each time i visit her
she thinks it’s the first
her expression tells me
she knows it could be worse

that's all I could give her
i excepted the job
brings me joy
no time to sob

trips to the park
make her happy for awhile
a new lipstick and tiarra
will bring a smile

her stories have entertained
i wonder where they come from
small specks of memory
webs of truth in some

she always lived life her way
until the very end
she cheated the last stages
and we all must mend

her spirit couldn’t survive
being locked in a shell
i believe she knew that
and she thought what the hell

anyone that knew her
knows her quirky ways
and in her loving style
took charge that day

she’s looking down upon us
and knowing we all cared
each and everyone of us
with the last years shared

always remember her smiles
hugs and kisses given so free
smart quick remarks
was her way to be

the helping hand always lent
small gestures of love
the smile on her face
now comes from above

she never forgot the words
to her favorite songs
and what a blessing it is
that we can now sing along

we will miss you

nature

2010-07-19T09:10:00.002-06:00

sunday shutterbugs theme also for this week
nature

noun

2010-07-19T08:53:00.003-06:00

sunday shutterbugs theme this week
noun

macro

2010-07-12T07:43:00.003-06:00

sunday shutterbugs this week
macro

two perspectives

2010-07-06T11:59:00.014-06:00

I woke up early on july 4th and decided i would go for a hike up mushroom rock before floating down the river that day. This is the view from the top of mushroom rock. From the top you can see where the Crystal river flows into the Roaring fork river.
One of my favorite places to be early in the morning is this rock. The view of Mnt. Sopris, the roaring fork valley and crystal valley and of course the rivers are beautiful from this perspective.

A few hours later we were floating the Crystal river from our house to Glenwood Springs, as we were getting closer to where to two rivers converge I had to get a photo of mushroom rock from this perspective as well. Two amazing perspectives of the same spot within hours of each other made for a pretty complete day.

Of course it doesn't take much effort to have a complete day when you live in Colorado, there are so many amazing visual feasts for your eyes just driving to work in the morning.
We also got a treat on our float from some Blue Herons nesting high in the trees.

geese everywhere, with babies that were getting big and a bald eagle perched in a tree floating through Aspen Glen.

The graffiti under the bridges i have to say are works of art, the colors just pop as you float by and you wonder who took the time to create something under a bridge for rafters passing by to see. I would have to suspect the private school up the hill had some fairly artistic students over the years that had some free time on their hands, and a creative streak just waiting for an opportunity to be set free. I love the pop of color suddenly in your line of vision after hours of trees and water.

Another sight that always amazes me on the river is the stuff that banks are made of...
you see concrete slabs from old construction sites and rusted iron and there is even an old washing machine half buried on the bank. Old cars are a fairly common thing to see buried on the bank. Anything to try and keep the bank from eroding and washing away with the winter snowmelt. This year we had quite a runoff season in our back yard and lost a little property.. We are thinking we need to throw our old hot water heater we just replaced onto the bank and let it become part of our history... probably won't but we had a great conversation about what could become a part of our river bank.

The whole day was so relaxing.. ahhh.. and after months of far to many hours of yard work it was just what i needed.. no fireworks, no bbq, just relaxing with the scenery floating by as i enjoyed the day wander aimlessly along with no agenda.

And of course i can't blog about a day on the river in our valley without a photo of Mnt Sopris...
I can't count all the different perspectives you can get of this mountain when you live in the Roaring Fork Valley.

move

2010-06-28T08:09:00.001-06:00

sunday shutterbugs theme this week is
move...

a nap in the hammock

2010-06-07T11:30:00.004-06:00

the weekend was filled with yard work..
i dug so many of these lily of the valley
out of one of my gardens.
they pretty much took over and i was trying to get sunflowers
to grow there..
alas the birds got the seeds i planted a few weeks ago..
but not to late for me..
i redesigned the garden and dug out all the root
system for these crazy flowers.
composted and played in the dirt till i was beat...
i saved some of the lilies on the other side..

planted my sunflower seeds..
also put up wire mesh to keep the birds out...
little devils...
i will win the battle and have sunflowers to photograph
by the end of summer..

i then planted pots full of these colorful pansies..
they have the coolest mixed colors this year..
then i was done..
after getting cleaned up i grabbed a pillow
and headed out to the hammock...
the river was raging..
so loud you can't have a conversation
if your standing in the back yard...
i fell asleep to the sounds of that raging river
singing to me..
a book by my side
never turned a page..
hmmmm
it was nice...

sunday shutterbugs

2010-06-07T11:15:00.002-06:00

this weeks theme for sunday shutterbugs is
light..
i love the way light plays games
around my house at different times of the day.
this lace reflection on the wall catches
my eye everyday.

a simple foot stool

2010-06-03T18:31:00.003-06:00

the everyday things in life
can be so surprising...
a simple foot stool
scored from a junk shop...
what history does it have?
at this moment
the beauty in the grain of the wood
and the sunshine
hitting the floor below
bring me joy...
just one of my treasures
some people would consider junk...
i say...
what's wrong with junk?

there's beauty in nature
also in grace
although the mundane
can hold a special place

to find this beauty
look between the lines
outside the box
nothings defined

everyday things
taking up space
that which brings beauty
and a smile to my face

sunday shutterbugs

2010-06-01T07:21:00.001-06:00

sunday shutterbugs last week (I am a week behind)
is kisses...

woke up and wrote a haiku

2010-05-24T09:49:00.005-06:00

some days this world gives me such inspiration
from the moment i wake up in the morning..
saturday morning was one of those days..
i woke up around 6 am and love to open the curtains to
the sliding glass door by my bed early and lounge for awhile..
my wildflower garden is right outside that door, as i opened the curtains
this is what awaited me in the early morning dew..
inspired me to write haiku...

gentle, stealth and wise
she feasts upon my garden
early morning light

ahhhh i love mornings like this
i lounged with her outside my door
for awhile and then she wandered off
to feast on some other garden.

i will leave you with a thought of a tulip that was left in my garden...

jagged

2010-05-24T07:34:00.004-06:00

sunday shutterbugs last weeks theme jagged

we hauled all these rocks and built a wall a few weeks ago.. very jagged looking...
a few chunks of marble also mixed in
since we have marble all over the yard,
from where the old rail cars
used to go thru our backyard years ago
and drop marble from the quarry
off into the river.

poetry

2010-05-12T11:41:00.002-06:00

walking thru life
color at my back
striving to get ahead
keeping my head intact..

nothing seems certain
colors are blurred
shades of grey
in my head for sure..

life is a mystery
let come what may
to unlock the colors
from shades of grey..

jump

2010-05-12T10:23:00.003-06:00

sunday shutterbugs theme for this week
jump

my 3 nieces at the beach
took my camera one day and took
the most awesome photos of each other..
I treasure the artistic talent
in each and every photo they took.

spring snow

2010-05-03T09:30:00.006-06:00

the spring storm came
silently in the middle of the night..
when i went to bed wed. night
i figured we would get a little snow
but not a foot...

i love to see my tulips and daffodils
poking out from fresh fallen snow..
but with a foot of fresh powder my daffodils didn't have a chance..
they were buried alive..
for 3 days buried..
when the snow started melting
they were still vibrant yellow
but just lying there limp...
i didn't have the heart to get that photo

the sun came out for a moment sat. afternoon
and i got some shots...
before it started snowing again
while the sun was shining...

the birds had just returned a few weeks ago
but not one in sight that morning..
as i drove out of the driveway..
the birds were all out on the road
scampering around trying to figure out
what was going on in their world..

i love the snow
but i had to remind myself this weekend
to be patient with mother nature...
she is in charge..
and i have no say..
in what is going to fall..

i hear we are in for some sun this week...
ahhhhhh...

individual

2010-04-28T16:05:00.003-06:00

individual
sunday shutterbugs

daffodils

2010-04-28T15:24:00.007-06:00

I love the daffodils in my garden right now
not many years do I have the
pleasure of enjoying them..
snow will fall and freeze them
they showed up for me last week and so far
they are fine..
tomorrow it's supposed to snow
and get cold again...
thank you for giving them to me for awhile..
a girl couldn't ask for anything more...
than a full week with the daffodils...
when she lives in colorado...

my tulips haven't a chance

sunday shutterbugs

2010-04-22T19:34:00.003-06:00

the theme for sunday shutterbugs this week is horse.
will horse shoe work???
I think so...

heavenly

2010-04-14T08:51:00.003-06:00

this week on sunday shutterbugs the theme is heavenly..
my moms heavenly homemade bread..

poetry

2010-04-14T08:42:00.004-06:00

i have been playing around with poetry lately..
i read poems written by others and think about
what i could do with that subject..
so i will keep posting them and get my inspiration
from photos i take..
just thinking to myself...

delicate as a soft babies breath
enticing our senses to soar
fresh as the morning
with each dew dropped petal
natures perfection unfolds

this simple bloom gives such joy
joy from but a glance
senses are full
soaring heart is alight
but a moment in time

wither it will with the passage of time
petals are only a gift
but rest assured
with a new days dawn
natures simple grace

sunday shutterbugs

2010-04-08T15:13:00.002-06:00

sunday shutterbugs theme this week is green...
yeahhh I found some green in my garden finally

hope

2010-03-31T08:35:00.007-06:00

this week on sunday shutterbugs the theme is game.
I wrote a poem this week to go with a photo for lens us together, the theme is hope, and as we always make a game out of adding stones as we hike i figured this could be for both projects this week.

hope is building everyday
clinging sometimes
never cast astray
never ceases
always near
for without hope
there is only fear

i wonder

2010-03-25T14:09:00.006-06:00

i wonder
what is going on
in his sweet little mind
in his sweet little world
dig in the sand
such fun...ahhhh
having no clue
what's next
only knowing
they will be there
to take care of him
to love
protect
his sweet little world
as it is
this spring day
unconditionally
love

simple joy

2010-03-25T13:48:00.003-06:00

a child's innocence, a child's joy
shows in their face
with such a raw passion
for the simple things
they are living for
right now
this moment
this space in time...
they show us
the simple
innocence
of an uncluttered mind
deepened in the thought
of blowing a bubble

f is for flower

2010-03-15T14:30:00.004-06:00

the theme this week
for sunday shutterbugs...
flower

while there isn't anything
blooming here this week...
or for a few weeks
as we are still buried in
snow..
I took this photo a few weeks ago
while on vacation.

sunset

2010-03-10T13:17:00.004-07:00

Thoughts of life ramble thru my head
a butterfly wandering
knowing it should land
take a breath
and begin
anew...

thoughts of breath ramble thru my head
a breath so sweet
as to leave a mist
in it’s trail
and inhale
again...

thoughts of mist ramble thru my head
a foggy morning
no buses rumbling
down the lane
school delay
off today...

thoughts of morning ramble thru my head
sunrise so early
not ready yet
eyes closed
to the day
approaching...

thoughts of sunrise ramble thru my head
peeking thru the petals
early morning dew
sunset is coming
days fly by
alive...

thoughts of sunset ramble thru my head
lay down the weary
day is done
turn off the rambling
my head needs
still...

EEK

2010-03-09T09:05:00.004-07:00

this weeks theme on sundayshutterbugs is
EEK
what makes you go
EEK!!!!!
a mouse makes me go EEK!!!!!
but I am not getting close enough
to the real thing
just to take a photo!!!

earth

2010-03-04T16:36:00.004-07:00

This weeks Sunday Shutterbugs theme is
earth...

I took this photo last week while I was on vacation
ocean and waves
such a peaceful
calming place to be on earth

blooming orchards

2010-03-01T15:16:00.005-07:00

On a recent trip to visit family in CA
there were Almond Orchards
blooming everywhere

I hope you will go out
and let stories happen to you...
and that you will work them
water them with your tears
feed them with your laughter
till they bloom...
till you yourself burst into bloom

People deal too much with the negative
with what is wrong...
Why not try and see positive things
to just touch those things
to make them bloom?

The most precious gift
we can offer others is our presence...
When mindfulness embraces those we love
they will bloom like flowers...

door to my childhood home

2010-02-25T09:54:00.003-07:00

this weeks theme for sunday shutterbugs is door..

I am visiting my family and staying at my moms house..
the house I grew up in so this is the side door
of her house..
no one ever uses the front door here
never has
never will
everyone just knows
to go to the side door.
my sister asked me why I didn't do the
nice front door..
I don't recognize that door, I never used it.

drip

2010-02-16T10:32:00.003-07:00

Sunday Shutterbugs theme this week
*drip*

It's kinda hard to find something dripping when it's
so cold outside..
I thought about icycles hanging
all over my house but
the pictures I took just weren't that interesting..
and I love interesting...
As I walked back into the house
I saw the candles we burned the other night
when we had company over for game night.
they had some pretty cool drips..

myself

2010-02-15T14:25:00.003-07:00

yes i sometimes talk to myself
nothin wrong with that
i get fed up with myself
i tell myself to hang in there
don't sweat the small stuff
there are always bigger problems ahead
save my energy for those times
ya gotta love yourself
or who else will
never defeat yourself
be on your own side
be your best friend
love who you are
i always look over my shoulder
i always watch out for myself

curves

2010-02-09T10:30:00.003-07:00

The theme this week
for Sunday Shutterbugs is
curves...
Lots of curves in my world
but among my collection of old junk/treasures
I found my favorite.

I hate trash

2010-02-03T10:22:00.003-07:00

Everywhere I go I see trash.. what's the deal here people???
I know some amount of trash can accidentally end up on the side of the road, but the amount that I see is crazy.
I know.. I know .. I am one of those people that notices every piece of trash laying on the side of the road and sometimes that is a curse.. It drives me crazy!!

I can drive down the road and my eyes have always been drawn to all the odds and ends of peoples lives discarded carelessly ...
the hamburger wrapper they had just finished and thrown on the floor of the truck, and then flies out when they get out of their truck..
beer cans thrown out the window because who want's to keep evidence of drinking and driving.. sometimes I see the entire 12 pack thrown to the side of the road.. come on.. you take the time to put them all back in the case.. and then toss it out the window..
a pile of cigarette butts in the parking lot when a smokers ashtray was full...is it so hard to walk up to the door and toss them in the trash can..

why don't they notice this?
life is too busy?
talking on the cell phone?
or do they just not pay attention?
oh sure someone else will come along and clean up your mess..
Don't even get me started on people who don't clean up after their dogs on the hiking trails. I promise I won't post pictures of that..

I try to pick up at least one piece of trash a day that someone else discarded.. I want to think unknowingly discarded as I hate to think all the trash I see is intentionally thrown out where it lies.. half buried in the snow.. on a scenic byway.. thru beautiful Colorado..

I feel better now that I vented that.. if everyone picked up one piece of trash a day.. what a beautiful world it would be...

circle

2010-02-02T07:26:00.009-07:00

I found a fun blog the other day
and decided I would participate
in their challenge.
Corinna and Edie at Sunday Shutterbugs
have each been posting a picture every sunday
with a weekly theme.
They are on the letter C and this weeks
theme is CIRCLE.

This is my photo for the week..
a delicious cup of green tea with local honey..
something I see everyday..

The simple things

2010-01-27T10:31:00.013-07:00

I am posting the simple things in my life that I am feeling grateful for today, Christina at http://soulaperture.blogspot.com/ gave me the idea and her family will be donating $1 to http://doctorswithoutborders.org for every blog that participates up to $250.
It breaks my heart to see such devastation in Haiti.. so many children without the
basic elements of survival. Food, shelter and a warm blanket to hang onto.
It makes me think about all the small little everyday

things in my life that I take for granted.
*

I am grateful first of all..

for having the ability to make my small donation to Haiti
*
for fresh raspberry jam every morning
*
the majestic mountain I get to see every day
*
local bees that make the honey I enjoy in my green tea
*
the health and happiness of my amazing family
*
a reliable car to get me to my job
*
warm cozy bed
*
my very cool rusted metal roof over my head
*

beautiful pink buds on my tree in the spring
*
hiking trails
*
laughter in my life
*
a trip to visit my family in California
*

an abundance of wildflowers
*
my hummingbird feeder and all it's visitors
*
the sound of the river in my backyard on a warm summer night
*
wearin comfy jammies all day
*
the unique sounds from my windchimes
*
the gentle shapes of all my pitchers
*
tulips peeking thru freshly fallen snow
*
hangin with family on the deck, while the bbq is fired up
*
throwing horseshoes in my backyard in the summer
*

my collection of pottery bowls
*
and warm soup to fill these bowls

a time comes

2010-01-12T08:37:00.013-07:00

I found this letter the other day and it made so much sense to me.( Author is unknown ) I hope you get as much out of it as I did. I believe there is at least one sentence in it that will hit home with everyone that reads it.
I included some photos of all the different seasons of Mt. Sopris. I love this mountain, I see it everyday and it always makes me feel like there is something bigger, more powerful than our everyday problems.
Whatever is going on in my day, I can look up at Sopris and know that things will be better.
When I first moved to CO and was feeling a little overwhelmed with having no home, no jobs and enrolling the kids in new schools, someone told me to look at Sopris every time I felt that way and it would make my anxiety seem not quite so big.
It has worked for me for 21 years.
Have I already said I love this mountain.

A time comes in your life when you finally get it…when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out…ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon.
You realize that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you…and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are…and that’s OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself…and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

Your stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you – or didn’t do for you – and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and everything isn’t always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself…and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties…and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not your job to save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing. You learn the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.
You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drinking more water, and take more time to exercise.
You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.
More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it’s OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.
You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people…and you learn not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody’s punishing you and everything isn’t always somebody’s fault. It’s just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart’s desire.

You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.
Finally, with courage in you heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

Once in a Blue Moon

2010-01-05T11:22:00.010-07:00

On new years eve this year we had a Blue Moon. Hopefully everyone got a glimpse of the moon at some time during the evening. I was working but was able to get out and take a few photos as it was progressing upwards. This one was taken around 6 pm.

This one I took around 10 pm. With the clouds hanging around the moon it looked so eerie.
Like one of those nights you just know something crazy will happen.. especially with it being
New Years Eve.

I took this shot after I got home around 11pm, behind a bare tree in my yard.. I love the way it is just blurred enough to give a mystical feel to the moon.
One of the first years we lived in Co. in 1989 or 90 on New Years Eve there was a Blue Moon. I was talked into going cross country skiing at midnight to experience the blue moon with a couple of my neighbors. It's a night I have never forgotten as it was so bright outside with the moon and the freshly fallen snow, and of course a few cocktails earlier. A very memorable time was had by all 3 of us.

This shot is my favorite, I used the flash on this one and loved the way it captured the bare branches so precise and the moon a soft glow in the background. It's hard to see but there are very small ice crystals hanging off the branches. It looks very spooky on my desktop.

Here a a few facts on a Blue Moon:

A Blue Moon only happens
once every 2.7 years
7 times every 19 years
once every 33 months
37 times every century
once every 33 full moons

If you want to read more about why it is called a Blue Moon go to the link at the top of this page.

walking down main street

2009-12-09T11:15:00.019-07:00

embrace simplicity
reduce selfishness
have few desires

if you want to feel rich,
just count all the things
that money can't buy

the simplest things
give me ideas

the ability to simplify
means to eliminate
the unnecessary
so that the necessary
may speak

we should all do
what in the long run
gives us joy,
even if it is only
picking grapes
or sorting laundry

you have succeeded
in life
when all you really want
is only
what you really
need

and sometimes
a simple walk
down main street,
to see the art,
is all I need

Random shots from a walk on a pier

2009-11-12T13:28:00.019-07:00

A Pier always brings back so many childhood memories. Walking on the Pier and just knowing I would fall through the cracks and get lost in the crashing waves of the ocean below. It is so funny to me now that I am all grown up and can see there is no way I am going to fall through.. But I still think about falling through those same cracks...walking on the same Piers... as when I was a child.

Whenever I am at the beach, if there is a pier nearby, I'm drawn to it.

Piers offer a way for us to experience a view of the shoreline without having a boat. Strolling out onto a pier is the closest we'll ever get to walking on water. Piers are a focal point for fishing and sightseeing, for taking photographs, and for passing the time and meeting friends. Some piers have bait and tackle shops and many of them sell food and drink. But the best thing to go to the pier for is fresh oysters. And then we all get Grandma Helen's fried oysters.

Pier's have the water below and the sky above and I am usually with the people I love and that's what makes them special.

HAIKU

2009-10-11T16:56:00.018-06:00

Lifes shapes and textures
making our world unique
natures gift, explore

One of my Favorite Places

2009-09-20T16:27:00.019-06:00

Have you ever had one of those places you go visit every year and you never get tired of seeing it
We have been 4 wheeling over Schofield Pass and into Lead King Basin for years and never does it look the same. We usually do this day trip in late August or September. It is at it's best during the fall colors as there are so many aspens up around there.
The day starts with a 20 min drive from our house, and we are always amazed that we live in such a beautiful place that we can pack a lunch and drive a few miles and have the most gorgeous scenery almost at our doorstep. We park at Beaver Lake which is right past Marble Co.The road past Beaver Lake changes dramatically within a few miles and this would be no Sunday afternoon drive with the family in the Jeep Cherokee. I feel safe on a 4 wheeler, but you do see some major 4 wheel drive vehicles on this road. And Occasionally a tourist that has gotten bad information and thought they could get over to Crested Butte in their SUV. These tourists are usually trying to find a spot to turn around and there aren't many of those once you get past Lizard lake.The worst part of this section has a steep cliff on your right side heading up, and if you look down towards the river crashing through you will see an unfortunate ending to a Sunday drive.The town of Crystal and the Crystal Mill which is one of the most photographed places in Co is about 5 miles past Lizard Lake and you can't get enough pictures while your there. The Mill is a pretty awesome place to take pictures. There is so much energy there with the river crashing around the old Mill. While we were there this year there was a crew renovating the mill so pictures were a little different on this years trip.The town of Crystal is also interesting and so full of history. This is a picture of the Crystal Club Saloon which was a gentlemans club in the towns heyday.At the top of Schofield Pass the Crystal River (which is the same river that runs through my backyard by the way) crashes down into what is called the Devils Punchbowl and the road up there is the most dangerous section, I've heard there have been quite a few jeeps that have gone over into the punchbowl and a few deaths. The road is pretty darn scary on a 4 wheeler so I can't imagine being in anything bigger.Lead King Loop is just a short drive up the road from the town of Crystal. You take a sharp left at the fork or go straight to Schofield Pass. Lead King Basin is just incredible views every direction you look.

Before you get to the basin there are some campsites next to the North Fork of the Crystal River. A great place to stop and have lunch next to one of the many waterfalls crashing through that section of the river.Then you continue over the loop and the views just get better the farther you go. You end up on the main road right before Beaver Lake.

Another great day spent in this beautiful country, and this year we were able to share it with my brother and his wife.

My Neighborhood

2009-08-31T15:18:00.017-06:00

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees beauty..

A friend recently reminded me to never take where I live for granted. I live at the base of a 12,953 ft. mountain with a river running through my backyard. I have lived in this neighborhood for 20 years and it has barely changed in all that time. No 7-11 across the road, and not a Mcdonalds in sight.

NO STERILE COOKIE CUTTER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ME!!

I love the uniqueness of all my neighbors, we can coexist in this small spot on earth with no written rules, covenants or homeowners associations, which come with fees. A couple unwritten rules, one being.. Don't let your dog bark at night, and usually a few profanities yelled very loud at 2 am will nip this problem in the bud.

If the road needs work, someone will do it.. eventually.. The pot holes are our speed bumps. We have a bridge committee as there are 2 bridges to cross, and all the neighbors pitch in when something needs to be done. It has always worked well since we have lived here. There are pretty much the same neighbors here as when we moved in.

I know I can get caught up in the everyday stuff and forget to savor all the small things that make my neighborhood work so well. so I took a walk along the 3 dirt roads that run through here and took some pictures of things you won't see in a neighborhood that has rules and bylaws. The small unnoticeable things that at close up just make you realize there aren't many neighborhoods left that allow us to LIVE on our property... actually use the land and not just make sure it looks exactly like your neighbor on either side

I don't see any of it as junk.. only a unique quality that shows how my neighbors choose to spend their lives. It's privacy you feel living in a place where no one is concerned about how many cars you have parked in your yard and if they run, Or what color you paint the trim on your house..

All of these small things together add up to a peaceful blending of families. Everyone just goes about their own business of living life. And this is how we choose to live.

And in my neighborhood it works.

7 years today

2009-08-19T08:03:00.013-06:00

We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us.

I feel lucky for having had a "best friend" for 22 years. For experiencing the bond that 2 women can have together for that many years. I miss knowing she would be at the other end of a phone call at any time, if I needed a shoulder to cry on or just someone to hang with for the afternoon.
I miss those lazy days on the deck laughing.
I miss the days spent skiing.
I miss the hikes with the kids when they were young.
I miss the road trips to CA.
I miss going thru all her magazines to find recipes for Thanksgiving dinner.
Oh how I miss her at Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Easter. We seemed to always find a holiday to get together and drink some wine and cook some good food.
I miss the days we would just pour our hearts out to each other about things that seem so trivial now that she is gone.
I miss the hysterics of watching our 3 beautiful daughters grow up together.
I miss her smile and her hugs.
I miss the way she could make me feel like I always gave her the right advice, didn't matter if she took it or not, I could always make her smile and feel better about herself.
And these things shared for 22 years made it so hard to say goodbye to her.It's been 7 years today since she died and I have thought about her every single day since then.
At first it was sad thoughts, crying at the mention of her. But slowly with the help of some healing music, I learned to focus on the 22 years we had as best friends and not the 22 + years we won't have.

I had to quit thinking we would never sit on the deck and watch our grandkids playing together, we would not grow old together sharing a bottle of wine and another laugh. We won't have anymore Thanksgivings .. But I will always cherish the memories of every day spent with her. And when I need to visit her I listen to "Songbird" by Eva Cassidy and all the emotions I have turned into good thoughts are right there for me to feel. Simple put it's how I visit her.

I have had a small jar of her ashes on the mantle for years, and knowing she was there made me feel good. But a couple weeks ago I was getting ready for a hike up Thomas Lakes. Spur of the moment decision before leaving the house... I grabbed the jar and threw her into my backpack. Janice is going to soar in the meadow among the wildflowers.

A friend I was hiking with had her cats ashes also. She had grown up with Benny for 18 years. And we had no idea the other was bringing ashes. But thought it was pretty cool that Janice and Benny could hang together.. forever..

So Janice here's to you, To the good times and bad, happy and sad. To the laughter and tears.
I will think of you every time the wind blows and know you are floating on a gentle breeze.
A rainbow will always remind me of the colors streaked thru the sky during your memorial and after your ashes were swirled up high.
I will come to the meadow and visit you every summer and never forget the peace I have found having had you in my life.
I miss you my dear friend
I will give your grandkids a kiss for you
Love you Debbie

Rainbow

2009-08-09T11:49:00.006-06:00

A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a nearly continuous spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the sun shines onto droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. It takes the form of a multicolored arc, with red on the outside and violet on the inside. A double rainbow includes a second fainter arc with colors in the opposite order.

Double rainbows are said to be rare, but since rainbows are an optical illusion, it may be that we're not in the right position to see the secondary rainbow most of the time. This double rainbow was over Mt. Sopris on 4th of July this summer

The rainbow is a symbol of hope and good fortune, a blessed bridge between heaven and earth, but a double rainbow... blessings multiplied...

Witnessing a rainbow always brings feelings of happiness and hope to me, a feeling of dreams realized. I can't help but sense the magic in their beauty and I feel blessed while experiencing one.

I see it as a small miracle of physics that raises my spirits every time.
And I'm sure if you follow a double rainbow, there will be two bowls of lucky charms at the end...

may you always have work for you hands to do.
may your pockets hold always a coin or two.
may the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
may a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
may the hand of a friend always be near you.
and may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you..

I wonder as I wander

2009-07-27T13:28:00.009-06:00

I like to hike...no I love to hike, just being out there moving and seeing things that change daily intrigue me. A simple daily hike for exercise can entertain me in so many ways. The many different ways the gnarly tree trunks twist and turn, and the flowers that bloom different colors every year, why I wonder? maybe from the rain or drought... I just think about these things as I trek uphill leaving the stresses of the day behind. There is just something about being on a mountain that I love.

I was hiking up to Thomas Lakes this
past week and had to wonder about a few things we saw..

On the first part of the trail up to the lakes, on what used to be a 4 wheel drive road years ago, buried in the trail is this old car. You can see the old metal springs and parts of the engine sticking out of the trail.. Just buried there like a mudslide came down the road during a violent rainstorm, while some unsuspecting adventurers where caught unaware of the storm.
I wonder if these adventurous people had to outrun the terrifying mudslide and make it to higher ground never to retrieve their vehicle, or was it simply abandoned due to car trouble and left to become one with the trail....
Hmm I wonder...

On the same hike we noticed these
aspen trees...
A huge forest of Aspens, and right down the middle of where we were standing was a swath of gnarled trunks. From one side of the trail down through the other side. We wondered.. was it a snow slide years ago when they were very small trees... but it didn't seem to be steep enough terrain to have snow cascading fast enough to do this much damage to the aspen forest.
You just never know what happened to cause this... Makes you wonder... if it was just there to entertain me on my wandering...

The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes... But in having new eyes to discover what is already there.

Eileen

2009-07-10T17:57:00.007-06:00

How far you go in life depends on you being
tender with the young, compassionate with
the aged, sympathetic with the striving and
tolerant of the weak. Because someday in
life you will have been all of these.

I know everyone that has ever been apart of
Eileens life knows of her huge gigantic hugs,
it's the one thing I've always loved about her.
When I first met Phil and he introduced me to
his mom, she gave me one of her hugs..
just engulfed me in her arms and made me
feel so important. I remember her attacking
Lucas and Jamie when they were young with
her hugs and kisses.. I love the way she can
wrap her arms around me like the hug matters
so much. She still does that every day I go to
visit her, Like she hasn't seen me in years.

She has been doing so well the last couple
years, very delusional but still some reality
about life and things around her. Lately thou
she seems to be slipping into a different phase...
she is still able to do the daily things for herself
but her delusions are getting very unusual and
she is forgetting what some things are.
Like the other day we were taking a walk and
she noticed a sprinkler head in the grass and
was telling me it was something else..
Little things like this along with the delusions
getting very out there lead me to believe she
is taking a step farther along in this disease.

I want to make sure everyone in her family has
an opportunity to see her if they can before
she looses the ability to give us her wonderful
hugs and smiles.

life is full of beauty

2009-07-06T15:29:00.012-06:00

Life is full of beauty.

Notice it.

Notice the bumble bee,

the small child and the smiling faces.
Smell the rain, and feel the wind.

Live your life to the fullest potential,
and fight for your dreams.

one moment

2009-06-30T12:55:00.006-06:00

There is always one moment in childhood
when the door opens and lets the future in.

A meal for company

2009-06-19T20:08:00.019-06:00

We had one of my favorite relatives show up
for a visit one night this week.
The food, the wine and the conversation were
such fun I wanted to share with
a few photos.

I have to start with the bread as this picture fits
the evening so well.
A loaf of Artisan whole wheat, sliced and smeared
with lots of basil garlic infused olive oil and chopped
green olives with pimentos. Wrapped in foil and baked.
I have to admit...
The bread was tasty...

Main dish, Phil did his water smoked chickens,
covered with his dry rub and slow smoked for
over 5 hours breast side down.
Makes the juiciest white meat you've ever had.

Your going to keep seeing this great bottle of
wine we had with dinner in all these pictures as it
was by our side while cooking also..
We opened it a little early...
It is a Layer Cake Shiraz from Australia.
The name of the winery says it all. This wine
plays with your taste buds for quite some time.

We can't have a dinner party without making
one of my crazy salads.
I did spring greens with herbs and lots of arugula.
Dried cherries, sliced pears, thin sliced red onion
and lots of toasted walnuts. Gorgonzola cheese on
top and dressed with a splash of lemon infused
olive oil and orange muscat champagne vinegar
and then a grind or two of cracked pepper on top.

Our veggie dish was lemon garlic cauliflower,
this is our veggie recipe of choice right now
we can't seem to get enough of it.

Our table always looks so pretty right before we dig in...

And last but never least, dessert.
Pistachio gelato with fresh raspberries.
It was sad to see our company leave but
I will be visiting them next month and I'm sure
there will be much more ...
Good food
Good wine
Good times

haiku

2009-06-17T12:37:00.006-06:00

small town graffiti
river catching summer light
letting art exist

A thoughtful quote

2009-06-15T15:26:00.012-06:00

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
quote by Marcel Proust

Lazy Dayz

2009-06-14T18:13:00.021-06:00

A lazy day on the river

You never know what you will see,

or who you will run into.

Raspberries

2009-06-07T15:03:00.026-06:00

So raspberries are the most perfect little luscious morsels. I am just thinking how pretty they looked in this old colander I got a few years ago at a junk shop.. I had to take a few pictures of them. I am freezing them up to make some homemade jam... I love the song, strawberry jam by Michelle Shocked. The sweetest little berries was cookin up right...We were makin jam... strawberry jam... if you want the best jam... you got to make it roll...

Daughters

2009-06-03T14:06:00.008-06:00

This is my first post.. although I started this blog 3 months ago.. but today the word daughter puts a smile on my face...Thats for you J... Thanks for your help once again.
So many funny people I have talked to today and all I can remember is my daughter and how sweet she is.
Lets see... one thing about J that makes me crack up...hmmm Okay I got one..
When you were about 7ish years old and we went into town one night with Beth to get some Ben and Jerry's ice cream..(I know you are already crackin up). While driving home you were so quiet.. and I looked back and you had taken off one of the lids and you were munching on the edges of the cherry garcia.. That was the moment I knew you were truly my daughter because I could never resist ice cream...

All I can say about today is Rain Rain go away and come again another day...
Cody and I have a date at 5pm