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A purple lion, a tree and a train

Saturday was a day of fun. I decided to ask my Grandsons to come help me select a Christmas tree. They are almost 2 and 3 years of age, very active and not totally civilized yet. It should be fun.

We met at the local IHOP for breakfast. It's not my favorite eatery, but for kids its perfect. This day it was especially fun, because Cody spied a balloon guy who made us a lion and a motorcycle.

Cody got to pick the lion as his choice, but when it was done, he said "Here baby" and passed the lion to his brother. It seemed like an act of graciousness, but in reality I think he wanted another choice!



After breakfast we drove over to Arapahoe Acres to pick out a tree. We go there every year because they have the nicest trees and the most helpful people. Cody held my as we walked through the nursery. It was really cold, but that didn't seem to bother him.

We surveyed tree after tree, but none of them met with his satisfaction. Cody, I would say, "Do you like that tree?" His reply was always the same, "No! Too small!"

I went looking for an enormous tree, knowing full well it would never fit in the house. "Cody" I asked, "How about that tree." Again he said, "No! Its too small!"

Swell.

Finally Pop Pop Larry made an executive decision. He picked a nice bushy looking tree and told the guys to prepare it.

The boys went inside while I paid. There in the corner was a surprise...a train layout! It was an L-gauge garden size train track that got the boy's attention. Both Cody and Noah remained glued in their tracks watching the train go round and round. I thought finding a tree would be the hit of the day, instead it was a purple balloon lion and a train.

Parade of Lights in Downtown Denver

Baseball

Larry sold a loft to one of the Rockies. He is a real sweetheart and sent tickets down to VIP will call for us. I don't usually spend time watching baseball, but being able to sit in the audience and shoot pictures passed the time real well.

Actually I had a ball. The Cubs beat the Rockies that night, but the next night the Rockies beat the Cubs. Hummm, I wanna go when we win...

Rainbow Lakes

Diane and I were due for an outing. We decided to take a hike up at Rainbow Lakes with is above Nederland. DK's kitty got sick in the morning, so she took him to the vet. But the time we regrouped it was late. Too late for normal people to plan a hike.

That is of course for normal folks. Us not qualifying, we plodded on to the top. When we arrived the thunder heads were getting closer and this wet stuff was dripping from the sky. Typical late afternoon shower it was.

We snapped a couple shots and headed down. The rain got heavy, but held off the torrential downpour until we jumped into the car.

Timing is everything.

The question is...

I've heard the saying "Does a bear sh*t in the woods?" When I saw this guy I knew a deer most certainly does! I'm still looking for the bear.

Looka da Yucca!

OH Deer, I'm lost!

Roxborough State Park was named by National Geographic Outdoors as one of the top 10 State Parks in the U.S. It is 20 minutes from my home.

Saturday morning the Park Rangers open up one hour early for photographers (we beg a lot) so we can set up before the sun completely rises.

I took advantage of the opportunity and was waiting at the gate at 6 a.m. when it opened. I hiked the trail to Long's Lookout, but took a wrong turn along the way. Darn it all! I didn't have enough time to get in position to duplicate John Fielder's famous shot.

This is what I got instead.

Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival 2007

Three mornings of glorious weather this year brought out the crowds. Friday was a media day, where I got to poke my head into the balloons as they were inflating.

Balloon paparazzi am I!

Here's a perky one!

Why so sad?

The worst part...coming home.

I-70 coming home was bumper to bumper. It reminded me of the Garden State Parkway on a Friday afternoon in August. We had no choice but to stop and go most of the way home. Fortunately the highway gets a third lane at Floyd Hill, the traffic flows better from there on in to Denver.

Forest fire?

Approaching Lake George we could see an awful cloud of dark smoke. We were worried the forest was ablaze. No worries, it was the train, the GeorgeTown Loop running the rails.

Lake Dillon

It was the weekend of the Lake Dillon Regata. Late in the day the colors were a little dull, but the scenery is always serene.

Shrine Pass

At the top of Vail Pass there is an exit. Take it up to Shrine Pass Road...4 wheelers do best. The views are guaranteed to knock your socks off!

Please don't sneeze!

I love the symmentry of this bloom.

There aren't any ugly golf courses.

This is the course at Beaver Creek. Outstanding!

I love to shoot cyclists of all kinds!

Shooting with a camera of course! This guy was riding with 3 other cycles. They were all loaded down with camping gear. I envied them their freedom...hope it was a long road trip...

I made a new friend alongside the road

Just can't resist shooting flowers

Colorado Columbines

We spend the weekend at Bill's Condo in Dillon. These flowers were found just outside the door.

Those were the days my friend...

The Internet is Down

Crested Butte Flower Capital of Colorado

Crested Butte is a ski town in winter and a playground in summer. Camping, hiking, mountain biking, touring, 4-wheeler, motorcycling, photographing, eating, shopping or just putting your feet up and relaxing.

Today I didn't relax, I was up and out the door to meet members of the PSA (Photographic Society of America) for a 4-wheeling trek into the high country.

I took a ton of photos. Here are a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed shooting them.

Artsy Fartsy

The Lone Tree Photography Club is a wonderful group. I just started attending the meetings. This past week the presentation was actually a workshop. John and John the presenters, had set up several work stations with black lights. They brought in florescent objects and glass dishes.

At first I was clueless at what to do. Within a few minutes, after watching others I discovered the delights of artistic expression using black lights.

I'm now hooked!

It made my cut

Last winter I took a weekend landscape photography class. It was a wonderful learning experience for me, set in the Garden of the Gods. Each day we arrived at the park prior to daylight. We climbed to the top of a ridge and waited for the sun to come up. The hands on class taught us about setting up the composition along with the other technical setting in the camera.

As others were taking photos of the scenery, I saw these two joggers come along. I rushed to set them up within my composition, loving the smallness of them amongst the huge Gateway to the Garden.

The photo didn't get good grades (by my instructor). I cut off the mountains at the top. Still I love this photo.

Getting my feet wet

Some of my earliest life memories are of Mom taking us to Manasquan beach where I grew up in New Jersey. In the summer we would go every other day to swim and play with our cousins. I remember being prohibited from putting my feet in the water because I always seemed to have an ear infection. As a kid I could never figure out how wet feet related to my ears. To this day there is nothing that feels better than to walk along the shore line getting my feet wet.

On top of the world

Atop Mt. Evans one day, I was just standing there with camera in hand, admiring the beauty surrounding me, when this guy walked up.

I was nearly paralyzed with excitement and good fortune. He stood there posing for me on top of the world.

Needless to say he lifted my spirits, I still grin when I recollect the moment.

The Big Sister

Big Sister is a big help. She loves to play with her brothers and they with her.

A day in the park

On Mother's Day Rich took the kids to a gathering. They had a picnic, flew a kite and took a lot of pictures. He got a few really good shots of my grandsons.