Snow Day

It's snowing again, which reminded me of the pictures I captured a few weeks ago when it snowed. Here's my favorite one!

Aspiring Photographer: Colorado Wildlife...Big Horn Sheep

One of the reasons I love living in Colorado, is because of all the wildlife you can see if you are paying attention. I say that you can see if you are paying attention because I don't know how many times we have been hiking and not paying attention and I'll hear something running off. I know a deer or elk was near, but never saw one.


I took these pictures of Big Horn Sheep just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Another common place I see them is on the side of I-70 as we drive up to go skiing.


Did you know that the bigger the curl of the horn, the older the sheep?


Have you ever seen two sheep charge each other and knock horns? On this lucky day, I got to witness it (I wish I was at a different angle and could have gotten more than a butt shot). I can't even begin to describe the sound of the horns hitting together...it is thunderously loud. It sounds like knocking two plates together and they don't break. They both must have had quite the headache after they worked out their issues!



If you enjoyed this post, check out some of the other shots I have taken of the Rocky Mountain Wildlife!

• Don't Chase the Animals

• Fall in the Rockies!

Aspiring Photographer: Pumpkin Patch 2009

We went to the Pumpkin Patch last weekend. We've been going to the same place since before Baby Boy was born. They have a giant corn maze, barrel rides, pony rides, animals to look at (llamas, cows, chickens, goats, rabbits, sheep, and ducks), food and many activities for kids. You have to take a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch. It was a lot of fun.

"Why doesn't this pumpkin make the same music as my bongo drum?"

"Since I don't have a "passie," I'll suck my thumb."

"If I try hard enough, I know I can get this baby pumpkin in my pocket!"

"Hunting for the perfect pumpkin is exhausting!"

"I won't eat macaroni and cheese, but raw pumpkin is delicious!"

"I might sit here long enough to let you snap a picture, but I won't look at the camera or smile."

"This barrel train is running away...I'm turning right, and it's going left!"

"Hi Daddy! Look at me riding the barrel train with Mommy!"

"Hurry up people...I'm movin' on without you!"

"Check out those animals. Aren't they cute?"

Aspiring Photographer: A Boy and His Dog

There is nothing sweeter than a boy and his dog. These two are the best of friends. This dog is the most tolerant dog I have ever seen.

(Picture taken when Baby Boy was 10 months old.)

Aspiring Photographer: Fall in the Rockies

Fall is a beautiful time here in Colorado. At least once during the season, we try to get up to the mountains to see the the Elk while they're bugling (They do this during the rut...a.k.a. mating season).

Check out this little elk. He's sitting there chomping his grass so peacefully.

This Bull Elk was not the biggest one we saw this day, but he's pretty big.

A country road in the Rocky Mountains.

Aspen trees turning yellow. (It's photosynthesis, ya know?)

I call this on Aspen Sky. I love the gold leaves contrasted with the blue sky.

This is the traffic leaving Rocky Mountain National Part at Dusk.

Aspiring Photographer: Summer Then and Now

Photos of Baby Boy taken while camping and hiking last summer in contrast with photos taken camping and hiking this summer.

At only a couple month old, Baby Boy was always covered to avoid sunburn, and he was always carried on the front. He could have cared less if a chipmunk or bear crossed our path, as he slept through most the hike.


This year, hiking was quite the adventure for Baby Boy and whomever was carrying him. From kicking, hair pulls to sweet hugs and squeals from our passenger, there was never a dull moment. Baby Boy was very good at pointing out deer, chipmunks and whatever he saw!


Nap time was almost all the time last year. Baby Boy could crash out no matter where he was!


This year, it was all about playing and getting dirty (until Mommy had enough and corralled Baby Boy in the pack-n-play)!


Baby Boy at breakfast time! There's still a little oatmeal on his cheek.


Baby Boy in his sleeping bag. Last year, he slept in Mommy's sleeping bag.


We never would have got this shot last year, since Baby Boy was still riding backward!

Aspiring Photographer: Conundrum Creek Trail

These were all taken pre-Baby! We use to go backpacking once a year with our neighbors. This was our first trip. We did a 9 mile one way, 3000 foot elevation gain hike up to the highest natural hot springs in North America, Conundrum Spring. The trail head was located just outside of Aspen, Colorado.





In June, this water was icy cold. I couldn't feel my feet by the time I got across. My neighbor was kind enough to take this picture (above)and pass it along.



He took this picture too! I feel so small in the midst of God's creation here.





There were waterfalls everywhere!

Aspiring Photographer: Dahlias

A few years ago, I grew Dahlias in my flower garden. They are one of my favorite types flowers, and there is a lot of variety. I didn't continue growing them, because in Colorado, you have to dig the bulbs up every year and store them for the winter.

This one is a Dahlia Hawaii. It was the focal point of the color theme of my garden. I picked up all the colors for the flowers from this flower.

This was my favorite: It was a Dahlia Fringed (semi-cactus) Star's Favourite.

A Christine Dahlia.

This was a Dahlia Fringed (semi-cactus) Yellow Star.

The next one is actually a Love & Peace Rose that I grew the same year.

Aspiring Photographer: Colorado Wild Flowers

Colorado has some beautiful wild flowers. There is nothing more awe-inspiring than hiking coming to a mountain meadow in full bloom. I love trying to capture that perfect picture of the wild flowers.

Aspiring Photographer: Don't chase the animals

I love watching animals...the more rare, the better. Today, I decided to post pictures of some of the animals we have gone to great lengths to get pictures of in the wild. These are some older adventures.

Disclaimer: I am not a photographer (I just pretend to be one)!


Colorado—Memorial Day Weekend 2006

The first moose I have ever seen.
Note: Look close you can see him in the background.




I decided to get closer.
Little did I know that while I was carefully trying to get closer, another family would have the same idea. The problem—they started running toward me, and I was stuck between them and the moose. The moose came up to the road, and I was safely able to get back to our truck and snap this picture. The arm in the picture is of one of the dumb girls that thought it was a good idea to run at a moose.




Yellowstone National Park—May 2007

Grizzlies
I was determined to see a Grizzly Bear while we were at Yellowstone. On our second day there, this Grizzly crossed right in front of our truck just before we crossed Fishing Bridge.
It was enormous.



The next day we saw this grizzly crossing the Yellowstone River. If you look closely in the background, you can see three wolves.



We tried to get a closer picture of the bear. We thought it would cross the river, and then climb the hill to the road. It didn't (or we weren't fast enough to see it again). The wolves must have decided to follow the bear across the road because here is another picture of one of them. It was the fourth one to cross the road. My hubby was in the road and the wolves crossed right in front of him (he's probably lucky they didn't make him dinner!).




Buffalo
One question...What happened to his tail?