COLORADO AT THE SPEED OF LIFE

SIMPLE PLEASURE

2010-07-29T11:18:00.001-06:00

It's a quiet morning, the sun is warm and a gentle breeze wisps across the water of Willow Springs Pond. She seems oblivious to the noise of construction on the highway directly behind her, her thoughts are far away in the memories of a full and worthwhile life. In the decade that I have been acquainted with her I have only seen her lips parted in a smile and can only hope to follow in her example as I move through the pages of my own life.

02/24/2010

2010-02-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT

Four mature Double Crested Cormorants contemplate the icy water of Willow Springs Pond. In order to reduce their bouyancy so they can dive for fish, the Cormorants lack the waterproofing oils needed to help insulate them and must contantly air dry their feathers. Although most Cormorants migrate to Texas or Mexico for the winter, some remain year round. This little band of 4 frequent the unfrozen ponds of Willow Springs and Cattail Marsh. Males and females look similar so while I refer to these guys as 'The Brothers', they could very well be two couples.

02/24/2010

2010-02-24T19:46:00.001-07:00

HELLO MY FRIEND~

I drive past the pond almost daily and my eyes automatically search for my new friend. After a couple of weeks he seems to be waiting for me, almost expecting me. I am not quiet in my approach. This morning I sang a wordless lullabye. He watched patiently. I spoke of my dreams. He listened graciously. I felt the need to name him although I'm sure that in his world he already has a name of sorts. In my mind and in his presence I call him 'Wind'.

It is naive of me to think that Wind might recognize or even tolerate me personally but I am encouraged by his presence with me at the pond, whether he be perched above in a near by tree or circling low beneath the clouds that beckon him. There will come a morning when he will not be there on the old cotton wood and I will know that he has begun his journey northward. Already I am excited for him and what awaits him as his world opens up around him.

02/17/2010

2010-02-17T11:44:00.001-07:00

JUVENILE BALD EAGLE

A juvenile Bald Eagle perches on a tree over looking a half frozen pond. Although he isn't mature enough for the trademark white head and tail feathers, his yellow beak and talons clearly identify him. Bald Eagles reach sexual maturity by 5 years, at which time their head and tail plumage will be pure white.

This youngster is just wintering here in the foothills. As the warm weather sets in he will travel north. Being a creature of habit, he will probably return to the pond next winter. The white on his head and tail will be more predominant but it will still be a couple more years before he reaches maturity. By that time he will be able to soar as high as 10,000 feet and reach speeds of up to 35 mph in level flight.

At about 36 inches in length and with a wingspan of around 7 feet, adult bald eagles are surprising light and weigh between 10 to 14 pounds at maturity. That's only about as much as a small plucked Thanksgiving turkey.

02/15/2010

2010-02-15T10:37:00.003-07:00

Great Blue Heron

A Great Blue Heron waits patiently perched on one leg as he watches the water of a half frozen pond for fish. A large carp splashes in the shallows just to the left of the heron but seems to know that it is too large to be on the menu. Usually found around water ways fishing in shallow waters, they also eat small rodents and baby birds. The herons are year round inhabitants of Southern Colorado. Sadly, as progress encroaches upon nature, a large colony nesting site was just sold for development. With the declining existence of natural habitat it's anyone's guess as to the fate of future generations of the Great Blue Heron here in Colorado.

12/11/2009

2009-12-11T09:51:00.004-07:00

Paisley Frost

Each morning I wake and hurry to the dining room window to see what work of art has been deposited on the pane. Every morning it is a different masterpiece made entirely of frost. It lasts only until the sun crosses the morning sky and casts it's warming rays on the front of the house but for at least a few hours of the day I am treated to some of the most magnificient and unique works of natural art imaginable.

12/02/2009

2009-12-02T13:39:00.002-07:00

Winter Watchtower

A watchtower stands abandoned as winter rolls in over the Rockies.

10/02/2009

2009-10-02T11:20:00.002-06:00

Honey, I'm home!

The Stanley Hotel is a popular landmark in Estes Park. Contrary to common belief, while the hotel inspired Stephen King's novel 'The Shining', the author was not actually staying at the hotel when he penned the novel. Nor was the movie filmed there, although parts of the mini-series based on the same story were. Local legend has it that the hotel is haunted by several apparitions including Flora Stanley, wife of Freelan Stanley who had the hotel built in 1907 after falling in love with the area.

While the Hotel is a stunning piece of architecture, the real breath taking beauty can be seen directly across from the hotel in the panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains.

Bull Elk~

2009-10-01T13:06:00.003-06:00

A majestic bull elk bugles in a meadow at the Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colorado. After 15 years I am still amazed by the silent grace these huge animals exhibit as they move about the mountain and forests. While the sheer size of an adult bull with it's massive rack is intimidating, the sound of it's bugle during the rut is purely mesmerizing.

WHEELER TOWN CLOCK

2008-11-09T12:16:00.003-07:00

From COLORADO AT THE SPEED OF LIFE

This clock, featuring a statue of the goddess Hygeia, was donated in 1889 by Jerome Wheeler for the opening of the Manitou Water Bottling Company in Manitou Springs. The statue was also a working fountain which had low basins so 'man's best friend' could drink from it.

IF THE BRONCOS CAN'T GO TO THE SUPER BOWL

2008-10-28T11:29:00.002-06:00

Let the Super Bowl come to the Broncos! This port-a-potty is parked in the parking lot for tailgaters at Invesco Field at Mile High where the Denver Broncos play their home games.

BIRDS OF SUMMER, 2008

2008-05-01T11:37:00.001-06:00

I've been living in the Security/Widefield area for over 14 years now and for as long as I can remember the Pelicans have always heralded the coming of summer. Although their numbers have dwindled over the years and they no longer nest at Carp Lake (aka Pelican Pond) due to human interference, they still make a rest stop at the old fishing hole before settling for the summer at Big Johnson Reservoir. This year the size of the flock has almost doubled from that of last year.

A couple of resident Canada geese took exception to the overnight invasion and tried to persuade their uninvited guests to leave but the much larger American White Pelicans ignored them and continued to paddle lazily across the water. While patience is not a strong point with the honkers, the geese eventually took flight. They will return when the pelicans leave on the final leg of their journey, just a couple of miles away. During the mating season the male pelican developes a fibrous plate on the top of its bill, which will fall off after a successful mating.

I have never been up close to a pelican but interact with Canada geese quite often and consider the geese to be rather large birds. Imagine my surprise when I saw how the pelicans dwarfed the geese when they swam side by side. Just to give you an idea, the Canada goose has a wing span of about 6 feet and weighs around 14 pounds while an American White pelican has a wing span of 9 feet and weighs approximately 20 pounds.

CARP LAKE, COLORADO SPRINGS

Tags: American White Pelican

SHADES OF BLUE AND GREEN

2008-04-17T11:35:00.000-06:00

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

THE HAWK

2007-11-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

A red tail hawk looks down from plucking a pigeon it just caught, but satisfied that I was just moving a branch and not trying to steal its meal, the raptor continued to eat. I felt quite privileged because while it seemed quite comfortable in my presence, the hawk would become agitated and try to hide the carcass with its outstretched wings when other people would pass by.

Memorial Park, Colorado Springs Colorado

Tags: red tail hawk, Memorial Park

2007 BALLOON CLASSIC

2007-09-03T18:48:00.000-06:00

Each year Colorado Springs host the Annual Balloon Classic over the Labor Day Weekend. This year marked the 31st Anniversary of the nationally acclaimed event. I have lived in Colorado Springs for 14 years, and while I have always made an effort to see the parade of hot air balloons, this year was my first visit to Memorial Park for the early morning mass accent.

I got to the park just after 7am and the balloons were only just beginning to launch. I was immediately sent into sensory over load. I was like a kid in the candy store, I didn't know what to look at first. It was a fantastic, amazing kaleidoscope of color and shapes. The crisp morning air was ringing with laughter and heavily scented by sweet funnel cakes.

As each balloon lifted off, it glided gracefully over to Prospect Lake, right there in the park, and to the delight of the spectators, performed a 'Splash 'N Dash' which is when the balloon dips down to skim over (and sometimes even dunk in) the water before taking off again.

I had hoped to chase the balloons and witness their journey and decent but the wind was not in my favor. In past years they would drift to the south near my house but the same breeze that prevented the balloons from being inflated last night for the 'Balloon Glo', would return to guide the graceful balloons in the opposite direction, too far for me to follow. Still, the festival brought out the child in me and leaves me already impatiently waiting its return next year.

Tags: Colorado Springs, Balloon Classic, hot air balloon, splash 'n dash

2007-04-12T10:42:00.000-06:00

MID-MORNING REPOSE

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.

* Estes Park, Colorado

Tags: Estes Park, elk

2007-03-23T18:05:00.000-06:00

TURBULANT SKIES

Dark clouds loom over head bearing the threat of rain. In the foothills of Colorado rain is almost always welcomed. Several straight years of drought conditions have taught the region to cherish the moisture when ever it comes.

*American Mothers Chapel, Rock Ledge Ranch, CO

Tags: Rock Ledge Ranch, American Mothers Chapel

2007-03-20T21:36:00.000-06:00

'RIBBET'

This little guy beat the summer heat by floating lazily in Cattail Marsh Regional Park.

*Cattail Marsh, Fountain, CO

Tags: Cattail Marsh, Frogs

2007-03-20T21:25:00.000-06:00

'MEEP, MEEP!'

Yes, there are roadrunners in Colorado. (And coyotes as well)

*Fort Carson, CO

Tags: Fort Carson, Roadrunner

2007-03-20T21:15:00.000-06:00

'ARE YOU MY MOTHER?'

This gosling is probably only a couple of weeks old. By nature Canada Goose are migratory birds but this one is hatched from a resident flock that lives year round at a pond by a hotel right off of the interstate.

*Colorado Springs, CO

Tags: Colorado Springs, Canada Goose

2007-03-20T21:07:00.000-06:00

CHIP OR DALE?

A young chipmunk enjoys the warmth of the sunshine after a long, cold winter.

*Bear Creek Nature Center, Colo. Spgs.

Tags: Bear Creek, Chipmunk

2007-03-20T21:00:00.000-06:00

COLORADO LABOR DAY BALLOON CLASSIC

Hot air balloons skim lightly over fields of corn in Widefield over the Annual Labor Day Balloon Classic.

*Widefield, CO

Tags: Widefield, Balloon Classic, Hot air balloons

2007-03-20T20:48:00.000-06:00

ANOTHER MAN'S JUNK...

Just an old jalopy hidden behind an equally dilapidated shed. How I wish I could have seen them when their paint gleamed. Still... I can't help but be taken in by the mystery they present in their current condition.

*Monument, Colorado.

Tags: Monument, Jalopy

2007-03-20T20:33:00.000-06:00

The Hero Rides Away...

Kit Carson riding off into the sunset just outside the main gate at Fort Carson, Colorado. The statue was intended to honor the base's namesake, however I see the rider representative of all of the soldiers from this post who have ridden off to defend our country and all that it stands for. Sadly too often of late the saddle has returned empty.

*Fort Carson, CO

Tags: Fort Carson, Kit Carson, Fallen Soldiers

2007-03-20T20:28:00.000-06:00

BIRDS OF A FEATHER...

Friends enjoying a late afternoon snack.

*Beaver Creek, CO

Tags: Beaver Creek, hummingbirds