PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 9/8/11

Looking out the front door this morning, I noticed these amazing clouds. I called everyone out to check them out. The picture doesn't quite do it justice, but those top clouds looked like ocean waves crashing into the beach...Colorado's version of the ocean over the mountains, I guess.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/29/11

Outside our back window, there sat a Swainson's hawk surveying the wildlife situation, I am sure. There are lots of bunnies back there so I'm betting that was what he was watching for. I'm all for this guy going after the mice so if that is the case, I hope he caught something. It just fascinates me to see wildlife within our daily life. (at least most kind of wildlife not including mice, packrats or any other type of creepy rodent/bug/snake) Almost every day, I look up in the sky and see hawks flying around and often hear the coyotes howling at night. There are bunnies that find refuge in our trees and under our patio and butterflies that fly right in front of me. These are bits of life that I am so grateful to appreciate and enjoy ...right outside my window.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/22/11

Her name is "Pear"...just "Pear." She was chirping in our, well you guessed it, our Pear tree in the front yard. She would chirp and then wait to hear if her mama would chirp back. She also would flap her wings which would make them stronger for her toFLY! She was ready to take off...ready to spread her wings...but wanted to know her mama was close by. Later on, she had taken off and I wonder where she went? Did she go back to her familiar nest, cruise the neighborhood or what? I guess that is what happens with kids as they grow up. They want the familiarity of home and mom, but need to strengthen their wings so they, too, can take off and learn how to FLY!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/21/11

Todd made it to the top of the world...or at least to the top of Mt. Sherman. He took over 250 pictures of his trek up the 14er and back down again. I don't think I ever see him happier and more "kidlike" than when get goes out and does this kind of thing. I hope he can do more of this and that he can enjoy that feeling he gets when he reaches the top.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE A DAY 8/14/11

Headed out on a hike to the Backcountry/Daniels Park area. Nick stayed home and had homework, so the remaining 4 took off along the same path we had gone several times on with Mocha many years ago. Chris has a good eye because he found this horney toad near the side of the path. It was just a baby that could've been easily stepped on so it's good to have him with us. Both he and Zach held it and then placed him back off the path. Loved spending the late morning doing this.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 8/7/11

I took this photo of the rainbow spread across the sky on Friday afternoon...it was August 5 and exactly 23 years since I said goodbye to my Grandad Dell in those early morning hours at AMC Hospice. I posted the photo of Grandad Dell on my FB and it just captured the man he was to me...fun, happy, a great smile and sense of humor in his favorite place...Ruidoso. That afternoon, I sat in the backyard and a butterfly flew by and around me...I just know it was a sign that he was saying that he was nearby and always would be...then, the boys called me outside a while later and there was a giant rainbow spread across the sky. In fact, it was a double rainbow and the colors, although fading, were bright and beautiful...another sign that Grandad Dell is watching over us and still part of me. Boy, I sure would like to be able to give him a real hug and see his smile and hear his laughter. I still miss him so much.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 7/30/11

"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a super hero." (Marc Brown/creator of "Arthur")

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 7/24/11

SPECTACULAR would be a single word I could use for the clouds we have had this summer. On SAturday, I just kept snapping photos of the amazing shapes in the sky all day long. To me, they are like "Georgia O'Keeffe/New Mexico clouds where they are soft and whispy and spread across. In many of my photos, they are fluffy with the bottoms of them being flat. Regardless, I feel close to Heaven when I see these in the sky.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THEY DAY 4/15/11

Appreciating the small things in life and the beauty of springtime in Colorado.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/19/11

What an incredible full moon...it is the closet point in its orbit and won't be like this for another 18 years.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/18/11

Yesterday, it was a beautiful day until the wind started up and clouds turned dark and then it quickly got cold. By bedtime, they were saying it would be snowing and it sure felt like it. This morning, we woke up to snow on the ground and on every outdoor surface. It was absolutely beautiful and it was perfect because we knew it would quickly melt away and springtime would be back. Now, at 1:30, the sun is shining brightly and there are very few reminders of the nighttime snow, except these photos.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/15/11

Since I have bookclub here tonight, I thought it would be nice to have some colorful flowers in the entry way. Here is a quick snapshot. The orange flower is just such a beautiful color and I always love white daisies. We are going to discuss "The Space Between Us"...love this book.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 3/10/11

This is the view out our front door at 4:30 this afternoon. It is proof that spring is right around the corner. There is still snow on the top of the mountains and I'm sure there will be a spring storm that will hit us before all is said and done, but there is nothing much better than a day like today. Right now, it is 66 degrees and it is perfect weather. While standing outside talking to a neighbor, I could feel the sun on my face without any chill in the air. BEAUTIFUL!