• Documentary/Street,  Holiday Seasons,  moon,  street photography

    Old Town lights and crescent moon

    December 25, 2025

    When I left this morning for coffee, it was 35 degrees with overcast skies. I was gifted with a beautiful sunrise on the eastern horizon for the entire ride. As I stepped out the door of my condo I immediately noticed the quiet all around me. There was no traffic hum in the distance that many accept as normal and never notice. It was again an awareness of how much noise pollution our vehicles make. It also reminded me of when we first went into covid shutdown and the quiet that descended upon us for several weeks. On my bicycle ride home from coffee it had warmed up to 41 degrees but still overcast and cold. I stopped to observe a majestic bald eagle and held eye contact with them for several minutes along Spring Creek Trail. We just watched one another, no spoken words were necessary. What a gift that we shared.

    Old Town lights and the Crescent Moon

    The above image was taken last night when I went to Old Town to get some photographs of their Christmas lights and to watch people. It is a 14 second exposure so most of the people are blurred out. But, I want to share a special gift I received while watching a family of five. It looked to be mom and dad, grandpa and grandma, and a young girl who was in the spirit of the season and singing Jingle Bells, over and over. Everyone within hearing distance was her captivated audience! I don’t believe any person around me did not have a smile on their face as she sang. And, I wonder how many joined in, even silently. I did! And what’s interesting to me is that she may be offering this gift of song freely with no expectations of receiving in return. If only our world was focused on giving rather than receiving. Today I will cook up a chicken thigh with petite potatoes and baby carrots in my new Ninja Crispi air fryer. May you have a wonderful day, enjoy family time if possible and hopefully consume some chocolate today or at least think about it.

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  • Family,  flowers,  gratitude,  love

    Thank you!

    December 18, 2025
    Flowers from Christine and Cody on my dad’s casket

    I dropped off both Monica and Sheree and was home by 8 pm last night. It was a good trip with lots of car time that offer good conversation time. We left early Tuesday morning and had a wonderful family gathering on Tuesday evening with lots of sharing of memories with cousins. We had dad’s Celebration of Life on Wednesday morning at the gravesite where we had warm sunshine, more sharing and our shared tears mixed with laughter. I would like to thank everyone for all your thoughts and prayers you may have offered up for my family.

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  • a gift of life,  Family,  Portraits

    I found it healing…

    December 9, 2025
    Mom and Dad sometime around 1948
    All smiles on his 80th birthday

    I watched a spectacular sunset show last night from about 4:45-5:05 pm through my bedroom window. The show was an unusually long and wonderful experience. For some reason I felt no need to grab my camera but just wanted to experience the beauty of its gift. About fifteen minutes later, while I was journaling about the sunset, I received a message from my sister that dad had died peacefully about 5 pm. I cried, have continued to cry and expect to cry more! It’s all part of the grieving process. An hour or so later I awakened to the realization that the sunset we were experiencing was happening about the same time as dad was saying goodbye to Colorado or Colorado was saying goodbye to dad. And then this morning’s sunrise was just as spectacular, which I received as a message that they are both still present in our lives. Today I have been going through old photos to put in a small book to give to all the grandkids, which we did when mom died. So, I have been deep in memories today as I go through photos. I found it healing for me.

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  • Family,  Travel

    Back in Colorado…

    November 23, 2025

    My sister and I returned from Phoenix about 5 pm yesterday. It was a good trip for us. The only hiccup was realizing on the shuttle ride from the parking lot to the terminal that I left my phone in my car. I had no time to go back for it so I was without a phone from Wednesday morning until Saturday evening. Without the phone I had no ability to call, text message or check email. I think I handled it well. But, I did get some ribbing from my siblings and it provided many opportunities for bantering and teasing. All good stuff!

    Somewhere over southern Colorado

    We also had overcast skies and some rain while there so it was much cooler than past visits. We have made it an annual thing to get together every Thanksgiving, or at least the week before. During this family gathering time we pass around a wood Santa carved by all of us which you can read about here. This is my year to have Santa at my place. And, of course there was an abundance of wonderful food to go along with conversation and laughter.

    I loved seeing and visiting with my dad. He is still as sharp as a tack for being 96 but I could see the physical aging of the body. He is slow and unstable getting up and getting around, needing to use a walker or a cane. He tires quickly due to the congestive heart issues and the edema. However, I would expect these things with anyone his age. We also never know when will be the last time all of us will be together. It makes each visit and the family time even more precious.

    Family!! (The Gang)
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  • bicycling,  fall season,  leaves

    A Wonderful Fall Day

    October 16, 2025

    A light mist began to fall just after I arrived at the coffee shop. A half hour later the clouds moved east and the sun lit up the blue sky, it’s warmth wrapping me like a blanket. My ride home was mystical as sunlight would break through the trees along Spring Creek Trail. Later I met my friend Duane for an early lunch. I took a second bicycle ride this afternoon over to the farm. Had to fight a good stiff wind. I am now on my porch journaling, reading, and no wind. It has been a wonderful fall day!

    I met with my youngest daughter and my two youngest grandchildren for a dinner last night. It was a time to be together as Madie is moving to England on the 27th and Devin is moving to Seattle on the 23rd. I realized how different our worlds are because their life energy was much higher than the life I live. I felt like I couldn’t keep up.

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  • Candid Portraits,  Family,  Travel

    I’m back

    November 25, 2024
    My dad, who will be 96 in January

    I arrived home Sunday afternoon about 2:30 pm. We had mechanical problems on the flight out to Phoenix on Wednesday and needed to return to the gate. That delayed us by an hour and a half. The trip back was smooth except for turbulence coming into Denver.

    I enjoyed my visit with my dad, my sister and brother-in-law. I ate more sweets than I have in a while and have no one to blame but me. I felt my pants had shrunk by the time I got back on the plane. But my wise father suggested it was due to altitude changes, having nothing to due with eating two pieces of my sisters Lemon Meringue pie, or a piece of chocolate cream pie, or two sugar cookies each with a quarter inch of frosting, not to mention the turkey, ham, beef brisket or any of the other trimmings …..

    Today is a rest day. I like this photo of my dad as he has that mischievous look.

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  • Candid Portraits,  Family,  Portraits

    Thursday’s Lunch

    November 1, 2024
    Christine

    Yesterday morning began with overcast skies, a heavy fog and a light mist. I was able to take a few images of some of the weather conditions but my favorite image of the day was yet to come. My oldest daughter and I had scheduled to meet for lunch a couple weeks ago. By the time we met for lunch the clouds had begun to break up and sunlight would peak in and out. We were able to have a table near a window and talk about our enjoyment of the fall season. After lunch we enjoyed a latte, rather than a dessert, and continued our conversation. I could not help but notice the diffused light from the window as it accentuated how beautiful a woman she is. So, I asked if I could take her photo and now proudly share it with you.

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  • landscape,  Pineridge Natural Area,  quotes,  sunrises

    That’ll make things better…

    February 9, 2024

    The great enemy of freedom is the alignment of political power with wealth. This alignment destroys the commonwealth – that is, the natural wealth of localities and the local economies of household, neighborhood, and community – and so destroys democracy, of which the commonwealth is the foundation and practical means.

    Wendell Berry

    There’s a tendency to miss the predawn colors when you arrive a bit late to Pineridge Natural Area. However, if you hang around a while you may see the sun rising over a bank of clouds along the eastern horizon. Snow was still on the ground when I took this image last week and the waters of Dixon Reservoir were free of ice. Both are signs we will see more waterfowl and the songbirds will be returning. Yet, winter is not done as snow is expected to start tonight and into tomorrow. With snow coming I thought it would be wise to put on a crockpot of chili soup. Surely, that’ll make things better.

    I find it sad that we have a country that aligns political power with wealth, where wealth is almost always defined and associated with money. But wealth has other meanings such as having enough to share essentials with others, work to support a family, medical assistance for everyone, inclusivity and equality and a home to protect us from the elements. Berry uses a good word, “commonwealth.” Personally wealth includes being healthy in body, mind and spirit, laughter with family and friends, moments of serenity and peace, prayer and meditation time, grieving the loss of a loved one, listening to a meadowlarks song and the opportunity to watch a morning sunrise. However, I will include that crockpot of chili soup that’s cooking.

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  • Travel

    Back Home

    November 19, 2023
    Taken out the window on the way home yesterday.

    I arrived home last night about 7:00 pm. Loved my time with family and ate way too much good food. It seems my schedule gets a bit wacky when I travel but will be okay in 24-48 hours. Not sure how I did it while working as a flight attendant. I slept well last night and will be back into my routines as well as allow my family to get back into theirs. We had no trouble with travel as everything went rather well with no delays or obstacles and no turbulence. Will relax today and get ready for the upcoming week.

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  • Family,  leaves,  quotes

    Presence of the Divine

    November 17, 2023
    Frost on leaves last week

    Meister Eckhart said that nothing in the universe resembles God so much as silence, so if you think about silence in that sense, then to come into silence is to come into the presence of the Divine.

    John O’Donohue

    I head back to Colorado tomorrow and have enjoyed my time with family. We have had overcast skies and a couple of light rains while down here. Right now I am sitting on their huge patio and enjoying one another’s presence, while quail and cactus wrens offer their songs. Will finished the day with ice cream from Handel’s.

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