• clouds,  Family,  Fujifilm X-T3,  landscape,  mountains,  natural areas,  storm clouds

    Congratulations Abbie!!

    Storm clouds to the northwest at Reservoir Ridge

    I took this image last night as storms moved through to the north and the south of us bringing heavy rain, lightning and thunder both directions. Surprisingly we stayed dry. Man, I love the beauty of clouds even though there can be a lot of damage from their power. They never stay the same, always changing.

    I have been surprised with all the birthday wishes from  family and friends. This is my 70th year or just over 25,550 days counting leap years. Thanks to everyone! 

    This afternoon I will be heading to my oldest daughters house for a BBQ and celebrate my oldest granddaughters college graduation. She was not able to walk for her graduation from CSU due to the COVID-19 issue. She has worked hard for this, changed her major three times and did the six year plan. Congratulations Abbie!!!!! I love you. ❤️ 

  • Family

    “… the story continues to begin.”

    Devin, Madie, Monica, Daryian
    Devin, Madie, Monica, Daryian

    My youngest granddaughter graduated from high school this past week. Some consider it an alternative school but that is not an accurate name for it because I think it is a model of what school needs to look like. I am impressed with the school, the faculty and staff.

    This graduation ceremony was a tear jerker for me and I’ve wiped my eyes a couple times writing this post. Rather than have a guest speaker attempt to urge these young people on to more success (however you define success: money, power, popularity, career, or just attaining enough credits to graduate), each graduate stepped to the podium with two white roses and offered those roses to two people who helped make their graduation possible.

  • Family

    Madie’s Graduation

    Madie and Friends
    Madie and Friends

    Late yesterday afternoon a front moved into the area bringing light rain, some thunder and lightening and pea size hail. The foothills were covered with snow from the snowfall during the night. By mid-morning today we began to see snowflakes mixed with rain and temperatures hovering just above freezing in town. But a little snow and cold weather was not going to stop a special graduation for us folks from Colorado.

    My youngest granddaughter, Madie, had her graduation today along with nine other students. All of these kids have come a long way to walk these stairs and receive their diplomas. It wasn’t easy an path. Each one of the students shared something personal about their experience at Centennial so there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Thank goodness for autofocus. Congratulations to Madie and her classmates. Madie now moves on to a junior college this fall with a full ride for her first year. She then plans to transfer to Colorado State University. Did ya notice her smiling in every image?

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street

    Schools Out

    Free
    Free

    Today is a special Friday for Colorado State University students, it’s the last day of classes. Some had finals yesterday while most of them will taking them today. Graduation ceremonies will be going on over the weekend. Proud parents will be all over the place. Forget about going to a restaurant. Of course, the parties follow graduation.

    Living just six blocks off of campus has it’s perks and its down side. Nearby are a ton of fast food restaurants, small mom and pop restaurants, laundry places, and the popular pizza and beer joints. The down side is the noisy and busy streets and trash. At the end of any school term you find all sorts of furniture being given away: free. Freshmen could do well if they roamed around this time of the year and picked some bargains. Probably have a couple cigarette burns and beer stains. Anyway I found this on my walk this morning.

  • Candid Portraits,  People/Portraits

    The Graduate

    Daryian and my daughter Monica

    I attended the graduation of the Windsor Wizards yesterday afternoon. Wasn’t expecting the emotions. I shed a few tears just driving over there, then a few with my daughter as we sat and watched it happen. It really is amazing to see what some kids accomplish in high school, all of them. I am proud of you. Another stage of your life has been completed and you now move on move on to another. I really like your attitude and views of life at 18 years of age. I pray you enjoy life through the hard times and the joyous times. I have no idea as to what contribution you will have on this world. I hope you discover all the gifts and talents still within you, even those unseen, and that you freely offer them to the world. Congratulations, Daryian!  I love you!