Reflections 4

February 3, morning after the storm...shadows and light

January sunset, 4:46pm sky...

January sunset, 4:31pm sky...

February after sunset, 5:50pm sky...

February after sunset, 5:37pm sky...

Deep into winter, this series, now, 'Reflections 4', definitely gives the feel of the season. Soft pastels, with some hints of the blazing Colorado sun. We see signs of spring, with the tiniest of buds on the trees and bushes, the days, markedly longer, enjoying some warm temps this week well into the 60's. So much so, sandals and short sleeves yesterday and a long long walk in Cherry Creek State Park. 

I am slowly working on a project with the 'Reflection' series, so for those of you who pray, I would ask, please pray for this handiwork to proceed forward and, which when completed and presented, it be a blessing!!

My shadow, yesterday at the defrosting lake...sweater hanging off my being, making for an interesting shape!

'In the midst of morn she quietly rose

to greet the dawn of silent repose

She searched beyond the frozen hills

and through the bough's of crystal frills

She danced in dream as clouds rolled by

in hopes the sun would pierce the sky 

As moments passed nil of light

the wind kicked up with all it's might

In tumbling turmoil the west winds raged

in fluttering beauty to turn the page 

Within a breath a single sigh

the Winter wrath had waved goodbye

As sunlight burned of velvet white

upon her face a shaft of light... '

'A Day When Winter Said Goodbye', by Rick Parise

About Last Night...

Seemingly far away, not knowing what was headed our way..

A mighty downpour, then the clearing...

A double rainbow...

And the show continued...

and went on...

and on....

and on...oh, what a night!!!

You just never know what is going to happen. I posted the top pic last night at around 6:30PM. It looked like the rain was 'not here' exactly, but in the distance. Really, within 15 minutes, there was booming thunder, the downpour started, and, too boot, the sun was out. For the rest of the evening, until the sky became dark, around 9PM, these big Colorado skies gave us a show of shows. Edward said a couple of weeks ago, it's as if we live in a planetarium. Webster's meaning of planetarium:

'A building in which images of stars, planets, and constellations are projected on the inner surface of a dome for public entertainment or education.'

Well, if that were the case, this is one mighty big dome...free of charge, of course.

'I have placed My bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.'
                                                                      Genesis 9:13

April Showers Have Brought...

Outside of Cherry Creek State Park parameters...

The Rockies...

This morning...

In their glory...not even in full bloom yet...

Very very tall!!!!

 The skies are ridiculously dramatic. When there is a storm or rain on the way, you can literally see it from an hour away to 5 minutes away. The big skies remain a photographers (and a meteorologists) playground. I take many many more pictures than I post. I save some for the blog. We need the rain, and I am grateful for it. I was standing on the deck late yesterday afternoon, and I smelled something really sweet. I was given a very pretty Gardenia plant, which loves the sun, and I have been taking it out, and bringing it back inside for about a month now. The nights are still chilly. I thought, may be 'all that' which I was smelling was from this plant, which has yet to bloom. Nope. I followed the scent, and much to my surprise (as this is our first Spring in this house) the entire back side of the house has huge, blooming Lilac bushes!!!!! Really? I recently spent close to $20 for a few stems. I thought, isn't that just like God....

 ^' For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;'

                                                                   Song of Solomon 2:11-12

And, just to say, yes, I am aware that the officers involved in the Freddie Gray murder, have been charged, and yes, I ache and pray for the survivors of the massive earthquake in Nepal, yes, I am aware that a little girl was told that she could not eat her Oreo cookies at lunch in a school not far from where we live, and yes, I am aware of the overwhelming Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East, and yes, I am aware that all the bad news is escalating. Yes, I am aware. Given all that and oh, so much more, I remain grateful beyond measure to be able to take the time to smell, well, in this case, the lilacs....

After the Storms...Those Skies!!!

 

These days a good old fashioned Spring thunderstorm storm in Colorado, has turned into a weather event. Alarms going off, flash flood warnings and watches...all from the gi-nomous burn scars from the Waldo Canyon of 2012 fire, mentioned in the previous post, and the Black Forrest fire of last year. The mountain scar no longer retains water and as a result all the 'normal' flow of water which was soaked into the mountain, now runs down the mountain, bringing with it anything in its path. Mitigating has been worked on all year to help curb the flooding, but it has only been a year and there is still more work to do. We took a long afternoon drive yesterday, as the skies were in 'after the storm mode'! Everywhere, every glance, every turn of the head was another gorgeous scene of cloud formations, dark threatening skies, big big landscapes, as far as the eye could see. And, yes, the cows were lying down, as it did thunder and lightning later that evening...torrential. I took 33 pictures, deleted a few, did some editing on others. These were all taken within 1 hour in the late afternoon north of Colorado Springs!

A Sunset for the Ages!!!!

Northwest from my office...

Northeast from Edward's room...

Northeast again...

Northwest, again, a few minutes later from my office...

Southwest towards the mountains..

A few moments later...

...and...

finally...jaw dropping event...

Walking trail @ Garden of the Gods Ntl Park..

It is crystal clear that the beautiful skies in Colorado are a photographers playground. Yesterday was a gorgeous Autumn day. Jimmy and I took a long walk in Garden Of the Gods National Park. Some of the walking trails are still closed from the recent floods, but we took a trail, just above our normal route. There were still some muddy/running water patches, which we also navigated, thankfully without issue. I took numerous pics, posted a couple. But as gorgeous as yesterday was, the sunset last night was beyond beautiful. People say that Colorado is 'God's country'. Well if ever there was any doubt, these pics should quell your doubts. I did minimal editing, really. I have never seen the light quite like this. So, may the photos speak for themselves!!!

'It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 

To declare Your loving kindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night'

 Psalm 92, 1-2