Anticipating Summer. Right.

Spring finally said hello to Colorado over the weekend!

  

(Of course this is a tulip from 2012.  

After seven snows this month my tulips this year are, umm... struggling.)

Temperatures in the upper 70's had me thinking about breaking out the shorts (and crossing my fingers they still fit); putting the boots in the back of the closet and bringing out the Tom's.  

I scrubbed the winter off the deck tables and chairs thought about the veggies I want to plant.

(A tad early to plant yet, so this is a Polaroid from a couple of years ago.)

Screens were put in the windows, the patio doors opened wide to let the great outdoors in.  And the best thing about that is the sounds and scents that drift in ~~

The boats on the lake in the distance

A soft breeze blowing thru the grass...

The scent of fresh flowers on the windowsill in my studio

So we're happy and thinking warm thoughts of summertime fun.

And then I heard the weather forecast this morning.  81 degrees and sunny today. Yay!  

And Wednesday, May 1... 

I have no words.

Springtime in the Rockies

I am always surprised when someone who actually lives in Colorado is surprised when we get snowstorms in April ~ and sometimes even May.  I can understand someone who doesn't live in Colorado not getting it.  But if you've been here for a couple of years you know that our snowiest months are March and April.  And that Spring lasts 5 minutes.  

Sorry all you Spring flower enthusiasts.  Although some Spring blooms can survive the snow (it actually insulates them), if you're really into daffodils and tulips, Colorado might not the place for you.   

So as I watch the snowflakes dance outside my window

I'm happy I took a few minutes yesterday ~ when it was 68 degrees ~ with my Lensbaby 2.0 and 4x macro filter to immortalize my little crocuses.  

It was worth getting down on my creaky ol' knees to do so.

And with that ~ Mornin' Peeps!

Decision Time.

I read my horoscope almost every morning.  Not because I believe in it.  Just because I'm curious.  Sometimes it is just silly.  Sometimes it is pretty close to what I'm thinking/feeling.  And sometimes it cosmically helps me make a decision or answer a question.  On those days I believe in it.  ;-)  Take today's horoscope for instance (and I'm paraphrasing):

"Be as realistic as possible and clearly let others know what you can and cannot do.  They will appreciate your direct approach and accurate assessment more than an unrealistic promise that can't be kept.  Take a deep breath and smile; even super heroes can't be everywhere at once."

Today that helped me make a decision.  One that enabled me to walk out the door with my camera this morning and go for an honest-to-god 20 minute walk.  Something I haven't done in months.  And for someone who used to walk at least an hour every morning it is something I have dearly missed.

So as invitations for my Whee Ones and I to participate in summer markets and local artists' events are coming in I've really been on the fence.  

Because even though some of the markets and events are quite prestigious and well-attended, with my usual workload keeping 9 stores across the country stocked with both Whee Ones and photography and maintaining 2 Etsy shops ~~ it's a lot to take on.  I even received an invitation to exhibit my photography at another RAW Natural Born Artists/Denver event.  I'm so flattered and honored by the invitations but what I am learning is that even though my first instinct is to respond with a resounding "YES!" ~ it's not always in my best interest [personally] to commit to every offer that comes my way.  So I am really trying to take time and listen to my heart.  If my heart isn't in it it's time to say no.

I've been running like a machine for a couple of years now and it has taken a toll on my family life, my social life, my eating habits, my sleeping habits and now my body ~ my back has been jacked up for months and I've put on more lbs. than I'd like to admit.  (Denial has been my friend for a long time now...)

So although it's been hard, I'm saying "No" a little more often and finding that it allows me to do things like ~ go out the door, camera in hand and discover the beauty that lies in my own backyard (or front yard as it may be)...

Like these little guys bravely surviving our recent snows... literally outside my front door.

And sunshine...

And dreams of travels to faraway places.  Or at least the PNW...  And the realization that reclaiming my life ~ at least a small portion of it ~ is going to be a good thing.

And with that ~

Mornin' peeps!!

Birds.

I don't know when my fascination with birds began.  it was probably about 10 years ago when I started carrying my little point and shoot camera with me on my morning walks.  Then I discovered Flickr and bought a better camera.  And a couple of lenses. And then it was all over.

Carrying a camera made me much more aware of my surroundings and I joked that I just shot what was in front of me.  Often that meant birds.  

Then I started to put the camera down and just watch them.  Their grace as they glided thru the sky so effortlessly brought me such peace.  I closed my eyes and thru the quiet all I could hear was the rhythmic whoosh-whoosh-whoosh of their wings.  Those were the best images.  The ones no one but me could see inside my mind.

I love birds so much I named the latest incarnation of my photography "little bird pix."  They are never far from my thoughts...

The other night I took Simba out for her tinkle time and heard the whoosh and the calls in the distance.  I looked off to the horizon and gliding toward me were the pelicans of summer.  A lot of them.  I ran inside and even though we were already in our jammies (at our house that can be any time after 5:00 pm) and pulled the mister out on the deck to watch them pass overhead.  

Yay.  The pelicans are back.

In the Whee small hours of the morning today when everything was quiet and it was just my Whee Ones and me, I heard something delightful.  The sun wouldn't make its appearance for another hour, but in the darkness I heard the little finches waking up and singing their morning songs.  Summer's comin'.

And with that ~ mornin' peeps!