Some More Colorado!
Here are just a few more around town and hiking photos from our trip!
Out of the hundreds of photos I took, I did my best to narrow it down to just a handful to share with you.
Having my blog, and sharing photos with you, has actually motivated me quite a bit in the personal photography area. Before I started my blog, I seldom even took my camera with me on vacations and trips, and, if I did, I maybe took a handful of images here and there.
Working everyday with photos, either taking them or working with them on the computer, means that when it came time to go on vacation, holding a camera or thinking about working on vacation images was the last thing on my mind. But, having that mindset, means that my “job” quickly becomes a “job” and not something I love to do.
Creating my blog and striving to share personal things with you has motivated me to take my camera on vacation. I think I’ve found a nice balance. There are times when I’m just walking around, enjoying the views, and there are times when the camera is in my hand, and I’m looking for lights and shadows, checking out different angles, testing and trying different things! All in all challenging myself and keeping photography “fun”!
Twenty Five Miles
After reviewing our options, this year we decided to bike from Frisco, around Dillon Lake, to Keystone…just a short 12.5 miles each way! It was a consistent up and down grade both out and back. Though challenging, it was a huge improvement over last year’s downhill all the way out and up hill all the way back!
Although we only stopped a few times to take photos, I could have stopped every couple of minutes with the beautiful views we were seeing. Around every corner was another slice of nature, natural and beautiful!
Just like last year, we rented a ride-a-long for Joey and Pebbles! They settled in just like pros, and thoroughly enjoyed the ride!
We could not have asked for more beautiful weather! The temperature was in the 60/70s, the breeze was warm and pleasant and the big white puffy clouds were perfect for getting a good mixture of shade and sun.
Walking, Walking and Walking Some More
Every morning started out with a short walk to the local Starbucks. Of course it did! I could never go without my ritual, and getting it straight from the source…nothing better!
This day, after Starbucks, we found a paved trail and started walking. We ended up exploring and walking through quite a bit of the downtown Frisco area. It was really beautiful! Trees, streams, mountains and vegetation everywhere! Of course, the walking ended up lasting almost four hours, meaning the dogs had to be carried off and on multiple times!
After a short break for lunch, we went out for some more walking! This time we headed to the mountains for some hiking. Where the walking that morning had been on fairly flat, always paved ground, this walking was the exact opposite. Dirt paths that only led one way…up! Well, that is, until you were ready to turn around, and then they only went down! But the views and the sights, breathtaking! This time we came prepared; packs for the pups! They were able to ride in style! (Yes, I know, they’re spoiled!)
Back to Colorado
We had such a fun, relaxing trip to Colorado last summer, we decided to do it again! This time, we rented a house in Frisco. It was a nice place with lots of room to spread out and relax.
I love having a kitchen available! Cooking ourselves is easier than finding reasonably priced, healthy places to eat every time you turn around. We just packed up the cooler and took breakfast, lunch and dinners with us. I’m sure Pete wouldn’t mind a break from cooking, but it’s just too convenient and economic!
The house was much bigger than we needed, but since we go during the off season, we always get great rental prices. There were a total of four bedrooms! We thought about giving each dog their own room, but knew they’d just crawl into bed with us in the middle of the night!
View from our front door!
Not that Kansas doesn’t have beautiful views and sunsets, because we really do, but I don’t think I have ever seen bluer skies than in Colorado. It doesn’t matter what time of day, the skies are just always a vibrant blue. Not to mention, the trees and mountains are everywhere you look. Just gorgeous!
Stamps to the Rescue
Have you seen the new stamps the postal service has launched? They’re adorable and help with a great cause!
Every year the Postal Service creates a commemorative stamp to help raise awareness of serious social issues. This year the stamps feature photos of five cats and five dogs who were all adopted from shelters.
Their goal is to raise the awareness of the millions of shelter pets that need good homes. Nearly half of the animals that enter animal shelters are euthanized. Many of these cats and dogs would have made a wonderful pet…if only given the chance.
Join us in buying and using these adorable stamps! Help inspire someone you know to adopt a shelter animal!
Running Weekend
I survived my weekend of running! I committed to running two races this Spring. For some reason, both races ended up falling on the exact same weekend. How, I ask, is that fair? But, despite the less than stellar weather conditions of chilly temps and ridiculous wind, I survived!
Friday night at 11:55 PM was the start of the Midnight Run 5K, organized by the Leawood Police Department, to benefit Special Olympics. This is the second year I’ve participated in the Midnight Run. As many of you know, I am a total night owl, so this run was definitely my cup of tea! The only negative was that I felt like I was dressed for winter again, in my long sleeve shirt and ear protectors! Despite the chilly wind, I crossed the finish line in record time!
The Mother’s Day 5K Run on Sunday, on the other hand, was not my cup of tea! This run had a start time of 8 AM, which meant I had to get up early…okay, well early for me! Of course, wouldn’t you know it, I slept through the first alarm, only to wake up a good 25 minutes after I meant to get up. Which meant rushing through my morning routine, and having to grab a “to-go” breakfast to eat in the car. Then, to top it off, not only was it way too early for me, but it was freezing cold! Really, two races in one weekend, and they have to both feel like the seasons are going backwards, and we’re headed back to winter! Despite all of the morning craziness, my Mom, my Sister and myself all ran the race together and all successfully crossed the finish line. Guess I could not ask for anything better!
Don’t ask me what I’m doing in these photos! What can I say, I’m not supposed to be on that side of the camera!
Happy Mother’s Day
Joey and Pebbles wanted to wish all the Mommies out there a “relaxing in your pajamas” Mother’s Day!
Spring Clean
If you’ve been to the studio in the past few months, you know that our ponds were in desperate need of a spring clean! This winter was not nice to them and, as a result, they were full of lots of algae, making it very hard for the kiddos to see the fish.
Thanks to Rachel & Jessie of Puddles to Ponds, the fish are now on full display and seem very happy to be swimming freely in their algae free ponds.
Rachel & Jessie worked all day cleaning out, prepping and refilling the ponds for another beautiful year! They had positive reports on all of our fish and plants. We’re excited to see the plants start sprouting green. It’s a sign that the ponds have really blossomed into the season!
Thanks Puddles to Ponds!
Green!!
I can not express in words how excited I am to finally be seeing some green out my windows! It was a long, grey winter!
Winter is by far my least favorite season, so, by the time Spring arrives, I am usually very antsy. I’m thrilled that Spring is finally here. We even had to have Tom & Mark out this week to give the “Ranch” it’s first mowing! Though the dandelions have taken over, the mowing definitely started us off on the right foot. I’m looking forward to much more green! Let’s get those trees a bloomin’!
Made of Glass
It was quite chilly, and the wind blew right through me, as I stood outside trying to capture these images, but I just couldn’t resist. With the beautiful blue sky in the background, the sun shining bright and the ice covering the trees, everything was just shimmering! It looked like the world around me was made of glass and just so fragile.
There have been so many sluggish, grey, cold days this winter. You have to grab hold of the beautiful ones and remember them well!
