Debuts and Closings

The Iris have finally made their debut! 

Better late than never :-)

Having this blog has been quite an interesting challenge for me...  

However, I have not been able to find as much time for it as I had in the past.  

I am putting it on hiatus for the time being 

and will continue if/when the mood strikes.  

Thanks for following :-)

The Colors of Daisy

Have a bright Tuesday :-)

Something or Other

We are in count down mode to the Big Event!

The yard work is finally in full-swing after delays

due to April Snows instead of April Showers.

I've never figured out what this odd piece 

was originally intended for, 

but it caught my eye at an antique junk store

and I have re-purposed it as a flower stand.

The Beauty of Spring...

Spring appears to have, finally, sprung...

And what to my wondering eyes should appear?

A bumper crop of these little beauties :-P

Flowers!

Flowers are my favorite photographic subject!

Yesterday, I put out flowers that can

easily be brought in at night since 

it's still getting a little chilly.

Some I planted and some I cheated on and bought

(that would be the really good looking ones)...

May 1st Snow Storm

We received about 8" overnight
and it's still snowing.

We will be shoveling instead of delivering May Baskets...

This is not a weeping willow :-(

Snowball Bush (literally)
 

Umbrella on the Roof

Stopped by for my daily fix

and this is the sight that greeted me...

Yikes!

Not too windy, either,so no idea how

that umbrella got up there..

FCAAP

The Fort Collins Area Alumni Panhellenic 

put on their annual scholarship brunch 

yesterday at the Country Club.  

It must have been very difficult for the 

committee to select just one scholarship winner

from that outstanding group of Greek young women!

It was our turn to host this year, 

so the Kappa Delta's selected our 

coalition with the Girl Scouts as our theme.

I was in charge of displays, so I located all 

the uniforms my family has acquired.

My daughter's Daisy apron and Brownie vest

from the early 2000's;

my Brownie and Junior uniforms from the early 1970's

and my mother's intermediate uniform from the mid 1950's.

Everything was included:  sashes, badges, pins, belts.

Looking for the Positive

I've been in a bit of a funk lately

and this continued snow isn't helping...

Yesterday, I decided to do something 

about my mood, so I grabbed my camera

and went hunting for the beauty of the day.

This is what I found :-)

It Just Keeps Coming...

Snow, Snow Go Away

Come Again Another Day

(like some time next October)

April Showers, er, I mean, Snow Advisories...

The critters were out this morning before the snow kicked back up.  I took this photo around 8:00 am and, since then, we've had about 2 more inches of snow. Currently we are under a snow advisory until midnight.  It's mid-April...

Winter is moving in on Spring...

We received about a foot of snow here in the Fort - 

note the icicles under the table...

School was on a 2 hour delay, 

but not cancelled. 

Lots of disappointed kids around here :-)

The Big Storm???

Six to eleven inches???

More like a dusting...

Spring... Maybe...

These hedge roses, along with many other

shrubs and trees in my yard,

are just starting to show signs of 

waking from their winter's rest.

Wonder what they will look like after

tomorrow's forecasted heavy snowstorm.

In Memory...

Two days ago, I posted this poem directly to the Facebook wall of a dear friend and member of the Boise Gang who made a sudden departure from this life to ride trails on the other side. The poem is such a wonderful celebration, not just of bicycling, but of life, that I felt compelled to share it. Feel the little boy's thrill of zipping down the trail! If you can't remember that feeling, go out and find it! Ride on, Cliffie...

Going Down Hill on a Bicycle
A Boy's Song

With lifted feet, hands still,
I am poised, and down the hill
Dart, with heedful mind;
The air goes by in a wind.

Swifter and yet more swift,
Till the heart with a mighty lift
Makes the lungs laugh, the throat cry:—
"O bird, see; see, bird, I fly.

"Is this, is this your joy?
O bird, then I, though a boy,
For a golden moment share
Your feathery life in air!"

Say, heart, is there aught like this
In a world that is full of bliss?
'Tis more than skating, bound
Steel-shod to the level ground.

Speed slackens now, I float
Awhile in my airy boat;
Till, when the wheels scarce crawl,
My feet to the treadles fall.

Alas, that the longest hill
Must end in a vale; but still,
Who climbs with toil, wheresoe'er,
Shall find wings waiting there.

by Henry Charles Beeching

Only in Las Vegas...

Tulips from Taylor

My nephew recently visited
and this is what he brought me :-)
He even said I was his favorite aunt...
Yes, I can be bribed with a smile and flowers!

Happy 18th!!

Our beautiful baby girl

turns 18 today!

Happy, Happy Birthday Bee!!

Cookie Monster

Just HAD to stop by Eileeen's yesterday 

and simply could not pass on this

monstrous little(?) treat...  

If you look close, there are two cookies

hidden under all that frosting :-)

Eileen's Colossal Cookies

has been in our area since 1998

and makes cookies for all occasions.

As my daughter tends to prefer them over cakes,

we have been fairly regular customers...

Next up:  Birthday and Graduation! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way
Good health, good luck and happiness
For today and every day! 

Nesting Time

Looks like it's nesting time again here in FoCo
and the preferred sites tend to be just outside
the entrances of busy locations -
like Albertson's and Kohl's.
This mommy is settling down at the credit union.

The expectant parents tend to be a tad uptight
- go figure -
so one must practice caution
and keep a sense of humor while running errands.
Good luck to both sides :-)

A Couple Days Late

Unsure as to whether I was just not paying attention

or if Saturday's supposed blizzard is

just running a couple of days behind schedule...

I attended a banquet last night from 5:30 - 9.

No sign of a significant weather change when I arrived;

three inches of snow on my car when I left...

What the "Blizzard" Left

Despite the dire storm warning,

Fort Collins ended up with less than

an inch of snow yesterday.

However, the ice crystals left behind

look like diamonds scattered across my porch!

Good Morning!

The half-moon was still high in the sky yesterday morning as I made my way to the gym.  It was so clear, that it inspired me to pull over to snap this pic.

Colorado Weather

Yesterday:  60+

Today:  Snow

We ended up with just over an inch
during the next hour.
It was over as fast as it started.

Trains

I don't mind waiting while the trains cross

and, sometimes, I still count the cars.

Fort Fun Trivia:

Their are two rail lines which run through town.

The trains on the east line run faster and are usually shorter.

Melt Down

A very warm Monday started the melt down...

This evergreen, which sits in a corner by the porch,

always produces some interesting icicles.

Snow-Laden Branches

A weekend storm gifted us with about 6 inches of snow.

Today, the branches of my Snow Crab (how apropos)

are still covered with the white remnants,
while the streets and sidewalks are starting to melt.

Bath Day

Not my favorite...

But I look good!!

(even if Mom can't take a focused pic)

Now I just need to find something to roll in :-P

Photographer's Assistant...

Sunday afternoon found me conscripted into service 

as my daughter's photo assistant (pack mule). 

While making sure not to be remiss in my duties,

I found time to snap a couple of photos myself :-)

Enjoy this little bit of early spring,

courtesy of our local nursery.

The Treadmill...

The price I'm willing to pay for

chocolate, cookies and lattes...

Keep that body moving - you've only got one!

Everything in moderation :-)

Chocolate Cafe

My friend and I both have January birthdays

so we try to have a combined celebration every year.

January passed by in a whirl of activity,

so here we are a few days into February -

better late than never :-)

Chocolate Cafe

Old Town Fort Collins 

What you see here:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Toffee Chocolate Brownie

Chocolate Bar Martini

Raspberry Mocha Martini

All very delicious!

However, this morning, I am still

feeling a bit over-chocolated/sugared.

Off to the gym I go...

My Suggestion:

Share!!

They also serve meals, 

so count that martini as dessert...

Groundhogs Day

Groundhog Day has dawned with a

clear, blue sky here in the Fort!

Looks like six more weeks of winter...

That's okay - we need the moisture :-)

"The trouble with weather forecasting

is that it's right too often for us to ignore it

and wrong too often for us to rely on it."

- Patrick Young, Author

Just a Bit of Snow

We finally received some snow yesterday!

It's been such a dry and warm winter...

It's hard to complain about 50+ degree temps,

but we do live in Colorado 

and there's just something wrong about that.

I'm going to hope for a little more :-)

Thin Mints!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!

Girl Scout Cookie Time :-)

We're going to need another round...

Nearly Sunrise...

Thursday is getting ready to dawn 

on another beautiful day here in the Fort.

We have been enjoying temps in the 50's this week,

but we could definitely use some snow/precipitation - 

it's supposed to be winter!

Warming Up!

After a stretch of frost-bite weather,

it warmed up in to the 50's today!!

The sun feels amazing!

I opened up the front door so that

Daisy could enjoy it while keeping guard :-)

Vegas Days...

Just by watching what the tourists were wearing, 

I could tell that Las Vegas' reputation 

for being hot prevails even in January...  

As with the fickle temps in Colorado, that is not the case.  

On Wednesday, it was warm enough to sit on the patio at SB.  

This little one wanted to have  breakfast with me :-)

 

What a beautiful day, huh?
Not by Las Vegas standards...
These golfers are braving the cold and wind
to whack that little ball around.

On the upside, from my very protected perch
that was being blasted with the tiny bit on sun
we would see on Thursday,
I was comfortably taking photos while
soaking up the minimal heat in a black sweater :-)

Happy Birthday to Me

I just love getting pedicures, so it's a perfect treat for my birthday!  This awesome shade of red is called "The Spy Who Loved Me." Nothing like a little adventure to add spice to my day - lol!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Or...  Repurpose...  College Style

My son's apartment...

From beverage containers 

(I'm sure they are all soda - not)

to window blinds...  

Happy 2013!

I didn't make it to midnight to greet the New Year,
so I am up at Dawn to greet the First Day.
Sunrise is my favorite time of day :-)