Mt Evans and Memories

Mt Evans, the highest paved highway in North America

View looking toward the summit

Altitude 14,265 feet

The Panoramas

the beauty of the mountains

Mountain sheep and mountain goats

Summit Lake

Ever since I was a kid every fall Dad, Mom and we kids would take a picnic up to the summit of Mt. Evans.  It was always so very cold but Dad would start a fire in the picnic area and Mom would brew a pot of coffee.  That was the only time until I was "grown" that we kids would get to drink coffee. What a treat that was.  But then the whole day was a treat!  The added joy of seeing the colors of the yellow aspen leaves intermingled with those glorious pines was exhilarating.  The memories of those days are treasures no one can steal.

So this year I wanted to visit Mt Evans again on our trip to Colorado.  Things have changed.  There are no picnic areas at the top.  Other things have not changed.  It was still cold, 41 degrees and rain and sleet.  That didn't change the joy I felt when I saw the mountain sheep and mountain goats.  The beauty of the Rockies near the summit and the thrill of the traveling the highway.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

As an aside, I've been invited to  join Monday WRites by Gillena Cox.    Today I thought others of you might join her in this adventure.

I have found a new place to play and invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  Should be fun!

Big Thompson River

Big Thompson River

Estes Park, CO

Two years ago this month this, what appears to be, little river flooded Estes Park and tore down the Big Thompson Canyon flooding the cities of Ft. Collins and Boulder along the way.  It took eight lives and caused billions of dollars in damage.  The canyon has a history of severe flash flooding, but I am always in awe of the canyon beauty and its river, but I am reminded that the serenity I experience now can change in a heartbeat when severe weather comes.

A gentle river

Hides a frightening secret

It's a strong torrent

Beauty in the sound

Serenity and quiet

Become a torrent

The gentle river

Make peace and understanding

Give respect due it

~~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God

Cathy

I'm joining  Little Things Thursday.  Drop by by and visit!

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday

2015 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt IV

And the Adventure continues.  Why not come along for the journey?

As a kid I loved 
Scavenger hunts with my friends
It's the kid in me!

So the kid in me
Scavengers with all my friends
Oh, what fun it is!

Worked hard this month and had some difficulty getting the rest of the 21 items on the list.  I had to resort to using the alternatives.  I wish I had been able to get everyone of them.  It has certainly been fun!  

#11. A cellular tower
Kansas City, MO

#14 Traffic signal

Downtown Denver near Union Station

#15. A flag pole with at least three flags on it
Nashville, TN

A. People eating outside

St. Charles, MO

B. Someone holding an umbrella

St. Charles, MO

C. Rocking chairs
On the porch at Ben and Penny's
Newburgh, IN

SCAVENGER HUNT LIST

 1. A bouquet of flowers
 2. An ornate door knocker
3. A person walking a dog (or other animal)
 4. People playing a board game or card game
5. Architectural columns
 6. A metal bridge
7. A turtle
 8. Someone "plugged in" to social media
 9. A tent
10. A college or university
11. A cellular tower or television satellite dish
12. A public restroom, bathroom, or toilet
13. A merry-go-round or carousel
14. A traffic signal

15. A flag pole with at least three flags on it
16. A panoramic view, taken while standing someplace high in the air
17. At least two people wearing matching outfits or uniforms
18. An overloaded truck, car, bicycle or other vehicle
19. A ticket booth
20. A natural body of water
21. A photograph of you with a sign reading "2015 Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt".

Note: you may not use a substitute for this item. If you find something on the list too difficult, you may substitute one of the following items for any one item on the list, except for Item #21:
Alternative A: People eating outside
Alternative B: Someone holding an umbrella
Alternative C:  Rocking Chair

And so I join CHIEF SCAVENGER RINDA @ GALLO ORGANICO

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Sunday Walk By the River

After Mass this morning Ron and I decided to a walk to the river.  Here in Newburgh is a lock and dam where the barges move up and down the river carrying coal, grain and oil.  

This morning we hit the jackpot.  There were barges coming and going.

Farther along on our walk we encountered some very lovely blossoms.  

We met this handsome Gentleman along the way, watching to make sure he safely crossed the road.

No walk is complete on a Sunday morning with out a stop at Ben and Pennys.  And this morning was no different.  Ron had a warm carmel apple cookie and I had maple walnut scone, both topped with a 

small scoop of vanilla ice cream

Then these flower pots reminded me that this is the last weekend in August and the door is now opening onto the an autumn porch. It has been a summer of saddness and joy for us but all in all God has been gracious.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

I will also be joining Laura at I Heart Macro to day too.  Why not stop by and enjoy!

As an aside, I've been invited to  join Monday WRites by Gillena Cox.  Since I'm not prepared for that today I thought others of you might join her in this adventure.

Finding Fun In All the Right Places

After we had spent two days visiting Pompeys Pillar and traveling the Beartooth Pass into Yellowstone National Park we decided to have a different kind of fun.  We'd never been to Sheels Sporting Goods.  My brother assured us we'd have a lot of fun, but spending time in a sporting goods store was not my idea of a good time.  I had to eat my words. . .

There were so many exciting things to see.  Bronze sculptures and wood carvings as well as beautiful animal exhibits.

This is the closest I ever want to get to a bear. . .

These are some of the most beautiful exhibits I've see outside a museum.  This really was fun!  There can be a "great adventure" even in a sporting goods store.  If you have a Sheels near you visit it.  Take the kids and grand kids.  There are aquariums and a Ferris wheel to entertain them.  AND in Billlings they have a cafeteria and they sell FUDGE!

~~~^j^~~~

Adventures can come

In the most surprising ways

And it's simply fun

By a mountain lion
Have the wits scared out of you
To find out he's stuffed

But it's all in fun
When it's with loved ones you laugh
It WAS so much fun

~~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God

Cathy

I'm joining  Little Things Thursday.  Drop by by and visit!

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday

A Day With the Deer

She was there for most of the day.  She seemed perfectly comfortable just knowing we were interested in her.  Every year there are deer at Ron's sister's house.  But this year we were able to spend more time just sharing the space with us.

And then sunset came and she decided it was time to to move on.  She took just a moment to turn and bid us a good evening.  It was grand!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

I will also be joining Laura at I Heart Macro to day too.  Why not stop by and enjoy!

I'm also joining Mersad at Through My Lens.  Enjoy!

Mountain Meadow

Mountain meadows call

Lakes glisten in the sunlight

Blossoms look skyward

Mountain meadows call

Never closer to heaven

Much closer to home

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Photo taken near the top of Mount Evans, Colorado, but enhanced with PicMonkey

I'm joining  Little Things Thursday.  Drop by by and visit!

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday

The Nation's Bread Basket

Give fools their gold and knaves their power; let fortune's bubbles rise and fall; who sows a field, or trains a flower, or plants a tree is more than all.

~~John Greenleaf Whittier

~~~~~~~

Traveling through our nation's bread basket I again am in awe of the beauty of the land.  It also causes me to pause and reflect on the hard work it takes to feed this nation.  I forget all the work and toil it takes to produce the food I so easily shop for every week.  And so at this time I'd like to thank all those who work to bring food to my table.  The farmer, the rancher, the migrant worker, the truck driver, the grocer, and the one who stock the shelves.  I also want to apologize for taking you all for granted.

~~~^j^~~~

Most of all I want to say,

Thanks be to God!

Cathy  

Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

I will also be joining Laura at I Heart Macro to day too.  Why not stop by and enjoy!

I'm also joining Mersad at Through My Lens.  Enjoy!

Home Is the Forest

Pine needles and cones

Pine aroma therapy

Home is the forest

Tranquil is this home

There are no worries or frets

Home is the forest

~~~~~

Thanks be to God

Cathy

I'm joining for the first time Little Things Thursday.  Drop by by and visit!

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Caney Fork River Valley Grille

While we were in Nashville Tennessee this weekend for the World Archery Tournament we had the opportunity to visit with family and eat...We found this great restaurant close to where we were staying.  It's called the Caney Fork River Valley Grille.  

The decor alone would have attracted quite a lot of visitors but the food was really good.  The pulled pork was delicious and the key lime and peanut butter chocolate pie was just the best.

 And then there was the music...Real Country by some very talented musicians.  All in all it was a delicious, toe tapping experience.

Isn't he a handsome fellow?

The taxidermy was equally captivating.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.