Home Again & The Photo Walk

Feeling much better today so drove to my daughter's to pick up my sweet Toby.  I sure did miss him.  My brother has a dog, A J, a golden retriever, beautiful.  So calm, most of the time you are not even aware he is around except when he wants a little lovin'. The whole week I was there I never heard him bark, not once.  We took him to Santa Fe with us and while Gwen and I were strolling the streets my brother would have him on a leash walking around the Promenade   He became an instant magnet, attracting women, children & men.  Everyone wanted to pet A J, he is so gentle and so tolerant.  Toby, on the other hand is well, how do I say this, not calm, not quiet, you always know he's around and barks at just about everything.  I keep telling myself that the barking is good, makes for a fine watch-dog, but if anybody came after him he would run with his tail between his legs.  He sounds mighty, but he is really a woose (sp??) He was so happy to see me today he couldn't stop wagging his tail, jumping up on my lap, kissing me (I know those who aren't dog lovers are probably going yuck), and a few barks along the way.  Isn't it nice to be loved like that, so unconditional, so happy.  A J gives quiet love, Toby is a little more demonstrative. 

Wouldn't you say he was a happy camper to be home again??!! 

Thought I would post a few pics from the Scott Kelby Photo Walk I went on Saturday, Oct 1st.  Just a few days before I left for Colorado.  My buddy, Catherine and I joined a group that was to meet at Graceland Cemetery on North Clark St. in Chicago.  It was established in 1860 and is a haven in the city with massive oaks, elms and maples that stand in testament to the architecturally significant monuments and markers that cover 119 acres of land.  Chicago "giants" are buried here, early settlers, developers, railroad car manufactures, inventors, civic planners & builders, newspapers publishers, lumber merchants.  This cemetary is filled with those who made Chicago the great city it is today. 

There were many mausoleums that had beautiful workmanship on the doorways.  Because of their age they had this wonderful patina finish. 

And my goodness there were many, many tall pedestals marking the gravesites.

This was the gravesite of the Burnham Family, early developers of the city.  Very simple rock gravestone, but he had a small island that was all his. 

Was that ever a surprise (shock) to be walking along and this runs in front of us. The Cemetary had a coyote that made his home there.  One of the fellow photographers found his den beneath a tombstone, almost stuck his hand in but decided he best not. (a wise man does not stick hand in coyote den.....an Indian lore)

This small site belonged to the Honore Family, a big developer.  (Carried on thru death looks like)

And my friend, Marshall Field.  I call him my friend because of how many times I went to his place of business to shop.  He always sent me a thank-you in the form of my monthly bill.  Very sad in this city when Marshall Field was sold to Macy's.  It took me almost 4 years before I would even step foot inside Macy's.  I was in protest. 

Suppose he belonged to the Pope family and just stopping by to pay his respects?  They did have quite a few small headstones.  They were not all super sized. 

Oops spoke too soon.  This is another LARGE tribute, this one belongs to the Palmer Family.  Another developer of our fair city and also the owner of the Palmer House Hotel.  Mr. Palmer is laid to rest in that large above ground marble grave on the left, while Mrs. Palmer is on the right.  Do you see the man on the left?, that gives you some idea as to the size of this. 

The last one was a small gravesite that had this statue of a young man playing a flute made from bronze sitting atop the grave.  Apparently he was in his early 40's when he died after completing his medical schooling and had barely started his practice when he passed away.  This was my entry for my "best shot" of the day.  I just liked how serene and simple and that lovely bokeh.

It was a wonderful day strolling thru this piece of Chicago history.  I will definitely join a group next year. After the walk we all met at a local restuarant and bar just a couple of blocks away to enjoy a meal and talk about the coyote. 

"That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet."  ~  Emily Dickinson

Until next time.........

First Day Back

This morning I was ready to start my day but as I rolled over to turn off the beeping alarm clock I felt a painful headache in full force.  Not only that, when I got up I was so dizzy I darn near fell over.  I had a cold, runny nose, sneezing, cough, totally all in the head the whole time I was in Colorado.  I have not been sick in probably 3 years, no colds, no coughs, no virus', but since I had a vacation planned, ofcourse it was the time to get sick.  Isn't that the way it works?  So along with the iffy weather, I also battled the sniffles...gosh I sound like I am feeling sorry for myself.  Ahh, maybe I am, just a little.  Anyway, back to the dizzies....I think between the head cold and the change in altitude my poor body said enough is enough.  So today I have been chillin', actually I never got dressed the entire day.  Feeling better this evening, but still a little dizzy.  I guess the term dizzy blonde is true, but I don't think they meant the "fall down" dizzies when they penned that phrase.

I didn't even pick up my camera today, altho I did read my latest "Shutterbug" magazine, along with the latest People Magazine and Entertainment Weekly.  Ofcourse I only read those for the book reviews (I lied, I read them because I like to read about the latest movies, TV, books & music and an ofcourse an occasional gossip). 

Speaking of TV, I have been watching some of the new comedies, "The New Girl" and "Suburbgatory" are both pretty good. They make me laugh out loud which is a good indication of funny, but neither are as good as "Modern Family", still the best comedy on TV.  And ofcourse "Revenge" is superlative as the new night-time soap opera, it's delicious.  Enough is enough, now for some more photos from Colorado. 

A few of the absolutely spectacular take-my-breath-away landscapes and animals from Pagosa Springs, CO.  

"Get up and dance, get up and smile, get up and drink to the days that are gone in the shortest while."
                                                                                                                               ~  Simon Fowler

Until next time........

It's Over

What a grand time I had this last week visiting my brother and sister-in-law in Pagosa Springs, CO.  Talk about beautiful country, it was a visual treat from beginning to end.  A wee damper was the weather; cool, wet, breezy & snow!!  We actually had only one day out of the 7 that was absolutely gorgeous, but it sure didn't stop us from doing all that we could.  I took almost 1,000 shots so, eventho the weather was not the greatest it sure did not stop me from taking pictures.  And what a photographer's dream ...  mountains, valleys, greens, golds, purples, oranges, streams, rivers, pink sunsets, a blue sky that is beyond blue.  I think it is wonderful that we can stay within our own country and witness some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere on earth, from the east coast to the west coast and everything in between.  Each area of the country has it's own beauty, but I gotta admit that Colorado is right near the top of my list. 

And you know all that fuss over the bathing suit....well, it was too rainy and cold to even stick our pinkies in the hot springs, whew, thank goodness. 

I flew Frontier Airlines...never have flown with them before. But I will say, they were on-time and hassle free and they have the cutest animals painted on the tails of each of their airplanes.  I flew on a beaver and a baby otter.  Had to change planes in Denver both coming and going, flying to and from Durango, CO. and I was suddenly back in the 50's.  We are so spoiled boarding and unboarding planes by walking up a large enclosed tunnel thingy, totally protected from the weather, however in Durango, there are no large jets that fly in and out (probably because of the mountains wouldn't ya think??).  We walked out on the tarp to board a prop plane.  When I saw that, I thought I was gonna die.  Not so, it was an easy flight, even in the pouring rain.  The only thing that was damaged was my hair due to the exposures to the elements.   Frontier Airlines has restored my faith in tiny prop planes. 

Not raining yet, but shortly after taking off the rains came.  When is the last time you remember boarding a plane like this??



How could anything bad happen on a plane that has this sweet face on it's tail??

This is what greeted us as we woke up the next morning....clouds so low they didn't even clear the tall pines.  Pagosa Springs is 7,700 ft above sea level, no wonder my ears were popping.

Along with the clouds this family came visiting each morning.  It is a Mom and 2 of her babies (I promise there are 2 babies, you just can't see the other one).  I can't imagine what they found so delicious in that mud.

Well, must close for now...Dancing with the Stars is on in a few and I missed the whole thing last week.  In fact, I watched NO TV for the entire week.  Got lots to catch up on.  But many more pictures of Colorado to come (I promise I won't post all 1,000 of them).

"It seems obvious that the first rule of life is to have a good time."  ~  Brendan Gill

Until next time.......