So-o-o-o Cute!

I find the cutest critters at the outhouse/port-a-potty/restrooms. This little thing even has flirty eyelashes.

Aged Scotch (Tape)

We've been participating in the informal community clothing, furniture and decorating swap. We got some useful modular foot-by-foot-by-foot storage cubes for a kid's room from the Millers, whose son also goes to DCS Montessori.

I de-crayoned a blue cube and then went on to tackle the leftover scotch tape. The more boring the job got, the more interesting the bits of removed tape appeared.

I have to admit, used is the way to go. Since I enjoy repairing, I may have an uncommon viewpoint. Perhaps I should buy, refurbish and sell.

Flying Saucer

If it isn't a flying saucer, I'd then say it resembles something that says, "Feed me, Seymour!"

Aspen Leaf in Dehydrated Slimy Algae

We visited Barr Lake State Park today. We didn't have a lot of time, but we were able to take a little walk around. From the boardwalk, we could see sections of the wetlands (we called them swamps until the government people came) in which the water had receded. I don't know that this could really be called a traditional autumn picture. I stepped in, sat in, and cleaned this stuff off myself and the kids; funny how something so icky could look so interesting. Even after discovering its unique texture and goose-poop additions, it was still interesting to look at.

The school year has started. I'm not sure what Rorschach-ian interpretation would be given to my associating this picture to this event.

Incidental Discoveries

I found these pretty yellow flowers. I like combinations of buds and flowers and sweeping stems.

Upon taking a few shots, I paid enough attention to detail to see the yellow crab spider in the center. These spiders do a great job of matching their host plant's color, so I didn't feel too oblivious.

When I'm on the other side of the camera, the flower and the spider take up the frame, encompass the view. Later, I get some perspective and realize just how neat it was that I found what I found.

Chewing the Words

Scarlet Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)

I keep saying the name of this flower, but the images that appear in my imagination have nothing in common with this flower. The flower is fuzzy, orangish, low to the ground, and looks nothing like a thing I'd bring to a campfire. This was taken early in June.

Raindrops on Roses

A neighbor's yellow rose in the drizzle of our weird-weathered July.

Yesterday we decided to walk in the drizzle to a local pond (perpetual puddle with lots of bugs). I became cold very fast. Sweatshirts, rain ponchos and umbrellas weren't enough and we all came home for hot drinks.

Nonplussed Trophy Fish

Another July 4th picture. This is part of a sculpture by James Christensen that is in front of the library mentioned last post. I really like his artwork because of the strange proportions, odd combinations of elements that meld so nicely together, and the fine detail given to detail.

Water Hazard

I was supposed to be returning library books ... very overdue books, but then I saw a pair of cormorants in the water hazard of the Lone Tree golf course across the street. I am very lucky in that my children are patient with me (or that they have Nintendo DSes and Dolls) and hung out while I took a few shots.

Primative Adobe Effects

The fuzz and glow in this picture is from the blades of grass in front of the plane of focus, the sharp focus comes from an unbroken line of sight to the drops.

This was taken around my birthday (the 3rd), my last birthday that starts with a three. Hm. I keep thinking I should feel old.

Wet Flowerworks

July the 4th threatened and delivered rain until just before sunset. This wet, gone-to-seed, dandelion might have been the only fireworks we saw that day.

Macaroni

It's the fourth of July, so here's a plume moth. It's late in the evening, so here's the map through the wetlands of conscience: the moths are named for the feather-like, that is, plume wings. Yankee Doodle stuck a feather in his cap and called it Macaroni. I think it's a quite dandy moth actually. Many in the Roxborough park that day. Neat-o. :)

Waterfall Monochrome

This is part of a playground set that's been installed in the middle of our recreation center's indoor swimming pool. There are a few water features that the kids can turn on and off, aim or dump onto fellow swimmers.

I like photos that look as if they are from black and white film.

A Fruit Loop Miracle

The boys' shout made me stop inhaling my two-thirds Cheerios, one-third Fruit Loops breakfast. "LOOK LOOK LOOK!" Stopping, I followed the direction of their gaze and I looked at my cereal. Then I looked back at them. "MO-O-O-OM! IT'S Standing UP!" Oh, I see. Hm.

I took a picture in acknowledgment of the amazing phenomenon. Then, unceremoniously, I ate the miraculous Fruit Loop. The boys thought that was very funny because I wasn't acknowledging the gravitas of the situation.

Jasmine announced, "I like the Cheerios."

Neighbor Flowers

I haven't been much of a gardener of late ... that is, the past few years. But my neightbors are. These are our right-hand neightbors' flowers. These folks are quite the home improvement gardening pair; we've known them for about nine years now, so I don't think they'll mind me snapping a few shots.

We saw these flowers as we passed their house. We were walking in the rain, so the rainwater in the gutter was more interesting than the flowers for Jasmine. Ordinarily she'd have stopped; Jasmine really likes the color yellow. It's easy to see and pleasantly common. I'll admit, I've always liked blue. I wonder what causes us to have a favorite color and what that choice says about us.

Purple Umbrella

It was about to rain at Roxborough State Park. Many of the Harebell's sheltered bees. The flowers face toward the ground; perfect shelter for a bee. The bees hid early, a full hour before the rain actually hit. I can't say I blame them. We had our rain coats and ponchos out about then too. Mountain rain is like a water balloon. We had a nice downpour for a little bit, the middle third of our mini-hike, and by the end we'd returned to partially blue skies and some sunshine.

Shooting into the Sun

The past few walks with the kids have been a bit frustrating. Partially, this is due to Jasmine's improved eyesight. Since she got her contacts she has been far more aware of the dangers around her and far more interested in things she otherwise would have missed. So, as a result we go very, very slowly. The lack of progress annoys the boys. I'm torn between wanting to eat up some miles and wanting to show Jasmine all the things she can now see -- that all happen to be within three feet of her. Jasmine's new visual abilities have made things a bit less exciting because she now knows when she's heading off a cliff, most of the time.

A place like this one, Castlewood Canyon Dam State Park, also has a creek that's perfect for wading in. Water is almost impossible to resist for any of the kids. I keep bring them home soaking wet, wrapped in towels, or in a completely different outfit than the one we set out with. Even so, we've done a good job protecting ourselves from the sun, but quite poorly when it comes to the mosquitoes. We're all sporting a few nasty bites and various self-inflicted scratching wounds. These flying vampires are biting through our long-sleeves shirts and pants as well as deeply inhaling the apparently attractive odor of our insect repellent sprays.

Of my landscape photographs, this is one of the few that I like.

White Pelican

It's not quite the opposite of a macro, but fairly close... I mean far.

Birds are cool, but these are the ones that make me flashback to the natural history museum pterosaur exhibits.

Flower for Mom

Jasmine graduated from Anchor Center's pre-school this past Friday. It was very emotional for all the parents. All the kids are now moving on to new schools, most to the traditional classrooms. Jasmine loves to go to Anchor and will miss it a lot come Fall. We will too.

At Anchor we never had to explain in agonizing detail the strengths and limitations of Jasmine's vision, how albinism affects the eyes, how to modify regular learning materials or classroom set up so that she could get the same information as the others. It seems to take months to get everyone on board with all the various adaptations necessary to allow her to participate.

Jasmine presented me with this flower during her graduation. Afterward we drove to Cherry Creek Dam for a bit of a walk.

Flax Wench

I just found out what a "flax wench" is: a woman who spins flax. I just take lotsa pictures of it. I love flax.