Sheltered Bloom

My pink geranium has begun to bloom.

One of the perks of living here is the amount of sunshine 

we get, even through the winter months. 

I carry my geraniums in for the season 

and place them in south facing windows. 

They graciously reward me with lovely flowers.

"More than anything, I must have flowers, always, always." (Claude Monet)

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Weekly Top Shot

Pink Saturday

Joy to the World

"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus,
for He will save His people from their sins.” -- Matthew 1:21

"Peace on earth and mercy mild, 

God and sinner reconciled."

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Wordless Wednesday

Deer Talk

"Hey! Do you see what I see, Mom? Another grownup."

"Uh, I wouldn't go down there if I were you."

"Hey! Get your face out of the snow. I'm trying to talk to you."

"Ok, fine. I know when I'm not wanted. . .Hey, Mom! Wait for me!"

The deer around our homestead are a never-ending source of entertainment.

Enjoy your weekend.

Sharing today with Camera Critters and Friday's Fences

Winter Wardrobe

Welcome gentle snow,

soft and white.

You've dressed the pines for winter.

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:

Lone Barn

This is the second barn in my 

Scottsbluff, Nebraska collection.

It sits in a corralled area all by its lonesome.

No other buildings.

No livestock. No signs of life, save a few birds in the trees.

I didn't get a sense that it's abandoned.

Although it's elderly, it's still in good shape.

As is the fence.

Quite a bit of character, I'd say.

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Barn Charm #116

Loving Arms

There's something about this picture that comforts me.

Solid

Warm

Home

Like being held in a loving father's arms.

I took this photo of my husband's studio

on October 5th 

after a light dusting of snow.

It was the first snow of the season.
No snowfall since.

It's so dry here. 

We badly need moisture.

A fire started October 9 in nearby 
Rocky Mountain National Park.
and has burned over 3,000 acres. 

It's 88% contained now.

We were under pre-evacuation notice for awhile. 

One structure was lost in the Park.

No lives were lost. 

Thank God for that.

Now my mind shifts to another barrenness;
A dryness of the soul.
 I think about the grieving in Newtown, Connecticut.

And I pray that my Heavenly Father will quench those 

thirsty

grieving

hearts

as only He can.

That He will hold them in His loving arms.

Life is fragile.

So 

fragile.

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end

    and the number of my days;

    let me know how fleeting my life is.

You have made my days a mere handbreadth;

    the span of my years is as nothing before You.

Everyone is but a breath,

    even those who seem secure."

Psalm 39:4-5

Thank you for visiting.

Today I'm sharing with

Morning Gift

Sometimes in the early hours of a new day

God surprises me with an exquisite gift.

Like this morning's sunrise.

"Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; 

And hastening to its place it rises there again."

Ecclesiastes 1:5

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Give Thanks

Longs Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.

Great are the works of the Lord;
They are studied by all who delight in them. 

Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.

He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The Lord is gracious and compassionate. 

He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.

He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.

The works of His hands are truth and justice;
All His precepts are sure.

They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in truth and uprightness.

He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.   

Psalm 111

Happy Thanksgiving to family and friends, 

both far and near.

Unite My Heart to Fear Your Name

A Psalm of Supplication and Trust.

A Prayer of David.

Psalm 86 (NASB)

Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy.

Preserve my soul, for I am a godly man;
O You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You. 

Be gracious to me, O Lord,
For to You I cry all day long.

Make glad the soul of Your servant,
For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.

Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
And give heed to the voice of my supplications!

In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You,
For You will answer me.

There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord,
Nor are there any works like Yours.

All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord,
And they shall glorify Your name.

For You are great and do wondrous deeds;
You alone are God.

Teach me Your way, O Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.

I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And will glorify Your name forever.

For Your lovingkindness toward me is great,
And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 

O God, arrogant men have risen up against me,
And a band of violent men have sought my life,
And they have not set You before them.

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.

Turn to me, and be gracious to me;
Oh grant Your strength to Your servant,
And save the son of Your handmaid.

Show me a sign for good,
That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,
Because You, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

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Miles Away

Near Scottsbluff, Nebraska

Thinking of Hurricane Sandy and the devastation left behind her, I'm struck by the vastness of our land. It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that a storm of such magnitude raged in the eastern part of our nation, while the sun shone and birds sang in the West.

My prayer today for those suffering in the East is from scripture:

"The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn His face toward you

and give you peace."

Numbers 6:24-26

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Barn Charm #109

It's nice to, again, have a barn to share. We came across this wonderful barn on a recent trip to 
Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

And here's the view from the other side. This farm is so homey and "real". Love it and its location.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

Sharing with Barn Charm

Country Fall Wagon

My husband artist Dennis Reinke has been commissioned to paint a rural scene of the Scottsbluff area in Nebraska. Recently we traveled there to shoot photographs of the scenery. Dennis got some great shots of the bluffs and the farm land around them to use for his painting.

I took a lot of shots for my own pleasure. 

Those of you who know how much I love old wagons 

will understand my thrill in finding this one 

all decked out in autumn finery.

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Weekly Top Shot 

Your Sunday Best

Two Months Is a Long Time Between Posts

"Listen up, Missy. It's time you got back to blogging."

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Morning Orange

Photo taken at The Fawnbrook Inn, Allenspark, CO August 25, 2012

"Orange is the happiest color" -- Frank Sinatra

"May God give you heaven’s dew

    and earth’s richness —

    an abundance of grain and new wine."

Genesis 27:28

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Macro Monday

Inspire Me Monday Week #34

The Artist's Touch

I snapped this photo this morning at the 
Rockies Plein Air Quick Draw in Estes Park, Colorado. 
The painting and the hand belong to 
my favorite artist and husband Dennis Reinke.

(I blogged about the 2011 Rockies Plein air Event here.)


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Weekly Top Shot 
Your Sunday Best

Patient Mother

Photographically captured this gentle scene 

outside our home this week. 

I love this place where I live.

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Weekly Top Shot

Your Sunday Best

Camera Critters

Shoot Edit Submit

Sunday Snapshot
Simple Things Sunday

Mountain Song

I took this photo on Trail Ridge 
last week when we drove with friends 
from our home in Estes Park to 
Grand Lake for dinner. 
It reminds me of this psalm:


Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.


The Lord is my constant joy and inspiration.




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Weekly Top Shot
Inspire Me Monday

Barn Charm #87 - A Different Kind of Barn and Remembering our Service Men and Women

Another drive by photo op between Boulder and Lyons, Colorado. I've passed this unusual barn a bazillion 40 times and managed to get a semi-descent shot of it last week. (This is not the kind of highway where you pull off to get a photo. Uh. . .no.) It kind of looks like an old barn that the owner re-sided. Or something. 

Well, I like funky things.

And in remembrance and honor 

of those who have sacrificed so much for our country

the Reinkes say "thank you" with heartfelt gratitude.

Blessings,

Nancy

Linking up with Barn Charm

Tuesday Barn Charm #86

This barn sits on a quaint ranch at the mouth of Big Thompson Canyon. The photo is blurry because I took it from a speeding vehicle. No names will be mentioned.

Blessings,

Nancy

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Friday Fun

"Now where did I leave my gloves?"

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