Elk Walk

The warm temperatures this week have brought 

the elk down to graze in the green grass. 

On our way downtown this morning we drove past a crowd hiking toward the golf course, some stopping to nibble along the way. I managed to get

 a few drive-by photos.

Hope you're having a a great weekend.

Blessings,

Nancy


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Friday's Fence - As Far as the Eye Can See

This fence divides Fish Creek Ranch (left) from Cheley Colorado Camp
Estes Park, Colorado

"Honesty is never seen sitting astride the fence."

Lemuel K. Washburn

Blessings,

Nancy

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Rural Thursday - Grooming Time on the Homestead

Sometimes I feel a little like a voyeur when it comes to photographing the deer that visit our homestead.

Honestly, they can't even groom in private.

"Oh, no. There she is with her camera again."

"Oh yeah? Well, let's see her shoot this."

"Could you get that itchy place right behind my right ear, please?"

"Oh yeah, yeah. That's it. Oooh, that makes the fur on my back stand up."


Hope you're having a fun rural Thursday, too.

Blessings,

Nancy

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Crow and Tell

Blessings,

Nancy

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Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

(We should still be getting snow here in the 

Colorado Rockies instead of dry, windy weather with temperatures in the 70's.

You've most likely heard of the Lower North Fork fire, near Denver, that has claimed the life of a man and his wife. Please pray for their family 

and for rain for our beautiful state. 

We're very concerned.

Thank you.)

Linking up with Barn Charm

This white barn sits on a ranch nestled in a small valley outside of Estes Park. I saw the place for the first time last Sunday and wanted to photograph it then, 

but it was a cloudy day. 

This sunshiny morning I grabbed my camera and drove out

to the ranch. Just as I arrived a mountain blue bird flew past my car. It was typically illusive and avoided being photographed. But I loved seeing it anyway.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday

I wanted you to see more of the ranch.

Blessings,

Nancy

Macro Monday - Old and Chipped

Iron chair back.

(Hope your week is off to a great start. Blessings, Nancy)

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Pastel And Pines

Ponderosa pines surround our cabin. 

The pastel morning sky 

seen through their feathery boughs 

reminds me of the Lord's words:

"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

Blessings,

Nancy

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Let The Garage Sales Begin

These are the things we picked up at the community garage sale today. It was held inside, even though it could have been an outdoor garage sale since it was a beauuuuuutiful  sunshiny day. 73 degrees.

I'm looking forward to upcycling these finds.

Hope you're having a great weekend.

Blessings,

Nancy

Taos Sweet Peas

"Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

~Hans Christian Anderson

Blessings,

Nancy

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Cross on the Mountain

We've had beautiful weather this week. Lot of sunshine, few clouds. Temperature in the high 50's - 60's.

This was the view driving into our neighborhood Tuesday afternoon. I stopped and took the photo about 1/4 mile from our homestead. Shooting from this distance gives the best view of Prospect Mountain, which overshadows us, but you can't see our place from here. 

It's another 1/8 mile up the street on the right.

If you look closely you'll see a cross at the top center of the mountain. Seeing the cross every day brings me comfort.

Blessings,

Nancy

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Meditation in Velvet

Taken July 2011 in Rocky Mountain National Park

Deer lose their antlers and must grow a new set every year (same with elk). A velvet covering (as you see on this buck's antlers) protects the antlers until they have fully developed. At that point the velvet sheds. Protein and minerals are needed for antler growth, in contrast to horns -- such as found on bighorn sheep -- which are made of keratin (like our fingernails) and only require protein for optimal growth. Horns are not shed; new growth is added on to the old. 



Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness! 

Great is Thy faithfulness! 

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Thomas Obadiah Chisolm, Composer (1866-1960) 

Blessings,


Nancy

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Town Barn

For two years I've been driving past this newer barn in Estes Park and have always wanted to photograph it. 

Today was the day -- 50 degrees, sunny and calm. 

A perfect photographic day. 

The barn stands alone close to downtown, across from one of the resorts, and is surrounded by cabins. I've never, ever seen activity at this place. 

Hubby says it was built by a local engineer for his family, and there may have been horses there at one time. 

It's been well maintained. 

I think this pretty barn might 
make a great residence.

Blessings,

Nancy

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Last Week's To-Do List

Name new business "A Joyful Cottage" - check

Meet with attorney and CPA  - check

 Sign Lease - check

Transfer utilities - check

Get application for business license - check

Measure and create floor plan - check

Choose new colors and get paint samples - check

Get quotes for credit card processing - check

Call sign companies for quotes - check

Pose & have husband take shop "before" photo for blog - check

Linking up with Blue Monday.

Sunday Share - Just Playin' Around

It's been such a go-go-go week that I'm devoting today to rest. But I still want to join in the blog fun so I played around with a photo I took on the way home from church. With Picasa and Picknik editing I took the original photo below and increased the shadow, then brightened the image and tinted it. Maybe I did some other things -- who knows? I can't remember all 

that when I'm just foolin' around. . 

Kinda fun.

This is the original photo. 

Our neighbor left her sprinkler on all night. The water froze on her bush and created an ice sculpture. We still have freezing temperatures here at night. 

After all, we live above 7,000 feet.

Hope you're having a restful Sunday, too. 

We all need to turn down the volume now and then.

Blessings,

Nancy

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