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)

Linking up with

Weekly Top Shot

Pink Saturday

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

Linking up with 

Macro Monday

Inspire Me Monday Week #34

Mosaic Monday - Bouquets

It's cold and overcast in the mountains today.

This bouquet mosaic cheers me. Hope it cheers you, too.

Blessings,

Nancy

Linking up with Mosaic Monday

Macro Monday - White Light

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."~ Proverb, Maori

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

There's still time to enter our artwork giveaway. Click here for details.

Nancy

Today I'm Joining Macro Monday. Visit the site 
for more beautiful photos.

A Passion for Flowers

"He who is born with a silver spoon in his mouth is generally considered a fortunate person, but his good fortune is small compared to that of the happy mortal who enters this world with a passion for flowers in his soul." -- Celia Thaxter

Snow fell like confetti last night.  Quite a contrast to the fifty-ish temperatures we enjoyed earlier in the week. Those warm, sunny days were a welcome respite from the winter chill and reminded me that, in a few months, spring will show up on our doorstep with flowers in hand. In the meantime, the geraniums that surround Dennis's bronze sculpture next to my writing space will have to suffice. 

Quiet winter months do seem to bring a burst of creativity. Dennis has been working on watercolors. These are two of my favorites.

San Juan Capistrano

Silver Plume Antique Store

In keeping with the bloom theme, I thought it would be fun to share these flower photos from my archive. 

Pinewood Poppies

Taos Flower Wagon

Our Lilac Bush

Black-eyed Susan - Hidden Valley RMNP

I use any excuse I can to spend time in my friend Meka's garden. It's a joy to photograph. 

Hers is truly my dream garden. Even in the winter it's beautiful.

You can see more photos of Meka's magical garden here.

My beloved is mine and I am his; 

   he browses among the lilies. 

Song of Solomon 2:16

Nancy

A Dickens of a March Day

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. --Charles Dickens

Mr. Dickens could have been writing about this day in our little village. Looking out the french doors this morning, the bright sunshine and clear, blue skies deceived me into thinking a walk to Starbucks to meet a good friend and fellow writer would be a good idea. I completely underestimated the March wind. Brrrrr.

The outdoor temperature may cry winter, but I do see signs of spring.  Little patches of green grass in the backyard confirm that warmer days are within our grasp. . .

and it won't be long before we see this. . .

and this. . .

and, of course, this. . .

What signs of spring are you seeing?

         "He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God,
    Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds,
         When the tender grass springs out of the earth,"

2 Samuel 23:3-4

Nancy

Light the Fire and Make Banana Bread

Yesterday the daytime temperature here in the mountains reached 50-something. It felt like spring. I was hopeful. Very hopeful. And now. . .

it's snowing.

Welcome to the Colorado Rockies. . .where spring doesn't arrive until summer.

Ok, so we got a taste of spring. That's ok. We've got a fire in the fireplace and banana bread in the oven. Dennis just made popcorn (the smell of which is driving me crazy) and there's a stack of movies waiting to be slipped into the DVD player. The Reinkes know how to make the best of delayed spring.

This morning I took a few photos of Dennis' studio, just because it's such a pretty space.

These potted geraniums started out in our backyard last spring.  We moved them into the studio in the fall and just look at them. . .

Dennis has been caring for this geranium for a friend who is wintering in Arizona.  I'm not sure Dennis will give it back to her. . .

Another geranium on the south side of the studio. . .

This is the view from the east window, where the first two geranium plants reside. . .

With the view they have it's no wonder the geraniums have produced all those blooms.

I couldn't resist showing photos of Dennis' latest work. . .

My husband is an accomplished gardener and artist, makes a mean bowl of popcorn and knows how to build an excellent fire.  Those all seem like pretty good reasons to marry a man, if you ask me.

I like him so much I might just let him have some of my banana bread. . .

 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.  I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. -- Ezekiel 34:26

Autumn Days in RMNP and The Farmette

There's a subtle change in the air and in the landscape. The days are shorter and mornings are cooler. Bull elk are beginning to bugle in preparation for rutting. From our apartment I hear their strange sounds in the distance. This morning in RMNP I photographed a bull on a mountainside.  The third one I've caught on camera in the past week. They're such magnificent animals. I may start a whole page just devoted to the elk. (The bush in the foreground of the photo is full of fall color.)

Our backyard has changed from green, pink and purple -- to tan, brown and gold. 

Yesterday Dennis participated in the Lyons Farmette Plein Air.  A benefit for the Boulder County Arts Alliance. The farmette is a delightful place and I enjoyed capturing the event with my camera. The artists' work hung on trees and fences.

Dennis enjoyed painting the irrigation canal. 

Betsy, the farmette owner and host (along with her husband Mike) dubbed the painting Redneck Riviera, which is what they call the canal.

It's always a pleasure to meet the other artists. Seeing them paint with chickens scratching around them brought a smile to my face.

The gardens of the farmette are beautiful. So many lovely flowers to paint.

 

After Dennis finished painting, we took advantage of the delicious catered food and the fantastic music.

I love the quaintness of the farmette.

The farmette animals seem to love it, too.

Even on the farmette, autumn has arrived.

Tomorrow we head off on a road trip to the Western slope. More joy!