A Perfect Blend

As I photographed this buck 

I marveled at how he blended into the landscape. 

His coloring a marvelous camouflage 

amid the rocks and trees in our backyard.

All part of God's perfect design to protect

this beautiful creature from predators.
And a reminder that He is intimately familiar 
with all He has created.

"You have searched me, Lord,

    and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

    You perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

    You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

    You, Lord, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before,

    and You lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

    too lofty for me to attain."

Psalm 139:5-12


Sharing with Simple Things Sunday, Spiritual Sunday, Sunday Snapshot, Weekly Top Shot

A Word About the Visual Arts

"How important are the visual arts in our society? I feel strongly that the visual arts are of vast and incalculable importance. Of course I could be prejudiced. I am a visual art." 

-- Kermit the Frog

Dennis Reinke painting Quiet Place watercolor during Rockies Plein Air Quick Draw competition in Estes Park, CO August 27, 2011

As the wife of a painter, I admit I'm prejudiced when it comes to the importance of visual art in our society. I know that a painting can do more than bring pleasure to the viewer, it can also inform. A work of art can act as a historical document. Before cameras and videos, artists captured entire cultures with their painting. Think of cave art and hieroglyphics. 

Dennis has been painting the Rocky Mountain National Park for quite a few years. Some scenes he previously painted have changed dramatically, either through natural disasters or ecosystem restoration and management. A part of the Park's landscape history lives on in his paintings. Of course, Dennis will tell you that his art is first and foremost his spiritual connection. And that is of "vast and incalculable importance" to him.

This year's Plein Air Rockies event came to a close on Saturday. But not before the 90-minute Quick Draw competition in the morning at Riverside Plaza. About 30 artists painted  under the beautiful Estes Park sky. . .

Dennis was the first to finish with his watercolor Quiet Place.

His interpretation of this scene. . .

The artists framed and hung their "wet" paintings for the auction, which immediately followed the Quick Draw. . .

I helped our friend Jeff keep track of the auction sales. . .

The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park sponsors the annual event, with the help of many contributors and volunteers. I'm glad I live in a community that supports the arts, but all the glory belongs to God the Creator. Without Him there would be no arts, visual or otherwise.

Praise the LORD! 

Praise the LORD from the heavens; 

Praise Him in the heights! 

Praise Him, all His angels; 

Praise Him, all His hosts! 

Praise Him, sun and moon; 

Praise Him, all stars of light! 

Praise Him, highest heavens, 

And the waters that are above the heavens! 

Let them praise the name of the LORD, 

For He commanded and they were created. 

He has also established them forever and ever; 

He has made a decree which will not pass away.

Psalm 148:1-6 

Nancy

It's a Wild Life

I've got another cold (the second one in six weeks), which sort of kills creative thinking. I started today's blog three times before deciding just to post some of my favorite wildlife pictures. There's a story in each one.

One day in August I snapped some photos of an open area just north of the park in Estes. I had written a devotional based on Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a light on my path", and wanted a photo of a path with light shining upon it. After I got home and downloaded the photos to my mac, I noticed in one of the shots an elk cow lying in the grass. Can you see her head on the right?

The photo was taken from quite a distance above the meadow, and I had no idea she was down there. Completely unexpected. God delighted me with this surprise. I just love it when He does that.

I've mentioned before that Dennis and I like to drive up into Rocky Mountain National Park for our morning devotionals. The photo I snapped of this buck inspired my Mountain Manna Devotionals, and is the banner photo on that site.

While on an afternoon drive near MacGregor ranch in September, we caught a glimpse of this coyote hunting in the field. Dennis whistled at him and he looked up long enough for me to get this shot. I love the way he blends in with the grass. God does camouflage really well.

On another September day, while Dennis painted the stream in Endo Valley RMNP, I discovered this Hoary Comma (Polygonia gracilis) butterfly along the bank. It was a joy to photograph.

I find birds particularly challenging to photograph. They are either so deeply hidden in the trees that you can't locate them, or they're in the shade, hopping around faster than you can click. This Stellar Jay evaded me for some time before I finally snapped him at lift off.

Of course, I always enjoy photographing our stately elk. Sometimes I'm fortunate enough to find them in my own backyard. Literally. Sitting at my desk writing a couple of weeks ago, I looked up to see a herd coming up the hill behind our apartment. 

The bull watched me from under a nearby tree before following the cows up the hill. Not one for taking chances, I photographed the elk from the safety of our apartment. I did open the french door, though.

The deer like to come through our backyard, too. They're more skittish than the elk, though. I looked up from my writing to see this young'un peeking through our french doors. I grabbed my camera and snapped a shot before he took off. I think he (or she) is pretty cute.

It's such a pleasure to photograph God's creation and share the results here.

"God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." 

Genesis 1:25