I have a passion for the outdoors and I am most happy enjoying what nature has to offer. Hobbies include photography, birding, Pickleball, astronomy, biking, and hiking. I have been happily married, for 50 years, to an amazing person.
Memorial bouquets planted, remembrance of love ones,
This park, a park of my heart, loved by many.
A river runs through it,
Usually gentle, calm,
Its presence marked by time,
Its strength, boulders small and large, at its side.
A river runs through it,
Creating melodies of sound,
Leaving notes of joy,
As it flows by.
Tall reeds leading,
To the lagoon at its center,
One can get happily distracted,
Sitting, gazing into these pools.
What will we all do,
Our hearts have been broken,
A drive through The Narrows, can’t be done,
I am sad, a park of my heart Is gone.
Pleasing Fungus BeetleA River runs through itMagpieSteller’s JayWildflowersReedsA Lagoon at its Center
I took these photos and those I have been posting of my September 5, 2013 outing to Viestenz Smith Mountain Park.
This note from my dear friend Gale about the flood that has destroyed ~A Park of My Heart~. It is also a park of her heart.
From Gale: The metal you see is what remained of the hydro-electric plant that was devastated in the 1976 flood which crested at 9.31′ this flood crested the morning after this photo at 10.55′ – might not be much left…
Photos, of the flood, Gale sent as captured by reporters:
Viestenz Smith mountain park about 9 AM Thursday (9/12/13)Big Thompson Canyon (Hwy 34 from Loveland to Estes Park, CO
View, from my deck, looking southeast. There is water where water should not be!
Sometime during the night, we lost power and it was restored about twenty minutes ago. Notice in the photo above, the leaning power poles. Crews probably can’t get in there, for repairs, until the water goes down. Those power lines must not have been what caused our outage.
I am most thankful for all power workers and for all the power plants across this country! I am deeply sorry for all fellow Coloradans still without power, for those who had to evacuate and for those who have been flooded.
Don’t ask me why I photography berries, because I can’t tell you. Just know that when I come across wild berries, as I am out walking around, I enjoy photographing them.
Red Berries `Close Up
These images were taken September 5, 2013 a few miles from my home in the Big Thompson Canyon.
Feathery Vine and Black Berries `Close-UpRed Berries and VinesFeathery Vines and Black BerriesBlack Berries`Close-Up
Below are a few more bee images, I took this day. Honey and Red-tailed Bees feeding on some beautiful purple flowers.
Hiding in Blue TipsHanging Up-side down (Red-tailed Bee)Purple Bee Rhapsody
It has been raining here in northern Colorado for the last four days. The rain, from my perspective, has been most welcome, because it has been dry for several weeks.
However, I have learned, as I am getting ready to post, that our heavy rains are causing flooding in parts of the Big Thompson Canyon and mandatory evaluations are being ordered. Flooding has also been reported in Loveland and in surrounding areas.
For friends that read by blog and camped this spring at Riverview Campground; it was evaluated this morning at 8:00am. This campground sits right next to the Big Thompson River.
Here is a link to the story written in the Reporter Herald, Loveland’s newspaper.