Just Clouds and a Friend

 Western Clouds Tonight





SW view                                                            NW view

 Eastern Clouds at the same time

Blue-eyed darner rhionaeschna multicolor female (males have the blue heads)
She stuck around for about an hour and 1/2 after the storm we had.....

I could feel her Peace she delivered!

The Needed Prescription

This is MY pharma!!

 Can't get these exactly together, but the total mountain range is always so gorgeous!

 (this was in June, so Aspens still getting green!)

Molly is the trail leader...she's knows. She even knows when I say 'slow' and when I need her to 'pull'!

What better way to get 'centered' then by go to your states topographical CENTER of the state!??

It almost feels as a MUST....to escape to the wild ALONE (well, with my pup)! Like a needed prescription! Friends say...oh, be careful, etc. I feel safer here than in the city! I grew up always with a minimum of five-ten acres. In high school it was always my mountain bike and my dog. Advance 32 yrs....my cute house (that's just right all I need) in the perfect lawn suburbia PLOT gets sooooo confining.

This, That, and the Other

 Blackberries were on sale at King Soopers!..light & yummy! The right amount of crisp & softness, light sugar (only 1/3 c for whole recipe)...gooey! I will be making again. You could use any fresh fruit. The Pinterest recipe is a KEEPER!!!

I took the hideous plastic white handles off the shed and put some light pink ceramic roses on there instead! 😇

So, I'm still addicted to Pinterest. What ways do you view Pinterest? I was thinking about that this morning. I pin, pin, and pin- (this list is when I'm on my computer...not the phone app)

1.  Today I"m thinking of stopping and going back and really looking at all I have pinned!

2.  Another way I look is to click and pin a favorite and then from there look below OTHER things that come up and click on that....and so on until I can't find another more.

3.  Some days I go back to my 'boards' and do a little dusting. Somethings I look at and go 'what was I thinking?' and I've also found lately the 'Psst! You've pinned this' doesn't always work, so I delete the extras!

4. I rarely look at the 'suggested' ones...just because I think I'm being led. haha...don't like that. I'm trying to always avoid marketing based things. I want pure inspiration -not something I can 'buy'

It's a rainy overcast day...perfect for this stuff! Canopy/Netflix type of day. Although, I should be reading! I would love to make some Peanut Butter Frosted homemade Brownies.... ahhhh, as you see my updated ticker. After all this walking with the retriever, I thought I'd be 20 lbs lighter today. HA!

 I don't know....it's just one of those things. Also, things are off and on and that's been going on for  last few years. They all say it takes years. Well, it's very much annoying and symptoms are definitely there. I know, I know....I can't blame it on that!  I'm not taking full responsibility.

Spring Saturday

Turned my sprinklers on and did some maintenance on a couple of sprinkler heads.

Cleaned my rocks I found yesterday! I want to tell you all about it!

 ...but first, I must have brewed black tea,  a hard boiled egg, some cheese and crackers, and some grapes!

I'll leave you with this while you wait..she thinks it's her place. Yesterday was the second time going!!

Ran Away From Home

We were looking for Molly Gulch C.G. found a trail! Spring flowers in this area of CO largest Hayman Fire (138,114 acres) in 2002

Goose creek

TRAIL!

I need to get in shape for these things this year!!!

Sheeprock

Cheesman Lake

...looking SE you can see Pikes Peak in the background

Looking South from Woodland Park (Pikes Peak)

Love that pooped out pup deep sleep! 

~The End~

Saturday in the Park(s)

This is 'America's Park' in downtown Colorado Springs. It's a fountain in the summer and those spurt fountains for the kiddos. 

It's a 'gentle led' (she can fully pant/drink water etc.) I don't mind the 'tired pull', as I call it, on a trail it can help and she understands 'slow' going down hill, but  'on cement/grass citified' walks she thinks she is a sled dog or something!

I'll keep my thoughts of the park to myself, other than, it's a city trying to 'upkeep' or 'upscale' downtown...not sure it's working will probably never go back to it again. 

Next is 'Nancy Lewis Park'  a little further north. (flowers, fountains, memorials, duck pond, a 'built' marsh with unique walk across) Much nicer!
Nancy Lewis started the Co. Springs park system in 1966. 

 I forgot to get a picture, but his park even has a croquet lawn..yes, I spelled that 'crochet lawn' at first! :)  I remember in my high school years my parents and I would go over to their friends the 'Sheridan's' cabin and they would have drinks and croquet. We would play on a rocky/wild grass soil, but we had the idea! Good Memories.

Even though it was overcast, it was around 74 degrees. That's a temp that brings everyone out around here! HOT HOT HOT....hahaha.
Anyway, I feel like a hibernating bear waking up. Relaxed, hungry, and somewhat grumpy. Ready for some spring time rain! 

birds

Western Wood Peewee. I'll place that right there and come back.

 FIRST OFF, I'm very disappointed with humans. This morning I raised the bedroom blind and my cats started 'chattering' Don't you just love that sound?...and the more you squeal to ask what it is, the more they do it! I went to see what they were looking at. Three big Robins jumping on my lawn and the street in the morning hours just before 7 a.m. Molly watched them too from the living room window. So, we go about life. After coming home from our walk.....on my street....my horrors was a dead Robin!!!  :'(
 If a person were going the neighborhood speed limit of 25 mph and were paying attention...this would not have happened! One door down....my street.
It really upset me.



While on the walk I saw a very nondescript bird that I believe is a Western Wood Peewee!
Wonderful little call-if you're inclined to hear -click this: Western_Wood-Pewee/sounds



I had a dishcloth that felt too big, so I had the brilliant idea of cutting it in half!

I don't do much sewing anymore. That was in my past life I feel, but I still have all my supplies. I found it cumbersome to get it all out from the closet. Perhaps I should set it up on my 'art desk' area that I'm trying to organize. Put all the favorite supplies in the drawers and maybe have a reason to sew more often?  {you remember the little desk project with the new knobs?}
*Why I mull with thoughts so long I do not know*

But what I DO know is that I'm always being watched! {again} This view is from my recliner when I'm watching TV

It is Spring

Watership Down by Richard Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it! It's been a while since a book made me cry. It's not just a silly story about rabbits. Aside from loving rabbits and learning a few things from the book, it resembles human community...how each of us have a talent. Some have courage, some lead well, some have intuition. This 'tail' was of adventure, hardships, and tenacity to keep going for the greater good! The author led me down a bunny trail where I learned to love each character! So much so, I kept a running list of the bunnies! I'd love to find out if I'm accurate...I will do some research soon. Right now 'Watership Down' is on Netflix. I refused to watch until I finished the book! What a wonderful way to celebrate Spring!

View all my reviews

It's Spring!

My favorite time of the year-SPRING!  The loud robins in the morning- I love it! Lately, I've been hearing a Kestrel calling in the morning. No wonder my little birds seem not to be hanging out...or maybe they are busy with nests!

My first spring project is to totally clean the windows. I haven't done it deeply since buying my home. That was FIVE years ago! Not just the glass, but the runners/take off the screen and deep clean the grooves.

 (Yes, that is Molly standing in the blizzard loving it...I called her in soon after!)

With our latest BLIZZARD...I'm sure everyone heard about that. I was worried about the north fence, a big aspen that leans over the south fence, and the vinyl siding! It was roaring for HOURS at sustained winds of 45-50 mph with gusts of 65 mph. The airport registered a record gust at 98 mph! Anyway, the snow was caked and iced on the many of the windows. In a way that really kind of pulling out the dirt. (I frequently get wind with each low that comes through) All what I worried about made it through! Photo doesn't do it justice...sideways and the roar of it! I haven't completed all the windows, but I"m on my way!

The other 'spring cleaning' (of sorts) I'm doing is on my computer! I completely have gone through my 'favorite' folders on my bookmark bar. I had stuff from early 2000's! Many links nonexistent. Many duplicates from going from 'yahoo' of past times to my favorite 'Chrome'. It's kind of soothing doing things like this! Feels orderly. Feels focused. Brought up thoughts/memories from the busy times of the early 2000's to the changes around 2012 to present. Life really is different in a good way :) Gone through some stuff...different thoughts, different freedoms....different thoughts towards the future!

I'm into the intrusive Facebook...to a point.
 As you know, I go from wanting to defriend HALF my 'friends' to cancelling the whole thing to completely enjoying some pages I follow (birds, spiritual, environmental....my kids etc.)
I ignore my blog...I feel blogging is the 'early 2000 thing' ...people don't want to take more than 3 seconds to read anything!
 I cherish the blog friends I know and the ones I have met! ...but I do feel I neglect my blog, but still like my personal page!! ;)

I have found Feedly to assist me on blogs I want to follow..but it's hit and miss.
I am very much into GoodRead link! I'm really trying to read more!
I love google photos as it 'knows' my phone.
I am a Pinterest addict, but I'm getting annoyed with the promoted pins....everything ends up being a marketing prank.
I'm wondering about my Flipboard.
I'm trying to do something with my Revelry that I have had since '08. Meaning: I would like to really work on my projects that are UFO's.

...and, finally, MapMyFitness, every walk I go on with Molly I post there. We are at 116 miles! I should be able to show pounds upon pounds lost...for some reason, I can't, but I'm in better shape. We have walked almost every road in the quadrant I live! When it warms up I want us to head to the mountains!

So, what is the point? I'm not sure...just insight to my spring cleaning on my laptop and getting it just the way I want! Moreover, it's a going through what should have gone through many years ago.
Spring is a Start!  Upward and Onward!

Small Project

 It's been 3+ years since taking Nugget to the dog wash.

 Molly did very well! $12 saves my back, gets the soap out really well, and leaves the clean up!

 Look! Mama I'm so clean and I smell so good! 

Before and After! 

I've moved this thing in the house about three times. I was about to just put it in the driveway with a 'FREE' sign on it. One of those pressed wood put together type pieces of furniture. Hobby Lobby had a 50% off sale on knobs. I thought I'd like to use this desk and corner for my art stuff, so why not get those awful gold things off and spruce it up! You know how hard it is to choose??
I chose a oblong white glass knob that has brown swirls in it. I'll get a better picture when the room isn't so bright! 

 

Speaking of spruce...Love my tree in snow! 

UFO Finished!

Yes, it's a very cute hat, but not the size I wanted! I made the mistake of using needles two size less. I once knitted some wonderful (2 color) work on some mittens YEARS ago. This was a first with more than 2 colors. This was a Harry Potter hat for my daughter...well, it's not even big enough for my Granddaughter, sooooooo....it will be a cool hat for one of her stuffed animals! Why not? You know how you are working on a project and realize WHY it was an UFO for ...10 years? whew....it's done. Felt good back knitting, but it isn't my cup of tea right now. 

I also finished a book and I lost a pound.  I don't care where I lost it- someone else can have it if it's found! I'd like to mark it on my 'side ticker', but I had gone higher than the 'start' of my ticker (how sad is that!?) so technically getting back to the starting line once more!
Have to be truthful and have to be self accountable.

Molly matches the winter grass at the park! That would be a great paint color- 'Winter Grass'!
ANYWAY,  we had high winds and warm air came in, so at 50 degrees while sitting on the ground and relaxing it felt SO wonderful. Speaking of which, that reminds me of an article on 'grounding' for our body. I will find it and share.  

Pikes Peak in the background

If you watch nothing else.....if I don't ever post again....
 *THIS* (video of a Alabama man that has a relationship with a wild goose and his ponderings) This video speaks to me on every level!!! It will be well worth your time.

This, my dear blog friends, is the SINGLE reason why I cannot give up Facebook! Although I fight many times just deleting it, I value the pages I follow and the facebook friends that value good wholesome things.

::Warning: Facebook Complaining Ahead::
I frequently fight the urge to engage. I wish I was one of those people that were blaise about everything. Ever notice it's usually blaise type people that throw negative stuff out there? ..or speak good things, but follow questionable things... innately, I know, that those are the people having the problem they point out. I'm sorting.
::End Complaint:: 

ANYWAY, onward! I'm on my second craft project! It's a gift, so can't share photos. Just in case that person reads my blog...which I HIGHLY doubt or even remembers I have one.
HEY...I KNOW my 7 people!! LOL.

Molly and I have been doing our walks. I really enjoy them. We usually do 1.5 miles a day-sometimes 2. In January we did  27.8It's a 'win-win' both for her and myself! As she is getting older, I'm working up to those mountain trails we will be hitting this year! She is 10 mos. got to let those joints fuse before putting too much on her! In large dogs that occurs around 15 months.
 Pounds lost for me? *sigh* I love to walk with her and I love to eat...what can I say?

I say...always look UP!

Can't wait to see 'No Vacancy' soon! 

Never gets old. The only thing is...I need a place to escape to where there are hardly any cars or noise! Like a stew in a witch's cauldron....I have a plan brewing.

The morning light and air were fantastic!

Finished Friday...eve

 My Amineko (crocheted cat) needs a name!  

 She has quite a personality! 

 Queen Kitty

It's tiring being a Queen!

Guess I found her name!