White Christmas

 We had just opened presents when it started to snow. Before it was all over, we had a pretty good coating of the white stuff!

Christmas Time

The Thanksgiving leftovers have been thrown out, which for me marks the official beginning of the Christmas Season. I saw these trees lit up in downtown Fort Worth on my way home from work and decided that I had to stop and photograph them.

Another Artist in the Family

Not many people know it, but when I was younger I had a little bit of an artistic streak in me. While going through some boxes with my Mom, we came across some artwork that was done by my Grandfather when he was in the fifth grade. Since he was born around the turn of the century, this was done circa 1910!

On the way to Grapevine Canyon

Jim and Karen took me on a drive to Grapevine Canyon (add Nevada to my list of states)  to check out some indian petroglyphs when these big guys came down the hill and crossed the road right in from of us! There are three bighorn sheep in this photo.

Some of the many petroglyphs in the area, lots of interesting rock formations too.

Astoria-Megler Bridge

On our way back to Portland, Mom wanted to see the ocean. Here we are in Astoria, Oregon about to cross the bridge to Washington State. I would eventually drive through seven states on this trip as I  drove a rental truck back to Texas with Mom's stuff.

Clearwater Falls

We took Mom on a ride toward Crater Lake, didn't quite make it there as we ended up in heavy snow. On one of our stops we noticed this falls and decided we had to photograph it.

View from the Cheap Seats

We are on our way to Oregon to bring my Mom back to Texas. This is the view from the cheap seats, lots of snow on the ground! Note the engine just outside my window. Edwina really appreciated the noise canceling headphones I got her!

Historic Market Burns in Aleppo

When we were in Syria last year, one of the sites we visited was the historic al-Madina market. It had thrived for hundreds of years, but that ended today when it burned after a battle for control of the streets of Aleppo.

Below is a photo from last year.

The medieval iron gates of the Citadel were reported to have been damaged also. Here is a close up of what one of the gates looked like last year.

How My Day Starts (Part 2)

This is my typical morning drive to work. Notice the sign that reminds me to keep it down to 50 mph in the construction zone. Also note our actually speed which is typical at this hour.

How My Day Starts (Part 1)

My drive to work in the morning is to the east. That means that I usually have the sun in my eyes (same thing going home in the afternoon). But some days I get a little reward in a really beautiful sunrise.

Medieval Castle Under Attack

This is the view I had of Krak des Chevaliers about 16 months ago when my brother and I visited. Today I saw video taken from the same location that show the castle and the surrounding town being shelled by Assad's forces.
After we left Syria things started getting really bad, so we were probably among the last to be able to photograph in the castle. No telling what this 800 year old structure will look like by the time the violence ends.

Come Away With Me...

...and that's how Norah Jones ended her concert and we ended our week in Colorado.

Come away with me in the night

Come away with me

And I will write you a song

Come away with me on a bus

Come away where they can't tempt us

With there lies

And I want to walk with you

On a cloudy day

In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high

So won't you try to come?

Come away with me and we'll kiss

On a mountaintop

Come away with me

And I'll never stop  loving you

And I want to wake up with the rain

Falling on a tin roof

While I'm safe there in your arms

So all I ask is for you

To come away with me in the night

Come away with me

Norah Jones

As soon as the opening act (Cory Chisel) was through and the stage set up, Norah Jones and her band came out. She started with material from her new album, but eventually did several old favorites.

Red Rocks and Rain

It rained on us as we drove to Red Rocks Amphitheater and it rained on us while we waited in our car for the gates to open, but once we got inside the amphitheater, the rain was over for the evening.

Outdoor Mall, Denver

Denver has converted 16th Street into a pedestrian promenade lined with shops and restaurants. Coors Field home of the Colorado Rockies is nearby as are museums and Union Station.

Bee and Flower

I grabbed this photo just before leaving Estes Park this morning. I know I've already published a photo of a similar flower but I think they are really pretty, and this one has a bee checking it out.

Oxygen Deprivation

I sealed this bottle when we were at the highest point in RMNP, well over 12,000 feet. I went on a hike there that took me even higher. By the time we got back to Estes Park at about 7,500 feet the bottle was crushed like this. The missing volume demonstrates how much less oxygen was at the higher elevation.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Here is a map of some of the places we have been over the last few days in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Mid-Afternoon Snack

Our snack, which included a five-fruit pie (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, apple and rhubarb) with ice cream and whipped cream (him) and bread pudding with lemon sauce (her). Yum! The previously mentioned Longs Peak is visible in the background.

Longs Peak

One of the most prominent of Colorado's 53 mountains over 14,000 feet tall, Longs Peak is the only such peak within the boundary of RMNP. Seen here from our table at Claire's on the Park restaurant.

Colorful Flower

One of thousands of flowers planted as part of the landscape around the downtown area.

Colorful Characters

These locals very graciously allowed me to photograph them. I think they were surprised that I would even be interested.

Downtown Estes Park

This is the main shopping district of Estes Park. The city is real clean, with lots of colorful flowers and businesses situated around the creek that flows through town. Apparently it is very crowded in the summer, but thins out a little about this time of year.

Fueling Up

Even elk have to fuel up sometime. This gas station is across the street from the lodge we are staying at.

Adams Falls

Adams Falls is on the far west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. We've now been on just about all roads within the park.

Elk at Our Lodge

These elk walked through our Lodge. Photographed from our balcony munching on the grass at the golf course next door.

Elk in RMNP

Flower

I always like to get photos of the local flora and fauna when traveling. So here is the flora.

The Ex at the Continental Divide

The Ex (Xterra) has been a lot of places in it's short life (it's less that two months old).

Artist at Work

This artist, doing an oil painting of Alberta Falls, was ok with me including him in my shot. So I got his business card and told him I would send him a print if it turned out.

Tranquil Lake

View of mountains from Sprague Lake. This is the same lake the elk were swimming in.

Time for a Swim

While on our morning walk, these elk jumped in the water about 20 feet in front of us!

Psychedelic Chapel

Today we toured the Air Force Academy, the centerpiece of which is the Cadet Chapel. It is considered to be the most popular man-made attraction in Colorado. Unfortunately, it isn't very bright inside and I didn't have my tripod with me. When that happens, instead of trying to hold my camera steady enough for a sharp image, I go just the opposite and try to create an interesting abstract.

Purple Mountain Majesties

Pikes Peak is hidden behind this range of mountains as we drove through Colorado Springs. In 1893, inspired by a visit to these very mountains, Katherine Lee Bates sat down in the Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs and wrote the words to what eventually became known as the song "America the Beautiful".

Perseid Meteor Shower

I didn't know anything about the Perseid Meteor Shower happening until I heard it on the news. So I ran out and got this shot. If you look closely (you may have to click on the photo to enlarge it), you can see a faint streak at the top of this photo. It's the first meteor I've been able to capture. It took about 75 shots to actual get one on the camera. Wish I had been in Silverton, Colorado like I was a week ago!

Echo Amphitheater

On the way home I stopped to check out this natural amphitheater in the rock.

Waterfall

The mountains here get a lot of snow in the winter time. When the snow starts to melt, you get streams. When the streams reach a canyon wall, you get waterfalls, like this one.

Mountain Color

I always like to get some flower shots. Most of the wild flowers were gone already, but high in the mountains there were still a few.

Under the Milky Way

The sky is very dark out here in Silverton, Colorado. You can even make out the Milky Way.

Xterra in the Mountains

The Xterra did great on it's first venture into the mountains. If you can't read the sign, it says: Hurricane Pass, Elevation 12,730 feet".

New Xterra

Picked up the new Xterra today. The process was almost painless and I was in and out in only a few minutes. I'm ready for a trip to the mountains now!

I took a picture of the van odometer after I pulled into the dealership. The new Xterra has 5 miles on it.