Worker Bee If you’ve got bees, enjoy the buzz! This is what I was thinking as I prepared our flower beds. I am now seeing (and hearing) what native plants have given us in return. In retirement I have found a new desire that never occurred to me a few years back while [...]
Laying in Wait ...not everyone is on board with this change... The wolf is viewed as dangerous and threatening, even though their presence can be beneficial to the environment. This is because the wolf is unpredictable when approached, a trait they have in common with people, well at least some people. Some wolves [...]
First Light on Marmot Trail You’ve got to be kidding! Ever since I embraced Staunton State Park as my favorite place to hike the trails, I’ve made it a point to challenge myself. With its beautiful scenery, it’s easy to get carried away and venture further and further out before heading back. I [...]
A Tough Nut to Crack How am I ever going to paint this guy? That is what I was thinking when I saw this tufted, or tassel-eared, squirrel watching me just off my hiking path. In nature he stands out because of his dark body against all the pine needles that surround him. [...]
When the Storm Clouds Clear Sometimes the elements of nature provide a voice to us—in wind, in water, in sunshine. The voice may be reminding us of the dark moments of life we experience or our longing for peace and tranquility. Sometimes during the storms it may seem that God is looking the [...]
Porch Pirates All this preparation for birds and I get these guys! I have spent a lot of time as a landscaper in my own yard, appreciating the beauty of nature. As a Colorado resident, I learned a while back that to have success in getting anything to green-up requires native plants and [...]
Jumping at the Chance The Brook trout is so colorful. It more than makes up for its small size in that alone. It’s a study in color, action and inspiration, at least for the person who comes across one. I can go a long way on this kind of moment...the surface broken, the [...]
The Long Winter One of the most memorable experiences in our life set the stage for this painting. Robin was working for the Colorado Wildlife Heritage Foundation. The Foundation was supporting the re-introduction of lynx to Colorado. Lynx were trapped in Canada, then brought to a wildlife rehabilitation center near Creede, Colorado, for [...]
For Those Who Don’t Know Jack “For Those Who Don’t Know Jack” is a painting that finds its roots in vulnerability. The White Tailed Jackrabbit (which is actually a hare) changes color each year from brown in summer to white in winter. While this greatly improves survival chances in summer and winter—the periods [...]
Moments Notice Aside from the simple abundance we normally experience on a hike, some days can be particularly special. Like the time Robin and I came face-to-face with a mule deer buck on the path just in front of us. It was as surprised by us as we were of him. As our [...]
