Birds on Fences

I was quite fortunate to catch all these birds on fences. They seemed to tolerate my stopping to get a memory of their colors and songs. The vulture, hawk, dove, and meadowlark were spotted in Nebraska around Crawford. I will never forget the windows being down, driving through the verdant hills and fields, and hearing in passing the distinct melody of the meadowlark. The beautiful chant seemed to call for a response. Maybe it was because I was singing back to them that they tolerated me getting closer for a picture before they flew away. Or perhaps they were wanting to see what kind of a decent mate would echo in such a dismal attempt to copy a response to their enchanting tunes.

The magpie and swallow were taken in Colorado. The bluebirds hang out in a birdhouse down on the fence that prefaces the view to Mt. Evans.

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...the time of the singing
of the birds is come...
Song of Solomon 2:12

Fences

Fences are one of my favorite things to photograph. They are such a beautiful focal point when surrounded by wildflowers, marking off an enormous meadow, or a stopping place for a bird.

I had a feast of different perspectives to see fences in Nebraska and Colorado. The first and last pictures are of fences south of Crawford, Nebraska. The wild flax along the highway was beautiful, but in front of this section of fence they became a continuation of the blue sky scattered like falling particles onto the grass. The last section of fence was taken the evening of the big storm when the sunset was brilliant over the Bluffs south of Crawford.

The middle three fences are in Colorado near Evergreen. I have always loved the weaving aspect of these designs of fence. Throw in about anything typical for Colorado seasons, whether it be grasses, wildlife in green meadows, wildflowers, or golden aspen trees, and you've got a very peaceful scene.

I will remember each place in these photos as a special gift of resting in the visual images that these fences provided.

Country Roads

The last day, two weeks ago today, of my mother's and my excellent adventure left her car stranded in what they call 'gumbo'. It is the kind of clay, when wet, that each step in adds an inch of height to your shoes. Let me tell you about the draw of the country road that can get you in such a predicament...

It all started with a second trip to see Fort Robinson. We took a different road on the way out only to see mother's friend out in his front yard. We drove in to say 'hi' and before you know it all three of us were on an adventure to see the wonderful photo-op filled route they call 'Deadman's Road'. (That should have been a clue!)

We were awestruck at the beautiful green patchworks that covered the meadows. The addition of buttes and bluffs as well as canyons and wildflowers was a visual feast. We were almost back to the main road when we saw some bighorn sheep on the left, and further down the road one of those natural clothes dryers.

The last curve up the hill to the left turned from sand into gumbo. It all looked the same, and even deceptively smooth, however the car spun to a stop. Each new attempt to make progress only dressed the tires in new layers of the sticky dark dough.

Alas, I walked up the hill to a beautiful house, only to find it deserted with a lockbox on the door. After several extreme hills, I found myself at a corner of new buildings none of which was a farmhouse. I decided to go left up and down a few more hills. At that point I was grateful that I had kept up my cardio work before leaving Texas and also thankful that the day was a little cool.

To my delight, I came upon a ranch and noted a man in the front yard. I waved and asked if he might be able to help us. His tractor had broken down the day before, he had a new phone he wasn't quite sure how to navigate, but finally came upon a solution that might get us unstuck. He called 'Joe' who came out to rescue us. However, when 'Joe' arrived, he offered a ride back to town but was not about to get his truck stuck in the muck trying to pull mom's car out. It would have to wait until the roads dried out.

Well, this afternoon, I think Mom might actually be driving her car out since there have been two dry days in a row. I told her I thought it would be two weeks. Today is two weeks. The good news is that she has a network of friends that has been watching over her and driving her to wherever she needs to be. The good news is that we saw some wonderful sights along Deadman's Road. The good news is that we had a (mostly) wonderful adventure and a great story to tell.

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I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free!
You, O Lord, are the pathway to victory.

After the Storm

Mom and I made it home through blinding sheets of rain back to the warmth of home. I got my jammies on and went out to the kitchen. Then I got a nudging from the Holy Spirit to go peak out the back door, and was rewarded with a beautiful rainbow in the dark sky. I had taken my camera because I was sure there would be something God wanted me to record.

As I turned around to go back inside, the sunset sky over the the Buttes greeted me. I hurried back in to get Mom in the car (we both stayed in our jammies) so we could capture the sunset over Lover's Leap and Saddleback. Adventures with Mom, crazy fun and freedom.

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For great is your love,
higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness
reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God,
above the heavens,
and let your glory
be over all the earth.
Ps. 108:4-5

Lightning

I have tried so many times to get a picture of lightning. I got two in the same evening while trying to make it back to Crawford, Nebraska, before the heavy rains began. We got caught in the rains, but later we captured a beautiful rainbow and a stunning sunset over the Buttes. I will post them next.

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He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
he sends lightning with the rain.
Ps. 135:7