Colorado National Monument

I thought often about coming here when I was much younger than now. I remembered the idea of the geography and geology, the sight of the structures, the cliffs, the overall beauty.

This trip brought all of its beauty back in full force. The spring weather made for a cooler – almost muggy – experience; and after the rain and hail broke, and when the sun started to set…

All was right in the world. 💕 So happy to visit again.

North view over Grand Valley

Distant “Book Cliffs” & Mt. Garfield

Coke Ovens against Artists Point backdrop

Kissing Couple (L) and Grand Mesa? backdrop

Fruita, Colorado

Back side of Pipe Organs

Monument Canyon, Grand Valley and Sentinel Spire

Cold Shivers Point and Grand Valley

Colorado National Monument

Cedar Waxwings

I’m so happy to have these Cedar Waxwings visiting our back yard! The first time I saw them, there were only a few in one of our trees (that’s when I captured the last picture below). Today, I heard a bit of of commotion, looked out the window, and found them hunkering down in the snow flurries along with a flock of robins.

Since we don’t typically see them around here, I feel especially lucky to have them coming by to hang out in the trees out back! I assume they’re migrating… Do you know more about these birds? I’ve been learning more from these sites:

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_waxwing

• https://commonbynature.co.uk/2018/11/24/top-10-facts-waxwing/

Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Bombycilla comes from the Ancient Greek bombux, “silk” and the Modern Latin cilla, “tail”; this is a direct translation of the German Seidenschwanz, “silk-tail”, and refers to the silky-soft plumage of these birds. The specific cedrorum is Latin for “of the cedars”. WIKI

“Part of waxwing family of passerine birds”(or perching birds or songbirds)

“Outside the breeding season, cedar waxwings often feed in large flocks numbering hundreds of birds.”

“When a male waxwing sets out in search of a mate, it often carries a berry – passed to a female bird in an effort to impress her.” Check out more information HERE

“Spiritualists believe waxwings to be a symbol of selfless generosity.” – James Common

I hope they happen by again tomorrow! Here’s to more backyard birding! 🐦🔭🏡

Is the Blue Jay your totem?

Associated symbolism:

A blue jay animal totem flies into your life to teach the importance of using your intelligence to learn quickly and being able to adapt to any situation. It has a passion for investigating, thus utilizing adaptive skills and constantly learning new ideas and concepts. It allows us to access memories that we have long forgotten and shows how to adopt them into our awareness. – Leah M Bostwick
https://www.sunsigns.org/blue-jay-animal-totem-symbolism-meanings/

It typically gleans food from trees, shrubs, and the ground, though it sometimes hawks insects from the air. #wiki

The blue jay is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America #wiki

Like other corvids, they may learn to mimic human speech. Blue jays can also copy the cries of local hawks so well that it is sometimes difficult to tell which it is #wiki

Never really thought about it before, but with traits like as talkative, socially vigilant, resourceful, trustworthy, curious, diligent and intelligent… I think the Blue Jay would be an admirable animal totem.

What’s your animal totem?

Golden Hour of Hope

“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.” Anne Frank

Experience is a form of Exploration.

In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration. – Ansel Adams