Redstone Winter - Colorado Landscape Photography

The winter wind is sharp today but the sun is bright as I walk down the dusty dry dirt road. It is unusual to be so dry in January. The warm sun is welcome none the less and takes the sting out of the cold air. The white bare trunks of the cottonwood trees catch my attention as they stand out prominently against the red sandstone cliff that gives this valley its name, Redstone Canyon. My home.

Redstone Winter
The valley of Redstone Canyon is named for the beautiful red sandstone cliffs found there. A winter stand of cottonwood trees with their white bark showing prominently provides a contrast against the sandstone cliff.
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Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends! I wish each of you a warm day surrounded by friends and family. May you enjoy your favorite traditional meal and eat your fill. May you smile and laugh with glee. May you get warm embraces and know you are loved. Know that I treasure your visits and send happiness your way. Hugs, Julie

This young hen turkey decides she likes the large male turkey that struts for her and tentatively approaches him for a closer look. This little dance was happening in our driveway last spring.

Etsy JulieMagersSoulen

Butterfly on Catmint

After a series on sunset lit architecture and a commentary on snakes, I am returning to more flower photos for awhile. Today I want to share with you my latest "Butterfly on Catmint." I am not sure what type of butterfly this is but they are very common in my garden. Do you know?

The flowers are catmint, a member of the Nepeta family that also includes catnip. I no longer have a kitty, but I do know they love to roll around in these plants. The honey bees love catmint too and the plants are always humming with their ceaseless activity. I hope you enjoy my latest!

Butterfly on Catmint
An orange butterfly is perched on the top of a stem of vivid purple catmint flowers gathering nectar. I am not sure what type of butterfly this is but they are very common in the foothills of Northern Colorado.
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Water Tower at Sunset

Traveling in the American midwest you find many abandoned warehouses, factories, and old water towers. There is a reason this area of the United States is called the "Rust Belt." It is a vision into a past when America was the world's leading producer of goods. I remember that past and feel saddened by the direction our country has taken. But all that aside, I love the interesting rusty beauty of these old structures. I hope you enjoy my latest in this series from my Ohio trip. If you love to look at photographs of old water towers you should check out the work of my friend, Gary Heller. He has some fantastic shots of old water towers in New York City. Enjoy!

Water Tower
This old water tower with a golden sunset painting its rusty surface with an orange glow is found in Bucyrus, Ohio.
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Orange Orange

Today's post is all about color. I was inspired to pick orange by the fantastic sunrises I have been greeted by this week. They paint my bedroom in a warm orange glow making it easy to pop out of the covers and start my day. For some reason when it's gloomy it is much better to stay under the blankets. But orange rejuvenates me, gets my motor running. I hope you enjoy my guest photography today and click on the shops and photos. Oooo-aarrrrange you glad I picked orange!

love on a sunday morning
by myan photography
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Le Soleil
by Honeytree
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TTV Gerber Daisy
by The Eye
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Little Orange Beetle
by Starry Blue Sky
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Lanterns
by Ara 133 Photography
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Snowy Trees in a Winter Landscape

My boots crunched as I walked the dogs in the frigid morning air. Their breath puffed out in jets of steam as they charged ahead. The fresh snow outlined everything in lacy sparkling white. I had to pause and soak it in, the cold forgotten. I am the "Winter Girl." The cottonwoods on the valley floor remind me of old oil paintings of the romanticism period, with pastural meadows and large trees. It would have looked the same to a passerby one hundred years ago. My contemplations are abruptly ended by dog noses nudging me forward. It is time to continue our walk.

Mesa Cottonwoods in Winter
Snowy cottonwoods line a creek at the bottom of the towering western mesa pointing to a water source and creating layers of subtle color.
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Snowy Cottonwoods in Blue
The western landscape turns a subtle shade of blue under the intense azure winter sky and highlights the stark row of cottonwood trees.
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Etsy Favorites - Southwestern Artisan Showcase

I have been waiting to grab a "treasury" in Etsy and have not managed to succeed. So while I am waiting for that Etsy treasury list to open, go ahead and enjoy my newest Etsy Favorites! Be sure to click on any item for additional information!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade JulieMagersSoulen.etsy.com

Find my Etsy shop by clicking on my linked name above.

Friday Favorites - Desert Color

I have always loved vibrant desert color. The color of a Sedona sunset, coral and turquoise jewelry, and the giant red mesas in the old John Wayne movies of my childhood send a warm happy feeling right through me and down to my toes. Enjoy these gorgeous pieces from some very talented artisans. Please visit their shops by clicking on the piece's title. Enjoy!

CEREMONIAL HEADRESS
by Original Art Studio

Robin's Egg Blue Semi-precious Stone and Copper Earrings
by TK Designs

Enlightened
by Kenna Foster

Desert Oasis Necklace
by Kelley Livingston

The Horseman
by Uncle Lee