January 29 – Geese!

These are some of the geese that winter in the ponds near my sons’ school. I used Autostitch to put together several pictures. I actually started with more pictures, but the image turned out pretty small:

Click on either to get a clearer image.

No, there are no major airports nearby.

january 16 – Is your mama a llama?

I startled this llama on my walk today. He lives in the neighborhood, but I’ve never seen him so near the fence.

Looking at his face, all I could think was… “Why  –  so  –  serious?”

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Add your voice to an interesting conversation:

What are the really new “21st Century Skills”?

January 6 – Discovering public art

We moved to Fort Collins his summer and have enjoyed walking along the Spring Creek Trail, which runs almost 7 miles through the city. Due to the -15 degree weather and the holidays, we haven’t been on the trail since the trees lost their leaves.

Along the way, we were surprised to find a small alcove dedicated to the water cycle. Pressed into the concrete wall were images designed by Poudre District students depicting not just the water cycle, but also the life cycles of the dragonfly and the willow. The mosaic is part of a fountain that catches water from jets.

I hope I can find the nook in the summer, behind the reeds and cattails.

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There is a strong public art program in Fort Collins. You can read about it here, or just wait a few months. I’m sure I’ll get to plenty of them!

January 4 – December “diorama”

This is the Fort Collins display to celebrate all December holidays.

Fort Collins’ Holiday Display Task Force  spent half of last year deciding how to create a multicultural,  inclusive holiday winter traditions display after they were ridiculed by the national media for their “War on Christmas” the past few years. All religious displays were banned from FC public buildings with this one exception.

As you can imagine this was one sight to behold.

And we were the only people in town tonight beholding it.

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I find this display funny and sad.

First off,  I have spent little time in a church; only attending for funerals and weddings, so I’m not particularly offended by the image. To me, the assemblage seems small and pathetic as the only display in front of the historical museum in town.

I am reminded of a (dreaded) elementary school diorama: A menorah, Frosty, a Christmas tree, Santa and a nativity scene, in a semi-circle facing passing cars, as though stuck in Elmer’s glue and white cotton balls.