Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park is a small lake with some nice trout fishing available.  The trail around the lake branches off in a couple places, including a 500 foot jaunt up a small mountain.  My kids particularly like that mountain as it’s an easy climb that will make any five year old feel like an accomplished mountain man. 

My first visit in 2007 didn’t yield any indication as to why the lake would be called Lily Lake…last year that all changed.  I found a small patch of purple, blooming lilies near the water’s edge.

On a lonely morning at Lily Lake, outside of Estes Park, Colorado this little guy was the only one shreiking about.  Even the usual variety of ducks were calm, but this guy had something to say to everyone.  I really didn't want to get too close as this tough bird, was willing to take on anybody.  I stayed safely away with my 85-300 telescoping lense maxed out on distance. 

Funny thing about this photo is that the subject isn't really cute, dramatic or inspiring, just ticked off that someone's even around.  Reminds me of another web site that I visit from time to time... www.despair.com  Along those lines, what would be a good title for this picture? 

Sometimes pictures just line themselves up right. This is one of those photos where kids just jump into an activity and there's no wrong way to shoot it. This photo was again taken at the Deana Rose Homestead in the Milking Barn. No way would this kids' Grandpa let him milk a cow like that, but what really makes this pic special is the little girl just staring on. This is one of those pictures that just makes people smile.

Taken with a Canon EOS 10D.

• Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec.
• Lens Aperture: F/4
• Focal Length: 17mm
• ISO Speed: ISO-100
• No Flash
• Exposure Compensation -1 step

UPDATE:  In hindsight, I wish I would have had a faster ISO and that would have given me more light and definitely no exposure compensation!

Taking decents photos of large mountainscapes is difficult for a couple of reasons.  First, is the tendency is to have a poor sky, all bleached out or even bright white.  This can be an easy $30 fix with a neutral density filter.  With my 17-40mm lense (the glass portion is actually 77mm) I was able to obtain a nice blue sky and still maintain nice color on the trees.  Another trick is to meter off of the foreground then set the stage for the picture.  This photo could use some work with contrast on the rocks in the foreground, but I find the pool reflection gives this shot some extra feel.

Photo Specifications:

Shutter Speed:  1/125 sec
Lens Aperture: F/8
Focal Length: 17mm
ISO-100
Exposure Compensation 0 step

I finally did it I bought a T-ring and T-adapter for our telescope!  I haven't figured out how to use lenses into the mix yet, but I was able to hook up my Canon 10D directly to my telescope and take photographs.  I don't have any fancy mounting rigs, so I'm limited to somewhat short exposure times (less than a second or two) before the celestial objects move!  I did manage to get a fairly nice photo of the moon.  I'd like to try the moon shot as it gets a litter fuller, but the weather has just been downright terrible for view the Kansas sky.  Let me know if you got questions on this one!

At many stages in my professional career I have had exceptional mentors, but I've never had one ride to work with me on a daily basis.  For the past month the podcasts of the web site, www.manager-tools.com have provided insight into several management tools that I previously did not command.  I, definitely, don't rely on *just* podcasts to direct me and my team, but I do like the thoughts and discussions that this particular podcast has stimulated in my work place.

One of the tools that I have implemented in both my personal and professional life is the introduction tool that was released a couple of months ago, and has really pushed me to develop new relationships.  Plain and simple, I don't know how any one can afford to not subscribe to this podcast.

(BTW, I'm an avid Zune fan, too... the wireless synch is what sold me)

I have evolved into a MySpace user.

For my reader-base utilizing MySpace my profile is located:

www.myspace.com/siteconstrux

and my RSS feed (basically announcing that I've posted content on this web site or ForeverRemembering.com) is located here:

blog.myspace.com/blog/rss.cfm

The second drawing in my series of Granby, Missouri mines is the 1905 Cheap Screw Mine.  Again, I took inspiration from a book published in 1905 using Missouri State Geology records.  The endearing thing about this mine is its apparent lack of upkeep. This pencil drawing illustrates the disarray of the immediate surroundings of this lead mining site.   My initial thoughts on creating prints is beginning to materialize into two runs, a limited edition Giclee, which will be printed on demand and another limited edition run of prints.  The Giclee run will be limited to 25 and the limited edition run will be 500.  I'll post more details as I finish negotiations with each of the printers.  Thanks to all my supporters (both of you are appreciated ;) and the critics who have helped me improve my art.

My grandparents still maintain Purple Martin houses and have for at least 25 years. In Southern Missouri you have to mitigate all the mosquito bites in some way, just so happens, they chose to encourage Purple Martins to next near their house.  The cats used to get close and the birds would dive bomb them promptly. I never saw the cats catch one, but of the dozens of Martins around I suspect they got one from time to time.

The best Purple Martin habitat almost always contains a large open field.  I've seen small colonies (25 birds plus their young) on as small as a half acre tract.  My Grandfather's colony consisting of well over 50 adults has about 75 acres of open terrain.  The one thing I almost immediately noticed is the Purple Martin's tendency to fight for the gourd houses more intensely than the tradition multi unit houses.

I hear that a newspaper recently did an article on Grandpa's Martins. Can't wait to see it.