#361 Window

One of many stained glass windows features the prodigal son, one of the most favorite parables in the New Testament.

Cathedral of the Rockies/1st United Methodist Church, Boise, Idaho.

#170 Lightness

The eight stained glass panels were rescued from the former building and "repurposed" to light the narthex (foyer) of the new church.

Cathedral of the Rockies/1st United Methodist Church, Boise, Idaho.

#224 Pleasure

So many people, institutions, and businesses have contributed to my road trip pleasure. This marker on the outskirts of Estes Park, Colorado is just an example of what I mean. Thoughtful artwork with the Rocky Mountains in the  background - pleasure on so many levels.

#200 Nine

If you enlarge the photo you can see nine elk on this hillside leaving the Rocky Mountain National Park Visitor's Center at the top of the pass. One of the rules is "No Parking on the Highway." This rule is frequently broken when three or more cars are already parked and people are looking off into the meadow/forest. Someone has spotted wildlife so everyone else stops to see, too. Cameras click by the hundreds. Love it.

#107 Flat

The dark line crossing this flat bench represents the Snake River. "You Are Here" lets you know that you are here - in Idaho Falls on the Snake River.

"You Are Here" by Tim Rein. Art You Can Sit On located on the Snake River Landing, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Do-Over #6

#61 Creative

#330 Three - Sand Hill Cranes

My traveling companion saw these birds as we sped by. (I slammed on the brakes, turned around, and parked by the side of the road for a photo-op.) How do people do that? I can't imagine all the times I've NOT seen wildlife. I'm envious of their ability to pick them out of the environment, which to me provides the perfect hiding place - out in plain view.

#291 Sunshine

#273 Smells

Running water plus evergreen forest equals the most lovely smell.

(Somewhere on the Lochsa River which runs parallel to Highway 12, also known as the Lewis and Clark Highway and Wild and Scenic River Corridor. This highway connects Lolo Hot Springs, Montana to Kooskia, Idaho.)

#256 Seeds

Compost happens. However, seeds survive the compost process and I get several volunteer acorn squash plants, which sometimes give me a few squash. Then there are more seeds in the compost pile and we start over again.

#157 Insects

#136 Handbag

All my life I've been searching for the perfect handbag. Although colorful, these aren't it.

I like the freedom of a fanny pack but that isn't very fashionable. Looks funny when I wear a dress. I like a shoulder bag for day trips but it's overkill when shopping. I've decided the perfect handbag, like the perfect house, doesn't exist. I'll just have to muddle through somehow.

#43 Challenging

These young ladies took the challenge to climb the temporary, make-shift, "rock" wall - one of the features at the Idaho Annual Spud Day, Shelley, Idaho.

#81 Edible

Free baked potatoes with a hint of butter and a glob of cheese! I would like to know how many of these were given away at the Idaho Annual Spud Day in Shelley, Idaho. I enjoyed mine, although a bit of sour cream would have been extra yummy.

#16 Bathtime

Simon balances on his bum while cleaning his tummy. 

143 Hero

My definition of hero is someone who puts his/her life at risk to save or benefit someone else. The head of household at this address just returned from a year in Iraq. He was welcomed home with a spray painted flag on the lawn. I'm glad he came home safely. I hope he gets to stay home. He meets my definition of hero since just being in Iraq is putting life at risk.

#99 Fast Food

Another reason to go to the fair - food! Not a healthy offering in the bunch, even the corn (faux butter-flavored something). The steak on a stick was pretty good - cooked to my liking and easy to chew. Good thing it's only once a year! AND most of the eating supports local youth organizations.

#307 The Letter F

 Rides, Exhibits, 4H - that's what the fair is all about.

No Single Riders. I'm guessing that doesn't reflect on marital status.

Fortunately Karen arrived just in time and we rode the ferris wheel together.

#325 The Letter X

My husband's folding bicycle is a Xooter Swift. He has put over 10,000 miles on it in the last three years. It is his primary form of transportation in the city year-round and he enjoys his rides in the country. He wants me to get one, too, so we can do some recreation riding together. However, I have saddle issues, which he assures me can be overcome. :-)

#331 Thriving

Yesterday's harvest from my little square garden, which is thriving in spite of my neglect. Snow peas, tomatoes, cucumber, and squash. Yummmmm. Colorful, too!

#251 Sandy

Sand Dunes near St. Anthony, Idaho.

Big draw for ATV dune buggy driving.

#110 Fluffy

Fluffy bear cubs tussle and play for the benefit of gawking humans. Twenty miles northeast of Idaho Falls, Yellowstone Bear World is a commercial "zoo" featuring not only black bears but elk, wild turkeys, deer, and a cool petting zoo where I actually got to pet some deer. The bear aren't tame but they are trained to be used to human contact. However, you must still keep your car windows rolled up - just in case.

#242 Renewal

I'm a sit-in-the-shade kinda girl and if there is running water close by, back or no back to the bench, this is a spot to sit, contemplate and be renewed.

"River Rock" by Carol Skorak. The only Art You Can Sit On in Freeman Park, Idaho Falls.

The work is made of cast concrete and rests on basalt columns.

#160 Isolation

Why I like this picture:

• The metal work on the top of the signage - how creative is that!!
• The Oregon Trail wagon ruts. See the trail along the fence line to the right of the photo? I'm so excited. The small print says 300 wagons and thousands of animals came through here DAILY for a couple of years. Not so isolated then. Sounds like major traffic jam. The dust would be unimaginable. Don't even get me started with the heat. The sign also mentions that the wagon ruts  are reminders of the largest known voluntary migration in world history. I hadn't thought of it that way before. So many of today's mass human migrations are involuntary. Sigh.

Somewhere on Highway 191 between Pinedale and Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Do-Over #5

#77 Door - 16th Street Mall, Denver.

 #231 Purple - Stained glass at the Jewish chapel, Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs.

#330 Three - Triangles (I see three sources) from the lower level of the Air Force Academy Chapel, looking west toward the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs.

#114 Fragile

This overlook tower near Medicine Bow Pass on Wyoming State Highway 130 was built to replicate the CCC style of the 1930's. It gives a nice backdrop to the high elevation fragile eco-system. Some of the smaller plants at this altitude can take seven years to "collect" enough sun energy and water so they can bloom and make seeds. Then they die. There are signs everywhere encouraging people to stay on the trails so this fragility has an opportunity to continue to thrive. Walking on the "weeds" stomps out the plants, which not only prevent erosion but provide food for animals.

See the tree with branches on only one side? It's called a flag tree and indicates which direction the wind usually blows, quite violently sometimes. The wind is not blowing in this photo.

#195 Nautical

"My anchor holds."

One of the marinas on the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah.

#79 Dusk

I saw this in my rear view mirror and slammed on the brakes. With all that gold from the setting sun, well, what else could I do besides capture it for my own? Kinda reminds me of Forrest Gump, too, don'tcha think?

Highway 40 between Craig and Dinosaur, Colorado.

#360 Wild

Rocky Mountain Sheep - my other favorite American wild animal. This is my second time to see these wonderful animals in the wild - the first time so close! - an right on the road somewhere between Red Canyon, Utah and Wyoming. They are a little blurred because I was so excited and they were running away. My enthusiasm was a bit startling to them, I guess! (Do you remember the Disney nature movie where the two bucks were butting heads and bouncing off each other. I loved that scene. So cool, even after all these years. It must have been a 1950-something movie.) Click to enlarge.

#343 Unforgettable

Even with a bit of saturation, the colors are still not as vivid as in person. The view from the Red Canyon Visitor's Center on the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area took my breath away. Even after all the colorful Colorado mountain vistas, this was unforgettable.

The canyon is 1,700 feet deep. The Green River reservoir fills about 250 of it. The red tone in the foreground fills the canyon walls although they look blue/purple in the photo.

I had expected the Flaming Gorge to be similar to Lake Mead and Lake Powell. How wrong I was! I'm sure it's hot on some days but this overcast, sprinkle-y day in August was gorgeous AND there is a lot more vegetation than at the Arizona reservoirs. Where is my houseboat when I need it! We followed the highway north to the beginning of the reservoir which is much flatter and located in Wyoming. Headed home!

#341 Under Water

Dinosaur National Monument is tucked into the northwest corner of Colorado and flows over into Utah. This area (like most of the Western U.S.) used to be under water a bazillion years ago. You'll have to google to learn exactly how many years it was. Anything over a couple thousand years and my eyes glaze over. Anyway, these stratified color layers have been lifted up so the paleontologists can explore and share their findings with us. We took a tour with a very knowledgable ranger who showed us some actual dinosaur fossils still in the rock.

#233 Reaching Up

The seventeen spires of Air Force Academy Chapel, Colorado Springs, Colorado reach up to the sky which is close since the Academy is above 6,500 feet altitude.

 Interior of the Protestant Chapel. You can almost see the tall aluminum cross in front of the window.

The building also houses Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim chapels. Magnificent. I could have spent a lot more time soaking up the art, beauty, and quietness of these worship spaces.

Google for a virtual tour - worth your time!

#271 Slowly

After one hour, twenty minutes of slowly ascending Pikes Peak on the cog railway we are above tree line and almost to the top of the mountain. This view looks down to another train on a siding. It was well worth the ticket price! We could have driven the road which is now almost all paved (at $1 million per mile) but I enjoyed the relaxing ride and humorous and informative tour guide. We also had friendly seat mates from Italy. Another beautiful day in Colorado!