Free Theme #1

Taking the sleigh ride to see the elk is one of the items

on my bucket list that I can check off.

Although my toes got cold, it was a gorgeous day.

You can see that the snow isn't very deep which means

the elk can still dig down and eat the grass.

#226 Portrait

Elk bulls acted very non-chalant as I took their portrait.

At the National Elk Refuge, the guys hang out in their bachelor group

while the gals and "young-uns" meet up in a separate area of the refuge.

Jackson, Wyoming

#13 Autumn

In Idaho, autumn arrives on September 22 or 23 (depends).

The first snow can happen anytime after that, although,

on occasion, it has snowed BEFORE then.

#180 Misty Foggy

Not enough snow yet for skiing but the clouds hid the mountain, making it misty and foggy and pretty.

Twenty miles north of Boise at about 7,000 feet elevation.

#302 The Letter "A" = Aspens

"Aspens on Edge" by Bland Hoke - one of the Art You Can Sit On collection of benches in Idaho Falls. The second photo shows the bench from the front which faces the river (and features Mr. Mallard). I like the silhouette better with the river in the background. It's a pretty spot to watch the river flow by (after the ice melts and the sun shines!).

I just want you to know that I have given my body to photography. I slipped on the ice getting back to the car. No big deal as I was already on hands and knees trying to make progress. That ice was not allowing any grip. The good news is spring is coming!

#332 Through a Window

I love the trees I see through my front window. The flower box is impatiently waiting for spring flowers.

#189 Multicolored

Although Christmas is over, Taylor's Crossing still has this multicolored display just across the street from the river. Makes me smile when I see it.

#235 Red

This fire hydrant gives a bang of color in my otherwise black and white world. If the sun had been shining . . .

My first thought of fulfilling color themes is flowers, which I may still do. However, I'm going to look for outdoor man-made items instead. We'll see how far I get.

#66 Curves

I drive these curves to the gym in hopes of improving my own, which are more convex than concave, if you get my drift (uh, oh, too many puns).

#85 Empty

Too dang cold to play in the park (unless you are sledding) so the playground is empty.

#31 Broken (uprooted)

The first snows last November were wet and heavy. Before I could get out to knock the snow off this tree broke and fell over. I don't really care as it's not a pretty tree, just a big thorny bush. However, we will have to take it apart to get it out of the backyard. Lots of work for a tree I don't like. Maybe a neighbor would like it for kindling. I'll worry about it in May or June.

#22 Black and White Image

I was afraid for my safety. As I approached the geese and mallards (who all forgot to go south for the winter), they stampeded me thinking I was bringing lunch. The park rangers frown on feeding people food to the wild fowl AND I didn't think about it anyway. The big guy in front didn't want to take no for an answer. He was sure I was holding out. I tried to persuade them that I wasn't a teaser. They let me off with a warning.

The photo was almost a black and white without any Elements tweaking. I am having so much fun.

#363 Winter

Sure are lots of opportunities for us in the Northern Hemisphere to check this theme off the list!

Taken last year at night. The city has spot lights on the river - so cool (no pun intended).

#342 Unfinished

This supposed-to-be hotel looks good on the outside but circumstances interrupted its completion so here it stands, vacant, unfinished, sad. Interested parties are in court but . . .

#330 Three

Outdoor sculpture at the Eastern Idaho Art Museum. Photo below shows the whole piece. I hesitate to fulfill the "Three" theme so early in the year because there are so many wonderful possibilities. I may use it again.

#103 - Fences

I liked the semi-circle "tufts" of snow along the boards taken on one of the few sun-shiney days we have had recently.

#1 Abstract

I wracked my brain ever since getting the list - abstract? All I could think of was abstract art and taking a picture of a picture doesn't seem like the point of this project. FINALLY! I remembered the "Art You Can Sit On" collection of twenty-two benches our city has so proudly displayed. You will probably see more of these through the year.

"voodoo chili" by Doug Warnock is a tile and glass mosaic bench in the contour of a young woman. I brushed off most of the snow but couldn't dislodge all the ice. I thought the shadows were a nice touch. Sorry my footprints interfered. I didn't think of it soon enough.