Here, ducky ducky!

Pat and I took a walk around Prospect Lake on Thursday in the late afternoon. I captured this sweet little vignette at the beginning of our walk, and it was only after I got home and downloaded my pictures that I noticed the funny white duck on the left side of the image, about a third of the way up, diving for a snack. I love how his little feet are sticking out of the water. So cute!

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Wednesday was a sunny, breezy, perfect early spring day in Colorado Springs, as you can see from this snap of Tibetan prayer flags captured in Old Colorado City. In fact it's been so unseasonably warm these last few weeks, the trees are prematurely in bud. I hope this trend of beautiful weather continues.

The Carnegie Library

Our beautiful 1905 Carnegie Library downtown, across the street from Saint Mary's Cathedral. It's a classically handsome building but I've never been inside it! I've popped my head in there and had a quick look around, and it's even better on the interior. One of these days I'll have to find a reason to explore it (it houses historic documents, not something I'd ordinarily visit the library for). Since the regular library is attached to the Carnegie Library, I'll make it a point to do that the next time I go and check out a book.

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This is one of the few surviving Art Déco buildings we have in Colorado Springs. I believe you can count them on one hand, there's so few of them. You can find this beauty on Weber just south of Colorado, next door to Godec's Photo Supply. Don't you love the Art Déco details?

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Sorry for my brief absence from the blog! Actually, to tell you the truth I was gone for a while -- for the last couple of weeks I've been in Europe, and I preblogged all the posts that occurred during my absence. I didn't quite have enough pictures preblogged to cover my absence and then I had to cope with a bad case of jet lag, hence the gap. But now that I'm home and over the worst of the jet lag I can make a post for you!

Yesterday Pat and I were downtown picking up a sandwich and coffee, and I noticed this guy inside Starbucks. Can you see what he's reading? It's not a laptop, it's not an iPad, it's not a reader, it's... a BOOK! Talk about kickin' it old skool! ;^) You see so many people at coffee shops with their noses glued to their smart phones, tablets or laptops, it's kind of nice to see someone simply enjoying a book, for once.

Now hear this!

My final image from my afternoon at the Pueblo Riverwalk: these Canada geese were honking up a storm as I left. I couldn't resist capturing them in mid-honk!

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One last view of the Pueblo Riverwalk, looking east (I think). Wouldn't it be nice to have a suite in that building on the left? What a great location!

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A view of the Pueblo Riverwalk District looking north (I think!), with the gold-domed Pueblo County Building in the distance. If I lived in Pueblo, I'd be doing photo shoots here every day -- it's just so photogenic!

Water falls

A bird's eye view of one of the mandmade waterfalls at the Pueblo Riverwalk.

Enjoying the Pueblo Riverwalk

The Pueblo Riverwalk is a great place to bring the kids for some family time. These little guys really seemed to be enjoying the springlike weather last Saturday, blowing off steam and having a great time in general.

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Another shot of the Riverwalk Building in Pueblo (see yesterday's post). The late winter afternoon sun creates dramatic shadows across its facade.

The Riverwalk Building in Pueblo

The Arkansas river runs through Pueblo (35 miles south of Colorado Springs), and in the past few years there has been a very successful urban renewal project along the banks of the river. The district called the Riverwalk is designed 100% for public use, with restaurants, shops, an ampitheatre, public art, and acres of wide sidewalks that follow the river. I shot a wedding at the Riverwalk Building on Saturday. I've never had the pleasure. What a nice place! And afterward I spent a little time strolling the Riverwalk and taking a few pictures for the blog. This is the Riverwalk Building, where the wedding took place. Over the next few days I'll share a few more images from the Pueblo Riverwalk.

Phalaenopsis

My makeup artist Pamela gifted me with a phalaenopsis orchid a few days ago, as a thank you for doing new head shots for her. I've never had an orchid before. (I wonder how long it will take me to kill it.) My first instinct was, of course, to photograph it!

Do not cross

This building and the one in yesterday's post was burned in a mysterious fire in mid-January. They sit side by side, right up against the railroad tracks on Sierra Madre. No one knows the cause of the fire, and it's obvious that nothing's been done with them since. The FIRE LINE - DO NOT CROSS tape hasn't even been removed. I love abandoned old places like this. I wonder what it was like when it was "alive" and in use and bustling with people and commerce. Was it a warehouse? An office? I'd like to go in there and explore, but I suppose that would probably be inadvisable. Sigh.

Abandoned building

This abandoned building next to the train tracks has been graffitied and painted over so many times, it's starting to resemble a patchwork quilt. I wonder how long those tires have been sitting there. Long enough to get spattered with paint from some of the patch jobs!

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The roofline of an old warehouse on the west edge of downtown. Late afternoon light causes the light fixture to cast an interesting shadow.

Campanile

The tallest spire of Saint Mary's Cathedral, which includes the bell tower, or campanile in Italian. It's nice to drive by and catch the peal of bells unexpectedly.

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As I was taking the picture that I posted yesterday, I looked to the west and saw how beautiful Pikes Peak looked with its crown of snow. The train engine adds a nice pop of color and contrast.

A new mural

Well it's new to me, anyway! The other day I spotted this great mural when Pat and I ran an errand to the library. It's down by the depot, just north of Giuseppe's, and it covers the entire south facade of a building. On Monday I made a little jaunt back there just to photograph it. This is just a small portion of the mural. I like how it depicts how the depot must have looked like a hundred or more years ago. I took several shots but I like this one best, because of the bright blue sky above the building. It was such a nice day! As I was leaving, I noticed that the mural was apparently painted by prolific local artist Doug Rouse, whose studio is only a few blocks from there. Pat went to high school with Doug. Small world!

Barefoot in March

Early March, no less. We've been having gorgeous springlike weather the last couple of days, so much so that most people were out and about in shirtsleeves yesterday, no coats required. These Colorado College students took it to another level entirely however, eschewing footwear, let alone coats! My car's thermometer read 70F degrees (21 Celsius) when I snapped this picture. One more balmy day to enjoy, then temps are predicted to drop again. Maybe today I'll wear flip flops!

On golden pond

In contrast to Thursday's weather (see yesterday's post), Sunday was a glorious, sunny day. It's too early to utter it louder than a whisper, but dare I suggest that spring may be around the corner? We even heard birds chirping in our yard! I know, I know, it'll be the end of May before we can hope for consistently warm weather around here, but it's nice to think ahead :^) On this fine day I had a boudoir shoot in a suite at the Doubletree Hotel on the south end of town. When I finished with my shoot I checked out the large pond next to the hotel, where lots of geese, ducks and even the odd seagull were enjoying the warm late afternoon sunshine. This Canada goose was as fascinated by me as I was by him.

Hug a tree

Thursday, March 1st was cold and snowy. This tree in front of Poor Richard's Restaurant was probably happy to have a sweater to keep it warm ;^)

March Theme Day: electricity

The first of the month means it's Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers! This month's theme is electricity. I was quite stumped as to what to take a picture of, until I had a lightbulb moment (ha!) and remembered this obnoxious electronic billboard on Austin Bluffs Parkway. It flashes a new ad every few seconds, and displays them on both the front and back of the sign. (BTW that background noise is the wind.) I have to admire the ingenuity of whoever thought of this -- talk about maximizing ad space -- but I imagine it uses A LOT of electricity. How would you like to have this in your neighborhood?

All over the world, CDP bloggers are posting about electricity. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants!