Things I Saw in Manitou (Part 4)

I guess I'll end this little series with this shot of a crate stuck in Fountain Creek (at least I've always thought this was Fountain Creek, please correct me if I'm wrong). Kind of bleak but it makes for an interesting picture.

Things I Saw in Manitou (Part 3)

Little signs of spring! This seems a bit early in my opinion (even for daffodils), but we had an extremely mild winter after all. I saw another lady stoop down and take a picture of these same flowers as I was about to leave. I guess we're all ready for things to start growing again.

Things I Saw in Manitou (Part 2)

A busker on Manitou Avenue last Friday. He didn't seem to be drumming up much business. It's not tourist season yet, so he didn't have many people to sing to.

Things I Saw in Manitou (Part 1)

I had the pleasure of spending Friday morning in Manitou, while waiting for Frodo to be groomed (his new groomer is on Manitou Avenue). While I was wandering around I took a few pictures. More tomorrow.

Revivification

There's a nice gazebo in Manitou's Memorial Park called Seven  Minute Springs, and I shot a small wedding there last Saturday. This elaborate "throne" sits in front of the gazebo, but I was so focused on my job that I failed to even notice it until I was getting ready to leave. It's called Revivification and the artist's name is Zach Tabb. Pretty cool!

Sunday Style!

A very chic couple from a wedding I shot last month at the Craftwood in Manitou. As far as wedding guests go, these two are the most stylish ones I've come across so far this year (and there has been some stiff competition). Her dress and shoes, just wow!

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On Saturday I got to hang out with my old friend Heather, who was in the area visiting her dad. I don't get to see her much since she lives in Arizona, so it was great catching up! We had lunch in Manitou and then strolled around a bit. I noticed that the Cliff House has a new fountain in front. I think this one's a big improvement over the one that previously stood here. Not a terribly artistic photo or subject, but then again I was engrossed in conversation with Heather and wasn't exactly wearing my arty-farty hat in that moment.

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The summit of Pikes Peak visible just beyond some foothills, while a pale sliver of moon floats above.

December 2023 Theme Day: Local History

It's the first of the month, which means Theme Day for City Daily Photo Bloggers! This month the theme is local history. As a big Colorado Springs history nerd, this is right up my alley. Behold our city's founder, General William Jackson Palmer, who was a Civil War hero, a builder of railroads, a philanthropist, an anglophile, and an all around interesting guy by all accounts. He founded Colorado Springs on July 31, 1871, and here's a little known fact: he founded Manitou Springs, too.

General Palmer's statue sits smack in the middle of the intersection of Platte and Nevada, in front of Palmer High School (the city's first high school), and since some people really cannot wrap their heads around the fact that you should drive around it and not into it, apparently it will soon be moved somewhere away from bad drivers in the near future. Pity -- it's stood in this spot for generations.

For more local history images from CDP bloggers all over the world, click HERE. Enjoy!

Sorry, We're Stoned, Dead or Maybe Just Retired

There's a shop in Manitou that has a giant wizard mural on the side of it, and that's about as Manitou as it gets, people. Though it's been there for years, I've never been inside because it basically struck me as a head shop, which isn't really my jam. I did, however, have a certain fondness for the place, because how can you not love it, right? The last time we happened to drive past, a month ago, I noticed that the shop owners must have closed it down and retired. This funny little sign in one of the windows caught my eye, and there's another sign on the farther window that says "Sorry, We're Dead." And alas, a sign on the door that reads "Retired." Now I regret never going in there -- I bet it was a cool place!

Distinctive Dinosaur

I like how the bright colors of this t-rex make it really stand out among all the brown metal animals around it.

Bee City

Did you know that Manitou Springs was recently named a certified pollinator district? I think that's pretty cool! You can read more about that HERE. This bee themed "mural" (it's really more like a sticker or wallpaper) on the side of a building on Manitou Avenue is quite appropriate, don't you agree? 

Big, Big Bird

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. Yes, that is an emu. This lady is named Billie Sue, and her emu is called Dennis. (Dennis! Gaaah! So cute!) They've become minor celebrities of sorts in Manitou. I've had a friend or two post pictures of Dennis on Facebook and I wondered who the big bird belonged to. Now I know! She told me that he's two and-a-half years old and she's had him since he was a chick. I've never met an emu before. He was extremely mellow. And very, very big, with rather prehistoric looking, three toed feet. He likes to be petted in a particular spot on his side. Oh and Dennis is very attached to his human. People, this is why I will not eat an animal. You think birds don't feel love and affection? Think again. Just look at how he hugs her back with his long neck when she hugs him. It's adorable!

Dennis is taller than Billie Sue!

Dennis prefers to be petted right next to his name.

When she hugs him, he hugs her right back. They are obviously bonded as much as a human and a dog or cat I think that's incredibly sweet.

Everyone is charmed by Dennis! Look at the facial expression of the lady holding the purple bag.

Giant dog meets giant bird. Everyone behaved admirably.

Sunday Style!

The perfect outfit to wear while walking your pet emu on a 90°+ degree day in Manitou Springs. Cute! (Stay tuned for more on this fun lady and her unorthodox pet tomorrow.)

Blue on Blue

Sunday gave us blue skies for only a short time, but it was at a lucky moment for me as we arrived at Mo's Diner for a late breakfast to find this classic Ford parked in front. The blue of the car and the little patch of blue sky above it are a near perfect color match.

Fluidity

We've had so much rain lately (and snow in the mountains), that there have been some flash flood situations in the local creeks and streams. Some homeless folks who camp near the water have had to be rescued. To compound things, it's May, which  means that the spring runoff from the mountains is sending tons of water down to the lower elevations. These pictures were taken in Manitou Springs over the weekend. As you can see, the creek is swollen to the max.

It's Legal Here, You Know

I had many errands to run today but no good photo opportunities arose, so I went digging through my archives and found this gem from November 6, 2021. This gent strolling down Manitou Avenue definitely looks like he's just had a little "smoke break" if you know what I mean. (Wink wink, nod nod.) Hey, it's perfectly legal here, you know.

Modern Day Still Life

This little vignette caught my eye the other day as we were out for breakfast at Mo's. The light streaming through the window was so nice. Who knew a cell phone and a pair of reading glasses could look so beautiful?

Bob's

Behold, Bob's Westside Liquors in the fringe where Colorado Springs morphs into Manitou Springs. Bob's was the first (and probably the only) drive-through liquor store in the city. I had a friend who availed himself of Bob's drive-through convenience on the daily way back in the 1980s.

She

I don't know what this sculpture is called, but I like her! She sits in front of what used to be call The Castaways and is now known as Lulu's, in Manitou.

And now, for your listening pleasure...