Untitled

I decided recently to commit more seriously to making the images for this blog, rather than desperately shooting things willy nilly as I found myself doing way too much last year. In fact, I struggled to come up with a favorite from 2025 -- so many of them were just utterly talentless. I've also decided to start blogging in black and white more, since my photography hobby and eventual career began not only with a camera in my hand but also an enlarger in front of me. I love black and white and I really miss having a darkroom, or rather a working darkroom, since I do have all the essential components of one gathering dust in the garage. 

So this year I hope to make great pictures, not just pictures. Here's a shot from Sunday's dog walk that isn't very great at all but looks much better when converted to monochrome. I didn't have time to think about a better approach to this subject since I had a little dog pulling on my arm! Perhaps I'll get another shot at it sometime soon.

Second Runner Up

I had yesterday's theme in mind when I took this shot (double, for those who missed that blog post), but ended up using a much better image. I don't think this photo is a throwaway though. Keeping in mind the theme, this house had two identical lights mounted on the fence posts in the foreground, two identical baskets flanking the door, and two identical sconces above them. If you notice the big brown planter to the left of the couch next to the door, there was was another one just like it on the other side of the couch as well. Everything was presented in pairs in a pleasingly symmetrical way.

February 2026 Theme Day: Double

Well here we are again, the first day of a new month, which means it's Theme Day for participating City Daily Photo bloggers. This month the theme is double. I brained on this for days without coming up with any decent ideas, then I decided that the force was with me and a great subject would simply present itself if I let it. I was right. I went to my friend JB's today so she could join me on a dog walk, and as we wandered around her neighborhood these two nearly identical dachshunds barked excitedly at Frodo from their vantage point on the back of the couch. How perfect was this? I had already taken what I thought was an excellent photo for the theme only moments before (and I will blog that image tomorrow), but this was so much better, and funnier too.

For more takes on double by CDP bloggers all over the planet, click HERE. Enjoy!

Untitled

School started a couple of weeks ago, and now all the playgrounds around here are rather forlornly empty.

Flower Power

This house can be found on E Boulder Street, at about Institute. I'm sure the bees and butterflies love it!

Untitled

Many of the historic homes in the Old North End and Shooks Run have old fashioned wrought iron fencing, and this fleur de lis style is certainly the most popular. For the most part, the fencing is usually original, although this one looks like the posts are old but the rest may be a good reproduction. Do the older homes in you city have this sort of wrought iron fencing, too?

Frodo Wuz Here

I came across this while walking Frodo in Shooks Run Park, and I can't exactly decipher it but it looks like it says Addie Buck 18. Perhaps Addie was involved with a park improvement project, or maybe she just decided to leave her mark, given an opportunity to do so. Wet cement is hard to resist. When we got a new driveway a couple of decades ago I naturally incised my initials and the year in it. You can still read it just fine.

June 2025 Theme Day: Shadows

The first day of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers, and this time the theme is shadows. Technically it's after midnight here so it's June 2nd, but since I already had a photo prepared I will cheat a little and backdate this post to 11:59 PM on June 1st. This is Shooks Run Park in the late afternoon on May 18th.

For more images of shadows from CDP bloggers everywhere, click HERE. Enjoy!

Al Fresco

Sunday afternoon had the most perfect spring weather, just right for a little picnic in Shooks Run Park like these two were enjoying.

Nice Spring Display

This house is just down the block from my friend JB's. I was so taken by the colorful tulips and foxgloves as I walked past a few days ago, I had to stop for a photo. I wonder what it'll look like later in summer after these blooms die back.

Spring Has Sprung -- Sort Of

Our weather is ever a mixed bag, especially in March and April. We've had wonderfully sunny days lately, but with chilly wind. And today brought us 27° F with snow flurries. Still, hopeful little signs of spring are starting to pop up, like these leaves unfurling in Shooks Run Park a few days ago. Bring it on, Mother Nature! I'm ready for spring!

New Pizza Place

I noticed the other day that the building that had long housed the Little Market on Willamette and Prospect is now home to a pizza restaurant. I don't know how long it's been open, I only just now discovered it. It sure smelled good as I stood across the street to take this picture.

April 2025 Theme Day: Lines

The first of every month is Theme Day for City Daily Photo bloggers, and this month the theme is lines. I thought this picture fit the bill quite nicely, although I didn't take it with the theme in mind. I caught this little squirrel in an agony of indecision: cross the street, or turn around and run back in the other direction? It's a good thing this was a quiet avenue with little traffic. And the fact that he was frozen in place for a few seconds with a snack in his mouth made it easy for me to snap a picture of him. For the curious, he did eventually decide to run across, but naturally he waited until a motorcycle was heading straight for him. Not to worry -- he made it across safely with his snack.

For more takes on lines by CDP bloggers all over, click HERE. Enjoy!

Untitled

Surely it's not just me that thinks Colorado Springs is extra wonderful in fall. I can't remember what street this is (Farragut? Sheridan? Foote?) but I do know it's looking south toward Boulder Park. This is such a cute neighborhood and it's even cuter right now, with all the trees in full color.

Back to School Already?

I guess it's that time again, because my friends are starting to post "first day of school" photos of their kids on Facebook. What? That doesn't seem right at all. Is it just me, or does summer break seem shorter than it was when we were kids? Anyway, here's North Junior High.

Let the Good Times Roll

Laissez les bon temps rouler! This house on North Hancock is all decked out for Mardi Gras, and I love it. People decorate their homes for Christmas and Halloween, why not Fat Tuesday, right?

And now, for your listening pleasure...

What Do You Think of This Color?

I took this on the Garden Tour a few weeks ago but forgot to share it at the time. This house wasn't part of the tour but it caught my eye. What do you think of the bold color? I like it! I'm a fan of assertive color (although I don't love Barbie pink, or orange, or Barney purple). I think there are far too many boring, beige houses around here. Don't be afraid of a little color. This house looks smart!

Untitled

This is one of my favorite homes in the Middle Shooks Run neighborhood. I think it's kind of unusual, in a good way. My internet sleuthing tells me that it was built in 1928 and is currently worth about $430,000.

There's No Place Like Home

Wherever home may be! Today was the Colorado Springs Garden Tour, and it happened to be in a micro neighborhood called Divine Redeemer that's adjacent to my friend JB's neighborhood, Shooks Run. The tour did overlap the neighborhoods a little bit (in fact, our first stop was a house on JB's street, a couple of houses up from her). I took lots of pictures of plants of course, but also of other fun things that caught my eye as we walked from garden to garden. It's a charming part of town. More in the coming days!

Reflection

A photo taken from the bridge in yesterday's post, looking down at the creek in Shooks Run Park. Can you see my reflection? I didn't have a camera with me, so I used my cell phone.