December 31, 2008

The view from my hike to the top of Green Mountain today.

Ahhhhhh.......

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

December 30, 2008

Back Alley Entrance to Sushi Zanmai

This is considered by many to be the best sushi in Boulder. (I agree!)

This is the drawing on the wall next to the

service entrance facing the back alley.

December 29, 2008

The Duschanbe Tea House, Boulder

My oasis in the midst of a snowy winter!

This is a tea house, built (hand carved and painted) for Boulder by our sister city in Tajikstan. We gave them a cyber cafe to return the favor.

This place features gorgeous and

rare teas and a menu filled with lots of yummy food.

Its the first place I ate at when I came to visit Boulder. After a good meal, I said, "That's it. I am moving here." Five years later, I now take my son here for breakfast.

Question of the day:

What is your oasis in your town??

December 28, 2008

Fresh Flowers from the Whole Foods Market.

My favorite place to shop in town is a wonderful organic grocery store chain with amazing food and beautiful flowers.

On Christmas Eve, the store played "Checkout Bingo" - if they drew the number of the lane you were in, you won your groceries for the day. They always feature gorgeous food for samplings - cheese, seafood, fruit. Yum!

Question of the day:

Where do you shop for your food?

What is is like?

December 23, 2008

New York Botanic Gardens Holiday Train Show

Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty

Gorgeous and so much fun! At the Gardens each December they set up an intricate maze of miniature trains and replicas of Manhattan and Hudson River Buildings. All the buildings are made by one man and use only natural things such as twigs, leaves, etc.

An annual tradition that is worth a trip.

December 20, 2008

Rockefeller Center. Midtown. New York City.

December 19, 2008

The Whitney Museum, New York City

I am NYC this week visiting friends.

There is a Calder exhibit at the Whitney that has children going nuts. I took my 3 year old who loved it.

December 17, 2008

This guy greets you as you enter a store near Boulder.

Yikes.

He makes me think about our current economic crisis.

Kind of bear-like to say the least.

***I am off to New York City for 5 days of fun. I love that town and know it well so I just may be posting from there.

If not, I will be back in the saddle on Dec 24th.***

Until then....:)

December 16, 2008

Mural on the wall of the bar/restaurant,

The Sink.

An institution in Boulder and a fine place for a beer and a delicious meal. The walls are covered in the most amazing mural that goes on and on...

People write their names on the ceiling of the bar as well. Lots to look at when you are having a beer at this place!

A cool place for sure and super nice people.

Sits on "The Hill", right next to the

University of Colorado campus.

December 15, 2008

A frosty day in Boulder.

December 14, 2008

An architecture firm in town.

Bitterly cold and snowy today.

Shot this from the warmth of my car!

December 13, 2008

Gateway Park Fun Center, Boulder

Race cars, miniature golf, games, outdoor hockey

December 9, 2008

Lunch time. Taken from my Home Office.

December 7, 2008

sunday afternoon.

Child runs across the grasses in front of the Flatirons.

December 6, 2008

A home in the Whittier Neighborhood.

Today was the annual Historic Homes Tour.

This one of the private homes on the tour.

December 5, 2008

Window Shopping 2. Bass Pro Shop.

December 4, 2008

Window Shopping. Apple Store.

December 3, 2008

Painting on the back of a park bench.

Today is dreary, cold and snowy. Thought I would brighten up a bit with this cheery painting on the back of a park bench. This looks a lot like the surrounding areas at the height of summer.

Snow is coming tonight...brrrrr

December 2, 2008

December 1, 2008

Circles/Spheres Theme Day: Sculpture in local park

November 27, 2008

My Kitchen - before I cooked the Thanksgiving Feast for the Day.

November 26, 2008

November 25, 2008

The Hill is a part of Boulder where the University of Colorado campus sits. Its full of students and thrives with their energy.

November 24, 2008

Victorian staircase, University of Colorado Campus

November 23, 2008

November 22, 2008

I spent the day in Ft Collins, CO where this fine brew is made.

The local brewery was started by a guy who spent a summer riding his mountain bike (fat tires) through Belgium. He returned to the US and started brewing in his basement. Today, its a very popular ale served in many bars/pubs.

November 21, 2008

Mountain Lion

(this one is no longer with us)

These guys live in the hills and mountains just above town. Occasionally someone spots one in their backyard. Yikes!

November 20, 2008

"Buck Shot"

Guest Photographer: Shawn C of Boulder

He came upon this Buck when setting out for a hike near the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder.

November 19, 2008

Evening.

November 18, 2008

This is painted on the side of a building in Downtown Boulder.

Boulder is home to many world-class runners and has an active running community.

November 17, 2008

November 16, 2008

En Plein Air on a Sunday Afternoon on a trail in East Boulder....

November 15, 2008

Scott Carpenter Park - a cool playground with great views...

November 14, 2008

A civilized lunch.

Rainbow trout on spinach and lentils

from Brasserie Ten Ten in Boulder.

November 13, 2008

(Brunette)

Sure the benefits and pay are good, but the hours are killing me...

Oh, to be a real person outside the glass...to walk, to dine, to laugh...

This sweater is itchy..

I see a cute guy over there - he's posing in the surf shop window--

they should turn him my way...

hum...

(Blonde)

Oh, you don't want to mess with him, he used to work at the Gap - all the other mannequins could not stand him.

Talked constantly. Never shut up. You know.

(Brunette)

Oh.

How about that Santa Claus over there at the kitchenware store?

He seems sensitive and jolly.

November 12, 2008

Spyder is an outdoor/skiwear company in Boulder.

They make some very sharp stuff.

Love their logo, too.

November 11, 2008

To those who have served...I thank you.

November 10, 2008

Today was one of those ho-hum overcast, chilly Mondays....Not a whole lot to write home about..but even in winter, the homes in Boulder stand out.

November 9, 2008

A toddler awaits his pancakes after a frosty morning

hike along the Ceran St. Vrain Trail.

The Merc, Jamestown, CO

November 8, 2008

A Climber's Gallery

This gear belongs to a true blue rock climbing Boulderite.

He hikes up and over and bushwacks his way through...

Looking for one of many interesting courses

up and over the beautiful rocks in Boulder.

No soft "bankers hands" on this guy.

November 7, 2008

November 6, 2008

Winter is peering it's frosty head around the corner...

I'm coming, get ready...

November 5, 2008

Phew. Not a minute too soon. Go-Bama! Go-America!

November 4, 2008

Patiently awaiting the US Presidential Election results...

Om Shanthi.....

November 3, 2008

Messy Eater...

Clearly his mother did not teach him table manners

...And he could have used a bath too. :)

November 2, 2008

The Cottonwood Trail

Truly one of my favorite places on the planet.

This trail weaves along a creek lined by big Cottonwood trees.

People walk this, bike this, run this, and in my case, during my pregnancy, waddled this trail. Some walk along in silence taking in the beauty of the surrounding farm lands or the vistas of the Flatirons,

others engage in long conversations, while others, better still, will

walk this trail reading a novel at the same time!

It's one of those places on Earth that

gives you peace no matter the season or the time of day.

The dog in this picture is a

wonderful Lab named Levi who is near and dear to my heart.

Til the day I die, I will retreat in my mind to the wonderful twists and turns of this trail to find peace and solitude deep within my soul.

November 1, 2008

Boulder Theatre (1906)

THIS PLACE ROCKS!

Opened originally as an Opera House in 1906, this amazing theater has been entertaining Boulderites for 132 years!

Today it hosts many leading bands and musicians from around the world and features each winter the latest in extreme skiing films.

For years it was a movie house, featuring the first talkie film,

The Jazz Singer, in 1927.

During the Depression, they doubled the movies daily and gave free bags of groceries away to lucky seat numbers. (Considering our economy today - maybe they should start doing that again!)

I have enjoyed many hours at this fantastic venue. Thank goodness places like this still exist!

October 31, 2008

I was preparing celery snacks for the Halloween party at my son's school today and as soon as I chopped this end piece off, I saw such an interesting flower-like shape. And the smell is so fresh! Makes me want to plop this right into a pot of brewing vegetable broth....

October 30, 2008

The Arnett - Fullen House (c. 1877)

19th Century Gingerbread Victorian with Gothic Revival Style on 7th and Pearl Street in Boulder.

Original cost for this home, a lavish $4,000 back in 1877!

I love this house and have toured it several times. Its now privately owned and lovingly restored by a family.

As you can see the biker riding by in pic - Boulder is considered one of the most bike-friendly towns in America. You can get anywhere in this town on a bike or on foot and not feel like you are about to be run over. We have a wonderful tradition on Thursday nights - whereby, at times, over a hundred bikers meet up at a certain spot to then cruise the town 'en masse' - many decorate their bikes and themselves for the wild ride.

October 29, 2008

This guys sits atop a new development of beautiful condos right on Boulder Creek. He must be the Guardian of the Gate. Wonderful, whimsical scuplture to be featured on the front of a building. The sculpture continues down the facade and across the balconies of the building. Really special.