Amanda Cabot's Blog

 

The snow may be dirty, but that didn't stop this magpie from sitting on it, hoping for a handout from the picnic my husband and I were having in the car.

We found this magpie in Moraine Park, one of our favorite spots for a picnic in Rocky Mountain National Park regardless of the season.

If you've been following my blog posts, you won't be surprised to learn that there's a story behind the cover for Whispers in the Valley. There's always a story, isn't there?

It started when my sister began researching possible locations for a photo shoot. She was the cover model for Echoes at Sunrise, and I'd originally planned for her to be on the cover of Whispers too, but as you'll see later in this post, that changed.

Among the pictures she went me was one that really caught my fancy -- a bri...

 

Many years ago, well before my husband and I moved to Cheyenne, a coworker described Rocky Mountain National Park as the "crown jewel of the National Park system." I tend to agree with her, because Rocky, as the locals call it, has so much to offer visitors. 

In addition to spectacular scenery, there's the wildlife. Doesn't this bighorn sheep look as if it's saying "I'm king of the road"?

 

Spring is the season for crabapple blossoms, and autumn is the season for fruit. Right? Apparently this tree is a bit confused, because it has both. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw it in the parking lot of a local supermarket in late October. 

Are any of the trees near you as confused as this one?

 

Aren't the butterflies on this Dia de los Muertos statue beautiful? You'll notice that although there are none of the traditional marigolds on it, the butterflies are the bright orange that's a characteristic color. 

I hope you've enjoyed this month's posts. What will November bring? I'm not certain yet, but I hope you'll return to see what that month's theme is. 

 

The statue, which was on display at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens last October, might not appear very tall, but the photo is taken from the second floor. The statue is actually at least six feet tall and was part of the "La vendedoro de flores" exhibit in honor of the Dia de los Muertos.

My Spanish is rusty, to say the least, but I believe that means "seller of flowers."

 

Last week's post provided the Wyoming State Museum's explanation of the common Dia de los Muertos elements. This exhibit, which was positioned next to the explanatory table, shows how memories of loved ones might be arranged.

 

Continuing our discussion of Dia de los Muertos, last year the Wyoming State Museum had this table which featured many of the elements that are included on altars commemorating those who died. 

 

How often do you see a scene like this at a botanic garden? A few years ago, the Shane Smith Grand Conservatory at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens had a special Dia de los Muertos display throughout the month of October. The brightly decorated skull and the marigolds are both important aspects of this early-November day. 

 

What's a duck doing in a yard with no pond or water feature? That's the question I ask each time I see a pair of mallards waddling through the grass. You won't be surprised to learn that they don't answer.