Lou.. in Denver

Lou in Denver is Moving!

2009-09-25T12:32:00.007-06:00

Lou.. in Denver is moving..
well not really..
She'll still be Lou..
..living in Denver..
but will reside permanently as :
*Mountain Mermaid*..
Same Florida beachy girl frolicking..
round about Denver and wherever..
So please join me at:
http:mermaidlouie.blogspot.com

♥My Real Pink Saturday Pretties♥

2009-09-11T22:51:00.005-06:00

On this chilly dreary day,
I wanted to share some of my favorite Pinks.
As in Flowers..delicate and pink
So..please enjoy the collage,
lose yourself in the aromas of warm spring and summer days..
for very soon, the sights and smells will change..
as will the colors fade from pink to be reborn..
instead as vibrant golds, oranges and yellows!
pop on over to see Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for more Pink Saturday

Pink Saturday

2009-09-11T20:49:00.006-06:00

Although it is Pink Saturday..
I AM SEEING RED!!

What gives with Yahoo?
once again, due to changes and upgrades..
I CANNOT ACCESS MY PRIMARY E-MAIL ACCOUNT!
Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day..
if I can access the account,
I will empty and close it forever!
Stay tuned for the real Pink Saturday
Be sure to pop over to see what caught others in the pink!

Sky Watch Friday

2009-09-11T07:55:00.006-06:00

Reflections of Summer

Blue skies and clouds..

Good breezy, cool morning from Denver!
Breezy, but not quite blustery or windy..
and there is a definite nip in the air..
quite a change from the calm..
of yesterdays blue skies and giant puffy clouds..
a cold front has come through,
with rain promised for later today..
so ,, instead of spring cleaning..
I will begin my fall ritual..
changing summery curtains for heavier drapes..
airing and fluffing the winter blankies..
and washing the flannel sheets..
when all THAT is done..
there's winter clothing to exchange for summery stuff
well maybe I'll just wait..
for another rainy day..
am just not ready for winter to arrive..
I haven't had a chance to enjoy Autumn yet!

check out other sky views at Sky Watch Friday

Thrifty Thursday, etc.

2009-09-10T10:39:00.006-06:00

Thrift store finds..
..and other tales..

Initially, I wanted to join in the fun and share my latest finds from favorite thrift stores. While looking at my photos, and deciding they needed to be retaken before sharing..I cropped and this is the best of the lot!

Bubba G has been a member of the family for almost a year now.

On a very cold and blustery day last December,when opening the front door to check for mail, a taped up banana box was sitting on the porch.
Not thinking about it, I shoved it aside with my foot..and heard the weakest MEEEEOOOOOW! Quickly the box was brought indoors from the 18 degree weather!
Before opening, I searched for a message..NOTHING!
Having two indoor cats already, all I could think of was..what am I gonna do with another cat?
After putting BeBe and Ballou (my other two rescued toss away cats) safely in another room, and taking this box to the laundry room, cautiously I opened it.. out popped a fully grown ORANGE cat!
He ran behind the dryer and peeked out at me as the contents of his box were checked for further clues..again..nada! Someone obviously loved him a great deal..a bag of food, two dishes, a favorite toy and blankie were in the box..but nothing to indicate from where he had come ..And obviously they knew I am a sucker for cats.. and dogs.. and kids..
Bubba G..spent two days in the laundry room behind a partially cracked door as he gradually became accustomed to the sights, sounds and inhabitants of my household.
On the third day, I entered with a bag of catnip..rubbed him down while softy talking to him..mommy to baby talk..from that day forward, no more hissing and scratching.. just a big loveable baby who makes his place wherever he wants..always sharing his unconditional love!
Bubba G? from the movie of course..Life is like a box of chocolates..you never know what you gonna get..and so was the case with my Bubba G..

Check out these nifty thrifty sites..Goodwill Haunting and Homebody Holly for super finds!

Waterside and Outdoor Wednesday

2009-09-08T23:15:00.006-06:00

THEY say one picture is worth a thousand words...
so what do these FOUR say?

Serenity in blues and greens..trimmed in white sand

Just gotta get the sand between my toes!

Margo on the rocks..jetty at East Pass Destin Fl

Sunshine,salty seabreeze, sand between my toes= SHEER BLISS!

My friend Margo,(another photographer)
and I had the most wonderful time at Destin!
What more can I say.. let the photos speak for themselves!

Swim on over to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for more Outdoors Wednesday..
then say hello to Barbara for Waterside Wednesday

Blue Monday

2009-09-07T09:05:00.003-06:00

Blue..
Beach..
Navy Blues over the beach!
Being a native Pensacolian, the Navy's Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team was a fixture in my life.
To me, the sound of jets overhead represented the sound of freedom.
To watch their air shows was awesome, inspiring , thrilling and motivating!
Many a youngster grew up with aspirations of one day being a Navy jet pilot!
Now fly on over to Smiling Sally to see other Blues..

R.. is for Rocks..

2009-09-07T01:37:00.000-06:00

Red Rocks Amphitheater and seating

R...
is for Red
...Rocks..
and Colorado Rocks..
at Red Rocks!

Located near Morrison , Colorado just west of Denver is the famous Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. This is a natural formation with large tilted disc-shaped rock at the rear. On either side of the stage ,large boulders and rocks angle outward.
Seating capacity is 9,400. Concerts are given in the open air.

Easter sunrise services occur there each year.

The Park was opened in 1906, structures were built by the CCC and WPA.

Now rock on over to Jen at Unglazed to see who else has a special letter R
Have a great Labor Day!

Bellamere Cottage: Happy Pink Saturday Girlies!......Oh How I LOVE Cath Kidston!

2009-09-05T02:15:00.000-06:00

Bellamere Cottage: Happy Pink Saturday Girlies!......Oh How I LOVE Cath Kidston!

Pink Saturday

2009-09-05T00:33:00.004-06:00

The joys of Being Girly

Pink satin with lace and bows for this delicate lingerie bag..

Whimsical topping for this jewelry box

Frills and laces for girly girls..
along with the sugar and spice..
and..everything nice
including ribbons and bows..
remember those days..?
Check out other Pink Saturdays
with Zaroga's Nook and Jen at Unglazed

A to Z backwards and BLUE MONDAY

2009-08-30T20:51:00.009-06:00

...Strolling the endless Strand of Beach under azure Blue Skies..

...Sea oats for Stabilization of Sand Dunes..

...Spectacular Sunsets

...Surf fishing ..one last cast at Sunset

....Sand, Sifting through my toes..

...Sunlight Sparkling on Sea bluegreen waters..

S...simple pleasures..
... sugary,white beach Sand..
... Surf..
... Splendid Sunsets
... Soft Sea breezes
... Siren Songs..calling to me
Sent with love from my beach in Pensacola Florida!

Pink Saturday

2009-08-29T09:51:00.005-06:00

Links...

Lifeline..

In the Pink
Today, I am in the pink, so to say..
second cup of coffee almost gone..
beautiful day out..
time to be out and about..
so grab essentials..

First my lifeline..my little pink communicator..
Next.. my purse sized camera for documenting discoveries..
and lastly, a glance backwards to my beginnings..
(photo by Margo of Florida)
now this beachy girl is ready for the day!

Happy Pink Saturday!

Denver..My Way..

2009-08-28T11:14:00.002-06:00

Please join me at a new location..
Here will be posted many different views of Denver..
a bit of history..
architecture..
attractions..touristy and otherwise..
flora and fauna..
seasonal changes..
whatevers and wherevers..
see you there!..
P.S.
Lou ..in Denver will continue..
♥smiles..

By George, I've Found A home for Lady ~M~

2009-08-27T12:44:00.007-06:00

"Classic Georgian,in the Park Hill Neighborhood, currently on the market for a MERE $1,899,000.00.

The gracious home is is situated on a spectacular 15,600 square feet lot in Park Hill. This classic home with original light fixtures and beautifully maintained wood moldings. Three floors of warm, light filled rooms full of charm and character. In addition, there is a finished basement and a studio apartment above the garage with a bedroom and bath that could easily be turned into guest quarters."

Denver Historic Neighborhoods

East Denver, Including Park Hill, Montclair,Hilltop, and Lowry, is a relatively prosperous and largely residential area through which the park and parkway system provides a touring route.
East 17th Avenue Pkwy., East 6th Avenue Pkwy, Montview Blvd, and Clermont,Forest, Monaco and Richthofen Parkways are inteconnected greenways lined by many fine homes reflecting popular architectural styles of the past 100 years.Richtofen Parkway leads to Montclair, an 1885 suburban town in which much infill, annexed to Denver in 1902. this heterogenous district resembles a catalog of residential styles from the 1880's to the 1990's. Two historic districts on what was, until 1994,Lowry Air Force Base commemorate the tremendous impact of the military upon Denver's development.

Just ramblings..

2009-08-26T08:51:00.004-06:00

Good morning Blogsters!

Today is a bit cool and gray here in Denver..
Probably a very good idea from our Maker..

You see..my COMPUTER has been on the fritz!
and boy! have I been HOT!

yep..something to do with YAHOO changing formats..
I've been with Yahoo since the very beginning of my foray into the exciting world of computing! No matter the change, I've always managed to conquer the devils who try tripping me..setting me up for a downfall of ranting..

My initial sign up with Yahoo was at the advice of my son..
"Mom,you cannot use your work email for personal stuff!"
"Go to Yahoo, it is the most user friendly site..follow the directions..
make sure you choose something unique and identifiable for your user name.."
thus was the beginning of keithsmom4367@yahoo.com ..
I loved the site, especially the ability to embed photos in the message body with no attachments.. I cried when that feature ended along with Yahoo photos..
but with that door closing, a new one opened in Picasa..love that site!!!
In MY opinion, it is one of the best user-friendly FREE photo editing sites!

Now am back to trying my best to sort out these new problems with Internet Explorer and Yahoo..

In the meantime dear friends..please enjoy one of my favorite shots of MY Beach!
..with eyes closed..imagine your toes wriggling in the warm sand..cheeks caressed by a sunkissed breeze..all senses serenaded by waves gently lapping at the shore..

Until tomorrow..enjoy your day to the fullest..
Live, Love ..and Laugh!
...smilingly...
Lou

Blue Monday

2009-08-24T09:21:00.000-06:00

I LOVE BLUE!
..Most every shade of blue from soft powdery blue to the deepest of navy blues! One of my most favorite is found in this Plumbago blossom photo taken in Panama City,Florida back in May.

The early morning was extremely humid.The blossom,which undulated by a gentle breeze in and out of the sunshine,was wrapped around a deep blue porcelain birdbath...this created the fuzzy , shimmery effect..

This colorful blossom photo landed me an Approver's Choice Award at Weather Underground WeatherPhotos!

From A to Z..backwards

2009-08-24T07:08:00.001-06:00

Tea..

..Typical Middle Eastern serving

..Samovar for brewing

..Two to Tango

..Tee shirt made popular by Marlon Brando

T is for:

Tea..
tempting tantalizing, tasty..
...served hot, cold, iced ..sweet or unsweetened
...with meals or alone..
...has been a staple of asian cultures for centuries,
...as a staple beverage, a curative and as a status symbol.

Tea for two..
..two 2..
..2

..It takes two to tango..
..Tango..the dance
.. music

..ti the 7th tone in musical scales

Tee shirt originally navy issue undershirt in 1913
later short sleeves and crew neck worn as outer top for men and women,
as made famous by Marlon Brando in 1959 "A Streetcar Named Desire"

Now I need to refill my never-ending glass of sweet iced tea
as I pop on over to see more A-Z postings at Jen's Unglazed http://unglazed.blogspot.com

Pink Saturday

2009-08-22T10:36:00.003-06:00

Good morning from Delightful Denver!
..delightful as in deliciously wonderful weather!
..clear blue skies...not even a puff of a cloud!
..all of this puts me into a rosy state of mind..
speaking of rosy, which is just another shade of PINK..
..so how about a few of my favorite PINK roses..
to put YOU in the Pink?
Enjoy!!

Show and Tell..

2009-08-21T00:42:00.009-06:00

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Good wonderful morning!
grab your cups and let's chat a bit..
I have so many things to show and am overwhelmed at where to begin..
so me thinks the beginning would probably be the best place!
I love flowers!Flowers of all colors and descriptions..but roses are my favorites!
Today, will be Columbines..the official state flower of Colorado!
And guess what? This gorgeous flower fascinates me so due to resemblance/similiarity to creatures of the sea...
with backpointing tentacles..the flowers look much like a SQUID!!
No wonder I love the Columbine.. it's because I LOVE CALAMARI..fried squid!!
This delicate wildflower is a perennial, comes in a variety of colors and is very easy to grow! Most every home boasts at least one plant, if not several.
The plants emerge in late spring and soon begin their blooming which lasts well into late summer...and it reseeds!

Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy...

2009-08-20T00:35:00.010-06:00

Strolling along, I spotted this huge, bright orange pumpkin in a flowerbed. Guess it is being groomed for autumn decoration..or maybe a scary smiling Jack O' Lantern?

Gazing up at the gorgeous Colorado sky, I spot this huge sunflower..with a bee!..staring down at me!

..and yet another sunflower, with a bee, blowing in the breeze!
what a wonderful day full of sunshine,fresh air,and wishes that you were with me on this little excursion.
Maybe next time?

♥ hugs and smiles! Lou

Bright and Sunny

2009-08-19T23:33:00.005-06:00

Wednesday was a gorgeous day to be out and about on a such special day!
The sun shone brightly with only a sprinkling of cotton ball clouds dotting the azure sky! Acool breeze was gently blowing,keeping temperature comfortable.

My date, Nikon D40 was ready for action as I parked my car in a shady spot and cracked the windows. (We Southerners know about finding shady spots to park..otherwise our legs and bum would be burnt when we re entered the car!)
Anyway, Nike and I strolled the beautiful parkway, stopping only to line up the perfect shot.

The houses were magnificent,MANSIONS,of many diverse styles.One thing all had in common was SIZE. These castles were situated on city lots, most covering at least two and one house actually filled THREE LOTS! Roofs were either slate tiles, or terra cotta. A few stll have wooden Cedar shakes.
The structures all have basements,and above that level are three stories!Several boasted windows in the attic spaces! Sure am glad I'm not the maid having to clean one of them!

Garages,rear entry from the alley was the norm as street parking simply is NOT allowed. During the winter ,when snow has fallen and the accumulation is several inches deep, getting out of the garage can be difficult.
Shoveling snow is not a fun chore, even with a snow blower. And when the snow melts and refreezes into ice, the difficulty is compounded! Most folks have a snow removal service handle the task for them..

Landscaping is immaculate, with neatly mowed expanses of green lawns.Perennial flowers bloom in swaths and masses,lending ma profusion of color to all the greens.There is an abundance of evergreen trees, ancient and huge, reaching skyward! The mixed variety of other trees provide shade in the summer and color during the fall.But the prettiest tree is the white barked weeping birch.Some have become diseased, but those remaining, are exquisite in their beauty..

It is hard to imagine living in such splendor,where the beauty is maintained by paid services.I prefer doing my own as well a digging in the dirt, and planting flowers.
And yes, I WILL pay a snow removal service to keep my driveway clean and passable!

Good Wednesday Morning!

2009-08-19T07:52:00.003-06:00

Today will just be a quick hello with my usual cup of morning coffee!

Have several early doctor appointments, and later, a date with my camera!
Date with a camera you say? Say I..emphatically YES!

Please let me explain..
Whenever I have doctor appointments,my ritual is to go out and about with my camera!
NO cell phones or interruptions are allowed for about two hours! I call this exercise medicine for my soul! Anything of interest can and will be photographed for later editing.

Today, I will be exploring one of my favorite neighborhoods. There the imposing monoliths situated on expansive green lawns are set far back from the tree lined parkway.

The houses,or rather mansions, are huge brick structures resembling European castles! Many are of Tudor style and others a more Victorian in nature. All were some of the earliest homes built here in Denver over one hundred years ago!

I'd like to share with you dear bloggers, my discoveries in this wonderful city which will be celebrating it's one hundred fiftieth anniversary this year!

So until later..grab another cup and enjoy your morning!

♥ smiles! Lou

New Directions

2009-08-18T07:47:00.005-06:00

Good morning from Denver..

Hot coffee and cool rose scented breezes wafting around me..
ummm! delicious morning smells to awaken the senses!

My arrival in Denver was quite a change from all perspectives.
For one, the sky seems endless here as does the horizon.
Both stretch forever until BAM! There is Denver right smack in the middle!

Denver,approaching from the East, seems to perch on a flat plane.
Upon closer inspection, downtown is a cluster of many tall buildings.
The most recognizable being the Quest Building, which resembles an old timey cash register! All are familiar landmarks to me now as are the many one-way streets.
That was not the case when I first arrived!

Being raised in the south, we were taught our directions:
North was Up north, or facing away from the water.
South was facing the water: (The Gulf of Mexico)
East was naturally towards the Atlantic Ocean, and West was the Pacific Ocean.

Here, directions are given as "Can you see the mountains?"
So imagine my surprise when on my first job interview on a snowy morning..
and getting lost in the downtown Denver. After admitting to myself that I was hopelessly lost and confused, I called a friend for help.

The first words out of her mouth was "Can you see the mountains?" To which my frustrated reply was, "MOUNTAINS?" All I can see is tall buildings and snow flakes!!
Finally with her calming directions,I managed to safely navigate to more familiar surroundings,easily returning home!

Today,we can laugh at my early "exploratory" experiences in Denver. Armed with a city atlas,my navigational skills have greatly improved. The city is laid out in a grid pattern. Streets are numbered, while avenues are in alaphabetical order with botanical names.

What fun adventures we will have exploring together..
Are you game?

Monday, Monday...

2009-08-17T07:34:00.000-06:00

Good morning world..

Won't you join me for a cup of wake-up juice as we chat?

I Live in the beautiful city of Denver,Colorado..also called the Mile High City because of it's altitude..5,280 feet above sea level. How ironic..a Florida beach girl goes from sea level, leaving behind the sugary white sands and emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico for the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains!

That was almost five years ago. Still it seems like yesterday driving my old red Toyota 4-runner across country from Florida to Denver! The temperature was heavenly in April,making the trip truly comfortable. It had been many years since making my first trip to Aspen, Colorado,so seeing the mountains suddenly appear on the horizon was a joyful surprise! The song "America The Beautiful" came to mind as I viewed the many differences of terrain,flora and fauna.

Upon arriving in Denver, my car loaded with necessities, I quickly settled into apartment living while waiting for my shipped clothing to arrive. Bear in mind,I left Florida in April where summer temps were already the norm. Denver had very little humidity with daytime temps an enjoyable sunny 60 degrees. Night temps were still in the low 40's. So imagine my surprise and delight to awaken to SNOW !! Such a pretty scene.. snowflakes, BIG floppy wet flakes covering everything in sight..creating a sparkling fairyland! Grabbing my camera, this had to be documented..MY FIRST SNOW! The novelty quickly wore off as snow continued falling..and falling throughout the day.. accumulating to a total of TWO FEET!

Remember I mentioned awaiting for my clothes to arrive? Here I am, watching it snow, knowing sandals and sneakers were my only shoes and sweatshirts were the extent of my WINTER outerwear!!! ..and not a single pair of socks!! Quickly my shopping list began to materialize.
a lightweight down parka,boots, SOCKS, gloves..scarves, hats..
It was then I realized,my garage was NOT attached..that meant a trek through two-feet deep snow to the garage..and I am ONLY 5'2" tall!! Just imagine me slogging through snow, up to my ying-yang, wearing sneakers, jeans and a sweatshirt on a sunny April day! I can laugh now, back then it was not the least bit funny! But as quickly as the snow appeared,once it stopped falling out came the sunshine and within hours, the streets were clear and passable, and life quickly resumed it's normal pace...

And thus began my adventures in the Mile High City of Denver.