Ice Ice Baby

147, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

It snowed last night...and it was cold but already things are melting. Typical Denver weather. But it does create some pretty fantastic photo opps.

Solitude

042, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

I love images that portray solitude and juxtaposition. The single tree in an empty field, etc. This building feels that way to me. All alone in this huge field of snow, almost as if it was taken up in a tornado like in the Wizard of Oz and plopped here for no apparent reason.

More Ice

127, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

This is another ice sculpture from the other day. I love how the blue of the beautiful sky that day impacts the ice itself.

Ice Sculpture

123, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

Part of the festivities in Breckenridge was an awards ceremony, the dais was made from ice. This is one of the many leaves that was carved along it. The sky this weekend was so blue and clear it almost looked fake...but that is the sky in the background.

Snow Sculpture

174, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

This weekend I went up to Breckenridge (Less than a 2 hour drive from Denver) to see the Annual Snow Sculpture contest. While this wasn't the winner, it was a favorite of mine. The start with an enormous block of snow (3000 lbs I believe) and it takes about 65 hours to carve. Does anyone else think this guy looks a little like Burgess Meredith?

Metal Man

IMG_0776, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

I took this photo outside of a shop in a small town about 45 minutes out of Denver.

Angel

IMG_6615w, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

Continuing our theme, it seems these days angels are almost a religion of their own. This angel, is in the first church built in Denver, and sits atop the baptismal font, looking towards the heavens. There is a stained glass window that streams in light onto her face. The font was a gift to the church from a family in the 1800s as a memorial for the child they lost.

Buddha

IMG_1533, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

This is the 2nd diversity installment. This statue also sits in the common area of my building, near the hindu statue. If you look closely you will see that there is a stone in the buddha's hands that says hope....ins't that what we all are looking for...whatever religion we choose.

Diversity

IMG_7754, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

The next few days will be devoted to the religious diversity in Denver...all the photos were taken on my block. 2 of them including this one in my buildings common space area.

I'm not commenting on religion one way or the other. But having just moved back to Denver from vanilla Southern California the diversity and the display is surprising.

Zoo Lights

IMG_7433, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

Every year the Denver Zoo decks out the zoo in lights mostly in animal shapes. This butterfly greets you in the entrance. The zoo lights are up until the middle of January. Check them out!

Back to the Animals

IMG_7038, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

UGH...i need to get over this. Leave for Vegas in a couple of days. This poor leopard was pacing its cage at the Denver Zoo. Again, I love the benefit of being able to see animals that I might possibly be able to see in their natural habitat but it is heartbreaking nonetheless.

Through the window

IMG_7768, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

Still not feeling well so its through the window we go. Luckily for me, there is a lot to see. One thing I love about Colorado vegetation is that it has beauty in every season. These "flowers" or whats left of them, are just as pretty to look at as they were in the summer.

Back to the Animals

IMG_7331, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

Still not feeling great, which means reaching back (just a week) into the archives. This photo is such a contrast to the lion, which while pent up in an "envrionment" when I took the photo was not caged...and seemed like its regal self. This poor "little" thing was not wandering its environment but was caged and this photo seems to capture her sadness.

Sick

IMG_7769, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

I've been sick, so this photo had to be taken from my window. Wind chimes are an appropriate photo right now since there is a big controversy in Denver because one neighbor is suing another about the noise created by their windchimes

Lions, and Tigers and Bears Oh My

IMG_6857w, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

There are a lot of people who dislike zoos and the ways the animals are kept and caged. And while I hate the thought of these animals not in their natural habitat I love the ability to head over to the Denver Zoo and experience these beautiful creatures "up close" and personal. The big talk that day (a week after the SF zoo tiger incident) was about whether the tiger could jump the moat or if the wall was too low. My experience has been that if you leave these amazing animals in peace viewing as you were meant to they don't even realize you are there. So please for the sake of everyone...behave!

Windows

IMG_6483, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

I love windows. They are the eyes of a building and through them you can see life happening...or just make up the story of what is going on behind those eyes. These windows are from Trinity Church downtown.

Great Corners

IMG_6555, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

This is a great corner, a beautiful church on one corner, brown palace on the other. You can see the church in the background.

Capitol Building

IMG_6533, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

The Capitol looking down Grant from 17th.

IMG_6470, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

This is the most prominent building in the denver skyline. The statue is in the Wells Fargo Plaza. The building really framed the statue which is off two hands.

The Old and the New

IMG_6550, originally uploaded by thrivestyle.

On this New Years Day as we have rung out the old and rung in the new I thought this photo I took the other day was perfect. The church is the first church built in Denver and is absolutely stunning. I love walking (or driving) down this street...the reflection of the old church in the glass of the modern building gets me every time. This particular corner is all about this juxtaposition of old an new, modern office buildings with this church, the brown palace, etc. surrounding them.