Monday, September 8, 2025

Our Alaska Cruise began in Seattle, WA



The Princess Cruise we took as a family in July began in Seattle, Washington. Seattle is a fun place to visit! My husband and I spent a week there in 2016 to celebrate our 42nd anniversary. We visited all the major city sights back then. The Space Needle, seen above, is part of the 74-acre Seattle Center, which was originally built for the 1963 World's Fair and is an arts, educational, tourism, and entertainment center in Seattle. It is home to the iconic landmark 605-foot (184 m) tall Space Needle tower, and the Chihuly Garden and Glass--click here--to see my blog post about Chihuly Garden.


We arrived on the same late afternoon flight as our daughter, son-in-law, and our oldest granddaughter two days before our scheduled cruise, and we stayed in the same hotel. We had dinner at the nearby Queen Anne Beer Hall, and then took a walk to the shore of Puget Sound to enjoy the sunset.  Our daughter-in-law and two grandchildren flew in earlier that morning and spent the day sightseeing, while our son and oldest grandson flew in the next day, after our grandson's last day as a camp counselor-in-training.



The next day, everyone went sightseeing! My husband and I walked around the Belltown Neighborhood. As you can read on the Wikipedia link above, Belltown was "formerly a low-rent, semi-industrial arts district, and in recent decades, it has transformed into a neighborhood of trendy restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs, and residential towers as well as warehouses and art galleries.



I enjoyed photographing its artistic window screens and blocks of poetry on the sidewalk.


Even the privacy screens on fences were filled with quotes!



A highlight for me was that one of my dear friends from high school, Josette, who now lives in Florida, was visiting her daughter and family in a suburb of Seattle, and she was able to meet my husband and me for lunch. She suggested a fun landmark, a 24-hour diner called The 5 Point Cafe, where we were able to talk for hours!



Afterward, my husband and I walked down to Pike Place Market.


The Public Market Center at Pike Place is a bustling area full of stores, shops, and vendors of all kinds. 
As the website states: Founded in 1907, the Market is one of the oldest and largest continuously operating public markets in the United States and is brought to life by the hundreds of farmers, crafters, small businesses, and residents that call it "home”.
The first Starbucks is located there and had a line around the corner of people waiting to visit it!




The seafood being sold by multiple vendors was amazing!


So much fresh seafood!




The next day, we all boarded the Princess Discovery Cruise ship and enjoyed the "sail away" sights of Seattle. 


Later that evening, we all gathered for dinner at one of the Discovery specialty restaurants, "The Catch By Rudi." All the seafood was very delicious, and our waiter treated us by singing "Happy 50th Anniversary" and presented us with a special chocolate cake to enjoy.  It was the perfect way to begin our cruise!


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Sunday, August 31, 2025

Where Have I Been? Alaska!


My entire family enjoyed a wonderful Princess Cruise to the Alaska Inside Passage at the end of July. It was a celebration for my husband and my 50th wedding anniversary! We all had a wonderful time! My husband and I had traveled on a land and sea cruise to Alaska in 2019--click on this blog tab-- and scroll through those many blog posts if you have not seen them. 


This was the first time our son and daughter-in-law, our daughter and son-in-law, and all our grandchildren visited Alaska, and it was extra special to see it through their eyes while also enjoying new sights ourselves.

Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier

We saw the most amazing sights, both on the cruise ship and at the places we visited on land.  I will be showing all the highlights in future blog posts.


Unfortunately for me, I developed a horrible sinus infection on the last day of our cruise, and when I returned home, I somehow developed a corneal ulcer on one eye, which required a therapeutic contact lens bandage. I am still wearing that bandage, and have had some good and bad days adjusting to the healing process, which has kept me offline.  As my sight improves, I promise to be back more consistently, as I've missed blogging and reading all my favorite blogs!

In the meantime, I hope everyone has enjoyed their summer! Can you believe it is September? I hope to catch up with you all soon!

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Sunday, July 13, 2025

The Museum of Outdoor Arts in Marjorie Park


This past week, my husband, son-in-law, and I met our daughter at her place of work in Greenwood Village, Colorado, for lunch and a planned visit to nearby Majorie Park, where the Museum of Outdoor Arts--MOA is located.  The park was named “Samson Park” for many years after the Yorkshire Terrier family pet of MOA Co-Founders John and Marjorie Madden. The park was then renamed in memory of the late Marjorie P. Madden on May 27, 2015.
Our daughter remembers when the park was open all the time, but after an extensive 2-year renovation project was done, Marjorie Park reopened in 2021 with the MOA relocation of its headquarters to the park, which is now only accessible during events, tours, and by appointment.


 After entering the gates, we entered a path called The Lions Den.

MOA's home base houses more than 40 artworks throughout the sculpture park and venue, and I'd like to show some of the sculptures we saw on our visit. Unfortunately, we chose an unusually hot day in Colorado to make our visit. It was 96°F (35.5°C), so we toured the space at a quicker-than-usual pace to avoid overheating.



Each lion in this park is inspired by great Italian sculptures from antiquity and the height of the Renaissance. 

According to the website, "The lion’s metaphoric power is often translated through allegorical artwork and is highly referenced in Christian iconography. The Old Testament story of Daniel in the Lions’ den symbolizes the notion of salvation, after the biblical figure was condemned to spend a night with the mythological beasts and survived."

You can click on the photo collage above to enlarge it to see placards describing each lion, or read about them at this link.



The Stargazer Sculpture by Madeline Weiner was also located along the path.

"Stargazer invites the viewer to search the skies with her by becoming a part of the sculpture."



Mother Bear and Cubs by Beniamino Bufano

"Beniamino Bufano, renowned San Francisco artist, created work out of his dedication to humanity and his belief in rendering truth and integrity in the simplest manner. He strived for simplicity through ceaseless observation and vigilant discipline. He created work with the direct intention of giving it to the public, and in doing so, has the sculpture function in daily life. His intentions strongly uphold the belief of the Museum of Outdoor Arts in “making art a part of everyday life.” The Bufano family cast this sculpture after the artist’s death."




Departure by George Lundeen. Lundeen based this sculpture on a sketch he drew of a couple waiting in an Italian train station. Our daughter sat on the bench to pose with them!


Please click on the photo to enlarge to read the sculpture names and descriptions.


Seven Petal Veseca by Rosa Buff
Enlarge the photo collage to read the description.


 The wall sculpture on the upper right of this collage is Biography by Neil Goodman

"Goodman's semi-abstract forms suggest tools, fish, fruits, long bones, animal heads, and classical busts."
On the left in the photo collage is Estacas by Ken Bortolazzo
"Ken Bortolazzo’s sculptures are an invitation to examine the dichotomy between object and nature, and to ultimately explore the possibilities that dwell within that vision. At once substantial and delicate, his metal works can be a metaphor for both human sturdiness and frailty. With a lifetime of hands-on experience, Bortolazzo tackles the larger issues of man-made versus nature and merges it with a rare sensitivity."


Chole by Roger Leitner

“Chloe,” a memorial to Roger Leitner and MOA founder Cynthia Madden Leitner’s beloved standard poodle. Roger sculpted “Chloe” from Yule marble mined in Marble, Colorado, close to where Roger spent many summers carving with Chloe by his side. Chloe accompanied him on his sculpture installations and was a constant studio companion."


The next part of the MOA consisted of various Alice in Wonderland sculptures, beginning with this White Rabbit Sculpture by Harry Marinsky.
Based on Lewis Carrol’s Book.

"Harry Marinsky carries out Lewis Carroll’s intent and brings Sir John Tenniel’s illustrations to life in his Alice in Wonderland sculpture series.
"The White Rabbit is the first character Alice meets in Wonderland. He orders Alice to fetch his gloves and fan. Although Marinsky’s style is simple and sometimes minimal, the essential details are included."


Next was Alice and the Caterpillar by Harry Marinsky

"When Alice meets the silent Caterpillar sitting on a mushroom, smoking a hookah, she finds herself being told to 'keep her temper.' She is puzzled by this advice."


Alice and the Cheshire Cat by Harry Marinsky

Marinsky used a gold finish to accent the Cheshire cat's face to mimic his disappearing features, where only the cat's smile was seen at times while speaking to Alice.


Old Father William by Harry Marinsky

"Father William is the subject of the poem that Alice recites to the Caterpillar. The second figure depicted is his son. This verse is nonsense and was Carroll’s parody of Robert Southey’s poem, “The Old Man’s Comforts and How He Gained Them.” Marinsky’s depiction is from the poem’s first stanza:
“You are old, Father William,” the young man said, “And your hair has become very white; And yet you incessantly stand on your head- Do you think, at your age, it is right?”
“In my youth,” Father William replied to his son, “I feared it might injure the brain; But now that I’m perfectly sure I have none, why, I do it again and again.”


The Walrus and the Carpenter and the Queen of Hearts, both sculptures by Harry Marinsky

"Lewis Carroll’s poem, “The Walrus and the Carpenter” from his book Through the Looking Glass (1871), is often referred to as literary nonsense. The poem is recited by Tweedledum and Tweedledee to Alice. Marinsky includes many direct references from the poem’s illustrations, including walking oysters, the Carpenter’s hat, and the Walrus’ handkerchief."

The Queen of Hearts is yelling. "Off with her head!"


The Mad Tea Party by Harry Marinsky

"At the tea party, Alice meets the Mad Hatter, March Hare, and Dormouse. Alice is constantly frustrated with their manners. She leaves them trying to fit the Dormouse in a teapot."


Puppet Theatre Bench by Lonnie Hanzon

We couldn't resist taking a seat on the bench seats, even though the sun had heated them a bit!


St. Francis of Assisi by Harry Marinsky

"Marinsky’s St. Francis stands surrounded by children, with his arms in the air, freeing birds into the sky. St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order, is recognized by his emaciated appearance with the stigmata on his hands, feet, and chest. He is typically represented barefoot, wearing a dark habit, with a tonsure and a short beard. Symbolic elements commonly associated with St. Francis are animals, a book, a crucifix, a lily, and a skull."


Three Gossips by Harry Marinsky

"Three Gossips are poised in a circle. The close proximity of their finely chiseled facial features suggests the secretive tone of their conversation. Marinsky based this sculpture on three women he witnessed gossiping at a Henry Moore exhibition. The style employed by Marinsky is simple, yet it explores the complexity of the human form and psyche."


Windsong III by Robert Mangold

"Windsong III revolves, creating a mosaic in motion, a patchwork of color against the sky. The colorful rhythmic dance of Windsong III draws the viewer’s attention skyward, conjuring memories of pinwheels, balloons, flowers, and simple pleasures. Mangold’s love of nature and keen fascination with kinetic forces offer an intricate, scholarly framework for interpreting his work. In achieving mastery of an artistic medium, which depends upon wind for its animation, Mangold has cultivated an understanding of man’s primal relationship with nature and its eternal cycles."


Resistance by Leslie Temple

"Resistance is a pensive woman lost in introspection. Appearing naked to the world, she protects herself against all outside forces. Desiring to evoke an emotional response from the viewer, she creates intimate, tactile work.
Resistance is a tribute to the elegant beauty and dignity of the human form. Temple’s style transcends objective realism and directly expresses her artistic instinct. Working quickly, and directed by intuition, she captures the shape of the subject without striving for photographic likeness."


“Samson,” by Jon Leitner. He was the faithful Yorkshire terrier pet of John and Marjorie Madden.


Click on the photo collage above to read the description of "Western Wheatgrass."


MOA co-founder, John Madden developed Greenwood Plaza to be an environment that incorporates landscape design, architecture, and art. The Museum of Outdoor Arts also owns and operates the adjacent Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, which promotes outdoor performing arts and events.


Marjorie Park and the MOA grounds were filled with beautiful flowers and were an enjoyable place to stroll. My husband, daughter, and son-in-law had a wonderful time looking at all the sculptures despite the summer heat, and we have made plans to visit the various exhibits of sculpture art that are also located in public locations in the area in the future during some cooler weather.

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Sunday, July 6, 2025

Deer Creek Canyon Open Space Park Wildfire Restoration


 Every time we drive into my Colorado Front Range neighborhood, we see this beautiful view of a portion of Deer Creek Canyon Open Space Park in the distance.  If you look closely, you will notice that some of the foothill mountain areas are brown and fire-singed.


This is because last summer, the Quarry Fire occurred in this area. The wildfire started on the night of July 30 until August 9th, 2024, and burned 579.6 acres out of the park's total 1,637 acres.  It was a very worrisome time for our neighborhood, but we were fortunate that the firefighting suppression response was exceptional, and there were no high winds during the fire to allow embers to fly many miles. Deer Canyon Park consists of steep slopes, rocky terrain, and elevations ranging from approximately 5,886 to 7,510 feet, with grasslands, shrublands, and dense mixed-conifer and ponderosa pine forests, so fire supression was an ongoing challenge.  Over the next 7 days, firefighting resources arrived from around the Denver metro area and beyond.  


Aircraft brought water and fire retardant to where they were most needed on a fire.  We were fortunate that there were a few nearby reservoirs in our area. Air Tankers also dropped fire retardant foam on the fire. In addition, bulldozers and wildland firefighting vehicles, and two special "Hotshot" fighting teams also helped with the fire abatement in the high, rocky, steep hills. All of these hardworking teams were our heroes! There was no loss of life or property, and soon after, the hard year-long work of restoration began.


The park partially reopened on May 15th, 2025. 
The following information regarding the restoration process is from the Jefferson County website:

"Known damage to the park included fire suppression actions, trail tread maintenance needs, standing dead tree removal, and erosion due to severe to moderate burn areas. Urgent water quality protection repairs have already been made to bulldozer lines on both the east and west sides of the park. The Jefferson County Open Space secured over $353,000 in funding from the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) for helicopter mulch and seed drops, which took place from March 31 through April 2, 2025, to mitigate erosion on severe burn slopes. More than 10,000 pounds of native seed-mix, some of which was sourced from JCOS parks, and 60,000 pounds of straw mulch, as well as the pelletized hydro-mulch that was applied, will help stabilize the slopes in the most erosion-prone areas of the park, ultimately helping protect Chatfield Reservoir from sediment runoff."

My husband and I decided to hike a few trails in the park last weekend, beginning with the "hiker only" Meadowlark Trail, to see the results of all the restoration work.

It was so wonderful to see wildflowers growing all along the trail!

Tall native grasses were also thriving, and even more wildflowers!


The higher we climbed in elevation, the views became more spectacular. We could see the city of Denver in the far distance!


When we reached the Meadowlark Trail summit, we could see some of the remaining fire damage, both along the trail and in the distant foothills.


I took the short video above at the summit looking towards the canyon and some of the wildfire area.

As you can see from the remains of the wildfire damage, the restoration work continues, and the full opening of the park is expected to be August 1st, 2025. You can also see how difficult fighting a wildfire on these high, rocky elevations where venomous rattlesnakes and wild animals such as mountain lions and black bears also roam!



We did the full trail loop back down to the park's parking lot by taking the Plymouth Creek Trail. This trail is very rocky with dense forest, and we did not see as many wildflowers along it, although we did see a few at its lower elevation.


As we drove back home, we felt a bit exhausted, but also very grateful to have done the hike, to see nature recovering. We also felt grateful to all the first responders for the excellent job they did combating the wildfire, and the Jefferson County Park Service for all their diligent ongoing restoration work. 

THANK YOU TO ALL!

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