Captured Moments – Garden of the Gods – part 3

/ coffeeandcapturedmoments / 2 Comments

There are many trails and places to hike in the Garden of the Gods park.  We started at the Perkins Central Garden Trail.  From there we drove to the Siamese Twins trail.  (Click on the park info tab to get a map of the trails and formations, and more great information)

So we begin.

I love the texture of the tree roots.  There were many trees with exposed roots along the rocky trails.

This is a panoramic shot from the trail on our way to the Siamese Twins formation.

Coming up to the  Siamese Twin rock formation.

Window looking towards Pikes Peak.

Gorgeous views from the trails.

Balanced Rock

As you can tell, I loved this day trip to the Garden of the Gods.  There was so much more there to explore and I would love to come back.  I hope you have enjoyed visiting the park with me.  

Dragon Thursday – emilySculpts

/ coffeeandcapturedmoments / 4 Comments

Good morning,

I found these wonderful  garden dragons on a website called emilySculpts.com.

She calls these Arbori sculptures, and they are made to hold live plants.

Click the images to go to her website.

There are many styles and colors of planters , but I was drawn to the green ones. These are wonderful.  I grow succulents and these would be perfect for some of the baby plants.

Captured Moments – Garden of the Gods – the white cottony plant edition.

/ coffeeandcapturedmoments / 1 Comment

My friend Tim teases me, saying that I have to stop and take photos of all the cottony plants.  I guess he’s right.  When we were at the Garden of the Gods I was definitely stopping to take photos of the fluffy, fuzzy, cottony  plants. 😉

The photo below was edited in Topaz Studio.  The effect is called Degas Dancers 1.

 

 

 

Coffee Monday – the after five coffee.

/ coffeeandcapturedmoments / Leave a comment

Good morning!

My friends are always on the lookout for coffee and dragon related items that might be fun for the blog.   My friend Andrea, sent me a link to a seasonal oatmeal stout that is infused with coffee.  It is called Mocha Merlin and is brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Company in  Paso Robles, California.  You may be wondering about the Mocha part.  Cocoa nibs are also used in the process. 

Here is the description from the website:

With an infusion of local roast coffee, a dash of cocoa nibs and touch of seasonal sorcery, our signature Velvet Merlin oatmeal stout has been transformed into Mocha Merlin for fall and winter enjoyment. This beer is brewed with the Colombia La Granadilla blend from our friends and neighbors at HoneyCo Coffee Roasters. The Colombia La Granadilla coffee meshes perfectly with the chocolaty character from the cocoa nibs, providing an oatmeal stout experience like no other. A touch of lactose “milk sugar” provides suggestion of rounded sweetness on the finish.

This sounds so good!  Unfortunately, I can not get this stout where I live in Texas.  
If any of you have tried it, please let me know what you think.  

There is a seasonal coffee porter that is brewed not too far from where I live.  I will share that next time.  🙂

Captured Moments – Garden of the Gods – part 2

/ coffeeandcapturedmoments / 1 Comment

Good morning,

When I think of the Garden of the Gods, I think of the huge beautiful red rocks with names like Cathedral Spires, or Sleeping Giant.  Of course, there is so much more to see there and one of those is another rock formation they simply refer to as White Rock.

 

See the rock formation on the top to the left?

 

We decided it looked like a buffalo.  What do you think?

This was a fun day trip and there are more photos to go through and hopefully share.  If you are in Colorado Springs and I would highly recommend visiting Garden of the Gods.

Dragon Thursday – A Rotten Smelly Dragon Jar by Pixie Hill

/ coffeeandcapturedmoments / Leave a comment

This week I found a fun Dragon project on Pixie Hill, a blog by Nichola Battilana: Maker of Messes, Believer in Faeries

The  project is called A Rotten Smelly Dragon Jar Tutorial

There are notes in the blog post for making the Rotten Smelly Dragon Jar and a link to Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts where you can purchase the laser cut dragons.

I also enjoyed the Youtube video she has showing how to make the jars. 

Be sure to look around her blog and visit her Etsy store : PixieHillStudio.

 

 

Happy Halloween

/ coffeeandcapturedmoments / Leave a comment

Trick or Treating has come to an end at our house.  It is now parties or getting together with friends.  There will still be candy and cupcakes, decorations and some reminiscing – at least on my part.

We used to carve pumpkins, but this year slipped past without so much as buying one.  The pumpkin patch did yield a few good ones for baking. Those have been cooked and put in the freezer for later use.

Here are a few jack -o-lanterns from our past celebrations.

Wishing your a fun filled spooky Halloween.

 

Coffee Monday – Happy Halloween

/ coffeeandcapturedmoments / 2 Comments

Well, it’s almost Halloween.  

I found a photo of a coffee mug during my search  for Halloween related coffee ideas that would have been perfect,  but it is no longer available when I click the link.  😦  

It said:

Don’t shoot!  
I’m not zombie
I just haven’t had my coffee yet.  

Pretty accurate.  😉

 

Instead, I will share my favorite Zombie coffee comic from Infinite Monkeyz.

If you celebrate Halloween, I hope you have a spooky good time. 

 

 

Captured Moments – Lions and Tigers and Bears…

/ coffeeandcapturedmoments / 2 Comments

Oh my!

Sorry.

I couldn’t resist.

More from the Denver Zoo

Photos edited using Topaz Studio

We arrived at the lion area as they were setting out their..dinner.

I liked the black and white effect. 

 

This effect is called Faded Glory (below)

There were two bears and both were sound asleep.  The rock pillow doesn’t look very comfortable.

Expressionism effect (below)