Lunation

Since all of the shots from last week uploaded out of order, I thought I'd kick this series off with our playful mugs. First off is Antonio (LJ user cyberwolf007) who is half of my oft referred to "the boys". Following him is Erik (LJ user spiritcougar).

Oh, an explanation for the first two: as we set off on our jaunt, I noticed an oddly placed bright orange sticker in a drainage ditch. Antonio hunkered down to investigate, and the result was... what exactly is a Bush Hog Eaton?
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Oh my, you cheeky thing!
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Awww. >:-)
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A few of Antonio pushing me:
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Erik, avid outdoorscougarman!
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Woo hoo! GQ shots!
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Gazing into the Bole of Truth!
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King of the Steppes:
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Antonio spotted this tiny broken eggshell, and not far off Jay found DEATH ENCOUNTER, no. 6--a gorgeous dead Monarch Butterfly. We made up a story, on the spot, that the butterfly's natural prey is bird eggs. We positioned the butterfly to appear as if it was supping on the remains:
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After a backward glance, we headed for the marsh, then back to the cottonwood copse:
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As we left the car, this frame from a pair of goggles lay on the ground:
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The lake to our left, and an egret in flight in the distance (we ran into it several times on our hike):
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Sunflowers and purple asters, and happily, a bee on the latter:
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This tree base intrigued me. The latter is through the upper branches, where the bright sun cause a red orb effect:
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Cyberwolf and I continuing down the gravel path:
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(toad emerging from a prairie dog hole)
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(peering over Quil's and Swift's shoulder at a leech on the creek's bank)
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(Swift stirring up a bird)
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Had a fun dinner at IHOP where Andi met up with us. We brought her to a favorite place we held rituals at, which we affectionately refer to as Fauxhenge. It's a rounded stone structure with obelisks at the mouth. A modest lake is to one side, and Boulder Creek on the other. Between, flanking Fauxhenge, are unkempt fields and trees.

As soon as we left the cars behind, Jay and I looked up just in time to catch sight of the brightest shooting star I've ever witnessed.

After the long walk, it felt good to see and feel the place again.

We placed an apple and four of the leaf-shaped candies on what we always felt was the altar of Fauxhenge.

Antonio and I off to the altar's left.

Andi perched on obelisk as seen through trees.

Looking straight across Fauxhenge from the altar.

Looking out to the right of the altar.

Antonio loping around the perimeter.

Red Skies At Night (I love that song).

Another angle with red sky.

Curious lights in trees.

Cool effects with distant streetlights and porch lights.

Another

One more.

We came to a particularly dark patch of overgrown field where an old door and a partial wall stand. We've passed by it for years, and made up all sorts of stories about it. We never approached it until that night.

The door

Close-up of the door

Andi leaving cookie bits at the door

On a warm fall Saturday afternoon three weeks ago, kusani, cyberwolf007, and I went for a nature walk at Adams County Fairgrounds and nature preserve. I wished to visit my special tree and bestow offerings upon it for Samhain.

Both Andi and Antonio took turns at being my photo facilitators. It's downright eerie how they take the exact shots I desire, even when I don't describe how I want the specific angle or sometimes even the subject.

In the parking lot Andi succumbed to an overwhelming urge to uproot an innocent wood post.
Not satisfied, the lion hoisted the squealing post above her head and roared in triumph.

To my joy, American Coots were visiting the lake. Curiously, every time we've seen them they're in a group of three.

Goodness, we finally saw horses on the trail! We often see the signs of their passing all over the fairgrounds and preserve, but until then we had never seen any in the act. I love that they're taking their baby for a ride.

Along the South Platte River were gorgeous sights, including:

A slender rock island slicing the water.

A close-up of golden leaves.

More golden leaves.

Wild Olive.

More Wild Olive.

Swamp with muddy shore.

Close-up of the muddy shore.

Tree supporting a branch of pretty leaves.

Andi traipsing across the river.

Andi crouching in rock in the river.

Neat exposed tree roots.

These weeds made me think of browning cauliflower.

Then we approached my special tree area and I was surprised by the bright carpet of grass leading up to it.

'Doorway' to the tree.

Antonio and I before the tree's natural altar, which is packed earth at the base where the limbs converge.

Sunlight above the altar.

Different angle above the altar.

View of the surrounding field through the tree's canopy.

The next day, the 19th, Dad took photos of:

One of the pumpkins in our garden.

Another pumpkin and a squash.

Japanese Maple with a rose from our front yard in the foreground.

A gnarled husk of Mullen in the front yard that resembles a dragon (the profile, complete with eye, and long neck).