Bare branches from Gunnison Colorado's castle rock formations. ©Victoria Lise 2018.

The Dance Between Seasons

Snowflakes are swirling gently from a foggy white sky. A sky that feels closer than usual. Living at altitude can often appear as if the world above is within reach, when the fog settles and the clouds drop into the land it becomes a nearly tangible reality. As each flake falls so does the friendly, familiar, peace, and quiet. It’s melodic in its own rite. The air is so frigid it kisses the cheeks, frosts lashes, and undresses the Aspens of their dying leaves. The temperature high is predicted to be a brisk 24º tomorrow, cold is simply winters birthright,…

Aspens diverse color palette along Kebler Pass, Colorado. ©Victoria Lise 2018.

Autumns Aura

Although Aspen trees are one living organism connected through their root system, they still strut their individuality, mostly visible within their changing leaves and watchful eyes. Without Aspens, Autumn wouldn’t have the same aura around here. The vividness of color can be electrifying, soulful, and sensationally stimulating.  Pine trees keep their deep timbre-green needles the whole year through, offering not only contrast but a grand compliment to their fellow community grove members. What a lovely, harmonious relationship.  The leaves have now fallen, decorating trails along the valley floor like rose petals often do a wedding aisle, leaving the faintest scent…

Victoria Lise with dog, Styx at Blue Lake.

The Sacred Waters of Blue Lake, Colorado

Roughly 15 miles out and back through a valley appropriately named “Oh Be Joyful” lead us to questionably one of the most breathtaking alpine lakes. A single track, well-defined trail winds through fields of free range cattle, willow brush, and decomposing skunk cabbage. The valley is wide but eventually feels dome-like as you near the lake. Mountains seem to kiss the sky, a sky that felt far away but within reach, all at once. The dry summer and arrival of fall left a layer of lingering, seasonal scent. Dried foliage crunched beneath our feet, while the rhythm of our legs…

Black eyed Susans line a reflective pond. ©Victoria Lise 2018.

The First State of Delaware

Delaware, while it sure has many flaws, it has its treasures too. After all it is nicknamed “The Small Wonder”. Nestled within nuclear chem plants, an absurd amount of shopping centers, overpopulated highways, and a violent stricken city exists an array of ancient trees, lush -almost tropical landscapes, an assortment of preserved native plants and what’s left of the country. Rolling green hillsides, tulip polars and great white beech trees, the pungent fragrance of a fertile land, and the evening symphony of crickets and cicadas (or perhaps the roar of the Atlantic) all make up a small fraction of the…