Garden of the Gods II

. . . at dusk, with a view of Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs.

Love And Hate

A kindergarten teacher has decided to let her class play a game.
The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes.
Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates,
so the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.

So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for 1 week.

Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended....

The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for 1 week?". The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go.

Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime???"

Moral of the story:
Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will not carry sins for a lifetime.
Forgiving others is the best attitude to take!

True love is not loving a perfect person
but loving an imperfect person perfectly!!

Mule Deer

Mule Deer at Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs.

And how do I know they're Mule Deer? . . .

 

By their black tipped tail of course.

Bighorn Sheep II

At Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs.

There were about a dozen Bighorn Sheep wondering up the rock outcropping shortly after the entrance to the park.

Bighorn Sheep

At Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs.

Garden of the Gods

10 Most Expensive Cars in 2010

Here's the full list of 10 most expensive cars in the world during this 2010 year.


Koenigsegg Trevita

1. Koenigsegg Trevita: US$ 2,21 million
2. Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport US$ 2 million
3. Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster: US$ 1,8 million
4. Lamborghini Reventon Roadster: US$ 1,56 million
5. Lamborghini Reventon: US$ 1,42 million
6. Maybach Landaulet: US$ 1,4 million
7. Koenigsegg CCXR : US$ 1,3 million
8. Koenigsegg CCX: US$ 1,1 million
9. Leblanc Mirabeau: US$ 765.000
10. SSC Ultimate Aero: US$ 740.000

Fox Run Regional Park IV

Fox Run Regional Park III

20 February 2010

5 May 2009

Fox Run Regional Park II

Fox Run Regional Park

Located just North of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Red Rock Canyon Open Space VI

Along Quarry Pass Trail, looking West towards Pikes Peak (smothered in the clouds).

Along Quarry Pass Trail, looking Northeasterly.

Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Red Rock Open Space V

Red Rock Canyon Open Space IV

Along Contemplative Trail looking North towards Garden of the Gods.

Red Rock Canyon open Space III

Along Contemplative Trail looking South.

Red Rock Canyon Open Space II

Along Contemplative Trail looking North.

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Panorama of four images stitched together.

View looking West-Northwest along Red Rock Canyon Path.

Colorado Springs.

For You on Valentine's Day

Olympic Training Center

"The U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs is the headquarters for the U.S. Olympic Committee administration and the Olympic Training Center programs."  teamusa.org

Blackeyed Susan

Meaning Of Phoenix - Rising Bird

The Phoenix is a mythological bird, and its legend exists in many cultures. It appeared first in ancient Phoenician mythology, as well as Greek, Chinese and Egyptian mythology. 
It is said to live between 500 and 1,000 years (depending on the legend) in the Arabian wilderness and at the end of it's life cycle it builds a nest of cinnamon twigs and burn itself on a funeral pyre. After being burned down to ashes a new young Phoenix then rises out of the ashes and live through another cycle of years. In this way the Phoenix bird is believed to live an immortal life. The Phoenix is often represented as an emblem of the sun, resurrection and immortality, mystical rebirth or hope.

 

 The name Phoenix itself originated from the Greek word for “red”, which is the universal color of fire. Being the bird made from fire, Phoenix can be used to symbolize a person’s inner fire. 

The symbol of Phoenix was also adopted and used by the early Catholic Church as a symbol of Christ, relating to his resurrection.

Morning Glory

Photoshop Elements 3.0 Edits:  adjust levels, palette knife filter.

Experiments with Photoshop

Pioneer Museum II

Carved Keystones

Dreamcatcher (Native American Symbol)

Dreamcatchers are an authentic Native American tradition from the Ojibwa (Chippewa) tribe.  It is a Native American object based of a small hoop covered with string, yarn, or horsehair mesh and decorated with feathers and beads and believed to give its owner good dreams.
There is a traditional belief that the Dreamcatchers filtering a person's dreams by trapping the bad dreams and catch the good ones. Good dreams go through the middle hole in the Dreamcatcher while the bad dreams get caught in the web where they perish at the first light of dawn. Native Americans of the Great Plains hung them in the tipi or lodges and especially on a baby cradle board. They were protecting all who slept within their fold. Each part of a dream catcher has symbolic meaning. The feathers on a Dreamcatcher symbolize air or the breath of life.
The Dreamcatchers are now made, exhibited, and sold by some New age groups and individuals.

Pioneer Museum

Pioneer Museum, Colorado Springs.

"With over 40,000 objects in its collections, the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum seeks to interpret, research and preserve the unique culture and history of the Pikes Peak Region. In keeping with this mandate, exhibits have included significant quilt collections, Native American Exhibits,Van Briggle pottery and a regional fine art exhibit. The museum is is housed in a former El Paso County Courthouse. Of note, entrance to the Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays-Saturdays from May-October." cite
Address: 215 S. Tejon Street | Colorado Springs, CO | 80903

U. S. Air Force Cadet Chapel VII

Interior of the Buddhist Chapel

"The Buddhist Chapel (Vast Refuge Dharma Hall) is 300 square-feet and is the newest addition to the Cadet Chapel. Donated in 2007, the Dharma Hall was built freestanding within the existing structure. It is made of Port Orford Cedar, a rare, fragrant wood used for temple building in Japan, and its simply proportioned design welcomes Buddhists of all denominations, as well as guests.

The altar and alcove are constructed of American Cherry and Ash and were designed and built by Takayuki Kida, a traditionally trained Japanese woodworker. The Buddha figure on the altar is Burmese, and the large lion-topped censor is from China. The figure of Avalokiteshvara, known as the one who hears the sounds of the world’s suffering, stands near the entry. The arrangement of the altar focuses on the Buddha figure, representing not only gratitude to the historical Shakyamuni Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama, born approximately 556 BCE) but also the possibility of awakening, or enlightenment. The altar also offers appreciation for the four elements of life: earth, air, fire, and water . . ." cite

United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

U. S. Air Force Cadet Chapel VI

Interior of the Jewish Chapel

"Architecturally, the synagogue is a circle within a square. The circular design symbolizes the global mission of the Air Force and the everlasting presence of God. The surrounding foyer is paved with 1,631 pieces of Jerusalem brownstone donated by the Israeli Defense Forces . . .

The walls of the foyer are purple stained glass panels alternating with green and blue stained accent windows. The circular walls of the synagogue are panels of translucent glass separated by stanchions of Israeli cypress . . .

The paintings, done by Shlomo Katz in 1985, are grouped by theme and each has a Biblical basis . . .

The synagogue is the only one of the four cadet chapels with individual chairs for the congregants. It seats 100 people. ... " cite

United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

U, S, Air Force Cadet Chapel V

Interior of the Catholic Chapel

"The focal point of the Catholic Chapel is the reredos behind the altar. An abstract glass mosaic mural, the reredos is composed of varying shades of blue, turquoise, rose and gray tessera to form a portrayal of the firmament. Superimposed on the mural and depicting the Annunciation are two 10-foot tall marble figures, The Blessed Mother on the left, and the Archangel Gabriel on the right. Above and between these two figures is a marble dove, symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

In front of the reredos is the altar which was dedicated by the late Francis Cardinal Spellman on Sept. 22, 1963. The altar has a large table top of polished marble mounted on a cone-shaped pedestal. Above the altar is a six-foot sculptured nickel-silver crucifix. Altar furnishings are of high gloss nickel-silver.

The side walls of the chapel, from floor to ceiling, are panels of amber glass which cast soft brown colors across the chapel. Between the amber glass panels are strip windows of multi-colored cast glass set in pre-cast reinforced concrete.

Along the side walls are the 14 stations of the cross, carved from four-inch thick slabs of marble. The recessed backgrounds in the sculptures are multi-colored tessera.

Both the stations of the cross and the reredos were designed and completed by the late Lumen Martin Winter, who created "The Conversion of St. Paul" for the facade of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City. The Carrera marble in which the figures are done was taken from the same quarries from which Michelangelo drew his stone.

The pews, which seat 500 people, are of American walnut trimmed in satin finished stainless steel... " cite

United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Mano Cornuto (Horned Hand)

The mano cornuto is an Italian symbol and hand gesture of ancient origin. The Italian cornuto means literally to having horns, but figuratively it means the person is a cuckold - "a man whose wife has sexual relation with someone else". 

This hand gesture is formed so that the index and little fingers are extended while holding the middle and ring fingers down with the thumb. The reference is to the horned head of an animal. Whether made as an hand gesture or worn as an amulet,  mano cornuto is used for magical protection against the evil eye. Also, today this symbol has a variety of meanings in heavy metal music, where it symbolizes: devil sign, devil horns or goat horns.

Yellow Daisy IV

On This Day

Today, mend a quarrel, Search out a forgotten friend.
Dismiss a suspicion, and replace it with trust.

Today, write love letters to people you miss.
Share the most precious lesson in your life.

Today, encourage people around you with words and deeds.

Today, reflect the way you treat people.
Consider others more, listen more and smile more.

Today, forego a grude. Forgive those who hurt you.

Today, if you were wrong, apologize.

Today, try to understand, appreciate, be kind, and be gentle.

Today, express your gratitude.
Gladden the heart of a person. Praise the wonder of the earth.

Today, you can choose to be happy or not.
Today is your only change to succeed.

So today, express your love with words and actions. Don't regret tomorrow.

"...and as your days, so shall your strength be."

Related Post:
The Bell
Daily Bread
Easy and Difficult Things
You Are Everything to Somebody
True Promise
Labor of Love

U. S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel IV

Unicursal Hexagram

The unicursal hexagram is is a hexagram or six sided and six pointed star. It is called so because it can be drawn in one continuous movement. This symbol can also be depicted inside a circle with the points touching it. 

The unicursal hexagram represent opposites like fire and water or male and female. It is used in the Greek and Hindu mythologies in which it symbolizes the union of the man with the divine. This hexagram represents above and below, a place where human and divine are One. The Unicursal Hexagram is mainly used by those practicing Thelema and Golden Dawn traditions. 

Even Aleister Crowley always claimed to be the originator of the symbol, research has proven otherwise. This symbol is used as a identifying symbol for wide array of Neo- Pagan philosophies 

White Daisy II