Challenge 1: Collaborations https://oscraps.com/community/media/1-a-pace-that-feels-good.398627/ Challenge 2: Lyrics/Poems https://oscraps.com/community/media/2-the-stubble-in-the-fields.398633/ Challenge 3: Big Photo Challenge ttps://oscraps.com/community/media/3-migration-paper-crane.398579/...

Inspired by the cover article from Popular Mechanics, which is behind a paywall, so I've invented my own version. My AI blended with Jen's damsel paper.

Inspired by Jen's new ColorPLAY papers. The damsel reminded me so much of Lady Diana, and of course I had fun going back to those years.

It was a beautiful morning on Wednesday, with a few pink clouds. We heard the marsh wrens and spent a while finding them. You got photos but I mostly enjoyed just watching for them in the cattails. We also saw a night heron. On our way back, I had to stop for the sun on the silos.

Monday was Labor Day. There were thousands of blackbirds. And we saw a single night heron on the south pond, where we met and talked to a local who visits the refuge often. He was from south Jersey like me. (It's very rare for use to meet anyone at the refuge. ;-D)

Inspired by Jen's new Nevermore Bundle and Lynne's new Pumpkin Head Collection

Just for fun, exploring Jen's new Nevermore Bundle.

I knew that ravens were among the smartest birds, and that some of them at RMNP understood their guest photographers. We had seen them mug for the camera and even perform for us. And since it was in the winter, I also understood that they hoped for a scrap of food, but feeding is illegal.

Inspired by Jen's new Blendy Goodness, and I used her new blenders with her newest paper pack.

Thanks for the challenge, Sharon. I wanted to do a page about the sky, and I think for sure weather defines the seasons, at least where I am. ;)

Heading to the refuge, we stopped to look at clouds ahead of us, but to the east the sky didn't look the least bit interesting. Then ten minutes later all of the clouds in every direction were pink. And finally, in just under an hour, one last look from the farm road on our way back.

Thanks for the challenge, Jeanne. I made one frame twice the height of the other two. By the time I had worked that out, I had a whole lot going on in the photos, and I didn't see how I could add in all the elements like Cheryl did without creating distraction. :p

Thursday was our last day at MVNWR for September. And it was a big surprise when we spotted the newly arrived sandhill cranes on the far shore of the big lake. The cloudy pale sunrise turned into gorgeous colors, and I found a marsh wren on a cattail in my photo of the blackbirds.

We stopped quite a few times so I could take in the fields of color. The fall colors were amazing in all that land that had been charcoal black back in April. The thing that stood out for me was that the cattails had been agressively managed, and there were no blackbirds.

Thanks Ona. This was hard for me. Frames are easy, but I'm very picky about getting too much of the sticker look. :p

At that first stop at MVNWR on Tuesday, there were no birds and only sounds of distant birds, but I was fascinated by how the camera saw the bright yellows in the rabbitbrush well before sunrise. So we stayed there and explored all of the signs of fall, and it was just under 40 degrees.

Thank you Laura for the challenge. I enjoyed it all the while as I worked on my page.

I knew right away that my photo of the tiny white butterfly wasn't what I was after, and I had seen two of them together. So I asked the AI to make an image for me. I described the red-veined plant I knew was hyssop weed, and it worked out well. But my memory was a bit off.

Thanks, Cindy! Here's mine. If this is what you're after, I can say I'm getting the hang of it and having more fun. ;)

We saw all of the signs of fall when we got to the Alamosa refuge, but not a lot of ducks or birds. The blackbirds weren't there, but we loved seeing the egrets & glossy ibis at one of the larger ponds. The tall reeds made a lovely backdrop for the beautiful white birds. The ibis were diving for...