Thanks for the challenge. I started with making some wordart, but each word I thought of meant I needed more photos on the pages. I think I got carried away, but it was fun reliving that morning. :D

The eagle was in a nearby tree just before we got to the refuge, and he moved a short way off several times. Seeing him always makes our visit immediately worthwhile. We also saw a hawk and there were ducks. The young coot has to be the cutest but his parents are just sort of odd.

On Saturday we were way out of our normal routine, and were halfway to Monte Vista when I realized our cameras were still at the hotel. No blue hour for us, back into town, we decided our best chance at a sunrise was to head for Alamosa refuge instead. And we acftually got there just in time.

Thanks for this inspiration and for all you do, Adryane. I'll be missing these challenges. ;)

After two days of laying low, we still felt like we probably overdid it, when we went to the refuge on Friday. We were so thankful we had added two days to our trip because Arizona would have been so much farther. It felt good to get out in the sunshine and feel the fresh air.

More than half an hour before sunrise and I knew I couldn't see what was there, the reeds were tall. But I thought the camera would help. I stood in grass by the side of the road, on even ground so not to stumble. I think there were ducks and an owl, yet still it was a little spooky.

Here's mine! Thanks for the challenge. ;)

Thanks for the challenge. Every drive to a wildlife refuge is an adventure. You don't know what you'll see, and you also have to be prepared to see nothing at all. So always an adventure. Rachel Jefferies: 1 foliage, 3 journal prompts, 1 paint, 2 paper piece, 1 paper, 1 sequins Palvinka: 3...

Sometimes we wondered if we'd see anything at the wildlife refuge that would make our drive worth it. We'd remind ourselves that it would always be different and there would always be a surprise and that's what made it an adventure. It was rare to be ready when birds took off.

There were dragonflies and I watched them until I knew how to spot them when they landed. I could only stand up or walk for a minute or two, but I was happy anyway. When we got to our hotel, they gave us the same room on the third floor as on previous trips, and the staff helped me get settled.

This was perfect for my photos. Thank you for the challenge.

When we got on the long dam road near the interpretive sign, I liked to stop and see if I could hear the marsh wrens. Over time, I learned more about how to find them, and on our September trip I happened to spot one on the far bank. It was pretty far, just a tiny speck of light color on the...

Thank you for the challenge. I started out to go with the top row, and it wasn't long before I saw I already had the diagonal row finished, from word art up to water and I was done. :D

We stood on the dam, which took a bit of a walk. Canada geese were arriving at Monte Vista ahead of over 20 thousand sandhill cranes, and we'd come back in a month to see them. We had great view. But then we remembered it would be dark and too cold to stand there in a month.

Thanks Claire for the challenge. I use the same filters all the time, to save time. Saving time is usually high on my list. :D I used Adobe's Neural filter, Landscape Mix, set to Autumn for all 5 photos. It looks like sunrise, but 4 out of 5 photos were actually from the blue hour before sunrise.

The Tuesday sunrise was cloudy, but we saw night herons and you saw the owl. Of course I loved the view of the Jeep as I returned on the walk. I still had back issues. Yet in all I got over a mile in steps anyway. The island was taken over by Canada geese and we imagined cranes there in October.

I'm newsletter challenged but off now to see if I can get signed up. :D

Amazing inspirations here. I went way out of my normal zone and had a lot of fun stretching my own rules. :D My inspirations: 1-B&W+kraft, 5-holographic sign, 7-giraffe, 8-zentangles, 11-skulls, 12 typewriter keys

On Labor Day we met no cars in the drive to the refuge, and of course we had it to ourselves once again. Our happy place. The reeds were too tall to see most of the ducks, and we had to wait for the sun when it went behind a cloud the width of my finger, less than 15 minutes.

Thank you for the challenge. It's been so hot here, I couldn't imagine how I'd make a fall page, but it worked out to be perfect for yesterday's story. :D