Wedding Venues - From a Photographers Perspective

Looking for that romantic spot to say your vows? This venue first appears to promise your wedding will not lead anywhere but to years of blissful marriage. Wait a tick! I am an event photographer, and before I have the lens cap off and my lights set up, this venue spells disaster, literally.

Have you caught it yet, because it is right in front of your...... okay, for those of you who are still looking up when you should be looking down, I would like to draw your attention to the floor. Yeah, that hard surface you are going to find yourself on. The curtain may be lovely, but there is too much of it on the floor which is going to send you and your broken self to the emergency room.

People at large gatherings are like sheep. They will trample their grandma to get where they are going. What do people do when they are anxious, excited? They try to get around everyone else in line. It is just nature taking it's course.

You the wedding party have just set the stage for one sure set of unforgettable pictures of Aunt Ruth flying down those stairs, or Uncle Jim sliding into what ever ground cover that you have laying in wait on the floor should he make it that far. I don't care how many cousins you have ushering. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

Here is another fun one people try to pull off at weddings. The chandelier placed where there is not suppose to be one.

Do you know how fast this netting will go up? 

Pretty you say? Yeah and so are the red, and blue lights on the firetruck that will have to come put out your wedding with a hose. 

Trees and electricity a magic combination.

Here is one of my favorites. Let me ask you what happens to wood, and in this instance a tree when it gets too hot? True this designer thought to use electricity. But so did Benjamin Franklin who had a kite and we know how shocking that was for ole Ben. The above light feature is beautifully done. My recommendation, put a little space between your twinkling lights and the tree. The animals of the forrest thank you, in fact the entire forrest service and national guard will thank you, not to mention countless home owners for miles.  Do have a back up plan if you have a rainy day as the sky in the picture above looks a tad bit overcast. You know water conducts electricity and your Grandma did not come all the way from Nebraska to spend time with a defibrillator. 

Hummingbird

Happy Mother's Day by Anonymous

Mother's Day Poem

by Anonymous 

I guess there would have been more to it, if my mom 

had not called me Anonymous. 

Happy Mother's Day - From a Genealogist

Happy Mother's Day

I love each of these women more than I can almost put into words. 

They are the reason I continue to work on our family genealogy.

For one taught me resilience, one taught me to be true to myself.

All were survivors and women who accomplished so much.

If I had a rose for each time I thought of them,

I would walk in a garden forever.

Hummingbird

Girls Free at Last - One Mother's Story

In the past few days a horrific story has come to light. Young girls who were snatch out of their lives and from their families by a Cleveland man have been finally rescued. As I read about them, I felt the color draining from my face.  For years, once young girls now adults, ages 27, 23, and 32, were raped and then forced to give birth to children. I am sure it was hell for the girls and I know it was for their families. 

Why do I write about this story? Let me tell you from personal experience. When a daughter of yours is taken away at a tender age by a grown man, your whole world turns upside down. I know, because it happened to one of my daughters. Not for 10 years, because I never rested until I found her. The roadblocks I faced finding her were huge. Back in the late 1990's law enforcement in Colorado handled most disappearances as just another runaway case. These situations in Ohio could have started out looking very similar to mine, details are still emerging. I remember talking to the Center for Exploited and Missing Children, still a fairly new concept, to police officers, social workers, anyone who would listen. There were no Amber Alerts then when my daughter disappeared. She surely would have been one. 

The hell I went through as a Mother was overwhelming at times. But I never ever gave up. Did he assault her, yes. He even expected her to make a home in his mother's basement with him. He told her what she could wear even. She told me afterwards that he proposed that they get married in the car one day. Did he know what he was doing? Well, he and his brother ran off to California to evade police, so that answer was evident to me. 


So how did this unfold? My Daughter worked at a local theater and caught the eye of a certain projectionist. A nobody who I became quite concerned about because he paid her too much attention. My daughter was a beauty and there were lots of young boys her age who paid her attention. They were a different story. She was delighted in the attention this older man paid her. It was this man over 10 years her senior that truly raised the hairs on my neck and those of of her sisters. He had a twin brother, also a interesting man. We actually met them and I will never forget the reaction of her older sister. She disliked him immediately and told me he was bad news. I agreed. 

Here is where the obscenity takes a greater turn. To get my daughter away from this man, after I had identified where she was, I had to adjudicate her to the Department of Human Services because the police wouldn't act. When I didn't think it could get any worse, boy was I in for a horrific surprise, this man's sick Mother fought for guardianship. How could Human Services even consider this arrangement is beyond me.  

My daughter went through more trauma at the hands of this man and his family until she broke free of the cage they built for her. I am proud of her for finally standing up for herself and getting away. She grew up too quickly though and has never been the same. The first time I saw her after she had disappeared was joy I can't hardly describe. 

Today after many years of struggle, she has emerged in her own right. I am so proud of her education and career accomplishments. She never gave up and she survived. If your child is missing. Don't give up hope and never ever stop looking for them. 

As for the man who took her. Of course he was never prosecuted. But I am quite confident he will make to the breakfast table in hell someday. If it is only half the hell I went through as a parent, it will be enough. 

As a side note, the last time I checked on this man he worked at Children's Hospital in Denver. It makes you sick doesn't it? 

Hummingbird

Here below is the link on the young women held in Ohio.

Story Here

Cry No More on Mother's Day

If you find yourself a childless mother this Mother's Day. Know that you are not alone. The card, flower and candy companies play upon emotion and guilt to bring this day each year. You gave everything you could in raising them, and you know it deep in your heart. Let them go.

Do something you enjoy this coming Sunday. If it does not include your children, do not despair. They have no idea what they are missing and do not care for whatever pathetic reasons. It is true life is short. They will learn this painfully someday. Remember, you cannot cry for things that do not exist, and you are the better for recognizing it. 

So stay strong, treat yourself to something nurturing and smile. You are still a Mother. Remember the true joys of Motherhood are in the moments you spent raising your children. 

You do not need a card to tell you that you are a Mother.


Hummingbird

Great Train Wreck - Life

My apologies to those who follow me for my absence. Life was going along quite nicely and like this video, a train came. I am reminded of the saying, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." To which I throw back my head and laugh hysterically.

 Still it almost kills you. . . 

Thank you for your emails of concern. My cardiologist says I must take better care of my heart. It really isn't too hard, just lots of new medicine with measuring and counting nutrients in my diet. I am certainly up to the challenge. 

Enjoy this video, it is quite good and certainly makes me laugh. Which is the best medicine of all in life.  

Hummingbird

Olympus Has Fallen - Review

My husband and I saw "Olympus Has Fallen last night."  This is a recipe Morgan Freeman save the world, and in this case what is left of the White House and of course the President, movie. Director, Antoine Faqua missed the mark on this one by playing on emotion instead of actual real life reactions which we as American's have now post 9/11.



First, Aaron Eckhart does not even come close as a convincing president. Gerard Butler is a emotional disturbed secret service agent who is the only man in the world who can save Sparta/America. He does an admirable job in the beginning maintaining an American accent, but cannot sustain it. Butler is NOT secret service material, the man is eye candy and he looks so much better in his suit than the rest of the secret service he stands out. Could it be it was a European cut instead of the standard issue? Also, I kept waiting for him to scream out..."This is Sparta or Olympus!" But he didn't. 

The real problem I have besides the whole storyline, is watching a place, Washington D.C. blown up. Watching the White House, a place I have been many times shot to shreds is so not appealing either. Also there were Bush-Era response time lines in play that are not real world now and I know it. I personally know where those steel barriers are in the streets around the White House, which didn't appear in this post 9/11 movie. 

So our enemy is now the North Koreans. Duh...Are you surprised? We can't use Middle Eastern terrorist anymore now that UBL is dead.  Every movie that is not sympathetic or glorifies their cause drives them out into the streets to riot and kill innocent Americans. 

To the movies writers and Director, Mr. Fugua - If your going to blow a Seal Team out of the sky in your movies, remember they don't stop coming - ever! Plus the whole premise of using a plane to attack Washington was emotional sabotage. It would have been blown out of the sky before it ever got to it's targets today. Additionally, taking out the Washington Memorial was just gratuitous. Are we surprised a building made of stone didn't implode? That's right, only steel and concrete do that.

At the end of the movie there was a two page, get out your magnifying glass survey we were asked to fill out. Question: What is your political affiliation? REALLY? I could see through that question in a heartbeat. No thanks...

Would I recommend you spend your money on this movie? No. Maybe, rent it from Red box, or pick it up on cable?  Only if you like lots of stupid dialogue and have no reverence for the historical and political implications this movie interjects, not to mention like to watch violence against women.

My Movie Grade is a C, and that is a gift.

Hummingbird

A Great Snow Day in Colorado

Finally we get a huge snow storm in Denver. I was really beginning to think that there wasn't going to be one this year. I know, silly me. We are after all heading into the snowiest months of the year. The last few years have been for the most part very disappointing, no downright scary. The high country has had it's off and on years. Two years ago it was great up in the Colorado mountains. Last year, not so much.  

The year has been pretty promising in our high country. This week when the news stations predicted that we were going to get a good one this weekend, I didn't hold my breath....but hoped. We really need the moisture, and are in trouble in this part of the country. So praying for snow is really okay around these parts. 

Pictured is my Cavalier, Ruby Belle after a fun frolic in the new snow. She loves it and I love her, so I set her up on her blankets and turned my fireplace App on my iPad. She loves it! I have to giggle, we have a gas fireplace, but it really isn't very impressive. So cuddling in her blankets with Mom and listening to the soothing sounds of a fire is exactly what a cold snowy Saturday is for. Hope yours is a nice.

Hummingbird

Have a Wonderful Weekend

Christine McClintock Hudspeth and
Ruby Belle

Happy Friday to all who follow me. This weekend will be spend in celebration of the 60th anniversary of my DAR Chapter. It will be such a joyous occasion. The weather men are predicting heavy snow and blizzard condition. I will believe it when I see it, and adjust accordingly. 

Here is a picture I did of my beautiful baby Ruby Belle, and me as we prepare for the weekend. 

We  are ready for whatever weather comes our way and look forward to having a wonderful time. 

Stay warm!

Hummingbird

Columbine Chapter, NSDAR - 60th Birthday

The Columbine

A favored flower in a patriot's garden, 

it's vine wandering past; 

as delicate as mountain snows,

climbing high in a mountain pass. 

Also lives just as strong; 

growing in our gardens at home. 

Trailing proud, our Columbine favors Colorado arbors high  

where only America's bravest eagles fly. 

It's pure purples, sweetened yellows, and spiked outer fray 

remind us that each Columbine member growing today,

needs nourished in rich soil with supportive hearts,

in a land our fore bearers fought for and won. 

In this 60th year does Columbine Chapter grow,   

and does with pride and love for our country, 

on beautiful mountainsides we all love and know. 

For no other flower do we keep in love's great care, 

than the our beloved Columbine, 
with petals made of purest purple, white and gold. 

Happy Birthday Columbine Chapter, NSDAR!
We celebrate you, and all who call home there.

Poem and artwork by Christine McClintock Hudspeth,

Member, Columbine Chapter, NSDAR

Columbine Chapter on Facebook

Zen Chihuahua - Cricket

 Cricket - Chihuahua - Service Dog

There is not a day that goes by, that I do not think of my Chihuahua Cricket. I miss him so very much. He was with me for 8 years, almost 9. This is a unique picture. A couple of years ago my husband and me were attending his Mother's funeral. Cricket was quite interested in the digging of the grave and all the dirt and rocks. He seemed to know this group of humans was doing something sacred. 

Cricket was that kind of service dog. He had the ability to sense the emotion around him. So when the service and burial were all done. Cricket went over to the grave and laid down on it and closed his eyes in such peace. I was so taken by this act. Everyone noticed that he was indeed sitting on her grave. I smiled, but felt my first tremor or premonition from this seemingly Zen pose. Brushing it off,  I was overtaken by this simple act he had just shown. He looked so peaceful here. Below is David's Mom. If I had to share my little buddy with anyone, I am glad it was her. May you rest in peace, you and Cricket together. 

Dave's Mom - Geraldine Elizabeth Babcz (Hudspeth)

For in just a few short weeks, Cricket would be dead. He was attacked by a dog that went for two others before he took after Cricket. My beloved buddy would be dead in minutes. I tear up every time I recall that fateful day. But now, when I look at both pictures, I feel that he was called home to sit on Dave's Mother's lap. She really loved small dogs just like I do. I do hope somewhere he is keeping her company, until I get there. 

Hummingbird

Dalriada - Dál Riata

Dalriada – Dál Riata The people of the Kingdom of Dál Riata spoke a Q-Celtic Goidelic language. They lived in Argyll on the West Coast of what is now Scotland from around AD 400. The Gaels of Dál Riata are often called ‘the Scots’ as the Romans named the Q-Celtic speaking peoples of Ireland and Argyll ‘the Scotti’ which probably meant ‘pirates’. The Scotti attacked Roman shipping off the west coast. Only twelve miles of sea separates the Mull of Kintyre from Antrim. The Gaels of Dál Riata and Antrim traded across the sea routes, intermarried and sometimes fought. 

The founding myth of Scotland tells of an Irish King, Fergus Mor, settling Scots from Ireland in Argyll. The English historian Bede wrote that the Irish Scots under Reuda took lands from the Picts. These origin tales influenced later historians but there is no evidence on the ground for an Irish invasion of Argyll. The Gaels of Dál Riata and Ireland lived in different types of houses, they wore different styles of brooch and dress pin, and they carved different stone monuments. The archaeological evidence does not support the origin tales. 

It thought that the Gaels of Argyll, the Dál Riatans, were a native population who shared a common language with the peoples of Ireland a few miles over the sea.  Gaels of Dál Riata were probably the descendants of the Bronze Age cairn builders of Kilmartin Glen. There are Dál Riata strongholds at Dunadd, Dunaverty, Dunollie and Tarbert were important places of power and defense were.

 A ‘dun’ was a hill fort. Kings were inaugurated at sacred places like Dunadd, an impressive fortress of the 7th and 8th centuries. A footprint carved into the rock at Dunadd is thought to have been used during the King-making ceremonies. Finds at Dunadd, such as imported glass and pottery, show that European trade flourished along the western seaboard. 

The Christian monks of Iona needed a source of vellum (calf hides) to make their books. The Book of Kells alone is made of hundreds of calf skins. Most Dál Riatan kings came from two leading groups; the Cenél Loairn and the Cenél nGabráin. The King Áedán mac Gabráin, who ruled Dál Riata c AD 574–608, would have been well known to Columba and the monks on Iona. In AD 719 the two opposing groups of Dál Riatans fought a sea battle. There may have been up to a hundred wooden boats and curraghs (skin boats) on each side, filled with warriors armed with bows and arrows. The Dál Riatans may have fought off Viking raiders from AD 794. The Dál Riatans were the ancestors of some of Scotland’s kings. Mac Bethad mac Findlaích, better known as Macbeth, King of the Alba, was descended from the Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata. A photograph of the Hunterston brooch showing decorative metalwork. 

I am a Dalriadian.


Hummingbird

Scottish Love Song - Julie Fowlis

A beautiful song sung by Julie Fowlis. An Eala Bhan - The White Swan. The song was composed by Donald MacDonald of Cruna for his love Maggie MacLeod. You can put away your hankies. He did make it back to her after his service in WWI at the battle of Somme. They had two children. He became a prolific poet once again.






Enjoy,

Hummingbird

Adults Divorce - Children Do Not

Never in a million years would I ever have thought the man I married and had three beautiful girls with, would up and abandon his children after a divorce. Seeing the torment of our children has been very hard. If you find this picture and my words sometime while surfing the Internet, then this was posted just for you. Why? Because I specifically picked the labels that would bring your search here. 

When we divorced in 1992,  my soon to be ex-husband and I had daughters, 11, 9 and 5. These are critical ages for young minds and especially young girls. The first man any little girl loves is usually her Father. All new men in their lives are measured by the importance of this man in her eyes. I do not think people realized how important Dads are. Little boys learn how to be men from their Dads. Mothers are just as important as well. 

My Dad died of a heart attack when I was almost 12. No greater hole in my heart or life could have ever been created. I would never take three daughters from their Father, which is partly why I stayed so long in an abusive relationship. It has been terrible watching the sad eyes, and seeing the tears for a man who walked away on innocent children. 



If you are a Father, please stand by your children. You are so very important to each son and daughter. If you are a Mother, you will take reasonable care for their safety. I am sure. I did for my daughters. But still the raging is so very destructive for years and years to come. Think about the needs of your children first, not your own selfish needs. Both of you wake the hell up. It is not about you anymore. You both have decided to end your relationship. But damn it, your children made no such agreement to any of this. So grow up and stand by and with the precious life you both have created. 

I am not a psychologist, but I am a sociologist, and I can assure you the empirical data and studies are in. It is critically important to every child to know both parents and extended families. This goes hand in hand with members of your family, as some stop them from seeing even grandparents. It hurts your child in self-confidence, self-worth and develops the ground work for a lifetime of trust issues. What will they say in the years to come when suddenly you no longer hold sway over them and a terrific member of their immediate family was not allowed contact. It won't help your case with them at all. 

So If you say you love them, then please let them know that there are also other people in the world that love them too. They will grow from it and so will both of their parents. 

Do it not for yourself, but your child. 

Remember... "Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." That other person could be your child."

Hummingbird

1776 - The Music is Performing at Center Stage

Graphic by Colorado Hummingbird Photography - Copyright 2013

1776 The Musical

Starting February 15, thru March 3, 2013 the Evergreen Chorale is performing 1776 The Musical. Performances are at Center Stage in Evergreen, Colorado.  Show times are on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 3:00pm.

Center Stage is located at - 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen, Colorado. Ticket prices are: $21.00 for adults $17.00 for seniors (62 and older) $17.00 for students (13 - college) $14.00 for children (12 and younger) 


You are cordially invited to attend this fantastic performance about the people who gave birth to  our great nation. The actors are well invested in their parts and carry the performance with their talent and musical abilities. You will enjoy their levity and all the color and history they bring to American history. 


It was a fun evening!


Hummingbird

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EVERGREEN CHORALE