James Duane McClintock

James Duane McClintock, a photo by Christine McClintock Hudspeth on Flickr.

The Holidays - It never gets easier and does not change with time. Only the length of pain and loss in kind. I went to the cemetery with a thankful heart this year. That became somewhat secondary, when I stood before the grave of someone so dear. For with an aching heart, I whispered low. God Bless you Dad I miss you so.

Grandmother's Lace

Grandmother's Lace

Never getting to meet her, she died before I was born.

A lady who many say I look like in the face and form.

Delicately she speaks now to me in her handiwork.

Which I hold gently like a book.

It speaks from her precious hands to mine,

like a path to my heart she tells a story of time,

and so much thoughtfulness and strength.

One might never know it from her lovely lace,

but she had much sorrow and loss to face.

Grandma and me talk in secret ways now,

as time and distance will allow.

I carry her in my heart in a sacred space,

knowing that in delicate lovely lace,

the light in my eyes, and a smile on my face,

are also hers and mine by love and grace.

Christine McClintock Hudspeth

Copyright 2011, Poetry of The Heart Collection

"We Are The Chosen"

Postcard Visitor - Coyote

One of my favorite little friends came for a visit today so I shot him, with my camera of course, silly! There are about 6-7 Coyotes that live in my neck of the woods, literally. This one's name is "Jeffery." I like him the best. Then there is "Duracel," who has the most beautiful copper in his ears. Cute little "Squirt" because, well...never mind you might not want to know. I am naming them all, because I have come to know and enjoy each one.

They have come to know my dogs too, personally. I know what you are thinking, dogs? They never even get close to these guys, trust me. I carry chinese ninja stars as backup. Maggie my Norweigian Cattle Dog could handle herself. Ruby, my Cavalier King Charles - would be lunch on the run. There is a neighborhood cat who is sporting some distinct canine teeth marks on her upper head and lower jaw. It is an interesting look for her. She is still alive, but a little worse for wear. I wish people were more responsible with their animals. She is not my call though. I am more worried than I let on. My husband says I ask him to bring her in when I am sound asleep at night. There you go, I do like domestic cats too.
Look at those choppers will ya? Little Red Riding Hood might want to avoid this local on her way to Grandma's House. I reckon seven hungry coyotes would equal one Big Bad Wolf. So consider yourself warned "Red." Don't...come...by...my...hood, little sister. Yea be warned!

So I did what any good photographer and graphic artist would do. I made him into a postcard. I think 'Jeffery' looks great. I can't believe how big his teeth are, can you? Woof!

Well, I am off to continue on to my holiday plans. This is going to be a great thanksgiving for me and my family.

God Bless.

Go ahead and visit me, I dare you...Enjoy!

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Brown Bear Eyes

(Click on picture to enlarge for reading)

Written with inspiration for a Brown Bear at the Denver ZOO.

If I could make it better, I would.

Christine McClintock Hudspeth, American Writer

Wild Life Photographer

When People Walk Out - They Fail

For all of those abandoned by family during the holidays. It is a difficult time, as many who have to go through it each year can attest. But your suffering is shared by others, and you will see a brighter star at night, and a more glorious sunrise again.

Remember you are a child of God, no less than anyone else.

You are loved.

I promise.

From time to time I enjoy photoshop. This is the formal picture of my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She has more personality than many people I know. This should be a concern, but it is not surprising. Our babies have personalities that are so impacted by the way we raise them. Ruby reminds me of her brother, Cricket.

It was recently that I realized that a puppy turns into the kind of best friend we make of them. If you spend quality time and nuture and train them, they become forever friends. At a year, Ruby Belle is already my forever friend.


I give you my little Queen, Ruby...

Morning Delight

Photography by Christine McClintock Hudspeth

A fun little friend this morning when I took the dogs out. Thank-goodness I have a camera on me at all times..... I was not out hunting.

The Columbine

Colorado State Flower

Columbines are perhaps the most graceful and ornamental of all wildflowers. Members of the Buttercup family, this perenial's five petals stretch back to form spurs where nectar collects. The flowers bloom in late spring and early summer, nodding from the tops of their stems with spurs pointing upward. The genus name is 'Aquilegia Caerules' is from the Latin word for "eagle claw."

The words Columbine is taken from the Latin word columbus meaning "dove like," as the spurs often resemble a circle of dove's heads.

Neat Imagery!

Photography by Christine McClintock Hudspeth

Colorado's State flower, the white and lavender columbine (Aquilegia caerules) is commonly known as the Rocky Mountain Columbine. Its journey to become the Colorado state flower began near the end of the 19th century in 1891 when Colorado school children voted the Rocky Mountain columbine their favorite flower, overwhelmingly, over the second-place cactus. Of the 22,316 votes cast, 14,472 went to the Rocky Mountain Columbine.

Nine years later, in 1899, a Colorado women's club, in Cripple Creek, discovered that the Rocky Mountain columbine had never been officially adopted as the state flower. They went right to work.

Senate Bill 261, declaring the white and lavender columbine the state flower, was approved by the Colorado Legislature on April 4, 1899

Don't be confused by names.

The act names the white and lavender columbine as the state flower without reference to a scientific name. In later legislation declaring it the duty of the citizens of the state to protect the state flower, the white and lavender columbine is referred to as Aquilegia caerulea. In fact, Aquilegia caerulea is more commonly called Colorado blue columbine or simply Colorado columbine rather than white and lavender columbine.

Protective of their beautiful Rocky Mountain columbine, in 1925 the Twenty-fifth Session of the Colorado General Assembly approved a bill that made it the responsibility of all Coloradans to protect the state flower, established rules about picking and digging the flower and defined penalties for violations of the law.

Murmuration

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.

When a group of birds does this, it is called a murmuration. I have only seen part of one this year. How incredible to see such a wonderous sight. This one took place in Gretna, Scotland.

Enjoy,
Hummingbird

Life Under Trees - A Collection

I have a collection of poems and stories to be published next year sometime. Here are some of the pictures included with the poems. They are for sale individually on my photography site.

Go to www.coloradohummingbirdphotography.com

Enjoy, I am very excited about this project.

Click Here For a great article on the history of trees as written by an Irish writer.

Hummingbird