Got an organization or business you want to promote? You should be on Google+

I help out with several non-profit organizations that want to get the word out about what they do, but they don't have a big budget to get their news out. I also have a friend that's starting up a new business and they're in the same boat. I see a lot of organizations use Facebook as their "go to" place for disseminating news and information about their product, projects or events. But have you ever heard about something and tried to then look it up on Facebook? Unless you know the exact name of the organization as it's listed on Facebook, you probably won't find it. And even if you do, there are times I've still not had things turn up in a Facebook search, even though I'd done the exact same search before and found the page I needed right away. Facebook is not the place to be if you want to be easily found.

Enter Google+. I love that place. Not only is it far more customizable than Facebook, but things are imminently findable... as you would guess from a search engine

High Park Fire Ash

Ashing is kinda like snowing, only when you get an ashflake in your eye, it hurts a whole ton more than a snowflake would. Take it from me. I know what I'm talking about. 

Birds I Saw on My Walk This Morning

I'm not sure what this guy is. He doesn't look shiny, like a grackle. He has a lovely tail, though. Looks like he's all dressed up.

I often walk along the Poudre river in the morning and I'm occasionally delighted to see a bird or fish or some other critter happen along. In fact, my mom and I were talking about ipods once and she said, "So what do you listen to when you're walking?" (She knows I don't have an ipod and she wondered if I used a walkman or something like that.) I replied, "The birds." It took her a couple of minutes to realize that I meant I listen to the birds as they sing. Along the Poudre, you can pretty much count on being serenaded during your entire walk.

Well, today I was treated to much more than that. I don't know what the deal was, but there was an amazing array of birds as I walked this morning. Perhaps some of them flew down from the fire zone in the mountains.

I've spent some time googling for bird idents, and I've labeled the birds with what I *think* they are. If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me. :-)

High Park Fire - Northern Colorado

On Saturday morning (June 9th), just before 6 am, someone called in to report a 2 acre fire they'd spotted. By that evening, the fire had grown to 8000 acres. By Sunday evening, the fire had spread to 20,000 and by Monday evening it was at 41,000 with 1 dead and over 100 buildings gone.

Uncle Bo

We've had a set of foster kitties for about a month now. When they first arrive, the rule is that they need to be kept separate from the house cats so that no diseases are spread. From day one, however, Bo was very curious as to who was on the other side of the door to the girls' bedroom. He's now allowed access to the room and he's loving it. Uncle Bo likes to help mama kitty clean her babies as well as snuggle with them while napping. He also likes to be around when the babies get canned food (which they're Just starting to eat). But he's a bit bummed when he finds himself removed from the room at that point.  Here are some pics of Bo and the kitties.

Bo, mama kitty, and four kittens

Bo napping with the kitties

The kittens try drinking kitty milk from a plate for the first time.
Two started to lick the milk off each other's faces.

Nooks and Crannies

What is the difference between a nook and a cranny?