I've seen evidence of elk on our mountain property, but this is the first time I've actually spotted a herd.

We watched them. They watched us. They were leisurely passing through. 

While on a walk, we spotted three Great Horned Owls in a tree. These birds are huge. I was slightly terrified. 

They seemed content to just observe the passing walkers on the trail. They had probably just eaten someone's poodle, and were too stuffed to fly away.

​I learned from this article that what appear to be horns on the large owls are feathers called plumicorns.

I was prepared to run if they launched off those tree branches. My husband laughed, but considering they have a five foot wingspan, I don't think my sense of alarm was unjustified.

The police are out. The barricades are up. Motorized vehicles are banished from the Garden of the Gods for a few precious hours. It's Motorless Morning. 

Walkers, runners, skateboarders, roller bladers, dogs on leashes and babies in strollers or backpacks all enjoy a morning in the Garden without motor traffic. Straw bales slow down the speed demons. 

Two motorless mornings a year have become the norm. Some of us wish for more. The Garden of the Gods is best seen on foot, in my opinion.

My article on writing conferences appeared recently on the Pikes Peak Writers blog Writing from the Peak. I reminisce about past PPWC conferences.

Could attending a conference benefit your writing? The answer is a resounding yes. I explain why as I share my writing journey.

"Over twenty-five years ago, my world was small. The PPW Conference kicked in doors and opened windows I hadn’t even known existed."