First Sunrise of 2011

Happy New Year!

It was -17 when I snuck onto my front porch with my new 75-300mm lens my wonderful Boyfriend got me for Christmas. A little too cold to go much further but really anxious to use the lens I caught the sun as it peaked over the mesa.

My family celebrates Gift Giving on New Years not Christmas. It makes for a more intimate Christmas and fun way to bring in the new year. Aside from that it was started 10 years ago when I moved from San Diego to Colorado and needed a Latvian style Christmas. Latvian Christmas is for those of us who prefer to shop the After Christmas Sales and get the bargains. It's also for people like me who hate crowds and the commercialism of traditional Christmas. My kids enjoy it, I enjoy it and overall it keeps us out of the hectic holiday pace.

This year was exceptional as the sun began to rise with blue skies emerging from the clouds and sub zero temps.

Here's to a Great 2011!