Blue Heron Capital

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Linda Gardner, CPA and financial advisor, in her Denver Tech headquarters. Gardner is Co-Founder and CEO of Blue Heron Capital, LLC. Her company includes  nine full-time professionals who offer a wide range of retirement and financial planning, investment management services and advice.  They also offer a variety of helpful resources for those approaching retirement, as well as those who are already living their retirement adventure. 

Those resources include several easy to read brochures: 

Claim Smart -- a modern and comprehensive guide to Social Security

Tax Explorer for people who have more things to do in retirement than worry about taxes

Your Money--Your Retirement (Linda's Book)

You've reached the Retirement Summit--Now What?

More resources can be found on their website: YourMoneyYourRetirement.com 

Every Saturday and Sunday, Linda has a radio show called Your Money Your Retirement wherein she discusses retirement choices and provides valuable and informative advice. Listeners can call with questions and concerns about their savings, retirement planning and how to protect their investments. In fact, I will be a guest on her show this coming Saturday, Nov 7, AND for this show she has a special surprise for the first ten listeners who call in for advice. 

You can hear her radio show on the following:

Saturday, Nov 7 - 850 KOA at 8:00 am

Saturday, Nov 7 - 630 KHOW at 10:00 am

Sunday, Nov 8 - Freedom 93.7 fm and 760 am at 9:00 am. 

Linda had read and enjoyed my latest book, 30 Exceptional Places to Visit in England...off the Beaten Track, very much and wanted to share it with her listeners. During the show, you will learn about people and places that few visitors would ever know unless they'd actually grown up in the country...including some of the history of  the Washington, Sherman and Penn families. We are connected to England via our ancestors; we have a lot more in common than most people know. 

To learn more about Elizabeth's books...please go to: evwbooks.com.

Red-footed Boobies of the Galapagos

 

Photo courtesy: Isabella II

Unlike their Blue-footed cousins, the Red-footed Boobie appears to prefer a tree branch instead of the rocks of the Galapagos Islands. They also appear to be more solitary in nature, at least we only saw single birds perched in trees. According to the ranger, the two do not mix socially and seem to be perfectly happy on their own specific islands. 

The red footed birds can only be seen on San Cristobal island. It is only one of the 120 islands that make up the  Galapagos. We bounced across the waves in a Zodiac and very quietly approached these beautiful birds to take our photgraphs. Absolutely magnificent! 

As previously mentioned, the name "boobie" loosely translated from Spanish means, "clown-like large, awkward..." while we of course use the term completely differently.

Blue Footed Boobies of the Galapagos Islands

 

Photo courtesy: Mick Billstein

Having only seen images such as these Blue-footed Boobies in magazines such as the National Geographic, they were a sight to behold. These beautiful birds, flocking together on the rocks were amazing. I'd always wondered how they got their strange name "Bobbie" so asked our guide. He told us the Spanish word roughly translates to "clown feet, clumsy, but funny..." Now I know.

One thing I will mention about our fabulous trip. I should have been better prepared. For instance, I'm not as young as I used to be (even though quite fit) my knees could have had some help on the hikes. If I had used walking sticks, they would have greatly helped me on the trails. 

The islands are very, very carefully monitored, controlled and protected (as they should be to maintain the invironment). A visitor will get roughly 60 to 90 minutes per island visit, so be prepared for strenuous climbing into --and out of a Zodiac several times a day. This is of course wearing a life vest for either a wet or dry landing. Remember to take a special bag to keep your phone dry as most of us use our phones for taking photographs.

To actually walk and see what Darwin saw in 1835, was a true gift. After months of sailing on HMS Beagle, one can only imagine how he must have felt seeing the islands. It is an exceptional place to visit and one I will remember for the rest of my life.