Hey Everyone,
Thought I'd try to get something posted before I started hearing from the more vocal and demanding readers, and you know who you are. Hope you enjoy.
I have a few photos from Wade and Tom's last visit that I didn't have downloaded before.
A rain shower in the distance while we visited Sally's overlook off Piedra Road.
Mom standing near the overlook. That is a tamer portion of the Piedra River in the background.
Wade posing near Williams Creek which runs into Williams Reservoir which ultimately runs into the Piedra River.
Tom, Bets, and Bonnie at the overlook. Not for those who don't care for heights!
Earlier in August, friend Kim from Garland, TX visited and we went on a jeep tour out of Ouray. (And, no, it's not your imagination. My hair gets shorter everytime you see it. It's so easy to ignore that way.)
Imogene Pass is the high point of a 4 wheel drive road going from Ouray to Telluride, which is behind us and a peak or two.
"So, just how high is 13,114 feet anyway?" Kim asks of our driver, Warren.
Kim enjoying our return trip. The photos can't capture the beauty of the area nor some of the more "interesting" sections of the road. You'll just have to give it a go yourself when you visit.
As you can see, we're above treeline. As you can also see, there is still some snow up there on August 21st!
This was a view to the east, I think. You can see a couple of roads winding though the mountains. I just thought it was pretty and it gives an idea of how high we were because we're looking down on it.
This is looking forward while we're standing up in the back of the tour jeep. Gives a tiny taste of the scenery and road.
The folks on the left of the vehicle were kind of scooching their way to the right side of the vehicle on this stretch.
A view as we were returning to Ouray area. I just thought it was lovely and wanted to share.
There is a hot air balloonist that rides the air currents every day in the Pagosa area. The periodic sound of the heater seemed really loud as we were having coffee one morning. We stepped out back just in time to have an up close and personal encounter with the people in the basket as they barely missed skimming our trees and, it seemed, our roof just before they landed in the street near the front of our house. Personally, I think they landed because Kim promised them "M&M's and water for everyone!" Oh, yes, that is Kim's VW Beetle convertible she rented for her Colorado roadtrip. Very cute and fun car.
Luckily, we don't get much traffic on our road. I can imagine the shock of turning onto that street and, WHAM, you run into a balloon. Not sure the insurance company would believe that one.
Ralph and I went camping at Cimarrona Campground out at Williams Reservoir last week because I wanted to kayak on the lake during a full moon. He was a good sport and we put the boats on the water about 4:30 a.m. It was beautiful until the clouds came over the mountains, obscured the moon, and proceeded to rain on us! We managed to get off the water before the huge cracks of lightning fried us to crisps. It was fun. . . really!
We also made an interesting discovery near our campsite. The first thought that went through our heads - it's a brain. But, of course, that's silly.
It was actually a huge mushroom. That's Ralph's hand pointing to give some scale. And he has large hands.
I mentioned before that we were having landscaping done around the house. For those of you that remember the original photos of our place, you will appreciate the difference. We really enjoy it all. Mom worked hard with the landscapers on this project for many weeks and it turned out great.
In progress in the back. It wasn't always such a joy to sit on the back patio during this time period.
After Bonnie (the dog) was caught in the act of being out front wandering by the doggie police, we decided a fence was needed to keep her out of doggie jail. We chose a split rail with wire to keep her in and, hopefully, skunks, etc. out. This is the south side of the house with a gravel path and river rock leading to the backyard.
The new back patio of flagstone surrounded by river rock and me taking a photo.
Mom watering the shrubs in the back. We want to be sure everything is established and healthy before it all gets covered up with snow for six months. I really think we should have only had to pay 1/2 price for everything since we only get to see it 1/2 the year. Don't you agree?
Me relaxing on our new front patio, also flagstone. It nice to sit out front and meet the neighborhood folks as they walk and/or walk their dogs.
Backyard again showing gravel path from gate to back patio with shrubs alongside.
Looking from front of house down the north side. Not a spectacular view but much better than it was.
South side again from different angle, facing toward the street. We now have a HUGE gravel parking area which is really nice especially when we want to park Minerva (RV) out there for a few days.
The gravel path coming to the front and into the parking area. You can see our baby aspen trees in front.
This is our little seat by the front door. When you come visit us in the winter, you can sit down in comfort to remove your wet, snowy boots!
Front view of the house after all is completed. Now you know exactly what you're looking for when you drive up/down/over for a visit!
Hope all is well out there and everyone is looking forward to Autumn. Our temperatures are beginning to cool down a little bit and we feel that briskness in the air. And it is invigorating. Makes me just want to go out and climb a mountain! Ta, y'all.
