Out where we belong..............

I am now a woman of leisure.    Thanks to the arrival of this clever Roomba, I no longer have to worry about dust bunnies under the beds and crumbs in the kitchen.     I had my doubts and couldn't get too serious about thinking that this was worthy of my $$$$ but I might be a convert.    I have no idea how it works.   The cleaning  seems totally random with no logical pattern.   It slows down when it comes near an obstacle, goes over area rugs (not our shaggy ones), maneuvers over most cords, sweeps up stuff in corners ( I deliberately put stuff down) and then goes back to it's dock when its done or low on battery.     It is a bit noisy so I close doors or run it when we are gone.    I can see how it would totally freak out a dog or cat.    It was a total extravagance and it wasn't MY idea !!!    (The best thing is the under the bed cleaning!)

Because we have so much extra time on our hands ..... well it's not that I actually spent a lot of time vacuuming, but you get the drift .....    we headed to the mountains.      Snow has come to the high country and we needed to be up close and personal. 

This is the gate to the Ralph Lauren ranch, 17000 acres of prime cattle country.    Last Dollar Road is a scenic unpaved backroad over to Telluride.  

  

 We passed by the iconic ranch barn featured in "True Grit".

Around 9000 ft we found snow and bare aspen and snow laden pines....and a muddy road.

 The snow became deeper ....  (and more blurry)...

 ....and then our plans had to change !    Where's  that chain saw when we really need it ??

 The aspen stands were worthy of remembering even without color..........

Cows by Lauren











We are watching the weather closely and preparing for departure.    I think we've shifted our leaving to a few days earlier due to predicted snows on the passes on the way to Denver.    We are, if nothing else, very flexible and not foolish about driving the house in snow and ice.     Time to get organized............

Four letter words..........

FALL,    KIDS,   JEEP,    VIEW,    GOLF.....   maybe I should have chosen longer words to describe our week.....

Becca and Lizzie drove over the mountains and through the woods to grandmother's house this week.....Lizzie, still on a high from getting excepted into her first and only choice college (Northern State Colorado) AND a scholarship,  (obviously Grandmother genes ), spent part of her fall break driving the 5 hours from the Front Range to our Western Slope.    Aside from catching up and enjoying these special girls, we took the Jeep road to Telluride.    Color is fading but still worth the views to get out in this beautiful back country.   

Dogs are welcome most places but when their not, there's always a fence or post to let them wait by.

We saw political signs around touting the reasons why you should vote for "Glider Bob" but not all thought this was a good idea.   

A 'must do' when in Telluride is to ride the free gondola from the valley up to Mountain Village.    It's like taking the bus and saves on congestion, parking, gas and pollution by connecting the villages, the ski areas and Telluride.    It accepts bikes, ski's snowboards, strollers, dogs and old people.   It is smooth and quiet and each gondola will hold about 6-8 seated.    

This is the only picture I took of Becca and Lizzie....we thought about having a group pic taken while eating on the patio of the TomBoy (best vegan burger ever) but I failed at that as well.    

This is the view descending into Telluride...

They made the long drive back home the next day but we'll see them again soonly in Denver.

I actually played golf this week.....not well, not pretty but so good to get back out again.    The weather has been just glorious,   Colorado blue skies, near 80 and snow on the mountains for that added amazing touch to our favorite mountains.      But, all good things change and yesterday, the real fall weather showed up.     Snow in the high country and rainy predictions for the week ahead.

Our hiking group met in Ridgeway yesterday and Bonnie, who has great connections to the movie "True Grit",  showed us the scenes from the movie that were filmed there back in 1968.   Many buildings, now repurposed, are still alive and well.     It was chilly, windy and drizzly so we skipped the walk around town after hearing all about the movie and it's making in the town park under the gazebo.    Then it was to the True Grit Cafe.   Built after the movie, it contains memorabilia
 from  many of the John Wayne movies and Dennis Weaver TV shows.    Weaver had a home nearby and generously donated a large area for a beautiful park with sculptures and trails along the Uncompaghre River ( say that 3 times fast and then spell it ).      Anyway, it is a popular watering hole and we ate our fill..............Then it was off to Bonnie and Bud's beautiful home overlooking the San Juan's for a viewing of the original movie.     Never having seen it, I had no idea it was so violent or that the horses seemed to suffer injuries and great falls.   JW won an Oscar for the movie but I really couldn't see why......, Jeremy Slade, Robert Duval, Glenn Campbell in their younger years also were in it.   John Wayne wanted Karen Carpenter to play the female lead after hearing her sing...??  We enjoyed calling out mountain peaks and familiar distant hiking  areas and roads.    It was filmed in Sept and Oct and they weren't very consistent with their choices of backgrounds.    Starting out in aspen groves with few leaves, the next scene showed them in fully green aspens and then back to falling leaves again.     Some scenes were also filmed in California.      A fun evening.  

We're off in a few days for our annual hiking trip to Capitol Reef in Utah.    Weather is looking iffy with rain and much cooler temps so we'll see how much hiking we do and how much Jeeping we opt for.    But always a good time with friends.   

  

The Seasons change.......

 Before we left for California, we drove south of Ouray to get a quick look at the changing aspens.   They weren't fully at their peak but awe inspiring nevertheless.     Who would think that brilliant blue and golden yellow and shades of green could produce such wonder ?    It never gets old. I have gazillions of pictures of this same area but each fall there is a powerful draw to get out and see what nature's paintbrush has created once again.

Our drive back from California was uneventful.    We opted not to stop in Las Vegas.   We checked out the shows and there was no one of interest.     Elton John will be there later in the month and that is always tempting.   So we drove the long miles in 3 days.   The Nevada and Utah scenery is of endless open space and the wide and smooth highways make the driving  easy.

Fall definitely descended while we were gone and the mornings have a crisp and invigorating feel.   Saturday is hike day and the group plan was of a difficult and high altitude jaunt.    So, some of us opted for a visually breathtaking hike instead of just a breathtaking hike.     We headed south of Ouray again (the pictures above) and strolled along Crystal Lake.    Jessica decided we should get an early start (as we do all summer to avoid the hot sun and afternoon rain).    When we got to the trailhead it was 32 degrees and the sun had not come over the mountains .    We layered up and complained about frostbite but continued boldly forward.    Soon, we saw the suns rays beginning to appear and just as our fingers were about numb, it came over the mountain.    Red Mountain #1 and #2 ahead.

The lake was calm and mirrorlike.   Which way is UP ??     I actually rotated this picture and it's hard to see the difference.    The reflection is the one on top....

 The peak of color is over but still wondrous.   Most of the leaves can be seen by looking down.

The views aren't  too shabby out the back door either.   This large tree on the golf course shades our patio from the bright summer sun and is a noisy apartment for the birds.  

A family gathers.............

 On a beautiful day  in September, family and friends gathered to remember and celebrate the long life of Tom Haney.     Tom and Sandy built a wonderful home and family in the hills near Salinas/Monterey.    Tom was a master cabinet maker and avid car enthusiast and devoted Dad.

Sandy and Matthew and Patrick remembered Tom in laughter and tears. 

 

 The bagpiper was an uplifting finale to the Celebration.

 Patrick and Julie...........parents of Nathan and Justin.

 Sandy is known for her talents with flowers and design.

Maribel is a delightful Mother of 5.   She and Matthew live in Yuma.   

   

The siblings gather once again.....Tom, Moi, Sandy and Maureen.    Always filled with laughter and stories of long long ago.   

Sandy greeting Melanie.............

I have been writing this blog for eons it seems.....and I know pretty well which of our friends and family keep up with my chatter .....altho VERY FEW ever comment !!!     When I check my stats now and then, I'm always surprised at how many "hits" I get each day........often more than 50 and sometimes up to 70+.    I've often wondered how that can be and who is out there in the great cyberspace that is interested  in this chatter.....I figure it's mostly some sort of random search engine.       Well, imagine my surprise when Melanie came up and greeted Paul and I by name !!   She is a colleague of Sandy's and has followed us for several years.   It's really weird to talk with a stranger  who knows so much about us.    Thanks Melanie for joining us on our rambling journey......you brightened our day !!

And so, we board the bus and head back to our mountains............ we may stop along the way or we may not.   Stay tuned.................It was a perfect weekend and time with family is always so valued and so special.  

So obvious...........

The majesty of nature........

The Canadian Rocky Mountains are a majestic experience.   And they are viewed in all of their natural beauty.    With the exception of that glass walkway over the canyon, the 5 hour drive from Banff to Jasper is unsullied by billboards and advertising and touristy buildings.   It is  au natural...as it was meant to be.    

 This ice field is on the tour bus route but aside from all the buses and cars in the parking lot,  the scenic beauty stands out.

This brown bear was scampering away once the photographers appeared. 

  

 This magnificent elk kept a close watch on his harem deeper in the woods.
 

 We wandered along a deep cleft in the landscape one drizzly afternoon.     Maligne Canyon is about a 5 mile walk along it's length and was very busy.    We opted not to go the distance as it was a one way trek and we didn't want to do 10 miles to see the waterfalls.     The gift shop ( and isn't there ALWAYS a gift shop ) at the parking lot had some very high end art.    There were many sculptures, most done by the aboriginal people of Canada......I think we would call them Eskimos but not sure if that is PC these days.      They had prices near $500,000 US dollars !!!!  

It was  a good trip.....it could have been perfect if the weather had cooperated.     We hustled back across the border and into Montana.    It was a luxury to come back to using all our electronics once again and to have the TV find a satellite ( too many trees up there) and full hook ups so water wasn't rationed in the showers.   Weather improved dramatically and we stopped wearing the long pants and long sleeves.  

We're enjoying September weather ..... aspens are just starting and the birches and cottonwoods are losing leaves.     The hummingbirds aren't at the feeder any more and the birds are quieter....or gone.  
I'm knitting with a luscious wool/silk/angora mix for a wrap...... like I need that in the winter in Florida but couldn't resist the loveliness of it.  
The social scene around Cobble Creek is busier than ever.      The Valley Symphony had a wonderful concert outside the clubhouse the other night.    It's a volunteer mix of all ages from the surrounding communities and the Pops Concert was a real winner.      A golf event is next week with a Margaritaville theme and you don't need to be able to play golf....but you do need your Hawaiian shirt and flip flops.     I'm always amazed at the depth of the Community calendar in the paper for the surrounding area.    Montrose is only about 20,000 but it is very dynamic.   ( The Villages is over 105,000 !!!!  )

We'll hitch up the horses to the covered wagon and head west next week.      That will probably guarantee rain and hail and snow in California.          Talk later....................