Cool, cool water!

I'm so excited! I got my pictures to upload immediately today! I tried getting these on yesterday when I wrote and nothing would work so I jut plain quit! But I tried again now and here they are. We spent the 3rd of July in the Park. We took Old Falls River Road up the mountain and got some get scenery shots as well as some 'people' shots. Here's one of Glee and I on one of the pullovers for all us tourists that just have to have those pictures. As you can see it was a bit windy by this time already.

Old Falls River Road is such a cool drive. It's gravel and only one-way -- up the mountain. Barb and Katie were in Estes Park the first week in June and the road wasn't open yet. It opened the weekend we got out there. When we arrived at the Alpine Center I couldn't believe the snow!!! They used a blower to open the top part of the road. You could stick your hand out the window and touch the snow. A lot of people had already put their name in SNOW! It was very chilly at the top of the mountain. Sweatshirts or long-sleeved shirts were definitely needed. We didn't climb all the way to the top this time -- maybe next year. Enjoyed the sights and did some shopping and then headed back down the mountain toward Grand Lake. It rained on and off all the way down. We were hoping to see some elk or moose but I think it was too miserable even for them to be out. We didn't get all the way to Grand Lake but turned back instead and started back up. I got this weather shot at one of the pullovers. Isn't it cool?? It was spitting rain and a little snow by this time!!! As we were driving into Estes Park there was snow on the sides of the road and in the middle. The temperature went from 84 degrees to 43 degrees ont he way down! It warmed up when we got back to the cabin but what a switch in weather. It was an interesting trip. Glad we didn't have to drive in the actual snowfall, but did make something to tell all our friends about!

On the way up we pulled over so I could get this shot of a waterfall. You could hear the water rushing down the mountains and into the streams below. This isn't really a waterfall but runoff from the snow on the top of the mountain. Makes a pretty picture though! Glee was very patient with me and pulled off the road whenever I asked her. Got some great shots! Thanks kiddo!

We went on the Colorado River Trail one afternoon. It was threatening again but we decided to chance it anyway. We went off the beaten path and found the river. Here's a picture of the Colorado close to its orgin. Doesn't it look peacful? It's the same river that a lot of people go white river rafting on -- doesn't look like it could be that swift and fast!!

Well, I got the pictures to work but can't get them exactly on the page the way I want but you get the idea. It was a great trip and hopefully I can do it again sometime soon!


It's extremely warm (HOT) around here today. I've had my air conditioner on now for 2 days straight and think it's going to go longer!!! Hate to see the electric bill, but at least I'm fairly comfortable. I've been enjoying my weekend at home doing scrapbooking. I'm working on pictures from when we lived in Arizona. Brings back a lot of memories, but that's what pictures are for. These from Colorado will find a place in one of my books soon! Hope you enjoyed them. Leave a comment and let me know.



Stay cool everyone!!

More Colorado

A week ago today we were on our way home from our 'little house in the mountains.' With the hot weather we're experiencing right now, I'd love to be back at the cabin.

One of the awsome sights in Rocky Mountain National Park is Big Horn Sheep. This was my second trip to Estes Park. The first time we didn't see any sheep at all. This trip we had 3 sightings and I got pictures of 2 of them. Actually I got pictures of all three sightings but I was using a camera I wasn't used to and ended up with 4 great pcitures of . . . TREES! I aimed at the wrong thing. The trees were beautiful but no sheep! They went to the delete file real soon!! However we spent an afternoon in the Big Thompson River Canyon enjoying the river, the sights and the local businesses along the way. On our way back "home" we spotted these big horn sheep. I just had to try again and get some pictures and this is one of them. Aren't they beautiful? No rams, but a lot of females and young. We were also lucky enough to spot some in the park one day and spent an enjoyable half hour just watching them running and jumping from rock to rock. They are amazing animals the way they can scamper from one rock to another. I thank my daughter, Barb, for letting me use her camera. For some reason mine decided not to work and Barb has a great zoom on her's. The picture of the big horn sheep were taken across the road in the canyon and up on the canyon walls. They turned out beautifully! I'm really proud of myself for getting some of the pictures I did!!!

This picture is of the Big Thompson River that, of course, runs through Big Thompson Canyon. It's a very fast moving river and has been known to flood the whole canyon (1979). We saw a lot of fishermen on the river. It's all catch and release but that didn't seem to keep them from fishing. It's also very cold!!!! but beautiful. I'm facinated by streams, rivers and waterfalls not to mention the mountains. If I could have stayed a few more days in my 'cabin in the mountains' I would have. The air is fresh and clean. The mountains are huge and absolutely beautiful. We had rain every day we were out there (they needed it so bad) but each morning we woke up to absolutely beautiful blue skies, puffy white clouds and crisp clean air. One morning it was 48 degrees. We wore sweatshirts and jeans most of the time.

I've many more pictures to share but seem to be having difficulty this morning getting them to upload so think I'll give it up for the moment. I hope you-all are enjoying my picture trip. I do so love Colorado and want to share some of my memories.

It's extremely warm today, so before it gets much warmer, I think I better run some errands. I promised myself a quiet weekend of scrapbooking, reading and sleeping! I better get on that.

Until next time . . . .

Rocky Mountain National Park

Beautiful! Breathtaking! Awesome! That's the mountains of Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park! Vacation was great and way too short! I hope that next year our whole family can go and enjoy the wonders of the Rockies! This is my reflection picture of Lily Lake taken on one of our morning walks. Isn't it beautiful?

We left Friday, June 30th around 9:30 a.m. from Dubuque. We stopped at my daughter's in Ankney for lunch. She made us a great lunch of hamburgers and pork chops on the grill, salad and corn on the cob. It was great! Thanks Barbie!

We drove as far as Kearney, Nebraska on Friday. Had a great supper at a place called "Whiskey Creek" and got an early start the next morning for our destination of Estes Park, Colorado. Got into Estes around 2:30 p.m. (our time -- we lost an hour in the mountain time zone). Couldn't believe the streets of Estes -- it took forever just to go 3 or 4 blocks and get to our cabin. The cabin hasn't changed a bit. It's still as charming as ever and a great home away from home!!

Marilyn wasn't feeling very well the first couple of days and we all worried about her. She finally felt like herself on Tuesday and even better on Wednesday. Glee, Darlene and I headed out to Alliuval Fan on Sunday morning. That would be me at the Fan! It's so beautiful. As usual I took scads of pictures. Tried real hard to take a lot of people pictures and not just scenery pics.

Fourth of July was extremely busy where ever we went. We went into the Park early afternoon with the hopes of walking the Sprague Lake trail but couldn't find a parking place so did a "drive thru" and headed back home. We eventually made it to Sprague and did our walk around the lake. As usual, it's a beautiful place.

We did some shopping on Wednesday. We barely got everybody and everything back in the car on Saturday morning for our trip home. I brought back some beautiful Christmas ornaments that I got at the Spruce House. I got the usual Colorado shirts and even found a fleece! We had a lot of fun shopping, but boy was I tired when we got home.

We made our meals at the cabin and also did some out. We had supper at Marys Lake Lodge, Hunter's Chop House and Dunraven. Took a walk around Lily Lake one morning and then came back into town and had breakfast at the "Egg and I." While shopping we had lunch at Poppy's. All were very good. Expensive, but very good! Next trip I hope to get to a couple of Italian places. I'm already planning on a return trip!!!

Everything was so beautiful. We really had a great time! On the trail to Alberta Falls a nice lady offered to take all of us in a picture and here we are. Isn't that a huge rock? Lots of them all over the mountains! That would be Darlene, me, Glee and Marilyn. More pictures at a later time.

We got back to Dubuque aroun 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. It was a long day as we left Estes Park at 6:00 that morning. I got my stuff all unpacked and my suitcase put away but all my goodies are still sitting on my kitchen table. Had a wonderful surprise when my son came to stay overnight on Saturday. He and Mandy found me a turntable for my stereo unit. Jim got it going but it needs an amplifier so that will be a project the next trip 'home.' We had to create another shelf for my stereo unit and Jim took care of that too. Nothing fancy but it loosk nice. It was great having him here for a while. Sounds like he may be back on the 22nd and my daughter will be coming home for a family reunion on the 28th. I love having my children home with me. It's great!!!

Well, the clock says it's 10:00 p.m. but my body thinks it's about midnight -- must be on mountain time yet. Vacation was great and I hated leaving the mountains! I'll add some more pictures later. Best go do a little folding of laundry before I call it a day.

Hope everyone is having a good week. Take care.