Celebrate!

 It's still winter at high altitude.

Even the donkeys downtown are getting sick of the snow.

However, inside there are blooms.

We've had some celebrations.

Our twin sons turned 56 the end of April.

There was still plenty of snow for their AT skis.

My 80th birthday was May 9th.

The family paid a surprise visit to help me celebrate.

photo taken by Neve's brother, Caden

Our granddaughter, Neve, graduated from high school in May.

Neve in her traditional Korean Hanbok - professional photo

She'll begin a pre-Med degree in the fall. 

While attending graduation in Denver, we enjoyed spring.

photo taken in New Zealand by a friend

Last but not least, our oldest grandchild, Ben, will marry his fiance, Paula, in July.

pond in Frisco, CO, where the snow is mostly melted

There are many good things to celebrate!

I hope good things are happening in your life, too.

Thank you for visiting.

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Winter's Blessings

We get a few inches at a time to freshen the white.

There have been no major storms this season. 

We always hope for more.

We depend on winter snowpack to lessen summer drought.

Jack (17) leaves from the back yard to go skiing.

Family visits nearly every weekend.

walking the logging road behind the house

Sam (9) and I hike in lemony light.

He's a good companion, chattering about what he sees.

I enjoy viewing the landscape from his perspective. 

Do you see Bob at tree line? He's on touring skis.

The forest cut is complete.

Red Mountain at sunset from our back deck.

I'm becoming accustomed to open spaces and new views.

a pink dawn colors fresh snow

Morning light  creates unexpected beauty.

Foxes pass through several times a day.

Notice how this small fox is looking directly into Sam's eyes.

They both keep perfectly still and calmly watch each other.

Perhaps the fox is Sam's spirit animal.

Bob works hard between storms, raking the roof and clearing snow.

breaking trail on the snowshoes

Winter's changing landscape is my one good thing today.

We're thankful for the blessing of white.

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Chiming Bells - Small Stone - 7

 

deep in the forest

dripping with raindrops

Chiming Bells toll their summer song

small stone

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Let Your Spirit Bloom

 

Spring is an elusive season at high altitude.

do bees have knees?

I've planted some deck boxes with pansies which tolerate cold.

Other more delicate annuals must wait a bit longer.

We live just above 10,000' (3,000m).

Days in June remain pleasantly cool, and nights are still chilly.

Hiking in the early morning, especially when gaining elevation, requires a jacket.

I'm alert while climbing through the forest, but so far in June haven't encountered a bear or moose.

Pausing at this skeletal tree, I send positive and healing thoughts to family and friends.

I entreat myself to extend kindness, stay calm, show tolerance. 

I believe that we all put powerful signals into the Universe.

May mine be free of anger and judgement.

Globeflowers

Wildflowers are blooming in boggy areas of the forest.

Marsh Marigolds

Globeflowers and Marsh Marigolds raise their fresh faces toward the sun.

Globeflowers

light shining through delicate petals

They are both fragile and tenacious.

(Perhaps like you....)

There is a pervading quiet on winding trails through old growth forest.

Rustling of small forest creatures and songs of birds accompany me.

The burbling of Lehman Creek permeates the silence.

I'm thankful for wilderness that heals the spirit.

Hiking through springtime wild places is my one good thing today.

Thank you for spending time with me.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit.

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Snow Melt

As of June 1, every scrap of snow in our yard is melted.

We've begun hiking on the forest trails.

The forest smells juicy with dampness from melting snow.

Wildflowers and grasses are poking green out of the ground.

Trees and bushes are budding.

However, the higher we climb, the more snow remains.

Mountain streams are singing and dancing.

Unfortunately, because of low snowpack, they aren't as energetic as some years.

The high peaks still glisten white in the sunshine.

Some snow will remain up high all summer.

The Continental Divide glows in the distance.

The octopus tree basks in the sunshine.

Welcome spring - my one good thing today!

I'm having issues with Blogger. As you might have noticed after my last post, I tried changing the Header, and it shrank so small it was hard to read the title. I've fooled with the HTML, but now the photo is slightly blurry. Be careful at this point if you want to change your Header - I've read on the forum that many are having this same problem. (Sigh....)

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Spring in the Mountains of Colorado

dawn after overnight snow

We live at 10,000' (3,048M) above sea level in the mountains of Colorado. Spring doesn't announce itself with blooming trees and flowers. Instead, snow comes and goes through May. Temperatures rise and fall, melting and refreezing snow already on the ground. 

When we get fresh snow, we go into the forest on our skis as soon as we awake. Bob breaks trail, and I glide behind him. Our skis barely whisper through the soft powder. The ancient trees murmur in the breeze.

We enter an enveloping silence.

 

Beauty surrounds us.

The large male fox, returning from a night of hunting, often visits in the early morning. 

Unlike the tiny female, he never gets too close to the house. He's curious but remains very alert. I haven't seen the female in awhile, so maybe she's waiting to give birth in the den. A few days ago, the male trotted through the snow carrying a vole in his mouth. Perhaps he was going to deliver breakfast to his mate. 

There is sunshine today, but snow is forecasted for tonight. Our son, Gregg, will arrive soon for an overnight visit. (He's pictured in my Header photo.) He's not been able to stay with us for over a year. We plan a celebratory dinner. Thankfully, we received the second vaccine two weeks ago. Though we remain cautious, we hope to have family visit us occasionally.

The beauty of our surroundings and the love of family are my good things today.

I hope you're also experiencing many good things.

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Celebrating Fall

Our fall is brief but glorious at high altitude.

For a couple weeks we live in a golden world.

Temperatures start to drop below freezing in the night.

Wildflowers and perennials go to seed.

Bushes and trees put on a show.

On early-morning walks, we wear layers.

The forest floor turns russet and amber.

Sunlight streaming through lodgepoles has a golden cast.

Each day, there is work on the property preparing for winter.

Garden ornaments are stored.

Leaves are raked.

On sunny afternoons, we sit in sunshine on the deck with mugs of coffee.

We talk of winter as leaves drift down on our shoulders.

Tourists still visit Breckenridge, but they rarely venture onto the trails behind our house. 

If we do see people approaching, we veer into the forest.

Usually, we meet no one on our walks.

We're alert for bear and moose.

The bear are gorging, preparing for hibernation.

The bull moose are in rut, searching for mates.

The squirrels are busy storing food for the long winter.

Gray Jays, like little old men in overcoats, follow us as we walk.

Nothing remains the same.

We cherish this time of change.

We stay isolated, surrounded by beauty.

We enjoy the quiet.

Stay well - look for One Good Thing.

Thank You for visiting.

Barb

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