SUMMER IN COLORADO

June 25th, 2015

The temperatures are rising in Colorado, and all the moisture and warmth have caused the Rockies and the surrounding area to burst forth abundant wildflowers!!  They're everywhere - on the tundra, in the krummholtz forests, in the evergreen woods, and in the meadows.  I can't keep up with naming them.  Right now I'm just photographing them as I encounter them. Here's some weather photos to enjoy in the meanwhile:

It's been awhile since I've last blogged.  I've been having computer issues, but here's the newest update of what's been happening:

• hiked the Ute Trail, hiking close to 11 miles of which most of it was quite vertical in which the unmarked trail, at times, was extremely rocky - beautiful vistas and incredible wildflowers!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• attended musical performances of "Harpeth Rising," a female trio of a cellist, violinist and banjo player, a bluegrass trio, a Praise band, a trio of "mature" musicians playing music from the 60s and 70s, and a cowboy - quite a variety that occur almost daily in downtown Estes Park,
  
  
• visited with two of Amery's fine doctors (Gehrig, a former student) and their family at my store,
• experienced an international beer garden in Estes Park, and tried local craft beers and a mead (Redstone Black Raspberry Nectar Mead - yum!),
  
• learned about some pioneers of this area, one being Enos Mills, a young man who after meeting John Muir, was inspired to fight for the preservation of the wilderness of the Rockies, and was instrumental in the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915, and the other, the amazing Harbison family who homesteaded the area near the southwest corner of RMNP near Grand Lake,
• trekked 10 miles along the raging Big Thompson River that lead to The Pool, Fern Falls and the subalpine lake of Fern Lake (and suffered muscle cramps due to dehydration), but spotted our first columbine, Colorado's exquisite state flower, 
  
  
• went on a moose hunt through the park with new employee arrivals, hiking to the mushroom rocks, witnessing bighorn rams, crossing the Continental Divide, viewing Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Lake from the historic Grand Lake Lodge, and witnessing mama moose nuzzling her newborn calf along the Colorado River, and
  
  
  
  
• working every day at Trail Ridge Store at an elevation of 11,796 feet, visiting/helping with the customers and tourists that frequent this majestic location.

Here's hoping that your summer is hopping with family and friends, and is full of adventure as well as relaxation.  Each day is one to be treasured as it's a gift that God has given me and you to take advantage of.  Seize the moments!

Missing you!
Amy

THE SNOW IS MELTING!

June 13, 2015

I awakened to Colorado BLUE SKIES.  What a magnificent backdrop for the snow-covered mountains.  I drove downtown this morning, and the waters of Estes Park and the surrounding areas are rising.  The snow is melting rapidly, and the rains have been relentless on the front range area.  Pray that the swollen creeks and rivers will recede soon.

• had my cracked radiator fixed,
• went to Estes Park's Farmers Market, bought a beautiful hanging flower basket, and sampled local wine, chai tea, and dips.  Met two Wisconsinites who are selling Wisconsin cheese curds,
  
• hiked Cow Creek Trail and reveled in the fabulous wildflowers,
  
• witnessed Alberta Falls powerful force, and hiked Glacial Gorge Trail,
  
• drove to Loveland and Fort Collins via Big Thompson Canyon and saw the devastation of the flood of September 2013, sampled beer at Buckhorn Brewery, mastered Devil's Gulch back to Estes Park, and enjoyed viewing my owlets mustering up courage to fly,
  
  
  
  
• was greeted by a former student while at work,
• attended a video presentation by a backpacker of the Colorado Trail,
• listened to a John Denver-like guitarist outdoors,
• saw many elk calves,
  
• drove to the west side of RMNP, saw three moose, and visited the historic Grand Lake Lodge,
  
• visited the Wild Basin area, witnessing the force of the St. Vrain Creek as it flows over Lower and Upper Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls, 
  
  
  
• and appreciated the many wildflowers popping out all over (especially the Calypso Orchids that we discovered)!
  
  
  
  

Today is back to work, as no one has the weekends off.  Blessings to all of you from Colorado!