More Pretty

I didn’t want to leave these out…

Colorado Utilization and Reparation

I just love these fences!😂😂

And the road for the more daring than I…

No Place Like Home

My beloved auntie read the blog recently, and sent me a text asking… ‘Are you leaving Montana?’

While my blogs have focused on the beauty and splendor of Colorado, the two states are so vastly different. I think that is what intrigues me so much about being here, on the western slope of Colorado. I expected Colorado to be just like Montana, but it is completely opposite! The mountains are so high they are above the tundra line, and so Colorado mountains have none of the beautiful pine trees that Montana is so famous for. Where Montana is green and lush with foliage and trees and grass, Colorado is arid, with rocks, massive boulders, clay and desert. Both so different, but both so vast and beautiful!

On my return from Grand Junction this afternoon, I saw a sign that read ‘Point of Interest’. I have come to realize that these are much like the brown signs in Europe… definitely worth stopping for! So off we went, my dog, and I, on a road less traveled.

We drove for some time through the Escalante Canyon. It was beautiful and rugged, much like the pictures show, but the pictures seem somehow to be lacking the splendor of being surrounded by many of the boulders that have toppled over the years, while many still stand. I found myself trying to tread lightly less I shake one loose.😂😂.

As I peruse the highways and byways of Western Colorado, I see so many differences, but I see so much that is the same. Farms and cows and horses and sheep. ‘Fresh Eggs For Sale’ signs on the road, John Deer tractors and equipment out in the fields and on winter’s respite. Fences in all stages of repair…and kind, solid people who nod and wave when you pass by on a country road. When I passed my first random vehicle on my way down the canyon, I was pulled over to take yet another picture. The driver slowed to a stop and asked, ‘Not lost, are ya?’

With a wave of my arm I said, ‘No, there’s just so much pretty here I don’t want to miss any of it!’

He gave me a grin and said, ‘Enjoy!’ I imagine this man on the tractor was him The resemblance is there. 😊

For as much as the two states are different, and for as much as they are the same, I am thoroughly loving my time here in Colorado, but I look forward to the time I am back home again in Montana.💕

Back to Where I Started

Clear weather and a good location on the western slope allowed me to return to Grand Junction for a day of goofing off. I let Jax spend the day with his buddies at Wag Resort while I went to explore the town. Something I really didn’t have much time for while here for my three days of training. It was a lovely day of down time, and the most touching place I happened upon was a Veterans’ Cemetery. I’m not sure if you’ve ever walked through a cemetery, but it’s one of my favorite places to wander. So peaceful. I enjoy reading the headstones, and the sentiments expressed for loved ones who’ve passed on. I often think of what I’d like my own to say…but then that’s not for me to choose, is it😊.

This cemetery was especially meaningful, coming so close on the heels of our Beaches of Normandy tour.

The Sentry. His salute is toward the final resting places of those who served.

Every headstone has a beautiful wreath adorning it, and it brought to mind the people of Normandy who faithfully tend to the graves of our American soldiers.

All branches are covered. 💕

And many wars…

Well done, Grand Junction💕🙏.

A White Christmas

I wish I could put a short video on this blog. I woke up this morning to the most beautiful, softly falling snow. It looks like the Lord gifted me a white Christmas after all! I decided to prepare my simple Christmas dinner early, just so I could look out the window and watch the flakes drifting down. I even made a second cup of coffee, and then enjoyed the lively Christmas chatter via texts. What a special holiday season this is. I know I will not have another one like it in the near future, so I am enjoying every moment of it. It is good to know the kids pulled off a fantastic Christmas dinner for one another, and they kept me updated with pictures! I am so grateful for them beyond measure. This afternoon was spent watching a Christmas movie, ‘The Christmas Candle’, and then I decided to take Jax on a long walk, since the weather turned surprisingly nice. The remnants of snow have all but disappeared, except for up in the Rocky Mountains. But I think it looks prettier up there than on the streets.😂😂 soon I will be on my last two months in Montrose. It will be hard to say goodbye to my newfound, friends and coworkers, butI look forward to getting home and getting started on Myagingparent.org. Even now I see how sorely lacking the education and guidance for people struggling with end of life decisions is. But for now, I’ll focus on the happy! Some fun pictures from today…

This looks like a fun place to take in a concert during the summer months!😃

If you’ve never been to Colorado, I can’t say enough good things about the western slope!

The cool down. In what little snow remains😂😂.

All along the walking path are downed limbs. Some are surprisingly pretty😄.

And some just look like britches😂😂😂!

More tree remnants.

Eye of the…🤔

Merry Christmas to all🎄🙏🤗💕!

The Kindness of Strangers, Now Friends

At the risk of sounding selfish, I chose to take a travel assignment over the holidays just to have some time to myself. Christmas has always been magical for me, and my favorite holiday of all, second only to Easter. I’ve always made it a point to get my shopping done well before the madness started, just so it didn’t taint the holiness of the season. In being away, my beautiful daughters at home have graciously stepped up to put on Christmas dinner for the rest of the family. I am so grateful for them, and their willingness to take this on, as well as Dean’s willingness to let me stretch my wings. I think deep down, he understands my penchant for wanting solitude now and again. Much to my surprise, but not really, because that’s how the people in this beautiful place are, I have received multiple offers to join my new friends for Christmas Day. I could honestly say that I had a carefully laid plan in place, which I do, and it includes a light lunch, followed by a hike up one of the many canyons I’ve set my sights on since I arrived here. Surprisingly, I feel like I’ve been able to minister to two separate friends in distant places who will also be alone, but who may not have wanted to be. I explained to them both that I consider this a ‘season’ in my life…one that will most likely never come again, and that I am going to take full advantage of making it special. I told them both that we will call one another on Christmas day to share how we are we are making our Christmas 2024 memorable. I am looking forward to those telephone calls!

My hiking companion 💕

Eagle’s Nest, Revisited

Because it was Just. So. Beautiful.

Dean shed his only layer😂😂

Wild Blue Yonder

Well, I am happy to say that Ouray did not disappoint! What a beautiful, charming and quaint little mountain town! I learned today that the town was named after a Native American, Chief Ouray. His story reminds me of that of Chief Joseph, of the Nez Pearce (Montana). Both men worked tirelessly to promote peace between the white settlers moving in to their territory and the tribal inhabitants, but sadly peace was not in their future. A small consolation, if any, but the town was named after him. Ouray became an incorporated city in 1876.

Most of the city’s buildings are listed in a historical register, which only adds to its charm.

The town is known for its history of gold mining, and mining tours are available all season long. I may return here on a Friday in mid-January when Jax is at daycare, if only to visit some of these places that I don’t think he’d be comfortable going into. But on the outskirts, he had a ball!

And we found snow!😂😂😂😂👏👏

This is a beautiful spot on the way to Silverton. Another place that bears returning to! Although I didn’t quite drive all the way up there today. We were having too much fun in Ouray.

And I was told today that ice climbing season opened! These were some of the brave souls I saw…and one just learning at a very young age!

It was all just too beautiful to portray in photos. The sun was out in full force, and I was overdressed. It reminded me of the day we went up to the Eagle’s Nest on our Beaches of Normandy tour. Our tour guide, Viktor, told us to dress very warmly because it was very high up and it was going to be cold. So we all dressed in multiple layers. Turns out it was an exceptionally warm day, but none of us wanted to carry our excess clothing around, so we just suffered through it😂😂.

I’ll leave it at this. I still have ten weeks to get more mountain pictures!😂😂😂. Next up…TELLURIDE!