Free Bird

A day off, but partially broken up by a ‘DE-SHED’ treatment for Jax🤣😂! Never knew there was such a thing, but I am excited to see how it works! German Shepherds have a very thick ‘undercoat’, and so they are insidious and persistent (my nurse-ese coming out) shedders. So while Jax is at ‘the spa’ (wasn’t sure how he felt about being left in a strange, new place😳), I decided to visit yet another local recommendation…LaNous de Bois winery, a mere four miles from ‘the spa’😂😂

My ‘flight’ 😀

Naturally, I order a flight (four samples) of the pourer’s favorites. And they are deLECTABLE! I SO want to return here in the summer. Dean would enjoy the area, and the things to see/places to visit. Maybe a summer ‘parent trip’ for four😃💕.

My wine enthusiast extraordinaire! He brought me yet another to taste! And told me that Hotchkiss and Palisades are both huge wine regions. Both are within 60 miles of Montrose. ‘Come in July,’ he said. ‘The wildflowers will be in bloom.’

How I love these folks on the western slope. I am SO, SO grateful for this amazing experience! Today, after dropping Jax off, I saw a beautiful, bald eagle soaring against a bold, blue sky. It will be almost 50 degrees today, and next week into the lower 60’s. Such an unexpected treat. Once again, I feel like I am cheating winter, but it is a good feeling. I don’t mind the cold if the sun is shining, and the sun ALWAYS shines here in Montrose! But I am sure enjoying the WARM too👏👏!

An interesting thing I pass frequently on my way home from Iron Will (Jax’s playcare) each day…

On Monday, I found out what it is!

Ditch irrigation, Colorado style😃. They go BIG in Colorado! Dean would be impressed!😂😂

As my final four weeks begin come Monday, I realize how much I will miss this place, and theses people who welcomed me so readily into their lives. I like to remember that ‘a friend made is a friend forever’. Not a proverb, is it?🤔😂 I will be forever grateful to say, ‘I lived in Colorado for a season’…💕

Random Lovelies

From today’s adventure ☺️.

I’m not sure what these are, but they are everywhere in this area! I find them surprisingly beautiful. 😊

Falling rock 🤓.

A Touching Tribute

Tangible memories are so touching to see. Even for those I will never know. But coming across these random and unexpected memorials reminds me that this was somebody’s mom, dad, daughter, son or sibling, and when I read the inscriptions, I can feel both the love, and also the sense of loss. This bench is for Axel…

Axel’s bench overlooks the Rocky Mountains to the east, and it was a peaceful place to rest a while to enjoy the beautiful snowy vista.

Further down was Dennis Weaver’s memorial…

He must have liked eagles…

Yet another reminder today to enjoy every moment, because we never know which will be the last here on this earth. 💕

When the Cat’s Away…

The dog will play!😂😂😂😂 Just so you don’t think he’s lonely and bored at ‘playcare’😂😂🤗.

Just a Little More Pretty

The sunshine is out in full force, so it feels much warmer than the anticipated 28°. I was happy to see the property in this pretty little town is much more affordable than it wasn’t Telluride. A beautiful place to live, and not so far from Montrose or Grand Junction. Still, it’s not home💕, but I am loving Ouray!

Views in Ouray

Just so lovely here…

Ourey Revisited

Coming back to this place after six weeks of working with my team in Montrose only gives me a new appreciation for the wonderful experiences I’ve had here in the ‘Western Slope’. But now, knowing I am down to my last five weeks here, I am making a concerted effort to see as much as I can before I head home. But the anticipation and excitement to head home is growing. But for today, I am going to enjoy Ourey💕.

The tunnel going toward Silverton😂.

Ourey🤗💕🤗

The Million Dollar Highway

I am officially seven weeks in to my thirteen week travel assignment. I decided to venture back to Ourey without Jax so I could wander through the shops and enjoy an afternoon latte. But first, I had every intention of driving up to Silverton, only eighteen miles away from Ourey. The dealbreaker being ‘The Million Dollar Highway’. At every mention of visiting Silverton and/or Durango, I was met with…’You’ll have to go over on the Million Dollar Highway. ‘ I wondered what the big deal was. After all, a highway is a highway. (😂😂😂😂😳NO). At the top of ‘TMDH’ is Red Mountain Pass. I see signs daily as I drive to Iron Will Doggy Daycare warning that all trucks hauling loads of goods are required by law to have chains if going over Red Mountain Pass. ‘Well’, I thought, ‘surely I’m not going THAT far.’🤔 (😂😂😂😂😂😳YES).

The Million Dollar Highway edge. No rails. Not even tiny curbs to keep you focused😂😂😂😱! And this, only a mile in. And it gets worse😂😂😂.

There were multiple signs warning of falling rock, but nowhere to go to ESCAPE the falling rock!

At my patient visit yesterday, I mentioned my plan to go to Silverton today and was told, ‘Once you go through the tunnel, there is one last pull off, and then you are committed…’

Seems like everyone who lives here has a healthy respect for Red Mountain Pass and the Million Dollar Highway😂😂😂😂😂😂 I should have learned from that. The tunnel…

I made it around several heart stopping curves to the last pull out.

This is where I promptly turned around. 😂😂😂 If I EVER visit Silverton, it will NOT be via the Million Dollar Highway! Heading back to Ourey now for a stiff Irish whiskey!😂😂

Heading Back to Montrose

The view that tells me I am getting close to Montrose after spending a day in Grand Junction…

And then…

And

Just loving this little piece of our beautiful USA🤗💕🤗!