Jeeping in the Rocky Mountains - Part 1

It has been a cool, wet summer which has kept me indoors more than I care to be. However, this past weekend we had a beautiful day and went #jeeping with good friends #CrisMitchell and #MattMitchell. We started in Telluride on #ImogenePass and drove over the pass where it ends in #OurayColorado. It is a beautiful drive that goes well above timberline and summits at 13,114 feet in elevation. Imogene is 17 miles long and is the highest pass in the San Juan Mountain Range and the second highest vehicular pass in the state of Colorado.

A view of the road we had traveled to Imogene Pass summit.

Sheep grazing above timberline.



One thing nice about all of the rain this summer is that the wildflowers are abundant and brilliant with color in the high elevations.

Me taking photos

Elephant head flowers that I rarely see.

Indian paint brush. At high altitude they are brilliant pink.

Ptarmigan Lake. There are 5 Ptarmigan Lakes in Colorado,
 but this is the highest at 12,939.

Bluebells. Not to be confused with the ice cream.

A field of elephant head flowers.

Next we drove over #EngineerPass to #LakeCityColorado.

Stay tuned for my next blog.....Jeeping in the Rockies, Part 2.

Deer Eating My Flowers

We don't have many deer here on the ranch, but there are occasionally a few that hang around for the summer. I woke up this morning to find these two eating my "deer resistant" wildflowers. Go figure.

Escape to Mexico

Spring weather in Colorado is very unpredictable. This year has been no exception. It has rained and snowed constantly for the past few weeks. We always plan a vacation in May to escape the dreary weather. This year we spent 9 days in Playa del Carmen, Mexico at a beautiful resort, Secrets Capri.

Playa del Carmen

It is common to find a fish pond in hotel lobby's, but this resort had a turtle pond with 49 turtles. They would occasionally get out of the pond and wander around the lobby until someone found them and put them back in the water. LOL. We often stopped by at feeding time to feed them.

Turtles in the turtle pond in the hotel lobby

Cabanas at the pool

I spent hours around the pool reading, sunning and relaxing. Too Perfect

One of our awful  selfies. This is my first and last!!

I was fascinated by the Coatis. I had never seen or heard of them prior to this trip. They are known as a Mexican racoon with a very long tail. They run around so fast that I couldn't get a picture.
This is one picture that I snapped of its face as he was hiding in a bush. Look at the bottom in the middle of the photo to see his cute face.

Elk in the Yard

I haven't been very active with my blog in recent months. It was cold and wintery and I just wanted to stay inside and stay warm. But now it is early Spring and I am motivated to get outside and get active. 

We are having a very early Spring....about one month ahead of normal. My daffodils are up a few inches and all the snow is melted in the yard. Of course, that could all change and it could start snowing again and not stop until the end of May! Mountain weather is so unpredictable.

I woke up yesterday morning to a nice herd of elk in the front yard and behind the house. I took the photos through the window hoping not to scare them away. I get so excited when I see elk this up close and personal. You would think I had never seen one before! 

The are starting to shed their winter coats, so they look a little natty, but such a huge wild animal that I stay fascinated with them. The only problem is they tear up my year with their hooves and poop everywhere.

 

Snow Scenes and Snowy Days

Winter is a beautiful time here in the mountains of Colorado.We have received 2.5 feet of snow in the last two storms. #tellurideskiresort as well as all the #coloradoskiresorts are jumping for joy. It is expected to be a great snow year which equals great skiing. I love staying home and watching the snow through my big windows when I can stay warm and cozy inside. I have conveniently never learned to plow snow with the ATV.....I am great at taking pictures of others plowing. LOL.

                       

Here are a few winter scenes.

Our picnic table with a snow load.

Steve plowing

Frozen mini water fall on Deep Creek Road

C

Deep Creek is normally at least 15' wide, but is now frozen to only 2' wide.

Meet Andy

We have a new addition to our family. He is an eight month old male kitty. We went to #SecondChanceAnimalShelter (Humane Society) in Ridgway yesterday and let the kitty chose us. He looks just like our six year old, Acey.

I was initially hesitant to chose a kitty that looks identical to the one we already have, but he was so sweet and purred instantly. When they told us his name was Andy it was ALL OVER. Andy/Andrew is a sacred name in our family. Our little cat Andy is the 5th generation with the same name. LOL.

He has fit in perfectly -Andy and Acey are already the best of friends. He is already pretty big for an 8 month old, I expect he will be a moose!

Hartman Gardens of Colorado

A few weeks ago before the first snowfall, I visited Hartman Gardens in Montrose, Colorado. I had just missed the final apple picking, but still managed to find a few apples on the trees and raspberries still on the vine. I was treated to a lovely tour of the gardens and orchards by the owner, Janet Hartman. Fresh preserves are made in their canning kitchen the old fashioned way - one small batch at a time. She uses reduced sugar recipes to maintain the flavors of the natural fruits. No artificial colorings or preservatives are added. She also makes syrups, flapjack and scone mixes, hot drink mixes and very nice gift boxes which are all perfect for Christmas gifts. Check out her website at www.hartmangardens.com. If you decide to order, please tell Janet you saw her on my blog.

I have had several different varieties of Janet's preserves, but my all time favorite is her apple butter. The best I have ever tasted. I like to serve it with grilled pork......delicious! I have my mother-in-law hooked on Hartman's apple butter and take her several jars when we go to visit her in Texas.

I plan to return to Hartman Garden's next summer when the season is in full swing. Stay tuned....

Janet showing me her beautiful raspberries.

The apple orchard.

Hartman Gardens Store

Fresh fruit juices waiting to be made into jams and syrups.

Apples cooking in the kitchen to make my favorite apple butter.