Goodbye Fall

Since I last posted, we've had snow twice - it melted within a day.

Grasses in the meadow turned golden.

The forest floor glowed russet.

Foliage was beautiful.

Now most of the trees are bare.

We have daily sightings of moose.

They're temperamental during  rut. We don't antagonise them.

We welcome displays of color before the coming of white.

We've been working daily to prepare for winter. The deck furniture is stored. The tractor and snowblower are oiled and ready. Our boiler is winterized. The property is raked and cleared of summer debris. After the next snow, I'll sow seeds, hoping for summer blooms.

Goodbye fall - you've been my One Good Thing the past month!

Thank you for visiting.

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Happy Summer

As usual we skipped spring.

We went directly from winter to summer.

Snow is finally melted except on the high peaks.

Indian Paintbrush

We're blessed by rain - the landscape bursts with color.

Corn Husk Lilies (no flowers yet)

Marsh Marigold 

Wildflowers are blooming.

Mornings we have breakfast on the deck.

Afterward, I work in the gardens or hike.

Imperial Peak in distance

Now that I'm 78, my "hikes" are shorter.

Instead of 10 miles, I'm happy with 5 or less.

I think I should call them "wanderings".

Pearly Everlasting

I stop often to admire the scenery.

cub stealing our trash - photo taken by a neighbor

 I let my feet wander, but my mind stays focused.

Moose have just given birth.

Bears are on the prowl.

When I walk through the logging cut, I see mountains near and far.

However, in dense forests, animals can appear around every curve.

I'm alert for wildlife.

the loggers spared my Octopus Tree

I'm happy for this season of rebirth and regrowth.

The trails through wilderness beckon.

Summer is my one good thing.

rainbow with Tenmile Range in background after a night of rain

Thank you for visiting.

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Exploring New Territory

How can it be the end of January already?

Do you think time passes more quickly as you age?

I do!

Red Mountain rises 13,227' (4,031 M) into the sky - I greet it each morning

I can see dawn from my kitchen window now.

The forest that obscured this view in the past is gone.

Bald Mountain 13,690' (4,173 M) previously hid behind the forest 

The cut is nearly complete.

Aspen, spruce, fir, and baby pine still dot the landscape.

However, the lodge pole pines - ancient trees over 125 years old - are gone.

Vast open meadows have taken the place of dense forests.

Wildfires which pose a dangerous threat have less fuel to spread.

Cutting the old pines provides the forest a chance to regenerate.

I snowshoe through the new landscape.

Silence follows my linked footsteps.

High peaks look down on me.

Young trees wave hello.

The snowshoe hare also leaves tracks.

I believe it's faster than I am on its snowshoes.

Peak 9, Breckenridge Ski Resort

This season we celebrate half a century of downhill skiing.

I still feel like a girl when I float down the slopes on my skis.

However, each season, I wonder if maybe it will be our last.

It's a dangerous sport, and we are no longer young.

But, we'll enjoy it this winter while we still can.

Moon hanging above Peak 10

The logging has exposed so many views.

It's fun to explore new territory.

I'm surrounded by Nature's beauty which is my good thing today.

I hope you're able to enjoy natural landscapes, too.

Stay well!

Barb

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Adapting to Change - End of 2021

 

At year's end, we finally have snow on the ground.

Pewter skies drop precious white over the landscape.

We begin enjoying winter activities.

The forest cut behind us is progressing.

New vistas have opened.

We find our way without familiar forest trails to guide us.

We explore new ways to navigate the terrain.

Thank goodness, the Octopus tree has been spared!

Life is all about navigating through change and finding new ways.

The ability to adapt to change is my one good thing today.

May the New Year bring you many blessings.

Barb

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Interlude

We're having a longer transition period between fall and winter than usual.

dawn from front deck

Though we get small snow squalls, temperatures remain mild.

same dawn from back deck

I watch dawn add soft pastels to the sky.

Sometimes, a fox sees me stirring and comes to say hello.

Though I don't feed the wildlife, animals are accustomed to me.

I speak softly to wild visitors.

our house is just to the left of Bob in the trees

The state forest service is doing a clear cut in the forest behind our house.

Our landscape is changing drastically as trees give way to mountain views.

little boys and their toys

Heavy equipment operates from dawn to dark just off our land.

It's an adjustment, but I'm grateful for the fire break.

Soon we'll be able to use our touring skis.

Until then, we hike the trails carefully.

The snow is slippery, and ice is forming in Lehman Creek.

goodbye - see you soon!

We're grateful for our health and for the beauty that surrounds us.

Look for one good thing - pass it on....

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As the Seasons Turn

How can it be fall already?

I had no idea I'd take such a long break from the blog.

Wildflowers flourished right through summer into fall.

We've already had several snows, one in August and two in September. 

Luckily, the snow melted quickly in fall's still-warm sunshine.

Frost set my gardens to seed, but deck boxes and containers are (so far) still surviving.

Now our trees are putting on a glorious show.

I take the camera to capture the splendor of early-morning light.

I'm breathless at the beauty.

We are well and give thanks for all the good we see both in Nature and in our dealings with others. We are still cautious because of the virus and don't care to travel far from home. I hope you're well, too, enjoying your part of the world and staying safe.

Change is my One Good Thing today and the ability to adapt to it.

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