On To Steamboat Springs

Little House on the very-nearly-a Prairie

Saturday was adventure day. It was off for the scenic drive over hill and dale, from Denver to Shingle Springs Colorado.

We stopped in a cute little town to get some fresh peaches at a roadside stand. Gooood peaches!

Showing off fresh peaches

The scenery was pretty and fun for us, but as in California, bits of Colorado were aflame with wildfire. We were reminded when we passed a camping area where fire fighters spent down time.

Fire Fighters Camp

The fire fighter's camp was an omen of things to come - we hit a snag in our route -  blocked due to wildfire in the mountains. 

We were in two cars so there was a window to window chat by Dave & Tom. A different route was chosen, but what the heck - any route in Colorado is bound to be interesting and likely down right beautiful. 

 Tom pointed out Rabbit Ears Mountain which until recently featured two rabbity ears at its top. One ear toppled over of late, so now its sort of 1.3 ears sticking up.

Rabbit Ears Mountain (on the right side) One ear down, one to go

You know, along the way, I was drive by birding. I hoped to add more birds to my Colorado life list. The photo on the right here of a nice Black-billed Magpie.




And we'd already passed a couple of Sand Hill Cranes, far off in the distance that I couldn't get a shot of, but I was in for a pleasant surprise. We drove through on a quiet country road - it's all country out there really - and what did we all spy, but lounging Sand Hill Cranes. We stopped to admire the flock. There were a little over a dozen birds. Turn down the volume - it's mostly wind noise -  to watch a few of the grand birds strutting about.


 And then we arrived at the little house in the rangeland! David & Tom's 'country home' is a cute little (ok, not so little) red house nestled between chaparral covered hillsides. 

Tada! The beautiful little home on the rangeland

It was quite the 'homecoming' for us. 

Cousin Carol on her way in

We all claimed our beds & our rooms and made ourselves at home.

 By the by, in the photo below Cousin David is wearing the 2nd of the two tee-shirt designs he had made for two of our Pop-up reunions. He spoils us all rotten!

Better-than-a-sous-chef Cousin David at meal prep

It wasn't too long before we were outside on the front porch. I got in some birding and there was some wildlife on hand too. 

Little buck Mule Deer in the 'front yard' its antlers in velvet

While I was happy to lounge on the porch, Tom took eager Jonni across the road for a short hike up to a cliff that overlooks the property. I used telephoto to snag some shots of them.

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Yet another fantastic day enjoyed in the company of our family. Life is sooo good.