ODDS and ENDS AROUND THE HOMESTEAD

 Days and nights!

I guess you can never have too many garden beds.

No, these are not graveyards!!

Believe it or not they are garden beds for next year.

We have seen a wide variety of wildlife.

wild turkeys

horned lizard

 buck

Then there is the work that needs to be done 

around the homestead.

 Lots of firewood!!

trimming bushes

New walkway from the attached garage 

to the workshop. 

There is always something to do in the house too.

 Painting the master bedroom and bathroom.
Making a valance for the bathroom.

 We do not have much wall space in FL,
but there are plenty of blank walls here.

Scenic View Trail

homemade sign

Guard Dog!!

CELEBRATIONS --> ANNIVERSARY & BIRTHDAY

We celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary with a trip to Castle Rock, Colorado.

It was a triple purpose trip!

1.) Anniversary get-away

2.) Row by Row Experience quilt shop hop

3.) Girl's luncheon

After thirty-nine years of marriage what else do you do, 

but take a road trip.

 Finding 2017 Row by Row Experience quilt shop participants 

on the way to and from Castle Rock was like a treasure hunt.

Here is what we discovered!

It was a pleasure to meet eleven friendly CO ladies 

for lunch at Ruby Tuesday. 

Usually birthdays are no big deal.

We do not go out of our way to celebrate.

I was pleasantly surprised when hubby

gave me this special bouquet of CO wild flowers

to celebrate my birthday.

He is a very special husband!!

I wonder how we will celebrate these events next year?

RAINBOW TRAIL

For our last hike of the season we decided to hike the Rainbow Trail.

The trail runs along the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains for roughly 100 miles.

Multiple trails head up the mountains from the Rainbow Trail.

Water sights from the trail!

Flora sights from the trail!

Valley views!

Until next year!

PUPPY RUN HIGH ALTITUDE STYLE

Initially, I thought that we would complete our second Colorado 5K

(the Puppy Run) on the same course 

as the Westgrass 5K we ran in July.

However, after completing the Westgrass 5K 

I did not want to run the same course 

unless we could not find an alternative.

We finally decided to park at 'The Bluffs" in town 

and run the Puppy Run 5K on the pavement nearby. 

Such a beautiful setting for running!

 

During our cool down walk we strolled by the observatory

and enjoyed the story boards on the trail around The Bluffs. 

 It sure is tough to run at 7800 feet, but the scenery is beautiful.

 

Even though he did not run,

Mojo got to enjoy the swag

since this was a Puppy Run.

 

FROM THE COLORADO FRONT PORCH

Most mornings after breakfast I would sit on the front porch with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

There were so many sights to enjoy while relaxing first thing in the morning.

Highlights are shown below.

Wild turkeys!

Serenity Path beside the front porch.

Lady bugs are a natural solution for aphids.

I think we have plenty of them!

 We really enjoyed the daily hummingbird visits.

 

 Standing stones and Roo

are my favorite view!!

After relaxing on the front porch it was time to get to work.