Exploring

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Sometimes I question my choice of middle name for that pooch of ours. Beulah is meaningful, but JOY, now that would really nail it! Our girl such a joy-filled creature! Saying good morning: wiggle, wiggle, wiggles of joy. Coming home from the store: wiggle, wiggle, wiggles of joy. Walking? Oh my heavens the JOY of walking! The JOY of eating, and cuddling, and licking, and running, and playing, too. She brings it out in us, too.

I bought her a new collar (the other got sprayed by a skunk – not fun!!). Neon pink with reflective bones, eek! Also, new socks for winter weather, and damn if they don’t look like she’s wearing high heels! The silliness. And how cute she looks in her little coat, too!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood…

Our nephew came down to see us this past weekend, but I didn’t get a picture – rats! We had a grand time of hiking and eating and talking and eating some more. Ms. Juni B. enjoyed her first meal inside at a restaurant – Pub Dog, if you don’t know it. It is the first in the country to allow pets at the table indoors. Though the food was quite tasty, it was a bit of sensory overload – dog sniffs and food sniffs and so many people, too!

A trip down the Rabbit Hole after seeing the highly anticipated (at least for us) Blade Runner 2049, both of which we rather liked. Get the Chicken and Biscuit and the Tweedle Bee. Yessirrreee!

Oh, and almost mandatory photo of Pike’s Peak. Lovely from every angle, that one…

Woke up to that sliver of moon this morning, peering just above the trees.

Some little one is a sad, sad camper this morning, having left a rather sporty jacket and these two dolls at the park.

And finally, what kind of a duck are YOU?

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Leaf Parade

Breaking from the prison of the day-to-day to look at leaves! How funny that sounds, the simplicity of it. And then there is the actuality, nature in full flame, with only time to burn. This is in Canon City, by the by – pretty cool looking for an actual prison.

Rolling down highway 69. These fantastic clouds obscure my favorite Sangre de Cristo Mountains, but not so much as to hide that magical dusting of snow!

A fine time in Westcliffe (where we will be back for dark skies!), with lunch at Sangrita (under new ownership!) – the best of the best burgers for the hubster and a massive pork chop for me. We also shared a right fabulous slice of apple pie heaven. Juni B. is at our feet, of course. She’s our new American Express. We don’t leave home without her!

More views obscured by a scrim of rain, stunning nevertheless.

Tailings and other reminders of the Querida Mine. The things that last.

More rain. More flame.

The singular vision and dream come true of one man, Jim Bishop. This is his castle!

More leaf peeping, giving way to stunning views. I love you, Colorado.

And great hugs to all on this terribly shitty day. FIFTY-EIGHT lives unknown to me and one Tom Petty. This world sometimes…

Early Saturday morning hike up Cheyenne Canyon to spy on Seven Falls and give hearty greetings from Helen Hunt.

Breakfast lattes at the Ivywwild.

Juniper rockets between us, back and forth, back and forth, four, maybe five times? She will walk afterward, spazzy as ever, not so much as a pant.

Jaunt

Welcome to a midday jaunt to Palmer Lake a week or two ago, the sky ultra clear, sharpening the edges of our vision. We wandered a bit, spying one of the best street names ever, walked around the namesake lake, sipped iced lattes at the Speed Trap, and had a rather nice bit of lunch. Our sweet Juni B. was a near secret diner (such fine table manners she has!) at The Stube, an adorable and delightfully delicious stop.

This morning’s sky stands in stark contrast – smoke filled from a host of blazes and completely obscuring Pike’s Peak. Heart broken at the devastation. Saying prayers for western rain and eastern calm. My beloved country is falling apart…

sunset

Our crooked campsite at Joyful Journey. It didn’t look so bad when we were setting up, but the wedged backpack next to the hubster’s sleeping bag to keep him from rolling down hill confirmed otherwise.

Moving, keeping still, exposing what I can’t see.

This was Juniper’s first camping trip, and our first together in more than twenty years. We heard the hoo-hoo of a neighborhood owl under the cloak of darkness and the primal yip and howl of coyotes welcoming the dawn. I cannot imagine a better or more fitting welcome.

sunrise

looking up

looking down

A beautiful hike just outside Crestone, it was a steep climb, up and up and up, earning Juniper and the hubster a looooong nap while I soaked and soaked and soaked.

I ate handfuls of these. Thimbleberry, maybe?

The San Luis Valley from on high. Good grief it is gorgeous!

rainbow smudge

storm

last bits of daylight

nighthawk

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