Birthday Pictures

For my birthday this year I got to spend the day with Bob and the kids were able to take a break from me. That was probably a gift for all of us. I suggested that we go to Powderhorn Ski Resort and ride the lift and look at the fall colors. Well, after almost 15 years together we are thinking alike, he tells me that was what he was planning to do. It was about an hour ride and you can see some pretty amazing views and it is a long way down to the starting point. The trees were just starting to change colors.

Did I say it was a long way down? It was. My sunglasses fell out of my purse as I was grabbing my camera to take some pictures. They are somewhere on that mountain.  At least it wasn't the new camera.

Pretty.

On the top of Grand Mesa the trees were much prettier. We drove around some of the back roads and hiked around Carson Lake.

God does a great job and I am very thankful to be able to see all the wonderful places in His creation. By the end of the day the kids were still not ready for us to pick them up. It is nice to have a break once and a while. It was a lovely day.

Lake of the Woods

 In preparing for the big hike this fall we did a bunch of little hikes around Grand Junction. I have to say that we are just blessed to be surrounded by all these places. This one is on Grand Mesa. It reminded me of Minnesota, "Land of 10,000 Lakes", hiking in the woods and next to the lakes but most of all it had to have been the annoying mosquitoes.

Travis is trying to look half thrilled to be there. It could be that it was Cody that was taking all the pictures.

 Even Lady joined in on the action.

There were a bunch of little waterfalls that just looked so refreshing.

 This was before Bob injured his back. It was a good hike that started off with EVERYONE getting there feet soaked. We started walking across this field and it kept getting more and more wet. We were halfway across and it got deeper but we were already wet so we kept running.  It was disgusting muck but we made it across. Unfortunately, in our running, one of us dropped the Two-way Radio. We thought we would be searching forever but it was close and was recovered. Little did we know that on our return trek there is a path that goes around this small "lake".

Cody did get some good pictures with his camera. We did have to get one of him.

 We had a great time out there getting eaten by the mosquitoes, soaking in muck up to our shins, and loosing the radio. By then, not much could happen to top that so we made the best of the trip.

 Meleah and Bob had to go explore another trail that required hopping these big boulders.

 It could be Minnesota.

 This is Bull Creek Reservoir. We never did make it to the actual lake. We stopped and enjoyed some of the scenery. Bob had the boys make "fire". He was doing a little survival training. If you are lost in the woods, never forget matches. Those little backpack fire starters take a long time to get any kind of fire going. It could have been inexperience too.

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The Colorado Columbines sure were pretty and blooming. We stopped to get a picture between swipes at the mosquitoes. We used bug spray but I think they like the stuff or they have become resistant to it.


Good memories.