Art Reception

One of the first events on our calendar every summer, is the local arts reception

Every local artist is encouraged to show one or two of the latest works

There are all kinds of art work on display ...it is also for sale

and most of it has a mountain theme

My neighbor Ani, who is actually a sweater designer, painted this bear

I am not sure who did this whimsical little fellow. But, this is what the bears do around here. Peep in windows!
Refreshments are donated by the local restaurants, and everyone turns out since it is the first chance to see everyone you haven't seen all winter! Fun event.

The World's Only!

I know, I showed you a new drive in movie recently in Ft. Worth, Texas. Well this is a different one....a very different one!

You see this is the world's only movie manor. That's right. It's a motel that has views of a movie screen from your room, complete with sound.

It's not a new gimmick. This place has been around as long as I have been coming to Colorado (over 20 yrs). It's located in the San Luis Valley about two miles west of the small town of Monte Vista.

The Barns of the San Luis Valley

I've never paid a lot of attention to barns until I became a fan of The Run *A* Round Ranch Report. My friend over there, Teresa, regularly posts pictures of barns, So, on Tuesday when we went after flowers, I drove Tom crazy asking him to pull over so I could get a barn shot!

Monte Vista, Colorado (where we were) is in the San Luis Valley ...surrounded by high mountains,(the La Garitas to the northwest, The San Juans to the west, and the Sangre De Cristos to the east. and bordered on one side by the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The valley is a huge farming area and the main crop is potatoes...supposedly the second largest potato production...just behind Idaho.

I really don't know a thing about styles of barns, but here are a few that I liked....and that Tom would pull over for.

This was a biggie

liked the red roof here

This little cutie was my favorite

This one looked very old

and this one even older. There was grass growing on it's roof.

We had a great day seeing the scenery and buying flowers.

The Spotter

You would think after getting in after such a long day of travel on Monday  ...that we would rest on Tuesday! No rest for the weary! Early Tuesday morning, we headed southeast over Slumgullion Pass, headed to Monte Vista, Co. There is a nursery there that has a huge array of hanging baskets at  reasonable prices... Since we buy six for the summer...we wanted to get there before they were all gone, and we couldn't wait since we have a busy week. Some people think we come up to the mountains  to rest. HA!

Why the deer? Well this is what greeted us on a curve. My job you see (as passenger) is to be the deer spotter....It is a job to be taken seriously.

As you can see, we came back with flowers and some food this time..(we went to the supermarket too).since there was so little room when we came through from Texas.

Got ...Yellow ones

Red ones

a purple

and red and blue in the wine barrel. Hopefully, I can keep them alive all summer. It is so dry up here you have to water them daily.....and spray Deer Off on the ones in the barrel every now and again.

You didn't expect me to know all of the flower names did you? I would go look at the tags...but I am supposed to be helping Tom get the deck furniture out of the garage...

Quack quack

First Birthdays are very important. Especially when you are the first child and the first grandchild!

 

Which is why we flew all the way to Chicago!

The party decorations were all made by Hannah's Aunt Stacy. Yes, she even made the crowns (on her printer)!

Hannah, by the way loves rubber duckies...so they were everywhere!

On the cakes

and on most of the cupcakes

and there was even one icing down the adult beverages!

It was a huge celebration with seventy guests and my daughters did all of the cooking, which included an array of salads: Shrimp salad, chicken cherry salad, lemon pasta, and pimento cheese, and a selection of dips. Adding to the dessert table, were chocolate truffels, nutella cookies sprinkled with sea salt , homemade carmels and lemon krispie squares.

 

Oh and the guest of honor was...my sweet Hannah! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANNAH!

The Trip

 

Tom and I left our little town of Lake city this past Thursday morning very early (6am) in order to drive to Denver to catch our non stop flight to Chicago. It was daylight by the time we pulled into Gunnison, which is an hour north of us. Gasoline is cheaper there, and they usually have an ATM that actually works. This tree was blooming beside the bank....We get to experience Spring twice every year. Once in Texas , then again when we and it finally arrive Colorado.

 

Heading east out of Gunnison you drive up and over Monarch Pass (11,312 ft high), where there is still snow on the peaks .

We have been over Monarch many times ....but I am always amazed at it's beauty.

There is another pass, once we head north on the other side of Monarch. Kenosha is not as high (9,997 ft.).  I tried to take a picture but it was snowing to beat the band!

We had a nice flight from Denver to Chicago., despite the high winds and thunder storms across the midwest.
Arrived in Chicago at rush hour. We were going to take the train through town. But, I knew it would be very crowded, and I was so afraid someone would step on my foot (which is still healing from surgery). Tom was nice enough to spring for a taxi cab!

Come back tomorrow an I will show you the decorations from the party!

I'm Back!

A blurry cell phone picture taken from the car. The sun was just setting tonight as we were on our last leg from our long journey. We flew to Chicago on Thursday and back today ; which is Monday. I got up at 4:30am this morning to help with my darling  granddaughter Hannah.....then we took the train to the airport., flew two hours to Denver....ran errands all over town and then drove five hours across Colorado to our  little town of Lake City. I have  pictures to share....but this day has been long enough...good night!