There has been a seasonal shift, finally. Mountains surrounding our Lovely Crevice are capped with snow, the air slaps cheeks red with crispness, and summer's green leafs yields to autumnal gold coins fluttering in the breeze.
A "Postcard" social hike is on today's agenda. "To Simplify" Glenn lurks somewhere in town wanting to test his newfound hiking legs, Marathon Man is itching to ditch his clothes and jump into some ice-watered lake, and friends Martha and Tim are scheduled to join the above motley crew, thereby submitting to Mark and Bobbie's alter call—a soul salving, eye filling, spiritual awakening guaranteed to shake the fence-straddling legs of the most devout of agnostics.
But first let's play catchup. Main Street shop owners Tamara and Bruce threw a party at their lovely home last week to mark the end of another successful summer tourist season (Cha Ching). They have two stores in the core of downtown Ouray, Mountain Fever, and Bear Creek, the latter being where Bobbie spent a good portion of her non-hiking time. It was a rousing good time with catered food and plenty of spirits...enough to have us all singing and taking turns at the piano playing Heart and Soul :).
Jeff and Betty rolled into town from Ohio in their Class A...spurred on by the BCB's photos :)) Jeff came over for a meet up while Betty recovered from a day spent walking around in our thin air. They have a place in Florida to escape northern Ohio's cruel winters.
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| Tamara on the violin, Mr James on the guitar, and Ms Dee at the keys. |
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| Tamara serenades Bobbie...Bruce is in the corner filming with his new Go Pro toy |
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| Aspen the wonder dog got lots of attention... |
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| How did that go again??? |
And last night Eric and Carrie Ann, BCB readers all the way from Chicago, dropped by to join the crazie's Monday Night Football game...Broncos verses Raiders!!! They came bearing gifts of Beer Growlers and Scrap Cookies, and thus are official family from now on. Oh, and Glenn brought ice cream...this time the good stuff.
Below, Lovely Bobbie, Eric, Carrie Ann, Glen (hogging MY CHAIR) and our lovely friend Cydney :)
My pulse quickens as Departure Day nears. Maybe I will even finish this painting's foreground started last year at Gilbert Ray Park just west of Tucson...
Gotta go...people knocking at the door!
Peace out, now go take a hike!
mark
No idea why, but for some reason your post reminded me of Marie Scott. Maybe because she would've enjoyed the festivites. Your new header photo makes me want to be there to see the Magic Carpet.
ReplyDeleteI had the pleasure of meeting The rancher/land baron-ess Ms Scott in 1976. I was selling cars and she came in to look at a new Buick with her "associate," god, she was old even then, and proceeded to tell me in no uncertain terms that she was not going to pay the price on the sticker...not even close :) Tough ole gal, for sure. And thank god she sold her ranch to Ralph Lauren, or else it would have been subdivided six ways to sunday.
DeleteThe header photo was taken above Cedaredge last fall...heading up Grand Mesa. A truly spectacular drive.
thanks :)
Good times happening in Ouray!! What wonderful hosts you and Bobbie are! Someday we hope to be part of one of those hikes.
ReplyDeleteThat header photo is breath taking! Gorgeous:)
John and Pam,
DeleteYou betcha! Come on down when you are in the neighborhood. Thank you! mark
I agree, your new header photo makes me wanna goooooo ~ what fun, music and pals ~ I need to take a hike for sure.
ReplyDeleteShould be getting pretty in your area, what, Halloweenish? We spent one fall camping around Eureka Springs...lovely colors and limestone bluffs.
Deletethanks, mark
We did take a hike today with 2 of our pups.....what troopers they are. We all had a grand time in the Sandia Mountains.
ReplyDeleteGreat friends you have...you and Bobbie make it all seem so easy! What wonderful hosts you are! We hope to spend time in Ouray next summer!
And the rumor is you are leaving the mountains?
DeleteLooking forward to your visit to Lovely Ouray :)
I, too, want to goooooo. But noooooo, on our way back to the Pacific NW are we. We bailed out of Butte this morning with snow following close behind us. How do you stand so much cold weather? Great header photo. One of these days we hope to hike in your mountains.
ReplyDeleteRe: "How do we stand the cold weather?" We leave! But we do like to come back for the Holidays...it feels more like Christmas with snow :)
Deletethanks, mark
More fun times was enjoyed by all there.
ReplyDeleteYep!
DeleteLovely Ouray is certainly calling to us, thanks to your magnificent photos and great commentary! We have taken a turn away from our usual Southwest seasonal travels to head east for the Fall Colors. This, too, is good! Choices..!
ReplyDeleteWell you will get more "reds" back east...love those maples. We did the New England tour a few years ago...Vermont is special with its steeples and villages, for sure.
DeleteThanks
mark
"Three tomatoes are walking down the street...."
ReplyDeleteLovely painting. I look forward to seeing the finished piece, fueled by your autumnal inspiration!
Hmm, I think I might have contributed a little to the success of the two stores' summer seasons. The header photo is a beautiful patchwork of color! Now I just have to figure out how to get a certain farmer dude to make a trip our west in the fall. It's on the bucket list!
ReplyDeleteChris and Mindy
ReplyDeleteIt would be a nice change up...jeeping through all that color! Do It!
mark