On the Road Again....

Wayne and I "reluctantly" hit the road again on May 30 heading for Colorado for our yearly trip to my family's ranch in the high country of Western Colorado.  I say "reluctantly," because we were only home from our European adventure for a couple of weeks when it was time to pack up and go again.  We had tons of yard and garden work to do and would have loved another week or two.....

The reason for traveling so soon was a family memorial for my brother Tom whose daughters wanted to scatter/inter his ashes on the "Ranch" where he grew up and lived for the greater part of his life.  It wasn't possible to access the area in January when he passed away and my nieces chose the weekend of his birthday in June to bring him "home."  It was a intensely personal gathering and just the right way to remember his life.

It was a beautiful time to drive across the heartland....the sky was blue, fields and trees were greening and the rivers were full.  We actually enjoyed Iowa and Nebraska AND even eastern Colorado!  We saw many wild turkeys in the plowed corn fields as we drove through central Nebraska.  They are strange, ugly/beautiful birds!

After brief visits with some good friends in Evergreen, we spent one night with my sister and then headed over the mountains on Monday, June 1.  The Ranch was in process of bursting into Spring with early flowers blooming and trees leafing out.  Lots of rain in the month of May made everything fresh and brilliant green.  Wild sunflowers were blooming, wild iris ("flags") were just starting to pop open and giant dandelions were everywhere.  It is my favorite time of year there.  We spent mornings with coffee on the deck enjoying the beauty and quiet.  My soul is always restored when I return to my childhood home.

My sons Ryan and Ian (and Ian's handsome dogs) joined us along with Ryan's partner Jennie and daughter Allie.  It was so good to spend time with them.  I miss not being close.

We put out several little hummingbird feeders and were swarmed with dozens of the little birds....ruby throated, purple throated, brown...all with iridescent green feathers that shimmered in the sunlight.  They slurped up about 2 quarts of sugar nectar per day and were very vocal when the feeders were empty.  Some were in full courting mode, doing a strange swooping flying act above the object of affection.  Some were little bullies, guarding several feeders and chasing any hopeful intruders away.  We had to buy two larger feeders to keep up with the demand.  The word spread!!!

Each evening around 8:15 we made a driving trip down through the property to look for wildlife...we were never disappointed.  Usually we saw numerous deer who would generally just look at us and go on grazing.  Most evenings we saw herds of big elk who were easily spooked and disappeared in a rush if we moved to quickly. 

There is a "rafter" of wild turkeys who live and roost in the giant evergreens that were fun to watch.  This rafter is made up of four or five hens and one BIG tom turkey.  The turkeys are very timid and disappear into the trees and bushes as soon as they become aware of watchers!

We listened to coyotes howling and yapping a night and heard hawks diving in the evening looking for prey.  Friends who have visited over the years were sometimes terrified by the quiet and then by the noisy cacophony of the coyotes in the night!

On a mid-day visit to the Ranch reservoir, we were surprise to see many new and different "ducks".  Happily enjoying the fresh deep water in the lake were Wood Ducks, Coots, and Merganser Ducks as well as a long-necked duck (definitely not a goose) that we were unable to positively identify.  Unfortunately, all of the trout died late last summer, apparently of oxygen deprivation due to an unusual amount of algae that bloomed in the water.  Some were over 18 pounds in size.  Sad event.  Hopefully, they will be restocked to grow again.

On Sunday, June 7, we hosted a pre-wedding dinner at a rustic lodge on Vega Reservoir.  We enjoyed the company of about 22 of my family members and a couple of Wayne's who happen to live in Grand Junction in the same neighborhood as one of my nieces!!  What a coincidence!  Fun times for all.

On the last morning, we woke up to find all of the fields near the house filled with elk.  What a beautiful sight!

After spending a week of quiet lazy bliss on the Ranch enjoying family and beauty, we (again reluctantly) took to the road again traveling back to Mequon over two long days.

On our way back to Denver, just beyond the Ranch, we saw a large cinnamon colored bear who quickly disappeared into the brush along the road.  He/she was too quick for a photo.

 We're home now  until September and October (we think) when more adventures await us.