Thursday, May 7, 2009

Sloan Lake, Denver, Colorado

When I landed in Denver, Colorado last Monday this was what the street near my son and daughter-in-law's house looked like. It had snowed overnight! There was about one to two inches on the ground. It was a surprise because only rain had been predicted.

I was so happy to see my grandson and see how big he had grown! He is so strong and holding his head and shoulders up so well for a four and a half month old baby.

He was even able to sit a little unsupported! Babies grow so quickly and I was thrilled to be able to spend this time with him.

The next day the snow had all melted and the temperature was in the high 60's and sunny. My daughter-in-law dressed Leo up in his cute orange hoodie and we drove over to Sloan's Lake to take a three mile walk around it's perimeter.
Denver has 205 parks, which is the nation's largest city park system. Outside of the city the Denver Mountain Parks Department maintains an additional 20,000 acres and its own buffalo herd and the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

My daughter-in-law's friend met us carrying her baby girl in a sling carrier. My daughter-in-law is on the right pushing my grandson in his stroller.

The sky was so blue and the sun was very warm. Denver averages three hundred sunny days a year -- more than San Diego or Miami Beach!

This land was once an arid prairie, traversed only by a stagecoach and wagon track that connected Denver with the mountain gold fields. In 1861, however, farmer Thomas Sloan excavated a deep well to help water his livestock and the next morning found a growing lake filling his property, as he inadvertently tapped into an underground aquifer! The ensuing lake was then named after him.
The Sloan Lake Park contains hiking, jogging and bicycling trails which surround the lake, plus basketball and tennis courts. Fishing and boating are allowed on the lake itself.

There is a nice view of downtown Denver skyline from the western loop of the lake's walking trail.

After our three mile walk we stopped for lunch at Heidi's Brooklyn Deli, voted the best deli in Denver! They began with one little store and now have a franchise store operations in many states. Our soup and sandwiches were delicious!

The babay was such a good boy and enjoyed playing with some toys while we had lunch. As you can see in the short video below he was talkative but sleepy when we came back home.
( Please turn off my blog's music before viewing the video by going to the right side bar and clicking on the two heavy lines in the top portion of the purple Playlist box)



Tomorrow I'll be delighted to show you some very cute cottage houses we saw while on a walk in northern Denver. There were so many I wished I owned!

27 comments:

Sue said...

Precious, precious baby Leo!! He is truly the apple of his Grandmother's eye. Thanks for letting us hear those sweet baby gurgling sounds. Hugs, Sue

Vee said...

Leo is beyond adorable and sooo strong. That's amazing.

So glad that the snow melted right away as that would've been a little discouraging.

And what an interesting story about the lake. So funny how one hears about such a thing and then hears about it all over again in a few days when I'd never heard it before. Your story is the verification of the first.

Tracy said...

Hi, Pat! So wonderful to have an update on your trip and to see sweet, beautiful Leo...He is such a sweetheart, I could just kiss him! They do grow so fast...it is incredible how in just a few months so many changes happen, how quickly they grow into little people.(We are so excited to be seeing our soon-6-mos-old niece in a could of weeks. Did I tell you, she's starting to teeth already?! It will be so good so see her as last time we did was at Christmas time.) That snow was startling to see, as not to long ago the white stuff we had here melted--LOL! But Denver looks terrific! I've never been there...Very interesting about that lake. Looking forward to your next Denver installment. :o) Happy Day, my friend ((HUGS))

RoeH said...

I lived in Denver...actually Lakewood for four years before coming to AZ. Sometimes I wish we'd never moved. I really liked Denver. I don't remember Sloan Lake though. Guess in four years I never got that direction. I do remember REd Rocks and went there quite a bit. Yeah.. I miss it. Do you ever wonder how your life would have been different if you'd stayed somewhere? That's what I think about Denver. Leo is adorable. I love the first year of a baby's life. We could never learn in a year the amount of stuff a baby has to learn.

Gracie said...

Thanks for sharing the photos of your grandson and family. And thanks for letting me know a bit more about Colorado. Can't wait to see more.

aliceinparis said...

Denver is a city I know nothing about. Imagine Sloan's surprise, what a lake! Looks like a great place to live.
Leo is such a sweet wee boy!

CatHerder said...

What an adorable baby!!! Snow..NO!!! I cant take any more cold stuff...Pretty area there..love the pic of the brooklyn deli...the first think my brother did when he moved to California was find a place that sold taylor ham and tasteecakes!

Rosie's Whimsy said...

I am so glad I checked in today! Leo is soooo adorable. I am totally in love. He is the image of health and you can see the sparkle of intelligence in his eyes.

Unknown said...

Oh Pat, your pictures are wonderful but I really enjoyed the little video of Leo.

Cooper had one of those little seats...what a wonderful invention. They were not available when Connor was a baby!

Colorado is a beautiful place! One day I would love to visit there!

Linda Lou said...

Leo is just too cute! I hope you had a great time spoiling him ! Snow in the spring time - yikes!! Thats why I moved to San Diego from NY....great photos of your trip.

Linda Lou said...

Leo is just too cute! I hope you had a great time spoiling him ! Snow in the spring time - yikes!! Thats why I moved to San Diego from NY....great photos of your trip.

Nola said...

Leo is growing so fast! He looks like a different little boy, so grown up. And SNOW in May, unheard of here!

jeanne said...

Oh Pat, I love this post soooo much. Leo is a beautiful baby boy. I am familiar with Denver and the radical weather. I have a friend who lived there several years. Snow overnight and sunshine and warm weather the next day. Lol. The lake is beautiful and a wonderful place to stroll the baby. The video of Leo is so cute. Thank you for sharing with us. The Deli sounds good, especially since I haven't eaten breakfast yet.

Lucky, lucky you to hold and enjoy baby Leo. I am so happy for you.

Hugs...Jeanne

PS. I didn't comment but that cheesecake looked like heaven. Oh how I love NY cheesecake.

Judy said...

What a cute video clip of Leo...and how much he has learned in his few short months! He looks like a perfectly contented child.

That's as close as I have ever been to Colorado...so thanks for the tour. I'm glad you ahd such a good week out there...snow and all!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful story of your trip. It is great to have pictures and stories about a place one has never visited. Denver is a place I know nothing about. May get there one day. I never say never any more. One reason is all the positive inspirations I have discovered in blog world make anything seem possible.

Beverly said...

Pat, he is just gorgeous. I know you must have felt like you were in heaven. You did give him kisses from all of us, didn't you? ;-)

nanatrish said...

He's such a sweetie. That little chair is so cute. That snow was something. It's really getting warm here.

Willow said...

So very sweet! I love to hear the babies 'talk'!

I can imagine that Farmer Sloane was less than happy to find his good grazing land under water!

Tara said...

Aw, Pat--he's gorgeous, gorgeous! Blessed you!

Proud Italian Cook said...

What a beautiful smile Leo has. Welcome home Pat and a very happy Mothers Day to you!

dana said...

Oh, Pat, I just got the biggest kick out of watching Little Leo in his "chair"---talking and sneezing! Was that YOU in the background? It just seems like yesterday that my little gr.girl was that age--now (nearly 3) she's WILD and WONDERFUL, but in a different way! Her speech and language and motor skills are just growing by leaps and bounds! She's so much fun to be with--but she wears me out! :)

I loved your little snippet of Denver history--you are forever our Tour Guide--and I love you for it!! You make everything so interesting and so much fun! Thank You!

L, Dana

Ciao Chow Linda said...

That video was so sweet. I loved the little babbling sounds. Thanks for the tour also - You don't have to be in NY to get a tour from our Pat! way to go.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Pat, he is PRECIOUS! Oh, I loved seeing these, and he is so alert and talkative!

And look at that precious little dog in the background... it makes me want to race out and buy a Pomeranian! What a doll! Is it a girl or a boy? And is it a toy or a standard? Oh, what a cute, cute, cutie pie!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Joyce said...

Welcome home. Leo is adorable and certainly growing up quickly. The little dog is so cute too. I bet Leo and the dog are great pals already. Thanks for the house tour. I have only been in the airport there and never actually went out to see what was doing in that area of the country. Happy Mother's day and I can't wait to see what goodies you are sharing in your next post.
Joyce

Rue said...

Awwwwww.. Leo is soooo cute Pat! Thank you for sharing him with all of us :)

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

I love that you ate at a Brooklyn deli! I loved learning about Sloan Lake...when we were out there in the winter our friends who had lived there were telling us about it. I'd really like to go back to Denver to experience the summer weather activities.

P.S. Nice hoodie, LOL!

xo, Laura

Anonymous said...

Denver looks so pretty. Thank you for sharing it and of course the lovely Leo. I used a sling for my children- it was easier getting around and they loved it.