My First Summer in Colorado

It is hard to believe it is August 1st, and that in another two weeks school begins again here in our community! Where has the summer gone?  This is one of our neighborhood community pools, and the first one that will close for the season in mid August. Would you believe I've only visited it once? It has been a busy summer!

When my brother and sister-in-law were here for my granddaughter's christening a few weeks ago, we took a trip with them up to see the nearby Red Rocks Amphitheater. You can read more about this spectacular outdoor theater on a  post about my visit this summer for a Josh Groban concert...click here.

...and then went on to one of our favorite breakfast places, the Country Road Cafe. Just look at the size of their pancakes--it takes up the entire plate!

My husband chose an omelet from their menu--another winner!

We next visited the charming city of Golden, Colorado...

..where we visited the Coors Brewery.

Next on the agenda was a ride up...

......Lookout Mountain, one of the taller foothills, at elevation 7,322 feet.

(This photo and all photos in this post can be enlarged for easier viewing by clicking on it once, and then again for full size)

Our ride this time was much less perilous than when we went with one of my husband's New York City co-worker in March. You can read that post on this link,.

This time the weather was beautiful.....

...as were the views.

 Buffalo Bill's grave is located on the top of Lookout Mountain.

I told you about our fun family excursion to the ski resort of Breckenridge on this post...

...but did not have a chance to show you the beautiful soft fields of South Park, that we passed on our way back home.  South Park is a high altitude grassland basin, approximately 10,000 feet in elevation in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado!

It was raining heavily at this time of the day and the misty pastures and hills of South Park...

...reminded me of Ireland!.

Back at home, we have been seeing mule does and their fawns that were born in May or June. A mature doe will often have twins, as this one does.

The bucks are now growing their new pair of antlers. During spring and summer, their antlers are growing at up to a quarter of an inch per day! Right now they have a velvety appearance, but soon they will harden to a bone like consistency. I saw these bucks in an open space field near my home.

They are a magnificent sight and one that I doubt I'll ever tire of seeing!

The real star of this blog post, however, is my sweet granddaughter, who is also growing by "leaps and bounds" this summer! As she grows, so does all the baby equipment that is all over my home. She is beginning to sit up on her own and began having her first taste of solid foods. I had honestly forgotten how much work taking care of a baby can be. It has been a full-time job for me these past months, as I watch her every day, Monday through Friday, while my daughter and son-in-law are at work, but I am loving every minute of it!  It may mean I have less time for myself, and certainly less time online, and this summer has been mostly about nap time and bottles, diapers and lullabies. Would I have it any other way? Never!

My two grandsons have also kept us busy, as my husband and I sometimes babysit for them on the weekends. Here they are playing with their Daddy's Matchbox cars--something I was glad I saved over the years!  It has been wonderful to see them often and watch them grow. Time passes too quickly. and I am savoring all these special times with my grandchildren.

My first summer in Colorado is slowly slipping away, but it has been a golden one for me so far and one I'll always cherish.  I am looking forward to enjoying more sights around this beautiful state before summer ends and I'm looking forward to seeing what a Colorado autumn will be.

Has your summer been living up to your dreams and expectations so far this year? I really hope so!

Please join my blog's facebook page on this link to see more of what I've been doing this summer.