Highway to Heaven

OK. So, I know you can't drive to Heaven, but driving through the Colorado mountains, and taking Trail Ridge Road (Rocky Mountain National Park), the highest paved road in any National Park, is just about as close as you can get. The road crests at 12,183 feet above sea level, and as one of my best friends said, "There is a postcard around every corner!"

Come along on the ride we Dreamers enjoyed for the 4th of July:

Over the first range of hills as we head west on I-70,
out of Golden, CO

I've always loved this corner as we squeeze around the mountain 

near Idaho Springs, CO. Still on I-70

Heading up. Wow, it looks like a long-ago avalanche plowed down the 

pines and cleared the way for a stand of Aspen to spring up. 

A bowl forming above the tree line.

It looks like a mining operation, but at this elevation, I don't think so!

We are winding our way up.

What a view. 

Another corner. Another postcard.

See the rays? We must be getting closer to Heaven!

A panoramic view near the top

I loved driving through this cut in the rocks.

Mr. Dreamy wondered why they didn't route the road over the top!

This looks like a simple hilltop. It isn't. It's over 11,000 feet in elevation.

The first thing to realize is that trees can't grow here. Other things don't grow well.

The grass is only about 4 inches high, if that. It doesn't grow much more. 

It doesn't grow fast. The biome is very fragile. 

But what is really cool about this picture is....

look closely. Zoom in. There is a herd of mama elk and babies!

Mr. Dreamy was sad that the 15'-20' snow banks near the top of

the road had melted since the road was opened over Memorial Day.

We saw a lot of people stopping to play in the snow.

They are probably living in Florida!

Just a pretty shot of some of the wild flowers we saw. 

There were a number of small waterfalls alone the way. 

This is a shot of my Minnie, enjoying the mountains!

I recently purchased a Mini Cooper. A dear friend sent us

a Minnie Mouse antenna bobber to dress up my car!

We stopped at the SE side of the park for a picnic lunch before

heading home. Storms were brewing over the peaks we had just driven.

This was our route.

I had no idea we were driving for over 5 hours....

until I stepped out of the car!

Stalled

So, here I sit...with nothing to do! 

What an incredibly foreign feeling!

The last few weeks have been so very busy. 

I made gifts for all:

I painted gourds,

both big and small,

(Thank you, dear DIL, for sending pictures!)

I dusted off the sewing machine

and made wool hats for all:

I tried my hand at quilting,

here's jacket one of two.

As you can see, 

I didn't lack for something to do!

Then we found out we're gonna be Grandparents in May,

(Oh, what a great feeling... what a great day!)

So I made this soft pillow creature for the babe on its way!

Every baby needs cowboy booties for their feet

Thanks to Holly (mother of the mother of the babe to be)

I have a picture of the ones I crocheted.. how sweet!

I had to clean the house and get guest rooms ready. As you may recall, one of my November projects was to get the basement habitable and pleasant. Son #2 declared it to be cozy and inviting! He was quite pleased with his own man cave!

My vacuum decided it wouldn't suck. Well, that sucked! So off we Dreamers went to get the replacement, so at least some dog hair could be removed before guests arrived.

The Christmas tree decided it didn't want to stand...so off the guys went to find a better Christmas tree stand. We got it upright and decorated just in time!

Then, there was the food.... We enjoyed our family's traditional Swedish smorgasbord on Christmas Eve, with lots of interesting dishes. I will have to say how lovely it was to have my DIL's mom as an assistant chef in the kitchen! Son #1 prepared breakfast for all one day, treating us to his purple cornmeal pancakes. And, we created a portable Christmas meal to take to my Dad's. 

What a whirlwind of activity! 

Family came in on the 20th and 21st. Then it was over, with another burst of activity as folks packed, decorations were pulled down and hastily put away, laundry (was it 5 loads, or 6?) was washed, dried and folded, and rooms were put back to rights. 

We put one person on a plane late on Christmas. My brother and his wife left the next day...in the snow. We made a trek to the airport with two others yesterday. And, sadly, son #2 just left. 

All is quiet. Too quiet!

We were supposed to leave this morning. Bright and early. Our motor home is in Florida, awaiting our arrival. However, Mr. Dreamy received an email late yesterday that the service center still needs a part. Trust me...there was a lot of blue air swirling around upon reading that pronouncement. It didn't seem prudent to make a 1600 mile drive with dogs and stuff...only too find out we couldn't begin our winter wanderings. So...here we sit until Mr. Dreamy can touch base with them tomorrow. 

Frankly, after the rush of the past weeks, it feels good! Very good, indeed!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday, as well, and that perhaps you are also enjoying a bit of a break from the insane rush of Christmas!