Over the Mountains...

Grand Junction farms, originally uploaded by ivoryblushroses.

Passing through the Grand Junction, Colorado area in the spring is a delight! The globe willows, perfect balls of green are among the first trees to leaf out in the spring. This area is known for it's neat vineyards and peach orchards!


As the highway passes into the mountains, it follows the Colorado River. East of Glenwood Springs, it passes through Glenwood Canyon, an area renowned for it's beauty. There are several rest areas from which to enjoy the river views and a walking/bike path traverses the entire canyon.


I can remember driving through the canyon as a child with my parents when the road was a two lane road at the river's edge. What an engineering feat it was to put in a 4 lane interstate through this canyon in a way that had minimal impact on the land and preserved the beauty! It's one of the most beautiful sections of interstate I've ever traveled! You can see my car's mascot "Pip" riding on the dash in many of my "road" photos. He's a pika, the smallest member of the rabbit family that lives in the boulder fields of the Colorado mountains ~ in stuffed animal form! He's named Pip because that is the sound they make!


There is still a LOT of snow in the Colorado mountains! Loved this snowman that someone built at the Vail Pass Rest Area!


The view from the Vail Rest Area is spectacular, especially when the snow covers the peaks!


Down the road from the pass is the ski area called Copper Mountain. It's ski runs are still open despite it being the middle of April!


Lake Dillon sits between the towns of Frisco and Dillon and is surrounded by peaks. As you can tell, it is still covered in snow and ice! Spring is a long way off at this altitude!


Down in the Front Range however, spring is well underway, as evidenced by the trees and grass in my parents new yard! This is my Dad as he surveys the landscape while I was getting acquainted with my parent's new surroundings.


My oldest son came by with the new Australian Shepherd puppy that my son the Marine recently got. What a sweet little gal she is and so smart, quite responsive to the training she is receiving at 7 months of age!

How lovely to be home and surrounded by family once again!