Family visit and playing in the white stuff

I'm back! Way overdue but somehow didn't find a minute to sit down and do a post the second week. Arrived back at our Naples place last night, or correction, early this morning - 1:30am. Air travel is not so fun theses days.

Star Mt. community property across the road - icy sheen

Our two weeks in winter wonderland went very fast. The last week especially as we had company, Paul, James, and Katie - loved having you and missed you Sherry!

Montanya Distillers

Now there's some snow for ya.

Their windows covered up

Love this quaint remade miner's cabin

Mark and I did manage a dinner at our favorite, Soupcon, and a pre-dinner rum cocktail at Montanya. Both places were very busy but food and drink (Maharaja of course) were excellent.

Elk sighting! These were a very long way away courtesy my wonderful zoom lens, close to Almont on the way to Crested Butte. You'll notice these are either female or youngsters. Males go on their merry way in the winter.

I continued to snowshoe almost every day and watched the slow emergence of the top of our fence. That's our driveway in the top photo. Even with above freezing temps the whole last week it will take quite some time for all that snow to melt.

Teocalli

Oh the beauty of the mountains. The ride into Crested Butte is always stunning.

CB - they hauled the giant piles of snow away.

Normal sights here - on the right a guy dressed for Red Lady Ball

A town full of characters and never ending celebrations. This was for,at least I think, Red Lady Ball, an annual celebration to support the efforts to keep Mt. Emmons (Red Lady) mine free. Outrageous works as long as its red. Until the next party...

And some shopping, eating, and of course coffee at "the" place. Spring break for both Texas and Oklahoma made for crowded everywhere.Tiny town for all that action.

Sandhill Cranes. They only come for a few weeks, just passing by, but it heralds spring a comin'. Their call is quite unique - a trumpeting, rolling sound, and when hundreds are calling, it's something to hear. They are big, 4 feet tall, with a wing span of more than 5 feet, and can live 20 years or more.

The other big sign of spring are calves being born. It started just before we left and its always quite a sight to see little wobbly creatures wandering in the snow next to their mothers.There are hundreds and hundreds born in the next few weeks. Keeps the cowboys busy.

A last dinner before family went away. Lots of skiing and snowboarding happened, even a day on Monarch. Next time you must come Sherry!

A last sunrise before we left. Keep well til we get back. It will look quite different in June when we come.