Back in Naples

Apologies all around. My excuses for not posting until now are: transition from Colorado to Florida, having to purchase a new laptop, and finally, I was in a multi day art workshop. I know, I know, a little lame.
I'm still learning how to use the new laptop and also needing a new home for my photos, so experimenting with programs. Actually I strongly dislike this part, always feel a little like the kid who didn't do his homework and sits in class with no comprehension of what's going on. Technology- you love it, you hate it.

One of the cowboys rounding up the last of the cattle

My new friend Mr. Fox

Maybe he'll watch over the house while we're gone

Here are some of the last photos taken before we left. Here's hoping for a good snowfall winter there.

After leaving snow it was quite the shock to come down to near record high temps which means 91high and 79 low. Whoa.  Finally a break in the last few days: high 87, low 70. Hahaha you say. Well, I'll be the one laughing when it's 75 and perfect beach weather when it's snowy and freezing in most parts of the country. We will experience a bit of that frozen bit however, as it will be Christmas at Star Mt. again this year. It is pretty magical at holiday time. And that will be here before you know it. Aaugh!

The endings

Aaaah - the beauty and the magic that surrounds us. The peak of color has passed and swirling leaves are the story of the day.

One of my favorite feathered friends - red tail hawk. They are extra prolific right now. Before the rodents go down underground for winter?

Sunrise on my walk

Crested Butte

And the snow dusting on the peaks has started. The high altitudes (we're that already) but this is the really high altitude (above 10,000 ft). Some snow to start hitting our ground is predicted in the next few days. Right before we leave. I told you seasons change fast around here...

Our cowboys are rounding up the cattle for the season. Bye bye...Next, closing up the house and heading down to Florida. Now there's a big shift...

FALL in capital letters

So I thought I'd missed it, the glory and spectacular sight that is fall color in our mountains. Miss Aubrey was by far more important. How happy I was to find color not even at peak when I returned. It's an interesting season, with a lot of varied color, more oranges and reds than usual. Since endless supposed experts make up the reasons for leaf color on any given year, I'm throwing my own in this year - drought. With very low snow pack last winter and the normal level of summer rains also below normal, I think stressed aspen make for grand color.

Some big local news, for us anyway. Our alma mater, which had already changed to a university a few years ago, is dropping "state". Now just Western Colorado University. And an alumnus just made a gift of $80 million dollars to build a new computer science and engineering school on campus.Little Western State College of Colorado has come a long way...

With haying done the cattle have been released back onto fields to eat the close cropped grass. Our cattle have not been taken out yet by the rancher - 2 weeks to go. In the meantime elk are bugling early morning as it's mating time, coyote are howling. owls whoo hooing at night, and the deer are inside our fenced property every day grabbing the last of the green grass and plants before it's all gone. A lot of hunters are in the area as well. Gotta be a little careful where you go at this time of year. A no hunting year for Mark - too many other obligations, next year hopefully.

This is also the time of year that we have a lot of spectacular rainbows. Something about perfect conditions for refracting light.

Time has gone by so fast. In a matter of a few weeks we will be closing up the house and back to Florida for the winter. Mark has not been here nearly enough and his last two weeks at Star Mt.starts next Sunday. Hoping there will still be some color for him to view.

Temps are dropping in the 30's at night now and snow is just around the corner. Everyone is praying for a good snow year.

he's right below my window - beautiful animals

This clever red fox took advantage while I was away visiting Aubrey. After I got back I saw him making a beeline for for my rain buckets. They are full of water with a screen on top pushed down by rocks to keep chipmunks etc. out. He figured out how to knock the whole top off and had been coming to have a snack probably every day. No hunting involved - the lazy way. All put away now - end of season.

Aubrey

My trip back east is done and I'm back at Star Mt. having a bit of Aubrey withdrawal. It was actually cut short by a few days since I left early in anticipation of travel chaos due to the hurricane. Tiffany was supposed to come at this week's end also but cancelled as they had to evacuate from Charleston. Mother Nature rules that's for sure.

Yes lots and lots of Aubrey photos. She's a doll baby and very sweet considering she's just turned the household upside down. Babies do this ya know....She's quite something but then I'm very prejudiced.

Heather and Brian happen to live 2 blocks from the Chesapeake Bay so my morning walks headed straight there. Absolutely gorgeous.

Daddy love

So you're Granddaddy?

Lots of people holding Aubrey -as should be. Mark even made it up for the shortest visit ever - less than 24hrs but worth it.

More Bay photos. The sunrises are spectacular. I had forgotten just how amazing the Bay is. We moved away from the area almost 10 years ago now. Aaack - can that be?!

Let me not leave out the professional newborn photo shoot that happened while I was there. Heather can clearly do it all. Stay tuned for wonderful photos. This one I took, kinda in the middle of it all. Check out Heather Lee Trimm Photography - my mega talented daughter!