Springtime in the backyard

Stayed home on Saturday and did a little yard work.

We woke up the waterfall for the 2011 season.

Found green stuff coming up from the over-winter crop
Did the early spring potato planting

Spring fun in Canyonlands

Above the Colorado River
Riding in red rock country
Riding in the grabens

A tale of two climates

This weekend Fran took off on a girls hut trip into the San Juan Mountains. She and a few friends took off in marginal weather and made their way 5 miles up a beautiful drainage to spend a few nights in a backcountry cabin.

That night the winds gusted to near 60 mph at the ridge tops and 6 inches of snow fell near the cabin.

After the storm
Fun times at the cabin, making a luge run
One reason we left the high country was to see what a growing season looked like. This winter, we are starting a few plants both inside and outside the greenhouse in late February. Fran is planting lettuce. News to follow when the first crop of 2011 comes in.

A visit to California in the middle of the winter

The 3 day weekend and the proximity to Wes' first birthday provided all the incentive we needed to fly out, escape the cold and enjoy some grandson time. For icing on the proverbial cake, all flights were on time and our "stuff" actually accompanied us the whole way. The only issue was the airport screeners had trouble identifying the plastic birthday cake toy that we transported with us. A good laugh was had by everyone in line.

While in California:

We babysat for an afternoon and took a small 6 mile walk around town, visiting the little zoo and museum, walking down streets that had flowers coming up (hey we live in the cold and it was great seeing spring!) went out to lunch and walked across campus. We went hiking on some fun local trails. viewed butterflies and walked through the fog.

Here Wes is playing the drums on my head as we walk down the road. He stayed in that position for just a short time before he had to walk on his own.

Wes is checking out the animal exhibits with Grandma. Notice the intent looking baby checking out the raccoon.
Another California day was spent hiking through the fog slowly climbing up out of the clouds.
One really fun place we visited was to check out the Monarch butterflies hanging out enjoying the California winter. Here Wes and dad are checking out the butterflies high in the trees.
And, no matter when or where, Wes will always enjoy a reading a book with Grandma.

What a wonderful time

It was a good thing that the congressional recess coincided with Christmas break for yet another year. Katie flew home ahead of the big eastern snow storm (which incidentally we had experienced a few days earlier) and arrived just a few hours late. Our week had all the parts for a fun Christmas. Making cookies, setting up the tree and other Christmas decorations, traveling to friends, family and arches all in the snow.

The consensus is that sugar cookies are just a vehicle for the transport of frosting.

The traditional family picture in front of the tree.
Watching it snow!
The traditional family picture in front of Delicate Arch.

Can you believe?

This winter the snow contest is certainly being won by the north part of the state. Our mountains are at best scoring a C- is the snow depth department. All this means is that we headed back to the canyons for yet one more weekend of biking. We keep thinking its the last time for the year...but not yet.

Sundays ride on some nice easy roads above Spring and Hell Roaring Canyons brought us to an abandoned well complete with windmill and stock tanks.

Fortunately the trail just went along the edge and didn't try to descend into the canyon. That is the Window section of Arches in the background.
Riding on the east of Arches looking towards the La Sal mountains a fine looking laccolith!

Changes in plans

The Thanksgiving storm has changed our travel plans. Staying home for the holiday and no one coming to visit. Sometimes the mountains make a large barrier.

Oh ya...the orange color shows a blizzard warning for Wednesday.