WINTER is COMING to the HIGH COUNTRY!

My hubby and I have been making weekly day trips into our mountains, where we hike, picnic, sightsee, rest and relax.  We've enjoyed the summer warmth and green of our mountains.  We've also enjoyed the fall colors, cooler temps (lack of bugs) and some rainy drives. The aspen trees in the higher elevations, at this point, have dropped their leaves and the rest of the fall foliage is starting to do the same.  There has been rain and sleet . . . snow on the peaks and winter is on its way!

It's APPLE TIME!!!

I grew up on a farm here in southwest Colorado where we raised a variety of crops which included lots of apples of different varieties.  Homemade applesauce is one of my favorites so I talked my hubby into preparing some Jonathan apples and I made this beautiful rosy pink applesauce. 
I don't peel my apples so that the red/pink from the peeling colors the applesauce.  Just quarter, core, cut out bad spots, cook in my pressure cooker and run through the ricer.  I also either can or freeze the applesauce and don't add anything to it.  When we have some out to eat I usually only add a bit of cinnamon, very rarely do I add any suger!  Yummmmmmmmmm!!!

GLAMPER GIFT from a SWEET FRIEND

One of my sweetest friends gifted me this week with this lovely set of ivory colored napkins with cutwork embroidery and this set of brass glamper trailer napkin rings.  Their style and coloring is perfect for our little glamper trailer, the "Reiver's Rest".  It'll be great to use them to serve tea to some friends sometime!
Thanks to my friend, Deb!

BILL and BRAMBLE . . .my HIKING BUDDIES!

After our hike on the Galloping Goose Trail, Bill (my hubby) and Bramble take a little break in the cool, mountain air.  At an elevation of 10,000 ft. for the summit of Lizard Head Pass, it was cool and we did get some rain that day.   It was a nice, relaxing day! 

The Lizard Head (locals are pretty confidant that some of the rock formation has broken and fallen away over the years) and behind it are three of Colorado's "14'ers" . . . El Diente, Mount Wilson and Wilson Peak.  Rugged, steep and rocky!!!

HIKING THE "GALLOPING GOOSE" TRAIL

 On top of Lizard Head Pass, with a summit elevation of 10,000 ft.  (The peaks around are higher, including three of Colorado's "14-ers"). Hubby and I were hiking the Galloping Goose Trail which is a driveable train grade road that once saw a train called the Galloping Goose traveling over it . . . very high, very steep and very rocky!
Beautiful mountain escape day this week!!

ROCKY MOUNTAIN THISTLE . . . and a BEE

My hubby and I are trying to take one day each week and head for the mountains for an escape, to hike, picnic, enjoy the beauty of the Colorado Rockies and get some cool, clear, fresh air.
I try to get photos along the way using my cell phone.  This last week we were in an area with two different kinds of thistle plants, most of which were quite tall.  This one was probably 6 1/2 feel tall . . . it was way over my head.   I loved the bee that was enjoying it!

TRACTOR SEAT SMILE

I grew up on a farm.  My dad used Allis Chalmers tractors, which, for the most part, were orange.  This is a seat from one of his old tractors that sits right there at the edge of my herb garden.
When walking past there one day I looked at it and I definitely saw a smile!  A smiling tractor seat!  How fun!