StitchinByTheLake

We try to come to The Rocky Mountain National Park at Estes Park, Colorado every year - we love it that much.  It's been two years this time since we visited here and I see a few changes.  The pine beetles have killed a huge number of pines but I know that's nature's way.  Some day there will be a forest fire that will eliminate the dead ones and new ones will sprout up.  It will take years - it won't happen in my lifetime - but someday the forest will look just as it has the last few million years.  Meanwhile it's still stunning beyond belief.

We've seen amazing sunny days where it started out at 26 degrees in the morning but by noon it was 80!

The sunsets still take my breath away.

These two pictures were taken late one evening after a beautiful sunny day when the clouds descended unexpectedly and dumped snow on the mountains.

We had driven over the mountain and were on our way back when the snow started...I was glad we were almost to the bottom because it's a very long way around if you can't get through because of snow!

One of those sunny days I looked up to see jet trails forming a cross in the sky, almost as if God were signing His handiwork.

Another change we saw this year was that there were fewer elk down in the meadows.  I've been told that because of overpopulation there was a large elk hunt recently, which took the numbers down some.  But I tend to think we saw fewer because it was warmer than usual and they aren't quite all the way into the rutting season yet.  But there still plenty of them roaming around - bulls with their harems!

We were treated to a wonderful visit with this guy this year - the first time we've seen a bear here.  He ate berries about a hundred yards from the road for over an hour, totally oblivious to his many admirers standing with cameras and binoculars just down the hill.

This beautiful bird joined us for a picnic lunch in the park one day.  He was quite demanding, chattering away when we didn't feed him as quickly as he wanted.  We only gave up a crumb or two of bread but it was clear he was used to having his meals catered by the many visitors.

A little hard to see but this is Mama Moose and Baby!

This has been a great trip with my sister...we don't get nearly enough time together!  Her Mike was our picture taker so I didn't get a picture of him.  Sorry Mike!

Note the dress - my husband, Jerry, in a short sleeved shirt and me in an undershirt, a long sleeved tee shirt and a fleece jacket.  Typical!

And this is me saying Bye Ya'll...I may be in Colorado but I'm still southern!