Our Evening at Estes Park,CO - Part One

Entering Estes Park from Big Thompson Canyon we soon found our road that would take us to our hotel accommodations for the evening.

Fish Creek Road intersected with N St Vrain Ave. which runs along the southern shore of Lake Estes.

Via N St Vrain Ave. ,the street to our lodging, we were welcomed with a blinking road sign announcing the most prominent event now taking place in the community. 

I know the sign doesn't spell things out completely but there is enough to give some clues if you are aware of the season.

Let's just say the two most important words I catch a glimpse of are "Elk" and "Rutting".

Arriving at our  destination it was time to take a quick survey of our surroundings before heading into town to see if the Elk were moving about the town proper.

Panning to our right across the street from the Twin Owls Motor Lodge at the west end of Lake Estes we enjoyed the scenery.

The fog was still setting low on the mountains surrounding us and we hurried to make choices as to what direction would be best to go to find the next photo subject(s).

We did get on our way to checkout both the wildlife and tourist populations now inhabiting this well known city.

Because I've got so many pictures I would like to share with you I plan on splitting them into several posts.

Please do keep checking back to see if something new has been added.

Have a Great Day!

Our Trip from Loveland CO to Estes Park

Leaving Loveland, CO in late September last year we went West on route 34 through the Big Thompson Canyon.

We saw so many things  that I found interesting it could take me awhile to get them all categorized and ready to write about.

One of the first things I would like to bring to your attention is the Sylvan Dale Guest ranch sign. Of course I saw it the last time we went by in 2015 but this time I decided it worth snapping. I just read they are offering  a February Romantic Getaway Package. Being only 7 miles west of Loveland, they aren't impacted by the highway construction in the Thompson Canyon region and if you're game for a  cozy cabin with some snow for Valentine's Day an Airport Shuttle could be the way to go to get some R&R.  Looks like a  great place to visit so I'll post their contact information to get you going -

                                                        Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch
                                                        2939 N County Rd 31D
                                                        Loveland CO 80538

                                                        970.667.3915 

                                                       ranch@sylvandale.com

Wooden sculptures and large lawn ornaments by Adobe Designs kept the scenery interesting,interspersed with rock formations galore. Adobe Designs not only meets the outside garden design needs but I've found they also are a Clothing Boutique with an eye for Home Decor as well. 

Have you ever heard of a store called The Dam Store? Well, I hadn't heard of it either until we passed it. You'll see a picture of it in my collage, on the top row clear to the right-side. It's had a few purposes in the history of Loveland. At the present it's a lookout location to see where it was once a hydroelectric plant for the city before a flood and growing population made it obsolete. A retail operation is now housed within the building, offering tourists momentos of their visit to the site and state, along with regional refreshments and jewlery.

Getting on the other side of the Dam Store we started seeing fog not far into the canyon up on the mountain tops with varying visibility. It was a disappointment when it became apparent that some of the peaks wouldn't be apart of the picture album this time around. Ah... Another reason to make a trip to Colorado.

With our incline passage on windy roads higher into the mountains we were finally going to make it to Estes Park for our overnight stay.

Come back soon and see the highlights of our short daylight hours in and around Estes Park.  I'll end here and wish you Have a Great Day!

Next Stop Loveland CO

As we entered the Loveland,CO suburb of Johnstown my head turned to the left to follow as far as I could the huge new Scheel's  Sporting Goods store.

Looks like a great place to visit for one and all. I've found that they've included a 65 car Ferris Wheel,a mini-bowling alley,  an arcade etc...etc...etc...

To find out more at the company website, please click the links  at Scheel's Sporting Goods store.

Today had been full of countryside landscapes so I was ready for a change of  clusters of buildings that we saw closest to our traveled path within the Loveland City Limits.

Oh, LOOK! Mountains in the distance!!! 

This wind driven sculpture was the first one apparent  as we passed the Scheel's Sporting Goods store.

The skies were gray along our way and we did see the rain fall within visible driving distance around us but we weren't in any deluges coming into the city.

I appreciate greatly the new, updated colors and directional signs.

What an impressive sculpture! I know you would enjoy it much better in person. You'll find it located on Highway 34 on the Eastside of town .

Entering our airspace from the right, this jet flew over the hotel below as I kept snapping away to keep my mind alert.

Sitting at one of the traffic lights before we entered the Downtown Area...

This gentleman kept his puppy wrapped up so it couldn't wander away into traffic. I watched and wondered how the little tyke was being cared for???

Heading out of town on our way to Thompson Canyon we passed Lake Loveland.  After passing this body of water several times my curosity was piqued at the beginnings of the Lake construction. I've discovered it to have been reconstructed from a muddy marsh into a source of agricultural irrigation and over time has evolved into a municipal water source.  Please click Lake Loveland above to be enlightened if your curiosity has reached a level of need to know....

Getting to this point in Loveland made our next destination become more real. Getting through Thompson Canyon and then onto Estes Park!

Have a Great Day1

Another Welcome to 2018

Hi folks! I wear more than one hat in this day to day existence...I've been given the chance to exercise my artistic skills in design and conversation by becoming a Co-Team member for the EAA 675 Facebook page staff this past September.

My husband Corey and fellow EAA 675 member Lorin Miller need a little help once in awhile to get the news delivered for the club.

Here's to Happy Flying in our New Year 2018!!!

Happy New Year 2018 from the Timber Life Family

I want to share one of my favorite Youtube music video productions showcasing the musical talents of saxophonist Kenny G. in the classic song of the ages Auld Lang Syne.

 Here's wishing each of you a Happy New Year from our Timber Life Family.

 May the days ahead be filled with learning and expectations. God Bless and Have a Great Day!

Finally...Colorado State Line

 A couple of days ago I was talking about signs. Here are a few more to get us going in the right direction.

After being on the road for what seemed like 8 hours.Well... actually, it was 8 hours from the time we left home until we reached the Colorado State Line on our September excursion.

The sign was a blur as we passed in a hurry but I know you get the the idea.

Sitting for so long was beginning to put me to sleep even though I had my camera in hand.

You know how it is when you see some promising information to take a break from the ribbon of highway that you've been following since before the sun came up. You begin to  watch the  mile markers to maybe hurry things up a little bit...One can hope, can't they?

Across the street from the Welcome to Julesburg sign we found a place to get some fuel and get our bearings as to where we could go to enjoy one of our picnic lunches that we had packed.

This Colorado Welcome Center/Rest Area was a tribute to the Pony Express Riders of the Plains.

Between April 1860 and October 1861 the Pony Express was the  main connection for getting communications from the  East to the West.

Many individuals pass this way every year...I would like to add my digital image to document our visit to the Pony Express RV Park and Rest Area at the Exit # 180 on the I-76.

Looking up the Native American history of the Julesburg area has certainly given me a different perspective than I had originally thought.

In honor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho who were nomadic,following the buffalo herds, these tipi and buffalo facsimiles introduced us to the lifestyle.

In all honesty we didn't take time to go into the building to view the information. We needed to spend as much daylight time at our evening destination as possible.

We re-entered the traffic lanes once more to catch our last glimpses of the  Julesburg,CO Welcome Center that gave us a few minutes to  refuel/refresh our bodies and minds.

Our next destination, an over-night stay in Estes Park. However, you aren't going to get off so easy. I've got more pictures from here to there along our way.

Have a Great Day!

Merry Christmas from the Timber Life Family

How wonderful it is to come to another Advent Season! 


To Celebrate what was heralded long ago on the hills surrounding the Little Town of Bethlehem. 



 It is with my simple offering of written word that I join in sharing with the Angel's Herald song to announce the anniversary of the birth of our Risen Savior Jesus Christ,our Lord.

                                                        

                                                           Luke 2:1-20

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. 

(NKJV)

Corey,Sadie Sioux and I,the Timber Life Family ask God to Bless you and your families today and always...

Have a Great Day!