Western Slope Colors

Last weekend I met Mom and Dad in Glenwood Springs. We ate dinner on Friday night at one of our favorite places, Peppo Nino, although the patio was closed. Saturday we headed to the pool and spent a good two or so hours soaking up all the good minerals and wandering around in the big pool. We met this interesting man who is a personal chef in Aspen-he shared all sorts of stories of the rich and famous. He gave us some good ideas as to where to eat dinner and where to see the colors. After the pool, Mom and Dad went to Oktoberfest and I showered and got ready. We went over to the Glenwood Springs Art Guild show at the Ramada Inn which was a really big show. The rest of the afternoon we just hung out, Mom and Dad went to church and I met them for dinner at The Hotel Colorado. Maybe it was the combination of hot springs, walking around, and eating a wonderful dinner but we were all spent by the end of the day. Sunday it was raining, so Mom and Dad headed home and I drove to Aspen. The rain stopped outside of Glenwood but it was still cool and cloudy, the rain came back later.

The colors this fall have been wonderful to see. Perhaps it is because I am doing some of the things on my bucket list before I head back to the Big City. I hadn't been to Aspen since 2000; I hadn't been anywhere South of Carbondale on Hwy 82 actually since then. It was a quiet morning drive, partly because of the rain, partly because of it being early on a Sunday. I drove through El Jebel, Basalt, Snowmass Village and then into Aspen. The colors were very beautiful and it was a nice, peaceful drive.

Friday was my last day at work. I had so much to get done by 5pm before they turned my technical devices off. The past two weeks have been filled with what we call "termination" in social work speak. It is the part of the client relationships where we have to say goodbye and make sure they know they will get their needs met. It was difficult in some cases more than others. And then I had to say goodbye to my co-workers, which became more of a "see you soon." I was actually supposed to meet a few coworkers at Applefest in Cedaredge yesterday but I woke up feeling almost like I got hit by a Mack truck. I had no desire to be social, rather, I opted for another scenic drive. I drove up past the turnoff to Telluride to Norwood. It is a sweet little town with a lot of personality. I snapped some photos of the colors in that area too, and also by Ralph Lauren's Double RL ranch outside of Ridgway. I could think of a worse place as a "vacation getaway"! When I drove home and drove by that "Pumpkins by the Covered Bridge" sign...remember that sign I posted about last fall when I first moved here? Well, I decided to find these pumpkins and ended up in the cutest little pumpkin patch, full of people picking pumpkins and taking hay rides. All very, very close to my house. I will miss this little patch of country heaven, for sure.