Connie in Ouray

 Our total is six of the prettiest inches of snow, not heavy, not light, but just right.  That, on top of the steady rain we had in the early hours Sunday morning, means lots of moisture, lots and lots. our first fire My "official" counter

 

 I don't know who enjoys the swirling aspen leaves more, Rainee or Greg's cat, Hobbes.  Either way, they both think it's better than fireworks, and there are a lot of leaves coming down.  We've swept the decks of leaves because they get so slippery when wet. Thursday afternoon, Aaron invited us to hike down Sandy and Larry's trail to the bottom of the canyon for some fishing.  Thank you, Kraffts, for allowing us to do this.  That said, the trail is a killer, but oh my, it is worth the effort.   Aaron and Rainee caught one little fish and Greg none, which didn't matter to him at all.  Just being there and fishing was enough.  There are reports of fairies roaming the woods there, but none appeared to us. Tomorrow my beloved Jayhawks play the Fickerts' beloved Baylor Bears.  Even though Chimene and Arnold are home here in Ouray, we will be watching from our respective corners.  No use messing up a fine friendship with trash talking...and it would be inevitable.

 We're seeing our first snow forecast for this coming Sunday.  Something seem off when the Front Range is going to freeze before us.   Mike and I finally got to do part of the Bear Creek Trail last week, and what a fun but scary trail it is.  We started at the parking lot, 8400 feet, and ended at 9400 feet where, according to everyone who's hiked it, it starts to get easier.  Of course.  We had decided an hour up would be our limit because Dempsey is still recovering from his injury, and he let us know it was time. The aspens in our little neighborhood are still going strong, every turn a photo.  Of course, that will change this weekend, so we're going to make the most of it. Rainee drew this for me.

 I really don't remember the aspens in our own little neighborhood being this dramatic last fall.  Red Mountain Pass and Camp Bird Road, yes, but not our little neck of the woods.  They are spectacular. from the overlook, 550 to the left Snow on Abrams lower pond from our deck

 Mike and I went up to Crystal Lake and walked the trail that runs north and south on the other side of the lake.  It is an easy trail, no altitude gain, in and out of the forest, and so beautiful always but especially with aspens.  It's hard to take a bad photo.   Dempsey is recovering from an injury to his back legs.  We're not sure what happened, but we wanted to test his ability to go a distance.  After a mile, he was definitely lagging, so we turned around and came back.  He is always happiest on trails, but I dare say yesterday was the best day of his life.  After an illness or an injury, it feels good to feel good. We also went up Veenstras' trail earlier this week, more beauty. We haven't had a freeze yet, but forecasting looking like possibly a few weeks away.   I'm not taking any chances, though, and have brought my geraniums in for the winter.

 Abrams Mountain from downtown Ouray this morning: We went to Telluride yesterday: From the Telluride Gondola

 As seen from Aaron and Marchelle's driveway: