Black Canyon of the Gunnison

One of the most amazing things we saw in CO this year was this canyon.  I wasn't prepared for how ominous and foreboding it would be.  I had heard it was beautiful, and it was, but it was also unlike anything I have seen before. 

The Gunnison River runs at the very bottom about 2000 feet below, but you can hear it at the rim as if you were standing beside it.  Click on the video to hear the roaring river.

We arrived at sundown and the light was not the best for shooting a dark slash in the earth.  The sunlight was too bright at the surface and the depth of the canyon was just grayed out. 

It was a very eery place.  I am not at all afraid of heights, but here, I felt if I lost my footing, I would be swallowed and never be found.   There are areas at the bottom of the canyon that the sunlight never reaches. 

 In spite of the challenges with the light, the Black Canyon left an impression I won't soon forget.  

As we came away from the National Park, we came upon a beautiful field at sunset. 

I am linking up this week at Seasonal Sunday

Colorado National Monument

If you like the Grand Canyon, you might just love the Colorado National Monument outside of Grand Junction.

Gorgeous red rock gorges (pun intended) just outside the city.  Lots of hiking trails long and short.  We drove the twelve mile loop and did many of the sort hikes from the parking area to the overlooks.  

Don't let anyone tell you that dry heat is more comfortable.  It was H-O-T, but we enjoyed our day.  I'll be sharing this at Seasonal Sundays

Busy Weekends

I have had dinner guests every Friday for the last three weeks.  I love to entertain, but this is a lot, even for me.  I had to find a table I could put together fast and then be happy to live with for three weeks.  

White Mikasa with aqua Artistic Accent plates from Home Goods.  I could only find six and wish I could find a few more.  All the dishes can go right in the dishwasher. 

The chickens and the striped globes are also from Home Goods. 

Wood candlesticks are from Ross.  Had to go to two stores to find two. 

The goblets are from Target and don't tell anyone, but they are plastic.  Plastic can be beautiful, can't it?

Evening lights.

Morning light.

I love how the afternoon sunlight lites up the table.

Antique salt cellars with gray salt.
Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure to stop by and visit everyone participating in Susan's Tablescape Thursday and Marty's http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2011/09/81st-table-top-tuesday.html

Driving the Western Edge

Vacation Day 3  After our day jeeping  in the CO mountains, we got up early next morning and took the long way from Ouray to Grand Junction.  If we had taken the direct route, we could have made it in less than two hours, but instead, we drove over eight hours!   You might think we are crazy, but oh, the things we saw!

The view from the camp ground where we ate lunch.  

 I did not use the zoom for this photo. This doe was obviously accustomed to people being at the picnic tables. 

We drove around the mountains to Telluride which put us on the back side of the San Juan Moutains where we had been jeeping the day before.  You can see photos from the jeep trip HERE.

 Southwest Colorado is more beautiful than I imagined.  If you have ever flown across the great plains, you see the patchwork of fields below and they look even more beautiful up close.  After whizzing by at 80 mph, turning around, and driving back, we stopped in an old barn that had become an antique store.

 I loved how they used Scrabble tiles to label things.

Universal Ballerina Maderia pattern.  I did not buy. 

These I did buy!  

My husband wondered why I was asking him to take pictures of farm equipment, but there's just something about it that I love. 

 Then the landscape started to change.

Red rock in the distance!  I am a big fan of the desert Southwest.  One thing I love is the absence of large trees.  In most of TN, the trees get in the way of the landscape.  I like seeing the shape of the land, the roll of the hills and mountains and I love, love, love red rock. 

 Forgive the blur at the bottom of these photos.  My husband was snapping away as I was driving. 

These signs are everywhere.  They warn drivers of the cattle that roam free without fences. 

We drove and drove and drove and loved everything we saw.  Come see everybody at Seasonal Sundays