A New Day: October 2019

10.25.2019

Autumn in Colorado is Different

It was grey in the morning, so the snow that fell overnight seemed to reach all the way up to the clouds and beyond.

Snow-packed earth, and a snow-packed sky.

Wet and thick and heavy, it weighed the branches on trees down enough that as I walked under one the top of my hat brushed a branch, causing little showers of flakes to rain down into the neck of my coat, pinpricks of cold on my skin.

Thankfully, despite the cold, the morning was calm; no wind battered our faces, wriggled into our clothes, or froze our ears, and we could actually enjoy the beauty of the fresh white muting out the gold, brown, orange leaves still clinging and reminding us that this was not in fact a winter day, but still smack in the middle of Autumn.

Autumn in Colorado is different. It is equal parts perfect October, reminders of what summer was, and foreshadowing of all that winter will be. If this day was any indication, winter will be full and heavy and pure white cleansing.

And just like everything, such as life, by the afternoon... it was gone.

10.21.2019

When Mama's In Town

Last week was Autumn break for Gwen. Earlier this year, we had already decided to forgo a big trip to enjoy some day trips instead, and that intention was confirmed when my Mama decided to come out for a visit! It was so great to have her here, and so fun to do some exploring with her. She took the train out, which is pretty cool. So that first day I picked her up from the train station first thing in the morning (with Travis having taken Gwen to work), then she came to yoga with me. It was fun getting to have my Mama in class for the first time.

After class we headed to pick Gwen up, then went to the Denver Botanic Gardens. It was such a perfect, beautiful Autumn day... just right for enjoying the outdoors.

The Botanic Gardens is such a great combo of outdoor plants, open spaces, and indoor plant space.

My mom loves plants and flowers, so I knew it would be a great place to take her.

I think the Indoor Tropical area and the outdoor Japanese Garden are my two favorite areas, but it is all so beautiful!

Such a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city.

We spent the whole afternoon there.

Then it was time out to meet Travis for dinner at one of our favorite downtown places, Watercourse. Its so delicious there!

Trav took off on Tuesday and Wednesday to join us on some more day trips. We headed up to Estes Park Tuesday morning to check out the town, and to head into Rocky Mountain National Park.

It was another gorgeous day, so we were able to drive all over, and get out for lots of little walks and rock climbing.

Gwen's favorite thing is to scramble up rocks, so she was in heaven.

We went to one of the trails that Elise and I did in May... but boy did it look different!!

We ate lunch in Estes Park before the hike, and after exploring for the afternoon, we headed back into the town for a little shopping.

Then it was back home!

Wednesday we headed in the opposite direction, south to Manitou Springs. Again we stopped in the city, this time doing a picnic lunch.

Then we headed up Pike's Peak! Straight up to >14,000ft!

Its always so amazing seeing the world from that perspective!

After that it was back into the city for a little bit of ice cream! Then home in time for dinner.

Thursday was my mom's last day, so we took it a lot easier. A lazy morning, then headed to the same international food court that we hit up with Ethan and Elise at the end of May (Mango House!) for lunch. So much good food to be had!