ahhhhh

Where in the world can 52 degrees, gusty wind and pouring down (nearly sideways) rain feel like heaven? Why, your sister-in-law's new vacation condo in Winter Park, Colorado, of course! That's where we spent our weekend--thanks to Cindy's glorious generosity. Being from Texas, she was not as thrilled with the pre-fall, surprisingly chilly temperature, and the rain was a not-too-familiar occurrence but we had a great time anyway!

We shopped, walked, hot tubbed, and rode the chairlift when the monsoon lifted and went for a lovely drive around her new stomping grounds when it was in full swing. Weather changes quickly around these parts so even when it was looking more like winter than late summer, we just waited awhile until mother nature changed her mind & we were golden!
The wintry view from Berthoud Pass--snow's a comin'

View from Cindy's condo balcony. Yep, that would be the slopes in her front yard--cross the bridge, follow the sidewalk between the buildings & hop on the lift. Lucky lady!

Dinner after the rain cleared

Sophie & Julia can be found in the water--no matter what the temperature!

Grandma teaching Emma how to play solitaire (they were this bundled up...while the little gals were in the hot tub!)

This helicopter was busily bringing beetle-kill trees down to the base of the mountain all weekend--what a job! Grand County has the worst beetle-kill we've seen. It was fascinating to watch & it prompted us to take the chair lift up to the top to get a closer look. Quite an operation!

(tourists admire the "pretty, purple trees" in our forests but unfortunately, they're really just dead...eaten...his-tor-y. A lot of the surrounding green ones will be 'purple' soon too unless we get a good, cold winter to freeze those hungry little rascals!)