We Tripantu

It's summer time!

We are experiencing some of the highest temperatures on record here in Colorado and while that makes for lovely early morning /late afternoon hikes... 

Even the higher elevation  does not offer much, if any, relief. 

Still, long evenings at the top of a favorite spot, (we spent the 21st in camping chairs with a light dinner and champagne to bring in the solstice) watching till the skies are too dark to see anything but the city lights in the distance, are soul bendingly lovely. 

Photo courtesy of 91.5 KUNC

So, the rising temperatures are not dampening our enthusiasm for the long summer days and evenings that lie ahead. But they are creating havoc in the high country... 

 Bark Beetle damage has made swathes of forest into little more than tinder. In New Mexico, a recent fire devastated over 460 square miles of forest while here in Colorado firefighters are battling a fire just 60 miles from Denver. As of this morning, over 82,000 acres have burned and at least 141 houses have gone up in flames.

We could use a little rain.

Heaven, I'm in Heaven

The days grow longer with the changing season and Apollo is in all his glory, majestically charioting to and fro across the sky. He gazes down at the earth...

proudly inspecting the fruits of his labor: greening grass, flowering bud, and streaming flood. 

I bask in the Sun's embrace, my arms already browning from the amber warmth.  

 The cares of the week are behind me. The albatross of life's contracts forgotten. 

 Even beloved indoor activities have no pull. Sitting in the shadows of a door and four walls has no appeal.

Time to get outdoors, hike the hills, walk down bricked lanes and dig into earth, it's toasty chocolateness soothing, tranquilizing.

 The entertainment is tailored to suit the outdoor environment 

 and the strolling crowds are anxious to be pleased.

 The rhythm of the conga invites audience participation...

A celebration of the sun's trek toward it's zenith.

*Hi all! I haven't been getting much of anything done really: blogging, visiting you all and writing (this is about the most I've written for a week or so!) is taking the backseat as I head outside to enjoy our beautiful springtime weather. How about you? Are you finding the outdoors too tempting to get stuff done?