Garden of the Gods / Breakfast at the Trading Post

 

Music:  Fantasy Forest Music

YouTube Channel:  Dreamwood Vibes

Although we were going to have breakfast at a local cafe this morning...

as we were not so hungry...

we just decided to eat at the Garden of the Gods cafe instead...

as this day was devoted to sightseeing there anyway.

Our first stop was at the balancing rock.

The day was cool...

as there was a low cloud cover of most of the sky.

We then proceeded to the Trading Post in the park.

It has a very large gift shop...

and art gallery inside...

as well as a cafe and coffee shop...

and a wonderful outside eating area.

We picked our spot to eat near a small pond and waterfall.

My elder sister and her husband each had a chili dog...

and I had a bison burger.

I loved this cafe.

Not only was my burger juicy...

but the added bacon and spices made it a very good burger.

My sister and her husband said their food was also very good.

Not only is the cafe...

but everything inside the gift shop is all reasonably priced.

And with entrance into the Garden of the Gods being free...

it is a must visit place to everyone visiting Colorado Springs.

After our meal...

we just walked around the gift shop and art gallery.

My sister ended up buying one of the crystals.

They also have a whole section devoted to Native American art and jewelry.

After the Trading Post...

we drove around the park taking more photos.

You can see the low lying clouds in the mountains.

This particular mountain spire I found to be amazing...

as the mature trees had not only taken root...

but lived healthy lives for many years

in nothing but small patches of soil in crevices.  

After hitting the major photo areas...

we then drove home.

My elder sister and her husband will be staying at least another week...

so I will be taking them to other places for photo opportunities.

Second Deck Project Initiated / Morning Meditation

 

Song:  Breathe

Group:  Pink Floyd

I had ordered 2 charcoal colored outdoor carpets for the beginning 

of phase two of my decks project.

Although I will need to order more...

and I will have much work to complete to install these...

I wanted to at least lay these out to protect the wood from the summer rains.

Again...

these won't be the final positions.

I just rolled out the waterproof carpets for now.

Next month...

I will order more...

and then the real work of cutting and fitting will take place.

After that...

I will have to caulk and base board install...

as well as cap the posts.

But...

I feel better knowing that I could at least do some major protection of the deck now.

I will still overlap the carpets quite a bit once the other ones arrive.

I will also install special rubber stair protectors...

which will also be waterproof...

as well as providing more traction in snow.

The second deck...

being the largest and having the most angles and areas of cutting...

will take me the longest to complete.

My elder sister likes going on to the decks to enjoy the morning sun.

The other day...

she sat on the third deck.

On this morning...

she decided to enjoy the second deck with a cup or coffee.

As I have yet to get patio furniture for the decks...

she merely moved one of the dining bar chairs outside to sit upon.

My sister finishing her cup of coffee before her morning meditation on the deck.

She said she loves being so close to nature here.

There are song birds in the trees...

and the ever present gentle mountain breeze just caresses the soul.

Don't worry...

I hadn't forgotten about Bandi.

I was only out on the deck for a few minutes to take some photos.

I then went back inside...

 and Bandi and I went up to the loft together.

The loft is where I usually have my morning cup of coffee...

but once I get the deck furniture...

I will be sitting outside as well.

This is my view in the morning as I sit on my computer in the loft.

You can see my elder sister still sitting on the second deck in this photo.

I just never tire of these views.

And, once I get the patio furniture...

I, too, will be enjoying the sunrises and sunsets from each of the decks...

or from inside...

whichever I feel like doing in the moment.

-----------------

I love sleeping in a cool state.

I keep my windows open at night so I may feel the fresh mountain breeze.

I had fallen asleep on top of my comforter last night...

still dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt.

By the time I had fallen asleep...

the temperature was in the low 60s (15 - 17 C).

The gentle and refreshing mountain breeze had lulled me to sleep

before I had gotten under my comforter.

I had not awakened by the slight chill of the early morning air (50F / 10 C)...

until about 5:30 AM.

I then slipped under my comforter to sleep for another couple of hours.

However...

as my normal room temperature is always cool anyways...

I am used to sleeping in cool conditions.

I run hot...

especially after eating...

and for many hours afterwards.

I always uncover my bare feet from the comforter before sleeping.

My feet are the hottest part of my body.

That is why I like to walk around barefooted...

and why I must sleep with them uncovered.

I find it difficult to sleep in temperatures above the mid-60s (18 C).

Now...

 as it is summer...

although it never really gets hot up here...

whenever I wish to nap in the daytime...

it sometimes gets to the mid to high 70s (23 - 25 C)...

and as such...

I cannot sleep comfortably...

even with a gentle breeze blowing through my room.

So...

I had installed a room air conditioner not too long ago.

So...

on days I feel like napping in the day...

I turn on the air conditioner to keep my room at 65F (18C).

But...

one strange phenomena I have been experiencing here...

is that during a summer rain...

the gentle falling of raindrops makes me so strangely comfortable and sleepy.

As the rain keeps the air cool...

I keep my bedroom windows open

and just enjoy breathing in the rain fresh air 

as I get uncontrollably drowsy.

I always awaken so refreshed after such naps.

I had never before considered a nap to be such a luxury...

but as I have aged...

I now consider it one of the great simple pleasures of life.

--------------

In a few minutes...

we will be going to eat breakfast at a local eatery I have never been to before...

and we will then go back to the Garden of the Gods so my sister and her husband

may take photos without large crowds being present.

I am sure I will have more photos to post once we return.

First Days With My Elder Sister And Her Husband

 

Song:  Oh Babe, What Would You Say

Artist:  Hurricane Smith

A few days before my elder sister and her husband's arrival...

I had brand new tires installed at this Big O store in Woodland Park.

They had arrived near sunset...

so James (my sister's husband)...

walked across the street to take this photo of the sun setting.

A couple days later...

we all went to the annual property owners' meeting.

Afterwards...

we had a BBQ.

Our community center is in the middle of expanding certain areas.

On the next day...

I took my sister and her husband to Woodland Park to try a new taco place...

then to Colorado Springs to where they used to live in an apartment

since James was stationed at Fort Carson for a few years.

That was about 45 years ago.

They wanted to see their old apartment complex.

They had stayed in an apartment in the complex just behind the covered seating area 

shown in the rear center of this photo.

We then visited an alpaca farm located to the northeast of Colorado Springs.

My sister likes spinning her own yarn...

and then knitting clothing.

A friendly retired couple raise some 70 alpacas for shows and they shear them once a year...

and then sell finished yarn...

as well as unfinished fur so others can spin their own yarn.

This was their little shop.

My sister bought some fur...

some finished yarn...

and an alpaca sweater.

The man told us the main difference between alpacas and llamas.

The llamas get to be much larger

(we visited the llama farm near my home...

but they no longer sell their fur).

The couple started with two pregnant alpacas some 25 years ago.

They have 35 acres upon which they raise them.

Their alpacas were friendly and cute.

On the way home...

we drove through Garden of the Gods.

But...

as it was on the weekend...

it was too crowded to stop anywhere inside.

We will go back on a weekday so they may take photos.

I am waiting for good weather before we go to the top of Pikes Peak.

We have been having intermittent summer showers lately.

--------------

My sister loves the saunas at my home.

We just finished sitting in the Steam Sauna...

and every night...

she sits in the Infrared Sauna.

We have been taking things slowly...

just relaxing and enjoying the ambiance of home...

and eating out some.

I will be taking them to other nearby areas during their stay.