Abandoned to the elements

Democratic headquaters? - Salida

The complete wording of the sign on the left is: No one died when Clinton lied.

Lake Blue Mesa - September 2010

Deer in the aspens - southwestern Colorado, September 2010

Cow on roof - Salida

This is another post dedicated to Tapirgal from Astoria Oregon Daily Photo.  For some reason, someone in Salida, Colorado, decided it was a good idea to put a cow on top of the roof of his business in the downtown area.  I would have checked it out, but I was afraid.  Who knew where I would end up!

Colorado Lodge - Salida

The woodpile

Dontcha love when it snows on sunny days?

Blue Mesa Reservoir and Lake...

...the largest lake in Colorado!

Mountain brook in mountain meadow

Above the tree line - Monarch Pass

Lake San Luis

Lake San Luis is across from the Great Sand Dunes...the dog in the second & third photo is our daughter's intrepid Golden Retriever, Cooper...

Two scenes along Highway 12 between Cotopaxi and Salida

Both photos were taken in September 2010. The second picture was treated with the Triqui paint effect.

The Cotopaxi High School

This is not a very large school. At the beginning of football season, the school was unable to put together a full team. In the evenings, one will often see deer grazing on the stadium grass.

Holding up a rock

Her name's Denise and she's holding up a rock in her backyard. The moon arrived courtesy of Photoshop.

Home on the range...

...in the San Luis valley. Much more on the San Luis Valley here.

Salida sunrise

And if you look closely, you can just make out the big "S" for Salida that resides on the mountain east of downtown...

Scenes from downtown Salida

Red barn near Howard, on the Arkansas River

We've linked this post with Tricia's Barn Charm meme...click here to see more charming barns.

An elk? in Salida...

This is for Tapirgal at Astoria Daily Photo.

The Sangre de Cristo mountains - more views...

From Spruce Basin in Cotopaxi

From Franz Park in Salida

From Spruce Basin in Cotopaxi

Late afternoon snowstorm moving across the mountains

A posterized view

The Sangre de Cristo chain of mountains is one of the longest on the planet with 10 peaks over 14,000 feet! Much more about this beautiful chain can be found here.

Mike's place - Cotopaxi

Miss Deb's Brazen Cafe

Miss Deb's Brazen Cafe with Huge Chicken out in front is located pretty much in the middle of nowhere on the road that leads from Gunnison to the Great Sand Dunes. As I recall, there were a couple of patrons present as we stopped to fill up on gasoline. Two's a crowd in them thar parts!

Outhouse in the mountains

A necessary convenience if one lacks internal plumbing arrangements up in the mountains. But it is so not fun on a cold, wintry, snowy day!

The 1st hole - Salida Golf Course

Entering Salida on Highway 50 - heading north

Big Horn Sheep

Spotted on the west side of Highway 50 between Cotopaxi and Salida.

Spruce Basin home at 9,000 ft. elevation

Salida, Colorado's Christmas decorations...

A church for mountain folks

Evening snowstorm