Ever Changing Weather

Weather; not even an expert can predict it accurately, especially in Colorado. Every day is different here, which is quite a change from California. In Colorado the sun shines 300 days a year but the temperatures rise and fall dramatically from day to day. Yesterday we enjoyed a warm sunny day and this morning I awoke to a winter wonderland! Four hours later the snow had melted and a fierce wind started blowing. Two hours after that it was back to sunshine and calm.

I love the ever changing weather. Learning to live with snow has created a few challenges, but I don't mind. It is so nice to experience the changing seasons. Each part of the year offers a different view of the world around me. I realize I haven't experienced any "extreme" weather here, but even extreme weather seems exciting to me.

Another thing I love about the weather here is being able to wear winter clothing. I have always been fond of comfy fabrics in fall colors and the layered look. Of course, red is one of those colors! I also enjoy curling up on the sofa with a fuzzy blanket or snuggling under layers of heavy bed covers. The best is being able to warm up by a fireplace in your favorite coffee house while sipping a hot latte.

Even my little dog, Niki, loves the snow. She runs and jumps and tosses the snow in the air with her nose. Beautiful gray geese gather together on the snow covered golf courses reminding me of a beautiful Christmas Card. My favorite is seeing the tree limbs heavily laden with snow out my bedroom window. I know it will all change soon but I am enjoying it while it lasts.

Home Sweet Home

Ever since I was a child I have loved turn-of the-century homes. Their cozy little rooms with ceilings stretched to the sky, claw-foot tubs and pedestal sinks, windows and walls adorned with moldings, and a covered porch where you can spend a lazy afternoon all evoke my idea of a real home. Growing up in apartments, I yearned desperately for such a place and spent hours designing my perfect house, complete with a family, a town and its people. At 10 years old I knew exactly where I wanted to be, I just didn’t know how to get there.

Now I am living in a house like I dreamed of, nestled in the foothills of the Northern Colorado Rockies. Life is much different here than in my native California town. The architecture is dated, the pace is slower, the people are friendlier and the seasons change.

Living in a vintage town has many advantages. The blocks are short and everything is close, which makes walking or bike riding preferred over driving. Shops, markets, banks, coffee houses, restaurants, even the post office, library and civic center are only a few minutes walk from my house. No matter what the weather, you will always find people on the streets, bringing the town to life. I could never be lonely here as there is always someone to strike up a conversation with. It's a comfortable town; like an overstuffed chair, it's easy to settle into.

A Whole New Year

I can't believe a whole year has passed since I last made an entry to my blog. Many things have transpired during this year, taking me down a path much different than I anticipated. While traveling along this path I came to a point where I felt it was time for me to choose between a life that was created for me, and a life that I wanted to create for myself. This decision surfaced after several years of self-absorbed contemplation and soul searching. I couldn't stop asking myself questions like "who am I" , "what do I think of the person I have become" and "what do I have to do to become the person I think I should be"?

Many people have these thoughts when they reach a certain age; but most are unable to take on the challenges and risks associated with making major changes at that stage of their life. Some just need a shove in the right direction to make the jump. This is what happened to me. In the midst of trying to create a future for myself and my family a big boot came and kicked that dream right out from under us. It was at that moment I knew it was time to take the jump.

Now I find myself living alone in another state, far from the life I had known for so long. This new life is definately filled with a myrid of trials and tribulations, but I am up for the challange. I am enjoying all the new experiences and feel a rejuvination of my soul. I don't know where I am headed, but I think I will like the ride.