How Does It Get Any Better Than This?

Yesterday a friend invited me to stay at a family “cabin” in the mountains near Golden.  She wanted to be there before sunset, but what with clouds and other distractions, we were not able to see the spectacular sunsets she usually sees from there.

Sunset from Upper Deck.

The view was still wonderful, especially since there were thunderstorms over the distant mountains, so we got treated to some interesting lightning before deciding that things were getting too close to stay on the deck.  (Also, in my opinion, too chilly.  The others weren’t because they were viewing the scenery from the hot tub on the deck…)

Morning brought a beautiful sunrise.  I didn’t actually see it because it was on the other side of the house, but here’s a view from the bedroom I used.

Sunrise Across the Valley.

And then from the yard outside the lower level of the house.

A bit later, from the deck off the upper level of the house, we could watch the clouds dissipate from the distant valleys.

Clouds Between Distant Valleys.

Close-up.

The silence was wonderful.  You could hear elk calling, horses neighing, roosters crowing, squirrels eating pinecones…  But the most amazing was to watch a hawk fly over and be able to hear the sweep of it’s wings through the air.  Breathtaking!