Gratitude unlocks the Fullness of Life

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today; and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie

On a personal note, my blogging had ceased when my mother turned 85 which was a year and a half ago. It was a personal decision that I had made. My journey to Salida with friends has been an interesting one that has given me a new perspective.   It is with a grateful heart I say thank you, to each one of you that I have met while visiting Salida and the part each of you had in all of this.

Unsure where my kayak will lead me 

or where my camera lens will turn 

but I know that if it is interesting . . . . it will be worth blogging about!

Tumbleweed

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. “

~ Anais Nin

Today was our last full day in Salida. Hiking up S Mountain is full of my favorite flower/weed known as tumbleweed. More about that later.

Some of us went on an epic snowshoe adventure that included a one thousand plus foot elevation during a 1.5 mile stretch, better known as Waterdog. (I was not one of them!)

Before my day began I am of the mindset that we should always take care of loose ends. So . . . Biked to the bank, the grocery store and the post office in that order to get money from the ATM, to then purchase a money order from the grocery store to then mail payment to Judge Rita Little
in Texline, TX to pay for the speeding ticket I got on my way to Salida while sharing with my friends how I met my beloved. How's that for a great beginning!

Now,  off to hike S Mountain. S Mountian is a local mountain that is just on the other side of the Arkansas river that overlooks Salida. The two trails we hiked were Frontrail and Lil' Rattler. The mountain has about ten trails to hike. The day turned out to be much longer when we had to retrace our steps to find my missing progressives. After our 5 hour hike we rode our bikes as the snow began to fall. Chris thought this was the coolest experience ever for us Southern gals. It took me a few minutes to catch up with that thought but yes, it was a great moment on our bikes.

Our day ended with the celebration of Becky & Miranda's birthday's and a final stop at Salida Cafe' to hear more great music. Nathan Brady Crain combines his various musical influences to create upbeat original looped Americana. Through these influences he writes great blues, folk, bluegrass, country, country-blues, and rockabilly with skiffle, jazz, classical, and flamenco; he then uses several digital looping stations to create performance layers of percussion, bass, guitar, lead guitar and three part harmonies during the performance. Quite impressive.

Oh yes . . . that final thought on tumbleweed . . . It really is quite beautiful. From it’s beginning to it’s transformation. It begins as a small flowering weed and grows into a full bush like plant full of golden hues. The winds of the mountain take it’s toll causing it to loosen from the soil giving it it’s name . . . tumbleweed.

We too can learn from the tumbleweed. Giving off beauty at each stage of our lives. When life hits hard we can tumble gently with the virtue of grace onto the path that He provides.

To view more imagery go to www.gallery.me.com/janennedeclouet

Snowy Mountains ~ The Continental Divide

"Every morning

Lean thine arms on the windowsill of Heaven

And gaze upon the Lord.

Then . . .

With that vision in thy heart,

Turn strong to meet the day" ~ author unknown

To make it to the top of the Continental Divide requires strength . . .strength was given.

Today the Prejean family from Portland via Lafayette came to join us in our adventure. With snowshoes and baby in toe we treked up to the Continental Divide. (I sure don't remember parenting like this with my six kids!) Kudos to the Prejean's!

The hike in our snowshoes was strenuous but exhilirating for a couple of Louisiana girls. this day will be one remembered for many years to come.

We ate snow, made snow angels, threw snowballs-a winter day on the mountain with friends.

To view more imagery go to:

www.gallery.me.com/janennedeclouet

Adventure in the Great Outdoors ~ Into the Back Country

"When it comes to skiing, there's a difference between what you think it's going to be like, what it's really like, and what you tell your friends it was like". ~Author Unknown

Leadville, better known as the Cloud Country .... was one of the worlds largest (and most notorious) mining camps. At its peak in 1882, Leadville is estimated to have over 50,000 residents. Many outlaws called Leadville home. The silver baron Horace Tabor earned his riches here and the tragic story of Baby Doe Tabor also unfolded in Leadville.

Today Leadville is a colorful and historic town high in the Colorado Rockies

(at 10,200 feet, it is the nations highest town). Leadville is also the home to the Leadville Trail, "The Race across the Sky". It's America's highest 100 miler in biking and running.

We're visiting Leadville and taking in some back country skiing. The back country was incredible! The fresh falling snow made it that much more adventurous as well as a great cardio workout.

It's a wise thing to come into this area with an experienced skier. One word heard throughout our day was Beckeeeeeeee!!!!

To veiw more of our Adventure in the Great Outdoors go to www.gallery.me.com/janennedeclouet

Super full Moon

"I wish to be like the moon . . .

A beautiful reflection of the Son." ~ jcd



Our late arrival to Salida's Cafe to feast our ears on some great eclectic music performed by Chipper Thompson was worth the 1200 mile trip! We had front row seats to his performance. Chipper played an Irish slide bouzouki along with a twin neck guitar for some of his selected pieces. His music hit a cord with us!

Upon leaving we were reminded that the Super full moon was out that night. This was the closest the moon has been to the earth in 18-20 years. So where did we go next . . . Stone bridge to shoot the moon of course! As it turned out, the next day while visiting a local pottery shoppe they were accepting submissions for the 2012 Salida calendar. So I've submitted this image . . . wish me luck!

Still amazed by the interesting folks that live here . . . this young man was tooling around on jumping stilts~how fun! He was happy to allow a few photo's taken and graciously accepted our tip and offered his own tip in return that we could learn this in 3 hours . . . Gotta love those Salida folks!

To view more imagery go to:

www.gallery.me.com/janennedeclouet

Living in the Spirit- Salida, CO

"Whistling girls, crowing hens, always come to some bad end."-Grandmother Hyatt(1900-1988)

It's my third day in beautiful Salida, CO. with Chris Roberts and our host, Becky Hyatt Williams. Salida is located in central Colorado in Chaffe county. Population is about 5,000 and elevation is about 7,000. The Arkansas river runs through the center of town, and several 14ers surround the city.( 14ers is what the locals call mountains that exceed 14,000 feet.) This is our second morning and I am truly amazed by this place. Waking up each morning with only the natural sunlight and no alarm is a wonderful way to begin the day. That has been followed by Becky, cheerfully whistling down the hall which prompted the above quote.

I could not ask for a better experience for a first girls trip. This has been a complete mind, body, and soul experience. . . we are living in the spirit.

Yesterday, I went snowshoeing for the second time in my life. The first was on Serenity trails, solo near Winter Park . This time was in San Isabel National Forest. Both experiences were phenomenal in their own right, however I do admit that traveling with friends is a treasure that should not be taken for granted. The laughter and experiences that I have had with these two ladies that I am just getting to know is a gift in itself.

Today we are going to explore the city on bike and then go hiking near Buena Vista, a neighboring town, and then to some natural hot springs.

Does life get any better than this, I am beginning to doubt it!!!!!!

To view more imagery go to

www.gallery.me.com/janennedeclouet