Vail Colorado - Outdoor Wednesday #38

This time last year we were taking these pictures in Vail.  We stayed at a timeshare located in town which was our homebase for the many trips to other areas of Colorado.  Vail is breathtaking and one of the most beautiful places I've seen.   Hiking and walking is the best way to get around town.  Our stay ended with the season's first big snow storm, which came into the valley on our last day. 
Fortunately we were able to see the storm from the airplane upon leaving out of Denver.

 I would love to visit during the winter to see the snow,

 but would love to return for the fall colors which were breathtaking.

Portion of the forest cleared of Pine Beetle damage.  The tiny pest with big damage: About the size of a grain of rice, the mountain pine beetle is destroying great swaths of pine trees in Colorado.

Road winding to top of moutain behind the timeshare.

Looking down from the top mountain...you can see the timeshare in the middle.

A little history.....
The town of Vail was incorporated in 1966, four years after the opening of Vail Ski Resort. The ski area was founded by Pete Seibert and the local rancher Earl Eaton in 1962, between the town of Eagle and Vail Pass. The pass was named after Charles Vail,

the highway engineer that routed U.S. Highway 6 through the valley in 1940.

Seibert, a New England native, served in the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division during World War II, which trained at Camp Hale, just southeast of Vail. He was seriously wounded in Italy and was told he should become a professional skier when he recovered. He was noticed as the best skier in the world for a short time.

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Our trip to Colorado was to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary October 3rd, 2008.  We originally planned our trip to Ireland and Scotland for this celebration, but were unable to coordinate a timeshare exchange at that time.  So, we visited Colorado and it was fantastic. 

Happy Outdoor Wednesday!

Visit Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer for more participants.

Mumzie

Classic Baked Apple

You will Need:

1 large cooking apple, washed and cored

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

2 tablespoons raisins

1 tablespoon butter

Water

* Preheat oven to 375 degrees

* Cut a 1 1/2-inch circle of skin off the top of the apple, and also

    slit the skin around the apple for expansion while baking.

* Mix the brown sugar and raisins.

* Place apple in a small ovenproof dish.

* Fill cored opening with the sugar and raisin mixture, then top with butter.

*  Pour enough water into the pan to come halfway up the side of the apple.

*  Bake the apple for around 45 minutes, or until soft.

The weather's been cool today, and I've been craving apple pie.

So, I'm going to bake some apples instead. 

I think I'll use some brown sugar subsitute in place of the real brown sugar. 

Mumzie

Horses & Quilts - What a combination!

Who said that you couldn't mix quilts and horses?  Quilts do make it to horse shows and even Coronado approves of this beautiful design...check it out!  Aunt Kim from "Kim's Big Quilting Adventure", is the artist and designer of this gorgeous quilt. 

Mumzie

Lavender Hollow Farm - Escalon

Our visit to Lavender Hollow Farm yesterday, September 26, 2009.  Jenni and I went out to participate in the celebration at the lavender farm. Oh, how I love lavender!

Jenni spotted several Monarch butterflies, so we ran down the lavender paths to catch a closer look at one.  Even though it's the end of the season, there are still plenty of lavender bushes blooming.  The best time is early summer, but it was still beautiful today.

.Lavender Lemonades!

Bill's lavender pickup Truck full of  lavender ready for  processing.                                                                                                                                                       

Alice Taylor, Owner

 

Bill Taylor, explaining the distillation process. 

Jenni - eight months pregnant with Colin.

The distilled oil and the lavender water byproduct are be used to make other products including soaps, lotions, bath salts, shower gels and lavender spray. The boutique is full of wonderful gifts and treasures.

Since it was Lavender Hollow's celebraion of their new lavender distiller, we were able to watch the distilling process from beginning to end.  We enjoyed the beautiful farm, and lavender goodies. Oh, did I mention the lavnder lemonade!  It was fantastic. The farm is so peaceful and pleasant, you can't help but feel calm and relaxed.  I highly recommend, you visit this wonderful place.  Lavender Hollow is owned by Bill and Alice Taylor.

Mumzie