Thursday April 3, 2012
Before leaving Colorado Springs this morning, we stopped to say goodbye to cousin Jimmy and his family.  Connie had to go to work, but we got to meet another of his sons.  Jimmy was the son that my father never had ..... he fathered six girls!  Whenever he and his parents came to visit, he left with a new rope!

With many promises to keep in touch, we proceeded to the Garden of the Gods.  There are so many things to see here and we would love to come back!

We took the one hour drive through the park and pictures are posted below ....

Kissing camels rock

 

 

 This makes us reminisce for Sedona ! 

At a suggestion from our friend, Jon, we took the backroads to their house. It took us 3 hours to get through the Rockies, but we did NOT mind!

Big, beautiful skies !

Deer by the side of the road !

Notice the elevation?  We were up over 12,000 feet at one time !

Highway 9 through the Rockies

What a neat building !

Continental Divide

Lots of lakes and river along the way

We arrived at Craig, Colorado, about six hours after leaving Colorado Springs.  Jon met us at a local gas station and we followed him down dirt roads to their house. Jon Ossen and his old wife Stacie are old friends of ours ... Craig was in their wedding party 28 years ago this Saturday.  Jon was a paramedic who went through medical school and is now an ER physician in Craig.  They live on a 58 acre ranch with their two daughters, 4 horses, 2 dogs and lots of other animals.

One of their chickens ... a Top Hat rooster

I want to bring this rabbit home !

Stacie home schools the girls and they all have lots of hobbies !  

Jon and his gun .... that he made !

We are enjoying our visit so much !