pics from the trip

Here are a few photos from our trip. We first flew into Denver (after getting rerouted from our original destination of CO Springs) and then drove to Amarillo or more technically Canyon TX which is about 6 hours away, where we visited Palo Duro Canyon St Park. Then we drove back to CO Springs, visited some friends, and then went skiing for one day at Monarch Mountain near the artsy and historic town of Salida.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, TX. We spent a few days trapping mesocarnvores (foxes, ringtails and raccoons) with grad student Naima Montacer and her professor Ray Matlack.

Traipsing through fields of dried basketflower in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, TX.

Savie holding the raccoon we caught in the trap. We didn't catch any ringtails though - darn!!

Dr Ray Matlack, West Texas A&M University Professor and grad student Naima Montacer - out in the field trapping in Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO.

This shot reminds me of that poem about how God is carrying us when we feel that we're walking alone but there are always two sets of footprints in the sand -- taken at Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO.

The kids carrying a gigantic stick (uh, tree?) through the sand at Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO.

Mule deer just outside of Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO.

Another shot of the mule deer near Great Sand Dunes National Park.

It was snowing all day when we visited Garden of the Gods in Manitou Springs, CO. It was awesome! Unfortunately that meant the sky was whited out, and you can't see the peaks in the distance, but it was really neat.

Snow on an evergreen in Garden of the Gods in Manitou Springs, CO.

Sam in a crevice at Garden of the Gods in Manitou Springs, CO.
The kids skiing at Monarch Mountain near Salida, CO.

Now as for me - all in a day's work: I unplugged a huge pile of cat hair and Christmas tree needles from my vacuum cleaner, filed for an extension on my income taxes, met with the Head of my kids' private school about next year, went out to dinner with my kids (why buy food if I'm leaving again in 2 days?!), did some miscellaneous work and phone chats with people, applied for a gig as a wildlife show host (that is my dream!!), started to pack, uploaded these pics, and now it's 2am and I still have oodles to do... but alas I must get some rest. Ciao for now!