Snapshots from a time and place

When I walk to the end of our road and do a 360 degree turn at sunset on a clear night, this is my view. The clouds in this part of the country are more often than not spectacular and full of color. I love the rural open space feeling; it is an interesting mix of Utah and Iowa. Mountains, plains, meadows, bluffs, and lots of unobstructed sky.
I have started to get a feel for the character of this place. The common vegetation are scrubby, hardy trees like cottonwood, Russian olive, blue spruce, and scotch pine. Some more cultivated ornamental trees include linden, ash, honeylocust, crabapple, bur oak, white oak, and many kinds of maple. Perennial flower gardens are common and lovely. I have been pleasantly surprised to see many flower gardeners here who grow things like penstemon, columbine, Russian sage, lavender, yarrow, coneflower, and clematis.
There is a distinct local culture and clearly defined preferences here. For example, vehicle of choice? Subaru Outback, complete with all-wheel drive, bike rack, and dog hanging out the window. Most common routine purchase? Organic produce. Favorite Friday night hang-out? The prepared food section of Whole Foods. Restaurant of choice? Anything Tibetan. Favorite weekend pastime? Hiking, biking, kayaking, tubing, etc. Stereotypical residents? Hippie eco-tistical free spirits. Most common exercise establishment? Yoga studios. A historic must see? Chautauqua Auditorium, which has hosted summer music programs every year since 1898. Claim to fame? Bolder Boulder 10 km road race every Memorial Day since 1979. Beware of the...? Halloween naked pumpkin run, a tradition since 1998, (runners have hollowed out pumpkins on their heads and shoes on their feet...nothing more...) What will you NOT find here? Wal-Mart.
Eclectic. Interesting. Beautiful. Earth-loving. Colorful. Health conscious. Peaceful. Home.