Fall Trip - Off To Colorado - Days 1 & 2

 Colorado - here we come!  After months of anticipation, Amanda's wedding weekend is upon us and we're starting out our annual road trip with the festivities.  First, we have to get there.  The car is loaded and we are outta here in the wee hours.

Not a lot to comment on during the drive - same old stuff I've shown before, but we do get eleven hours under our best before a "meal" happens.  Soulcraft Brewing in Salida, CO is just what we are looking for.

From there, we enter some absolutely beautiful country and the remainder of our drive is in pure beauty.  A stop here and there for a better picture (one not through the windshield or out the side window while moving) happens and we are delighted with our drive.  The soul is perfectly happy when God's artistic ability is around.

You can tell our day is coming to a close, but we know we will have this beauty the rest of our drive tomorrow, too.

A perfect first day together - no complaints.

3rd - Day 2 of our very fun adventure.  We landed in Gunnison last night and enjoyed a good night's sleep before heading out again today.  It's a beautiful day and, again, the eye candy out the window makes it all that much more wonderful.  The Dillon Pinnacles are sublime in the morning light.

This is actually how far away we are.  First pic was zoomed in.

It's so pretty, it requires a stop and better photography.

Roadsides of color all around us -- makes the drive a pure delight.

Another quick stop for beautiful light.

Look at those tiny clouds - almost looks like puffs of smoke.

Morning light is so fun - especially when you are in a canyon of sorts.

(a little hlep on this pic so you can see the gorgeous gold)

We have made our way to just outside of montrose where the wedding venue is.  On the road in, this bird poses just for us.  Don't make me think otherwise, please.

Oooooh - love this.

We arrive at Antler Ridge, which is the venue and we are the first people to do so.  This gives Mister and I time to wander the grounds a bit and familarize ourselves with the lay of the land, so to speak.  The barn where the reception will take place.

Looking away from it.

House for wedding parties/brides to prepare.

Inside the barn - the lights and ceiling sways are in place, with a few tables set up.  We have a lot to do.

Behind the barn - this view is incredible.

Side view -

I'm going wandering.  Getting further away.

Such fun to discover Mister is doing the same thing - his way.

Donkeys are watching our every move.

A little further out is a pond and it just helps the whole scene.

When I turn around - I see herds of elk bugling in the distance.  How close can I zoom in?

This batch is already looking for shade.  

Character for the grounds.

The far side of the pond.

Time to just sit and wait.

Ross and Amanda arrive, with Ross' mom and her friends in tow.  We get to work setting up the room according to Amanda's design.  Lots of tables and chairs to get into place.

Once we have all the tables and chairs in place, it's time to unload the trailer they brought up - filled with decor, drinks, and so much more.  Boxes and boxes.  

Amanda - still thinking and working on logistics.

JP is up here with us for the day and is really doing such a good job.

We're starting on the table settings.  Yep, it's s dinner reception.

Ross has the actual wedding site almost under control.

It's tme to head into town, check into our AirBNB and get ready for the welcome party.  I'm so excited to have all my kids together today.

Hugs all around and it's just great!  I'm one happy Mom to have this time with kids and grands.

The distillery has great grounds as well and the kids have lots of room to run.

Enjoying the candids?  I know I am.

The grands are growing up - so hard to believe sometimes.

Elena has a ton of older, male cousins.  She was the first girl to come along after a long break.  There are seven male cousins older than her.  These are first cousins and just on her Mom's side - we're not going crazy here or anything.

After Elena - a couple more girls came along, starting to even the score a bit.

The Moms.

Fun down at the river - great location for this event.  Not everyone in the pic is part of our event - the facility is open to the public as well.

Grandpa doing what Grandpa does.

Elena knows where the camera is - we don't.

I tried - wiggled, but tried.

It's getting late, but the cousins are enjoying each othere and we're going to do s'mores.

It's been a great night - tomorrow is wedding day - so much still to do, but it's in another set of workers hands now.  Time to relax a bit.