Puzzles!

 Puzzles 

First, here are a couple I did during the heat wave of 2024

Succulents!  Start with lots of sorting.

It is a lovely color gradient and a few are quite distinct.

Starting from each corner was easy, but then the center pieces looked alike.

This one is from the women's march and the frame is easy.  Finding pieces with words was easy.

So many tiny faces took a long time.

The largest wooden puzzle I've done!

Gorgeous pieces, easy to sort.

Great finish.

A few more from the winter puzzling season

Tiny Totoro puzzle from clear plastic pieces.  They snap together great and are so cute in the light!

Posters of the National Parks!  

Lots of helpers like unique colors

the frame around each poster

the titles so you know which direction is up

Love it!

Pike's Peak, Aug 2024

 Up the cog railway to the top of Pike's Peak

View from the top of Pike's Peak

Top of the train that takes you up to Pike's Peak.  A beautiful cog railway that is really just for tourists, but totally worth it.  It is packed, so get a reservation ahead of time, otherwise you might have to drive up, which seems like a terrible idea.  Or the even worse idea of hiking up the stairs.  Though if you hike up the railway will bring you down for free!

There has been a tourist railway since 1891!  It is recently renovated and quite pleasant.

On the trip you get to see the mountains up close, hear about the history, and see wildlife (marmots!)

We were almost to the top when we hit the cloud layer.  I've never been in anyplace else like it.  We came out of the clouds at the top, but it is all depends on the weather of the day.

There is a huge information center that was packed with people.  The food court sells these doughnuts that people go crazy for, though we didn't try them.  There is info about the geology, the animals, and the history.  

This penny machine took credit, which is great because who carries around change anymore?

You just can't beat the views.

Even though it was mid August, temps at the top were cold!

On the way back down, seeing the bottom of the clouds layer.

The trip back down is a good time for a nap.

Or trade seats with your friends so you get a slightly different view.

I would come back in the spring to see the wildflowers!

Manitou Springs and Celestial Seasonings Tea, trip to Colorado, Aug 2024

 

Manitou Springs is just a bit west of Colorado Springs, a little more up the mountains and the starting point to visit Pike's Peak.  Super cute tourist town!  We stayed at The Cliff House before going up the railway. Really lovely and historic.

They showcase their famed mineral springs and public art

Local history designed into a bench

These are from a park across the street from one of the springs.

Quite a variety of art 

I really like this one!

Mosaic surrounding a kids playground, it is like those hidden pictures with lots to look at.

Pike's Peak is a whole post to itself, but we did also visit Celestial Seasonings Tea and take the factory tour.  So good I would go back on a weekday when the production lines are running.

The original art that goes onto the boxes is in the welcome room.

Sleepytime is their best seller!  The tour was fascinating-peppermint is such a strong flavor it gets it's own room so the flavor doesn't seep into the other ingredients.

Art/tea pot for a specific flavor.  The company started in Boulder and hasn't moved, just expanded.