Hot Days, Cool Nights and Stunning Sunsets.

It has been unimaginably hot here in Denver the last few days. I believe most cities are experiencing the same. I was talking with my sister in Toronto yesterday and she was also complaining about the heat. My dad is there visiting her from Houston and they all insist he brought the scorching heat of Houston with him. It is a very stifling, smothering heat. It actually reminds  me of that scene in “Rango” when Rango enters the desert and his skin dries and moults over and over again from the heat and lack of water. That is how I’ve been feeling lately…parched.

The one saving grace for us is the rain that follows this heat. It has been raining in the afternoon and allowing us a reprieve from the torturous heat of the day. The nights are cooling down nicely and the cool breezes soothe our blistered bodies.

Our favourite thing to do when it gets hot here is to escape into the mountains. It’s always a pleasant temperature up there giving us about a 10-20 degree drop. I often find myself looking at the mountains and yearning; I want to drop all that I am doing and run up there. Yesterday, I was running some errands and I don’t know why, but it was fender bender Friday. I swear I spent more time sitting in ghastly traffic than I did doing what I was supposed to be doing. While doing a considerable amount of sitting and not enough driving in my car, I found my eyes fixated on the mountains running parallel to me, their glistening, white snowy tops, and the crisp blue sky above them. I wanted so badly to be on top of those mountains frolicking in the snow instead of steaming on the tarmac.

We went to Rocky Mountain National Park last week and it was beautiful as usual. We go every two weeks or so, and I am amazed how different it looks each time we go. The scenery and landscape are always different and the most noticeable are the ever changing wild flowers. Each week brings a different climate to encourage the growth of a different variety. I am in awe of  nature.

There is a spot in the park, where the melting snow water rushes down huge boulders, softening their lines and smoothing their surfaces. It is one of my favourite places in the park. If the park was closer and I didn’t have any mommy obligations, I would sprint up here everyday. It’s the kind of place that begs you to grab a book, a cosy blanket, a picnic lunch and just lounge there by some quiet nook amongst the rocks and the trickling water (the water gushes down the rocks quite violently and is very loud, but I like the quite spots by the banks.) I took some pictures sitting on one of these rocks while my husband and children climbed up the larger rocks. It’s bewildering how nature grasps hold of anything, sprouting up life, even if it’s in deep, rushing waters. These blue flowers were in the midst of the rushing water, growing in the rocks.

I love that I can escape to this wonderland whenever I want. I feel like Alice at times, and with the Mad Hatter and Tweedledee and Tweedledum by my side, I can enjoy Wonderland quite often!

I shall end by posting some pictures of an incredible sunset yesterday. If you look closely you can make out the ghostly outline of the Rockies. A hot, steamy day sure makes for a beautiful sunset.

I hope all of you stay cool and hydrated. For those who are enjoying a cool, rainy summer (My friend April in Oregon), I am way jealous!

Have a great weekend. I have a recipe for a Mushroom Tart ready to be typed up, so I shall get on that very soon and post it tomorrow or Monday.

Thank you for reading.