Thursday, August 4, 2016

Colorado: Chipmunks on the Sapphire Trail - July 31

Today was not a particular good day for me. I'm still feeling the effects of being at an elevation of 9000 ft. I still find it hard to breathe at times and feeling nauseated with a lack of energy. So, L&S and I took it easy today. Cliff and Whitney went for another bike ride of 12 miles before she had to go home.

After Whitney left, we went for a ride in the car around the lake. Cliff wanted to show us a hiking trail near the bike path. This particular spot is called the Sapphire Trail. We will do the hike later in the week, but while there, we saw Uinta Chipmunks and Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrels everywhere. The difference in the chipmunks and squirrels is that the chipmunks have stripes on their faces; squirrels do not. People were feeding them sunflower and pumpkin seeds. The critters are so used to being around people that they will feed right out of your hand. Lidia and Sawyer started feeding them and coaxed a couple to eat out of their hands, too. This became Lidia and Sawyer's favorite spot. They can't wait to go back for the hike and to feed the critters, again.

This afternoon, we took L&S to the pool. Lidia swam 21 freestyle laps and still had energy left to play with Sawyer. Sawyer wanted to swim in the 10 ft. pool, but there is a height requirement. If you don't meet that requirement, the lifeguard requires them to swim one length of the lap pool without touching bottom. Sawyer swam it and the lifeguard put a wrist band on him to signify that he passed the swim test. Sawyer was so proud of himself for passing.



Uinta Chipmunk

Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel

 Eating from Sawyer's hand.







Rain was threating....


....so, we headed home.
Come back for the next post. The scenery is unreal!
Laurie
PS: Sawyer keeps us in stitches with the things he says.  Today, I saw him looking in a mirror and touching his eye. When I asked if his eye was bothering him, he said, "No, I just realized I had eyelashes on the bottom of my eyes."  LOL!!

12 comments:

  1. hope you feel better and just take it easy but thanks for sharing with us! It is amazing all around and I love that first fence photo! Have you thought of linking it with Run-a-Round Ranch link party today, Good Fences?
    Well done Sawyer for swim success!

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    1. Thanks, Christine. No, I really haven't thought about linking with Good Fences. Maybe I will. I do enjoy reading your posts, though, that links to good fences.

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  2. What wonderful photos! Loving all the Colorado posts.

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    1. Thanks, Marcie! It's so easy to post from here. There is so much to see and do.

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  3. Georgous photos! When I read the "PS", my coffee came out of my nose.
    Lisa

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    1. Oh gosh! Sorry about that! HaHa! He makes me almost wet my pants sometimes.

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    2. I have a "blonde" daughter. It never ends!

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  4. I hope you feel better too..no fun..particularly when away..the kids look happy and healthy:) Chipmunks are adorb..but here they damage things:( They are better in the wild..

    Noah had to swim laps last night so funny you mentioned that..we had to sponsor him for an amount..his mom had said $0.20..a lap..so I said $0.50 then Jacques said are you sure..so I took his mom's lead but upped it by $0.05..they were gathering money for the Starlight foundation..they rang our bell at 8.15..he had swam 52 laps:)They are allowed to change strokes even flutterboard ..
    Just funnyyou mentioned laps:)

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    1. Thanks, Monique! I agree, squirrels and chipmunks are cute, but need to stay in the wild. The squirrels back home rob my fruit trees.

      Wow! Noah is an awesome swimmer and how wonderful to swim for such a good cause. Lidia wanted to swim 50 laps yesterday, but she was clearly worn out after consecutive days of swimming many laps. She swam 40 the day before. Cliff stopped her after 19. We could tell she was so tired. She really wanted to meet her goal, but didn't put up a fight. lol!

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  5. The scenery IS unreal! Many thanks for sharing it.

    I'm thinking Sawyer's discovery of his lower lashes is a "boy thing." There definitely is a difference between males and females of our species, isn't there? ;o)

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