Just this morning I was struck again at the arrival of dawn in all its pink-orange glory. It comes slowly, humbly-not at all a huge trumpeting fanfare; tenderly it comes, and should you choose not to notice, you’ll miss it. Dawn is like grace, it always comes after even the darkest night and it waits patiently for us to notice, becoming brighter so we must squint to avoid it, and then gently reaching out with those last rays as it settles into night. It reappears then in the twinkle of a million stars.

And then there is rain. Grey skies converge and rain begins to fall, pattering on the roof. It is soft at first, but comes faster and steadier and then backs off again. It is peaceful; a calm that blankets worry with a warm reassurance that all will be well when the earth’s thirst is assuaged.

Breathtaking beauty surrounded us yesterday as we hiked in Wild Basin. The wildflowers, the sharp smell of pine, the crashing water, the cooling mist, and the imagination of the Creator journeyed up the trail with us.
Pussy-toes all pink and new, tiny fairy slipper orchids and majestic columbine lined the path. Wild strawberries we had to sample even though they are not yet full and ripe. Kinnickinnic which is not only fun to say, but it has the most delicate pink flowers before it berries in later summer to bear-licious red fruit, it is one of my favorite native ground covers-it’s such a happy plant!

It was a glorious day with brilliant blue skies and of course, at the end of the hike, we HAD to go to Meadow Mountain Cafe in Allenspark and partake of divine victuals, chocolate malts not withstanding!