Howdy Folks!  It’s just about mid January here in Denver and that can only mean one (of many) things.  It’s Denver stock show time.  Actually, it is more than halfway though the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo here in Denver, which is why you need to go and check it out.  If you have never been to a rodeo or up close with real livestock and cowboys, then you are in for a real treat!

This is the real deal.  These animals are huge, beautiful and a bit intimidating to a city slicker like myself.  Never fear, there is always the smaller animals for the kids of the more intimidated big kids.  As far as the rodeo goes, these are the best of the best competing here.  There are rodeo’s for all types of fun, including ProRodeo featuring some of the world’s best bronco and bull riders.  This is a thrill to see live if you haven’t ever seen it.  The power of the animals is stunning and the courage and strength of the riders is awesome.  The skills of the horseback riders is amazing and of course, the clowns.  They bring us a laugh but also serve a very vital role in the protection of the cowboys.  Their courage behind the mask is incredible.

The stock show has something entertaining for everyone.  Cowboy or not, it is a lot of fun!

I have noticed in just the past few days I am receiving a large amount of traffic to my site here from search terms like, Christmas lights in Weatherstone, House in Weatherstone with Xmas Lights, Dancing Christmas Lights in Weatherstone…. and so on. And they folks are finding posts that I wrote in previous years about the spectacular home in the Weatherstone neighborhood of Highlands Ranch on Meyerwood with a fabulous Christmas lights display that is choreographed to music.

So apparently people want to know if its up again this year, 2011.

I happen to drive by the other day, during the day, and lights were in the yard. So yes, it appears to be a go.  I will make an attempt to drive by this evening and see if they are on yet. But my guess is yes.  I will update here with more info when I have it. updated – yes, the display is on & wonderful!

I will also be posting a list of other great homes in Highlands Ranch that are decked out with lights for the holidays and all over the Denver area, so watch for that too.

Here’s a link to a public youtube video that is online (I didn’t film it) of the home in Weatherstone on Meyerwood of a past year.

This labor day weekend in Denver is just about perfect!  The sun is shining, no clouds, and finally we are in the 70′s and not the upper 90′s.  What a great time to get outside and take a bike ride.  This morning I went with both of my kids on a ride along the South Platte River and into Old Town Littleton.  It was great!

The Old Mill Brewery seen coming up the trail into Old Town Littleton.

Lilly Ponds with lots of frogs along the Old Town trail.

Hard to tell from this picture, but these are giant pumpkins in a huge pumpkin patch along the South Platte Trail in the Hudson Garden’s Pumpkin Patch!

Of course, you can always stop for a refreshing coffee or cold drink at the coffee shop along the South Platte Trail just on the back side of Hudson Gardens.

So whatever you decided to do this Labor Day weekend, I really hope it was fun and relaxing.  Now it’s time to enjoy the fall here in Colorado.  I can’t wait to start to see all the fall colors, but I will miss the summer, that’s for sure.

New Park is Ready for you in Highlands Ranch

I love all the parks, trails and wonderful outdoor amenities provided in Highlands Ranch. It is one of the reasons I really enjoy living here and so do thousands of others.  The Highlands Ranch Metro District takes such care and pride in providing outstanding amenities, and the newest addition is well underway and should be a true gem!

The Fly’N B Park in the very west side of the ranch is almost ready. The plans for development of the area have been underway for quite some time, and the physical development is close to complete, for the most part. IN fact, when I first heard about the development at Fly ‘N Bee Ranch, I wrote about it.  The Fly’N B Park is a
|hidden getaway tucked in along the Highline Canal Trail and just adjacent to the Windcrest Development along C470 and Santa Fe.

There are crushed gravel trails that loop around the park which are easy to walk along and plenty of trees and shade for the hot summer days.  Bring a picnic lunch and your fishing poles!  The park has many tables to sit and relax as well as a covered picnic shelter and fishing dock, complete with outdoor grills.  Never fear, there is a permanent port a potty as well!

Highlands Ranch has done another awesome job of developing a hidden treasure for folks to get out and enjoy. At this time, there is still part of the park to complete and I don’t know if the pond is stocked, but once it is all finished it will be great.  You can still visit and enjoy the park at this time as well as the incredible views from the trails on the west side of the park.

If you live in Highlands Ranch or you may be considering living here, this community has a lot to offer and I would love to help you discover it.  Give me a call or email and let me know how I can help.