a walk in the park and a mango smoothie

I am finding it truly amazing how much time it takes to unpack a single room.  I finally got enough hangers to get all of my clothes hung today and I have internet and my netflix box working again, so life is good.  I didn't actually accomplish too terribly much today, but I did enjoy a truly perfect Colorado day.  The sun was shining, the temperature was just right, and I couldn't be happier.  I have gotten somewhat acquainted with my new neighborhood and found a true Colorado treasure along the way.

Waneka Lake is a glorious little lake that is a mere block from where I am living.  The view is absolutely gorgeous with a mountain background and plenty of green everywhere.  The path around the lake is used by walkers, joggers, bikes, and everyone in between and while there were quite a few people there, it never felt overcrowded.  The playground is very quaint and in a shaded area so all of the mommas who are watching their babies play don't have to sweat too much or squint in the sun, which makes going to the park even more fun and there is a small dock for fishing, if you feel so inclined.  I, personally, have never had much need for fishing, but I did enjoy watching the fish jump while I was walking tonight.

I walked three laps around the lake, which is really only a little over three miles, but it was a glorious walk.  And the greatest part was that I got to walk with my momma.  Well actually we talked to each other on the phone while we were both walking in our respective neighborhoods, but it was nice nonetheless.  And to end a great evening, I made myself a strawberry/mango smoothie for dinner to cool off when I got back.  Smoothies are such a wonderful culinary delight and an amazing thirst quencher.  I had forgotten how quickly you dry out at altitude and have not quite been hydrating properly.

I am enjoying the mountains immensely, however, the rather abrupt change from intensely busy to suddenly being in possession of great amounts of free time has been rather strange for me.  Not only am I living in someone else's home, but I don't really know anyone else here, so I'm not going very far.  I have truly enjoyed Ron and Becky's company, but it is strange to go into a grocery store or stop by the post office and not encounter anyone that I know.  I guess that's what you get when you've lived in one place for so many years.  I cannot wait to start meeting other people at classes and church, so that I have friends that I can hang out with again.

After doing some serious job searching tomorrow, I think that I will attempt to bake something at this lovely higher elevation to see how it goes.  Becky brought home a couple of high altitude cookbooks from work today, so I will see what I can come up with.  I haven't decided for sure what I want to start off with, but a simple batch of chocolate chip cookies seems like a nice place to start.  Though I have to figure out how to learn all the fun pastry stuff that I am going to learn without getting exceptionally fat over the summer.  I would like to work towards a healthier lifestyle while I am here, but it is going to be very hard when I am surrounded by all the great food that will come my way in the time that I am here.  And hopefully baking here won't be as finicky at it seems right now.  Good thing I'm going to pastry school where Chef Amy can teach me how to do it right!