Boulder County Fair Parade

The Boulder County Fair has started in Longmont. I don't have much use for the fair, such as it is, but the parade is a lot of fun.

Let the parade begin.

Many floats

The Rodeo Queen

Farm equipment galore

Goats on parade!

Horses

Truck and cow. (and people)

Lovely dancers

Dressed up children

Many firetrucks that were on display afterwards.

More great cars than I could count

Ronald McDonald (?)

Lovely horse

Another lovely horse

Draft horses hard at work

The Rocky Horror float singing Time Warp

Did I mention I'm partial to horses?

Can't have too many horse pictures

The drivers of the street sweepers were waving to the crowd.

Christmas Eve at Boulder Valley Ranch

The world is cold and overcast today, but not in a bad way. The mountains are beautiful and Boulder Valley looks good no matter what time of year it is.

This morning I went out to Boulder Valley Ranch to visit my horse, Cooper. I love going out there. It's very near Boulder yet still feels like, and preserves the illusion, that there is country land still around. The lovely black angus cattle are on the best meadow near the barn. I soon saw why. Two tiny black calves were sleeping in the midst of the many cows. It seems like calving begins earlier every year, with this season beginning before 2012 is even over with. With the front range mountains to my right, the horses to my left, a herd of cattle, and the plains stretching out to the east, I'd have to say I felt lucky to be surrounded by such beauty.

A woman I know works there taking care of the horses, so we talked for a while. I told her I was thinking of moving Cooper to a more convenient boarding facility. It's difficult for me to spend time with him since the barn has no restroom and there are no lights for evening visits. She said no I can't move him. He'd be depressed and he's too old to start over. (He's twenty) I'm glad that issue is settled.
This ranch is one of a kind and I truly do appreciate it.