Mark – it only takes 2 weeks to acclimate to the elevation :) We’ll wrap you in several blankets if you ever come to visit us!

Lan – mmmm, usually :) oh, it’s always good to learn things, no?

Amy – thank you! We really love it here. We thought long and hard about where we wanted to settle down and Boulder won out by two hairs!

Tartelette – Mitchell is a gorgeous hike. We did it one morning before my girlfriend’s wedding in Asheville a few years ago. The terrain and plants are so different, but absolutely wonderful and pleasant. You’ll have to come visit me sometime in summer when the high country wildflowers are in bloom. You’ll see pics of those in a month or so – stay tuned!

Rosa – thank you :)

Abby – I knew you NC’ers would pipe up about Mitchell! That is a wonderful hike and the drive getting to the trailhead was also beautiful, as was Asheville (we were there for a wedding in April – stunning!). Colorado is waiting for you!

Amy – thanks!

Graeme – packing up the dog = gathering her leash, collapsible bowl, treats, poop bags, and dog :) She doesn’t quite fold away, rather she leaps into the back of the Subaru and cries incessantly until we reach the trailhead!

Judith – in general, it’s always about the journey up the mountain. I enjoy the east coast mountains, but I have to say that my heart belongs to the Sierra Nevada – my absolute favorite mountain range in the world. A very special place.

Zoe/puku – oh, there is a lot of urban planning in Boulder that is entirely intentional. It is a well-planned city as cities goes in this country. Yes, having been to Sydney last year, I must say there is a huge difference between my town and Sydney – although I cannot even imagine what it must have been like in Queensland! I hope you’ll survive Sydney winter!!

Peabody – thanks :)

Mrs. Ergul – it’s just a hobby of mine… I’m not so great with trees and shrubs! :)

Kitt – yeah, you guys are even warmer than we are!

Christine – ha ha ha! I’m a tool ;) Hey, there are houses for sale out here. Boulder’s winters are milder than AA!!

Astrid – oh, I sure hope you get out to see the flowers in your own neck of the woods. They must be stunning. And it is a wonderful thing to do with small children!

WoRC – yes yes! move here and we can be cooking buddies and you can protect me from ornery Viet female waitresses :) No test, just come visit!

Cindy – you guys live in a pretty sweet place. We just can’t justify spending the rest of our lives paying off a shack in the bay area and sitting in traffic for a substantial fraction of our lives :) Boulder hits the 90s in summer and we get up to the 80s (that’s hot for me) in our town, but it’s usually dry. Our summers are short, but I can’t say I’m sad about that. Usually when it cools down, I’m eying my skis daily :)

Isa – thank you, it really is a lovely place.

Maja – thanks, you are so kind. Still dealing with side effects, but the thought of not having to undergo further chemo is quite lovely. I have radiation starting soon, so don’t pop the cork just yet, sweetie!! :) xxoo

Diva – thank you!!

Andromeda – that’s really interesting about the naming convention. I first identified western wallflowers (orange) in the Sierra Nevada. I wonder if domestic versions are named differently?

Chrstina – thanks :)

DJStates – will do.

Amazing how local the weather is in Colorado. I am told that there are neighborhoods in Hawaii where moving a block can change your annual rainfall but 10s of inches. In the Midwest we get to watch the storms roll across the radar map with forecasts that say “a line of thunderstorms will hit Chelsea at 5:15, Ann Arbor at 5:35 and downtown Ypsilanti at 5:50″. Spooky for those of us who grew up with weather forecasts that were about as accurate as the Farmer’s Almanac.