Life In Westcliffe

It Takes Effort to Blog

2015-02-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

There was not much discussion about whether we'd get another dog after all "four" of our beloved shorthairs were gone. The boss man emphatically said we would never be without a dog. So with very little persuasion I adopted Miss Milly!

This is the photo that got my attention.

We rescued her from this organization. They have mostly puppies, with a few adult dogs, which Milly is. She's two-ish, she has been in two foster homes, has had a litter of puppies and came from New Mexico, where? We have no idea and know nothing of her life there. We suspect certain things that may have gone on.

Example: She is scared of my closet or the mirrored doors.
She has a wall built around her (big surprise)! So
guessing HUGE trust issues. Maybe physical, I hope
not.
Doubtful I'll be able to groom her, however she loves
when I brush her.

At the petco where we adopted her.

Here she is at home.

Nope not spoiled!

I've taken hundreds of photos of her in just a month. Soooo while I'm waiting for the big storm to hit… I think I'll work on an album of photos of her.

Back by popular demand

2015-02-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

I use to write a post almost every day, then it became a couple time a week, to maybe a couple times a month. So much has changed and very little has changed, at the same time. I spend most of my time in Denver these days. Why?… you would ask, being the most beautiful place on earth, or at least one of them. I could given reasons and or excuses, either would work. Lets just say I need or want the connivence's of city life. Westcliffe is a beautiful place and I always thought I'd live there till I died and that could still happen, but right now I feel more comfortable here in Denver. That being said and combined with declining health issues, sometimes I just want to be close to medical treatment if needed. We've made that horrible trip to Canon City for medical help one to many times for my liking. Ok… Well whats new? First and foremost, we laid Dude to Rest in January. He passed on December 28th. Steve was with him till the end. He took a long walk in the am and must have suffered a stroke for he was gone by early evening. He died peacefully on his own, in Steve's arms.

Looking at this photo you can see we're back in the chicken/egg business. We have 5 australorps. They all look alike, so we just call them "you chicks" or "you digging bitches". They are free range most of the day and they dig like hogs. They are pretty spoiled, so don't let the "bitches" word worry you. We love them. They are actually almost a year old and haven't been great laying hens until recently, then of course today, we got one egg. "Bitches"! lol My vision has changed yet again and my ease of typing is none existent. My arms or to long or to short, so constantly moving to find the sweet spot of comfort. Ok gonna let this post go. Come back for additional photos of a new family member.

What a treat!

2014-01-08T10:55:00.000-07:00

there is a long story about my right shoulder to go along with these photos. lol another time. blogger might want to consider a microphone option for composing.

Double Rainbow

2013-09-23T18:19:00.003-06:00

Taken on the first day of fall. Once in a life time experience. Words can't describe the few minutes it lasted and this wasn't the best of it. It took me several attempts to capture this and it was on my cell phone. Amazing!

I miss blogging

2013-06-27T16:01:00.003-06:00

So I'm starting one that pertains to living in Denver. I'll let all five of you know when it's up and running.

News on Westcliffe, it's dry, I think worse than last year. We're on a stage II fire ban. I read it was 98 degrees there today. I've never experienced those temps down there and I hope it never gets that hot there again.

Get it right!

2013-03-13T15:54:00.002-06:00

Colorado Pronunciation Guide Click on the link to the left for an interesting article.

I've gotten so, so bad at blogging! It just seems nothing is new. We still visit WC about every ten days for a few days each time. I still take photos, but unless it's different or unique in some way you've seen it all.

We continue to worry about the lack of consistent moisture, which increases the risk of fire exponentially.

Our "deer friends" continue to visit and without a doubt is always a highlight of our visits. My fave is "Q-T-Pie".

She "QT" didn't come around our last visit, hope to see her next time! "Boy" had left for a while but he's back. It's third year for him. No new photo's of him, and he's lost his rack.

Dude our beloved dog and last of the 4, is suffering from arthritis and is having some trouble getting around, it won't be long......sniff!!

A new year

2013-01-19T19:14:00.003-07:00

My blogging has come to a screeching halt, in part because of FB, in part cause our internet service has been stinking and I hate posting when I get back to Denver about our time that's usually days past. For years I was able to do with relative ease and speed. Had a chat with our wireless carrier and today it's tolerable. Kinda sad, don't ya think!

Anyway this year started out with some excitement, I for the first time in many years actually stayed awake! It was overcast, so we couldn't see the Adaman, Pikes Peak Fireworks, but we did however think for a moment that the aliens were coming to get us.

Well I wasn't to concerned, but it did give us a bit of a thrill when we saw two rather large red lights coming our way right at midnight. SRC noticed them out the south windows as I was looking for fireworks out the north windows. We watched and surmised that some folks had set free two of those Chinese lanterns, rather large ones, great idea by the way.

Last week I got the worst stomach flu of my life! Ended up in the hospital for a few days and still not right yet. Hope it's my quota for the year. It really, really scares me to be in WC when that happens, bad enough in Denver when I'm only 10 minutes from the hospital! It was not fun!

On to things that make me happy...

I took a whole bunch of photos and a few turned out ok.

I shot all these through the windows, see the reflection on this last photo, I find if I zoom I can eliminate some of the glare, but then you don't see the whole photo or how we're really seeing them.

Ok, I'm done for a couple months. Someone slammed on the brakes.

Seven years later

2012-10-25T18:53:00.001-06:00

Off they go!

Our first over-night visitors in newly remodeled cabin

A special girl visits 7 years later

Fall is in the air

2012-10-05T12:45:00.000-06:00

Not a crystal clear photo, unfortunately, still lots of color, as you can see. The town trees also still some green to change to that beautiful golden yellow. It's cooled down to near perfect conditions, cool (well cold) 25 degrees this morning! Day time temps a delight. Firewood cutting season.

The cabin is done except for clean up and window coverings.

The stone work behind the our wood stove is now finished. SRC is happy for that to be behind him and so am I. We had purchased the stone 3 years ago and he was going to do a much larger project so lots of rock left, hum where will we put it?

That sucker was cooking this morning! Some of our "found" objects on the mantel, we both enjoy looking for them in our travels.

Dark-eyed "Gray-Headed" Junco was saved, by me, after flying into the window yesterday. Heck I have to do my part somehow.

On a personal note, I finally can walk without pain! It's been nearly 4 years since I've been able to say that. I had a cyst removed from the bottom of my foot in July. This is the 4th consecutive year I've had foot surgery. My RA dr. along with the surgeon that did the 3 previous surgeries all thought it was a callous. Longer story about all the other foot surgeries, but this has been there in some form or another for that long!
Really? Unbelievable really!

Also I finally got an Macbook Air and struggling to get use to it. I love the lightness of it, my Hp weighed a ton. Glad I didn't wait till I lost all my marbles before making the switch to apple. There's a few things I'm having trouble getting use to, but with time I'm sure I will love all it's features.

Will be in Florida with my Sister and Brother soon!!! There could be a post or two before then.

Carlene

2012-08-27T13:53:00.001-06:00

My best friend..I've known since 1984, FINALLY made it to WC with me. Unbelievable that it's taken 8 or 9 years to get her here. We have shared many a fun time. I love her to death.

At the castle! LOL

What a moment

2012-08-14T20:51:00.000-06:00

It's been five weeks since I've been down to Westcliffe. Might be one of the longest jags that I've been away. The weather has changed for the better, as we now seem to be into what I would call normal conditions for August, that being, clouds in the afternoon and then a brief shower, then cooling off for the evening, sun often coming out for a beautiful sunset and maybe a rainbow.

We had a nice rain yesterday, (maybe 1/10 inch) and during dinner this little one showed up with her mama and a couple other gals. This is the same fawn that SRC photographed in previous post. You can only imagine how excited I was. I've waited years for that moment! I honestly never thought I'd see one in "spots" on our property that I could actually take photos of.

A few other photos I took on the way to town to get eggs.

This is the little ones three year old brother, we call him Boy. I think I'll name the fawn "Spots", as we don't really know the sex. SRC says it's a female, in either case "Spots" will work.

Took the above on our way out this morning at 6:30am. .

The three above were taken on OCG detour through Canon, as highway 67 is closed.

Someone got lucky!

2012-07-03T10:19:00.000-06:00

I can't take all the credit for the above photo, however I can take some. SRC took this shot after I had called him to say I had seen the little fellow down the hill from our place (pictured below). I had headed out early on the 3rd to go back to Denver.

It was early in the morning and I stupidly had packed my camera in the trunk of my car!!! How many times have I told myself to always be camera ready!!! I still wouldn't have gotten this adorable photo, because when I saw him or her she was with her mama, scampering around. I did call SRC to let him know they might be headed his way and to be on the look out, that where I get credit.

I had to leave a message and thank heavens he listened to it, for a little later he heard a coyote, yipping. Off he went with his gun to check it out. Almost stepped on the sweet thing, he passed that close. So off he went to exchange gun for camera.
He hadn't moved and didn't moved, not even an eyelash!

Dude was with SRC and he also got pretty darn close. We're thinking. mama somehow got him to stay and NOT MOVE, we also think that.. at that age they must be scent free, or Dude surely would have scared him off. Dude never saw him, the fawn was that still. How does the mama convey to her young to lay down and not move!

Anyway SRC got a few good photos and felt he was probably safe for the time being. Circled the property and no coyote. I pray the mama came back and that all is well. It's the best we can do, is pray for these beautiful creatures. He also was heading back to Denver that same day.

He doesn't relax often, always busy, busy! Still has things to do in the cabin, but this particular two day trip he took it easy.

As the whole world knows we've had fires in the state of Colorado, bad fires, unforgettable fires! Thus far Custer County has been on high alert and anything that has popped up has been controlled quickly! Above is a short rain fall or better defined as Virga. Since we have had heavier rains and the extreme fire danger has been lifted. Thanks Mother Nature for the gift of rain.

This handsome buck I saw after I stopped and got my camera.

Also saw this horse who wasn't where he should be, but no doubt he found his way home.

Scary

2012-07-02T14:33:00.000-06:00

As I sit here and write, the clouds are rolling in, but so is the wind. It offers relief from the heat, one might think there would be rain in them thar clouds, we've yet to see it. Neighbor says it's been 3 weeks since last moisture hit the ground in our neck of the woods plus it's been baking hot! It cools off so nice once the sun goes down and by morning it's lovely sleeping temperature, but of course, then it's time to get up.

It looks like it's not moving but it is and making power.

As the whole world knows, fires have been raging in Colorado this year, with unprecedented damage. I've heard and I also believe, it will be the trend in our future. Climate Change is inevitable.

Are we ready for it? As ready as we can be.

Not sure if you can see the mowed versus not mowed very well since it's all basically brown and shades of tan.

On a personal level, we do what we can to protect ourselves and our beautiful location, here in Westcliffe.

SRC has mowed and trimmed a large perimeter around the barn. On special request he has left some color for me.

Chinchweed?? and honey bee

SCARLET GLOBEMALLOW see link

Of course our major concern is when nature strikes (lightning). Human negligence also weighs heavy on our minds. As we approach the 4th of July we can only hope for the best with the visitors who will travel through and camp in the area.

On the broader scale, our we as a nation ready for climate change, I think NOT!

Just the Family (memorial weekend)

2012-05-27T14:38:00.000-06:00

Old fatty not doing so well at wind surfing.

Drew was really catching the wind. there is more weight to catch with him, honest!

On the leash with Gage, not working so swell.


Removing the least was no problem so far. He is a smart and very good listener of NO!

Smokey from New Mexico fires.

Taken near the entrance to the ranch we live on.


Water is running over the top.

My handsome son!

Seeing is believing

2012-04-27T09:16:00.000-06:00

After reading the about the destruction from the Nov 12th 2011 Wind Storm in this weeks tribune we took a drive over to Gibson trail head to have a look. As you can see from the small sample of photos I took trees were snapped and uprooted all over the place. From the article it may never be the same, hikers, horseback riders, campers and fisherman will be very disappointed this year. Lot of work will need to be done to restore the trails back to the condition they were in before mother nature got to blowing.

Walking from one downed tree to another, the walk wasn't far.

The clear cutting in photos below, not far from above, were not the result of mother nature and for the life of me can't figure out why someone would intentionally scare the earth like that. I need to understand!

Lake DeWeese at a distance.

Golden-mantled ground squirrel

Humidity

2012-04-10T18:10:00.001-06:00

It was foggy this morning can you believe it. Seems like years since I've seen fog. I could feel a bit of dampness in the air, but no rain.

A long battle

2012-04-04T14:33:00.000-06:00

My mom passed April 2 @ 9:22. She went somewhat peacefully and I believe she is in a better place wherever that may be. I choose to believe she is back in the loving arms of my father. The last few years were rough on her, as it was for all of the family. She will be missed and the better memories are slowly replacing some of the not so good ones. Mom had a strong heart till the end, always was one looking out for the less fortunate. She gave her heart and soul to the women and men in her water aerobics class, which she instructed for 20+ years. She crocheted blankets for the families of newborns at the church she belonged to, somewhere in the hundred plus range. These are just two things that come to mind at the moment.

The differences she and I might have had over the years was just that, differences. It says nothing about the kind of person she was and always would have been there for me, not always emotionally, but I was guilty of that as well. She did the best she could and that is good enough! Will miss you mom, so glad you were able to meet Gage. Drew will always remember that day.

As things start to settle down, we will be returning to WC to finish the guest cabin and get back to the serenity that it offers. Heard we had a foot plus of snow yesterday. What a blessing and relief. Anxious to see thing greening up, throw in a few wildflowers and I'm be a happy camper.

As old Arnold would say. "I'll be back"

Our new Grandpup

2012-03-11T06:38:00.000-06:00

Three of a litter of 11.

The one that picked Drew for his papa.

I promise Dad I'll behave. Took mom along to pick up the pup. She did well on the ride but it all broke loose a couple hours after we got home. Think it was a bad idea to take her out. She looks beautiful and was content for a few hours.

Looks like Drew is saying, come on dog lets get in the house! lol Brooke probably thinking maybe a potty break is in order.

Life in Westcliffe

2012-03-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

Life in Westcliffe as we know it is on hold for the time being. Caring for my mom at our Denver home. Hope to be back soon.

Will my memory allow me to pick up where I left off?

2012-02-25T08:19:00.001-07:00

Oh dear, had we made it to Florida on the last post? Well I'll start at that point anyway. I think we were there for 2 or 3 days before my feet hit the beach.

The first was a short visit, think we may have been parked illegally or something. Gathered a few shells for my son, talked someone into to snapping a photo of my Aunt Shirley and I, then we were off to my Uncle's for the remainder of the afternoon.
I hate to admit my uncle was a hoarder, we had an inkling that he was, but nothing could have prepared one for the shock, the reality that he was indeed a hoarder, and none of us knew the extent. Not sure I want to go into detail, nor does it matter. I came home and wanted to donate or trash everything I own.
My second trip to the beach I spent an hour by myself just sitting, taking it in, the waves the smells, the birds are calming for me.

Have no idea who the little boy was or the couple who nearly got shat on.

Time was running out for a sunset visit and I'd have been upset beyond belief if I hadn't gotten to see one. I think we picked the right evening to go.

I ended up flying back to Denver because my mom wasn't doing well, had been in the hospital and 3 more days on the road, just would have done me in. My sister and I were off to the races once I arrived home. It will be another post on the quality of care our elders get. My mom keeps telling me don't get old and I'm taking it to heart. If you are one of the unlucky ones to not have family to watch out for you it's unbelievable what goes on, unbelievable what goes on even if you do.

Where do I start?

2012-02-13T05:53:00.002-07:00

The month of January is over and it's been a doozy! My uncle Bob passed on January 6th (mom's brother). He died at the Bay pines VA medical center in Florida where he was being cared for by their hospice team. He was 80 yrs old and had suffered for some time before his death.

Uncle Bob was very much a part of SRC and I ending up in Colorado. We both were unemployed back in 1981 and he had offered for us to visit him in Colorado, we both found work, and after seeing a bit of the landscape we decided it might be a good place to come, and glad we did!

Bob returned to Florida in the late 80's and we really didn't have much communication with him until he ventured back to Colorado while we were in the early stages of building our place in Westcliffe. He spent time with my dad and SRC here on the ranch, helping when he could and just enjoying himself. He loved his time here and it was his wish to recover enough to come back. Obviously that didn't happen before his death but it was also his wish to have his ashes spread here, which sometime in the future we will oblige his wishes.

I being his executor of his estate, felt somewhat of an obligation to finalize his business in Florida, so off we went. We drove and left the morning of January 13th, with Dude in tow. We stopped two nights and were lucky to have good weather the whole way there.

Some of the highlights along the way were the Steamboat Warehouse where we had a delicious lunch.

Then we were on to New Orleans!

We crossed the Atchafalaya Basin via the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge which is a pair of parallel bridges in Louisiana between Baton Rouge and Lafayette. it's total length 18.2 miles, it is the fourteenth longest bridge in the world by total length.

We arrived in New Orleans just before dark, so we elected to forgo getting out of the truck, but drove through the heart of the city.

Back on the road.

To be continued....

Lookin for shade today!

2012-01-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

It was unseasonably warm here today, as it was in all the wrong parts of the country. But for a day or two we'll take it. Snow is mostly gone off the mountains, not good! It should be thick with snow by now. Snowboarders and skiers are bummed and they won't be alone come next spring and summer if the mountains don't get more snow. I know it's coming, I'll be patient.

Would you look at our boy Dude, he found the only shady spot and camped there awhile, as SRC was fitting in the last board.

Yep, it will hold us!

All screwed down.

Time to enjoy, well someone still needs to do the steps, railing and weather coat, then it's move inside and work a bit. Maybe when the snow is flying.

The day is done!

2012-01-04T23:00:00.008-07:00

More than half where there.

Note SRC is working in short sleeves! It was so warm today, crazy

You really need to see it to feel the beauty, How many years have we been here and I still can't name the peaks!

New years day wasn't the greatest. The Bronco's and Tebow lost but still acquired the AFC title because of the loss by the Raiders, so we get another chance Sunday to see if the Tebow magic will reappear. He's a magical kinda of guy, it helps that's he so darn cute!

Shortly after the game was over, I'm thinking I don't feel so well, a couple hours later that would be an understatement. I've never had an official diagnosis, even though I've had hospital intervention 5 maybe six time over the last ten years. I'm guessing I had picked up the Norovirus, yet again! Let me tell you I hope they find a vaccine, or at best, something to easy the symptoms soon!

With having a weakened immune system I'm guessing maybe I experience it worse than the some 20 million people that also contract this horrible illness each year. This session, again, took us by way of the RTH, to Canon the following morning, but after spending 1 1/2 hours in the waiting room I was feeling well enough to leave without treatment. Can we all say YEAH! Key for me as well as anyone else, is keep the fluids coming whether you can keep it down or not! Remember your not going to die and most important wash your hands till the skin falls off and make bleach your new best friend, if it isn't already!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes blogging feels like work!

2011-12-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Need to make use of good weather, so moved lumber Christmas day.

To heavy to lift without help and I'm no help.

I know he's thinking, "wish the deck was done".

Moving it a little bit at a time. Guess that's how stonehedge got moved, a little bit at a time.

All most off the six wheeler.

Glad that's done.

Laid out, getting fastened as this is being posted.

While the cat was away this cutie showed up. Another cutie behind her.

Wish we could find some of these broken off antlers. He's mean looking like that.