Winter came early......

It was a beautiful fall day for the Smashing Pumpkins pickleball tournament.   He played well but didn't bring home a pumpkin.    

Meanwhile, we watched in concerned fascination as fire clouds rose up one afternoon.    The fire was actually quite far away (the San Juan mountains are a bit over an hour away and the fire was another hour past that).    But it still looked ominous and fortunately, it burned remote areas and now is almost contained.    But on the Front Range the horrific fires continue .    The pine beetle has done a lot of damage in Colorado and the dead pines and debris and the lingering severe drought are very concerning.    

And then it snowed.     And it is cold.    It was 10 degrees this morning and we had 7 inches on surfaces and 10 inches on the grasses.    It is beautiful and will hang around a few days until we see  a return to normal fall weather.    But we certainly need the moisture.  

Roses ....... 

AND, I now have a bike riding partner.    He bought a Trek Versa 3 e-bike on Saturday.    Mine is having regular maintenance done so we haven't been out for a ride together.    But I'm planning hilly rides !   

 And I continue to read.....  Just started "Piranesi".... it's a bit strange but I'm early into it.    It came highly recommended on a couple of book lists I follow.     And I'm loving "The Once and Future Witches".   I'm listening to it while I knit and the writing/story is imaginative and rich.     In between , I read a few of Amy Harmon's books..... quick reads with historical context and free on Kindle Unlimited.   

The virus is rapidly increasing around here.     Our neighbor , 2 doors down, has it.     So far, she's miserable but OK.   But her husband has health issues so we worry.    And she played cards and mah jongg every week so others are concerned.    Schools are still open altho bus service stopped because bus drivers were positive.    The Rec center  increased it's number of participants which seems strange but they say they are following guidelines.      We'll continue our boring hibernation and be thankful we like each other's company.     

Colorful October

The days go on and for that I am grateful.....but it's getting really old.   We have it so much better than much of the country and I can't imagine how so many directly affected by this can hang on.   My heart hurts for our country and I can only hope that in a few short months, we will see a bright light at the end of this dark and dangerous tunnel.     I'm cheered by the record number of voters showing up and voting early.   

Meanwhile, I enjoy flowers from the grocery and liked these autumn colors.    They last forever or until I shop again.    

I tried to organize my recipes and look for something different to cook.    I tried the ground fake beef and found that it browned up just like regular ground beef....But, it didn't smell at all when I opened the package ( I've found that my smell buds think real meat has a strong foul odor).    Beyond Beef has a high fat count ( as does their sausage) and I always precook it and drain thoroughly).     It has a higher protein than I expected, probably from peas.    

So, I cooked it up and combined it with lentils, peas and carrots , and topped it with mashed potatoes for a  tasty shepard's pie.    I made the best mushroom gravy (vegan and fat free) and it gave us a couple meals.    Later, I used the remainder of the ground 'beef' for enchiladas.   

   

For whatever reason, my roses have come out of their slump and are looking prolific and healthy.   I guess they heard my threat of chopping them all down.    Maybe it's the cooler weather.   

 Two days after I took this picture, the winds came in and the tree is now bare.   Meanwhile, the guy in the red shirt, lurking around the corner, has power washed all the driveways, patios and walks and then gave them two coats of a clear finish.  Many of our neighbors (and us ) do this every couple years.   It looks fresh and new.   

Otherwise, fall has been lovely, the golf is frustrating and we continue to isolate.     We have finalized plans to return to Wickenburg Ranch in a different rental from last year.    I think we can stay isolated as easily there as here but  importantly, there  is the opportunity to be outside.    Golf and bike riding and daily walks on the many trails will keep us active.   

We miss our kids, grandkids and traveling to be with them.    The holidays will be lonely but the risks seem too great to consider changing our minds.   

Fall days....

This kinda sums up the Bronco's year so far.          The blow-up Bronco man has had issues the last few years....not sure if it's a slow leak or just old age.....he's about 12 years old and his skin is crinkly and yellowing ( as one does ).   

We managed to tie him to the garage door but ......... we'll try again on Sunday. 

  If you chop a lot of veggies, you need this little gadget.    Jenna first gifted me one and I was hooked.   It chops veggies quickly and easily in two different sizes.    I managed to break the first one using it on the granite and whacking the chopping lid down hard....my 2nd one sits on a cutting board to absorb the blows.       I make my 'chili' every 5-6 days and we have it for lunch, Every. Single. Day.    I chop up the sweet potatoes, onion, yukon potatoes, add black, red and cannellini beans, corn,  Rotel, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, veggie broth and Taco seasoning and let it cook in the Instapot for 12 min and call it done.   Great over rice, pasta, various noodles or plain.   

And when he's not coming in 2nd in the Pickleball round robin tournament  ( in 3.5 division and being the oldest ), or not golfing or bike riding , he's busy in the garage making this perfect rolling door / bookshelf for an upstairs closet with no door ( not sure why but it came that way).    He can fix most anything....even me , sometimes... 

I explored a new bike route today.    I had to cross a large field on a dirt path.   The path was soft deep dirt and was easy to bogged down in.    The advantage of a pedal assist bike is that I put it in the first assist and it helps me move faster through it.   I didn't enjoy it at all but it got me to a straight long country road with a serious hill.    I made it up the hill (breathing very hard and relieved  to reach the top) and then had to come down which I don't like doing...... too steep for my taste but I have good brakes on the bike.    I also managed to hit over 500 miles on the odometer.   I've had the bike a year and about 350 of those miles have been this summer. 

 

And, I've been reading ..... Ken Follett wrote a prequel to his "Pillars of the Earth" trilogy.   It's over 900 pages,  " The Evening and the Morning", and got good reviews.    I know that I am a book snob (and a yarn snob) but I like rich writing.   And this is not that.   It's a good story but simply written and a quick read.    I just finished "The Vanishing Half" and give it 5 stars.    Excellent in every way.   My favorite of the summer is still " Hamlet" and I plan to reread it.      I'm still reading "The Warmth of Other Suns" but it is a bit of a slower read..... and very well written.  

Our leaves are turning, our days are shorter, fall is in the air and the hummingbirds have started their long journey south.    And it's perfect biking weather.    

  

  

Where are all the old people??

We spent a few days over at Dead Horse Point State Park.....less than  4 hours away in Utah.   I wrote about our trip there last September.    It is a perfect time of year,  not too cool but not too hot.    We like the hiking along the East and West Rim trails.      Mostly, you follow cairns along the the red dirt or the slick rock.    Sometimes, driftwood lines the path.  This cairn was more artistic than most.      It is an adventure playing 'I Spy' with the cairns and a few times we wandered astray.  But it's impossible to get lost  as there is an impressive canyon on one side and a road a mile or so  on the other.   The West Rim is the path less traveled but the views are as spectacular as the East Rim.    Both will take you out to the Point for a panoramic view of the canyon and the mighty Colorado River.   

The trails are not easy  but not overly rugged either altho there is some clamoring up and down from slick rock and hiking poles are helpful .    Hiking boots with rugged soles help hug the uneven surfaces and sharper angles.   The elevation is about 6,000 ft, the same as here at home.     It usually took us 2-3 hours to wander along.  

We also did a shortish Jeep trip.   The ATV's, dirt bikes and Jeeps are constants on the trails.   Busy and dusty.    

 Since it was the weekend, we expected some crowds.   The Visitor Center was busy as was the Point but otherwise, it was mostly just us out there.      It was gratifying to see the younger hikers don masks when they approached us, as we did or we stepped far off the trail to let them pass.      One guy said " Hi Kids"

The entire time we were there, at the campground or on the trails, we saw no people of our vintage.   Yes, there were 60ish grey hairs but we saw no old people.  And I would have noticed because I looked for someone of our decade.        Come on Seniors, get out there and show the  youngsters what we're still capable of !!     Mother Nature has all the safe adventures we need.    

We've got some more trips we'd like to take.    We had trips planned for this summer but it was just too hot.    Now we'll have a limited window to get out before it really cools off.   

We're both reading "The Warmth of Other Suns" about the Black Migration to the north.   It reads like a novel and not a history book.    I just finished "Hamnet" and plan to reread it.   Shakespeare, marriage, Black Death and grief.... a brilliant read.    And my list of 'to-be-read' grows.   

But now it's football season and our hope springs eternal that the Broncos will make us happy once again.!!

I'm ready for better days.....

 Colorado is burning.     Glenwood Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in our state.   It follows the Colorado River as it winds it's way westward.     This mighty river carved a deep narrow canyon in  15 miles of raw beauty.     The highway in the Canyon is a major east/west route. It was a remarkable  engineering feat to construct a two lane interstate concrete ribbon through the narrow pass without destroying or detracting from the best of nature.   

This is the very beginning of the fire.    These two avid hikers were tubing on the Colorado and saw the fire and smoke.   They saw fire trucks racing to the site but it was already consuming large pine swaths.  And so it began..... they think it was from a cigarette thrown from a car window.    We are in a severe drought and this was all it took.     Over one week later, the fire is not contained and 1-70 remains closed. 

   

This is the view south.    Normally, the San Juan mountains are clearly visible and the Colorado blue sky dominates.    There is another  very large fire, out of control as well,  about 1.5 hours north of us and between the two, we are smothered in smoky haze. 

Yesterday, we went Jeeping up Corkscrew Pass.    It was hazy at 12.000 ft as well.    It looked so dry everywhere.    Last year we had record snows and this year, not much.     It is sad.

I finished "Migrations".   It is a somber,  complex novel.   I feel I should reread it but right now, I need something a bit lighter.    I'm also listening to "Children of God", the sequel to "Sparrow".    I'm thinking that listening is better than reading it.   The narrator is good with the various dialects.   

  On our return from the mountains yesterday, we stopped at our favorite restaurant in Ridgeway.  (Believe it or not, this was the FIRST food not made in our kitchen since we returned from AZ in March).   Taco del Gnar makes tacos that are nothing like what you think.    They had window service only, masks required and they wiped the IPad after each signature.    We threw out all of our thoughts of  plant based food and indulged.    The tacos we ordered are a soft flour tortilla, filled with greens, pico, red peppers ( I think) and marinated portobello mushroom slices.    All dampened with queso fresco,   It is served with tater tots with more pico and queso and a container of smoky baked beans.    We sat in the park and ate our drippy delicious meal.    Of course, there a lot of meat/fish  based tacos.    Normally, there are great concerts in the park in the summer.    We pick up our dinners and find the perfect spot to listen and enjoy the summer evenings.    Not normal any more..... but the tacos are as great as ever.    In case you are in your 2nd home in Telluride, there is a Taco del Gnar there as well....a block from the ski lift.  

I should be out walking and biking but the smoke is irritating and I'm not sure it is wise.    I feel like it is winter and we are confined.   

To all my blogger friends.    For quite awhile, 6 months or more, I haven't been able to comment on your blogs.  I still follow all of you and I have tried and will keep trying.  I type out my comments and they never show up.    I'm doing it the way I've always done it.    I suspect it is operator error but if you have suggestions, I will listen.     Anyway,  I'm still enjoying all you have to say.    

Colorado is beautiful.....

Today, I played golf with 3 friends at The Divide Ranch Golf Club.    It's about a 40 min drive  up to 8000 ft on the top of a mesa, Log Hill.   The views of the San Juan Mountains are stunning.    We seriously looked for a home here when we found that Florida, in the summer was not an option.    Ultimately, we decided that the altitude would be difficult for any guests and that there was going to be a 40 min drive to play pickleball and get groceries.   

It's more of a rustic , natural course with serious hills and valleys.   If you miss the fairway, there is no mercy.    I was pleased with my efforts on the back 9...the front was forgettable.    One fairway is called the Plunge and it lives up to it's name as you need to work your way downward until you come to a shelf .   You then hit down to the green.    If you miss the 'shelf', you end up on a very steep incline covered with tall weeds.   It is difficult to stand comfortably not to mention trying to hit a ball.   Luckily, I landed on the shelf so didn't have to mimic a goat.    

  It was in the 90's and clear so the UV index was about 20 !   I covered up with sunscreen, a hat, a UV shirt and still came home wiped out and feeling fried.   

The air is hazy these days due to wild fires north of us.    They are not contained and have closed I-70 in all directions.   There are no easy options to get around, all requiring a few hundred miles detour.  

 This is Mt Sneffles, a fourteener and always a focal point from our back yard.   That's my friend Marcia.  She is always coordinated in hat/shoes/ colors.... she even had pink golf balls until she lost them (she didn't play well )

The deer have no fear.   Many of the lovely mountain homes have very high fencing to keep them out. 

On another day, we headed over to Silver Jack Lake to meet up with friends for a socially distanced picnic.    So good to catch up in a safe and beautiful setting.   Coming back down the trail, we encountered this walking roadblock.   They were in no hurry.   

Meet Murphy.   He lives in CT with our favorite teenage boys.    He is not yet a year old.    And yes, he is a lab/pit mix but is small and seemingly docile.    Andy describes him as the "wallflower of dogs".   He clocks in more miles than most people on the Strava app along with his walking /hiking family.  

And, he's a generous grand dog, sending me these sox so I won't forget him. 

  

And speaking of socks, this is my latest version.   And the yarn is dyed so both socks will exactly match.   The next ones are even more colorful...stay tuned.   

 

 

 I somehow managed to rearrange pics, thx Robbie.   It's still time consuming but these days, I have lots of that.  

Life is good.....considering....

The new Blogger format is challenging and it will take awhile to figure out it's quirks.   One of which is that I can't put the pics where I want them....so I will have to narrate around that annoyance.  

We've been biking more.    Jeff and Jon introduced me to the Strava app.   It allows me to keep track of my mileage and to share it with others.     It's also a good motivator to get moving, biking, hiking, walking, swimming, Jeeping so you can show others that you are not just sitting on the couch eating Cheetos.   ( I love the crunchy Cheetos but alas, haven't had one in forever)    And we can give each other kudos and comments.   I also share with a couple of friends.   

This was today's ride on the Montrose bike path and around the neighborhood.    

'

The Bike path is a real gem for Montrose. .   It's been newly upgraded and lengthened and is busy with walkers, joggers, strollers, bikers of all ages.   It follows the Uncompaghre River and there has been a big investment to make a portion of it a safe recreational area for kayakers and water enthusiasts with added picnic areas and playgrounds. 

 Just finished reading "Sparrow".   Interesting premise of 4 Jesuit priests who take a 17 year journey to another solar system.  It is a good sci fi read but also a compelling examination of faith.   I'm taking a break before I continue with the sequel.     Thx, Jan.   

I just started "Migrations" , a highly anticipated novel (according to reviews) about a woman chasing the arctic tern before it is extinct.   So far, she's in Greenland in the winter and I get cold just reading it.  

I finished the 2nd book in a trilogy by Hilary Mantel,  "Wolf Hall' the first, then "Bring Up the Bodies" and the 3rd just came out, "The Mirror and the Light".    All based on Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell.   Historical novels are a favorite, especially British.     I just read that Ken Follett has a prequel to "Pillars of the Earth".    I read that many years ago and all I remember is they kept trying to build  those cathedrals and then some marauders would burn down their efforts and they'd start again.    

The expression, "so many books, so little time"... is beginning to be my mantra.   My list keeps growing.

I need to keep reading because I certainly am not a gardener.   My roses are non existent.    I feed them, I prune them correctly, the sprinklers work and yet, they seem stunted with withered blooms or none at all.   I assume something is eating them or infecting them.   I use a recommended feed that is supposed to take care of all those issues.    I'm tempted to prune them down to the ground and let them have a rest until next year.   I have 10 bushes and each year they flourish without a problem.  Frustrating....

In order to improve my golf game.... ( the amount of money you put into golf is not reflected in a better score)....I got a new driver.    Well, it's not new new but just used enough to drop the price by half.   The Pro Shop always has the latest and greatest to demo and I've been trying the Callaway Maverick.   I definitely get longer and straighter drives but I wasn't willing to pay $$$.   I learned in my research that the Maverick is the same as last years Epic and I could get it at a used price much cheaper from Callaway Pre-owned .....   I'm very happy with it.     Now if I could putt.   

Lots of building going on around here.    Our Club ordered name tags for us since there are a lot of new people and .......masks😷 !      I made a couple more today.   I'm always trying a new pattern or a different layering or something.      We are mandated to wear them in Colorado...finally.     Some of the bikers on the path today were wearing them.    I don't feel I need to when I'm outside and distanced but I always have one with me.  

For over 6 months, I have doubled down on healthy eating.    For about 6 years, we have been meat and dairy free, eating a plant based diet.     Laziness had brought in some processed foods and that nagging person  in my head was not happy with that.    So, I got serious and reset my intentions and surprisingly, the pounds fell off.    I am back in a healthy groove and now have a new ( old ) wardrobe.     I haven't worn some of these clothes for about 10 years and my closet is getting a good re-organization.   Of course, now I have no place to go to wear any of them and I had to buy more comfortable leggings and T-shirts to match my current stay-at-home lifestyle.  But someday,..........

Time to get on the bike and ride............

Hollyhocks

 We donned our antennae and played our best in the annual Lady Bug golf tournament.   It's a popular Cobble Creek event and draws women from around the western slope.    This year, the numbers were down but the enthusiasm was high.    We had fun,  met  new people and we were one stoke away from the $$$.....

 Still baking bread..... still eating bread.

A couple years ago, an errant seed blew into our yard and took root.   I thought it a weed but since I am a first rate procrastinator, it grew and grew.....and then blossomed.    What a surprise to see these old fashioned holly hocks.   In my youth, the neighbor's yards were full of these, especially along fences.    Here, in the high desert, these seem to flourish in a multitude of colors.

















I don't think I saw them anywhere else that we have lived....CT and FL...and my first glimpse brought back memories of making flower ladies in their colorful ball gowns.     Creativity and imagination helped us pass the summer days.


I'm finding the future gloom and doom is starting to drag on me.   When I think of last year and the trips, the grands visits, the West Point concert, the theatre in Denver and Christmas, Arizona.. I know that this year will be much different.    I know that we are so much better off than many and we are grateful for our ability to stay safe.   And we don't have reservations to cancel, or family gatherings to reschedule or anyone in harm's way (well, except for the Dr and the pilot).  

I try and think positively but with our leaders doing their level best to look the other way and to not be making a herculean effort in every way to make us safe ..... it is frustrating and scary and baffling.    

Meanwhile, I walk, I ride my bike, I read , I knit and we play a lot of golf and pickleball.    And we live in a most beautiful part of the world.

Making the best of hibernation....

Finally, we can watch this brilliant production.      We signed up for Disney Plus and have been absorbed in "Hamilton".     Just an unequaled  event.    There's so much depth to this and I understand more with each viewing.    I knew the words/music quite well but then realized I had the wrong people singing them and now it makes more sense.    And isn't King George just the best !

And now I want a bigger TV !

 I've always wanted those flag banners but never think about it until right before the holiday.   This year I was prepared.     We also lined the golf course border and the front of the house with small flags.    Very festive.   No fireworks this year.  

And then we headed over to Salida to meet up with Mike and Jenna for a picnic.   It was a 2.5 hr drive for both of us but it seems as if all of the Denver Front range decided to head west so it took them forever in slow traffic .      We sat in the park along the Arkansas River.    This area of the river is designed as a safe place for kayaking and paddle and body boards.   It's only about 2 ft deep with large rocks for sitting and watching the fun.      Farther along, the river gets very serious and is known for it's white water rafting.     I was pleased to see so many families wearing masks.     It was a great getaway and a chance to catch up.  

I find the news to be so appalling and frustrating and somedays wonder if I'll ever see a return to what we used to think was normal.       We are still hunkered down.   I miss Target and know I could mask up and wander about ....but like so many other things....is it worth it?
But the wonderful Colorado air feels perfect and we golf ... a lot..... and never tire of the mountain views out back.  

Squatters....

We spend our days battling the swallows for property rights to our eaves.     Although I've heard mention of the nuisance of swallows nesting on porches, we've never even noticed them before.    And then, a week or so ago, we were inundated with the swooping, dark, raucous, squatters.

 We found them nest building in 4 of our peaked eaves.... 2 stories high.    Not only are the mud nests unsightly, the droppings below (one at the front door area) are disgusting.   Once they build the nest and occupy it, they are protected by the 1918 Migratory Bird Act and it is against the law to remove them until the young ones have left.      And then, next year, they return with all their relatives and make larger colonies.      So, determined beyond measure, I took up the only tools at my disposal, a tall ladder and a forceful hose. (Where are those grand boys when we really need them ? )    So far, after 4 days of knocking down blobs of mud every hour or so,  we have seen no more building today.    I'm not convinced they have given up and moved on.    But I also suspect that they are running out of time to lay eggs.      Our street has a large concentration of 2 story homes and everyone has been invaded.    Our neighbors ask us if the water works but they are not willing or able to climb ladders and so the unsightly nests are growing.     Next year I will be ready....

 N

I finally got out with the Hiking Club .....   we did a 4 mile hike on the trails along the rim at BlackCanyon NP....only about 40 min from here.   Strenuous and intimidating in spots but so good to get out again.  

And then we headed up Owl Creek Pass to get back into the forests and views.   This road is not scary like the Jeep trails in the mountains.    

 Courthouse Peak, a popular hiking trail....  

We've been playing a lot of golf.   Always a challenging outing but aren't we all optimistic that the next hole will be better.    And fun to get out with friends where it's easy to catch up with everyone from 6 ft away.

We're still pretty much in hibernation mode with no plans to change that.   Things are opening around here and cases are rising about 2-3 week in the County.   Hospitalizations and deaths are not changing.  
 Neighbors  have families and friends in and play cards and dine out and have tried to get back to their usual life style.   We're not there yet.

And sun tea makes it feel like summer.....