Oops!... One Cold Duc

28 October 2009 - 8:30 am

Well, like every motorcycle enthusiast we kept waiting to put the bikes away for one more ride.

Just last week I took a spin into town and ran errands on my mean motorscooter. Alas, the snow came sooner than we anticipated and we have a couple of cold Ducs in our drive away.

This is our first snow of the season. It's coming on hard today. It's still snowing as I write and currently we have 5 inches on our porch railings. Snowboard season will soon be upon us. Time to trade out toys - motorcycles in the shed, snow gear out! As for now, I need to go shovel the walkways and drive.

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!!

Dirt Work

Before

After

I spent most of the day yesterday crippling my back and shoulders in order to widen our walk way and install a small retaining barrier. Not really a retaining wall because it's only one railroad tie high, but enough to stop the dirt from washing across our walk way. (I had removed the rocks along the side walk before I took the picture.) It seems every winter our walk dwindles down to the width of the snow shovel. I thought that if we started with a wider walk we could prevent this from happening. Considering our snow banks will soon be over our heads, it makes it challenging to bring anything of substantial size down this narrow walk and into our house during the winter.

I did this while Jim was at work as to surprise him when he got home. He was surprised and loved how wide and straight I managed to get it. I used stakes and twine to mark a line. Then I grabbed the pick mattock and went to pickin'! I had to chop out quite a bit of the existing slope to make it level across the walk. The last half, being dirt already, I used some of the chopped slope to level it out further. The dirt portion leads around the corner to our main shed, so we keep it cleared during the winter as well. (Earlier this month, I shoveled out earthen steps to the small brown shed in the trees on the left. Before it was just a slope which I would slide down in the winter with whatever I had in my arms, trying not to crash and injure myself.) Once everything was picked and shoveled level I needed to set the railroad ties in place. However, I was home alone and those things are HEAVY. Now I consider myself a strong woman but lifting an entire one by myself wasn't going to happen. I could lift one end, though. Do I drag it? Do I roll it? Roll? Idea! So, I started looking around.

My Back Saving Device

I found my garden scooter with the removable seat and removed the seat. Yet there was the post hole for the seat sticking up in the middle making it uneven. I tied some scrap wood to the frame to level out the top creating a small platform and Voila! ... a railroad tie mover! Since the ties where up hill of where I needed them I simply lifted on end, scooted the scooter underneath and guided them down the walk way. The scooter has fixed wheels which was great because it didn't try to turn on it's own. In the middle of all this the Amerigas man showed up to fill our propane tank. He was quite impressed with my "scootering." Finally, with the ties in place I back filled against them and spread composted pine needles over the dirt walk way. That will help cut down on mud when the rain and snow comes. It also helps cut down on any weed growth on the path due to the acidity of the needles.

While digging up the slope I rescued as many worms as I saw and added them to my outside compost pile. Slightly displaced, hopefully the abundance of food will make up for their relocation. The railroad ties were another "Freebie" that Jim had brought home. So all in all it only cost me an aspirin in the end to create our new wider walk way.

Walk On!!

The Harvest Is Over

APPLESAUCE & WINE (not pictured)!!

Well, I am finally getting to all the apples that have been sitting in bag and a box in my living room. After the great pear preserving marathon, I couldn't peal another fruit for days. All I had was a brown paper bag of apples. I figured they could wait a while. Then a few days ago I was given a whole box of apples. I looked at my friend Ernie and exclaimed, "What am I supposed to do with these?!" He replied is his plain Texas way, "Make wine." Huh. I never thought of that. I was busy wondering how much applesauce my family could consume, considering Jim doesn't eat apple pie or apple bread. So curiosity got me and I started picking Ernie's brain on how to make wine. I have a wine making book but it seemed complicated and required materials I didn't want to invest in. However, if Ernie can make wine why can't I?

He explained the basics ... a 5 gallon bucket, apples, raisins, water, sugar and yeast.

I cut a bucket full of apples this morning and mixed in the restof the ingredients. Recording the exact measurements on the lid of the bucket, I stashed it in our spare room where it will stay cool. I have to wait 60 days to find out if this will be drinkable or not. Although, Ernie swears by it and explained that it will actually be closer to a brandy or schnapps than actual wine. We'll see.

Despite all my wine apples, I still had quite a few left in the box. I decided to make applesauce again. After my failed attempt in September, I did more research and tried again this morning. Much Better!! I canned 5 quarts and put 1 pint in the refrigerator for immediate satisfaction. I sweetened it slightly with organic cane sugar and spiced it with a bit of cinnamon. It tasted so good warm out of the pot I just wanted to eat it all. It was so easy I can't believe I goofed it up last month.

I still have about 1/2 of a bag of apples, which I am going to run through my juicer over time. As for now, the harvest is over. (Unless someone drops another box of apples on my porch!!)

Enjoy the changing seasons and colors...Winter will be here soon!

For All My Family & Friends

Friday 16 October 2009, 1:30 p.m.
This is where I have spent my ENTIRE morning and now into the afternoon.

1 cup of tea
1 percolator pot of coffee
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 partially eaten PB&J
5 plays of "Poetics of Sound Miles Davis 1954-59"
20 uploaded pictures (not counting the ones I decided I didn't want)
1000's of keystrokes
Countless pee breaks & a sore butt


I have accomplished a complete updating to my blog. (Actually, there is one post still in the draft section because I am waiting on a friend to send me a picture I need. Hint! Hint! You know who you are.) I needed to do this, I know. Sorry it took so long. I can only hope that those of you that have taken the time to bring it to my attention that it needed updating take the time to read it. Heck, some of you might even be in it. Not everything that has happened in our world has made it into the blog, life has to have some mystery. Besides, I don't always have the camera or don't feel it needs to be publicized. I do want to thank you for your interest in our meager lives and adventures. Comments are always welcome.

Love to All... and remember if I don't write it's because I'm out playing!

Hiking Between Hunting Seasons

Steve & Jack the Jack Russel Terrier at the edge of an Aspen stand

Over the river and through the woods.....

Okay, maybe not. More like around the cattle pond and through the Aspen but not to Grandmother's house either. Fall hiking is a beautiful thing in our area but beware of the hunters. Steve is a friend of ours who is extremely knowledgeable on the local trails, mountains and hunting season dates. We planned this hike yesterday because it falls on the off days between two hunting seasons. Here in Colorado, the hunting seasons are short (only a week or two) and there are off days in between them. This is nice for hikers and mountain bikers who would also like to enjoy the fall colors without getting shot at or sporting the blaze orange attire. We tried to go for a hike at Molas Pass (10,000 ft), only to find it too snowy for our dress. We backtracked down the road to Cascade Creek. Parking at the Forest Service parking area we had the choice of following the lower trail along Cascade creek or heading north up the Engineer trail. While the trail does eventually go all the way to Engineer Mountain, it is the long way. The more popular trail for Engineer is the trail head at the top of Coalbank pass. We chose to go high and head north, giving us more sun exposure and better views.

Me & Doug

Nice Doug butt. While I was able to smile and show my good side for the camera, Doug apparently thought his butt was his good side. We hiked a single track that switch backed up the mountain side. It went in and out of aspen stands and across hillside meadows. The air was crisp and the warm sun felt good.

Steve with the snowcapped Twilight Peaks

Keeping a watchful eye out for elk, Steve scanned the edges of the trees for movement. We never did see any that day, for we had set out too late and they were all bedded down in the cool shade. However, we did find fresh chew marks on some of the tress and hear a calf squeal off in a thicket of dense pine. We continued our climb until our bellies rumbled and the view was too good to pass up.

Looking south towards the Animas River Valley with Electra Lake shimmering in the distance

After dining on chicken salad pitas, apples and cheese; we shared some chocolate and "Cowboy Lube" for dessert. "Cowboy Lube" is a concoction of cherry liquor and some sort of brandy that Steve mixes up and puts in little packable squeeze bottles. Smooth and not harsh on the tongue, it has a way of loosening things up and making the afternoon run smoother, hence the name. With a full belly and sunshine on my shoulders, it was time for a short siesta.

Jack the Jack Russel Terrier, stood guard while Steve and I lay back to let our food settle.

We hiked down the mountain, back to the truck and called it a day. What a peaceful way to enjoy the afternoon with a good friend and a bunch of dogs.

Get Outside!!

Mountain Biking With Sam

Okay, I tried to upload this picture 4 times in the flipped right side up corrected format and every time it gave me the uncorrected version. I'm over it. Use your imagination and deal with the goofiness of us being upside down.

So, here we are in all our silliness at Phil's World (a maze of single track trails created for mountain biking) east of Cortez Colorado. Sam and I decided to embark on a girl's ride this past Monday. Being it was Columbus Day and we both had the day off work, which almost never happens (holiday for the Post Office), we thought it would be fun to go ride. We met at my house, sipped tea, leisurely loaded up the bikes and finally hit the road for a day of trails. Now, I hadn't been on my bike in sometime and Sam is a crazy kick ass kind of rider; so it was preplanned that she was allowed to push me and test my skills but had to bring me back in one piece. Bleeding, cut or scrapped was acceptable but I needed to be in working order for taking time off work would not be acceptable.

We stopped at the top of the plateau for a photo shoot. Sam was leading me on a wonderful trail ride while chatting with out ever being out of breath. Now, some will say that if you can talk you're not riding hard enough. This is probably true because she was going pretty slow so that I could keep up with her. Climbing single track over rocks and fallen logs, I don't think she ever broke a sweat.

This was the only picture of me taken on the ride. I'm sure it was because I had the camera or perhaps after this I was sweaty, dusty and not very picture worthy after this point in the day. I will admit to getting off to walk, jabbing my pedal into rocks and coming unclipped, riding the brakes until the dust squealed and cursing out loud on more than one occasion. By the middle of the ride I had found my groove again and things went pretty smooth. I finished unscathed and hungry. Before reaching the truck, which was packed with a cooler of post ride goodies, we stopped for another photo shoot.

The fall season brings the tarantula migration to the high desert. Sam whizzed by this little guy narrowly missing him with her big knobby tires. I saw him scoot off the trail, so of course, I had to stop to play and get a few shots. This was the best picture as you can get an idea of his true size. He was a bit defensive but that's what gloves are for. He was also on the smaller side of others I have seen.

We had a great afternoon on two wheels. Sam didn't kill me and I didn't end up slowing her down too much... or at least I don't think. She did agree to having fun and offered to ride with me again.


Ride it if you got it!!

Happy Anniversary!

Sign @ Wildcat Canyon Liquors in Durango

October brought a visit from Patty (my biological mother) and her husband Gary. They celebrated their 11th anniversary on October 1st. They came up to visit us for a 4 day weekend to celebrate their anniversary, our anniversary (2yrs Oct. 3rd) and Jim's birthday (date and age with held). While they were here we wandered the shops in downtown Durango and I played tour guide.

Northside of Red Mountain Pass

I took them on a scenic drive up to Silverton, over Red Mountain Pass and into Ouray. We stopped for lots of pictures, played tourist in the shops and sampled food in the local cafes. On the night of our anniversary, the four of us went to a fine dining restaurant for a delicious four course meal. Good food, good wine and great company made for a very enjoyable evening. This was a rare treat for Jim and I since we don't eat out often and when we do it's never that extravagant. (Unfortunately, we found out that evening that the restaurant would be closing within two weeks due to the current economy.) The last day of their visit was spent watching football and playing Scrabble. I fixed a pile of ribs, a skillet of baked beans, cornbread sticks and a pear upside down cake that night. We sent them off with left overs for the road the next morning. It was sad to see them go, for I'm not sure when Jim and I will get out to California to see them. It's always nice to have company and I enjoy playing tour guide.

Open invitation to any and all that would like to see the mountains... Just please call first, so we can be dressed.

The Fall Harvest

Pears, Pears, Pears ... And More Pears!!

Wow! What was I to do when our friend Joseph called and said that he needed help clearing his back yard of pears? (He had to pick them up daily or the local bears would raid his yard.) Well, being the thrifty person I am, I offered to take as many as he would give me and figure out what to do with them later. So I asked around at work for jars or advice on how to can them. A lovely lady named Linda (I work with her husband, Ernie) offered me 8 dozen jars of assorted sizes, rings and a 1973 book on pickling and preserving. I was on my way to adventures in canning! After some reading, I grabbed my paring knife and went to work. I learned to can the fruit and make jam with the book and a few phone calls. By the end of the week, I had 6 pints & 2 quarts of pears (either plain in syrup or spiced with vanilla and whole cloves), 13 pints of ginger pear preserves, 3 batches of pear cinnamon fruit leathers. I had made two pear upside down cakes and given away a large cloth grocery sack of pears. Passing along part of this wonderfully sweet and juicy burden to my coworker and friend Sam, she produced two pies and numerous loaves of pear bread. Now, my computer/pantry (our smallest spare room which houses our deep freezer, 5 gallon bucks loaded with bulk flour, sugar, pasta, rice, cases of canned goods I find on sale, our tiny computer desk and an indoor worm composter) is overflowing with jars of pear halves and preserves. I actually ran out of shelf space and started putting them in the bottom drawer of our filing cabinet. Nothing goes with tax papers like jam!

In my over zealous canning excitement, I solicited a large bag of apples from another coworker. I attempted to make applesauce with a few of them but failed. More reading and research revealed my mistakes and I am in hopes of processing the rest of them within the next couple of days into a more successful batch of applesauce.

Overall, this was quite a learning experience. I feel as though I may be carrying on part of a lost art in my kitchen. I can only hope that in the cold months to come the pears bring my taste buds tasty treat.

Can On... But Don't Get Stuck In A Jam!!

La Plata Canyon In Late August

Leslie and I started out for a hike one day in late August this year with no real destination, time line or agenda of any sorts. We only knew that we should be back before dark. So with our small day packs loaded up with food and water we took off up this 4x4 jeep road heading west from the main La Plata Canyon road.
Chatting and climbing in elevation along the road, we came into view of this basin with a small yet steep waterfall at it's mouth. We decided to head across the slope in search of water for the dogs and a nice picnic spot for ourselves.


Along the way we climbed up to this old abandoned mine. La Plata Canyon was a bustling mining area in the early 1900's. It was home to La Plata City and many mines located on the steep mountain sides. After it's hay day, most everything was abandoned and left to rot in the changing seasons. Currently, there are a few residents that reside at the south end of the main canyon in an area they call May Day. However, the mining hasn't quite become only a story in the history books. As I write this, the residents of May Day are trying to save the canyon from a new mining company coming in and tearing up the mountain sides.

Meanwhile, I was enjoying the exploration of the old stamp mill. Playing with the lighting and angles, I tried to capture some of the remaining woodwork.

Here, you can see the aged and rusting stamps used to crush the rock still intact.

We continued our trek toward the basin. Once arriving, we realized we could see snow on the higher slopes left from last winter. Of course, we had to climb up to it and build a snowman!! Okay, so he was tiny and brown from all the dust particles in the snow but he was a mighty little man. Aspen stood guard over him long enough for me to snap a picture, then she slid and knocked him down. After finding snow at over 12,000 feet it was time to eat.

We made our way across the scree filled basin floor to the small creek that created the waterfall we had seen earlier. Sitting on the rocks in the high afternoon sun, Leslie entertained me with stories of her other adventures in "The Canyon". She and her husband are one of the few May Day residents and consider the entire canyon their backyard. After a good lunch and a long rest for us and the dogs we headed back down to the car...but that wasn't the end of our day.

There were wild raspberries to be picked! With our little plastic containers in hand, we scoured the roadside bushes for ripe fruit. Small yet tasty, we picked as many as we could find that were ripe and left the others for another day. All in all it was a great way to spend a day off together. We only saw two other trucks the entire time which made for quite a peaceful hike.

Explore Your World!!