Sand Canyon with Steve

Yesterday was a crisp early winter day here in the Four Corners area. A perfect day to head west to Sand Canyon with my good friend Steve and our dogs.

(As with all pictures I post, if you click on the photo it will enlarge for you. I highly suggest it on a few of the following pictures.)

Steve pausing for a sip in the sun with snow dusted mountains in the background.

Ruins you can walk up to. We nicknamed this one "Chimney House". Doesn't it look like it's sitting in a little patio stove?

Stopping for lunch, Steve demonstrates -
"You can lead dogs to water but you can't make them drink".

Aspen watches with curiosity as the water displaced by her body overflows down the rock.

Only a few inches high, I fell in love with this cute little "tree".

Nicknamed "Sun House" - Look at the size of this building!!

Unlike Mesa Verde and other National or State Parks, Sand Canyon is the way it was left hundreds of years ago not reconstructed for tourist to see. So why are these still standing while others had to be rebuilt? Mostly due to the remoteness, not many are adventurous to hike miles to see them. There are also not very many dwellings, more of a sporadic rural settlement not a "city", so scientist didn't excavate them like the larger areas (i.e. Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Chimney Rock) Hike over and explore but leave no trace.

Click to enlarge - Dwelling in arch in the center

There is still active building in the area.

This ant mound was spectacularly constructed.

Natures Sculptures

Amazing display of erosion on the side of a boulder (click to enlarge).

More Sculptures

On top of the left mesa there is a circular rock wall (click to enlarge).

Was it an ancient look out?

Perfectly Framed

I love that all of this is just a short drive from our home here in Durango. We are constantly out exploring and grateful that these areas have not been discovered by the masses. I am sure someday they will pave this too as they did Mesa Verde, give tours and serve fast food. Until then we will continue to enjoy our hikes there with minimal interaction with other.

Thanks for sharing in our adventure!!

Cats & Laundry

How is it that a cat knows the minute the warm laundry comes out of the dryer and into the basket?

Wrapped in a dryer fresh sweatshirt to keep fur her off my bed.

Or when you have stripped the sheets off the bed and don't want her lounging on your mattress pad?

Cat - Tastrophe

Yesterday I noticed the Oldest Beast Dinah the Cat limping when she was out in the back yard. When she came up onto the porch she held her right front paw curled underneath her. She licked it a few times but then seemed to give up. I picked her up and expected to find a pine needle between her toes. Instead, I found that one of her nails had curled under and grown into the toe pad!!

I wrapped her in a towel and set her on the counter under a good light. With a stray piece of rye grass still in her lip she, she patiently watched as I went to work on the nail.

It appears that as the nail grew so did the skin around it becoming calloused. It wasn't red, hot or inflamed. I used clean toenail clippers to cut the nail between the entry point and the quick.

After a bit of vocal protesting from Dinah, I backed out the nail. The hole had an awful stench but no puss and only half a drop of blood. I rinsed it twice with hydrogen peroxide. Then I proceeded to trim all of her nails to prevent this from happening again. See, she is very old and her self hygiene is not the best. She's not real active so her nails don't wear down like they used to. After lots of lovin' and a bit of lunch meat for a treat I put her in her bed to rest.

This is what was embedded in the poor girls toe. It was submerged up the the 1/4 inch line, where the color changes from clear to cloudy.

Dinah limped around the rest of the night, however, upon inspection this morning her toe appears to be fine. She is walking normally again and is back to her grouchy self.

Weekend Dirt Biking

Stown going fast!!

Yeah, for BLM!!

From our house we headed south to Glade Run in New Mexico for the afternoon. Contrary to it's name, there is no glade nor will you find runners. (OK, maybe the latter but I've never seen them.) Glade Run is a ... Well , just read the sign. There are oil wells dotted through out the entire area, which make for nice parking areas. They aren't too noisy, like white noise, the sound seems to go away after a short while. There are plenty of jeep roads for beginners and single track for the more advanced riders. This nice new sign reads "Eagle Scout Project 2005 Kurtis Donisthorpe" along them bottom. They must have created this one be cause the old one was used for target practice. Thanks Guys!! For more information on this great area click on the link :

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/farmington/Glade_Run_Recreation_Area.html

Despite the fact that it states "Discharging of firearms is prohibited" this old sign was riddled with shotgun blasts.

Speaking of shot guns, I did some clean up work while the guys were out riding. I was meditating and doing yoga in the middle of the flats, when I peered through my feet during a wonderful downward dog to see bright red shells littering the hillside. Upon further investigation I found remnant of the computer they took out their anger on. Trust me, there are days I, too, would like to fire of a few rounds at my 'puter - but not in the middle of a beautiful area surrounded by native plants and critters. Finishing my series, I grabbed a plastic bag from the truck and gathered all the trash I could find in the vicinity.

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Jim is enjoying some of the single track up on the ridge line.

Doug

The dogs and I hiked up to the crest of a nearby ridge to survey our surroundings.

We really enjoy this area. It's vast options of parking places and lack of people make it ideal for a beginner, like Stown, to get used to his bike with out the worries of traffic. Jim found a four mile loop that Stown was able to practice on by himself. Shifting gears and getting the feel for the bike we hooked up the GPS and he managed to clock almost 25 mph. Not bad for only his second day! It's amazingly clean despite it's public use. We were discussing how graffiti would cover everything if it were near a more populated area. For now we left it cleaner than we found it until next year. As of this week, the dirt bikes will find a home in the shed for the winter. It was overcast and in the low 40's while we were there and the wind was making it feel even colder.

Snowboard season is on the horizon - Time to switch sports again!!

Hot Breakfast!

Welcome to Winter!!

Cold mornings demand a hot breakfast before walking to the bus stop. Normally, I get up and make Stown a big bowl of oatmeal with milk, raisins and brown sugar, or sometimes bacon and eggs. However, as the holidays approach and my work hours lengthen there will be days he has to make his own breakfast. He usually goes for the quick and easy yogurt and granola. Not quite warm enough for the early morning temperatures that have been in the teens lately, at least in my opinion.

I got to thinking of something quick and easy that he can throw in the toaster oven (we don't have a microwave) while he gets dressed and came up with individual breakfast casseroles!!

I picked up three 12oz Pyrex bowls at the thrift store. I buttered each dish and layered them with boiled potato chunks, left over ham and shredded cheese. Then I mixed three eggs, a splash of milk, salt and pepper, and divided between the bowls. I topped them with bread crumbs before I baked them at 350 (until the centered were cooked), covered them and put them in the fridge.

Now Stown can enjoy a hot breakfast even if I am catching up on my recovery rest.

Put to Bed Just in Time

As I finished up my winter yard work the snow started to fall again.

Looks like I got everything done just in time.

Insulated with straw, Ms. Parsley will winter over in her plastic pot nestled in an old dilapidated oak barrel.

The S.S. Sidedish has been mostly cleaned out and docked for the season.

Packed in the straw under an old window still grows mixed lettuces and spinach. See the milk jug buried in the background? It has holes through out the sides and that's how I water them without weighing down their little leaves with heavy wet droplets.

New pine needles and scrub oak leaves on the path to the shed.

It keeps the ground from getting all muddy when we shovel away the snow.

(We need access the shed through out the winter.)

The last of the goodies for the year.

First Snow

"Be careful what you wish for"

That's what they say. (Who are "they" anyway?) Well, so far everything I post comes to me the next day. Two days ago I was ranting about it not being cold - yesterday: freezing temperatures. Yesterday I complained that if it was going to be cold it should snow - this morning: Snow!! Maybe to day I should discuss the poor economy? Who knows, perhaps a bag of money will show up on my doorstep tomorrow. (Wishful thinking.)

Meanwhile, I never got around to putting away all my garden containers and winterizing my herbs. Why waste the beautiful weather we've been having to do chores that bring such sadness? It is definitely the end of the season when I put everything in it's place for the winter and stop harvesting even the smallest herbs. Besides, I don't procrastinate today - I wait for tomorrow to do that.

Terry, our androgynous yard gnome, was looking a bit sassy with all the snow on it's hat.

My poor frozen plants. The snow's melting off the roof as I type, I will let it warm up some then head out to take down the 'Mater house, pull up the chard and clean out the box of cilantro. I am sure the worms in the compost will be happy to have new greens. But for now...

I will spend my morning doing one of my favorite things - Rummaging the pages of cookbooks!!

With a cup of coffee and a hot bowl of teff, I am going to sit at the table and flip pages. I pulled these two off the shelf in search of inspiring comfort foods. Sarah Leah Chases's Cold-Weather Cooking, I picked up at the Friends of the Library used book sale last spring for $4. I put it away until the seasons changed. I think now is a good time to dig through it. Stew Leonard's Winning Recipes Cookbook was a gift from a friend a few years back. It contains great twists on old favorites, like "pizza potpie" and "honey baked acorn squash".

Although, dinner for tonight has already been decided. Stown helps me in the kitchen at least once a week. I think it's important for him to learn to cook. My mom never taught me, I learned from books and endless experiments. In fact, I am still learning and experimenting - not too modest to say they don't always turn out great but are always edible. Like Jim says, " That was OK, but if you never make it again that would be OK too." Got to love the man who eats almost anything you put in front of him!! Stown mixed the rub and applied it to the ribs last night. Today he will learn how to braise, grill and glaze them to create "barbecue-braised country spare ribs with beer and mustard glaze". He will also learn how to make homemade mac 'n' cheese and steamed broccoli. Of course we will have a fresh loaf of bread, but he's already mastered the baking of that.

For now, it's up for another cup 'o' joe and more page turnin'...

Spoke Too Soon?

After my post yesterday the Mother Nature decided to show me a thing or two. Snow flurries whirled through the air and the temperature dropped. The snow didn't stick to the ground but it did add an air of winter to the world. When I came home last night, I notice a different smell in the house. Then a moment later I heard the furnace fire up. So much for open windows and fresh air until next spring.

This morning as Stown and Jim left the house I snapped a picture of the thermometer just outside the front door. A brisk 15 degrees!! (F on the left C on the right) I hurried back into the warm house and started a nice wintery comfort meal.

Sheppard's Pie

Fresh Bread with a Salt Crust

Now my boys will have a warm cozy meal when they come home tonight.

If winter's really here, then let it snow!!


***As for the clothes I hung out on the line to dry yesterday, well when Stown brought them in after school and they were frozen stiff. After a good thawing they ended up in the dryer.

Mysterious Camp Visitor

The post you've been waiting for...

Our Mysterious Camp Visitor!!

Me & Doug

It all started on the afternoon we arrived at camp. Looking across the valley, I saw movement on the ridge line (top left corner of the picture above the cream colored streak angling to the left). It was something huge. At first Jim and I squinted and theorized on what it might be... a lost cow? Wild horse? Bear? Good Lord! If it was a bear it would have to be a grizzly to be that big - a moment of panic raced through my veins at the thought of sleeping outside with a bear that big cruising around the valley. Mind you we don't have grizzly bears in our area. I suggested a moose, Jim said we didn't have those in our area either. Whatever it was it descended on to the plateau half way down the valley and bedded down for the night (top third of picture).

AH-HA!! I WAS RIGHT!!

(I'm almost never right)

The next morning we awoke to fresh layer of white snow, making it easy to spot the movement of the great mystery animal across the valley. We watched as it descended, crossed the road, cross the creek and head straight up the mountain towards our camp. The dogs caught wind of his scent on the air, so I held them while Jim took photos. Nothing is more dangerous than a bull moose during the rut. However, this guy was pretty young and just seemed more interested in hanging out with us. He must have just recently been shooed away by his mother.

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

After a short time, he moved into the trees just up the mountain from our camp.

He stayed there all morning, coming out occasionally to check on us. Perhaps he could smell the coffee and pancakes with real maple syrup and was hoping for a hand out. We didn't have any leashes because the dogs are allowed to run free when we camp. I tied the loops of my hiking sticks through their collars, after a while we let them just hang out with the sticks still attached. They would try to walk but when they felt the stick drag behind them they assumed they were tied up and promptly sat back down.

We went down to where the moose had climbed the slope and Jim found his tracks.

Look at the size of that hoof print!!

As the sun warmed the slopes the snow melted off and we packed up. The moose never left the safety of the trees, except to check on our whereabouts. We said good bye and headed down to the truck. Aspen stood guard as we walked away, making sure he didn't follow us.




The strangest part of our encounter was where we were at... 12,000 ft and basically above treeline. (We had camped in the last stand of trees heading up the slope.) The moose showed no interest in the creek or the small lake below. He past them rather hastily in a rush and came right into our camp. Was it really his camp and we were invading it? In the video below you can see just how uneasy he was in this high mountain terrain. His footing is shaky at best in the snow on the rocky steep slope. Jim shot this during one of the moose's many trips out into the open to check on us. Enjoy.

Error in video downloading... I will try again later... Sorry...

Global Warming?!

"WELCOME"

That's what the little turtle bird seed holder reads, but there are no birds to welcome today or for the past few weeks. This morning he is offering up a small bit of snow for breakfast.

The poor metal bird at the bird bath gazes into the cold frozen flower with a bit of disappointment this morning.

Bits of snow, dried leaves and frozen water is all that remains in the corner of our yard that hosts a buffet during the warmer months.

Warmer months? But wait it hasn't even gotten cold yet this fall!!

This time last year we had received a big snow dump (see 28 Oct. 2009 post). So far this season we have had a very long drawn out Indian Summer. In fact, this is the first "snow" we have gotten thus far. Yes, the high country has seen a few white peaks but this is not like last year. Last year, Jim, our friend Sam and I went snowboarding at Wolf Creek on 1 November. Yet, people still insist that there is no "Global Warming Effect" or measurable climate change happening. Do these folks never set foot outside? Somethings just not right here. I am still harvesting herbs and chard from the garden... in Zone 4! We turned our furnace on for one night at the end of October, the news said it was going to get cold - it never did. The furnace was shut off the next day and we have yet to fire it up again. Chilly? Put on a sweater.

Please do your part - reduce, recycle and reuse. (yeah, sort of hypocritical since one of my last posts was about dirt bike riding.) However, as a whole our family does try to be more sustainable. We grow part of our own food, recycle, buy in bulk to reduce wasteful packaging, carpool, carry our own grocery bags... the list goes on. I will be the first to admit we could do more, then I also will tell you that we do a lot more than most.

Rant over. Short and sweet because I need to hang clothes out on the line. Yes, I am still hanging laundry outside to dry - in November!!

Help reduce your carbon foot print - Do your part.

Yummy Gifts!!

Last Friday a friend of ours stopped by and brought us some yummy gifts!!

A 17 1/2 pound Elk shoulder!!

3 jars of homemade chili!!

Fresh Roasted Pine Nuts!!

What a great surprise, Thank you!!

Stown's First Dirt Bike Experience!!

Stown received his first dirt bike earlier this week. It's a Honda CRF 150. Kinda small, but perfect to learn on without being too powerful and scary. Today we went out for the basic lessons.

Rule #1: If you wanna ride, you gotta load your own bike.

Rule #2: Then you gotta unload your own bike.

Rule #3: ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME!!!
Probably the most important rule of all. We all abide by this one - Boots, Knee/Shin Guards, Body Armour, Gloves, Helmet and Goggles.

Jim, Stown and Aspen

It was all fine for Aspen until the bike started and she hauled off and out of the way. After a demonstration by Jim, Stown was on his way to starting, stopping and turning practice in a huge open space. Soon it was shifting gears and getting bored of making the same circles around the dirt lot.

Stown

Soon it was off down the dirt roads with Jim or myself.


Me on Jim's big KTM 450XC - it's bombproof!!
(Which is very important if I'm going to borrow your bike.)
Oops! As of noon on 9 Nov. I must correct this post. Jim just called to tell me that this is him on his bike. Gosh!! I thought I had a good picture of me going fast! Oh well, we all look the same in a helmet. But I really did go fast - maybe just too fast for pictures!
Jim, happy with Stown's progress demonstrated the next step in learning...


Jim
Needless to say, Stown didn't quite follow that stunt.



So we all rode and had a great time.
Then Stown learned another important lesson,

Never let your mom ride your motorcycle!!


So, I dumped the bike while I was showing off. I was wearing all the gear, so no harm no foul right? Unfortunately, I bent the front break lever pretty bad. I explained to Stown that anytime you borrow someone else's bike and break it you have to replace the part. I guess I'll be going back to the store this week.


Hope you had a fast weekend!!