Colorado Trail Series

Back in August of this year Jim and I took a seven day backpacking trip along the Colorado Trail.  The entire trail connects Denver to Durango and is a total of 483 miles long.  We only had a week or so of time off so the entire trail was out of the question.  However, the last 75 miles were totally doable.  Besides, traveling through beautiful mountains with no cell phones, computers or crowds was just what we envisioned as a perfect getaway.  A second honeymoon of sorts in celebration of our upcoming anniversary of 6 years of wedded bliss.  So, with much planning, calculating how many miles a day (based largely on water sources), days of preparing homemade meals (dehydrated and baked treats), pouring over our gear and finally hoisting up our 70 (plus or minus depending on the day and water needed) pound packs we set out for our hiatus from society.

 

What is to follow is a series of posts covering our wonderful adventure.  They will come as I have time to pour over the hundreds of pictures taken and find the ones worth sharing.  Grab your water bottle or coffee and share with us the miles, views and blisters of the next 7 seven days!

 

~ As always, double click on any photo to enlarge ~

 

Disclaimer: All mileages and elevations are based on guidebooks and not actual GPS readings.  GPSs were not carried on this trip. 

 

Colorado Trail Series

Day 1

Little Molas Pass to our first night's camp
 

Hiked: 8 miles
 Camp: 11,700 elevation

 

 Terri
 



Much thanks to our dear friend Terri who got up extra early to meet us in town and drive us to the trail head on our first morning.  This would be the last car we would see for days and the last person we knew until we would arrive back in town 7 days later.

Me & Jim
 

Before we turned our backs on the civilized world for the
 next week, Terri snapped this photo of us next to the trail map sign.



Fly Agaric 

 

There was an abundance of these brightly colored mushrooms along the trail.  Of course, we would never dare eat anything we could not positively identify.  Once we got back home Jim did identify these gorgeous fungi - positively poisonous!

 Me

 

Let the views begin!

While the trail turned to the west, we couldn't resist stopping and admiring the views to the North.

 

Jim 

 

 I love the simplicity of camping.  We each had our "chores" to be done when we arrived at camp each day.  Jim's was to set up the tent.

 

Me

 

 As Jim set up the tent and arranged the bedding, I took a few moments in the sun to work on a pine needle basket project I had brought along.  Our camp "living room" had such an amazing view.

 

 

Jim

After getting his chores done, it was Jim's turn to kick up his heels and relax after the first day on the trail.
 

Me

My turn!  Of course, I was the designated camp cook.  Only tonight's dinner was a surprise, so Jim was banished to the "living room" until our dinner was ready.

 

I love my husband but he was sure he would starve on this trip.  So imagine his surprise when I served up a plate like this for our first night on the trail!

New york strip, potatoes-onions-broccoli and a Parmesan roll.

 

Unfortunately, I might have set the bar to high for myself for the rest of the trip.

  I kept hearing, "Did you pack any more steaks?" for the next 67 miles.

 

 

Good night from Day 1.

 



 

sewing project

  Summer Sewing Project

A friend of mine sent me these great overalls that she found in a yard sale or thrift store or where ever.  A patchwork patterned fabric that was super lightweight and perfect for a hot day working in the garden or lounging on the deck.  However, me being a tall woman, overalls and I have never really gotten along.  I can only let out the straps so far and they still tend to give me a bit of a rise up when I bend over.  Not the most comfortable clothing design I have worn.  So I decided to get creative and turned them into a dress.  Thankfully the busy pattern lent itself to not so perfect sewing skills.

 

Before

 

After

 

My "new" dress was perfect for slipping on after work or for a lazy afternoon on the deck.

 

Thanks for the inspiration Peggy!

 

 

WE'RE BACK!

A YEAR IN REVIEW... NOVEMBER 2012 - 2013

 

 Barb & Me

Friends have moved away.  We still love you Barb!

 

 

Stown expanded his cooking skills.  He cooked the ENTIRE Thanksgiving dinner last year - from scratch.  Perhaps that's why he looks so delirious after 8 hours in the kitchen.  Behind him from left to right: Turkey with garden herbs, garlic smashed taters, gravy, roasted sweet potatoes tossed with brown sugar & fresh ginger, stuffing from homemade bread, green bean casserole & pumpkin pie from a fresh from our garden pumpkin and handmade crust.  Everything was from "scratch" and a lot of it from our garden.  Way to go Stown!

 

Cousin Debbie & Great Uncle Bob's Avocado tree

 

Family was visited and shared their bountiful harvests.



Me & Mom (Patty)

 

More family shared beer and horses.

Me & Sam

 

Friends appeared in plays.

Stown & Me

 

Birthdays were celebrated.

17 - Stown stop growing up!

Cocoa Bean & Scrappy

 

New additions were made to our clan.

 

Canoe camping was to be had on the Wisconsin river.

Jim - self portrait at 65 mph

 

Motorcycles were ridden.

 

Me, Erin & Eric - Lake Havasu

 

There were paddle board lessons from friends.

 

Corbin, Me, Tanner, Jim & Erin

 

Cocktails in the shade to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

 

Bread making skills were learned (but not mastered).

More birthdays were celebrated.

 



Jim & Me 

 72 miles into our trip and only 3 miles from cold beer & hot pizza!

 

 

All in all it was a good year.

 

A lot has happened in our personal lives. 

Family passed away, some friends got married, some friends had babies, new friends were made and old friends lost touch, people got sick and people got better, jobs came and went but through sickness and through health through richer and through poorer we have survived another year on this spinning rock we call Earth.

 

All that matters in the end is that we have each other because we learned that when it all comes down to the nitty gritty that's all you have - Each other.

 

Love Always!

 

 

This is the first post in a long time.  I needed to simplify my life and refocus on the more important things - blogging was not one of them.  Things are more stable now and I am able to share things with everyone again.  I hope to continue regular postings and look forward to sharing our little corner of the world with everyone again. 

Until next time, Peace, Love & Understanding.

 

 

 

 

Chicken Yard Remodel

Life is a often a series of do-overs...

Doug is so proud of his new friends.

(Even though they are currently hiding under the coop.)

 

While I was home today I kept a close eye on the girls and the dogs and how everyone was adjusting.  The most surprising thing I saw was that the fence line was right inside the shadow line - ALL DAY!!  Those poor girls were up against the fence straining the heads high to reach the sunlight.  So, late this afternoon I went out and rearranged things.   Roll the coop around the corner, round the fence out toward the north, shovel the gravel down to the dirt, replace the fence rocks... hopefully now Carla and Rosey can preen their feathers in the sun tomorrow. 

 

If not, I can always change it!

Our Girls!!

 

Now that our backyard is bigger Jim approved me getting a few new friends. 

(double click on photos to enlarge)

 

 

 No need to tell me twice!  I grabbed an empty wine box (Carlo Rossi) and headed over to a friends house and came home with a surprise.

 

Carla & Rosey

 

After being boxed up for the ride home (thank goodness they stayed in the box - could you imagine driving with loose chickens flapping around in the car!), they were a little reluctant to come out.

 

 

Technically, my coop wasn't quite finished at that point.  So, we set up a temporary fence around the compost and let the girls snack while we feverishly finished the coop.  They came from a barren dirt yard with lots of other chickens and were intrigued by the compost pile.  It didn't take long for them to figure out that if you scratched around enough you could find tasty worms.  They were hilarious to watch (very distracting & hard to get work done) because when they would find a worm they would shake their heads like a dogs with a toy.  Too funny!

 

TaDa!

 

Just in time for night the coop was finished and the girls were put to bed.  I designed and built the coop myself.  Thanks to Jim for some help with the saw (I'm not comfortable using the circular saw) and attaching the metal roofing we have a chicken tractor!  There are handles on both ends to pick it up and move it.  The bottom is fenced but open to the ground.  This way I can move them around my garden to help turn the soil, eat the bugs and finish off the plants after harvest.  I am proud to say that we salvaged most everything we needed to build this.  I only ended up spending $35 on the entire construction!!

 

 

Rise and Shine, Girls!!

Peeking through the nesting box access door (for eggs), you can see them hiding inside.

 

 

At first, they weren't real sure about their second story living accommodations.  The ramp was a challenge.  What a better way to lure them out than with worms on the rungs.  Later I would realize the rungs were too far apart and have installed a second set in between the first set.  Thus, putting the steps closer and their feet don't slide on the wood.  They did not like the sound of sliding!!  It took a couple days for them to get the hang of things but now we just open the door and they let themselves out and go up at night waiting for us to close them in.

 

 

 

.Yesterday we finalized their winter arrangements.  We used the temporary fencing and moved the compost pile closer.  We also stacked straw bales on two sides (back not visible) of the coop to create an extra layer of insulation for the winter.

 

 

Carla must have remembered those yummy worms because when we let them out into their new yard she went straight for the compost.  Rosey, however, was being adventurous in trying out some local green chili.  Neither seems to bothered by the dusting of snow, but once the wind picked up they both took shelter under the coop.

 

 

Carla - She's the slightly bigger of the two and has a fuller longer tail.

 

They are Black Star chickens and were born this spring.  They are a cold hardy breed with small combs, less likely to freeze.  They have a beautiful green iridescence to their feathers, much like that of a mallard duck.  It was overcast when this picture was taken so it's hard to see well.  They might have been laying already, hard to tell there were so many in the flock we got them from.  However, we have not see an egg yet.  I am sure the stress of the move didn't help.  Also, we have chose not to "light" them artificially to force laying.  Chickens naturally take a break from laying and rest in the winter, so we've decided to follow natures path and let them live naturally.

 

For now the dogs and us are adjusting to our latest additions.

 

Happy Clucking!

 

Jimmy Dean!! (before & after)

Jimmy Dean!!

300 + pounds

 

Yep, enjoy that last snack of horse poop because you are on your way to the butcher!!

 

Jimmy Dean!!

150 + pounds

 

Thanks for filling my freezer this fall Jimmy!!

 

We are looking forward to pork green chili, chops on the grill, bacon sizzlin' in the skillet, roasts warming our bellies and much more.  Many thanks to the boy who raised you for us (you know who you are).  Now if I could only find room for the ice cream!!



Halloween!!

The Dead Mailman & The Mad Hatter

 

Yes, politcal mail was the death of me this year.

(I did actually deliver all day dressed like this!)

 

The slightly off the Mad Hatter bowed his good-byes and was off to school.

 

We really had fun this year dressing up, despite having to work and go to school.

 

Hope you had Happy Hauntings!