July, 2008

We're into August now, can you believe it?! July flew by at Mach something speed. It's a busy time for everyone around here. We all know we have a limited amount of time to enjoy our wilderness in hiking boots rather than snowshoes so we try to cram in as much as we can.

Peg has been busy working with other artists and artisans to form an artisan's co-op in town. They have set up shop in an older purple, yes purple, house near downtown. She has a lovely display of her jewelry and was actually the first one of all of them to have sales! We all know how lovely her jewelry is so that's really no surprise to us.

We both have Amazon Kindles now and love them. This is not an uncommon sight on a relaxing day around here.

I've been busy with the outdoor club and the SAR group. Not necessarily just in hikes and missions but in fundraising, parades, meetings, trainings, etc. We're like a bunch of ants when you stir the mound with a stick, running this way and that at a frenzied pace!

July must mean another parade! The outdoor club did its float decorating here at the house. It looked rather rainy that day so we brought it into the garage. Thank goodness one of the guys allowed us to use his raft and trailer or we might have been up a creek without a paddle (or a raft!) for float ideas. They are a great bunch of folks and we had great fun and pizza afterwards.

I was not part of the actual outdoor float, however, since I had already committed to decorate (earlier that same day) and ride on the Search & Rescue float in the parade.

This is me in the center with some of the SAR folks on our toy-laden float. Unfortunately, we go out on our feet much, much more often than we get to go out on those fun ATV's or snowmobiles. Alas, we remain groundpounders.

Later in the month, we took a little road trip over Wolf Creek Pass (still lots of snow), to SouthFork, onto Creede, Lake City, and Crested Butte. We returned through the San Luis Valley via Del Norte, SouthFork, back over the pass and home. It is a beautiful drive with quaint little mountain towns, except Crested Butte which isn't so little anymore but it is pretty. Wow. I was there about 22 years ago and I barely recognized it. It is definitely a ski town with many, many homes and condos at the ski area. The town itself is hyper-geared to tourists with many interesting shops and restaurants, and outfitters of all sorts. It is a hopping place.

Off of 149 between Creede and Lake City, Rio Grande Pyramid way off in the distance.

Also between Creede and Lake City, Lake San Cristobal.

I have to look back on my calendar to remember what's been going on as I continue to add to this blog and it seems there is something on every day but not necessarily stuff you want to hear about! I've been able to attend a couple of SAR conference/mock missions/classes which have been really interesting to me but perhaps not so very interesting to everyone. I passed my SarTech II field exam which means I'm fully capable of carrying a bunch of stuff, finding my way somewhere, roping up and getting someone out. I think I get a patch for my shirt, maybe, if I want to pay for it.

Mom and I went to Colorado Springs and enjoyed our trip up and down Pike's Peak. Whew, what a drive. Not for the faint of heart. It IS a 14er and that's a long ways up especially when there aren't any guard rails.

Found some really nice drums at the Chimney Rock Market Festival nearby. They are now on our wall.

Peg with the artist.

We had a hankering to visit Ruidoso, NM a couple of weeks back so we buzzed on down. We both won a few dollars at the horse races. It was rainy and sloppy but nice and cool. We, of course, had to go enjoy the chuckwagon food and entertainment of the Flying J Wranglers. It was entertaining and funny, as always.

Tom, Susan, and Landon paid a visit from scorched Wichita Falls. Two days, two rounds of golf. Does that surprise anyone?!

We drove out to the Williams Reservoir area and enjoyed the coolness and the scenery.

As you can see, a storm has gathered for our viewing pleasure.

I put this one in because I think our stair step heighths are rather amusing.

Not long ago, we decided to explore a forest road that took us to a trailhead I needed to find, Platoro where relatives have a vacation place, and some beautiful scenery. That is forest road 380 (Park Creek Rd.) for anyone that wants to explore themselves. We found both the trailhead and Platoro as well as the Conejos River and its beautiful valley.

This is looking back toward the Conejos River and valley from Hwy. 17 between Antonito and Chama. The afternoon rains were following us out.

I went on one of the outdoor club's hikes a while back, down another forest road (639) aka Fall Creek Road. We bushwacked up a ridge and found some beautiful cliffs and rock outcroppings speckled with colombine flowers and others. As you can see, there was still some patches of snow in the protected areas.

Me showing how we sunbathe in the San Juans.

Me near the cliffs and outcroppings.

Peg is heading out for the Kansas reunion tomorrow and I'm volunteering at the County Fair so the calendar stays full. We don't want to waste any of this beautiful summer. We hope you all are staying busy and happy. Let us hear from you when you have a minute.