Life on the High Plains

What could be better on a day like this than... A roaring fire and ... a big pot of pinto beans and ham? Now I'm ready for fall to come back!

I got to go on a field trip for work today.  I, along with three co-workers, joined one of our appraisers on a farm tour of the Arkansas Valley in Pueblo County. More specifically, we learned about the Bessemer Irrigating Ditch which was created to irrigate the very fertile agricultural land that lies to the east of Pueblo.  We started at the Pueblo Reservoir. In addition to the Bessemer Ditch, the Arkansas River flows out of the reservoir.  Also, in the distance is the beginning of the Southern Delivery System which was a very controversial project for delivering water to the city of Colorado Springs from the reservoir. Several years ago the city of Pueblo initiated a program to revitalize their downtown area with the Arkansas Riverwalk.  It flows through the center of town and is absolutely beautiful. Back to the ditch--it flows for several miles to the east of Pueblo. This is one of the head gates.  The water level ...

 The hike from the Barr Trail parking lot to the Incline  We've had an unusually warm October and yesterday we decided to enjoy the beautiful fall day. We decided to tackle the Incline.  A one-mile hike up the old cog railway with a 2,000 foot elevation increase. Now keep in mind that I haven't worked out since I started having health issues in the middle of July and I had surgery just one month ago. Sure, why not start re-conditioning with the Incline? We have a long ways to go We kidnapped Mr. Beans and took him with us. (We really took him along so he could take care of his old grandparents and call 9-1-1 if we needed it.)  Can't breathe!  We (mainly I) had to stop and rest every few steps. Mr. Beans kept asking us why we were breathing so hard.  (Oh to be young again!) There were some beautiful views up there. Did I mention we had to stop to rest quite a bit? The Incline is actually on private property....

I made the long drive from Colorado Springs to Braums-Land, Kansas yesterday. Now I'm a happy camper. I wonder how many times I can stop there for frozen yogurt between now and Friday. Cappucino chocolate chunk frozen yogurt.  It's quite a treat for someone who can't eat ice cream. At least four times I'd say, maybe five. I noticed in their store that they sell the frozen yogurt by the carton.  How can I transport it home without it melting?  Any suggestions? So glad I drove this time rather than flying.

Today I drove to Denver to meet a friend that I had not seen in a long time.  We were co-workers at YL for many years.  We've both moved on to different things since then, but we've stayed in touch and he recently moved to Denver. We went to brunch and then to the Denver Performing Arts Center to see Hair, the musical. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I have to say that I LOVED it. It's about a group of friends in the summer of love in 1967.  It's very anti-Viet Nam. I can't imagine how controversial this must have been when it initially debuted. The actors were fabulous and interacted with crowd.  It was very high energy and entertaining. I have just two pieces of advice though: 1) Don't go if you're easily offended 2) Don't take children There is nudity in this show in addition to some foul language and a little vulgarity.  My jaw nearly dropped at the end of the first act when the actors shed ALL of their clothes.  Hmmm.....

We tried Smash Burger for the first time tonight after Mr. Beans' soccer game. I have just one thing to say....Yum! Mr. Beans thought it pretty good too. They fixed his burger just the way he likes it-meat and bacon on a bun with nothing else. We may have found a new favorite burger place.

After several days of scouting for wildlife around Jackson Hole with no luck (other than a few geese and ducks) we finally spotted a moose on the drive home.  (The opening of hunting season and the elk reduction program kind of ruined our wildlife sightings.) He was quite a large guy and was very majestic. Actually we did see a moose and her calf from across the river at the new Welcome Center. They're right there in the middle of the picture, can't you see the brown speck? We knew they were there because we followed their tracks. Not quite sure what Irv is doing here. What a silly one-antler moose boy! I'm in love with the Tetons. My dream home has changed from a $3.6 million dollar lodge in Jackson to a 10,000 acre ranch for $29.5 million near Pinedale, WY.  Among other things it has a huge house, a 3,000 sq. foot manager's house, guest house, and best of all--an indoor HEATED arena. I ...

Yesterday we drove through Teton National Park. I think this is my favorite spot on earth. I'm trying to convince IRV that we need to move to Jackson Hole, but he's not going for it. Real estate values have fallen around here and I can buy my dream home for $3.6 million. That's only $16,000 per month which will be doable if we each work 3-4 jobs. I think it's totally within reach.

Apple III I'm feeling really bad about Steve Jobs' death.  In fact, when I heard the news I shed a few tears for him.  I knew he was sick, but I had no idea it had gotten so back.  I guess as a computer geek who earned a computer science degree in the 80's, he and Bill Gates are the people I admired.  The Apple Macintosh and Radio Shack TRS-80 were the first personal computers I ever used (not counting the Commodore 64 I received when I graduated from college).  At the time I thought they were the coolest computers ever, even at their very high price tags--several thousand $$$.  Even without a hard drive!  And now I have an Apple iPod, iPad, and iPhone that I carry with me that have way more computing power than those first PCs. You may even be more shocked to learn that the very first computer I ever used in 1982 didn't use a keyboard for input, it used punch cards. One command per card....

The chorus from a hymn we sang at church on Sunday: Scars and struggles on the way, but with joy our hearts can say, Never once did we ever walk alone. Carried by Your constant grace, held within Your perfect peace, Never once, no, we never walk alone! Evermore we are breathing in Your grace. Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise. You are faithful, God, You are faithful. I'm go grateful to have a loving God who is always with me.

Irv and Yoder Our new goose, Yoder, absolutely loves Irv.  This is the goose that I saved from certain death by taking him to the vet to have his leg reset. He follows Irv around like and dog and perks up whenever he hears Irv's voice. He's the only goose I've ever known who knows his name.  Me, he just chases. Lucy, the other goose, gets very jealous when Irv pays too much attention to Yoder. It's very bizarre--Irv and his geese. Cody, Keira, and Diesel These three are my best friends (next to Irv).  Aren't they adorable?

So yesterday I had to say goodbye to my hair stylist.  Her husband accepted a job in Michigan and she is moving there with their little girl.  She's also expecting a baby boy in a couple months.  I'm so glad the family is going to be together again, but what about my hair? Now, you may not think this is a big deal, but to me it's devastating.  I have a friend who has always said that he thought women have a relationship with their hair. He is right. When you find a hair stylist who gives you great hair, it's hard to let them go. She gave me the name of a new stylist and she said I could send her a message on Facebook if that one doesnt' work out and I need to try someone else. Maybe I can just fly to Michigan every eight weeks. Do you think Irv will go for that?