The Headwaters

I think I mentioned that we go "over" the mountain a lot to the town of Creede.
Well, we always stop here if we have guests from Texas . These are the headwaters of what will become the mighty Rio Grande River, It flows south from here, and all along the southern coast of Texas (between Texas and the country of Mexico).

4Wheelin Again

Yesterday we headed back up the mountain in the direction of the Ghost town of Carson Township "again"....since my niece and her husband are visiting.

and naturally I had to yell STOP when I saw yet another Aminita Muscara...a larger one this time.

Couldn't name these if I had to...but I liked them

This time.... after walking around Carson...we headed up even higher

a little out of focus...but another pair of twin fawns

It is a rough climb to get up here. But, I think it is worth it. You are looking at wilderness!

and then even the road finally ended ...love that on top of the world feeling...fun day!

A Busy Day

My niece hand her husband are visiting from Ft Worth, Texas all this week. Yesterday, Tom led them on a hike up the highest peak in the area. Uncompahgre Peak 14,309 feet.

 They didn't get back to the cabin until 3pm....and at 4:45pm we were to 4 wheel up Gold Hill to a picnic. The picnic on Gold Hill ,which is a potluck is only on Wednesday nights, and you have to be invited by a homeowner who lives on that mountain. It really is a coveted invitation....mainly because of the view. A bit too much to do in one day though!

 

Sara and James were good sports and they ran to the showers and were ready to go on time.

Come to think of it...they came down one mountain peak and rushed up to the other. This is the view from the picnic area. 

But, Mother Nature was not being such a good sport. Cold rainy weather moved in. I took this as we...and several others, drove off. I was surprised that anyone stayed!

The Little Yellow Cabin

There are houses and cabins of all sizes in our little town. This one really appeals to me. I love all of the yellow....with the red accents. The antique screen door reminds me of my childhood...and metal roofs are especially nice when it rains.

It's Time!

I love the mushroom season around here...mainly because there is such a variety. One such mushroom, that I came across on our trip to the ghost town the other day, is the Amanita Muscaria. I was so surprised the first time I saw one, as I thought they were only products of fairy tales.!

Many describe this little beauty as poisonous, other say it is a hallucinogenic. Thought to be the very mushroom that sent the Vikings into their rages....and also responsible for Alice's trip to Wonderland.

I by the way do not know one mushroom from another, and would never venture to eat one that  I found in the wild. I do however enjoy taking pictures of them....

How About Some Happy Faces.

These two little twin fawns were very interested in watching me from a little hilltop!

I Am Sad Today

I am sorry. Blogs shouldn't be sad. But, I have had a horrible shock yesterday. Our good friend Jim died suddenly of a heart attack. Jim was a professor at the University of Illinois. He came here for a month every summer....and made sure it was when he and his darling wife Leslie could help with the Victorian Tea and an opening night for a play at the Creede Theater. We were to go to dinner at their rental cabin tonight. He was fixing Italian food. I had picked up the pasta for him in Gunnison.. when I was at the grocery store yesterday.
Sorry...I just didn't expect this to happen...guess we never do. Jim we all loved you so!
If you have a hubby...hug him a little closer .....Janey

The Canyon

Yesterday, on the way to the grocery store we took a detour. We usually drive fifty miles north on Hwy 149, and then turn east on Hwy 50, for the last ten miles, into Gunnison. But, when we got to Hwy 50, we turned west along the Blue Mesa Reservoir, headed to the north rim of the Black Canyon, which is a National Park. The views on the drive were certainly worth the trip.

We spotted this Golden Eagle sitting in a dead tree, watching for fish in the lake.

The Black Canyon was formed by The Gunnison River as it snaked it's way west.

click on photo to enlarge
Hard to believe, but they actually had a train running through the bottom of the canyon at one time.

My brother in law had never seen the canyon, which is why we detoured that direction....after a few photographs we turned around and headed east to the grocery store. Fun day.

Summer Play Mates

These are just a few of my fun summer girlfriends

They are from left to right Carolyn from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Linda from Dallas , Texas, and Laura from San Marcus, Texas

Anne from Fair Hope. Alabama, Kay from Waco, Texas and Robin from Houston, Texas
They are just a few of the gals that make my summer so much fun!
...and why my post wasn't ready earlier this morning. We had nineteen people her for burgers. Thankfully the rain held off!

A Ghost Town

We went 4wheeling yesterday. Tom, my brother-in-law and I rode up to a ghost town.

This is what is left of the old mining town of Carson. The town was named for the miner Christopher Carson who founded the town and the silver mine there, named  The Bonanza King. Back in the 1890's there were 400 to 500 people living here.These buildings where falling down
before the addition of new roofs.

You can walk through the old homes and stores. But walk softly...the floors seemed to be sagging.

There must be eight to ten buildings still standing. They sit on top of the mountain at nearly 12,000 feet

Too late for this one. This is what happens when the roof gives way. Looks like they have a Christmas tree growing in the family room!

Mine Entrance?

I can't tell you how many times I have passed this, and never noticed it..... even though it sits right beside the road! The reason is, there is a wonderful old red barn and pond on the other side of the road that catches your eye.(which I will feature that in a future blog). Someone had to call my attention to this ...and I was amazed to see it!!!...and I  actually thought that I was observant....

What is it you say? Well, when you want to know something in this little town...you do not go to Google...you go to Grant. Grant is the president of our Historical Society, born and raised here, and also the editor of the newspaper. I was just sure that it was and entrance to an old mine..but Grant says" no". It is the doorway to an old underground potato cellar. He said as a child he went in there to buy potatoes and they would weigh them on an old scale.

. He has been trying to get the property owner to restore it, for historical purposes, and hopefully he will.
 I am amazed that after twenty something years here...I am still discovering new things!

Not From Around Here.

This is not a car you usually see in our little town. I figure these Corvette owners were on some sort of road rally and stopped in Lake City for lunch?

What's wrong with this picture?

I spotted these children trying to raft down our river yesterday. I see a lot of things wrong here. Even though the Father was running along the banks....These kids are in fast moving water and though it appears shallow, it can be swift and deep in places.They had no life jackets and basically no adult supervision. I frankly consider this a NO NO!

Interior Shots

A few interior shots from the Historic Home Tour

A cozy living room in the pink house...with a wood stove

This 1940''s fishing cottage 

had a picture...with granny and the kids on the porch

and the miner's cabin

had curtains for doorway's

a beautiful old portrait 

a cozy bedroom upstairs

and some unusual china in an antique cabinet