The Mountain Climber

 Meet Dixie, I did this weekend. She was here from California to attend the fiftieth wedding anniversary of her college roommate. Dixie, I immediately noticed, was in great physical condition for her age.Visiting with her, I discovered that her hobby was climbing mountains. Rainier was mentioned as was Mount Shasta....but I was really impressed when she told me she had climbed Kilimanjaro eleven years ago when she was fifty eight years old.!

May I Take Your Picture?

There are four directions you can travel when leaving little Lake City, CO. Although, two of those roads are dirt roads into the mountains. Doesn't matter which way you travel, the views in all four directions are breathtaking. Which is why I love going for a ride, when cabin fever sets in. We were doing just that on Saturday morning (heading south) when I spotted this painter . I yelled STOP! to my husband Tom and he complied without too much grumbling.

I ran up to this painter and asked if I could take his picture? He said sure. I asked him if he was a local and he said well, sort of. He was from Creede,which is about fifty five miles to the southeast (over two passes). I said "well, then I bet you have heard to the famous artist there....*Stephen Quiller? He smiled and said, "actually, I am Stephen Quiller".

* Stephen Quiller is an internationally known water color artist who has lived and painted in the Creede, Co.area (where he has a gallery) for the past thirty years. We have a signed print, but I had never met him!

Historic Churches

First Baptist

St James Episcopal

Community Presbyterian

St Rose Lima Catholic

We have four historic churches here in little Lake City, CO.; all being completed before the turn of the twentieth century....and all still in use. Interesting (to me) that the Catholic and Episcopal churches have yet to install indoor plumbing....Seems people don't hang around long after the services!
I hope you are having a nice Sunday.....

You Can't Fish Here

Almost to the top of the pass, east of Lake City, is a small dirt road that turns north and follows Cebolla Creek  to Powderhorn, CO. Along the way, at this high altitude, there are a number of small lakes and ponds...and really good moose hunting territory. Yesterday, we drove by Lower Mill Pond (on that road) just as a large bull moose decided to go for a swim.

He had just gotten in the water when he noticed a couple of fisherman at the other end of the lake.
 

Apparently, moose do not like sharing their pond. He headed for the fishermen. I was amazed at how quickly he swam the length of that small lake. He would stop every few feet, raising his body almost out of the water and shaking his head; in a somewhat threatening manner.

The fisherman got the message.... and ran to their truck, driving away.... just in time!

Nothing Says Vacation LIke:

Seeing this car made me smile. You see a lot of vehicles like this in the summer in the U.S. Bikes on the back and a luggage container on top. They are defiantly on vacation! Our kids use to call these luggage containers pods. We actually bought one years ago for our car. The kids proudly referred to us as pod people!

The Red Glow

I walked out on the side deck of our house just at sunset the other evening. The glow  to the west caused me to do a double take. Normally I would just think, "how pretty"; but, with all of the fires around our state, it startled me. Thankfully it was just the glow of the sun setting.

Community Theater

We attended a hilarious play (Southern Hospitality) last night in our Community theater. Acted out by The Cabin Fever Players, who consist of locals from our community. Gosh, there is a past bank president, the head of the local title company ,owner of an insurance agency and our local rep for the electric company... to name a few. Professional actors they are not....but they had us rolling in the aisles with laughter. For some reason it makes it a lot funnier when you actually know the actors!We sure have fun here in little Lake City!

Poor Me

I was feeling sorry for myself because my husband had "the" car (at a golf tournament) and I had to walk down to Zumba yesterday morning. It's about a 20 min walk down the mountain. I hadn't gone very far when I realized it was an absolutely beautiful day. Crossing the river (South Fork of the Gunnison), I spotted a fly fisherman...such a peaceful site.

And right before I got to where I was going, I spotted these little fellows.  It's amazing how my whole mood had softened and drastically  changed by the time I arrived!

*Our four wheel drive, rolled off the mountain last summer, so we are down to one car here.Thankfully no one was in it.

Wild Life Photographer

When I want to track a wild animal. I really just have to track Greg Ochocki, local wildlife photographer.

Yesterday he found a moose. I can only imagine how much better his pictures are (with that camera) than mine; since I just had my trusty little point and shoot. It was a beautiful day. Tom and I drove along Cebolla Creek (which is at about 10,000 ft.) past beaver dams, and breathtaking vistas. We  then hiked up to the top lake at Deer Lakes (where a series of four mountains lakes cascade down a hill). All of this before we spotted Greg,(the icing on the cake).

The Artist

Hard at work is local (Lake City, CO) glass blower, Dave Jordon. You can stop by his shop, at the Artists Collective, on Silver Street where you can usually find him demonstrating his one of a kind works of art; decorative wine glasses, vases and sparkling jewelry.

 

There are other artists demonstrating their crafts on our little main street. Russ Brown sits in the middle of his gallery painting (as early as 6:30am) or you might find  Ani Barry weaving fabric, knitting a sweater or stringing beads a few doors down.(a little later in the day :)

Colorado

This site gives pause today

Our beautiful state is reeling from the senseless loss of innocent lives.

A Day Trip

Crested Butte
We drove up to Crested Butte yesterday for lunch. It is about an hour and a half north of here, so it's perfect for a day trip. There is a darling town down below the Butte. Sweet little houses, that are laden with flowers and a downtown with a multitude of shops, art galleries and cute restaurants; most of them having terraces where you can marvel at the blue skies. (pictures above). There is also and area up the hill near the ski lifts with larger newer homes and a lot of condo's.

We are always amazed at the median age group here. Anytime you have a downhill ski community,there seems to be a youthful population!

The Backyard

Many people in this small town get very creative figuring out how to make a living. That's because the season is so short, that you have to make your money for the year, in span of about four months; enough to last you the other lean months, when the town shrinks to about 400 people. We have a gas station that we all refer to as the Texaco, even though the owner long since become an independent....It has a Barbecue Restaurant inside, but is also open for breakfast..serving on occasion mouth watering cinnamon rolls.

In their backyard they are smack dab up against the wall of a cliff. The owner had the bight idea of building a stage and a seating area, an amphi theater sort of arrangement. All summer long he has a line-up of entertainment scheduled....your ticket  includes a barbecue dinner (despite the fact my husband would like to trade it for a cinnamon roll) and some great entertainment. Last night we enjoyed Michael Martin Murphy ....famous for songs like Geronimo's Cadillac and Wildfire. Fun Night!

Freemon's General Store

The distance between Creede, Co and Lake city is about 55 mi., taking you over two passes, Spring Creek and Slumgullion. It is about an hour's drive, but we have a hard time passing Freemon's General Store which is along the way. Freemon's serves up a delicious old fashioned cheeseburger which you can eat at vintage formica kitchen tables set between the shelves of groceries or comfortably seated on the rickety, well worn, front porch. Pictured below is my cheeseburger. Did I mention the ice cream cones?

 

Betty

In March, this little Colorado town said goodbye to Mary Elizabeth H. (Betty to all who knew her) just a short month after her ninetieth  birthday. Betty moved here, as a young bride of the areas first  DOW (Division of Wildlife)Wilderness Officer .

They lived in this small log cabin, built for them by the state, where they raised their only son Grant. Today, the cabin serves as the towns child care facility. Their son Grant, grew up to become the editor of our award winning weekly newspaper, the President of the Hinsdale County Historical Society, and in most every one's opinion, a gifted historian and a great story teller.

In the early 60's Betty opened this bookstore/gift shop, which remains in the family today. Inside, you can find nooks and crannies filled with unusual gifts, souvenirs, books on local history, and a treasure trove of old maps .For most of those fifty years, you could find Betty inside, always helpful and knowledgeable regarding this very remote part of Colorado.

Due to the expansion of Wee Care (the child care facility) a large tree had to be chopped down...a tree that was planted by Betty ...many many years ago near their log cabin. The above bench was  made from the wood of that tree, and dedicated to Betty, a fitting tribute to a lady who grew to love, and make this wilderness her home..

Mine Country

A neighboring town ( of Lake City, CO) to the southeast (and over two passes) is Creede, Co., also a mining town.

This new, I guess you would call it a sculpture?....sits on their main street with the sign below.

More on Creede later ......

Trying Not to Sound Political....but

A few days ago I showed you a picture of some sheep that were grazing near the road here in the San Juan Mountains.It is always exciting for us to see nearly a thousand animals roaming and grazing free of fences. We discovered that majority of the Shepard's around these parts are from Chili. I have since read up on their lonely plight and harsh working conditions.(on the Internet). Several articles say that they live for months in  small trailers called campitos; most without electricity, heat or even bathroom facilities. They work for mere wages, some for only ninety cents an hour.They have no way to seek medical care and no phone to call for help. Most don't even know where they are. There are groups that are trying to better the plight of these forgotten labors, who entered our country legally through the temporary agricultural worker program. I am not saying the Shepard that is watching over this particular flock is in these pitiful circumstances, but next time I may take a closer look at his living conditions.

Early Riser's Treat

T-Mountain is the view we have to the southwest, which we love, but around 6am something really special happens..

I try to encourage our guests to get up early and see it at least once during their stay. The sun peaks over the mountain behind us from the east,casting light just on the very top of T-Mountain ...and for just a few minutes. it seems to glow.

 

OMG!

I am not sure if this borders on precious or ridiculous! Seems this is this doggies getup when riding on the back of a motorcycle!