My Garden

Happy Monday everyone! It started out kind of cloudy here, but I think it is going to be a nice day. I discussed on a previous blog post, that we leave our yard natural here, in our summer home, in the Rocky Mountains. Translated: We have a lot of rocks in the yard. We do have a bit of color by adding hanging baskets, that must be *watered daily.....which is part of my morning routine.

 

These hang by the front entrance

 

Geraniums on the main deck (facing south)

 

another basket of purple on the west deck (sorry I do not know the name)

 

and under the kitchen window, a wine barrel with several types of flowers. These are the only ones the deer can reach...and they did top them earlier in the season

This is a spray that I have found works to keep them from eating the flowers. No wonder it works, it smells horrible. I spray it on the flowers in the barrel about once a week.

Have a wonderful Monday!...Janey

*It is the very low humidity here that makes watering outside plants daily necessary

 

 

My Lucky Day

You know, some days are just luckier than others. I have mentioned several times how far it is to the supermarket, from our summer home in the mountains,(an hour each way) Well, what do we do when we forget to buy something? Case in point, I forgot that we are out of decaf coffee. We do for your information, have not one but two little grocery stores. in town ...and by little...I mean little.

They don't always have what you are looking for....and the price reflects the trouble that they had stocking the shelves... in this out of the way place, but they are great when you need them. We have a guest at the moment ,and I want to offer coffee after dinner tonight...so I trekked down the hill into town.

I was browsing the isles (okay so there are only three) for the coffee, when Peter asked what I was looking for?. When I said I was looking for decaf coffee his eyes lit up."Today is your lucky day" He said. "These aren't selling ...and they are not out of date...I would like you to have them for free."

So, I now have plenty of decaf, if you want to join us. But, I can't help but think that this is a peace offering. You see, Peter for the life of him, can't remember my name. When Peter and his wife quit their big city corporate jobs, and opened this cute little store two years ago...I was an eager first customer. I had been going to the other little grocery store for well over 20 yrs, and the people had never bothered to learn my name. So, the first time in this store, I said "I am Janey, what is your name"?....To which he answered " Peter" The next time in, I said "hi Peter"....and he stared at me blankly. I called him by name every time I went in there, and a couple of times reminded him of mine. Well! I went in with hubby Tom the other day....and you guessed it. Peter said "Oh it's Chicago TOM"!...and what's her name...which I know he was thinking.
I give up! Maybe if I wrote a thank you note for the coffee?

Another Ghost Town

Thirteen miles south of Lake City, Co you will find the remains of a small mining town of Sherman. Founded in 1877  it was home at one time to over 300 miners of gold, silver, copper and lead. There were several *mines in this area, that was prone to flooding in the Spring. The town was built at the confluence of Cottonwood Creek and the lake Fork of the Gunnison River. Many of the miners left in the winter and returned in late Spring when the snow was melted and the streams fat with that snow melt, were down.

I like that this recently erected sign educates us all... that this place did exist

 

The largest remaining structure pictured above are the walls of what was the Black Wonder Mill ,where ore was crushed and processed.

Other than there are several miners cabins that are sadly decaying.

 

this interior shot shows you that the floors were just dirt.

At this point I am not sure what could be done to preserve the area.

For those interested in what was the demise of this little place. Well, in the early 1890's the U. S. government devalued silver...which abruptly slowed down it's mining. Also, in order to keep the waters from the creek and the river back, a crude dam was constructed...which shortly thereafter burst and flooded, almost the entire town. Sherman never recovered. One man who owned more than one cabin, settled a debt he owed to a man in Lake City by giving him several of these cabins, which are part of our town  (Lake City) today. Most of this area where the town stood, is private property now ( with no trespassing signs) so I couldn't;t investigate like I wanted. (hate that).

* Mines in the area of Sherman were:  New Hope, Smile of Fortune, Minnie Lee and the largest, The Black Wonder.

Portions of this information came from the Bureau of Land Management brochure

The Ranch

A few miles south of town there is a beautiful ranch. When we first starting spending our summers here, in the mountains, there was a family living there, and a pasture full of horses. I use to love to drive by at look at this Utopia with such longing. You see, along the right side of the property is a pretty pond, and the Lake Fork River. It just couldn't be more perfect. If you look closely, you can see the large log home in the distance. I have been inside and it is amazing.

click on photo to enlarge

Well, about twelve years ago the ranch was sold to a guy in California. He very quickly figured out that this place is not easy to get to....and the ranch just sat there for years, empty. No people and no horses. It finally sold last year, and I have yet to see anyone there. So sad...

Those that know me, know that I probably know the history of this land. There was another large house here in the late 1800's and the family was friendly with the Ute Indians. Some men from town came out once and said that the Ute Indians were on a raid, and coming their way and the family should hide. The husband was not there, and the wife said" Chief Ouray will not lay a finger on my family". ....and guess what?.... he didn't. The family only had one child, a son...and he in later life wrote children's books about cowboys and Indians. I own two.

a closer look at the house.

Linking to: Good Fences

Our Annual Tea

I have been very busy for the last few days, getting ready for our annual Victorian High Tea, a fundraiser for our little garden at the museum.

 

click on photos to enlarge

We were able to set the tables the night before

 

 

There are five hostesses, and we do all of the cooking. The first course is savory

 

The second: sandwiches

 

Followed by every ones favorite: Dessert

 

We sell sixty tickets and most everyone comes dresses in Victorian costumes

 We were happy to see some of the younger set join us

 

I really got a kick out of these shoes!

 

These too...no they were not on a lady!

 

We had so much fun pampering the room full of great people

 

Oh, and did I mention that I like tall cowboys!

If I am not posting for a few days it is because I am experiencing computer problems...no I didn't run off with a cowboy!

A New Trail

Tom and I had to go to the supermarket today. Most you you know that we are in a remote area of the Colorado Mountains and the nearest supermarket is 120 miles round trip (an all day affair). Tom suggested we take a hike along they way. ....and I knew just the perfect spot.

 

There is a trail along the Gunnison River, just before it empties into Lake Blue Mesa

 

It is really just a groomed walking path that hugs the river

 

There were some wooded areas that I thought were beautiful

 

and tall grassy areas with a few wild flowers

 

If you look closely, you will see a fly fisherman in the river.

 

There were even a couple of little bridges to cross....Streams feeding into the river

 

Why I even enjoy the pretty weeds

and the decaying wood

Just remember to pack your insect repellent, as there can be a lot of mosquitoes. I hope that you are having a nice weekend! Janey

 

 

 

 

The Plants

My husband and I live in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado for five months out of the year. Most of that, in the summertime. We enjoy hiking, golf , four wheeling. ...and on occasion fishing, not to mention a lot of entertaining family and friends. What we don't want to do, is yard work. So, we leave our yard here natural.

 

Case in point: Our front yard

On the north side of the property, these strange plants have sprung up over the years.

They seem to be happy, with no care...so we have left them alone

 

As you can see, some of them get quite tall. Maybe because this one is near the septic tank? Someone suggested that this plant s on the Noxious Weed list and I should destroy them. If anyone knows please let me know. Until then,we are  just going to enjoy them.