1st Ski Trip of the Season!

When I found out I didn't have to work on this past Friday or Monday Arn and I decided to head to Crested Butte. I, of course wanted to try out my new skis. They had gotten lots of new snow the previous week but we had been in a cold snap. The weatherman called for temps in the 20's. Another perk was the price of ski passes. The price was $59 but if you had another CO ski pass you got half price. Our Keystone 4 pk passes worked! We ate at the Avalanche Friday night, skiied Sat., took off Sun., went hot tubbing, used the steam room, and skied Monday morning before we headed back to Monument. It snowed like crazy all day Sunday so we took that day off so Arn could study for his upcoming pharmacy test and I could work on Christmas cards. We did take Maggie on a couple of 'blizzard' walks. We went to the Brown Lab Pub and Bakery a couple of times but they wouldn't let her go inside because it was too packed (normally they don't mind). Monday morning we got out early and had 19 inches of fresh powder. It wasn't very crowded so we found fresh powder all morning. I think I did ski the powder a little better with my new skis (True Luvs - K2). We did try another new restaurant in Mountaineer Square that we will go back to - Djangos. It is a small plate place and the food was great. We finally got to try Pork Belly! The chefs on Top Chef are always making it and we really liked it but want to try it again somewhere else for a comparison. It was nice enjoying the perks of retirement and working per diem. We would like to find some used cross country skis this yr. and I'd like to get Arn a pair of snowshoes but he isn't really receptive to the snow shoe idea. Back to scrambling to get ready for Christmas!

Greenland Open Space

In an effort to burn some of the calories we consumed on Thanksgiving we went hiking out on the Greenland Open Space yesterday. We walked for 4.89 miles on Kipps loop. Some of it was in trees and scrub oak but most of the area is out in the open. The views of Spruce Mt. and Palmer Lake are really nice. We did pass by the grave of Edward Thomas Kipps who passed away at the age of 28 in 1869. Of course I had to do some research to find more info about him and found out that he was a leather merchant. He was from London, England and evidently came to the area because of TB but passed away at a young age. His wife returned to England after he died. The area is beautiful and is surrounded by a wrought iron fence. Evidently this area on the treed ridge was the Palmer Lake cemetery at one time and there are more graves (8) to the east hidden in the scrub oak. Most of the graves were moved to the Monument Cemetery because of the location which was too far from Palmer Lake. We'll have to do some more exploring the next time we are up there. Maggie wasn't moving so well after the hike and needed to have an aspirin and rest. I think 4-5 mi. is her max for a hike these days. The top pic is looking out from the cemetery area out to Spruce Mt. and the ranch below it.

Thanksgiving 2009

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday this year. Our group consisted of 16 loved ones and we sure missed those that weren't able to attend (Val and Eric). Everything was delicious and we planned for plenty of leftovers. Pass The Pig was a hit this year because all ages could play and it didn't require any thinking or concentration. There was a lot of oinking going on around the table. Note Brian's pic in the group photo. Tyler and Mere had to return to Boulder on Friday because of their jobs. Meredith, Chris, Maren, and I hiked up to the reservoirs Friday AM before they left. It was fun spending time with everyone. Arn and I will be cutting the tree for Christmas this week and putting up decorations. Val and Eric arrive the 19th and Grandma arrives on the 21st. I really need to get going on my shopping!

Corn Drying Day!

Today was corn drying day with my antique corn dryer. I used my mother's and my grandmother's recipe and it does take all day. One gallon of corn is mixed with 1 cup sugar, 1 cup light cream, 1/4 cup salt and placed on the dryer which sits on the stove top. There is a reservoir which hold water and the corn dehydrates. We always have it on Thanksgiving and call it 'Indian Corn'. It can also be used for hiking or backpacking food. It keeps indefinitely in a jar in the pantry. We love it but there are many who don't. I think I'll fix another kind of corn too for those people. It's not much work at all and I feel like I am preserving history by doing it. I'm still doing prep work for Thanksgiving and need to make all of my pie crusts yet! I love this time of year...

Bernie and Marguerite came to Denver this past weekend and invited us to go to the Broncos/Steelers football game on Monday night. So many Steeler fans were in attendance! Arn and I rode the train into the stadium and met Bernie and Marg. It was such a fun time and we were thrilled the Steelers won! Go Steelers!

Howloween 2009

We still enjoy getting dressed up for Halloween! This year we went to the club again (last yr. we were M &M packages). The Monument Hill Band played again so there was lots of dancing. Obviously Arn went as Waldo and I was a bee keeper (Mere's costume from last year). The monk and the sexy nun are our friends Brad and Jane. On Sat we went up to Boulder to watch CU play Missouri. It was our first football game of the year. Tyler, Miranda, and Meredith came too. We had a nice day even tho the Buffs lost, had lunch at the Sun Mt. Cafe after the game, and got home in time to pass out candy (not one kid stopped by this yr.) Mere and Tyler both had to work(and dress up for work) Mere was a lobster and Tyler was an 80's rocker (Metal Head). I hope Tyler got a pic of himself.