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Showing posts from August, 2012

August 29 2012 - Down to Monte Vista

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We always look forward to sightseeing Wednesday.  I choose the scenic route to Monte Vista, South Fork, Creede, and back to Gunnison.  We have noticed that these little towns are being refurbished.  Several of the older homes are being restored to their original glory.  I think the people are looking for a simple way of life.  This is the old mining operation at Creede.  Had to take this picture for Ruthie but the red sign was in the way.  It read "House of Houch & Fine Drinkables".  We tried to find the campground that we had stayed in several years ago.  Ruthie and I fished for trout in a pond and Gary was fly fishing in the river behind,  We found this beautiful first-class resort for RVs nestled in the mountains.  It is a gated community and beautifully landscaped.  We would have to park on the gravel sites because dogs were NOT allowed on their grass at all.  That is were Priss has been trained to do her business.  You should see her searching for a p

August 2012 - Middle-of-the Week Activities

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When I uploaded my pictures, I found some extra ones that I had taken throughout the past week.  Here are some rainbow trout that the driver/fisherman brought home for dinner.  I was apprehensive about cooking them but found a recipe on the internet.  They were actually not bad.  I'm not a fish lady (I like mine at Long John Silvers). One day Gary asked if I would like to go on a short drive.  Why sure, why not?  Prissy and I put our lives into his hands and the short drive ended up over four hours and the route got so bad that we had to turn around again.  The picture below shows how narrow the path got.  Pretty soon we found ourselves going around a mountain that you had to choose to hug the drop off or put your truck into the boulder sticking out of the mountain.  I would have taken a picture but Priss and I were hanging on and probably had our eyes shut.  We did pass an old log cabin and a modern teepee.  I just love the history out here.  Reminds you of the old cowboys

August 22 2012 - Up to Leadville

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 Well, let me see....have to look at the pictures to remember where we have been and what we have been doing.....The picture of the deer was taken when we out to the Meat Market.  If you want some good corn-fed beef , this is the place to go.  We bought a chuck roast that lasted all week.  I still have enough for dinner tonight and I cooked it Sunday.  It was so big I had to cut it into three pieces and shove it into the crock pot.   I got a ribeye steak and Gary got a sirloin.  They were pretty tasty.  Melted in your mouth.  Back to the deer, It was just grazing in the back yard of a home.  That is the extent of the wild animals I have seen.  We do have this happy little chipmunk that likes to come visit when I'm sitting outside. Next picture.  Had to stop and fill the tank.  Diesel was $3.88 when we filled.  When we came back Obama and his friends had raised it to $3.99.  Most stations are at $4.09.  I think this picture is one as we were passing throug

August 15, 2012 - Road to Buena Vista

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We slowly got up and prepared for our weekly sightseeing trip.  The driver had chosen this route and as the day goes......  Looks like another beautiful day in the mountains.  The clouds are even prettier here.  We drove through Buena Vista and turned around and headed up Highway 306 towards Cottonwood Pass.  We made it to the pass just fine.   Don't know if the county maintenance changed or what?  But the road turned into dirt when we headed down the other side.  The roads were actually smooth.  They maintained these by watering them and then running a double grader system.  We followed right behind.  The Delia Road in Kansas needs this system.  I still remember going over those wash-board ruts going to the boys' ballgames.  Our goal remains in the horizon.  We made it to Taylor Reservoir.  The roads continued to deteriorate on the way to Tin Cup, Colorado.  An interesting original old town.  Lots of original housing, gift shop, and a BBQ wagon.  At T

Day 3 with Grand Kids - Pike's Peak

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First, I have a couple of funnies to share.  Chaney wanted to change her earrings; but just didn't want to be too brave about it.  So she gathered enough courage, Mary was holding her hands and I was going to change them and put peroxide on them too.  Then Chaney lost her courage and just had one ear done.  She wanted to; didn't want to; wanted to; didn't want to.  We all were getting pretty tired by then.  So I told her that it was her ears and we didn't care.  Maybe we should just wait to change the other one the next morning.  Mary pipes up:  "That's it!  Tomorrow it is!  Good night! Jessie got up this morning complaining that Grandpa was talking in his sleep.  She said he was practicing his "no (s)" for the next day.  Also, Grandpa got pretty short winded up on the summit of the mountain and started coughing.  He made the comment that he would probably not try to go that high again..  Jessie said that if he did go he needed to take an oxygen tan

Day 2 - Kids at Zoo

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Today we got up early and was at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo at the opening of the gates.  Everyone was taken with the baby giraffes,  Mary was the only one with any shots left on her camera.  Smart little girl!  Of course we had to ride the antique Merry-Go-Round.  Each one had a big smile as they rode by.  The older ones had to have a ride too. Mary is not afraid of anything or anyone....... We saw bears, lions, tigers, and snakes!  Ohhhhh, what is this?  Looks like four tired kids and one pooped GrMa.  It was a long way to the top and GrMa's knees thought it was a lot longer to the bottom.  Everyone is hungry and thirsty.  Now to agree on where to eat lunch? Guess, Burger King and his Whoopers Won! Here is the crew feeling much better after having some good ole American food in their tummies.  They were ready to practice their rock climbing skills while GrMa took her nap......well sleep seems not to be in our plans for t

August 6 2012 - Railroad at Royal Gorge

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PaPa Bear with all his cubs under control heading to the train after we picked up our tickets   Chaney and Mary are spell bound.  They were really good and enjoyed the ride both inside with me and outside in the observation car with Papa and the older kids. PaPa and Jessie are worried about our tickets.  They seated two children at another section than two adults and two children.   Calvin is thinking "what is the big deal?"   It worked out just fine, the seats were right across from each other.   This is the Arkansas River.  The train stopped for several minutes at the end of our line.   On the way back, the train stopped so the passengers could view the bridge at the top of the Gorge.  It looks pretty small from down below.   After our "come to Jesus" talk with the kids,  things are going a lot smoother.  We assigned pairs of Calvin and Mary and Jessie and Chaney.  We figured Chaney would listen to Jessie better.  Here is "big b