Connie in Ouray

 The storms have finally moved on, dropping six inches or so over the past six days.  We are now at 51 inches for the season.  And, fortunately, it's gotten to the mid-20s here on MFL, which is a relief from the polar vortex that hit us the last few days, lows around zero.  No freezing pipes! Mike and I were out walking the road today and found five different set of coyote poop on the road.  I'm pretty sure that means there's more than two wandering around up here, but since I hadn't heard them lately, I figured they'd moved on.  Not so fast. Barb and Steve had a neighborhood dinner last night, and there were eight of us:  Barb and Steve, Mike, Greg, and me, Steve Lankenau, and David and Faith.  Barb and Steve really know how to entertain and make people comfortable.  I think I should just move in there. Mike now has the cold Greg and I had.  Those frosted trees

 Greg and I have been fighting colds, and we've both finally turned the corner.  With everything out there, RSV, covid, flu, I'm grateful it was just a cold. We had a disappointing inch of snow overnight. Initial forecasts had been for around eight.  The long-term forecast of a la nina year, where the snow goes north, came true this time around, with Rocky Mountain National Park and Steamboat Springs getting nailed.  By my count, we've had just over four feet of snow this season, which puts us well ahead of last year.  It is also very, very cold, lows expected to be near or below zero Thursday night and Friday night.   Let's just say the snow isn't going anywhere. The ice park is beginning to look fantastic, and I'm sure the ice farmers are loving the cold temps and not much snow.  Also the ampitheater this time of year is just unbelievable. My new snow molds: penguin above and  rubber duckie below

 At 5:15 Saturday, we were woken up by strange noises.  At first, we thought something was going on with Greg's kitties, but then we realized it was the yipping and barking of coyotes, as in more than one.  When the motion light outside our bedroom came on, we looked out and saw a gorgeous coyote with a full winter coat of brown and gray.  We were so mesmerized and it moved away so quickly that we weren't able to get a picture.  It was very obviously looking for and listening to another coyote, and it was difficult to tell if it was one more or multiple more.  What a thrilling moment for us. Last night, Greg and I went down to the Ouray Christmas Parade.  Before the parade, they announced that the town Christmas tree was the one that had fallen outside the Hot Springs last month during that fierce windstorm.   Now the parade:  granted, it is only about five or six vehicles decorated, but for the kids watching, it is plenty.  Santa w...

 It was two years ago that Mike arrived at17 Mineral Farms Lane in a UHaul van filled with - wait for it - plants.  One of those plants I had before Mike and I were married 41 years ago, and we have another five that are really, really big.  I followed the next day after supervising the movers. It has been an amazing two years.

We had four inches of snow overnight and into the early morning, and with the accompanying wind, the aspens had snow clinging to them.  It was just achingly beautiful, especially when the sun came out and the sparkling commenced.   With this latest snowfall, we're at my unofficial total of 37.5 inches, three feet (!), which we did not have until January last year.   Mirabella in her $5 Petco coat and Dempsey waiting for Mike and Greg to come up from the pumphouse The snowblower dude did the road early before 7:30 this morning.  I am so grateful! 

 I woke up to two and a half inches of new snow and this view:   Mike went with the trail group last week to cut trees that had fallen across Portland Trail.  He said there were at least 50, a result of that horrible windstorm we had.  The three of us hiked up Veenstras' trail to take care of the tree that had fallen across the trail, any excuse for Mike to get out the chain saw.  

... for the five innocent souls murdered Saturday night in Colorado Springs, my home town for 39 and a half years.  In times like this, I always think of Rodney King, who said, "Can't we all just get along?"  Food for thought. Mike and I hiked up Veenstras' trail Sunday morning, trying to find some peace in this world.  It was cold,  the snow was sparkly.   A very distinct deer trail sparkly snow two trees down on the trail,  one above and one below Since we have been unseasonably cold, the ice farmers are really starting to build ice both in the gorge and on the beginner hill.  It's fascinating.