She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the south wind
And curtsied up and down.
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour:
“Winter is dead.”
“Daffodowndilly” – A.A. Milne (1882-1956)
Spring in Colorado.
Sunshine & 70’s then snow & 20° – even trade, every 3 or 4 days. Global warming? Nah. Happens same way every year. Bulbs push thru the snow. Geese are back on Hecla. Wildlife in my neighborhood explodes. Coyotes, barn owls, prairie dogs, sooo many rabbits. Even my Pup’s mood seems to swing daily. Gotta hike, gotta hike, gotta hike – then back in hibernation mode.
Spring in Colorado. Welcome back friend. Good to see ya again.
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- 2nd day of Spring
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- Pup’s wintering spot
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- haircut & a smile
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- gruesome snow-melt find
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- Geese back on Hecla
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- grandpup Marty
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- lil’ Fashionista
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- Spring SNOW ❤
Finding balance in 2017 = 2 weekends/month NOT marathoning
After receiving the best possible news ever (NO cancer), unexpectedly suffered a mental letdown. Not sure — is this normal after being hyper-focused ‘bout one’s physical health for so many months? Strange, but true.
Dog-sat my grandpup (while Ash & Tom horseback’d in snowy Estes), binge-watched a bunch of documentaries on Netflix – plus logged a lotta miles [’cause every day’s a run day]. Lotta miles = happy endorphins, soooo [luckily]…Sunday afternoon, dark cloud passed & found myself refocused on the future. BIG potential trip planned — details later 🙂
Sunday next: snow hiking in Colorado’s newest State Park, Staunton State Park in Conifer (established 2013). Hadn’t pre-planned a new hike since my 52-week hike year, when every weekend was a new hike. Researched whether trails were ‘dog friendly’, retrieved trailhead GPS coordinates & backpacked snacks/water for two.
day plan: altitude, thin air, mental reset/fixin’ the head
8300ft base, Ponderosa pine, montane meadows, easy up-n-down trail. Missed the trail split to the Old Mill Site soooo [unfortunately]…hiked an extra mile-half on Border Line trail, return hiked on Scout Line trail.
The trail leading to the old mill site is one of the more challenging hikes in Staunton State Park. The final .9 miles of this trail is hiker-only, a peaceful segment apart from busier multi-use areas. The hike features multiple historic properties, including cabins, an old bunkhouse and remnants of a sawmill.
My take: steep climb in SNOW — no switchbacks & almost a full mile UP. Gradual climb, not a 14er, but still an elevation gain of 782ft. YES! Hike reward: avocado/sprouts sandwich, large flat rock aside a 1930’s bunkhouse. Sunshine & snow, nothing better.
Next weekend, marathoning – winter destination: Michigan
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- Papa dog-sat, while Ash rode the Rockies — LOVE this pic!
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- Colorado’s newest State Park
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- destination: Old Mill Site
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- hike day with #1 pup
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- 8300ft base, just 40 minutes south of Denver
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- steady snow hike UP
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- 782ft elevation gain
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- scenic view…fairly sparse Mill remains
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- 1930’s bunkhouse
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- lunch break: avocado/sprouts sandwich – YUM!
Bro Fest – Jan 2017
Most deserving of holidays, celebrating man’s best friend.
My pup, Ro is certainly there for me – sickness & in health, long hike or short neighborhood stroll, snowy winters or hot smoldering summers – he’s got my back & I’ve got his. His natural curiosity & intense need to protect [us] from neighbors (& dogs) passing our windows at night – HA! – he’s a good one. Love ya to the moon & back Ro Ro 🙂
National Dog Day serves to help galvanize the public to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, and acknowledges family dogs and dogs that work selflessly each day to save lives, keep us safe and bring comfort. Dogs put their lives on the line every day – for their law enforcement partner, for their blind companion, for a child who is disabled, for our freedom and safety by detecting bombs and drugs and pulling victims of tragedy from wreckage.
“Millions of dogs are killed each year because they’re simply unwanted, says Colleen Paige, founder of National Dog Day. They’re unwanted because no one realized how to properly care for the demands of the breed. They’re unwanted because they were bought as a Christmas gift for a child that didn’t keep their promises about caring for the dog…unwanted because they shed too much…unwanted because they bark too much. UNWANTED…simply because someone changed their mind. All a dog wants to do is love and protect you. That’s all. Dogs are amazing, courageous, sensitive and sentient beings that deserve compassion and respect. Please consider bringing what was once considered “unwanted love”, into your heart and home on National Dog Day!”
Ro tug-o-war battle
