R Schroe

Italy trip - some highlights

2010-03-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

We are back from our two week trip to Italy and it was super! We had a great time traveling and visiting with Quentin, and got to see many wonderful sites, and eat good food, and drink wine, and I even got to see one of my target birds (common kingfisher). Marianne will post some pix online later, but for now I just wanted to note a few of the highlights from our trip.

- Spending time with Quentin. We were together for two weeks and that alone made the whole trip worth it! Getting to catch up on news, cook and eat together, have Quentin help navigate while I drove, seeing how well Q can get around and use his Italian. Yep, family is the best!

- The weather. Almost perfect! We had one rainy day in Naples, when we walked around the city in the evening. But even that was fun and added to the mood of the city. Otherwise it was warm and lots of sunshine.

- The food. I had read that food in Italy is a big part of the culture and now we have experienced that. We ate out about 1/2 the time and cooked or made our own meals the other 1/2. There are hundreds of different kinds of pasta in Italy and we had quite a few. Some of our special meals out included an amazing dinner at Monte Pucci restaurant near Peschici, along the coast of the Adriatic sea. We had a plate of fresh mollusks, several different fresh fish, along with wine and bread. Another great meal out was to the tiny mountain town of Capaccio, in a local restaurant called "Scugnizzo's". We had a nice antipasti plate, including fresh artichokes, and several types of pasta for sinner, and the real highlight was the baba' rum cake for dessert - delicious! And we cooked some great pasta meals too, always adding a bit of hot pepper that Quentin had bought in Morocco.

- The drinks. We had quite a few different red wines, and a few whites too. Especially memorable was stopping at a small bar after a long bike ride, where Rick enjoyed some limoncello, and Marianne and Quentin had a mixed drink with campari.

- Bike rides. We had two great days riding. First, we had some older bikes from our stay at Agriturismo Seliano. We rode down to the Greek ruins at Paestum, and then found our way to the Mediterranean where we had a nice picnic lunch. Rick's bike had a problem and the left pedal fell off! But we got it back on and then drove off through the countryside. Quentin spotted a small home that sold Limoncello, so we stopped and bought some in a beautiful hand painted bottle, and asked if they had a wrench for the bike. They did and we tightened the pedal, and off we went! We rented bikes for an afternoon in Tuscany, and rode up a very steep mountain road to the small town of Lamole. We were pretty tired out, but there was a small restaurant where we stopped and had some cafe latte and biscotti, which tasted great!

History, churches, and ruins - We visited many amazing places, including Greek ruins at Paestum, many incredible churches, spent a full day at Pompeii, wandered through much of old Rome. An amazing place was the Sassi cave homes in Matera. People built homes into the soft rock there, and in recent years, these are being restored. We stayed at a beautiful B&B there, where the owners had restored a home and modernized the inside. Really interesting place.

Birds - I did get to see one of my target birds,the common kingfisher! In all, I saw 44 species, including 12 new ones, so it was pretty good. Some areas that I hoped for lots of birds did not turn up too much, but birding was a part of every place we went, for sure.

Steps - My little pedometer got quite a workout! We walked a lot, but the record day was in Rome, when I got over 30,000 steps in a single day. Whew! But the walking is always fun, sightseeing, people watching, and touring.

Gelato - YUM! We sampled gelato in almost everyplace we went and overall, found it to be very yummy. Quentin showed us the proper technique of asking for 2 or 3 different flavors in a small cup. That way you get to try even more types!

Well, those are a few of the things we did. Just wanted to post some while it is still fresh in my mind. Marianne will post pix with more descriptions, and we'll fill you in on more when we see everyone.

Article in Mexican journal finally published!

2010-02-25T20:20:00.000-08:00

Not to try to compete with Laurel and her running in circles for her part in Squidman (which is way cool!), I am pretty excited that an article I wrote in Spanish has finally been published! It is in the online, open source journal "Investigación ambiental - Ciencia y política pública", Vol. 1, No. 2. This is pretty likely the last thing I will ever get published, and I am glad that it is finally out. I wish I had started doing work like this earlier in my career, but at least I did it a little.

Italy trip target birds

2010-02-08T17:21:00.001-08:00

Marianne and I are going to Italy to visit Quentin and travel together. So, I needed to figure out what might be a good target bird or two. Given that we'll be there in late March, it seemed best to stick with resident species, as migrants may not yet have arrived. So, here are my picks:

Common Kingfisher (which isn't all that common from what I gather) .and Eurasian Green Woodpecker . I am looking forward to time with Quentin, good red wine, a bit of history, some nice parks and hikes, and now, seeing one or both of my target birds!

Family

2009-12-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Having spent the better part of the last several months with both immediate and extended family, I just want to say that the older I get, the more special these times become. I treasure the times with Tucker and Isla, and truly feel blessed to be able to be with them as much as I have. On the other side of the age spectrum, I am so glad that my parents live in Fort Collins, and I can have time with them as well - for fun and to help them out. Toss in my relationship with my sisters and their families, and Marianne's family, and it just adds up to a very happy feeling inside of me. Life is good, and my family is a huge part of that goodness.

New fire pit

2009-10-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

Mom and I just finished putting in a fire pit in the old paddock area. It's east of the elm trees and just a bit north of the path of the big swing. We bought some rustic looking bricks, and followed directions mom found online. The inner diameter is 4 feet, and there is a 4 inch layer of pea gravel, topped with a 3 inch layer of sand. We really enjoyed hanging around the fire pit at Don's house and now we can do that here too! Te Beagh was very helpful and seems to approve of this newest project.

Feelin' hoppy!

2009-08-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

Our hops got hit pretty hard with the four hailstorms we had this summer, but one bine managed to get all the way to the top of the support. (hmmm, makes me wonder what will happen in a year with no hail storms...). So, today I lowered the wire with the pulley system, and it worked great. I harvested a fair batch of centennial hops. My hands smelled really good after the harvest! I read up on ways to dry them and what I decided to do was put them on the drying trays from the food dehydrator we got from Nate and Karen, but not to use the dehydrator to dry them. It would likely be too hot, so I laid the drying trays on tops of a small fan and will just dry them with regular air. May take a few days, but I think it will work well. Then I'll freeze them and use them for dry hopping! Yep, feelin' pretty hoppy today!

Tucker pix

2009-07-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

Justin, Juliana, and Tucker are visiting and we are loving it! Tucker tried out our new swimming pool too, and enjoys stroller rides, and visits with great grandparents. He's a lot of fun, and we are soaking up our time with him. He will be crawling soon, but for now he mostly stays put when you set him down. But he can reach pretty far, and scooch along a bit, so soon he'll be moving out for real.

We went camping for a night at Rocky Mountain National Park and Tucker did great. I was holding him by our campsite in the morning and a coyote came by and was hunting for a ground squirrel. The coyote ignored us and was stalking the squirrel, maybe just 50 feet away! Justin came up and it still stayed. It pounced and missed its prey, and then walked on. It was awesome to see, so close.

Te Beagh and Tucker are getting to be BFFs. Te Beagh likes to take things slowly, so at first she was a little hesitant about this pint-sized person. But she has gotten more and more used to Tucker, and she even slept by his crib while Tucker napped!

Here are a few cute pix, and a short video clip.

Elm trees are trimmed!

2009-07-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

Yowza, we had our elm trees trimmed today, and it looks really nice! here are a few pix:

Gate project

2009-07-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

Next week we're going to get someone to trim the dead and low hanging branches from our big elm trees. So this was a good time to enlarge and fix the wooden gate that goes from the road into our orchard, so they can get their machinery in there. I got new posts and set them in concrete and got better hardware all the way around, including adding rolling wheels to the bottom of each gate, so they won't sag over time. The new wood stands out now, but it'll fade soon enough. Now, on to more projects!

Sierra & Don's visit

2009-06-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

We are having a great time with Sierra and Don, and here are a few pix!

Nate & Karen visit (& G&G and good birds!)

2009-05-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

Nate and Karen are here and we are having a great visit. Got to go for a walk along the Poudre River and look for mushrooms, visit with Scottie, Jason, and Noah, have some great patio time with Grandma and Grandpa, and Karen got to enjoy some time in our hammock. Nate brought some morel mushrooms from a secret location in Minnesota that we cooked up the other night - yum! We've been sampling our 2 homebrews - the Wit and IPA - and both have been well received. Grandma especially enjoyed seeing Karen and getting to feel for Mularkey. And as we sat on the patio today, we were rewarded with sightings of both the black-headed grosbeak (Nate and I took pix through my spotting scope!) as well as the western tanager. Our yard is turning into a real bird paradise.

Quentin graduated from CSU!

2009-05-16T21:19:00.000-07:00

Mom and I just got back from Quentin's graduation. This is the last CSU graduation we'll go to - it's awesome that all five of our kids were grads from CSU. Quentin got to wear the gold robe because he was Summa Cum Laude - in the top 1% of his class. So, congrats to Q, and now on to Europe for a Masters Degree!

Backyard birds at pond and waterfall

2009-05-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

This evening over the course of maybe an hour or so, there was a parade of birds coming in to the waterfall and pond for drinks and bathing. The moving water is such a great attraction. Here is a list of birds that visited the water feature in that short time:

Virginia's warbler
Many yellow-rumped warblers
blackpoll warbler
orange-crowned warbler
yellow warbler
chipping sparrow
Brewer's sparrow
American robin
common grackle
western tanager
house finch
black-capped chickadee
Swainson's thrush
Empidonax flycatcher

Marianne and I sat in chairs nearby and enjoyed one of the best shows that nature has to offer. What a great time of year. I didn't take this photo, but wanted to show how beautiful the western tanager is.

Florida Bird Trip - late post

2009-05-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I said I'd post about my birding trip to Florida, so, better late than never. I'll make it short! I had a great time, and saw 23 new birds which brings my North American total to 575. I have a ways to go to get to 600, but this was one of the areas where I could add a lot of species. I saw my first new bird - a smooth-biled ani - within 1/2 hour of leaving the airport, so that was a great start. I really enjoyed my trip to the Dry Tortugas. These islands are pretty remote, but there is an old Fort there, dating back from about 1860 or so. They have a very small camping area, and I stayed overnight. One of my favorite parts of being there was sitting quietly by a fresh water fountain, where I saw many different species of birds, including warblers, vireos, cuckoos, buntings, etc. I also saw species of terns and sea birds that don't occur anywhere else in North America, so this was a good place to be! Other highlights of my trip included visting a man-made weltand with a boardwalk, a trip to Everglades National Park, birding around Miami for some of the parakeets and other birds that have established wild populations there, and seeing some of the tiny Key deer. I actually didn't take time to get many photos, but here are a few. The blue colored bird is an indigo bunting. The bird in the circle (my scope) was a new one for me - a Cape May warbler. Both of these were coming for a drink or bath on the small brick water fountain. The bird on the wood rail is a tri-colored heron, and the island photo is of a colony of thousands of nesting sooty terns, another new bird.

Hop bines support

2009-05-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

Last year we planted two hop plants and this year they are ready to take off. They can grow up to 20 feet or more!!! So, I just finished building a support system for them to grow on. The bines (vines for hops) will grow up on three wires and then when we are ready to harvest I will lower the wires down on a rope and pulley system. Should be interesting!

New birds here I come!

2009-04-19T19:40:00.001-07:00

I am leaving Tuesday for a week in Florida including a few days camping in the Dry Tortugas. I have my target birds all set out on an excel spreadsheet, rated as probable, possible, or unlikely. I am guessing I will add maybe 15-20 new birds to my life list. It seems you always miss a few you think you'd for sure see, and then get a few that you really weren't counting on. That's part of the fun, I think. You really can't know for sure what will show up or what the weather will be, etc. So, whatever happens, it will be an adventure. I may try to post to my blog from Florida, if not I'll do a full write-up when I return.

Spring projects

2009-04-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

The snow is melting and it's nice today,
So, of course we have some projects underway,
The wit and IPA in secondary they now reside,
To be consumed on our patio, with our kids, outside.
And Marianne is sanding the wood table down,
And she'll make it like new, no foolin' around.
Meanwhile, Te Beagh basks somewhere in the sun,
That's her version of good springtime fun.
So, gotta keep this short and get those projects done,
For tomorrow may rain, but today we got sun!

Guest room is done!

2009-04-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

Quentin's old bedroom is now another guest bedroom and it's good timing too. Penny and Ted are coming today for a visit and that's where they'll stay. It came out really nice. Marianne, as always, did a great job on the color scheme. And we got a glider chair, which is very comfy. So, the Hollywood St. B&B keeps growing!

Cute Te Beagh pix

2009-04-02T18:55:00.000-07:00

Well, these aren't as exciting as pictures of Tucker, but they are still cute! We pulled out a few old stuffed toys that we had gotten from when Te Beagh was a puppy and she got attached to one and now loves it! Also, Marianne got me this great corn, bungee cord squirrel feeder thingy. The squirrels really do like it, and it keeps them occupied, away from my bird feeders, and is fun to watch. But Te Beagh knows the squirrels come there, so maybe she thinks if she sits real still next to it, they will still come! Cute!

Blizzard II - Te Beagh loves it!

2009-03-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

She lays in the snow, eats it, chases the squirrels ... ah, this dog enjoys life!

Blizzard - crocuses are buried!

2009-03-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

Just two days ago, I posted a nice photo that Marianne took of crocuses blooming in our flower beds. Well, today those little flowers are buried under a blizzard of snow! Springtime in the Rockies. But, as they say, and it is really true - we need the moisture! The forecast is for up to 16 inches of snow. Time to get out the snowshoes.

Bedroom project and spring crocuses!

2009-03-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

Since Quentin got his apartment, we decided to repaint his old room and make it into another guest bedroom. One of the projects was to take an old wooden door and make it into a headboard. I think it will look really nice once we have it all done and attached and a nice bed cover too. But for now, here are a few photos of the room and headboard (and Te Beagh too!). Also, a photo of some of our crocuses blooming - spring is definitely coming.

I think I'm going to try to post on the blog more often. Even just quick updates of what's been going on. The blog action has certainly slowed a bit, and it'd be fun to pick it up a bit.

Tucker - cutest pictures ever!

2009-03-03T17:15:00.000-08:00

Marianne and I just got back from visiting in St. Paul and Minneapolis and I wanted to share a few cute photos of Tucker. Especially check out the ones where he is studying his first bird book! Wow!

Retirement party pix

2009-02-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

I had a chance to stop in at my old office today to visit some fiends, and I got a CD with lots of photos of my retirement party. So, I thought I'd post a few - it was a lot of fun! And I got some great gifts including the "Birder's Guide to Minnesota", which I am already benefiting from as I plan my trip up to Sax-Zim bog.

Retirement Party!

2009-01-23T21:08:00.001-08:00

We just got back from my retirement party at Coopersmith's. What fun! Lots of people who I have worked with for so many years. I may get some pictures to post later, but for now, I took a picture of the wonderful card I got and wanted to post that. Dale Crawford is a local artist, who used to work at my office, and he did the artwork for the card - a real collectors piece. Yeah for a good job and good friends. Also, all of my co-workers have now seen several photos of Tucker, and they all said what a cutie he is!

10 more days to retirement!

2008-12-03T17:04:00.000-08:00

It is no longer creeping up on me slowly. My retirement is now rushing at me full speed! My last day in the office is Thursday, Dec. 18, which means I have 10 days of work remaining. I have to say, I am pretty happy and excited. I have had a wonderful career, especially the last 10 years or so when I have worked with the National Wildlife Refuges. I started my career with the federal government in November of 1974 and over the years I've had great bosses, and was allowed to work three days a week for 10 years while we homeschooled, and 4 days a week since then. I've gotten to travel across the entire U.S. and to Japan, Mexico, and Spain. My job paid for my Spanish classes and I have a paper that is getting published in a Mexican journal.

But it is time to move on to the next phase(s) of my life. I have been working on a list (yep, I'm a lister) of some of the things I want to do in retirement, and I'm pretty sure I will have no problem keeping busy and feeling content. I've decided not to jump into any big volunteer work right away. I want to help my parents and take care of their affairs, catch up around the house and property, and not overcommit. And, of course, there will be a grandchild to visit!

One thing I do have scheduled is a trip to the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas in late April for a week of birdwatching! There are many new birds for me there, and I am already daydreaming about it.

In the future, maybe some trips to Spanish speaking countries to improve our Spanish and do some volunteer work. To be determined!

But for now, I'm wrapping things up at the office. Teaching my last classes, one last meeting with Refuge staff in Denver, following through on my two last publications ... and then cleaning up many years of accumulated papers, reports, articles, etc.. And the first thing I'll do after retiring is travel to Minnesota for the - Most. Wonderful. Christmas. Ever.

Thanksgiving - twice!

2008-11-29T08:16:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving Day, we had Grandma and Grandpa over for a wonderful gnocchi-broccoli-rab dinner. And for dessert (ht to Nate) a yummy pumpkin cheesecake. Grandma played a few dollars on the slot machine and came away empty handed. Neither she nor I have won the jackpot since they moved out here.

And then on Friday we had Julian and Maria and Katie over for dinner. Marianne cooked an organic, free-range turkey, which was excellent, as was the gravy, mashed potatoes, pumpkin rolls, cranberry relish, etc! A real feast. We also tried out the porron, and as you can see Quentin is pretty good at it!

We're thankful for the good food and family and friends. Couldn't ask for anything more.

Grandpa - Veteran's Day, then and now

2008-11-11T16:11:00.001-08:00

I went over to the Worthington today for the Veteran's Day ceremony. Grandpa carried a Navy flag and there were quite a few Veterans there. Mostly men and a few women. It was a nice program. They read the stories of each of the Veterans, and it was interesting to hear. I learned that women who stayed home had to forego using nylon stockings, because all the nylon was needed for parachutes, etc. So, they used what was called "leg paint" to make it look like they had nylons on - even with a stripe down the back for a seam! I think for the older World War II vets, it brings back many memories. I also scanned an old photo from Grandpa of him on the USS Remora submarine in the North Atlantic from when he was serving.

Obama rocks the Fort!

2008-10-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

Marianne, Quentin, Katie, and I went to hear and see (!) Barack Obama at the CSU Oval today. I got in line at 11 a.m. for his 3:30 pm speech and it was totally worth the wait. One on-line site had the crowd estimated at 45-50,000.

We were maybe in the first few thousand, so actually got close enough to the stage to see him. Well, Marianne and Katie were a bit too short, but we hoisted them upa few times so they could get a look. Quentin reached overhead and got the photos of Obama.

Obama is a great speaker with a very inclusive message. The crowd loved seeing and hearing him. One local person said Obama wouldn't be coming to Fort Collins unless it meant something - if he wins FC, he wins Colorado, if he wins Colorado, he wins the country. Well, true or not, it made people feel like Fort Collins does matter this time around.

Fun and Work in Barcelona

2008-10-12T15:37:00.000-07:00

Marianne and I had a wonderful trip to Barcelona, and I thought I'd post a few of the highlights and some pix. Barcelona is a big city and is full of tourists from all over, but mostly tourists from other parts of Europe. The nice thing about a big city is that it has a lot to offer in terms of sights to see, museums, places to eat, etc. But big cities also are very crowded, loads of tourists, and don't feel as safe as smaller places.

The work part of the trip was excellent. I attended the World Conservation Congress, which had 8,000 people from over 170 countries. I presented a poster session on my work with Wildlife Refuges and got to meet quite a few people. I made some good contacts with some colleagues from Spain, and we'll be sharing information. I also ran into two people I knew from Mexico, so that was fun.

We rented a very nice little apartment in the old gothic area of the city with narrow streets and old buildings. It was on the third floor, with a narrow spiral type staircase.

The first day we were there, we were going to take this double-decker tourist bus for a ride around the city to see all the major sights. But when we got to the bus stop there was a line several hundred people long! So, we decided to just walk a bit, and catch the bus later. Well, the buses were always full, so we just kept walking! We got some sandwiches for lunch and went to Parc Guell, which was designed by Antoni Gaudi, and modelled after English garden cities. The idea was to have 60 houses and small gardens and there were to be fines for cutting trees. But it never took off, so it became a public park. Gaudi's designs included a lot of tile work, and the shapes of buildings and structures were influenced by nature. The park was full of people and fun to walk around.

The next day we took a train about an hour west of Barcelona to visit a monastery and natural park called Montserrat. We got off the train and then took a cable car ride up to the monastery - the ride was amazing and the views spectacular. We visited the church, where there was a mass going on, and heard the 50 member boys choir sing. But it was wall-to-wall people, so we decided to go up the mountain and get away from so many people.

There was a ride even higher up the mountain in what is called a funicular, which is a train on a track that is pulled by a cable up slopes of almost 45 degrees! So, we did that and then when we got off, we hiked a mile or two to the very highest point of the park, at a little over 4,000 feet elevation.

The next few days I went to the conference and Marianne wandered around the town, seeing some sights and doing some souvenir and gift shopping. Each night we would search out a nice restaurant for dinner, and we really enjoyed those with a quiet outside patio. We often had some tapas and red wine, and there was never a hurry.

On Wednesday, we took a train to Vilafranca del Penedes, a small town south of the city. We met Paddy, our guide, and another man, Paul, and spent the day together riding bikes around the wine country, visiting wineries, and having a great lunch. Paddy is from Ireland, but has lived in Spain for many years. It was a fun day and we really enjoyed seeing a small winery that made 30,000 bottles of cava (white sparkling wine) in a small family operation. We even understood what they were talking about when they mentioned "riddling" the bottles!

The lunch was a mixture of the various items on the menu of the day, followed by several desserts, and finally a drink of a dessert wine from a purron. This is a glass pitcher with a spout, so that you can share and drink without touching your mouth to the glass! Paddy was an expert, but the rest of us need a little more practice!

Back in Barcelona, we also visited La Sagrada Familia, which is a huge cathedral designed by Gaudi that is still under constrcution. It is hard to describe - very unusual architecture and shapes. When complete it will tower over the city, with the tallest tower being 500 feet high. It was begun in 1882 and they hope to have it finished by 2026!

We walked over a large part of the city, and got to see a lot of smaller neighborhoods, with families and kids. That was some of the most fun, to get away from the crowds along La Rambla downtown, which is a famous tourist area, but also noted for an abundance of scam artisits and pickpockets. The closest we came to trouble was in a busy area downtown when two little boys approached while I was withdrawing money from an ATM. They had a newspaper and were trying to place it in front of me just as I was completing the transaction at the ATM. I told them "NO" in a very loud voice and they took off. Had I hesitated or let them stall and distract me, I am sure they would have reached under the newspaper, grabbed our cash and ran. So, we had to be careful in the busy downtown areas. Other parts of the city were much less like that and more laid back. Overall, it was a great trip, and we managed pretty well with our Spanish. It is a lot more fun travelling in a country where you can speak a little of the language.

Travels and fun with Diane and Dick

2008-09-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

Diane and Dick came to visit this past week and we had a great time together. We started Monday with a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. Dick was the driver, and for starts we took a drive up the Old Fall River Road, up to the alpine visitor's center. The views were spectacular. The, as evening approached, we parked in Upper Beaver Meadows and walked down the road a bit. We found a large herd of elk, with a large bull in the lead. We were treated to great views and also the incredible sounds of the elk bugling back and forth. But the best part was watching a young elk chasing after a magpie. The elk was so payful, it would run after the bird, the bird would fly a bit, then the elk would go after it again. After several minutes of this, the young elk just took off running around in circles - it reminded us of when a puppy (or a little person!) has a ton of excess energy and just goes crazy for a while.

On Tuesday we drove to Manitou Springs, west of Colorado Springs, and took the cog railway to the top of Pike's Peak. It is a really steep ride on grades up to 25%. At the top it is over 14,000 feet evlevation, and we all felt a little dizzy/uneasy, especially Diane and Dick, who live just a few hundred feet above sea level. We saw a nice bighorn ram on the way up.

The next two nights we stayed at a historic cabin in Green Mountain Falls. We cooked our own meals there and played some Crokinole (Diane and Dick are now the world champions). We drove over to Cripple Creek, took a few mile hike in some beautiful aspen, and on the last day toured the Garden of the Gods.

Yesterday we relaxed on our patio and ended the nght watching the presidential debate. Diane and Dick filled us in on the status of their log home - they hope to be breaking ground in the next few weeks. So, next year at this time, Marianne and I hope to visit them and enjoy some relaxing time sitting on the porch of their new home!

Upcoming fun!

2008-09-15T18:40:00.000-07:00

Well, the presidential election has been getting a lot of attention, so I thought it was time to change the subject! How about a sneak preview of some upcoming fun?

First, Diane and Dick are coming for a week visit, starting next Sunday. Marianne and I have been making some plans:

- A trip to Rocky Mountain park to hear the elk bugle.

- A trip west of Colorado Springs to ride up Pikes peak on the cog railway. And then some time in Cripple Creek to ride a steam engine train, and tour an old gold mine. We'll stay two nights at a nice cabin in Green Mountain Falls.

- And of, course, some rousing games of Crokinole!

Then, October 2-11, we're off to Barcelona Spain. I'll attend parts of the World Conservation Congress, while Marianne explores museums, art, and the streets of Barcelona. We hope to take a bike ride to some vineyards, visit a nearby monastery, and generally relax and have a great time.

So, that ought to take my mind off politics for a while. Then when we get back, I can write more letters to the editor, donate more to Obama, wear my new Obama t-shirt, and help push Colorado over the top!

Searching for B&B's in Alaska

2008-08-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

I'm taking off in the morning for several days of work and several days of play in Alaska. Ever since I was 15 years old and traveled there with my parents in our 1963 VW bug, it has been a special place for me. We'll be working in Anchorage through Thursday and then my friend John and I are going to go down to the Kenai peninsula for the weekend. Just in case anyone was wondering, I have a target list of 22 birds, but I'll be happy if I get even 5 new ones. Many are pretty rare, and several, such as the short-tailed shearwater, are very hard to identify. There is a whole web page dedicated to helping separate sooty from short-tailed shearwaters!

As for the Beer part of my B&B search - here are a few targets:
Pipeline Stout from the Moose's Tooth Brewery, Anchorage
Red Knot Scottish from Homer Brewery, Homer (it's even named for a bird!)
The current Cask Conditioned Ale from the Glacier Brewhouse, Anchorage

Should be a fun trip!

Grandma gets the news!

2008-08-10T15:43:00.001-07:00

Hooray for Freddie and Laurel!

The Dog Days of Summer

2008-07-20T12:32:00.001-07:00

The calm before the storm of company - yippee!

2008-07-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

The yard is looking good, the garden is growing like crazy, Marianne is checking recipes - it must be time for family visits!!!! Check out this schedule for the next 5 weeks:

Tuesday - my Uncle Bob, Aunt Nancy, Aunt Claire, and cousin Judy arrive. They're mostly here to see Grandma and Grandpa, and the Mannings, but we'll have them all over for dinner Wednesday night.

Thursday - Sierra arrives and stay til the 21st. Patio time here we come! Peru stories and pix too.

July 23-27 - Marianne and I go to Chicago for her cousins son's wedding. While there, we'll go to Cirque de Soleil with Laurel and Freddie, and visit with Diane and Dick, Chuck and Marge, Scott and Jen, Emmie and Andy - and who knows who else!

August 1-11 - Justin and Juliana come and we'll camp for two nights at Moraine Park campground in Rocky Mtn park, and visit, and yep, more patio time!

August 9-14 - Laurel and Freddie come and we'll hang out, catch up on news, and of course, have some time on the patio!

Then in August 18-25, I'm off to Alaska for work and will stay a few extra days to explore with my friend John from Minneapolis.

And on top of that, in early October Marianne and I are going to Barcelona Spain for a work conference and fun! We already reserved a nice apartment in the Bari Gotic area.

And then in six months I'll be retired!

Yowza!

Baby robin and calla lily

2008-07-02T18:27:00.001-07:00

We had a nest of robins in the maple tree right out the back door - well actually a nest of one robin. They usually have more but something must have happened to the eggs or other young. The young bird fledged in the last day or so, and has been hanging around the yard making a pretty good "feed me" racket. It doesn't really hide and was just sitting on the lid of the hot tub, so, Marianne decided to play wildlife photographer! While she was at it, she snapped a photo of the bloom on the calla lily on our patio - quite beautiful with more to come. Our yard is looking great thanks to all her hard work.

RiverSpruce cabin - great time in Estes Park!

2008-06-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our two nights in Estes Park and had a really nice time. The River Spruce cabin was right on the Big Thompson River, which was running pretty high this time of year. We had our own fire pit, hot tub, and bench by the river - very nice!

The first night we decided to switch plans for dinner because we found out that the Dunraven Inn was a few minute walk. So we went there and enjoyed a very relaxing dinner. Yesterday we took a hike in the "Lumpy Ridge" area of Rocky Mountain National Park, which we'd never been to. It is actually a bit north and east of downtown Estes, and you don't even go through a park entrance station to get there. It was beautiful hike, fairly good uphill, and with great views of the town and Long's Peak. On the way up, we went by this privy, which upon investigating turns out to be solar powered! I looked it up online and found this:

"A SOLAR PRIVY that distills waste and doesn't have to be cleaned out has been invented by microbiologist William M. Tipton. Such outhouses will be used in the Rocky Mountain National Park's high country, where human waste was formerly removed (expensively) by helicopter."

Gem Lake was very picturesque and there were the requisite begging ground squirrels (and not very afraid of people, as you can see!). As we sat on the rocks eating lunch we were treated to a fun show by two young ravens. We had heard some pretty raucous squawking and then Marianne saw the parent bird feeding one of the younger ravens. Then as we ate, the two young birds were on the opposite shore, exploring chattering in raven talk, and generally just acting like inexperienced young kids! One would pick up a stick, kind of toss it, then squawk, and pick it up again. They were tugging at various plants - kind of looked like they were figuring out what might be edible and what not. Anyway, we watched them for 15-20 minutes and it was quite entertaining!

Last night we went to the Rock Inn and Mom had a 90 Schilling and I tried a Dan's Pale Ale from Oskar Blues brewery in Lyons, Colorado. I'd never heard of them, but this pale ale was judged very highly, and it was hoppy and good.

We're back home now, but feeling refreshed from some good mountain time, time by the river, hiking, and good food!

P.S. - I didn't hear or see the dusky flycatcher, so that will have to wait til another time.

Retreat to Estes Park!

2008-06-24T16:48:00.001-07:00

Marianne and I are headed up to Estes Park tomorrow for two nights, and we are looking forward to the break and mountain time. There are some fun things on the itinerary. Wednesday evening in Estes there is music in the park, and this week the "Zebra Marimba Band" will perform. Prior to that we may try out a place we've never been, The Wine and Cheese, which has lots of good wines to try along with platters of artisan bread and cheeses.

We want to take some hikes and two places we have never been are Gem Lake and Ouzel Falls. Both are not too difficult, but very nice hikes. I am hoping to add a bird to my list too! It is the dusky flycatcher, which has been described as "notoriously difficult to identify". It has to call or you have no chance to separate it from the Hammond's flycatcher.

We'll be staying at the Lochleven Cabin at a place called River Spruce. Within walking distance is the Rock Inn Tavern which has an open Bluegrass music jam session on Thursday evening.

So, I think we're up for a pretty fun few days! I'll have to post after and let you know how it was and if I spotted (and heard) the flycatcher!

Great Father's Day!

2008-06-15T20:01:00.000-07:00

I had a really nice day today. Marianne and I went over to Grandma and Grandpas for a brunch at about 11:30 a.m.. The food was great and we had a nice visit. We got Grandpa some Scottish shortbread, a coupon for going out to play pool at Coopersmith's and a little bottle of Southern Comfort! He doesn't drink much anymore with all of his medications, but the other day he said he missed having a bit of Southern Comfort. So, Mom suggested we get him the little shooter bottle, and I think he'll enjoy a wee taste now and then!

In the afternoon, Mom and Quentin and I took Te Beagh for a walk by the Poudre, with the idea that maybe we could wade in with her and see if she wanted to swim a bit. She really likes the water but we haven't had a chance to see if she likes to swim. But the river was really cold, and running pretty high and strong, so we could only get her in up to her belly. So, maybe later this summer we'll try again. She does like the water, but we'll have to wait and see if she wants to swim!

Then we came home and Mom cooked up a delicious paella. Yummmmmyyyyy! And I went down into the wine cellar and found a 2 year old home made Spanish Rioja to go with it. So, we enjoyed a very nice meal together. And I got calls or cards from all the kids, so it was a super day! Being a father is such an important part of my life. And today was a great day.

P.S. - even Te Beagh knew that she should "bow" to me today!! (She has really learned the "Who's your boss?" trick).

3 new birds and dive bombed by a Cooper's hawk!

2008-05-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

I got back from North Dakota yesterday and have to report on my birding success! I managed to get three new birds. The two that I posted about last time (Leconte's sparrow and Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow) and the third was a Baird's sparrow. These were tough to get, so I am really glad it worked, because I may not be back to North Dakota for a long time! But beyond the new birds, the highlight was spotting a male and female Cooper's hawk and getting to see them really close up. At first I wasn't sure why they were staying put and not flying off, but as I walked a bit further down this trail by a small creek, the male dive-bombed me! That's when I realized they had a nest nearby. I got incredible looks at both birds, with the sun at my back and nothing in the way, and only maybe 30 feet from me with 10x binocs. The red eyes were penetrating! But when the male dived at me, I actually had to duck and hold up my binocs. He veered off when he was a few feet away, but it was enough to make me scoot. Times like these remind me of why I get up early and go out and hike and birdwatch. If you go, you never know if you will see anything exciting or different. But if you don't go, you know for sure you will not! And often enough you do see something really special, and that is enough to make you keep at it.

North Dakota and new birds!

2008-05-14T17:03:00.000-07:00

I'm off to North Dakota next week for work, and as is often the case, I want to get out and do some birdwatching. There are two sparrows that breed in North Dakota ( and not much elsewhere in the U.S.) that I will be searching for. But as you can see by these photos - these two little buggers really look very much alike. One is a LeConte's sparrow and one is Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow. The good news is that their songs are distinctive and I have been listening to them and learning them. So, with a little luck I will be able to add these to my life list. The more birds I see the harder the new ones get!

Springtime birding

2008-05-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy this time of year, because there are so many birds migrating through the area. I usually try to get out early a few mornings and check some good spots to see what is there. Two days ago, I stopped at the Grandview Cemetery on the way to work. There weren't too many migrant birds yet, but I did find a great horned owl nest with three almost fully grown young. I told John Bartholow about it and he went today and took this photo. One of the adults is on the left and one of the young is on the right. The other two young birds must be hunkered down. Pretty cool!

Garden bed project - update

2008-04-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

The garden beds are now done and Mom (with Quentin's help!) is working on putting up a deer-proof fence and gate. She transplanted the raspberries and they seem to have taken very well. So, we'll probably get a good crop, because now the deer won't be munching on them! Yum! It has been really dry this spring, so I got our automated soaker hose system up and running today, after using two rolls of teflon tape to leak-proof all the connections. Daffodils and tulips are blooming and we've had several warblers in our yard - spring is definitely here.

Garden bed project

2008-04-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Mom has been busy earning her title as SBM (small, but mighty!). She is tackling a pretty major overhaul of our vegetable garden space. It all started out because the deer have been getting into the garden and eating a lot of our hard work.

So, she was looking into deer fencing and then it grew (as projects do!) into transforming the garden into a raised bed system. So, now we can live here til a ripe old age, and sit on the edge of our garden and grow organic food without even having to bend over!

Anyway, it is looking good. We joined a local organic community supported agriculture group this year, so we're thinking the garden will be different - some asparagus, rhubarb, shallots, flowers, raspberries, strawberries. Then we'll see what else we might want to add after our first year with the CSA.

Also, we taught Te Beagh to bow to us when we say "Who's your boss?" and she has it pretty well down. (This idea came from N&K and Bruno, just to give credit!).

Happy Spring! Go Avs!

Bold prediction, Avs beat wild tonight, 3-2 in OT!

2008-04-15T16:24:00.001-07:00

In response to a comment on my last post (not naming names, but the commenter's name begins with D), no I am not out looking for the perfect beer to pay off a bet! So, I will go out on a limb, and predict that the Avs will even the series tonight with yet another 3-2 score in an OT game. Then, to go one further, I predict this will go to 7 games, and at that point - it's a coin flip! Fun! Go Avs!

Game 1 in the bag!

2008-04-10T06:09:00.000-07:00

This headline says it all -

"Who else? Sakic tips in OT winner for Avs in 3-2 victory vs. Wild".

Sorry, Don. Another good game though!

Sierra & Don's Colorado adventure

2008-04-07T14:49:00.001-07:00

Sierra and Don left this morning after a super weekend in Colorado. We picked them up at 7:30 a.m. Friday, so got an extra day of visiting and doing stuff. We started off going up to Estes Park for breakfast, and then took a 5-6 mile hike in Rocky Mountain national park. We were hoping the elevation wouldn't be a problem for Don, since he'd never been to Colorado before, and he did great. Plus, it was a good warm-up for Sierra and Don's hiking in Peru.

Friday night we all (Q too) went to Cafe Vino in Fort Collins. Sierra had told Don that her Mom wanted to take us out to this great "tapas" bar, but as often happens, he heard it as "topless bar" and was wondering for a second about Marianne! Anyway, the tapas were great as was the beer and the wine flights.

Saturday we had a brunch with Grandma and Grandpa, so Sierra could see them and they could meet Don. It was fun, and Grandma behaved pretty well, only indirectly talking about marriage! Saturday night we went to see Cody in the Caveman in Denver, which we all enjoyed thoroughly. After, he and his parents joined us for a drink at a great British style brewpub in Denver called Pints Pub. They had great beer, including cask conditioned ales, and the largest selection of Scotch outside of the UK! Q was drooling over the Scotch list and on the recommendation of the waitress, ordered a dram of Bunnahabhain, which was excellent. This description from an online site describes it well:

"Bunnahabhain's water is piped from streams in the surrounding hills and is therefore less peaty than might be expected. It is described as being sweeter than the other Islays, with a smooth initial palate and long full finish. Lighter than the Islay style, with a full round flavour. A popular after-dinner dram." Yum!

Sunday was a sleep in late day, and then we met some of Sierra's friends at the Trailhead to watch the Colorado Avs play the Minnesota Wild (hockey). The Avs won in a shootout, and now the two teams will meet in the playoffs starting Wednesday night. Rick and Don have a 12 pack bet on the series - Surly's or Odell's! Then Roberto came back with us for a scrumptious squash, spinach, nut lasagna, and some home made Barolo wine (which we made on his recommendation). Then it was time for some crazy Crokinole action. Don had never heard of it, but caught on quick and is now hooked! Granted he wasn't as good as this guy, but he made some good shots.

This morning we went to Lucille's for breakfast and then made a quick stop at Grandma and Grandpa's place, and then took sierra and Don to the airport. Yeah for family!

Family, spurtles, and work!

2008-04-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

Mom and I just got back from a great visit out east. I was teaching a class last week, while Mom visited family and then we spent the weekend with family together. It was wonderful to see everyone.

First, though, I got a great gift from my friend, John Schomaker, who teaches the class with me. He will be retiring soon and has taken up wood turning as a hobby. He made us this amazing Spurtle! It is hand turned from tulip poplar wood. You can read about spurtles here.

Marianne got to visit with Tanya and the kids, and also got to see Kirstan and Hailey. Then on Friday night we had dinner with Diane and Dick, Chuck and Marge, and Dina and her boyfriend Mike. On Saturday we drove down to southern Virginia to see Diane and Dick's property and had a picnic lunch right where they will build their new home! It was fun to walk around their land and down to the lake. Now, when they fill us in on news and progress, we'll be better able to picture it. We ended our visit with some hard fought battles of Crokinole, but unfortunately for Marianne and I, "Dead Eye" Dick and his able partner Diane, were too accurate for us!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T19:08:00.001-07:00

Thought you guys might enjoy seeing the Easter lamb cake that Mom made - yum! We had a great lunch with Grandma and Grandpa at the Worthington and then had dinner (and lamb cake) with Quentin. Tomorrow we fly out east, and I'll teach a class, while Mom visits family and then we'll both spend a few extra days visiting over the weekend.

Essay on Refuge work

2008-03-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

I just found out that an essay I wrote concerning ecological sustainability in the Refuge System was published online. You can check it out here if you want. Probably not the most exciting read, but gives you an idea of my work lately!

Elections geekiness - or - hope springs eternal?

2008-03-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

I have found myself spending a fair amount of time these days following the various Democratic party primaries and caucuses. Maybe even enough to qualify for geek status. But I'm not often this interested or this geeky. Deeper down, I think I am doing this because I am hoping to be able to have some hope! Ok, so I should say that I am rooting for Barack Obama. I don't think he is perfect by any means. But I do like his basic message, I like his grassroots organizing, I like his background working in the inner city of Chicago. And I like that he does give me a small feeling of hope. And I just don't get this same feeling from Hillary Clinton. So, that's not very scientific, but it is how I feel. I am sooooooo tired of George Bush and what he has done that I want someone as President who I think will be different and offer new ideas, and yes, hope. Barack Obama seems to offer that possibility. So, that's my two cents worth on elections 2008!

Winter wonderland!

2008-03-02T15:02:00.000-08:00

Nate and Karen are here and we just got back from a super snowshoe trip up to Cameron Pass. We went up the Blue Lake trail for about a two hour hike and it was snowing and beautiful. And no one else was on the trail the whole time. Tonight we go to a concert where the Irish-American band Solas will play - nice name for a group! It's been a great visit - yeah family!

30,000 steps and 8 new birds!

2008-02-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

I'm in McAllen, Texas for a conference and also some birdwatching! Yesterday and today I walked over 30,000 steps according to my pedometer, but it was worth it - I have seen 8 new species! And I still have a few more to try for before I come home Sunday. Here are some pix of some of the new birds - hook-billed kite, buff-bellied hummingbird, and tropical parula. Sweet!

2009 and retirements!

2008-02-12T06:44:00.000-08:00

Well, the news is starting to leak out so I thought I'd make it official by posting it here. I am going to retire on January 2, 2009! Whoop, whoop, whoop!!! And Marianne will be following up closely, and will retire in the spring of 2009. Another whoop, whoop, whoop!!! We are excited for this big change. It will give us more time to help with Grandma and Grandpa, and to do some projects around the house and yard that have been put off, and to visit family, and to travel and do some volunteer work. Overall, it is a good time to make the move. So, there it is - I think by posting it on the blog, that is making it pretty darned official!

Scott and Jen's new baby!

2008-02-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

Well, in keeping with the new baby posts, here's the latest addition from Scott and Jen - Zane Van Manning. Everyone is doing well, and as you can see, big sister Zoe seems pretty happy with her new brother. What fun!

Best. Gift. Ever.

2008-01-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

It all started with a soft knock on the door. Then Regan barked. I got up in time to see the UPS truck pull away. And then ... I saw the package.

All I can say is Nate must have spent quite some time wrapping these up, because it took me quite a while to unwrap them from all the cardboard, tape, bubble wrap, newspaper, more cardboard, etc!! But they arrived safe and sound, and I am eager to sample my January gift - "Cold Snap Stout". And I think Nate gets some kind of prize too for writing the descriptions - check out the details in the photo. What fun!

Let's get bloggin'!

2008-01-13T16:59:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess it's the post-holiday doldrums or whatever, but the blogs have been pretty slow lately. Here's a quick update from my way. Big news is that Emmie, Andy, Edie, and Avery will be coming on Sunday Feb. 3 for a few days, and then Penny and Ted will be here from Feb. 6 to 12th. It will be great to see them, and for them to see Patsy and Jerry and Grandma and Grandpa. They will all sleep here and use our place as a base.

Grandma has an appointment Jan. 28 to get an evaluation for a cochlear implant. If she is a candidate, it has the possibility of helping her regain some hearing. She would have a surgery to do the implant and then lots of training afterwards. So, we'll see what they say on the 28th.

I'm in town this week but then off to Montana from the 22nd to 24th. Work is doing well, but I am getting more and more excited about retirement! I have been accepted for a conference in Barcelona Spain in October but still need final approval from USGS. If I go, Mom will come too and we'll make it fun!

I am totally enjoying the best Christmas present ever from Nate. I have now had 3 of the 4 beers he gave me at Christmas and they have all been incredible. I've been writing down tasting notes and trying to refine the way I taste and experience the beers. It is really fun and I am enjoying it a bunch.

Mom and I will be bottling two batches of red wine next weekend - one is the Vieux Chateau de Roi that we made for the Solas' wedding - we liked it so much we wanted some for ourselves!

Happy 2008 to everyone - hope it is as good a year for seeing all of you as last year was!

Another fantabulous Christmas together!

2008-01-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

Wow! Well, Laurel and Freddie are back home, and I guess that makes the Christmas visit officially over. It was super fun to be together and I wanted to thank all of you for taking the time to go and visit with Grandma and Grandpa. I loved our time together - opening gifts, snowshoeing, gingerbread house, jeopardy, the slot machine, cribbage, word game, soduko ... what a visit! Here are a few photos to enjoy:

Thinking of Karen and building a couch!

2007-12-18T17:47:00.001-08:00

We heard from Nate and know that Karen made it through the surgery ok, so we're really glad about that. And in preparation for the visiting hordes, we are assembling our new sectional couch! It came in 9 boxes and once assembled, looks really nice. Check it out. And Karen - we love you!!

Rare bird visits Colorado

2007-12-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

The headline from today's paper was "Rare bird drops in. Streak-backed oriole likely taking a northern vacation." The article is a fun read, and I'm thinking of heading down to the person's house to this week to try and see the bird. It would be a new one for me, and although I usually like to find them myself, this is so close and so unusual, it is worth a short trip. A nice little Christmas gift!

Helper dog at work!

2007-12-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

Too cute. Marianne is re-covering a comforter, and I guess it was just too comfortable for Te Beagh to pass up! Ahh, it is hard to find such good help.

Thanksgiving with Grandma and Grandpa

2007-11-23T07:01:00.001-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving Day. Marianne made a wonderful main dish called a Jalousie. It was a puff pastry filled with peppers, leeks, mushrooms, asparagus, garlic - yum! And as you can see it was also beautiful to look at. Earlier in the day we took Te Beagh for a walk, and mar new where there were still some apples on a tree near City Park. Te Beagh loves apples, so she had a Tday treat too! Then we came home and cooked a bit more, and did some planning with Quentin for how to arrange our family room. We will be getting a comfy sectional couch and then putting up the dart board and now there is also the slot machine there! so, it will be a great place to hang out for Christmas. We snuck in a game of You Don't Know Jack, and then got Grandma and Grandpa. We enjoyed our time with them and had dinner and then went over to the Mannings for dessert. Lots to be thankful for!

Is this normal?

2007-11-21T16:32:00.000-08:00

Just a quick question - do you all sit on your kitchen countertops? In other words, is this normal?

Visit with Diane and Dick

2007-11-13T19:36:00.000-08:00

Diane and Dick visited this past weekend and we had a great time together. On Friday afternoon we went to New Belgium brewery and took the tour. They have a whole new building for bottling now, and have more than doubled the speed at which they bottle. At the end of the tour they now have a circular slide that you can take to go down to the first floor - fun! Then that evening we went to see the play "Noises Off" by Open Stage at the mini-theater. It was really well done, very physical and slapstick, and a great set.

On Saturday, we drove up to Estes Park and drove through Rocky Mountain National Park and hiked around Sprague Lake. We saw bighorn sheep in the canyon on the way up, and some elk, including this one right off the side of the road, and then, the next day, Diane took the photo of the mule deer in our backyard. So, lots of good wildlife watching!

Sunday we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's place for a quick visit, and so Diane and Dick could see their home. Then we walked along the river in town, and at 4 p.m. went over to the Mannings, because Scott and Jen and Zoe were in town.

The last day of their visit, Monday, we drove to the new Centerra Mall in Loveland, by I-25, where Marianne had read about a new sculpture garden. It was really nice. It is called the Chapungu Gallery and Sculpture Park, and here is a bit of info about it:

"The 26-acre park includes 82 Zimbabwe Shona stone sculptures set in eight themed-sections, including family, the role of women, and nature and the environment. Each of the themes fit into the Shona way of life, park curator and Chapungu Gallery owner Roy Guthrie said of the exhibit, titled "Chapungu: Stories in Stone - An African Perspective of Family." The park is the first permanent exhibit of its kind in the United States."

We only saw part of it, because it was cold and windy, but we want to go back and see the rest. Here are a few pix from the visit.

Desk room project

2007-11-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd post a few pix of the solatube and our new office space. The solatube works really well, and helps make the room not feel so dark and uninviting. Mom picked out great colors for our old file cabinets, and we got rid of a ton of stuff that had been cluttering this space. So, now it feels a lot nicer and looks much better too.

A few pix of the desk room project

2007-10-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

Well, by the popular demand of two comments on the last post, here are a few pix of the desk room. Have to wait til later to show the solatube in action. Te Beagh is serving well in her role as a Helpy-McHelperperson! And how about hard working Marianne painting from atop the freezer? More to come ...

Not as cool as Nate's , but a project nonetheless

2007-10-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Well, it all started when Grandma said we could have her dining room table and chairs. It was a bit bigger than our old table, so that got us thinking that maybe we should not have our computer and desk in the dining room anymore. So, we figured we'd take out my old desk in the desk area and put the computer and it's desk there. But then that room really needs to be repainted anyway, and a bit of the wall repaired too. And to spruce it up even more we are going to repaint the old file cabinets - maybe orange and green! Then, since, we're in the mood/mode, we're going to redo some of the furniture and arrangement in the living room and the family room. Going to add coffee tables and new sofas to make them more comfy/friendly. So, by the holidays we should have it done to be enjoyed by all!

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot a biggie - we had a Solatube installed in the desk area. It works great and helps make that area not so dark. So, not as cool as Nate's thingy-ma-gingy, but projects they are!

Colorado Aspen

2007-10-05T14:08:00.001-07:00

Mom and I had a wonderful overnight retreat in Estes Park last night. We got to listen to the bull elk bugling. It was fun watching the older bigger bulls and the younger ones interact. The aspen were in full color and the weather was really mild. Then we went out to the Dunraven Inn, where in the bar area they have dollar bills that people have written on and stapled to the wall. When they get worn, they donate them to charity. We had a great Italian dinner and a nice bottle of Italian red wine. What a fun overnight retreat - we both needed it!

Grandma's Birthday

2007-10-04T06:27:00.001-07:00

We had a really nice evening last night celebrating Grandma's Birthday - and the closing of the sale of their house! The attorney called and told us the deal is done, so that was an extra gift for Grandma. Here are a few pix of the occasion.

Grandma and Grandpa's new place

2007-09-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been a big adventure and huge change for my parents. We drove out from Chicago to Colorado on Weds and Thursday, after many good-byes in Chicago. We had a great visit to Millennium Park in downtown Chicago on Tuesday, and saw lots of friends and family the prior weekend. Now they are settling into their new place here, and things are going smoothly.

We got their TV hooked up yesterday and they have lots of stations - including WGN for the Cubs! And a station that plays some of their favorite old westerns. As you can see from the pix, there are a few (!) boxes to unpack. But so far, all is going well, and they like their new home.

A few wedding pix

2007-09-12T18:14:00.001-07:00

I am sure there are lots of pix out there, but I couldn't resist posting just a few good ones! What an amazing weekend - I love my family!!!!

Birthday Beers

2007-08-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not too bad turning 56 when your wife helps you celebrate by buying three great beers! My favorite was definitely the Chimay. All three were good, but the Chimay really hit the spot for me. But I still have a hard time describing what I am tasting and what it is that I like about a certain beer ( or wine for that matter). But, I guess that doesn't really matter - what matters is enjoying the ones I really like!

Potluck Post

2007-08-07T19:41:00.000-07:00

Given that I haven't posted in a while, I figured I'm due. No one topic for this, just several thoughts in no particular order.

The worst, first. I am totally fed up with our country, it's leaders, and the war. I just read this sober assessment of the situation on Alternet. I sent the link to our Senator and Representative, and the local paper, but who knows if they will even look at it. I feel pretty hopeless, and that isn't a good thing. But it does seem so hard to see how things are going to get better.

On better news, Te Beagh is doing well and getting a lot bigger. She weighs over 40 pounds and when she and Regan rough-house, she can hold her own more and more. She gets two big walks each day to help tire her out, and is sleeping through the night all the time now. That is good news, indeed!

Things at work are good. I'm enjoying working on the article in Spanish and hope to get that published this year. I'm lucky that it is a bit slower right now, with no travel until October, because I have a lot to do to help my folks move out here.

And speaking of Grandma and Grandpa, things are progressing well with getting them out here. There are a lot of details yet to happen, but mostly things are falling into place. I am now starting to think about what it will be like to have them living here, and how it will affect our lives. It will take a while to adjust, for them and for us, but I am looking forward to it. Here are a couple of nice photos from their home. It's strange to think that they won't live there anymore, but it is a good time to make this change.

Te Beagh update

2007-07-17T16:00:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since we posted about the puppy, so here's a short update on Te Beagh. She had her spay done last Thursday and is doing fine. They said to keep her kind of quiet for 5 days and that has been a challenge. We have kept her from romping with Regan and she really misses it. We are taking her for short walks to get some of her energy out. We had started to let her be in more of the house, but for now it's back to the kitchen and dining rooms with the fence blocker.

She probably weighs about 40 pounds by now, it will be interesting to see how big she gets. Since we don't know just what she has for pedigree, it's hard to say.

She does her "high-fives" very well, and behaves on her walks, and is generally a really good puppy. The hardest part for me is she still gets up at night some, and I'm not too cheery in the middle of the night! And she gets up in the morning at 5:30 or 6. Not bad on the days I work, but hard on the weekends. But it soon shall pass, and I will relish the chance to sleep in a bit.

She loves to play this game with her ball. She drops it between the slats on the bench and then paws at it to get it out - and repeats! Smart puppy!

Snowy Range, Wyoming

2007-07-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

Several guys from the Men's Group went up to the Snowy Range in Wyoming yesterday for a hike. It was a gorgeous day and the scenery there was amazing. Marianne and I had hiked there many years ago, but I had forgotten how beautiful it was. There were not too many birds around, but I did manage to get a nice photo of a white-crowned sparrow - aptly named, as you can see.

Wildlife Paradise!

2007-07-09T15:38:00.000-07:00

Mom spotted this doe and her new fawn and I managed to get one photo of them in the orchard before they scurried away. Other than the fact that they eat a bit of our plants, I love having them around. Besides the bird list for our place (which, of course, is quite extensive!), we have seen a lot of mammals over the years - deer, red foxes, raccoons, skunks, mice, voles, and the ever present squirrels! A veritable wildlife paradise.

Freddie's Dream!

2007-07-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

Freddie - eat your heart out! They gave out FREE samples of Spam at the Taste of Minnesota, but I got the biggest bite of all!

Puppy Update

2007-06-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

Te Beagh is growing up, and as you can see is starting to catch up to Regan. She is doing really well, and we are lovin' her up! I took her to the vet today because she has some of her adult teeth coming in, but her puppy teeth are still there. But they said the puppy teeth would probably be pushed out. If not, we will have her spayed in mid-July and if they need to they can remove the teeth then. She is going on some nice long walks and getting better at meeting people and doing new things. Michelle (Mom's cousin's daughter) will house sit while we are up at the WEDDING (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! excitement !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

The sink is in!!!!!

2007-06-10T15:40:00.001-07:00

Well, after more than 2 months of waiting, we finally have a kitchen sink! Not to the credit of Home Despot, however. They made a series of errors and never did get it right. What finally worked was a letter to the CEO of the sink company. Soon after we got a call from a Vice President of the place, and he got on the phone to the factory, got the right sink made, and sent overnight to us! And he made Home Despot pay us back for the whole price. So, maybe all the dishes in the tub were worth it. Then, when the company came to cut the hole in the countertop, they didn't realize the sink has two different size drain areas, so they cut the hole in the wrong place! Incredible! Luckily, the Corian is repairable, so they had to add back a piece and re-cut the other side. They did a good job and you can't tell the seam is there. Anyway, it looks great, and we also got new tiles behind the sink and stove. The sink has a built-in drainboard, and the faucet has a swivel tip - fancy us! It is a bit of a makeover for the kitchen, and we're pleased - finally! But, I would never recommend Home Despot for such a job to anyone. Maybe they are ok to buy stuff, but not for any in-home projects. But, as they say -"All's well that ends well!"

Te Beagh learns to "High-Five"!

2007-06-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

Nate and Karen are here for the weekend and Nate taught Te Beagh to give a "High-Five"! What a good trainer and smart puppy!

Photo post

2007-05-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

Just a few pix for those who don't like reading long posts!
Te Beagh and "The Shadow!"
Laurel and Freddie doing our dishes in the tub.
Sleepy Te Beagh.
Flowers on plant in our family room.
Blue grouse on trail to Horsetooth.
On top of Horsetooth rock.

Laurel runs a marathon!

2007-05-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

Holy smokes - Laurel ran the Fort Collins marathon today! She finished and beat her old time by 20 minutes! We have some pix from the last half of the race. The first part was all up in the Poudre Canyon along the river - Laurel said it was beautiful. But they didn't want lots of spectators up that far, so we caught her first out of the canyon at Ted's Place. Freddie, Marianne, Te Beagh and I provided the cheerleading. Freddie couldn't run because he had been pretty sick and was just getting better. But he did join up with Laurel for the last 5 miles - hurray for the Team! It turned out to be a beautiful day, now in the afternoon it is raining but the morning was sunny and nice and cool. Good for a marathon!

At mile 17 at Ted's Place.

As we drove past Laurel after Ted's Place, along highway 287.

After mile 21, when Freddie joined Laurel.

Te Beagh was a big fan, and was also kept busy by a frozen parfait in her Kong toy!

Laurel and Freddie in Old Town after the finish.

Laurel with her medallion.

Kitchen counters and doggie updates

2007-05-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

Today we got our kitchen counters installed and they fit - hurray! Now we can look at tile colors and then the sink etc! It looks really nice, as Laurel is happy to show you.

And we started puppy classes for Te Beagh. she was kind of shy at first, but then during play time she warmed up and started playing with a dachshund puppy - they were having a blast! Now she is exhausted from all the activity. Laurel is definitely in love with Te Beagh - Freddie will likely be pretty jealous of the photo of the two of them!

We went to Avos with Laurel today and got the two-for-one tempeh burgers. Yum! It's fun having her here, and last night was very special - I beat her in the Word Game!!!!!!

Kitchen progress II

2007-04-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

We got our kitchen cabinet doors back - we had them spray painted by a painter and they look really nice. While Te Beagh slept I hung them back up and the colors look really good together. Tuesday we'll get our countertops installed, so that will be nice too. Then, eventually we'll get the new sink and I'll do the plumbing and we'll be almost back in business. We need to pick some tile to put on the wall below the cabinets and above the countertops. And a few other odds and ends, but the cabinet doors at least give you a little sense of what things will look like!

Te Beagh and Regan

2007-04-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

After having Regan for so many years, it is hard to believe that a dog could not just gulp down all her food at every meal, But Te Beagh is quite different, at least in this first week. She is much less interested in her food, and will eat a few bites, walk away, come back for another piece of kibble, sit down, etc. Then eagle eye Regan will seize any chance to finish off all of Te Beagh's food if we aren't watching! Part of it may be the first week and change of environment, and nerves. But I read online that some dogs are really that way - nibblers they call them. I guess Regan would be in a class called gulpers, or swallow-but-don't chew!

We are loving our doggies - they are playing some, and Regan has to give Te Beagh some harsh words sometimes to keep her in check. It's a lot of work, but so far Te Beagh is doing really well. she has not peed or pooped in the house even once! We have her signed up for puppy classes starting on May 9, and she'll get some socializing there too.

A few more puppy pix

2007-04-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

She's too cute! So, let's take up some more space on the Internet with a few more pix, what the heck! In other news, we may get our counters installed soon, and then have to wait 3 weeks for the sink, but at least we'll have counters! What I need to do now is get working on the garden - nothing is planted yet and it is time for some lettuce, spinach, etc.

More Puppy!

2007-04-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

Te Beagh and Regan are getting along well, and they play together and even fell asleep by each other! She is starting to get trained a bit and is learning to sit and lay down. But having a puppy is 24/7! She sure keeps us busy and needs attention a lot. But it will be worth it, cause then she'll be well behaved. Here are a few more pix:

Cutest. Puppy. Ever.

2007-04-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

Te Beagh is doing really well. She stayed in her crate all night last night, and when she woke up we took her out and she peeped and pooped outside! So far so good on that count. Mom took her to the vet today and she is healthy and all is well except for a little cough. But no real problems, the vet said to give her a bit of Robitussin. She is a real sweetie, very nice temperament. She loves going out and romping around. It must feel like a big yard to her! A few more pix for your viewing pleasure:

Amber ale is in the bottle!

2007-04-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today was a busy day. First we got our new Puppy and then we bottled our very first batch of amber ale. Of course, we tasted a bit as we bottled it, and it seems to be quite good. A little carbonation, bottle conditioning, and voila - it will be ready to drink in a week or two! Much quicker than wine, so that part is great! I couldn't get the pix to download - but trust me - it looks good too!

NEW PUPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-04-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Marianne and I got a new puppy today - a lab mix. We got back from our Chicago trip last night, and Marianne got online and there is a rescue place in Loveland and they had lab mix puppies. We named her Te Beagh which means Little Lady in Gaelic. Pronounced "Che Vek". Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here are several thousand words:

Kitchen Progress?!

2007-04-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it may not look like it from this photo, but we are making progress on our kitchen project. Besides the new sink and countertops, we are painting the cabinets and walls. By we, I mean mostly Marianne. She is definitely small, but mighty! Anyway, we are almost done painting and then we can put stuff back in the cabinets. Our sink is supposed to arrive in about 4-5 days, so when we get back from Chicago hopefully we can get the counters and sink put in. Then I need to put all the plumbing back in place, pray for no leaks ( never seems to happen on the first go), and be all ready with a beautiful kitchen when Laurel and Freddie arrive! The miracle will happen.

Kitchen remodel

2007-04-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

We are in the process of doing some remodeling in the kitchen. We're getting new countertops and a new sink, and will paint the cabinets and walls a new color. We're also putting in new tile on the wall behind the sink and stove, which meant taking out the old tile, which meant taking out the drywall, which means putting in new drywall, .... Anyway, you get the idea. Here are a few photos - the "before" shots that will make the end product seem even more amazing! But before we started all of this, you will see that I am boiling our FIRST BATCH OF BEER! We are making an amber ale, which will be ready in time for Laurel and Freddie's visit for the marathon. Yipperooney!

10,000 steps

2007-04-04T09:06:00.000-07:00

I went hiking with John Bartholow the other day and he showed me his new toy - a pedometer. he told me, now that he's retired, he wants to be sure he gets in his 10,000 steps each day. I've always been into keeping track of things, so it seemed like a good idea. So, I ordered a pedometer that you can simply put in your pocket and it keeps tracks of your steps. I like it, and it does motivate me to walk more, or park farther away, etc.

Take that, snow!

2007-03-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh, the birds are singing and spring is springing. It's in the 60's today and almost all the snow is melted. Quentin's car is finally not stuck in a snowbank and even the crocuses are pushing through. What a great time of year. Soon, Marianne and I will be sitting on the patio each evening, enjoying some of our homemade wine, which has finally aged about one year. Life is truly good.

Project two, Phase one

2007-02-27T18:44:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post, showing that we do more than make wine in this household. We are in the very preliminary stages of starting to MAKE BEER too! As proof of such, I stopped by the Lincoln Center recycle bins yesterday and picked up 50 empty beer bottles. I just rinsed them out and here they are drying in our dishrack. And at our local supply store, called Hops and Berries, we found out they sell beer making kits for beginners like us. So, we will choose between an amber ale, or a pale ale, or a brown ale. Then when we have mastered that we will move on to making others such as ESBs or whatever we like! Hooray for new hobbies!

Storage shelves (aka: vacation is over!)

2007-02-19T08:37:00.000-08:00

Well, as much as I want to keep recalling our wonderful trip, it was time to move on to something else. So, I decided to tackle the project of putting up some storage shelves in the shed. Last year we did a huge purge and got rid of a lot of stuff, but we were left with a few old small, odd-shaped and rickety shelves to hold things like our empty wine bottles. So, a lot of stuff was ending up on the floor, and it felt like soon we'd have the same old mess in there. So, Mom and I took a look and decided on shelf size and spacing and after just two trips to Home Depot, voilà:

I used 3/4" plywood for the shelves, because they will be holding a fair amount of weight, and also then I didn't need to put in extra horizontal supports under each shelf. So, now we have lots of room for our empty wine bottles and other things. And when we get into making a batch of beer, we can store those bottles out there too.

Next projects coming up - new kitchen counter tops and a new kitchen sink, one such as this with a built in drainboard. Some of the places we stayed in Scotland had these types of sinks and we really liked them. And for the countertops, we are thinking of something like the Corian material. And we'd like to refinish our wood floors soon too. And of course, we want to make a few more batches of wine, and maybe our first batch of beer sometime soon. So, more projects to come!

Post trip thoughts

2007-02-11T15:59:00.000-08:00

We've been back for a week now, from our trip to Ghana and Scotland, and in many ways I am still recovering. Recovering in both a mental and physical sense. Physically, from the bug we had and from a bit of jet lag. Last night I slept a good 11 hours! So, hopefully, that will help.

Mentally, several things are going on. First, I really enjoyed the trip, the places we saw, being in Ghana, being with Nate, Karen, and Quentin. In fact, I think I enjoyed it so much that it is a bit hard to get back to my regular routine at work. Second, several of my close co-worker friends have decided to take an early-out retirement offer at work and I think that has me pondering work more and my own retirement. Lastly, the trip to two such different places, and the experiences in each has me thinking about the world, politics, the U.S., and what I might do to make things better. So, to say the least, my mind is full - of memories of the trip, of my work and future retirement, and of the world we live in.

The trip to Ghana was quite an incredible experience. Having Steve there made the trip so different than it would have been without him. Steve's house is right in the middle of a small community - surrounded by local people, termite mounds, chickens, and all the sounds of a small village. Staying there was a remarkable part of our trip. On several occasions I was reminded of our times in Nicaragua in Puerto Momotombo visiting Sierra. The chance to live in a small local community provides insights into a country and culture that a more normal tourist visit could never do. In both instances it is a bit of an odd experience. We are there, but yet we are strangers. We can get a sense of life there, but never really understand because we have a home and life elsewhere. But, nonetheless, the experience is rich and wonderful.

One of the best parts of our visit in Ghana was when we spent the day with Steve walking around the Buduburam refugee camp. This is something we never would have done without someone there to guide us around. It was great to meet so many people and to get the chance to talk with them about their lives and hopes. We learned a lot and hopefully can now help others to learn about the Liberians and their situation. Another great part of the trip was the day Steve invited several of his friends over for dinner. Again, we got to meet and talk to many Liberians about their lives and plans. And we just had fun too, laughing and eating and enjoying a nice meal together. It was a memorable evening.

Then we flew to Scotland - which was quite the contrast in many ways. It was colder, quieter, more modern, and Quentin was there! We had such a great time here too. We saw so many absolutely beautiful places. But I think the Isle of Skye was my favorite. The snow-capped peaks, the amazing cliffs along the coast, places like the"Fairy Glen", the sky and clouds and sun - it added up to a feeling of being in a magical place. And to be able to share that with Nate, Karen, and Quentin made it even more special. Add to that some incredible trips to distilleries and breweries, some outstanding bird watching (with several unfortunate misses of target birds.... but it's all part of the wonder of birdwatching), and ancient ruins and castles and you have the formula for a most amazing time.

So, I feel blessed to have had the chance to take these two trips. And to share time with Steve and then with Quentin. And to travel with Nate and Karen. These are times in my life that make the best memories and that make me glad to be alive!

Q&A from our trip to Ghana and Scotland

2007-02-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

Whenever we travel we always seem to be asking a lot of questions - why is this like it is? what is that for? etc. So, I took a few notes on our trip and here are some of the things we wanted to learn about and web sites that talk about the answers. Enjoy!

While we were in Ghana the sky always appeared sort of dark/cloudy/dusty. As Steve pointed out, this was due to the Harmattan wind, which carries small dust from the Sahara desert to the coast at this time of year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmattan

Besides the fact that you can't see the beauty of the coastline, for example, it also has negative health effects: http://www.springerlink.com/content/720572u375828w84/

We saw a lot of birds in Ghana that were black and white and were called "pied", such as pied crow, pied kingfisher, African pied wagtail, and African pied hornbill. We wondered about the definition of the word "pied" and it is: "Adj. 1. pied - having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly; "a jester dressed in motley"; "the painted desert"; "a particolored dress"; "a piebald horse"; "pied daisies".

While in Scotland we wondered why gas prices are so much higher there than here. It is due to taxes as a way to reduce consumption: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/07/BUGPDLKLV01.DTL

In the UK, the bathroom is called the Loo – why? http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwordorigins/loo?view=uk

Where else in the world do they drive on left side:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_on_the_left_or_right

We saw this amazing tree - Monkey puzzle tree – where is it from?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria_araucana

What was the forest cover historically in Scotland? Click the Scotland Native Woodlands link on this site:
http://www.scottishnativewoods.org.uk/

Why do we use 120 volts versus 240 volts in Scotland?
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_292.html

Possible target birds - Scotland

2006-12-18T11:31:00.000-08:00

I am having a good time trying to decide on a "target bird" for our trip to Scotland - and have decided maybe I will have a suite of targets this time. That will help to insure success!

Here are the birds I am currently pondering (BTW - a target bird is one I especially hope to/try to see):

Whooper swan, red grouse, black grouse, and while-tailed sea eagle