Deer Days of Summer

Greetings from the Forest

Our forest is happy this summer.  We have gotten so much rain that the trees are smiling.  I really think I can hear the trees giggling in delight when the rains begin.  Of course along with most of our rains come nasty lightening so it's not as relaxing as one would think.  The other night we had an amazing storm.  It started with the moon behind the clouds lighting them up like frosting.  Then came the lightening and it was scary.  Many close hits. The ground rumbles for what seems like forever and I just pray for a downpour so no fires will occur.  It rained like I'd never seen it rain and in the morning you could feel the dampness of the forest and the smell was of clean wet pine.  Beautiful!

Earlier in the evening we had visitors.  Many in our community have been watching a Mama bear and her triplets.  Last night I looked out the door and thought - that's no turkey.  It was Mama and the babies. I jumped up and ran to another window and took a picture.  The one baby came right up to the fence!  I ran upstairs and out onto the balcony and took more pictures leaving the dogs inside of course.  It was an amazing sight to see and to be so close.  The babies have grown a lot in the past couple of months.  Mama however, looked a bit haggard but I guess watching after three little ones does a Mama bear in.

The bucks are in velvet as its known.  I think it looks really soft and wish I could touch it but then that wouldn't be possible so I'll just continue to imagine the feel of their antlers.




















So I thought it might be fun to add a bit of history to the blog.  The community is knows as Santa Fe Trail Ranch for obvious reasons; The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Independence, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico and into
Colorado. In the 1820s–30s, it was also sporadically important in the reverse trade, carrying foods and supplies to the fur trappers and mountain men opening the remote Northwest, esp. in the Interior Northwest: Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana—connecting via mule trail (trapper's trails) to points north to supply the lucrative overland fur trade.

There is a beautiful tree along one of the main roads known as the "cross tree".  I've been told that many travelers back in the 1800's would tell each other "we will meet you at the cross tree".  It was a meeting point along the trail in southern Colorado.

As always in this blog there is a Max and Oliver update.  The fur boys are just fine and photogenic as always.

Happy summer from the forest!!

Lets catch up

Greetings from the forest

I can't believe its been almost a year since I've written!  Have you missed me?  I've missed you.  So much has happened in the last year so lets catch up...

Work.  I am no longer a partner in Scenic West Properties.  Too long of a story for here but lets just say the parting was for the best.  I am now out on my own with a company I named Red Bear Real Estate.  It is still in its infancy and just getting going but I'm hoping to be busy but not too busy.  Working seven days a week became just too much.  I am still working for the Arizona group and just about to finish my year end to do list.  Whew.  I'm excited for the new company and could use the referrals so please don't hesitate to give out my name and number.

My sister Deb.  We moved Deb into town last June in hopes she would feel safer and do better.  While she loved living across from the Senior Center and her daily lunch there the problems she was having before the move sadly continued.  As a result we saw a new primary care doctor who referred us to a neurologist in Pueblo.  Since then we have received a diagnosis and many changes have occurred.  Deb now lives at the assisted living facility here in Trinidad and absolutely loves it.  She has a cute little room, gets 3 meals a day, they clean her room, they do her laundry - what's not to love.  They have activities and she's made friends.  Most importantly she feels safe and although not able to live independently any longer she is happy in her new environment.  I'm not terribly comfortable putting her diagnosis out there so if you'd like to email me for more information I'd be happy to communicate with you as I know a couple of Deb's friends read this blog. lanae1000@gmail.com

My sister Linda.  Linda is now a single gal living in her new home in Prescott Valley.  She just recently moved in and loves it there.  She spent 6 months in Glendale waiting on her house and I know she won't miss the heat of the valley!

My niece Kelly and her boys.  Still living in San Diego and happy as clams.  The boys have grown into handsome young men.  Hard to believe they are teenagers!!  How time flies.  So there you have the family update.

My boys.  Max and Oliver are just fine.  Still loving their forest and right now the snow.  Although, Max likes it more than Ollie.  When we've had a lot of snow its difficult for Ollie because he is little but he's a trooper.  Funny that Oliver will not go out in the rain but will go out in the snow.  Right around thanksgiving we had a lot of snow, like 24+ inches.  I went out with the boys to take a walk and because of the drifts couldn't hardly walk in it.  Then I turned around and Oliver had fallen into one of the foot holes and was gone.  I fished him out, he had his leash on, and we went inside the house to warm up and have hot chocolate.  So much for hiking in the snow.  Max of course had no problem and wanted to keep going.

The forest is still just an amazing place to live.  Deer stop by my property on a weekly basis.  I think they have a route they take and its always just fascinating to me when I drive by and see them they just look at me.  Don't really run, just kind of stop munching on grass to look up to see who it is.  I wonder if they recognize me. lol. And of course during the summer there is the occasional pretty cow!

The turkeys are plentiful.  In fact some days there are like 25 in a group and I just love watching them.  Sometimes they run across the road and sometimes they run back and forth not knowing which way to run.  Makes me smile every time.  So what are a group of turkey?  A herd, a gaggle, a flock?  I go with group just to be politically correct.

The bears should be sleeping but when visiting my neighbor last week we saw bear tracks in the snow.  Then I saw something on the internet that some male bears never hibernate in the winter.  I haven't seen any since the fall and really only saw a few bears last year.  Maybe there will be more this spring.

So that's the update for now.  I promise not to wait a year to write again!

With love from the forest,
Lanae

Spring is in the air

Greetings from the Forest

Last Friday spring officially arrived.  Just the anticipation of getting the garden ready made me giddy.  I started my seeds about 2 weeks ago and now I'm replanting and thinning my little plant cups.    My windowsill looks like a miniature garden.  Plus I'm growing celery.  My friend Ann sent me a link and I thought what the heck I'll try it.  Now I'm growing celery on the windowsill!!  Soon Ann will come over for a bloody mary with home grown celery.

My silly limes trees and the harvest!

Bloody Mary Celery

The animals have been out in full force.  Not a day goes by now that I don't see deer.  We went though a few weeks that they were hiding but now they're out and about.  Elk, turkey galore, deer and bunny are just the perfect sign that spring is really in the air.  Blue jays and robins are flitting around.

Turkey crossing

Well Hello

And then yesterday happened.  Snow!!  Yup the sky darkened, the wind blew and it snowed like crazy for about half the day.  I guess we got about 3-4 inches in our forest.  Of course today it is all melting, watering our precious trees, making our roads a slippery mess.  I do know that I shouldn't plant my garden outside until Memorial Day but boy that seems far away.  I wonder if we'll get more snow before then.

Beggin for ice cubes

Having lived in a place most of my life that didn't have change of seasons, I so appreciate when the cold and brown turns to bright green and warm.  The trees bud anew and the anticipation of growing a garden adds a special feeling to the air.  This year the garden will be protected from Mr. Bunny who will not be able to get in and munch.  The next time I blog be prepared to be wowed.  Ok, maybe not wowed but I'll be sharing photos of the garden and hopefully my little garden shed will be picture worthy by then.

In the meantime, happy spring from the forest!!

Lanae

Sunset

The Quiet After It Snows

 Greetings

Those of you who have lived in places that it snows probably know exactly what I'm talking about when I say I love that time, in the morning for example, when you experience the silence of the snow.  I don't know why it seems so evident but it does and I love that feeling of peace and stillness.  I especially notice it when I get up in the morning and go to take the dogs outside, it's so very quiet, so crisp and the air so clean.  I think its a very special time.

Ahhhhh the quiet of a snowy morning

So I haven't updated this blog in quite some time.  It was a very busy two months.  Some good things happening and some not so good.  I won't say bad things happened because there are always worse things that could happen and I don't want to invite in any negative.  But life is good and busy and happy.

We have a new year with nothing but good things to look forward to with each day.  I for one am going to make the most of this new year and wish nothing but good, fun, positive and happy for all those that I know and love.

Although I was remiss in writing, I was taking pictures to share.....

While out exploring.

LaPlaza Hotel Restaurant in Walsenburg

No caption needed, right?

Remember the Elk Park house?  This is before -

And this is after.  Inside pictures in the next blog...

My yard

Cuchara Pass

While out looking at property I saw this guy.  

I25 one morning on my way to town

Sometimes you just have to be comfortable

The big bed was otherwise taken

What?

Sunrise

Again, sometimes you just have to be comfortable

I hope that I've made up for not writing in a couple of months with all the fun photos! 

Thanks for reading...

Love and snowy stillness,

Lanae

It's September already!

Greetings from the forest

Can you believe it is September already.  Christmas is just 15 or so weeks away.  Seriously!  The mornings are now crisp and you can almost feel the leaves starting to change color.  Pretty soon we'll be in a sea of orange, yellow and rust colors and I can't wait.  Unpack the sweaters because in Colorado you really do need them.

This morning it is 36 degrees in Trinidad.  The air is clean and clear.  The clouds are low so you can't see across the canyon.  Today's high is to be around 50 but tomorrow will be 80.  Yup, that's Colorado.

Having never really experienced the change of seasons, well I guess summer to winter (for what it was worth) in Phoenix was a change.  Air conditioning off, air conditioning on.  Anyway, I love watching the change from summer to fall and then to winter here in the forest.  The first snow will chase away the bugs (mosquitoes) and I'm looking forward to that!  Soon the holidays will be upon us and I for one am happy that my pal Austin is close enough (what - 15 minutes?) to celebrate with us.  It'll be fun and festive.  But seriously that is another blog isn't it?

Isn't this a pretty little cow?

Ok, moving on from the weather and holidays, life has been great!  I'm about to change doctors and will be going to Rocky Mountain Cancer Center in Pueblo.  An hour and 15 minutes compared to a 10.5 hour drive to Arizona.  It's been a really touch decision to change oncologists but one that had to happen eventually.  So, I'll keep you posted.

Work has been busy.  A couple of closings and a handful of showings which will soon result in closings so no complaints here.  Listing houses and land like crazy.  Must be something in the air.

Made refrigerator pickles.

My sister Linda arrives today.  She called me yesterday to tell me she was coming. LOL.  I'm happy she'll be here for a few days.  I've missed her.

Max is so handsome after his grooming!

Oliver showing off his new hair cut

Traffic on the morning commute

Drove through McDonalds for a soda and saw this!!

No other news from here.  Thanks for letting me share another day in the forest with you.

Love and chilly mornings!
Lanae

Do you feel the momentum change?

Greeting from the forest

That title is something we've been saying in our office the last few weeks.  It's been crazy that for such a super slow beginning of 2014, we all of a sudden are so darned busy.  Life is a whirlwind.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, I had no clue how much work being a realtor is!  Showing property in our area is a very time consuming event and you have to know your county roads or you could be lost with your clients.  Yikes.  It is nice, however, to have a little money coming in. Considering the slowness of the first 6 months of this year I say keep this momentum going!!

Old yet new news is that my pal Austin has moved back to Colorado.  He bought a great little old house in town (Trinidad) and it is just perfect!  Turquoise metal kitchen cabinets, red counter tops, soft yellow walls, orange bedroom walls and an incredible claw foot tub - just like Austin - colorful.  He had been staying with me and it was nice to have him as a roomy again.  But alas, it was time for him grace his own casa.  The boys, Oliver and Max, miss him already but I am thrilled to have my friend close again!

I went to Nashville a couple of weeks ago for a hospital trustee conference.  I drove - whose stupid idea was that?!  I did have the opportunity to visit my friend Lori and her husband, Warren, in Oklahoma and had a great time.  They were very kind to put me up for the night and we had a wonderful time staying up late and kibitzing.  Here are a couple of pictures of Lori and Warren's menagerie -

Ozzie the llama

Grandma goat

In other news, someone was eating the garden!  Caught him/her red handed on the game camera - a bunny!  I added screen around the garden and it stopped the bunny from entering!  Because of schedules I haven't gotten to replant much so the garden this year is very sad.  But there is always next year!

Besides being a busy girl, life has been great in the forest.  Here are a few photos.

While I was out showing property these two were being nosey

Sometimes you can't decide in or out

Lots of people have llamas to protect their herds.  This one was watching yet resting.

Oliver is always waiting for company on the front deck

Max is never without his keys

Why yes, I am handsome aren't I?

Mom and baby just below my house.

Obviously this lil guy needs a crosswalk

So thats all for now from the forest.  Thanks for letting me share.

Love,
Lanae