Fall around the corner

 It has been quiet on the home front and above, the first of the garden, picked earlier this week, has now become nearly the last of the garden.  It was our first "real" frost last night and we covered what is left of the tomatoes.  I have put up for the winter much zucchini and will start the tomatoes that were picked last night.  About a dozen had been left to ripen on the vine and they are red and plump!!
More will survive this first frost covered, but with a bit of yellow showing in the far aspen, we are reminded that snowfall is not far behind now. There are still root crops in, parsnips and carrots and they will be fine for a while. Our quest for more camping will be cut short now too.  So like the cat Coalette below snuggled in my needlework bag, we will be seeking out the comfort of the heaters. The antelope are gathering their herds and the rancher put the cattle out next to our fence for winter pasture...all signs.

 I have probably posted this picture below, but I love how my furkids snuggle up to each other.  The cattle drive my little grey guy nuts. His dream in life is to be a "cowdog".  Not happening! The Mr. has suggested that he take him to the Silver Spur ranch and offer him up as such, but he isn't much bigger than the cat.

With the onslaught of cooler days, let the quilting and crafting and painting and reading begin!!  They are therapy for me and make the hours fly.

"Pleasure and action make the hours seem short." ~ William Shakespeare

Got a paddle?

 For all of those poor people in Colorado who are affected by the floods, our thoughts are with them.  It is being called a 500 year flood. Roads washed out, dams overflowing and evacuations in places no one would have imagined.  Up to 15 inches in some places and people are stranded, some without power, sewer, etc.  It appears that this may be clearing in areas, but not everywhere.  I remember in 1976 when over 100 people were killed in the Big Thompson Flood, but at least now communication and technology allow warnings so much earlier. Within the last two minutes, I 25 is closed since the Big Thompson is flooding. Above, an area near Bennett Peak, which as the crow flys is just a few miles from my back porch, but when we drove it last week, it took at least an hour to reach.  Across ranch land, through private and public lands, the journey was really pretty.  We did find lots of chokecherries, which surprised us and NO, I did not pick any.  We "Geocasche" some and did place a new casche and will watch to see if anyone finds it. I always marvel at Mother Nature and the beauty which surrounds us.

 Gypsy Wagon....Which was to be a sheep wagon!!...I love this little birdhouse and next year, when our little water feature is completed, I plan to have a little village near the water source.  Some people have garden railroads, but I will have a garden town and although I am not sure that the birds will actually inhabit my rentals, it will be fun to landscape with small plants and rocks.   The wheels are handles for outside faucets.

The castle is now complete and will be accessed by a bridge over a moat I hope.  With an old funnel and lamp parts and a hose nozzle, the roof is completed on all 4 sections.  

Just heard that the entire town of Lyons is being evacuated...3 deaths reported so far.

Overland Trail

 Yesterday with lunch packed and 4 wheel in gear, along with about 25 other people, we trekked along the original Overland trail.  Because the land is now privately owned, we received permission to do this from the owner and it was a Saratoga Museum sponsored event. The site above and monument above is a gift from Mary Ellen Davis and family in memory of her husband,  a frontier banker.  Three local historians presented programs on the graves, history of the Overland trail,  and the Indian attacks.

 Now fenced in, previously these six graves have been here since the 1860's.  The Mr. floated this North Platte river many years ago and visited these graves then where now one of the stones had been vandalized and eventually has disappeared. It read "Killed by Indians". 

We hiked down a stone stairway.  It really was not a stairway, but a narrow cut between two rock walls, with very slippery loose stone and soil.  As always on the high desert, we were warned to watch for rattlesnakes or "buzzworms".  At the bottom near the river banks, the evidence of the many travelers from the east to the west is still evident.  One of the earliest dates we saw was 1866.  This area was near the Emigrant's Crossing where the Bennett's ferry allowed the pioneers and the military to cross at $5.00 a wagon. We received a map and drawing of the ferry and apparently there was another near what is now Pick Bridge.  I won't attempt to detail the information, but it was a trip and lesson in history I won't forget. 

Afterward, we drove a short distance to Patton (Klein, Cline)'s (?) Property to have lunch on his property.  This was a rustic cabin and we lunched on his front porch in the shade and were graciously allowed to used his "facility".  This was when Chris (Chili) Rollison who is an archaeologist, native of the area and expert on Indian history here, spoke and detailed the different tribes occupying the area then.  I know that my father's family came west and settled in Colorado.  The Overland trail came through Julesburg Colorado and I am thinking that they probably did not venture farther north than that if they came by that route.  I had always been told that my grandmother was the first "white" child born in Erie Co.  After this trek, I am not sure that I would have survived as a pioneer traveler knowing some of the hardships they must have encountered.  Some of the old wagon ruts were still very much visible.  It took nearly and hour from the highway to reach this area of the river by 4-wheel drive and was a mere 8.5 miles.  I live just walking distance from the North Platte and always marvel at nature's beauty.  Thanks to those mighty pioneers who ventured west to persue their dreams!!!

A little of this 'n that

 Several years ago, I taught a painting class here in Saratoga and a man here made several different birdhouses for the class. This was a sheep wagon and I never could decide how to finish it.  We plan to build a stream and small water landscape area in our back yard, as we have almost always had a water feature.  I have been researching a little and intend to build more birdhouses for the backyard. That is where the castle will reside and I want some various examples of birdhouses there also. Soooo...I came upon some Gypsy Wagons which are so very ornate and beautiful!!!  I am an embellisher and these seemed perfect for this little birdhouse.  Above in the beginning stage, I will have it finished in another post and the castle is getting it's top pieces attached.  The hardware store provides a myriad of adornments and the wheels are going to be the round brightly painted handles on outdoor faucets. (technical name will be addressed).

 Looking at my collection of potential blog photos, I found this one of Coalette....she always helps me blog although her typing ability sucks and misspelled words get deleted.

This also is an earlier photo, but this past two weeks, the sunsets have been beyond description and so this is just an example of what we get to see most evenings.  The antelope have begun to herd up and although the trees haven't yet started to turn, small signs of fall are appearing.  We are taking a trek this weekend as museum members over the "Overland Trail".  An important part of History, especially so close to us, this area has long been on our list of "to do's".  Will update after the weekend.

"Choice, not chance determines destiny." ~ Anonymous

Camping

 We were fortunate to find that our old camp site was unoccupied last week when we ventured finally out with friends and our two gypsy wagons.  Actually we have some nice trailers with most of the comforts of home...even a microwave, fireplace and we have one of those noisy generators to assure us of continued power.  So my buddy and I gathered our construction adhesive, pvc pipe and funnels along with assorted other "junk", to work on more birdhouses.  Although hers is actually a birdhouse, I wanted to work on a castle which I had envisioned for my backyard garden.  Our intent is to build a small stream and I want to set some small examples of abodes to grace the landscape. 

 Not yet finished of course, but on a small hill above the stream and along with some of my other visionaries, I can see it now.  I was looking at birdhouses on line and came upon some Gypsy Wagons.  Wow, my brain was in overdrive with ideas for a birdhouse I have had for some time.  It was built as a sheep wagon by a man here in Saratoga several years ago for my painting class.  I could never quite get an idea for it, but now I know it will also be perched on the hillside beside the stream. I have already started painting it and pictures will follow. 

This collection of beads below were found in two locations at our camp.  Because the area is free range for cattle, the existing fire pit was littered with cow patties and we decided to move it.  (My one little dog loves to perfume himeself with these).  As we sat by the fire the first evening, I spotted a little gold bead and then another.  Upon further inspection, I found several beads and each day thereafter found one or two more beads.  The last evening as I was walking toward the trailer I spotted a larger wooden bead and then several more.  These were at the base of a downed tree and I found the other two gold beads as well as several more wooden beads.  Perhaps a camp robber or chipmunk decided to cash them for later, but what an interesting find!

We found a rake and an old tool of some sort, but the weather was beautiful and the evening sunsets spectacular and the entire 4 days totally relaxing.  More to follow.

Christmas in August

 In a Magazine some time ago, I kept a picture of a Christmas Tree skirt made with hankies.  I  have been buying these as I find them and finally have enough.  There are several examples of quilts made with special family keepsake hankies and this seemed like a do-able project.  I fused a lightweight interfacing to each and then machine stitched them to white cotton.  Not sure how I will proceed, but they are waiting for a snowy winter day!!!  Below are the glitter and glue projects we completed at our retreat.  This only is my contribution, as for some reason, I forgot to take a picture of the others.

 This was a downloadable Martha Stewart pattern and we used her glue and glitter products for glass which can be purchased at Michaels.  It was fun and easy and they can hold candles, or candy and would make great gifts at the holidays.  The one below was a plastic container purchased at a big box store. Let your imagination go wild!! Halloween, Valentines, Easter, 4th of July...Birthdays.  Very affordable!

More crafts

 Above, 3 banners completed by one of the gals, and we are anxious to see what the winter project will be.  These were painted with acrylics on a product used for drapery lining.  It was a great surface for this type of craft.  All we did was cut it to size, hem it top and bottom and start painting after transferring a pattern.  I looked at the originals and drew the patterns without an actual pattern to use and I think they came out great!!

 Each of us painted a birdhouse with original designs as can be seen in the previous post.  We put copper on the roofs, but actually the Mr. did that for us.  I had some old pieces from a stairs and using existing scraps, ( a piece from a T-post and an old re-purposed piece of re-bar I found),

 it now graces my flower bed.  The totem along side is from a previous recycling project.  I have one more project to post so stay tuned.