Hooves a clicking and planes a flying

Breaking news - the cows are gone, all 90 of them! The cowboy was right,and they were rounded late this morning. After three months we have opened all our gates and boy does it feel strange. The deer will appreciate it -as it turns out, they're not very fond of jumping over or going under the fence wires.

Oh sad news - our last guest (Paul) has left today as well -coincidentally he was here last year as the cattle were taken out. Mark & Paul had good luck fishing the other two days both for salmon & trout - it was still not as good as last year - the weather has been warmer than normal the past couple weeks, that's probably the reason for less fish.

A last drive by the farm for a dozen eggs. That's another boo-hoo about getting ready to go east - south? I don't think we'll find a matching cute organic farm in Florida. A sighting of a few elk and male bull bugling while Paul was here. Nice always to please the guests. It's a lot more than we had last year at this point.

We made a loop on Mill Creek Rd to see the sights with Paul before dropping him at the airport. Some gorgeous peaks back there. This was the first time we made the drive the whole time we've been here. Silly us - it's so close!

Shimmering light and golden leaves

Being in the wild west causes some interesting maintenance. i.e. scrubbing off dried cow manure from the car wheel wells (icky, I know) and waging battle on the house fly invasion. The fly thing happened last year, but three weeks earlier, so I thought we'd escaped. Oh, my, really an invasion, I sweep tons of them up in all the windows every day.No idea where they're getting in. Only good news is no sign of mice in the house (as in last year).

Paul is here and massive fishing is going on. Mark & Paul went straight from the airport to fishing yesterday. Now that's serious. Hard fishing so far they report. We'll see how the rest of the days go....

Lots of deer still around. We change our movements according to them - how crazy is that. It's just we know soon they'll move to lower ground until next spring.

Cowboys moving cattle every day it seems, and all of them seem to be on our main road (Ohio Creek). We'll see if Tues. is the day for cows at Star Mt. to go (as told to Mark via a cowboy).
Coyote sighting last night close to the deck while we were out enjoying the stars. Guess he smelled the bison burgers from dinner. They were yum, for sure...

Crowd pleasing sights

We had lots of wind yesterday so leaves were blowing off the trees by the millions. Color is going fast. Hurry Paul!
A little animal drama as well. While walking, Mark & I heard elk bugling, which I've heard more than one morning, but that was at our neighboring ranch. This, we suddenly realized, was coming from Star Mt. woods just up the hill. On & on the bugling sounded as we sped up the road, my camera cocked and ready. Two male elk (bulls) were in the woods, but they moved so fast I couldn't catch them for a photo. Coming out of the woods we saw one, and then another moving fast out of our way.  Thought that was it, and then as we were starting dinner, Mark saw an elk moving towards our woods, only this one had a broken antler. Fighting for harem rights we think, but maybe safe from hunters this fall?

And finally, a huge elk showed up close to the road we walk on up the hill. I did catch a picture, hopefully you can tell - it was some distance away. Were these the two from the woods? Did big boy break the other's antlers?

Mark called me after leaving to play golf today to let me know that Ohio Creek road was blocked with a thousand cows being moved by 20 or so cowboys. That is fall activity here for sure. Mark had a chance to ask one of the cowboys out his window about the Star Mt. cattle. Oct. 5th is the roundup he said - weird he would know, of course, but it's a small community after all...

After picking up 10lbs of wild grass seed, straw, and a few daffodil bulbs at the nursery, we went into Crested Butte to have lunch at Ginger cafe - really like that place - asian mix of food, organic greens from my farmer guy and gorgeous weather for outside eating.
Maybe my last egg pickup today. Sad, and sad - we'll be leaving soon to go back to Florida. How did time go by so fast?

Leaves blowing in the wind

Our company is gone, another goodbye, but we had such a great time, and they've promised to come back next year. We have only one more visitor (Mark's brother Paul) coming this weekend for some brother bonding and lots of fishing. The season of guests is coming to an end, which makes me a little sad and amazed at how fast the last few months have zoomed by.

Small drama for Mark yesterday. He went out on the Taylor river specifically to see how fishing would be with lowered water. Divers were at the dam to check wall stability so let out a fraction of  the normal water in the river. It was much lower than normal and fishing was decent, not great, but he caught two 16" trout, and - unusual as of late, he kept them - we realized we haven't had fresh trout to eat all summer! Does this qualify as drama, nope, that came in as he jammed a fly into his finger on the way up to the car. First time ever that he got one in that he couldn't get out. Imagine my surprise when he called from the emergency room. All is fine, and the doctor didn't even cut him - used a wrapped string technique and neatly pulled the fly out.

I'm snapping pictures as fast as I can - leaves flying off the trees now at a brisk pace and the last fields are being cut and baled before winter comes. Again, I want to hold back the season - it's going by way too fast. Cows are still at Star Mt.- this part can speed up, it's time for them to go...they're huge now from 3 months of sweet grass.

Fishing, shopping, and bouncing jeep rides

More fun with our company. Mark & Tom went off to fish in the Taylor and upper Spring Creek. Mark caught a bunch after coaching Tom in the Taylor since he had never been fly fishing before, but as you can tell, he picked up the technique easily. Didn't catch a fish this time, but watch out fish next go round!

Meanwhile, Marci & I did the Crested Butte shuffle (shop, shop, shop & lunch at a darling cafe in the glorious sunshine). Still plenty of people around in town - here for the fall leaves I think.

We were off on the next jeep adventure, this time to the top of Almont triangle after viewing Taylor Reservoir. Breathtaking views, picnic lunch, rock collecting, and a good time had by all. Back to another favorite restaurant of ours (Gourmet Noodle) for great food and lots of laughs. Deer roamed around our house, coyote howled in the night, and Tom & Mark saw a group of elk including a bull. Yes, we like to please our guests...

Lastly, we had to take them for a visit to the crazy antler and stuffed animal store before they caught their flight back home. Marci was in the "this is slightly creepy" group. Can't say I blame her, but it is a store not to be missed.

White stuff on the peaks

Emerald Lake amazing color!

Crested Butte artist at work

We say fini to the hummingbird feeders for the season. I finally took the last one down. It's sad they've all gone, but I'm sure they're having a great time in Mexico...  Our wood man delivered a cord of mixed wood (on our only rainy day in weeks) - he plops and we stack. The peaks had a dusting of snow for the first time and we had a little frost on the deck. Not ready for this! Had two fires in the fireplace - cozy stuff.

More company, isn't is great! Friends Tom & Marci have arrived, starting the big adventure by flying into the little airport in Gunnison.We went jeepng today, Emerald Lake and Paradise Divide with fabulous fall color, finishing with hurray, The Secret Stash for pizza.

Our deer chose to greet our guests in mass. 12 around the house this morning, including a big buck.

Special times in the outdoors

Lisa & Charles left this morning to go back to their home, their new home in Santa Fe.Those words I'm having difficulty wrapping my head around - well, after all it's less than a month since they moved.  It was a fun time and it's great that they're so close. Mark & Charles played golf and Lisa & I sauntered around Gunnison. Didn't take long - it's not that big!The deer came out in force to say goodbye. We sat around, took pictures, I delayed my walk so as not to disturb them, and Charles waited to pack the car. We gave up after awhile and had to gently shoo them back into the woods. They're eating everything in sight, including our new grass that's come up under the straw blanket.

More fall color pictures. I just ooh & ahh over the happenings and it will all be gone in two weeks. Everything around here except the long winter is in short increments. Happily we have more company coming, good friends from Maryland, who will get to see color at just about peak. Yes, more company - we've had a banner summer/fall with lots of people and lots of fun. (and, no, the rumor of our having this as a bed & breakfast is not true - sorry world, only friends & family.)

Fishing report: Mark went out today and had great success with salmon. 10 in half an hour - can't keep them though - too bad.