Elk calves, flowers, and majestic mountains

And the fun continues... latest trek was to Brush Creek. Gorgeous, although we timed it just a tad early for the massive wildflowers, don't get me wrong there were plenty, its just there are entire hillsides there that are getting ready to bloom. Mark tried some fishing with little success. The water was a lot higher than we've seen it before (only gone late summer and fall). He said he was in good water but the fish weren't biting. Fun anyway.

looks like Switzerland doesn't it?

we saw this badger trying to hide (in plain sight)

In the spirit of last summer when we became the explorers of restaurants noone we knew had gone to, we zipped over to CB South and tried out Ruben's, a long time New Mexican, Mexican restaurant. Only open for dinner and a little ways from town, but we say thumbs up. It was really good food, definitely with a New Mexican influence.A local hangout for sure...

Big photo session from this morning. A elk mama and her baby were just outside the fence off our deck. Calves are 35lbs at birth gaining 2 lbs a day and the mamas are 500lbs. Compare that with an adult female doe - 65lbs.Wow, what a special place we live in to experience these moments. We are the visitors here and what a ride!

We had our windows cleaned by a fantastic husband/wife team. Highly recommend them - they were meticulous and it took over a day. Our crazy high windows!

29 feet up there

And the flowers. What can I say...

wild iris

primrose

lupine

Company's a coming. Hurray.

Breathtaking surroundings

Absolutely fantastic weather here with wildflowers and gorgeous color everywhere - come visit the area if you can. We have a short warm season in comparison to the longgg winter and by damn, we will enjoy every minute of it. I have been snapping photos like crazy. The photos in this post are just random - beauty every direction...

Lots of projects happening here, Mark got out the chainsaw to cut up some huge branches and one 60 ft aspen than fell just outside the fence.Of course it fell right in the middle of all the area that the guys cleared  late last summer. Just what we don't need, more firewood. There are still cords and cords even after burning fires every day. Next staining the deck and the front porch - a pain, but needed to be done. Notice the projects up to this point are Mark's - ha ha. Not to worry, I've been doing stuff too, weeding beds, planting herbs, buying hanging baskets (yeah!). We actually have hired someone to wash our windows including the sky high ones. Giving up, at least for the time being. Its a gigantic job...

Wildlife report: lots of deer everywhere, and the elk are still here, but not very visible. I think they're mostly hiding in the woods with their brand new babies. Hope to see some of those out soon. The fawns are not due yet - late in June should be the time. And we do have a bluebird nest under the eaves of the deck, but not sign of the slightly dumb robin pair since I pulled the, old too tiny for robins, bluebird nest down.

doesn't look it, but this elk is HUGE compared to the deer

back to the neighbors dirt pile

Copper River salmon is here and I immediately bought 7 lbs worth. It's a special treat only available for a short time - pricey but if you like salmon, well worth the price. We've had two meals so far and it was as fabulous as I remember.

Time is already going by too fast.Cramming in what we can. Mark was occupied with a member/member golf tournament this past weekend. They won their flight - congrats.

The start of our fun time with lots company is here.Old friends are coming to visit this weekend - never been to this area. Should be a blast!

Spring with a capital S

Things popping out right and left, I can hardly keep up. And the weather will not stay consistent, rain, sleet, snow showers yesterday, then blue skies and blazing sunshine. Giant wind today - keeps you hopping.

That is a hoof emerging!

The elk and deer are all over the place and the big news is the elk have started having their babies. We accidentally came upon an elk in the labor process while hiking. She didn't get up and run away when she saw us, which is clearly not elk behavior, and we quietly walked away still not understanding the significance. Realized when we got home and looked at the photo I'd taken. That was courtesy of the great zoom I have now - she was not close. Next, a brand new elk calf was all by itself barely able to walk at the mudhole as Mark and I drove by at separate times. We were worried it was abandoned, but later in the day it was gone, mommy came back it seems.

fake dynamite a neighbor put in

trash dump from at least one cabin - lots of tinned food eaten apparently

old washtub

excuse me, why are you here?

another cave!

Our hike was a lot of fun. It was actually on Star Mt., believe it or not, in an area that neighbors had told us about but we'd never been. A whole other set of old mining cabins - how did they live and make it through the winters here?

lupine

larkspur

Still a tad early to put out hanging baskets and herbs but we're ready to jump on it when freezing temps abate.

Hummingbirds, elk, exploring, and Happy Memorial Day!

Hope everyone is having a terrific Memorial Day weekend! Our weather has been great, but I hear not everyone's is cooperating. In spite of that, let's celebrate all our military and their loved ones...

Hummingbird mania is upon us. We added another big boy feeder to help with the endless refilling, which has helped, but given we aren't even in peak numbers yet (the crazy orange Rufus haven't arrived ), we've decided to order two more to replace the smaller ones. We sadly did have a few casualties last week when the temps dropped below freezing. These little birds do not do well in cold, so its a mystery why they get here before freeze date ( June 10). Yes it's very late here - our daffodils are still blooming - the end of May!

The elk continue to stay with us and we got to see a group of them playing around on the piles of dirt at our neighbors property across the road. They are starting construction on a house and the elk took advantage of the quiet to play who's king of the castle (or queen in this case). And for those of you who've expressed concern we have a house going up close to us, it is different after not anything for 4 years, but they will be a good distance away tucked way close to their woods as we are to ours. No issue I think.

We went exploring to Lake City, an old mining town an hour south of Gunnison. While the mining influence is still very evident with old operations dotted around, it's been transformed into a complete recreational place with river, Lake Cristobal, places to hike,horseback ride, and a cute town. The crowd had evidently not shown up yet as most of the stores and restaurants were closed even on Memorial weekend.

Mark snapped a photo of a neighbor

We took a different road back - a cutoff, not to be confused with a shortcut, and it definitely was not shorter. Fun to see a new area, with homes (part of the Blue Mesa HOA) and large plateaus above Blue Mesa, and in part we drove through an area apparently owned by the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. Large signs indicating basically do not get out of your car and touch or walk on anything...okay then.
Local news: anyone remember the story of the young bear who woke up way too soon and was captured by Roaring Judy? He was released a few days ago way up on Red Mountain. He gained 100 lbs in captivity (was only a scrawny 25lbs when caught) and now is very healthy and raring to go bear. He jumped out of the cage and never looked back. Nice story...
And we got the scoop on new ownership of the Kochevar bar on Elk St. when dining at Soupcon - it's Chef Jason! We were the only customers that night (they'd just opened back up after off season) so time for talking. Spectacular food as always, and everyone seems excited about the bar purchase - its right behind Soupcon. No big changes in food over there, definitely remaining a bar type place.