Here are a few winter scenes.
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| Our picnic table with a snow load. |
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| Steve plowing |
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| Frozen mini water fall on Deep Creek Road |
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| Deep Creek is normally at least 15' wide, but is now frozen to only 2' wide. |
Friday, November 28, 2014
Snow Scenes and Snowy Days
Winter is a beautiful time here in the mountains of Colorado.We have received 2.5 feet of snow in the last two storms. #tellurideskiresort as well as all the #coloradoskiresorts are jumping for joy. It is expected to be a great snow year which equals great skiing. I love staying home and watching the snow through my big windows when I can stay warm and cozy inside. I have conveniently never learned to plow snow with the ATV.....I am great at taking pictures of others plowing. LOL.
C
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Meet Andy
We have a new addition to our family. He is an eight month old male kitty. We went to #SecondChanceAnimalShelter (Humane Society) in Ridgway yesterday and let the kitty chose us. He looks just like our six year old, Acey.
I was initially hesitant to chose a kitty that looks identical to the one we already have, but he was so sweet and purred instantly. When they told us his name was Andy it was ALL OVER. Andy/Andrew is a sacred name in our family. Our little cat Andy is the 5th generation with the same name. LOL.
He has fit in perfectly -Andy and Acey are already the best of friends. He is already pretty big for an 8 month old, I expect he will be a moose!
I was initially hesitant to chose a kitty that looks identical to the one we already have, but he was so sweet and purred instantly. When they told us his name was Andy it was ALL OVER. Andy/Andrew is a sacred name in our family. Our little cat Andy is the 5th generation with the same name. LOL.
He has fit in perfectly -Andy and Acey are already the best of friends. He is already pretty big for an 8 month old, I expect he will be a moose!
Monday, November 17, 2014
Hartman Gardens of Colorado
A few weeks ago before the first snowfall, I visited Hartman Gardens in Montrose, Colorado. I had just missed the final apple picking, but still managed to find a few apples on the trees and raspberries still on the vine. I was treated to a lovely tour of the gardens and orchards by the owner, Janet Hartman. Fresh preserves are made in their canning kitchen the old fashioned way - one small batch at a time. She uses reduced sugar recipes to maintain the flavors of the natural fruits. No artificial colorings or preservatives are added. She also makes syrups, flapjack and scone mixes, hot drink mixes and very nice gift boxes which are all perfect for Christmas gifts. Check out her website at www.hartmangardens.com. If you decide to order, please tell Janet you saw her on my blog.
I have had several different varieties of Janet's preserves, but my all time favorite is her apple butter. The best I have ever tasted. I like to serve it with grilled pork......delicious! I have my mother-in-law hooked on Hartman's apple butter and take her several jars when we go to visit her in Texas.
I plan to return to Hartman Garden's next summer when the season is in full swing. Stay tuned....
I have had several different varieties of Janet's preserves, but my all time favorite is her apple butter. The best I have ever tasted. I like to serve it with grilled pork......delicious! I have my mother-in-law hooked on Hartman's apple butter and take her several jars when we go to visit her in Texas.
I plan to return to Hartman Garden's next summer when the season is in full swing. Stay tuned....
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| Janet showing me her beautiful raspberries. |
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| The apple orchard. |
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| Hartman Gardens Store |
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| Fresh fruit juices waiting to be made into jams and syrups. |
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| Apples cooking in the kitchen to make my favorite apple butter. |
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Sheep Herding Dogs
The sheep herders all work with dogs. I was never exposed to sheep ranching or herding dogs until moving to Colorado. I love to watch the sheep herders direct their dogs with only a short whistle. The dogs just seem to know what to do. They move the sheep from one grazing site to another, from pen to pen or just sit nearby while the sheep graze and watch for predators.
Remember the Warner Brother cartoon about the sheep dog who was always watching his flock? It is real life here......and just like the cartoon!
I am impressed with the sheep herders and their highly intelligent dogs. A herder can easily tend to a flock of 1500 sheep with the help of his dogs. The dogs have a natural herding instinct, but need a little bit of training when they are puppies. I drove into my driveway coming home from work one day to find two darling Border Collie puppies playing in my yard. They were too young to herd, but later I found them hanging out with the big dogs and learning their trade. The next summer season those same dogs were full grown and took their profession very seriously. I was proud of them.
Last week as I was leaving for work, I found another Border Collie in my front yard. It had been raining and he was wet and muddy. I walked outside dressed for work and the dog decided that he didn't want me to leave.....so he herded me away from my car! I have never been herded before! I kept trying to walk around him but he was fast and kept me from moving forward. Of course, I was letting him get away with it because I was afraid he was going to jump on me and he was so muddy. I tried to out run him and he got me......I had to go back inside and clean up before I could go to work. The second time, I ran to the car and got away before he tried to stop me. It really was fun.
Remember the Warner Brother cartoon about the sheep dog who was always watching his flock? It is real life here......and just like the cartoon!
I am impressed with the sheep herders and their highly intelligent dogs. A herder can easily tend to a flock of 1500 sheep with the help of his dogs. The dogs have a natural herding instinct, but need a little bit of training when they are puppies. I drove into my driveway coming home from work one day to find two darling Border Collie puppies playing in my yard. They were too young to herd, but later I found them hanging out with the big dogs and learning their trade. The next summer season those same dogs were full grown and took their profession very seriously. I was proud of them.
Last week as I was leaving for work, I found another Border Collie in my front yard. It had been raining and he was wet and muddy. I walked outside dressed for work and the dog decided that he didn't want me to leave.....so he herded me away from my car! I have never been herded before! I kept trying to walk around him but he was fast and kept me from moving forward. Of course, I was letting him get away with it because I was afraid he was going to jump on me and he was so muddy. I tried to out run him and he got me......I had to go back inside and clean up before I could go to work. The second time, I ran to the car and got away before he tried to stop me. It really was fun.
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| One of the dogs laying in my yard keeping a watchful eye on the sheep. |
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| My cat Acey, keeping a watchful eye on the dog in the yard!! |
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| Sheep kicking up dust as they are moved into a coral. |
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| The sheep tucked in for the evening. |
Friday, September 26, 2014
Apple Season
Apple season is in full swing. There are hundreds if not thousands of apple varieties in Colorado. I always ask the farmers at the markets for advice on which apples to buy depending on what I plan to do with them. This week I knew I wanted to make tarts, so I was referred to two different varieties and it was suggested that I use a mix.
Apple Tarts
1 sheet Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry, thawed and rolled out as thin as possible and cut in half
3 baking apples, peeled and sliced
raspberries
cinnamon
sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup apricot preserves, melted
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the pastry sheets on the parchment. Crimp the edges of each pastry piece. Layer the apples on each pastry. On one pastry, I topped the apples with sugar and cinnamon. On the other pastry, I topped the apples with raspberries and sugar. Dot the tops of each with 1 tablespoon of butter.
Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until the crust is lightly brown. Remove from oven and brush the crust with the melted apricot preserves. Return to oven for another 10 minutes or until nicely browned.
We couldn't agree which we liked better. They were both gone in no time!
#PepperidgeFarmPuffPastry #apples #apricotpreserves #appletart
Apple Tarts
1 sheet Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry, thawed and rolled out as thin as possible and cut in half
3 baking apples, peeled and sliced
raspberries
cinnamon
sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup apricot preserves, melted
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the pastry sheets on the parchment. Crimp the edges of each pastry piece. Layer the apples on each pastry. On one pastry, I topped the apples with sugar and cinnamon. On the other pastry, I topped the apples with raspberries and sugar. Dot the tops of each with 1 tablespoon of butter.
Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until the crust is lightly brown. Remove from oven and brush the crust with the melted apricot preserves. Return to oven for another 10 minutes or until nicely browned.
We couldn't agree which we liked better. They were both gone in no time!
#PepperidgeFarmPuffPastry #apples #apricotpreserves #appletart
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| Ready for the Oven |
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| Hot - Right Out of the Oven |
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Summer BBQ
BBQ Chicken and Sausage
Tomato and Corn Pasta Salad (recipe follows)
Green Salad with Peaches and Pecans (recipe follows)
Bush's Baked Beans - in a can......needed a short cut!
French Bread
Lemon Bars.....OK, OK I needed another short cut and used a Krusteaz mix
Tomato and Corn Pasta
1 lb. penne pasta
2 cups of Olathe Sweet Corn cut off the cob
2 leaks cleaned and chopped, white parts only
1 cup grape tomatoes cut in half
1/2 cup basil torn into small pieces
1/2 grated Parmesan
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Cook pasta according to package directions. While the pasta is cooking, cut corn off the cob and chop leaks. Add both to a skillet that has been sprinkled with olive oil. Cook together for 10-15 minutes or until the corn and leaks are cooked. Let the pasta cool slightly then add the corn & leak mixture, tomatoes, basil & Parmesan. Drizzle olive oil over the pasta and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.
This is a great pasta salad that can be kept at room temperature for quite some time.
Green Salad with Peaches and Pecans
Portions are not listed .........
Mixed salad greens
Palisade peaches cut into bite sized pieces
Chopped chives
Spicy Pecans
Toss with vinegar and oil, salt and pepper.
Spicy Pecans
1 egg white
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire
2 tablespoons paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 1/4 cups pecan halves
3 tablespoons melted butter
Beat egg whites with salt until foamy. Add sugar, Worcestershire, paprika and cayenne. Stir in pecans and butter. Spread pecans evenly on a baking sheet. Bake 25-30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool and store in an air tight container.
#telluridebluesandbrewsfestival #olathesweetcorn, #palisadepeaches #worchestershire #krusteaz #pennepasta
Of course, setting the table(s) are even more fun than cooking. I like to keep it rustic. In this case I used a cool tablecloth made by my very creative friend, #LynnBowers, out of old jeans. She cut out squares and sewed them together like a quilt and lined it with a cream colored cotton lace fabric. I think she should start a business making these tablecloths......what do you think? Very cool.
Our table is huge and a custom made tablecloth is the only thing that will fit.
I used blue tin granite plates and a variety of napkins. The flowers are from my garden.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Road Block
I will take a road block like this any day over traffic in a city.
This is what living in the southwest is really like....yes people still have sheep drives right down the middle of the road. These sheep are moving from one grazing area to another on the ranch with the sheep herder and herding dogs pushing them along. There are other dogs around on the sides of the herds making sure the sheep go where directed.
It isn't uncommon to see sheep or cattle in the middle of a busy highway moving from one grazing pasture to another. I remember getting in the middle of a cattle drive in 1986 right after we moved here. I couldn't believe my eyes! I thought I was in the old west! I didn't know people still rode on horseback and moved cattle in the middle of the road. We drove through....very slowly as the cows bumped into our car.
This isn't the best picture, as I snapped it through the car windshield. I will try to do better next time.
#sheep, #sheepranching, #sheepherding
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Peach Napoleon
This is one of my favorite recipes for fresh peaches.
Peach Napoleon
1 8 oz container of Mascarpone Cheese
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoons half and half
wafer thin sugar cookies
fresh slices peaches
cinnamon for garnish
Mix together Mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and half and half until smooth. Start with 1 teaspoon half and half and add more until the mixture can easily be spread.
To assemble follow the directions below:
Small amount of Mascarpone cheese mixture on a plate, top with
One cookie, top with
Mascarpone cheese mixture, top with
Sliced peaches
Repeat and repeat.
Top with chopped peaches.
Dust with cinnamon.
Then take a picture! LOL
Peach Napoleon
1 8 oz container of Mascarpone Cheese
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoons half and half
wafer thin sugar cookies
fresh slices peaches
cinnamon for garnish
Mix together Mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and half and half until smooth. Start with 1 teaspoon half and half and add more until the mixture can easily be spread.
To assemble follow the directions below:
Small amount of Mascarpone cheese mixture on a plate, top with
One cookie, top with
Mascarpone cheese mixture, top with
Sliced peaches
Repeat and repeat.
Top with chopped peaches.
Dust with cinnamon.
Then take a picture! LOL
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Colorado Wine Country
In my last post I wrote about the wonderful fruit orchards in Palisade. Also in Palisade are vineyards and wineries. The fertile land in the area is perfect for growing grapes. There are now twenty-one wineries located on the Fruit and Wine Byway. It makes a perfect and relaxing day to cruise from one winery to the next for tasting and self guided vineyard tours.
#coloradowineries, #coloradovineyards, #coloradowine, #coloradograpes
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#coloradowineries, #coloradovineyards, #coloradowine, #coloradograpes
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| Harry enjoying a glass of wine at Wine Country Inn |
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Palisade Orchards
We spent the weekend in Palisade, Colorado enjoying the fruit orchards on Colorado's picturesque Western Slope. The elevation is 4800 feet with close proximity to the Colorado River. The combination of water from the river, high elevation, high altitude sunlight and the cool nights produces lucious fruit that is shipped all over the country.
One of my favorite places is Z's Orchard. They are a family run operation that has been in business for over 40 years. They have dazzling zinnia and sunflower fields which surround their orchard with 17 varieties of peaches. They also have plum, apple, pear, cherry and apricot trees, and a raspberry patch. They have over 7,500 peach trees alone. Z's also makes, homemade preserves and pickles in their commercial kitchen.
Kendra and Ken of the Z's family drive from Palisade to Telluride every Saturday during the summer months to set up a farmers market…about a 2 ½ hour drive. We are so thankful for them as gardening is a chore when you live at our elevation of 8750’. Take a look at Z's website www.zsorchard.com.
I mostly grow my own herbs. I planted two tomato plants in pots this summer, both with a short maturity time. I also planted one jalapeno plant. Early on I had a few red tomatoes and a few peppers that were well on their way to a normal size. Then along came chipmunks and squirrels and they stole all of my tomatoes and peppers. It has taken another 45 days for the tomatoes and peppers to regrow. Now I have the 3 pots clustered together and covered with netting to keep the pests away…..so far so good, but we had our first frost last week on August 28th! Our growing season was so short this year. We had the last frost June 15th – that is only a 74 day growing season. With the weather changing, I suspect I will be making something out of green tomatoes.
One of my favorite places is Z's Orchard. They are a family run operation that has been in business for over 40 years. They have dazzling zinnia and sunflower fields which surround their orchard with 17 varieties of peaches. They also have plum, apple, pear, cherry and apricot trees, and a raspberry patch. They have over 7,500 peach trees alone. Z's also makes, homemade preserves and pickles in their commercial kitchen.
Kendra and Ken of the Z's family drive from Palisade to Telluride every Saturday during the summer months to set up a farmers market…about a 2 ½ hour drive. We are so thankful for them as gardening is a chore when you live at our elevation of 8750’. Take a look at Z's website www.zsorchard.com.
I mostly grow my own herbs. I planted two tomato plants in pots this summer, both with a short maturity time. I also planted one jalapeno plant. Early on I had a few red tomatoes and a few peppers that were well on their way to a normal size. Then along came chipmunks and squirrels and they stole all of my tomatoes and peppers. It has taken another 45 days for the tomatoes and peppers to regrow. Now I have the 3 pots clustered together and covered with netting to keep the pests away…..so far so good, but we had our first frost last week on August 28th! Our growing season was so short this year. We had the last frost June 15th – that is only a 74 day growing season. With the weather changing, I suspect I will be making something out of green tomatoes.
Check out the photos below of Z's Orchard's their lovely, quaint store and flower fields.
Oh, by the way - I bought a case of peaches, so stay tuned for peach recipes over the next few days.
#palisadecolorado, #coloradopeaches, #coloradotomatos, #sunflowerfields, #westernslope, #telluridecolorado
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| Z's Orchard |
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The Store Front    |
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| The flower field |
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