Painting. And painting. And painting.

I tackled the living room and dining room since I had five days off from work for Christmas.  From a generic off white to light and dark gold/green. MUCH better now. It only took us 6 years to change it. 

Powder day.

With Tom working a lot this week, Sue and I headed up the hill for a super fun snow day!  The snow has been great for early season. The ski season looks fantastic so far!

What you can't see...

...is that the REAL coyote pelt has the head hanging onto his forehead and the back feet (or what used to be back feet) are wrapped around his waist with the tail dangling below. Something akin to a very sick piggyback ride.  WHAT?!  Did I mention it was pretty dingy as well?  Could use a good brushing. Happy Thanksgiving Day from Copper Mountain.  Ugh. 

#AvySavvy

Took a free Avalanche Awareness class tonight in Golden. Thank you Friends of Berthoud Pass!  Wonderful class and lots of good info. They are a nonprofit group that has done much for backcountry safety and avalanche awareness in Colorado. Check them out here:

http://berthoudpass.org/

(Props to Dallas for the title of this post.  I'm not that creative on my own.)

Ciao, Amaro...

Arguably, my favorite find in Rome was Amaro.  A bitters-like liqueur, only a bit sweeter and far more robust. Italians drink it after a meal as a digestif. I love the taste, However, after sampling many while in Rome, I found only one I liked. Unfortunately, this one is made by a local, small, craft distillery and cannot be purchased in the US.  We couldn't even locate a bottle to bring back, we tried MANY liquor stores all over Rome while we were there. 

Enter my friend Cher. Her and her hubby were headed to Rome. Guess what I asked her for and guess what she was able to find!  Amazing. It's just as good as I remember.  Now, how do I schedule our layovers in Rome when we head to that side of the world!?  Yes, I like it that much. 

More info on Amaro can be found here:  http://measureandstir.com/2012/08/17/guide-to-amaro/

I believe the type I have an affinity for is the Montenegro variety - very black, a little sweet, earthy and a tiny bit citrusy...perfect.  It really does smell like bubblegum, but tastes nothing like it.

Anyone headed to Italy please pick me up a bottle, I'll pay for the bottle, shipping and a finders fee!

Space Needle and IT Convention

Spent the week in Seattle for an IT conference. I do love that city.  The conference was really good technically. And I managed to participate in an organized run with some fellow conference goers and also attended a nighttime function at the EMP museum as well. Now, back to the ol grind!

No really fablous pictures from the conference, unfortunately. I spent a lot of time inside and didn't really get out much!  But this weekend is beautiful back in Denver. 65 today and 75 tomorrow before the temperatures plummet into the single numbers this coming week. Yuck! I'm not ready. 

The only post-worthy picture below. It really does look like an alien spaceship (MIB). 

On the move.

I've been on the move the past two weekends so no blog. Anyway to catch up...  We headed to Nebraska to meet up with his parents and visit Tom's 102 year old grandmother!  Great visit. We stopped at his grandparents old farmhouse and explored a bit. We also visited an original pony express station for a history lesson.

The homestead. 

Tom exploring. 

Pony Express, Gothenburg, Nebraska 

Then, this weekend I headed home to Ohio and Michigan to visit my sister/broinlaw and the 'rents. Went through the old game closet at the house and found some old friends. Ah the memories. 

The best sunsets.

We get the greatest sunsets here in Colorado. The only place I've seen equal or better ones are on Easter Island. There, it's a sprawling sky of oranges and reds over the sea. Here, we get wonderful highlights that last only for a few minutes, but each one is unique in its own way.  I caught this one from our front deck.

Goma.

Goma. Gomme. Kaugummi. Gum. However you say it, my husband loves it.  And he leaves it like little Easter eggs, on flat surfaces in the house, saving it for another time.  This is what I found the other day.

Silverheels, take 3, fail 3.

Well, we attempted Mt. Silverheels, on Hoosier Pass AGAIN this weekend.  First time was locusts, second time was fire, third time...  Just kidding.  First time there was a storm that chased us off the ridge before we summited, second time, it was pouring when we arrived to start hiking and today...well, today - 2 things.  Tom's ankle was hurting him enough he turned around (this has never bothered him, nor has he ever turned around on a hike), so our friends and I continued, but turned back - we didn't want to leave him alone in the car for hours on end while we summited.  And it was really, really gusty up there. 

So, we took a differnt route back and found our way off-trail through some pretty thick trees (bigfoot hunters would've said it was "squatchy" out there") and down to the highway, where we called in our mile marker (lucky to have popped out on the road right next to one), and Tom picked us up.  We only overshot our target pickup point by a 1/2 mile or so - after having to change our direction due to very steep trees at one point.

NEXT YEAR YOU WILL BE MINE, Silverheels.  5 times is just too many for one peak.  The Plan - mountain bike up the forest road we found, stash our bikes in the willows near the base (Andi's thought - lock all 4 bikes together, no one can steal 4 bikes!), and finally bag that darn peak.  Geesh.  Yes, biking may not be hiking, but alright already - we've hiked to the base twice and even to the top ridge twice.  I think we can *maybe* cheat a bit at the start.

The "Damn you, Silverheels" photo.

 

Off-trailing, before we went into the trees...

 

Waiting for Tom.  Mile Marker 74.

 

 

 



Whale Peak

Got out on Saturday for a good hike with friends. We tried this peak back in June when there was just too much snow!  This time was perfect, no snow and beautiful weather and fall colors. I Heart Colorado.

Dogs photobombing the summit shot. Thanks Ez and Bean. 

Autumn Willows, Whale Peak in the background.  Good hike!

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs...

One of the great joys of travelling (besides meeting new people, seeing new sights and enjoying a totally different culture), is reading SIGNS!  These are the best of the best from our recent travels...some speak for themselves, some need a bit of explanation.  Enjoy!

 

Jordan is a Muslim country.  This means alcohol is rarely available on a menu.  But their overuse of the word "Happy Hour" leads me to believe they don't actually know what it means.



 

Near Petra, Jordan

In Aqaba, Jordan.  When we asked our guide in Cairo about this, he said "of course they deliver, and  very fast too..."  Amazing.  He couldn't believe they don't deliver in the US.

Near Israel in Jordan

 Near the Dead Sea in Jordan.  Love the picture.

Important when travelling to a Muslim country.  It was horrible, by the way.

This is one of the MANY MANY Butchery & Hotel signs we saw in Kenya, selling live animals too.  We eventually asked our guide - he said they use the world "hotel" for a place to rest and get a drink.  OHHHHHHH!  Of course.

 

What the heck is a Breath Clinic?  In Kenya.

In Kenya - an Oil Hotel.  Perfect.  And above OilLibya.  Even more perfect.

Jesus Winner Ministries.  Lots of similar ones in Kenya.  Love the name.

It's the Highclass Butchery (& Grocery), in Kenya.  Many people raise goats and sheep and cows.  Meat is very expensive, so there is at least one butchery in every town, no matter how small.  Most towns have multiple ones.

In Kenya, of course.  Two in one Butchery.  Wonder what #1 and #2 are?

 

Almost SpongeBob, but not quite.  Near Aqaba, Jordan

Steam Bath = A "holiday for your lungs"...

Read it from top right.  What?!  In Cairo airport.

 

Hippos in the river.

On our last night, we sit around a fire pit by the Masa River, listening to snorting hippos. We saw many many animals today, from migrating wildebeests to mating lions!  

We start our long trip home tomorrow. A 7 hour drive to Nairobi followed by several flights home. As always, I'm ready to go home but sad to leave the country we visit. The people we have met on our travels have been wonderful, especially our safari companions - Trish and Murray, Yvonne and Ken and our guide, James.

Some parting shots below. We will post a bunch of photos online when we pick through the hundreds we've taken - I'll post the link here so check back. Also check back for a more well written blog entry about all the wonderful countries we visited and some overall impressions!

Male Lion. 

At the Kenya and Tanzania border.  Tanzania is behind us in this photo b

Wildebeest migration. Thousands and thousands of wildebeest in Masai Mara right now. Amazing. Along with thousands of FLIES!

Love on the Serengeti. Or at leat some action. Honeymoon lions mate constantly for 4-7 days and don't even eat or drink while mating!

South toward Tanzania

After two very long days in the car, and an overnight at Lake Nakuru (disappointing in my opinion), we arrived at Masai Mara yesterday, part of the Serengeti and bordering Tanzania. 

I can tell you that they've both been the longest car rides I've had in a long time and the shortest. Shortest because we have great company, two other couples that are a lot of fun to be around and we are driving through a new country. Longest because it has been 6+ hours each day of driving horribly potholed and eroded roads in a vehicle that is super tough but at the same time sounds like it's going to rattle apart and burst into a million pieces at any moment.  Longest also because apparently somewhere in our travels, I either got a hold of bad water in ice or on fruit or vegetables, or maybe those two undercooked over easy eggs did a number on me, but let's just say I ended up with something that leaves you wanting your next bathroom stop NOW. Thank goodness for the strong antibiotics we brought with us. It seems to be on the way out, no pun intended, haha. 

We've seen a lot of roadside Kenya. Most are farming communities and the livestock looks healthy, especially the goats and sheep. It is a hilly mountainous country complimented by large open plains. The scenery reminds us a lot of Colorado in some ways. In short, it is beautiful. 

We saw a cheetah and two male lions last night, along with many many wildebeest and a few hyenas and jackals. We have an ALL DAY game drive today, complete with box lunches and peeing in the bush. Hopefully lots to report after that. 

Storm over the Serengeti 

Melissa with dead wildebeest carcuss. Great background, huh?

Sleepy young male lion. 

Cheetah - our first!

Hippos in the river directly in front of our tent. They make little (big) snorting sounds, FYI. 

5/5

Well our guide scored a leopard for us tonight, and a pride of 9 lions this morning!  Samburu has given us many sightings, and close up ones at that. 

Leopards are the hardest of the big 5 to spot. They are so striking with their spots. In order to get to this leopard, our driver drove faster around bumpy curvy gravel roads than I've ever experienced. Those of you that know me well, know I get carsick. But I will say the leopard was worth every nauseous moment. The guides communicate through radio and the second lead he got panned out for us. We pulled up and were able to see it for about a minute before it jumped down and disappeared into the bush. They're very shy. 

The lions were also amazing, all ages in the pride including 3 tiny kittens. We got to watch them for probably a half an hour. 

Tomorrow, we have an 8 hour drive to the next reserve. Yuck!  3 more nights left before we make the long trek home. 

Intense leopard. 

Grooming baboons with baby. 

Part of the pride, kittens in front. 

Lion grooming. Lots of love there. 

Giraffe montage.

I declare giraffes my favorite African animal (so far). So, this entry is dedicated just to them in their long-necked glory. 

They are such peaceful animals with inquisitive faces and just stand and watch you, unmoving, for minutes. When they walk, they seem to glide and aren't in any hurry to get anywhere.  They are definitely my favorite. 

Quick facts we learned about giraffes:

1) They regulate blood pressure much better than humans. This regulation is also attached to why they never lay their head down when they sleep. 

2) They sleep for only 5-30 minutes per day. 

3) Their bones have no marrow, they are solid bone. 

4) They usually get attacked when they are laying down or eating/drinking. This is because they are slow to get back up. 

5) There are 3 kinds in Africa. Masai (which we haven't seen yet), Rothschild (endangered one), and Reticulated. 

6) They can run up to 55km/hr. 

7) Despite their peaceful nature, one kick from their leg can kill a lion. 

8) Their tongue is 45cm long and their saliva is like an antiseptic!  If they get cut while eating a thorn, it heals quickly.