Our garden has been producing like mad, as has my mom’s. We brought home some Armenian cucumbers from her house where they were growing over three feet long and zucchinis that will make great stir fry and breads! Craziness. We’ve been enjoying cucumbers and tomatoes and lots of salsa. You’ll have to stay tuned to The Rad Dish for the recipes. I still haven’t figured out what to do with the flying saucer squash we grew called patty pan. It’s very cool looking though!
Category Archives: Summertime
Trip to Meeker and the Western Slope
My mom, brother and me in Steamboat on our drive through the mountains
We just got back from our trip to Meeker, Palisade and the western slope of Colorado. While in many ways it was a lot of fun, it wasn’t all easy. For one thing, we were visiting my dad’s grave, which brings up so many memories and thoughts of what could have been; what would be now, if he were still alive and well. But it was also difficult because my mom, my brother, Britton and I are all such different people, on different paths in life. Britton and I are of course on a closer, more similar path, and Justin and my mom are also since they live together, but still, anytime you have four grown adults with different experiences, lessons to learn, opinions, and viewpoints on the world all in one car and in one hotel room, you might be a little uncomfortable.
All in all though, I think it was so important to do this trip. When Britton and I move to Puerto Rico, there just simply won’t be as many opportunities to spend time with our families and friends here in Colorado. Sure, they may visit and we may visit, but it just won’t ever be the same. So I am glad we did this trip.
We started our journey mid morning going through the Poudre Canyon. We wanted to see how much the fire had ravaged the area. In fact, it wasn’t too bad -near the road anyway. Although we did see a few blackened trees. Oddly enough, it was really hazy the whole trip, though not from any fires in Colorado. It all came from states surrounding us. It was unfortunate because it blocked some of the views. After driving through the Poudre, we stopped in Steamboat Springs for lunch and walked around a bit.
The view from the Meeker cemetery
We arrived in Meeker around 5 or 6pm and checked into a hotel. Then we headed up to the Meeker cemetery called Highland Cemetery where my dad is buried. We spent quite a bit of time there. It was powerful and emotional. And very beautiful. I can see why Dad chose this area -not only because he was born there and his mother and father are buried there, but also because of the sheer beauty of the place. It sits on a hill that overlooks the river that runs through Meeker with a backdrop of the mountains.
An angel carved from an old pine tree
Dad’s gravestone. Though he never actually went to Vietnam, he was apparently classified as having served in that war.
We also found my paternal grandmother and grandfather’s headstones. Iris is my middle name in reverence to my grandmother that I never met
Meeker is a very small town of less than 3000 people. Agriculture- such as hay and sheep- is the main industry. Interestingly enough, the founder, Nathan Meeker, also founded Greeley and after being scalped by Native Americans in this area at the Meeker Massacre was buried in Lynn Grove Cemetery in Greeley!
The next day we headed out to Palisade for the peach festival, but found out that the festival really didn’t start until Friday! But anyway we were able to take some of the agri-tours around. We stopped at an Alpaca Farm and Mill where they make yarn from alpaca wool. We also stopped at some vineyards and wineries as well as fruit orchards.
At the Suncrest Alpaca Farm in Palisade
We learned alpacas are from the camel family and prized for their hypoallergenic wool
They had an extensive set-up to produce the yarn and final clothing products from the alpaca and other animals
Some people call this area the Provence of Colorado with all of its grapes, lavender and fruit orchards.
My brother and mom enjoying a wine tasting
Britton and I in our favorite place -in a jungle of trees. In this case it was a peach orchard
Gorgeous peaches. We didn’t bring any home because we were peached out from our own tree
Britton and me with a sculpture and the Grand Mesa in the background
We were planning on staying another night, but after our tours we decided we had done what we had come to do on this trip and started back to Greeley about 5pm. We took I-70 through Glenwood Springs, Vail, Georgetown etc. It was a nice drive. We arrived home at about 10pm.
All in all, while it was emotionally draining in many ways, it was also a lot of fun and I am so glad we did it. Thanks to Britton, Mom and Justin for going on this adventure together. And thanks to Dad for making it happen in a round about way.
Changes Come
Summer is starting to come to a close. The evenings are considerably cooler. The chickens’ laying has gone from about 5-6 eggs a day (from 6 chickens) down to about 4. The sunsets are just gorgeous and it’s the perfect temperature outside to sit outside and watch the chickens as they strut about. We have been harvesting our peaches, plums, cherry tomatoes and herbs. The watermelons, squash and cucumbers are still growing so we still have some time left yet. It is bittersweet because we know winter will be here soon and this outdoor life will soon be shut out (and we will be shut in) again. But, the really scary/exciting/strange thing is that this will be our last winter in Colorado! I think it’s starting to hit us…the change is coming. Or rather, it is always here, but sometimes you can feel it as it moves under your feet like an earthquake or underground rumbling river.
And so, sometimes you just have to look out your backdoor and appreciate all the beauty around you right now. Schnoodle is getting really old and each day has a harder time, each day another change comes for her. She loses her sight. She loses her hearing. She loses her teeth. She loses control of herself and where she is. But she gains so many years! She is about 15-16 years old! Our own little ancient being. And still she hangs on. Still she loves a treat and being pet. How do you know when your loved one is ready to move on, that the big change is ready to come? Who are we to decide her fate when she still seems to have joy in living?
Schnoodle with strawberries earlier this summer
We are also planning our trip this week to the western slope to visit my dad’s grave in Meeker and to see Palisade and the Peach Festival. Strange to remember my dad’s own big change from this world to the next was just (or is already) two summers ago. Changes come. We can fight them and we can hold them back or we can let them flow. Either way, changes come.
Just Peachy!
We have sooo many peaches right now. It’s really cool. Our tree has just been churning them out. They are oh so good and sweet and soft. Some of the early ones were a little tart and hard, but even they softened and sweetened up. This week Britton went to pick some and we came away with over 30 pounds of them! And there is at least that many left on the tree still!
Briton in the tree harvesting the peaches (he is camouflaged with the sky)
I have brought one basket full to work, and we also made gift baskets for our family.
All the produce and flowers come from our gardens!
And still we have too much! So we have been eating lots of peaches for breakfast and for snacks/dessert. You will have to stay tuned to The Rad Dish and see my lovely peach cobbler. But here is a sneak peek:
What’s more is we are also planning our mini-trip to Meeker and Palisades next week for the Peach Festival. Talk about getting peached out! Oh, well, can’t complain too much about beauty and abundance! This is what we imagine our lives will be in Puerto Rico all year long, except instead of peaches it will be mangoes…and pineapples…and starfruit….and lemons….and bananas…and coconuts…and avocados…and….. I think I can get the hang of this fruit farming thing! It’s just peachy! 🙂