Wednesday, November 9, 2011


Today we took Starbuck for her morning walk. It was 10 when we woke up so we waited till the sun rose above Whitehouse (one of the mountains that guard our community). Once the sun rose above the mountain, it warmed up immediately.

It is so intense here at 7950 ft.  Due to this altitude the sky is this gorgeous blue. I think this is the echo of God's voice saying "It is good!"

We crossed over
from Beaver Lake to the Crystal River which is one of those rushing mountain streams. Parts of it were frozen and it was surrounded by leafless bushes that were covered with ice so that they glistened and sparkled in the sunlight. Starbuck was running around and Jon was exploring. I found a log free of snow to sit on. I sat. I was silent. I was facing the sun above the snow covered Whitehouse Mountain. I sat. I was silent. I heard the river rushing over the rocks and saw the sun making a sparkling reflection upon the river. I sat. I was silent. Starbuck came bounding around the corner in free abandonment; she greeted me and was off again. I sat. I was silent. Did I not hear the echo of God's voice saying "It is good!"

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings." Psalms 36: 5-7

Thursday, November 3, 2011



Living in between two wilderness areas in the middle of the Colorado mountains has some interesting experiences involved. Our community of Marble is located between the Maroon Bells/Snowmass wilderness area and the Jagged wilderness area. Now is the time that the bears are beginning to hibernate. We have one in particular that found a source of food in our 'backyard' neighbor's house. This resourceful bear was able to tear into a part of the 100 year old home and find the cat food which he quickly consumed. So since then he keeps reappearing. It seems that bears do not forget a success!!

Since he frequents our neighbors, we often find tracks around our house. Last night around 9pm, I heard our bearproof garbage can banging around. Jon and I immediately knew "our" bear was back. We ran to the windows to get a glimpse of him but turning on the lights must have scared him off. However our garbage can had been moved quite a ways and turned over. Jon made the comment that the bear was showing up early. Do bears have clocks? Are they not big enough and strong enough to show up when they darn well please?

Later Jon (of course I am not going to face a bear) had to take our yellow lab out for her last potty break. I turned on every light in the house and outside, stayed in the house trying to find the whistle to scare any wildlife away. Well they made it safely in but the said bear's tracks were everywhere and Jon placed the garbage can in its rightful place.

I have decided to name said bear. I call him Bear!