The state of Colorado has much to commend it, including the rugged scenery of the Rocky Mountains. Southern Colorado contains Archuleta County and its county seat of Pagosa Springs. It is a beautiful area with pine and aspen forests, hot springs and an historical legacy found at Indian ruins, such as Chimney Rock and the wonderfully named, Canyons of the Ancients. Visitors enjoy the hunting, rafting and the 27 hole, championship golf course. There are also many hiking trails and rivers for good fishing, especially for brown trout and rainbow trout.
Snow sports are very popular in the Rockies and downhill skiing; cross country skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts are to be found at the Wolf Creek Ski Area, just east of the town. It is one of the state's oldest ski resorts and has a plentiful supply of powder snow and a summit of almost 12,000 feet. There is a school for beginners and private lessons can be booked.
The Great Pagosa Hot Springs resort is known for its high mineral water content, believed to have great restorative powers. There are two outdoor pools, one of which is heated, and indoor hot baths. Another Pagosa Springs tourist attraction is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway, where visitors enjoy being passengers on a vintage steam locomotive
The local history of the area is displayed at the San Juan Pioneer Museum, covering the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. There are various typical examples of the lifestyle of the times in Pagosa Springs, including a barbershop, dentist's surgery, rural schoolroom, blacksmith's forge and general store. There is also a typical family's kitchen and displays of logging equipment.
There is another museum in the area, with an unusual collection in dedication to a cartoonist. The Fred Harman Art Museum exhibits original sketches and paintings and other memorabilia of the creator of Red Ryder and Little Beaver, which appeared in the Chicago Sun newspaper. The museum also shows examples of Harman's fine art output in oils, bronzes and pen and ink drawings with western subjects.
Wildlife and nature is all around the town, including in the Rocky Mountains Wildlife Park. Many native animals are on view and there is a museum and gift shop. There is also an exhibition of landscape and wildlife art and photography. The stone villages, built into the cliffs at nearby Mesa Verde bring visitors to Pagosa Springs from all over the world and show the intricate canyon homes of the Anasazi people.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Designer Dog Collars
Have you ever seen merchandise and thought to yourself who in the world is going to buy that? You know the kind of items I mean. Items that are either tacky or very expensive. Every time I am out shopping I seem to run across something that fits this description. I also seem to run across the people that purchase the items.
A few weeks ago I was out shopping in a major mall when I noticed that they had opened a new gift shop. There are a wide variety of high-end gifts. There was one section that was reserved for designer dog collars and other assorted gifts and apparel for man’s best friend. Across from this section was another display of items for pet cats. The designer dog collars caught my eye because some of them were locked in a display case because they contained gemstones and were worth several hundred dollars. Other of the designer dog collars were on opened display racks. They featured designers names engraved or embroidered on the collars. These of course could be customized with your pet’s name. My sister was with me and we laughed that we should get one of the gemstone collars for my yellow Labrador retriever for his next hunting trip out to the duck slough.
A week later a friend and I were invited to our neighbor’s home for an open house. I don’t spend a great deal of time with these neighbors; they tend to run in a different social circle than I do. When we arrived at their home their maid took our coats and directed us to the great room area where the guests had gathered. Once in this room our hostess greeted us. She was holding their small black house dog. Around his neck the dog had on one of the designer dog collars with several large gemstones. The designer dog collar was leather with gold and silver inlaid along with the stones. The hostess saw me looking at the collar and was quick to inform me that she had purchased it at a darling new shop in the mall. She also pointed out that the collar was custom done. The gemstones were the birthstones of her dog’s parents as well as her dog. She was very pleased that such a fine store opened within our community.
On our way home my friend asked me how much I thought the designer dog collar cost. I told him that I did not know for sure, but that all the dogs in the neighborhood would be very jealous if the price of the designer collar ever got out.
A few weeks ago I was out shopping in a major mall when I noticed that they had opened a new gift shop. There are a wide variety of high-end gifts. There was one section that was reserved for designer dog collars and other assorted gifts and apparel for man’s best friend. Across from this section was another display of items for pet cats. The designer dog collars caught my eye because some of them were locked in a display case because they contained gemstones and were worth several hundred dollars. Other of the designer dog collars were on opened display racks. They featured designers names engraved or embroidered on the collars. These of course could be customized with your pet’s name. My sister was with me and we laughed that we should get one of the gemstone collars for my yellow Labrador retriever for his next hunting trip out to the duck slough.
A week later a friend and I were invited to our neighbor’s home for an open house. I don’t spend a great deal of time with these neighbors; they tend to run in a different social circle than I do. When we arrived at their home their maid took our coats and directed us to the great room area where the guests had gathered. Once in this room our hostess greeted us. She was holding their small black house dog. Around his neck the dog had on one of the designer dog collars with several large gemstones. The designer dog collar was leather with gold and silver inlaid along with the stones. The hostess saw me looking at the collar and was quick to inform me that she had purchased it at a darling new shop in the mall. She also pointed out that the collar was custom done. The gemstones were the birthstones of her dog’s parents as well as her dog. She was very pleased that such a fine store opened within our community.
On our way home my friend asked me how much I thought the designer dog collar cost. I told him that I did not know for sure, but that all the dogs in the neighborhood would be very jealous if the price of the designer collar ever got out.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Cookbook Recipes
I used to love to just throw food together. Part of it was laziness, but another part of it was just the joy in experimenting. I would never use cooking recipes at all, not if I could help it. I had dozens of cookbooks, but I never consulted the cookbook recipes. Most of them I inherited from friends who were moving in and out of town, which made it easy to amass quite a collection. I didn't want to get rid of them, but I saw very little need for them. After all, my cooking was pretty good.
Then one day, one of my friends, a serious gourmet, came over. He made the most delicious dish. It was an Italian dish, calzones I think, and it was one of the best things I had ever had. I asked how he came up with it, and to my surprise he told me he had just followed the cookbook recipe.
At first, I was a little bit surprised. I knew that he was someone who love to experiment on his own, and it wasn't like him to use cookbook recipes. I asked him about it, and he told me about how much he had grown as a cook. Since he started using a recipe cookbook, he had gotten more compliments on his meals than ever before. He had been eating healthier, and his meals had been much more delicious than they used to be. Hearing all this, I couldn't help but admit that cookbook recipes made some sense.
I am not very good at following directions, so I started my recipe cooking pretty simple. I did a lot of rice dishes, crockpot dishes, and simple baking. Just learning to set the temperature like they say, add just enough salt, the right proportion of water, and the right spices was novel for me. When I was ready, however, I got into some more advanced, difficult cookbook recipes. I had always wanted to try cooking Thai food, so I figured it was my chance to begin. It didn't turn out so well the first time I tried it, but I persevered.
Soon, I had a recipe book of my own. It was compiled of some of my favorite cook book recipes, many of them altered with slight variations to fit my tastes. I can't say that I am quite as creative at cooking as I used to be, but I certainly cook much better food. Some of it is completely to die for.
Then one day, one of my friends, a serious gourmet, came over. He made the most delicious dish. It was an Italian dish, calzones I think, and it was one of the best things I had ever had. I asked how he came up with it, and to my surprise he told me he had just followed the cookbook recipe.
At first, I was a little bit surprised. I knew that he was someone who love to experiment on his own, and it wasn't like him to use cookbook recipes. I asked him about it, and he told me about how much he had grown as a cook. Since he started using a recipe cookbook, he had gotten more compliments on his meals than ever before. He had been eating healthier, and his meals had been much more delicious than they used to be. Hearing all this, I couldn't help but admit that cookbook recipes made some sense.
I am not very good at following directions, so I started my recipe cooking pretty simple. I did a lot of rice dishes, crockpot dishes, and simple baking. Just learning to set the temperature like they say, add just enough salt, the right proportion of water, and the right spices was novel for me. When I was ready, however, I got into some more advanced, difficult cookbook recipes. I had always wanted to try cooking Thai food, so I figured it was my chance to begin. It didn't turn out so well the first time I tried it, but I persevered.
Soon, I had a recipe book of my own. It was compiled of some of my favorite cook book recipes, many of them altered with slight variations to fit my tastes. I can't say that I am quite as creative at cooking as I used to be, but I certainly cook much better food. Some of it is completely to die for.
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