If you're an early riser, this is a great time to identify our home planet Earth's closest neighbor - mythical Mars - as it dances at dawn with the waning crescent Moon in the easy to identify constellation of Gemini the Twins. Notice the...
Colorado Springs is often thought of as Denver’s ugly twin sister. But as any Pikes Peak loving fan will tell you, there’s much more to the place than its sprawl and its conservative bookends. It is not only Focus on the Family. Nor is it only the military. It is a vibrant, surprisingly fun city that feels as warm and as close-knit as a small town.
Admittedly, Andy and I met in that city, at Colorado College, so we may have that extra special spot in our heart for it. But the reason we return annually is not just because we want to walk down memory lane. We genuinely love the city. Here are a few reasons why.
Number 1. The Garden of the Gods. Yes, the park may get crowded at times. Yet, with its great sandstone rocks tipped up like giant whale fins, you can’t help but fall in love with the place. We love to run and rock climb there, and our kids love to scramble on the rocks. To me, Garden of the Gods is one of the few places in the world where you can know, without a doubt that the world is and always has been about change. Once, great seas flooded that basin. When the waters receded, massive tectonic forces shoved the stone up sideways with the same urgency that pushed the Rockies up. Sitting in that park, staring up at the patches of blue sky framed by red rock, watching ravens drift in slow circles is a sacred experience.
Nonprofits Encouraged to Attend Meeting to Learn about Fall Grant cycles
TELLURIDE, Colo. (Aug. 16, 2011) – Telluride regional nonprofits are fortunate to have a variety of funding sources to support their programs and services, and funders are coordinating again this year to provide nonprofits with a one-stop informational session to learn what funding opportunities are available this for the 2011/2012 year. On Tuesday, August 23 from 10 a.m. to 11a.m, at Wilkinson Public Library, the Telluride Foundation, Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association (TMVOA), San Miguel County, Telluride’s Commission for Community Assistance, Arts & Special Events (CCAASE), Just for Kids Foundation (JFK), and the Telluride Commission for the Arts and Humanities (TCAH), and the Telluride Education Foundation (TEF) will offer a free-to-the-public information session on local funding opportunities for local and regional organizations, nonprofits and residents alike.
Local funders will each give a brief overview of their grant funding objectives and process. Topics to be covered include: the preparation and submission of local grant applications; policies and guidelines pertaining to grants; changes to programs and submission deadlines; and the application process. This informational session is not meant to replace future seminars, where grant funders will explain their applications and processes in more detail.
Ted Hoff, of Cottonwood Ranch and Kennel, makes a strong point: if your dog is not paying attention to you, he/she is NOT being trained; you are.
Case at hand: Drake, Ted's young Lab male, is mostly totally appropriate. But Drake, the yellow Lab, is not certain Ted means business all the time- "Is this good enough? This?"
by Jon Lovekin
The Red Sox won the world series in 2004. This was an historic event and especially significant for long suffering Boston baseball fans. Meanwhile, within the southwest plains of Colorado other significant events were about to occur as well. Tonight was a full lunar eclipse, a spectacular sight anywhere but this night was going to be special. The excitement was building while driving to the Commanche National Grasslands south of La Junta, Colorado. The view port from there was going to be wonderful and all the camera gear was stashed in the truck. The light haze of front range cities is visible to the north but is greatly diminished under the vast, clear portal that exists on these high plains.
The gap gate off the county road was barely discernible within the fence line. No road was visible beyond it. Careful study of maps indicated that an access road into the national grasslands existed along the other fence perpendicular to the gate. The early summer winds had buried that fence and whatever road lay beside it under four feet of tumble weeds. There was no other access through the cactus and rock outcrops at this point. Taking a deep breath, and gearing down, the truck munched its way through the debris. There wasn't going to be a crowd out here!
August 18 to 25, 2011 Visible Planets: Morning: Mars and Jupiter Evening: Saturn
The Edge of Precipice Between the Natural and Virtual Worlds
Lately I’ve been noticing the radical edge of precipice where the natural world meets up with the one we have come to know as the virtual world. One we can touch, feel and smell, even eat. It sustains us physically and provides us with food, materials for shelter and clothing, gifts us with rain, sunsets and seasons. The other we view with our eyes and experience with our brains. Via information, imagery and mental perception, we travel to places and spaces that could previously be accessed only through art, imagination or magic. Today it’s the invisible land of business and commerce, social and professional networking, communication and education. The World Wide Web – the spider’s web of Native American prophecies, the predicted Aquarian Age of information, technology and knowledge – all in a wink, all with a click. Evolution and revolution, together in the here and now, clashing and slashing in a contest of what’s real and what is not.
By Kris Holstrom
James Lambert of the Lambert Family reunion contacted me at The New Community Coalition earlier this summer. They had a family reunion scheduled for this past week, staying in Mountain Village. When James called he indicated the family wanted to do a community service project. What a great idea!
I contacted Mountain Village, the Town of Telluride and the Telluride School District to find out if there were projects needing many hands. The family was given two options and chose to help reduce the cattail population at the pond in the Village. Several of the family donned shorts and water shoes in order to get into the pond and help the Mountain Village work crew pull the plants or cut them below the water line and remove. The kids and I assisted by hauling the plants to a MV truck for removal. I also took a load home to contribute to our Tomten Farm compost pile.
Editor's note: Don't miss mushroom cook-off at the Wilkinson Public Library. Starts noon today and feaures Blakely Stein, executive chef, J.B.& Me; Jesse Mirman, executive chef, Honga's; Lewis Williams & Lucas Price, chef/owner La Cocina De Luz; and Benjamin Steendlik, reigning Champion Mushroom Chef. Which of them will be Grand Master of the Mushroom Parade on Saturday?
Looking for a glimmer of hope in the world? Look down. We are talking about mycelium and their fruit, mushrooms. Fungi are the stars of the Telluride Shroomfest, Thursday, August 18 – Sunday, August 21– and maybe the planet. Just ask guest speaker Paul Stamets.
by Eric Palumbo
"Figuring out who you are is the whole point of the human experience." - Anna Quindlen
Last month I packed into the northern terminus of the Colorado Trail (CT) in Denver, intent on backpacking to Durango over the ensuing four weeks. It was the culmination of months of dreaming, planning and conditioning.
Until a year ago I hadn't backpacked since the Boy Scouts. Then I met a girl (isn't that how it always happens) who rekindled my love for the outdoors. While hiking on Kenosha pass last year, we met a guy who was thru-hiking the CT. He joined us at our campsite for dinner where we shared grape soda and he shared his experiences.
If any of you are up around midnight over the next few days, take a look at bright planet Jupiter as it rises above the eastern horizon. It's brilliant beauty far outshines any other point of light in the night sky - except the...
