July 19, 2021 American Lakes, Colorado

 It was 98 and smoky from the fires to the west of Colorado. We went up to the mountains and hiked. 

We rode the first 2 miles along the Michigan Ditch on Cameron Pass. The ditch takes water from the drainage on the other side into the Poudre river canyon. View of Nokhu Crags from the Michigan ditch. 

The flowers were magnificent. A mix of paintbrush, ragwort, and gentian, bitter cress, and penstamon. Bog orchid, chiming bells and columbines- the Colorado state flower.

Mandy, John and John crossing the stream below American Lakes. John, Mandy and John at lunch in the meadow. 

A perfect S cloud in the sky for Sue. Elephant heads. 

Chiming bells and bitter cress along a stream. American Lakes.

 

Columbines, bistort and senecio below a snow bank. A field of columbines. 

View of the lake from the snowbank. Queens crown, gentian, and marsh marigolds.

Fuchsia paintbrush, senecio, and a field of paintbrush and elephant heads.  A field of parry primrose. 

Paintbrush and senecio.  John walking in the meadow. 

  I am wearing my Mike Wiegele Heli ski t-shirt in memorial for Mike who passed away this week. John, Mandy and John crossing a field of wildflowers. 

Parry primrose, anemone, larkspur, huge mushroom and a bistort. Alpine sunflowers and bitter cress along the creek. 

One of three moose we saw.  John, John and Mandy hiking back into tree line. 

July 18-19, 2021 Fort Collins, Colorado

 96 today and sunny. Good day to play with glass.

I pulled the first of the 4 bears out of the kiln today. I only have one mold so it will be 4 firings. The second one is in the kiln, and with luck I can put the third in tonight. It is 8 x 6 inches. I spent the rest of the day making three jewels. I love this one. It is 2 x 2 inches 

There is a raven inside and it is different colors and views from different directions and light. If I had gotten back in time for the current glass show I was going to make something like this. The theme is Beatles songs. This one is Blackbird. 

Side view of the raven. I also made these two, them are much smaller. About 1 1/4 inches long. I get so much pleasure watching the pieces evolve into such beautiful things. 

We drove up the Poudre River canyon west of Fort Collins to hike. Last year the Cameron Fire roared down this canyon burning 208, 663 acres. The did a amazing job saving buildings. Most of the trees along side the rode we saved, along with some islands of trees through out. Here are some photos this year. 

 

More fire destruction photos. Photos of the hike to follow. 

July 14-172021 Fort Collins, Colorado

 

This  morning John used his throw rope to pull down a large dead branch off his tree. I took these through the screen. I couldn't watch when it came down, but it all worked out. Sunset over the lake in City park in Denver. We walked along it on the way to dinner.

Downtown Denver on the skyline over the lake in City Park in Denver on the way to dinner. We had dinner with our cousins Chris and Steve in Denver. Chris, my brother Ray, Steve, my brother Jerry and I. We had a fun visit with them. 

Jerry brought ice cream down for dessert after dinner. Jerry and Steve licked their bowls clean. Sunflowers on my bike ride this evening.

Green reflections from my bike ride.

Really green grass, Knapp weed, and trees. Pre sunset tonight. 

Our view of sunset tonight as we had dinner on the deck. I finally got the 4 bears for custom orders into the kiln tonight. It is a huge amount of work getting all of the pieces lined up. After they are fused I will slump them into a bear bowl mold. I only have one mold, so it will take 4 firings to slump them I do not like doing assembly line work. If I make more of these I will charge more.

93 and sunny. Went on a very nice bike ride in the evening when it cooled off. Verbena, stock and ox eye daisy.  Canada geese reflected in the lake.

McMurry Ponds and a meadow view.

Goldenrod, campion and milk weed. One of the bridges over the Poudre river.

Interesting photo shoot. Clover, Mexican hat and the lilies in our front yard. 

The 4 bears after their first firing. They will be slumped into the bear mold.