Entering Duck Mode

Start of last year's race

Preparations for the May 5 Estes Park Duck Race are in full swing. Wayne has a garage full of little rubber ducks (all counted and sorted and ready to float down the Fall River). He and I have about 1000 new ducks to number (on their bottoms with a Sharpie) to replace the ones lost or damaged last year. The total number of ducks that run the race is typically between five and six thousand.

This is what's going on outside at the moment (4 p.m. April 15). The big fat flakes are melting as fast as they hit the ground.

Morning View

Looking toward Twin Sisters

This was the view from my south window this morning just as the sun illuminated the peaks of Twin Sisters. I'm looking through the branches of one of the three ancient Ponderosa Pines just south of our house. We had a thunderstorm last night and this morning the air is fresh and piney. It makes me want to stand on the porch and just breathe in the mountain scent. A friend is driving up from Denver to spend part of the day with me. We will probably go up into the park so she can get her "mountain fix".

Tea, Please

Ginger Lime Infusion (delicious when added to hot or iced tea)

Iced or hot tea is my beverage of choice. I drink it all day long. My favorite is unsweetened green tea (usually Tazo Zen or Stash) spiked with my homemade ginger lime infusion - ummm...delicious! What makes it even better is that every ingredient is  good for you.

This is all you need to make a delicious ginger lime infusion

glass container of cold water, lime zest, grated fresh ginger

Zest of one lime

Grated thumb-sized piece of fresh peeled ginger

Add to fresh cold water in glass container. Refrigerate for several hours. Pour some through a strainer into freshly brewed tea. It will keep for two days if refrigerated. Even the color is refreshing.

Misty, Moisty Morning

A page from Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever

At last ... Estes Park is seeing a second "misty, moisty morning" which is quickly turning to snow. It's beautiful and most welcome! March is normally our biggest snow month and we had not one flake ... so "Snow April, Snow".

A view from my deck this morning