The Marvels of Modern Technology

With the help of my daughter (500 miles away) I was able to experience my 13 year old grandson's baseball game in real time on my computer. I find this simply amazing! It took some trial and error before I was able to find his game but, when I did, I could see a pitch-by-pitch description of the game and "watch" my grandson hit a single to bring in the winning run. It's not as good as being at his game in person, which we'll get to do in April, but it is the next best thing. His team is Elkhorn Red Storm 13.

The screenshots above show what the i Score web site looks like on my computer. Each play is briefly described in the box on the left; the stats are at the top; and the box on the right shows the players on the field.

I'll be tuning into other games during the season. I have their schedule and I'm the self-appointed president of the Estes Park chapter of the Red Storm Fan Club.

It's Duck Season

This shows some of Sandy's duck paraphernalia.

My little corner of Duck Central has everything I need for entering adoption infomation.

Duck Central opened yesterday and we were busy with tasks aimed at getting ready for the May 2 Estes Park Duck Race. Representatives from several groups came by with completed duck adoption forms so I was busy entering the information in my computer.

Sandy has the office "ducked out" in a wide variety of quackers with more to come. She loves everything duck related and is always on the look-out for more.

Next Thursday is the official grand opening for Duck Central with the usual hoopla. Wayne has started his last year as Duck Wrangler and will take over a new (for him) job as Finish Line Coordinator. Sounds important, doesn't it?

I love this time of year!

Return of the Bluebirds

Mountain Bluebird (photo property of Rocky Mountain National Park)

These beautiful mountain bluebirds, harbingers of spring, are returning to the Estes Valley. Mom gave me a handcrafted bluebird house for my January birthday and today Wayne put it up on a post in front of our house where we can see it from the great room and the bedroom. Now, I'm pinning my hopes on a pair of bluebirds thinking the house is the perfect wee spot to raise a family. We have an older bluebird house on another spot on our property that has attracted bluebirds and swallows in the past. We'd be lucky to have both houses occupied. I'll be keeping watch.

Winter Drive in Rocky

Longs Peak

This was a beautiful Blue-Sky, White-Cloud day for Wayne, Mom, and me to take a drive through Rocky Mountain National Park. We wanted to soak up the beautiful winter scenery before spring arrives. There is still plenty of snow in the high country even though it's rapidly melting in Estes Park on this sunny day. 

A great place for snow play, Hidden Valley had lots of people with skis, sleds, tubes, and snowboards. We opted to watch from the car.

Circle of Life

Golden Eagle

For the past three weeks, Wayne and I have been watching an elk carcass slowly disappear. We noticed the dead elk on February 13 on the lot line between our back yard and the vacant lot to our north. It didn't appear to have been injured so we think it died of natural causes. Wayne asked a friend with a pick-up truck to drag it into the trees a little farther away from the house. It has attracted lots of scavengers including crows, ravens, coyotes, magpies, and a golden eagle. The bears aren't up from their winter naps yet so they haven't been around. If any mountain lions have come, we haven't seen them.

I find myself looking out the window several times during the day to see the scavengers. It's both gruesome and fascinating - the circle of life.

Coyote

Quilt Guild Retreat

"Sewing Night Fever" was the theme of the annual Estes Valley Quilt Guild Retreat last week-end. Fifty quilters gathered at Rams Horn Lodge at YMCA Camp of the Rockies from Thursday to Sunday for sewing, food, games, challenges, classes, massages, surprises, and loads of fun. My favorite aspect of the retreat was spending time with my quilter friends and seeing all the wonderful projects they are creating. It was inspirational!

The EVQG blog has a slideshow of images from the retreat. Click here to see it.