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A little time in Lake City

July 3, 2010 Lake City, Colorado A short shopping trip in to town While Greg had to attend to his POA duties, Diane took the rest of us into town to visit the Farmers Market and a couple of the shops. We were able to pick up some fresh produce, cherry pie, and bread to supplement the delicious meals that Diane has been preparing for us. We visited the annual arts and crafts fair and Charlcie and I had a weak moment and purchased a hand-crafted cherry sofa table, with turquoise insets – starting our collection of pieces to go in our new home when we build it. Notice the flower garden on top of the Nursery shed. Update: Due to requests, I have included pictures of the table. It is fashioned from cherry wood saved from a dilapadated structure in Carson ghost town (Colorado) and the gaps are inlaid with turquoise. We couldn't resist.

Vickers Upper Ranch: Wildflowers

July 3, 2010 Vickers Ranch Upper Ranch Wildflowers I decided to put the wildflowers in a group together. The wildflower scene changes day-to-day out here. We were a little late for the peak wild iris blooming, too early for the columbine and Indian paintbrush, but there were many others to enjoy. I just discovered that on the blog, if you click any picture it will be displayed full-size, which enhances the detail of the images.

Vickers Upper Ranch

July 3, 2010 Vickers High Ranch Lake City, Colorado Greg, Kent, and I got up early this morning and headed out in Greg’s jeep with a thermos of coffee and warm clothes up to the 1,500 acre upper ranch, the higher altitude parcel of the Vickers Ranch. This part is a working ranch with hay meadows, ponds, etc. It is elk country – with great stands of aspen, fir, spruce, and pine, which are interspersed with open meadows, scattered wildflowers, and great panoramic views in all directions. The two hours we spent there was something I could devote many hours per day to if I had the opportunity. Greg will be taking Charlcie and Angie on the tour one morning while we are here. Having access to such a grand area and a great host to accommodate us has been a real pleasure. The second picture is of an active gold mine and the third picture is of San Cristobal Lake.

Vickers Ranch Cook-Out

July 2, 2010: Vickers Ranch, Lake City, Colorado Diane and Greg’s cabin is on the Vickers Ranch in Lake City. It is part working ranch and part vacation destination. Each Friday night they have a cook-out for the residents. It is held in the Community Building, which is a restored barn that was moved from the high ranch down to the valley in the 1930s. The administration building next door is the residence that was moved down at the same time as the barn – the surroundings and atmosphere just had that western feel. The affair begins with everyone singing Amazing Grace in lieu of the traditional blessing and is followed with a great burger and the pot-luck fixins’ that the folks bring. We enjoyed meeting many of Diane and Greg’s friends that gather out here on the ranch. It was a particular pleasure to meet Perk Vickers and his son Larry (they are pictured here). Perk is the 95 year old patriarch of the Vickers family and is somewhat of a legend in these parts. Both he and Larry were very cordial and welcoming and we look forward to seeing them again while we are here.