Extreme Colorado Hike on Wednesday

Sandy and I, as well as my husband and our little boy dog, Brutus, set out for a nice, big hike on Wednesday. We went to a great trail called Newlin Creek; I've shared photos and stories about this hike before.  Right away when we got up to the trailhead, we noticed the water in the creek was flowing at a high level, the likes of which we'd never seen before.  Lots of melting snow in the mountains above result in a high volume of water in the creek. The Newlin Creek Trail has about 17 water crossings that you have to do twice (once on the way up the mountain and again on the way down the mountain).  The creek crossings can be challenging for people and their four legged friends. 

This Wednesday, the water in the creek was just too high. We ended up just hiking about three miles in the Newlin Creek area. We took time to venture off the trail and we found this natural shelter (a rocky overhang).  I took photos of fiddleheads and wild flowers...

It was a really pretty day and it was a shame we couldn't hike further up the trail like we had hoped.

We headed home.  Once we got home, we decided to head up to Colorado Springs to go out for lunch and maybe walk around Manitou Springs or Old Colorado City for some window shopping.  We had a nice lunch at Panera Bread.  While there, my husband suggested we go hike "The Incline". We've never hiked the Manitou Incline but we've been wanting to try it for a long, long time.  We've been hearing about "The Incline" for years.  I've included an article link below so you can read more about this "extreme hike".  It has an interesting history.  Let's just say this is a super, duper, uber steep, steep, STEEP hike.  It's like a staircase that goes up the side of a mountain.  You are mostly hiking on railroad ties but sometimes the railroad ties are stacked two high.  Here's a little information I found on line about this hike.

The Incline is famous for its sweeping views and steep grade, with an average grade of 45% (24°) and as steep as 68% (34°) in places, making it a fitness challenge for locals in the Colorado Springs area. The incline gains over 2,000 feet (610 m) of elevation in less than one mile.

Here are a few photos from my hike...

Ahhhh, I made it to the TOP.  It was so challenging but exhilarating.  I made it up in 54 minutes.

I had to take a photo to prove it!

Yes, that pale streak going straight down, down, down... is the trail.  This is crazy steep!

And look at that view!

In the photo above, you can see some big red rocky outcroppings in the distance.  This is the Garden of the Gods. It's spectacular!  If you ever visit Colorado Springs, I recommend you visit the Garden of the Gods if you have a chance.

What a day.  My Fitbit recorded my steps, miles, and flights of stairs climbed. What a day!

*********************

Here is a nice little article about the Manitou Incline:

https://www.theoutbound.com/jennifer-broome/6-reasons-why-the-manitou-incline-is-colorado-s-holy-grail-of-cardio

And here is a little more information about the Manitou Incline if you'd like to read more:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitou_Incline

https://www.google.com/amp/www.visitcos.com/things-to-do/outdoors/manitou-incline-near-colorado-springs-colorado/amp

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  

I think what I am enjoying most about Christmas is slowing down and doing little to nothing. I have dogs on my lap, knitting on the table next to me, and a good movie on TV.  We took the dogs for a walk early this morning and I baked pies while the guys played racquetball. Now we are just chillin'!

Sandy was the only cooperative model today. 

Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas!

Sunrise yesterday and today

Friday 6:36 am

Saturday 6:38 am

So similar but so different, too. These doggies have me up early. I don't mind though; I love seeing these gorgeous sunrises. 

Wednesday Walk

Some pretty pictures from my walk with the doggies on Wednesday... 

Above: a pretty good shot of Brutus.

Guess what else I did on Wednesday?

Hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Sleeping Dogs...

 

I don't believe in reincarnation per se... but if I did, I'd want to come back and live a life like one of my two dogs... Sandy or Brutus.  They have it pretty good. 

 

Sandy is protective and loyal... graceful and ladylike.  She likes to nap in the chair by the computer in the great room of our house.   The chair has a good view of the back yard and also a good view of the humans in the house.  There is also an extra cushion on the chair which doesn't hurt either.  In the morning, the sunlight shines through the back door and warms this area.  Also not a bad thing...

 

Then there is Brutus. Unbridled and unparalleled enthusiasm. Happy go lucky and charming.  But even this teddy bear must rest... but when he rests, he keeps a toy with him.  Because when he wakes up, he'll be raring to go some more. Yep, he's just re-charging his batteries.

Happy Fall Part 2

A few seasonal photos to share... Our backyard...

... The Arkansas Riverwalk from Tunnel Drive...

... An amazing sunset looking west taken from our driveway...

Oh, how I love fall!

Happy Fall

 

Yesterday was a busy, but beautiful autumn day.

I was very happy that I had taken the time to make Crock Pot Steel Cut Apple Pie Oats in my Crock Pot on Thursday. I just warmed up a bit of this with milk and walnut pieces, gobbled it up, and headed out the door with the doggies for a walk.  It was 40 degrees F out. Brrrrr!

 

The sun was doing pretty things in the back yard looking East.

And the sun was doing even more amazing things looking West.

 

Oh, sorry that is blurry, but do you see the golden sun kissing the tree tops?

 

 

Then we were off to City Park in Pueblo, Colorado, for the Tennis Regionals Tournament.  All the teams are circled up for the announcement of the matches.  Zach's first match was at 9:00 am.  He won that match 6-0, 6-0.  On to the next round.

 

The second match was a real "nail biter".  Zach fell behind quickly in the first set, but he rallied back and won the first set 6-4.  In the second set, both boys won a few games and I think at one point, Zach was ahead 5-2, but next thing we knew, the opponent had rallied back and it was tied at 5-5.  Then it was 6-6, so they had to do a seven point tie breaker.  If the opponent had won the tie breaker, the match would be tied up at one set each, so the boys would have had to play a third set.

 

Thankfully Zach won the tie breaker and he's off to the finals today (Saturday).

 

When we got home, we got the doggies and took them down to the riverwalk and sun was doing amazing things again.  The photos don't quite capture how pretty it was.

 

 

Happy Fall!

Check out my marshmallows!

 Check out my marshmallows.

It was hard for me to get a really good photo to demonstrate what I am trying to share.

Do you see how the bag is all puffed up full of air? Pretty cool, huh?

We get this a lot where we live.

We live at high altitude (around 5,500 feet). 

We see a lot of potato chip bags on the store shelves like this, too.

The same thing happens to sealed bags of goodies when we drive over high mountain passes.  Also, if you start to drink water from a plastic bottle at a lower altitude, put the lid back on, and then drive up higher and higher into the mountains, the bottle compresses or crumples inward, often making a really loud, abrupt crackling noise that tends to startle the heck out of us when we are driving along.  "Holy cow!  What was that?!" 

I never noticed this phenomenon when we first moved here to high altitude Southern Colorado, but my doctor actually pointed this out to me when I was late in my pregnancy and I was asking about travel in the 3rd trimester.  The doctor said, "you know what happens to potato chip bags when you go over high mountain passes? Well, the same thing can happen to your uterus... expanding and contracting... and it can cause a woman to go into labor early?"  Okay, I am paraphrasing.... that conversation happened... oh, over 16 years ago.  But whatever the case may be, I find this science stuff pretty cool. 

It all has to do with changes in atmospheric pressure which can be explained by clicking HERE.

I also found these explanations Yahoo; looks like folks are able to type in their best explanation of why potato chip bags puff up at higher altitude... some do a better job than others explaining this. 

I know this has nothing to do with cooking or baking but I thought this was fun to share in case you've never seen this before.  Science is cool!

Dirty Rice

 

Dirty Rice

 

 

I always love it when the newspaper has inserts... I've seen the "Parade" magazine in newspapers for years but sometimes I also find an insert called "Relish".  I love to read all the recipes but I seldom actually make them.  Last weekend, the recipes seemed to be all New Orleans or Cajun cuisine.  Maybe because the Super Bowl was in New Orleans last weekend.  Just about all of the recipes looked good. I decided to make the recipe for Dirty Rice and I really liked it.  I made this with Blackened Fish, which is a dish we tried in New Orleans when we went there for Spring Break a few years back. I've been making Blackened Fish ever since. 

 

I altered the recipe just a bit. I did not use any added oil or butter (the recipe called for 2 tablespoons canola oil), I left out the chicken livers (so I doubled the amount of pork called for), and I also omitted the fresh parsley because I had none on hand.

 

Recipe adapted from "Relish" newspaper insert.  According to "Relish", the original recipe source is Donald Link's "Real Cajun Cookbook" (Clarkson Potter, 2009)

 

 

Dirty Rice

 

4 ounces ground pork (I used 8 ounces)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 1/2 cups chicken broth, divided

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 celery stalks, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 jalapeno pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped (I used 2 Serrano peppers)

1 tablespoon dried oregano

3 cups cooked white rice (I used basmati rice)

1/2 bunch green onions white and green parts), chopped

 

In a large skillet, cook and crumble pork, until browned.  Add salt, black pepper, and chili powder.  Cook, stirring occasionally.  The meat will stick to the pan and get crusty.

 

Add 1/2 cup chicken broth and cook until it has evaporated, allowing meat to get brown and crusty and stick to the pan once again. 

 

Add onion, celery, jalapeno, and oregano; cook, stirring until vegetables are browned and crusty and beginning to stick.  Add garlic and cook for another minute or two (I avoid adding garlic too soon for fear it will get bitter if cooked on too high of heat). 

 

Add rice, remaining broth, and green onions. Stir until the liquid is absorbed and rice is heated through. Serves 8.



 

 

What to do when Pillsbury sends you 150 bags of chips (Post #1)

Ever since I opened up my box containing 150 bags of Pillsbury Brand Baguette Chips (in Italian Cheese and Herb flavor) the gears have been churning in my brain. Of course Pillsbury wants me to share these with friends and family, but they also encouraged me to share any creative recipe ideas at www.Facebook/pillsbury or at www.Pillsbury.com. 

Today I went with my husband to the gym for a little bit before we went for a hike on Skyline Drive.  When we came home, I made up some hot dogs for the boys (Johnsonville has a new variety called Chili and Cheese and they really do taste like a chili dog).  Since I am in my healthy eating mode, I decided I wanted something other than hot dogs.  I whipped this up instead.  The verdict:  An aesome, light, and tasty use for Italian Cheese and Herb Baguette Chips. 

Campbell's Healthy Request Tomato Soup with Baguette Chips as croutons... Good.  But even BETTER....

Garden salad with romaine lettuce, red onion, grape tomatoes, carrots, celery, Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing, and crushed up Baguette Chips as croutons.  I used one pouch of chips... half on the salad and half in the soup.  Yum!