Jaywalkin'

Cont. from last post . . .

The Division of Wildlife officer came to our house with a lion cage to try to trap our little visitor. At one point in the late afternoon we see him sitting outside the chicken cage very calmly looking in and we could only imagine him thinking, if only I can catch one, my belly will be so full and happy. He had found a good place to continue visiting and that was a great place to catch him. We fill the trap with hay and really yummy stinky food like eggs, dog food and at the way back a pound of raw elk meat, really tempting stuff to a hungry little guy. He came in one more time before nightfall all the chickens were on their roosts ready for a relaxing night. The bear got into the chicken house and mayhem ensued there is a very small door with a ramp on one side of the chicken house, out this little door come a noisy white chicken that looked like it was dragging the baby bear. My husband yelled at him to drop the chicken and he obediently did, and then proceeded to stand up at tall as he could with his arms at his side and stared at us. The funny thing was he had a ring of white feathers around his neck like he just got off the plane in Hawaii and had been presented a lei. He took off over the fence and we were sure the trap would get him later that night.
Well in the morning the trap was empty, we were very disappointed and worrying how we could keep the chickens safe today. About a half an hour later we could observe the cage from a window, we saw him very carefully start in. First he enjoyed the eggs, he would have to get half way in before the door would close. We just waited and watch and once he got to the next pile of food the door slammed down, he jumped a little looked back at the door and turned and kept eating. It was the easiest meal the guy had probably ever had. They came and picked him up and put him with his brother at the rehabbers and they will spend the rest of the summer fall and winter fattening them up and then before spring they put them in a den they observe and when they come out they will be older and wiser ready to be on their own. I am glad to say the first chicken is very healthy and happy now a month later and we have a great little memory of our most exciting visitor this year!

For those of you in Colorado that are pet lovers you may want to be at this weekend’s “Raise the Woof!” Grand Opening Gala and fundraiser in Arvada. The event is to celebrate the opening of the Foothills Animal Shelter and to raise money for the shelter. This will be quite the event that includes dinner, auctions, and a setting amidst a private car collection and museum.  If you’d like more information visit this link: http://www.blacktie-colorado.com/calendar/event-detail.cfm?id=20434

Retiring . . . Not Retiring?

Even for those of you that are not sports buffs, you may have heard about the drama behind Favre’s attempts to leave the game behind but the addiction that holds him there. He has been talking retirement for years, then he retired, then he unretired, and this offseason his comments made many think he was finally hanging it up. Not so fast, he has been practicing with the team all day today and signs point to him staying at least another year. Look up retirement jitters and Brett Favre would be the posterchild. Well let the drama continue because I’ll watch a quarterback of his caliber anyday, even if he flip flops more than John Kerry!

Round Top, TX

For years I have heard about the big antique show in Round Top, Texas, and have always wanted to go; well I am finally getting my chance. We have an Ace Hardware show to attend in New Orleans. We will enjoy a few days in the Big Easy, eat some beignets, and take some of the walking tours I have read so much about and maybe take in a haunted tour. The show happens to fall over our school’s Spring Break so it will be a family affair.

After enjoying our time on Bourbon Street it is off to Texas’ back roads to check out Marburger farms antique show. I am not a collector of anything in particular but these shows always have great treasures just waiting to be found. There is something fascinating about knowing you are bringing

Royers' Round Top Cafe

home something that someone else enjoyed 75 years ago. Antique lovers have been repurposing things forever, just under the guise of enjoying a certain style no longer available, or the love of something that is homemade or is just unique and fun. My husband and son feel the same way, we just cannot wait to see what great things we can find to bring home. I also hear there are some of the best pies at Royers Round Top Café. They say it is worth the long wait to savor a slice.

This year the metals will have recycled metal

This evening the 2010 Winter Olympics will be kicking off! As I was reading up on the storylines that take us into this year’s Winter Olympics, I found an interesting article highlighting the ways that the Olympics in Vancouver are making strides to become more sustainable and “green”. You can check it out here.   They certainly have some creative ideas when it comes to being environmentally conscious.  One example that you can read in the article is that they are recycling old metals and using them as part of the metal found in the medals that will be given out during the Olympics.  If green is your thing this will be a fascinating read!  Now we just have to get them to clean up after the Olympics with our bacterial cleaners!!!