When we set out to take up chicken keeping, we knew that our mountain environment would require some extra work to be successful. A lot of folks have asked me about our setup, so I thought I’d share what we did to predator-proof and make our chickens comfortable in their high-altitude environment! We have virtually every predator in Colorado in our backyard. We’ve seen black bears, coyotes, foxes and even mountain lion tracks. We also have a pair of nesting…
Holy shit… I'm a mom. … I never thought I would ever say those words. Since becoming a mom, I've been adapting to a new "normal." I've been surprised at how simple this has felt in some ways, as I've gotten used to my daily routine. On the other hand, I've also been surprised at how challenging this has been in other ways: resigning from my job, getting used to the loneliness (yet never being alone) that goes along with…
Two weeks ago, I got to take my first vacation since I started my new job (which I love, by the way). IT. WAS. EPIC. I didn’t realize how bad I needed a few days off! Brian and I just celebrated our 9th anniversary. Rather than getting stuff for each other, we try to go and DO something together. Our relationship is rooted in the old adage, “The couple that plays together, stays together,” so it’s important to us to…
What makes a place feel like home? I’ve been watching Tiny House on HGTV and reading blogs about living in your bus, or a van and I often ponder this question. These folks that travel so much and wander for a living… What does “home” mean anyways? I just returned to Portland, OR for my fourth Wild Canyon Games (which was awesome by the way…) and part of me felt a little homesick. Brian finds this entertaining, because he…
I’ve been in a funk lately. I have been tired and sleeping a lot. I’ve been grumpy more often than not. I don’t want to hike or be outside, much less blog about the outdoors. The couch has a permanent indentation from my ass, as I’ve sulked away the hours. Let’s be real here… I’ve been letting the stress of moving to a new home and the pressures of a new job get to me this last month. I’ve been…
I haven’t posted in a while… we bought a house! And moved! And I started a new job!! Holy Crap! It’s been bananas, but we are finally starting to get settled in. 🙂 Thanks for bearing with me. Now that we are past the move, we find the seasons changing. Just like in my favorite show, Game of Thrones, “Winter is Coming” in the high country!! I’m excited because winter is one of my favorite seasons. We’ve already had 3 days…
Brian and I just bought a beautiful home in the country, north of Silverthorne, CO. We are next door (literally) to a trailhead, a creek and have a mountain range in our front yard. It’s an older home, but we are all set to turn it into the ski lodge of our dreams. Truly, we bought the place for the stunning views of the Gore Range and the Williams Fork Range. It’s an amazing place, both inside and out. With…
This past weekend, I finally got back outside for a little overnight backpacking trip with Brian and Scotty dog. The last year was a little crazy for us with work, travel and moving to CO, so we haven’t been backpacking since an amazing long weekend trip in 2013. That year, we spent 4 days backpacking the southern and western slopes of Mt Adams in Washington. We didn’t see a single soul the entire trip, until the last 1/4 mile of…
I’m usually one of those people who turns up their nose at the thought of just DRIVING through a National Park. I love hiking. I love camping. I love to smell the air and feel the breeze. I want to really experience what makes an area special and DO something. I want a spectacular view and the chirping of birds and the light scent of wildflowers in the air. Mostly, I love to get away from the crowds and enjoy…
Change is the spice of life. And trying something new is the heart of adventure. Well, during my summer of (f)unemployment I am gonna try a few new things! For my first adventure, I decided to try the Stand Up Paddleboarding craze. It’s the fastest growing water sport and has been tremendously popular. I did some research and it sounded like it was easy to pick up, but I was still reluctant to go out on my own and just figure…