A (Holi)day in the Springs

We spent today in Colorado Springs with our friends David and Cheryl, who are set to marry in February. This was our first time meeting Cheryl, and she is a great gal. They make an awesome couple. Don't they look great together?

Our first stop was at David's place where we caught up with his parents, Bill and Mary, who flew out from Mt. Vernon, IN, for Thanksgiving. Our next stop was lunch at Front Range BBQ in Old Colorado City (now our regular spot when in the Springs).

Following lunch we went ice skating. Here are some action shots.

 

 

A little sore but ready for more, we swung by to see the holiday get-up at The Broadmoor--a one-of-a-kind hotel.

 (Amy, you'll love this) Check out the huge candy mountain and gingerbread house village.

Sarah and I hadn't visited The Broadmoor since living in Colorado Springs in the mid-nineties, so it was neat to be back and take the kids for their first visit. Only a few bucks for parking and you can wander all over the hotel and enjoy the festivities. A live band played Christmas music, and we enjoyed hot chocolate while walking the decorated loop.

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend!

...and still falling.

Yesterday's blog photo measured 6" of snow; today we reached the 18" mark at our place.  The news folk reported this is the heaviest October snowfall in over ten years for the Denver area.  The snow is expected to stop around midnight tonight.

We've been enjoying it though, especially the kids getting out of school for two snow days in a row.  There has to be a lot of snow or ice on the roads for Colorado schools to shut down.  So it's definitely a treat.

It's hard to believe that it may completely melt away in a few more days when temps rise into the 50's.  That's Colorado weather for ya.  Never a dull forecast!

Here's a nice picture of a neighboring townhome with a decent slab of snow hanging from the roof.  Check out how deep the snow is against the patio fence.

And finally, here's the snow cave the kids worked hard on today.  So far it's large enough to fit one person...well, one very small person.


We're staying warm inside now with plenty of hot chocolate going around.  Anyone interested in coming out to ski or snowboard, I think it's gonna be a great year on the slopes!

-brock

Snow is falling...

If there was any doubt against the weather forecasters, the snow has arrived...and keeps arriving.  That ruler on the right is at 6" deep.  We're expected to get another 5-7" today, and up to a foot by morning.

We received the wake-up call at 5:45am from Jefferson County's resident automated robot voice, telling us that all county school's are closed.  I'd imagine tomorrow will be the same story.

Fortunately for me, it's a work day from home, hangin' with the family, and from the comfort of my laptop and dining room table, looking out the window at the following view:

We'll keep you posted on what the winter storm dumps over the next 24 hours.

-brock

Metal Mouth

Our little girl is no longer so little, and likewise she's excited to step into a new set of braces.  Here's the before:

And here's the after, sportin' the new grill:

She did a terrific job at the orthodontist, and she's meticulously taken to keeping her new metal clean and shiny.  It's already a tough life though, without the popcorn, hard candy, and gummy worms.  She settled for a box of Junior Mints at the movies last night, and didn't seem too upset about that.  (smile)

Birthdays and Bjarnes

The days have been a blur after getting back from Finland a few weeks ago and diving head first into fall activities.  Before anything else, two birthday celebrations are in order.  Jared turned 13 in September, our first teenager, and Sarah turned 39 in October.  The blog announcements are belated, but we didn't forget to celebrate either birthday.

Jared started off his birthday with a set of "13" pancakes.

Then he celebrated a party at Jump Street and ate a Colorado Rockies baseball cake with his buddies.  Jump Street is a cool indoor trampoline park where you can literally bounce off the walls.  We were also excited to have "Mamaw" Burgdorf with us in Colorado to celebrate Jared's birthday.

Up next was the beginning of Sarah's last year as a thirty-something.  We hear the 40's are wonderful compared to the 30's.  Any comments from the 40+ readers out there?  (smile)  And a set of birthday pancakes are not reserved for the kids--Sarah ate her pair of 3 & 9.

Happy Birthday Sarah and Jared!

Lastly on today's blog is a brief update from my Finland trip with David Thayer.  We had a terrific trip to the Nordic city of Helsinki for business and a little pleasure.  The stories from folks all over the world were amazing.  I've yet to get all of the pictures posted, so below are just a couple I'll highlight.

This first picture shows the Helsinki Cathedral behind David and me.  A local Finn said a wedding would take place every hour on the hour that Saturday.  A popular place!  The second picture is one of the old stone streets that took us to the open market in the third picture.  I brought Sarah and Morgan each back a handmade purse, Jared a wooden "Kuksa" mug handcarved in Lapland, and Braden a handcarved wooden egg to add to his rock and crystal egg collection.

Of Pipe and Tamp

One subject I haven't shared on the blog yet is my newfound interest in pipe smoking.  I've always had a curiosity about the fading art, and I have memories as a child around the "older" folks smoking their pipes.  I never found pleasure in cigarette or cigar smoke (though I enjoy the occasional Cuban), but the sweet smell of burning pipe tobacco was always a mysterious and pleasing aroma.

Over the summer, I decided to learn more about pipes and bought a couple cheap "beginner" pipes.  Long story short, I discovered the pleasure behind the mystery and took it up for what I'm sure will be a lifetime of a rewarding art...and yes, it is an art.  As a wand to the wizard in Harry Potter, a pipe definitely chooses it's smoker.  Choosing the wrong one will not only provide a bad smoke, but the pipe won't aesthetically fit its owner.  And once you decide to put out some cash for a decent quality briar, one that's going to stick with you for life, the choice becomes critical.

I had an interest in a certain handmade briar pipe made in Denmark by the late Bjarne Nielsen.  No two "Bjarne's" are alike, and the fact that no Bjarne will ever be produced again after his death in 2008 makes these pipes collectors' items.  Not that I'm now a pipe collector, but nevertheless I wanted a quality pipe with character.  Bjarne's can be found in many U.S. pipe and tobacco stores, but I purposely wanted to find one in Europe...if anything hoping it would cost less than in the U.S.

I located a Finnish pipe shop on the Internet before we left for Finland.  The shop is run by Mr. Markku Uotila, quite an interesting chap and very willing to talk about his life and love of pipes and photography.

After fumbling over a map and following street signs that weren't street signs at all, we managed to find the pipe shop located at "Toolonkatu 32".  And just my luck, Mr. Uotila had a few Bjarnes left in his inventory.  The cost in Euro turned out to be what it would cost in the U.S., but every time I smoke this one-of-a-kind pipe I'll be reminded of the trip to the old pipe shop in Helsinki--a moment of significance that can be passed down to my children and their children, whether they ever smoke the pipe or not.  Or maybe they'll sell it for five times the value someday.  (smile)

Mr. Uotila was kind enough to allow this photograph of my new pipe and one of his own personal favorites.

To close out this blog entry, here's my current collection of pipes.  From the picture below, starting clockwise from 12 o'clock:

- A cheaper "beginner" 1/2 bent Italian pipe (the first pipe I ever smoked)

- The crown jewel of my pipes, the handmade Bjarne 1/4 bent Apple

- My "Gandalf" pipe, a long-stem churchwarden Italian pipe

- Just arrived this week, a Missouri Meerschaum Great Dane corncob straight stem (made and shipped from the original factory in Washington, Missouri.  If it's not a Missouri Meerschaum, it's not a real corncob pipe.)

- Also came with the other corncob, a cheaper bent stem corncob.  This is known as my "fishing pipe".  In case it falls in the water while fly fishing a stream, I've only lost a few bucks.  There's something wholesome yet unrefined about smokin' a corncob in the wilderness.

- And middle center is one of my favorite tobacco blends from a local blender, known as "Hobbits Weed"--a gold and black cavendish laced with light cherry and vanilla.

That's all for this writing!  I'll put out another post once I get the entire Finland picture album uploaded.

Hyvasti!  (Goodbye!)

-brock

One Shot...

Autumn's first cold front is blowing across the Rocky Mountains this weekend, dipping the mercury into the 40s and 50s in Colorado. And once again, wintry clouds paint the sky and the aroma of changing seasons fills the senses. A morning on the patio with a blanket and a hot cup of coffee...Sarah and I love this time of year.

With autumn lurks a peculiar mystery, different from the newness of spring. We all know "April showers will bring May flowers." Grass will turn green, and trees will grow leaves again. Every spring in North America, nature has little chance of surprising us, at least for the lower 48.

Fall and winter, on the other hand, give no guarantees. Will it snow this year and how much? Will another ice storm freeze up the city for two weeks? Will we get rain instead? Will Florida get a freak cold weather day that lays frost in the panhandle? Yet this season calms my soul, despite the anticipation of winter surprises.

Autumn represents a change from summer's blossoming and buzzing to winter's withering and sleeping. Follow nature's lead for restoration and reflect on the year. Piece together that photo album or scrapbook you've put off. Start a journal--without using a computer (yes, some people still practice the lost art of writing with pen and paper). Read a book. Smoke a pipe. Go for a walk. Carve something out of wood. Bake something...from scratch.

Yes, it's difficult. The world demands much, and we allow busyness to suck the margin out of life, leaving us dry and exhausted. The good news is we have a choice in the matter. We don't have to march to the clanging demands. Make time for moments of peace and quiet this next season, and simply listen.

So I'm gonna help out today, get ya started on slowing the pace. Scroll to the bottom of this blog and select the song "One Life to Love." [Sorry! The song link was temporarily removed. I'll find another link and re-add!] If you can't hear it, turn up the volume. Resist whatever else is begging for your attention. Just sit down, take a deep breath, and listen to the song.

You only get one shot at this...

...then go share it with someone else.

-brock

"You only get just one time around

You only get one shot at this
One chance, to find out
The one thing that you don't wanna miss
One day when it's all said and done
I hope you see that it was enough, this
One ride, one try, one life...
To love............ " -- 33 Miles

Flat Tops Wilderness Backpacking

(more photos in the album on the right side of the page)

Me (Brock) and the boys went backpacking last weekend in the Colorado Flat Tops Wilderness, part of the White River National Forest near Yampa, CO. This was our first backwoods trip into the Western Slope of Colorado--the mountain area west of the Continental Divide. Due to the moisture arriving from the west and not quite making it over the Continental Divide, the Western Slope is typically more lush with grasses and vegetation compared to the drier Eastern Slope and Front Range Rocky Mountains.

I've heard some say that the Flat Tops Wilderness is as close as you can get to a "Montana" feel from inside the Colorado border. I've never been to Montana, but from the photos and movies I've seen about Montana, I think I know what they mean. The mountains are different in this wilderness compared to the scaling peaks of other Colorado ranges. (Dana, if you're reading this, you can validate those "Montana" claims).

We left our home in Golden on Friday evening, somewhat leary about the forecasted storms in that area for the weekend (it's not fun to be at high altitude in the Rockies during a lightning storm). We decided to go anyway and play it by ear upon arrival. We drove through rain off and on the entire three hour drive to the trailhead. We hit the trail at approximately 5:40 pm with at least a two hour hike ahead of us...not much time to pack in, find a suitable campsite, and settle in for the night. The good news is the rain had completely stopped as we began our trek.

A couple of things to point out from the picture below. First off, you can see why this area is called the Flat Tops. Most of the mountains have steep climbs that flatten out into wide vistas at the top. Clouds were also moving in, with the prospect of rain showers looking grim (and losing valuable sunlight).

We were surprised to see so many wildflowers still in bloom this late into August. Colorado has experienced a lot of moisture this year, which has kept things greener and more colorful well into summer. The aroma blend from all of these flowers mixed in with the mountain breeze was incredible.

We had finally reached the high point of the trail (photo below), an 11,228 foot mountain pass that opened up into wide open meadows and clusters of pine trees for miles. From this point forward, there are no roads or towns within a day or two of average-paced hiking. It's all true and untamed wilderness.

With sunlight waning, we stepped up the pace to make Keener Lake, just short of four miles from our start. You have to make camp at least 100 feet off trail, so we started looking for a spot with some wind protection and not completely in the open with the approaching storms and lightning. After looking around for about 20 minutes, we stumbled across a spot that seemed as though it was prepared just for us. A nice flat area under a cluster of pine with a hearty stone campfire ring and log benches. I've never seen anything quite this "nice" off-trail in the primitive backcountry. This was awesome.

And no joke, as soon as we started setting up our tent, the rain started in. It was actually amazing that we didn't encounter a single drop of rain while hiking the trail...that would've been miserable. We had a few minutes to get a small fire going to warm up, then one stroke of lightning had us scurrying into the tent like frightened mice. We stayed in for the night, huddled together over a few good games of Uno, some Gushers and granola bars, then we hit the sack.

Our original plans were to stay for two nights and get in some fishing on the nearby backcountry lakes and ponds, but Jared came down with a bad headache and chest pains that lasted all night and into the morning. It was a tough call, and Jared even said he wanted to stay at one point, but as the trip leader I had to bag on the hopes of catching fish to ensure everyone's safety. Jared more than likely was experiencing some light altitude sickness, which is normal at these elevations and can happen to anyone, whether you're in the best of shape or not. However if the symptoms aren't relieving themselves along with food, water and some Tylenol, the only remedy is to descend from the mountain.

Jared was a trooper though, tired and with a bad headache now, he worked hard to carry his own pack and hit the trail with a smile.

The amazing thing on our trip is that we had rain all night and into the morning, and no sooner did we break down our tent to pack up, the rain completely stopped. Once again, this was a blessing as we had a beautiful hike along the trail, making for an easier return trip to the Jeep.

As soon as we made it back to the Jeep, the storms rolled in again. Jared had prayed two specific things before bed that night in the tent--a break in the rain on Saturday, and also for some good fishing. Was the break in the rain an answer to prayer or just coincidence? Well, you can decide that for yourself, but I have to wonder how the fishing would've turned out if we had chose to stick around for the second half of Jared's prayer. (smile)

We never saw a bear face to face, despite the Flat Tops being bear country, but we came close enough. Here is the rear left footprint of a Colorado black bear. Notice the claw prints in the mud:

One thing I've learned in the backcountry is to be prepared for anything, including cutting a trip short. It was no problem though. The boys did a terrific job, covering eight miles of trail with 14 & 20 lb. packs on their backs and around 1,200 feet of elevation gain over some steep trails. This was also Braden's first official overnight backpacking trip, so quite a milestone for him.

Those mountain trout are darn lucky we didn't stay for the extra day. I guarantee there would've been grilled fish on the dinner menu. For now, they survive another day and another big fish story.

A New Frontier

We recently welcomed our good and longtime friend David to Colorado. David moved to Colorado Springs from Cincinnati, not much more than a week ago, to begin another chapter in his life's journey and business venture. He has known Sarah's family since childhood and has been a very close friend to Sarah's brother Paul and sister-in-law Cathy (and their children) for several years. We're ecstatic to have another familiar face just an hour "down the road" from us as well as the opportunity to partner with David on various projects. Of course, simply hanging out with David is the most meaningful to our family.

David is set up with a nice pad down in the Springs. Here are his load of boxes upon his arrival and the move-in effort:

And here is his awesome balcony view of Pikes Peak. What a nice view every morning and evening with a cup of coffee (or a cold beer!):

Welcome to a new frontier David!

Happy Birthday Braden!

For what has become customary in the Henning family, every birthday means a special breakfast in bed is in order. The breakfast includes a special pancake in the shape of their age. The evening was spent with a bowling party at Braden's request. Along for the fun were his three best friends--Jack, Henry and Nicholas.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Pirates of the Caribbean

Well, I wouldn't exactly call us pirates, but we did cruise through the Western Caribbean last week for seven days of adventures at sea and four ports. With Sarah's parents Kenny & Marilyn, her brother Paul & sister-in-law Cathy and kids, and brother Brian, we had 14 in all with our crew. Somehow we managed to coordinate all of our shore excursions and activities with a group of that size and have a blast doing it.

Here's the Royal Caribbean "Liberty of the Seas" that took us from Miami to Labadee, Haiti, then to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, followed by George Town, Grand Cayman, and a final stop in Cozumel, Mexico before returning to Miami:


Each location along the way had something unique about it and different from the rest. Haiti is such a beautiful country, but I have to admit it was hard to fully enjoy the island due to the current state of the Haiti nation with it's corruption and economic condition. I don't recall seeing many local Haitians working at the private resort smiling or radiating with joy, but I can't fault them for that. Haiti does not provide for a peaceful easy lifestyle, by worldly standards anyway. Although the cruise ships bring tips and income to the locals, I can only empathize in what they perceive when the "rich tourists" show up on massive ships to lavish the beauty of a country that only brings them poverty.

The beach area in Labadee is blocked off from the rest of Haiti by security fences and guards around every corner. It was surreal to be playing in an island 'paradise' but feeling uneasy about the deep stares and empty expressions from the local people. We did manage to enjoy the visit and got in some decent snorkeling just off the beach, and Braden found a cool Brittle Star starfish. I confess, however, there was a level of comfort getting back on the ship as there was not much we could do for these people on a brief cruise ship excursion, short of giving them tips.

Here are a couple of shots (from the ship) of the Labadee beach, bay and the iridescent blue water:

Our next all aboard took us to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. There was a night and day difference between the overall feel of Jamaica and Haiti. There was much going on at port with a lively atmosphere. Aside from the typical tourist information the guides offered, we found the locals in Jamaica very willing to talk about everyday life when asked. A few locals that we met on our jungle canopy zip line tour were interested in learning more about us, our jobs and families, where we were from, etc. I wish we had the time to hang out and get to know these people more. Many of them have interesting stories.

Here is a view of the Jamaican countryside, a hike through the jungle, and me (Brock) and Jared by one of the 'white' rivers after our zip line excursion:

We left Jamaica for the Cayman Islands and the town of George Town. Very nice town with the English language completely understood as this is British territory. The easier snorkeling off the beach of Haiti was a nice warmup to the deeper water snorkeling we did off a boat along the Cheeseburger Reef.

The underwater photos didn't turn out as great as I had hoped, but a couple of shots weren't bad. Here's a shot of Braden from below the surface, and another shot of some coral:




Our last port was in Cozumel, Mexico, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the cruise. We went to Chankanaab National Park to swim with the dolphins and snorkel in the beautiful waters just off the shore. Unfortunately, the underwater camera had run out of pictures, but we snapped plenty of photos with the dolphins from above the water. Be sure to check out the full picture album on the right side of the page.

Meet Picasso, a cool dolphin that showed us a great time while in Cozumel:



If there is ever another opportunity to cruise the Western Caribbean, one thing I would do different is take more time in the ports versus doing so many excursions. The excursions are definitely a blast (albeit expensive), but they eat up most of the day leaving little time to explore the local shops and fare. Two days at each port would be ideal.

If you get a chance to hit up a cruise, you won't regret it. Just be ready to be ridiculously pampered on the ship (and gain about 10 pounds from all of the food).

To see our complete photo album from the cruise, click on the Caribbean Cruise Album in the right hand pane. Enjoy!