One Month and Counting

It is one month until the CFFC Fall Color Tour. Just one month! We have a zillion things we need to still do. This year, the weeds and grass are getting a haircut because they have grown like crazy with all the monsoon rain. Interesting to feel like we actually have a yard instead of living in the middle of a knee deep pasture. Mike's out mowing as I write this:

Mowing the Thirsty Dirt Ranch!

A couple of the current bushes, and my baby elm tree are starting to change colors. I hear tale that up high, you can find a few aspen that have started the change. That's really not too unusual at this time of year, but it always makes me nervous that the leaves will all change too soon!

Looking forward to seeing everyone. Mike tells me that we have a bunch of new faces joining us. It is fun to meet so many people that love these old flat fenders.

Speaking of flat fenders, we are taking Electro-Willys to the car show out at Limon this coming weekend. This will be the fourth show this year. At the Salida car show, E-W won the "Most Unusual" trophy. E-W certainly is an unusual flat-fender. Does anyone else know of a conversion to all-electric?

Smiling faces at the Salida car show.

- Ellen (m38Mum)

Thoughts of fall already!

Today I find myself thinking more and more about this year's CFFC Fall Color Tour. It's a fall-like day only because we are finally having monsoon weather after several years of almost no monsoon.

Dillon in his dad's CJ3A north of Canyon City, CO
photo by Steve Lippoldt (08/05/2013)

It started raining last night, just as some new jeeping friends arrived to camp out overnight at the Thirsty Dirt Ranch. Steve and his son Dillon came out from Kansas and are on their way to Taylor Park. They had hoped to do some jeeping and ATVing on this side of the mountains when they got here.

They met up yesterday with Mike at the Forest Service office, and he outlined some trails in Four Mile. After they spent the day over in Four Mile, they came out to the house. We had a nice dinner, and had lots of talk of jeeps and trails and places to go next time. And the WEATHER!

The plan today was for them to head up into the country around St. Elmo, or depending on weather, possibly over to Bald Mountain Gulch. Well, it drizzled all night and clear through the day. I think they decided to just head on over to Taylor Park and the nice dry cabin that awaited them.

I am thankful for all this rain. It is incredibly green for August. I am thinking this should make for a very beautiful fall. Steve, we hope to see you joining the group on the CFFC Fall Color Tour this year.

- Ellen (m38Mum)