Mammal Sightings: mule deer, pine squirrel
Bird Sightings: American crow, black-billed magpie, Steller's jay, mountain chickadee, pygmy nuthatch, Cassin's finch, dark-eyed junco, white-breasted nuthatch, northern flicker, hairy woodpecker, possible Clark's nutcracker,
Weather: still unseasonably warm. A touch of snow that melted quickly. Temps in the 40sF.
Basement renovation: more dust; drywall finished, primer paint applied, final paint applied; shelves installed, outside siding replaced and painted; master shower/tub demolished and plumbing restructured; washer connector fixture replace.
Wildlife camera checked - after a week on the trail only two deer, several people and a bunch of snowflakes.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Mount Manatee: 13-19 December 2010
Mammal sightings: mule deer, red fox, pine squirrel
Bird sightings: not very exciting - mountain chickadee, pygmy nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, American crow, black-billed magpie, hairy woodpecker, Cassin's finch.
Basement renovation: drywall and plenty of dust. EVERYWHERE
Weather report - unusually warm and sunny on Monday, critters are hanging out in the woods and other places where real food can be found. Stayed warm all week. Highly unusual to have this warm weather according to the locals
Bird sightings: not very exciting - mountain chickadee, pygmy nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, American crow, black-billed magpie, hairy woodpecker, Cassin's finch.
Basement renovation: drywall and plenty of dust. EVERYWHERE
Weather report - unusually warm and sunny on Monday, critters are hanging out in the woods and other places where real food can be found. Stayed warm all week. Highly unusual to have this warm weather according to the locals
Monday, December 13, 2010
Mount Manatee: 6-12 December 2010
Mammal Sightings: mule deer, pine squirrel, least chipmunk, red fox
Bird Sightings: Week 4 of Project FeederWatch. Mountain chickadee, black-billed magpie, pygmy nuthatch, hairy woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, dark-eyed junco, American crow, Steller's jay. Bird activity around the feeder is slow because of all the bare ground and and relatively warm weather.
Snow Report: Monday - ground is nearly bare on south-facing sites; maybe a bit of snow later on. No snow this week. Unusually 'warm' for this time of year, especially when compared to last year (or so the big boys tell me).
Basement Renovation Report: Electrical, plumbing and framing inspections passed; ceiling and wall insulation installed, most of the drywall installed on Saturday - extremely dusty. Maybe, just maybe, I've eliminated the expansion-contraction clicks in the east end of the heat duct under the master bedroom. Disconnected an unused heat duct, disconnected the outside air intake as it is no longer needed. Taped and braced the east end of the heat duct work.
Photography Report: Well, wildlife activity is pretty slow because of the warm weather. Did get a photo of the contractor's dog on the wildlife camera.
Attended the homeowners association annual dinner at Golden Bell - excellent prime rib.
And, if you don't have a concealed weapons permit - and actually carry a concealed handgun - you will likely be in the minority here in Teller County.
Bird Sightings: Week 4 of Project FeederWatch. Mountain chickadee, black-billed magpie, pygmy nuthatch, hairy woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, dark-eyed junco, American crow, Steller's jay. Bird activity around the feeder is slow because of all the bare ground and and relatively warm weather.
Snow Report: Monday - ground is nearly bare on south-facing sites; maybe a bit of snow later on. No snow this week. Unusually 'warm' for this time of year, especially when compared to last year (or so the big boys tell me).
Basement Renovation Report: Electrical, plumbing and framing inspections passed; ceiling and wall insulation installed, most of the drywall installed on Saturday - extremely dusty. Maybe, just maybe, I've eliminated the expansion-contraction clicks in the east end of the heat duct under the master bedroom. Disconnected an unused heat duct, disconnected the outside air intake as it is no longer needed. Taped and braced the east end of the heat duct work.
Photography Report: Well, wildlife activity is pretty slow because of the warm weather. Did get a photo of the contractor's dog on the wildlife camera.
Attended the homeowners association annual dinner at Golden Bell - excellent prime rib.
And, if you don't have a concealed weapons permit - and actually carry a concealed handgun - you will likely be in the minority here in Teller County.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Mount Manatee: 29 November - 5 December 2010
Mammal Sightings: Mule deer, pine squirrel, least chipmunk, red fox. Deer seem to be forming small herds again now that mating season is almost over.
Bird Sightings: Week 3 of Project FeederWatch; mountain chickadee, dark-eyed junco, Cassin's finch, pygmy nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, North American crow, evening grosbeak, red-breasted nuthatch, black-billed magpie, American crow. Snow decreased the number and variety of sightings.
Snow Report: several inches of white stuff on Monday morning; plenty of fox and deer tracks in the yard; snow blower tested but barely enough snow for a real test; road grader/snow plow came through at about 0600 hrs Monday. Contractor's 2WD pickup couldn't make it up the 'hill' from the garage - snow packed and became very slippery. Had to tow him out with the 4WD Tacoma. Seems that the snow must be removed down to the gravel BEFORE driving on it and packing it down which makes it really slippery.
Basement Renovation Report: No one showed up (naturally) at 0800 Monday; no phone call; closer to 1000hrs when they arrived to start removing the carpet and padding and ???? Progress. Inside garage door relocated; Door to outside moved to side of garage. Wall studs up. Plumbing being moved for laundry room. Preliminary plumbing completed. Heating contractor completed initial survey. Oops! seems that we need yet another $500 permit for ANY heating work, no matter how trivial. Thur - electricians arrived and left - seems that the entire ceiling must be removed before they can do their work - Friday - maybe. Friday - electricians got started; washer and dryer hooked up; heating folks - who do dryer vents - discovered that we need an auxilliary dryer vent fan because the distance from the dryer to the outside vent is more than 20 feet and there is no way to move the vent closer. And then there is the mouse poop in various places around the basement ceiling edges.
Photography Report: Wildlife camera worked but lens and sensor covered with snow and all I got was a mule deer butt. More testing Monday night with camera in a slightly more sheltered location. Wildlife became very quiet all of a sudden. Still need some critters to move past the camera. Tested camera on myself - good resolution. However the critters seem to have disappeared now that the weather is warmer. Still waiting for critters to
Beer Report: First meeting of the Bier Werkes Mug Club in Woodland Park. Tapping of the 'Christmas Beer". Picked up a Growler of the stuff for Sunday's Chanukah party.
Bird Sightings: Week 3 of Project FeederWatch; mountain chickadee, dark-eyed junco, Cassin's finch, pygmy nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, North American crow, evening grosbeak, red-breasted nuthatch, black-billed magpie, American crow. Snow decreased the number and variety of sightings.
Snow Report: several inches of white stuff on Monday morning; plenty of fox and deer tracks in the yard; snow blower tested but barely enough snow for a real test; road grader/snow plow came through at about 0600 hrs Monday. Contractor's 2WD pickup couldn't make it up the 'hill' from the garage - snow packed and became very slippery. Had to tow him out with the 4WD Tacoma. Seems that the snow must be removed down to the gravel BEFORE driving on it and packing it down which makes it really slippery.
Basement Renovation Report: No one showed up (naturally) at 0800 Monday; no phone call; closer to 1000hrs when they arrived to start removing the carpet and padding and ???? Progress. Inside garage door relocated; Door to outside moved to side of garage. Wall studs up. Plumbing being moved for laundry room. Preliminary plumbing completed. Heating contractor completed initial survey. Oops! seems that we need yet another $500 permit for ANY heating work, no matter how trivial. Thur - electricians arrived and left - seems that the entire ceiling must be removed before they can do their work - Friday - maybe. Friday - electricians got started; washer and dryer hooked up; heating folks - who do dryer vents - discovered that we need an auxilliary dryer vent fan because the distance from the dryer to the outside vent is more than 20 feet and there is no way to move the vent closer. And then there is the mouse poop in various places around the basement ceiling edges.
Photography Report: Wildlife camera worked but lens and sensor covered with snow and all I got was a mule deer butt. More testing Monday night with camera in a slightly more sheltered location. Wildlife became very quiet all of a sudden. Still need some critters to move past the camera. Tested camera on myself - good resolution. However the critters seem to have disappeared now that the weather is warmer. Still waiting for critters to
Beer Report: First meeting of the Bier Werkes Mug Club in Woodland Park. Tapping of the 'Christmas Beer". Picked up a Growler of the stuff for Sunday's Chanukah party.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Mount Manatee: 22-28 November 2010
Mammal Sightings: red fox, pine squirrel, least chipmunk, Abert's squirrel, mule deer. Saw a buck rubbing antlers on small trees and bushes. Antler shedding may be approaching.
Bird Sightings: hairy woodpecker, mountain chickadee, pygmy nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, evening grosbeak, Cassin's finch, dark-eyed junco, red-tailed hawk, North American crow, black-billed magpie, Steller's jay.
Snow Report: about two inches by early Monday morning. Sunday night - 3-4 inches of snow
Photography Report: fox and deer tracks; birdies liked the new perch affixed to the deck railing. Motion-triggered wildlife camera received and undergoing testing.
Thanksgiving Report: Lots of food with the fam down in the Springs. Yummy!
Whiskey Report: nothing new
Beer Report: still have a supply of various Odell's brews.
Wine Report: oops! almost out of wine.
Hiking Report: The 1.4 mile mailbox loop with a shortcut off the path and up the side of the hill.
Basement Renovation Report: Starts Monday.
Fishing Report: nada. Time to clean the poles and store until spring.
Bird Sightings: hairy woodpecker, mountain chickadee, pygmy nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, evening grosbeak, Cassin's finch, dark-eyed junco, red-tailed hawk, North American crow, black-billed magpie, Steller's jay.
Snow Report: about two inches by early Monday morning. Sunday night - 3-4 inches of snow
Photography Report: fox and deer tracks; birdies liked the new perch affixed to the deck railing. Motion-triggered wildlife camera received and undergoing testing.
Thanksgiving Report: Lots of food with the fam down in the Springs. Yummy!
Whiskey Report: nothing new
Beer Report: still have a supply of various Odell's brews.
Wine Report: oops! almost out of wine.
Hiking Report: The 1.4 mile mailbox loop with a shortcut off the path and up the side of the hill.
Basement Renovation Report: Starts Monday.
Fishing Report: nada. Time to clean the poles and store until spring.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Mount Manatee: 15-21 November 2010
Mammal Sightings: pine squirrel, least chipmunk, mule deer (bucks following does), red fox.
Bird Sightings: possible 3-toed woodpecker; hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, dark-eyed junco, Cassin's finch, North American crow, Steller's jay, black-billed magpie, pygmy nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, mountain chickadee.
Photography: set up a longer perch attached to the deck railing near the deck bird feeder; hope that a birdy will land with good lighting; don't expect much until the ground is covered with snow; awaiting delivery of a motion triggered wildlife camera that will be mounted to a trail in the nearby woods; can't wait to see 'who' comes by; expect fox, deer, squirrels, the occasional human with dog on a leash and who knows what else lurks nearby?
Project FeederWatch log started: first two days were pretty uneventful; Fairly warm, bare ground.
Snow Report: thunder snow on the 16th at 5PM; this really messed up 'rush hour' traffic on route 24 in both directions; traffic slowed to a crawl; quite a few spinouts; flashing red and blue lights everywhere; couldn't tell if there was black ice or not; 4WD is a good thing as is plenty of following distance. Advice from the locals is to add some weight in the truck bed to handle those situations (extra traction) in between dry road and 4WD time. And avoid thinking that because you have 4WD that you are invincible on the road.
Beer Report: Odell's Isolation Ale and Odell's IPA (http://odellbrewing.com).
Wine Report: the box is almost empty.
Whiskey Report: Awaiting a sampler from Master of Malt; in the meantime we have Stranahan's Colorado whiskey (http://www.stranahans.com)
Birthday Report: thundersnow!; but made it to the restaurant almost exactly on time; no worries, lots of seats.
Hiking Report: A couple of trips down the hill to the mailbox and up the back way through the woods; about a 2 mile trip.
Fishing Report: ah, a hole in the ice near shore due to wind and/or slightly 'warmer' water; filled with brook trout; caught one by dragging a white, rubber grub along the bottom; released the fish.
Sunday morning coffee: Costello Street Coffee House (http://www.costellostreetcoffeehouse.com) in Florissant; biscuit with sausage gravy (yummy).
Basement Renovation: plans drawn, permit issued; seems that work done under the original permit for basement renovation was never inspected - permit expired - that cost us a few more bucks; works should begin soon (we hope). Of course, no work = no payments. Moved all of the 'stuff' into the garage and, hopefully, out of the way.
Reading Report: Finished 'Pirate Latitudes' by Crichton; working on 'Manatee Insanity' buy Pittman and 'S is for Silence' by Grafton; Color Nook E-book reader arrived and is being tested by the author in residence (and me too).
Bird Sightings: possible 3-toed woodpecker; hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, dark-eyed junco, Cassin's finch, North American crow, Steller's jay, black-billed magpie, pygmy nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, mountain chickadee.
Photography: set up a longer perch attached to the deck railing near the deck bird feeder; hope that a birdy will land with good lighting; don't expect much until the ground is covered with snow; awaiting delivery of a motion triggered wildlife camera that will be mounted to a trail in the nearby woods; can't wait to see 'who' comes by; expect fox, deer, squirrels, the occasional human with dog on a leash and who knows what else lurks nearby?
Project FeederWatch log started: first two days were pretty uneventful; Fairly warm, bare ground.
Snow Report: thunder snow on the 16th at 5PM; this really messed up 'rush hour' traffic on route 24 in both directions; traffic slowed to a crawl; quite a few spinouts; flashing red and blue lights everywhere; couldn't tell if there was black ice or not; 4WD is a good thing as is plenty of following distance. Advice from the locals is to add some weight in the truck bed to handle those situations (extra traction) in between dry road and 4WD time. And avoid thinking that because you have 4WD that you are invincible on the road.
Beer Report: Odell's Isolation Ale and Odell's IPA (http://odellbrewing.com).
Wine Report: the box is almost empty.
Whiskey Report: Awaiting a sampler from Master of Malt; in the meantime we have Stranahan's Colorado whiskey (http://www.stranahans.com)
Birthday Report: thundersnow!; but made it to the restaurant almost exactly on time; no worries, lots of seats.
Hiking Report: A couple of trips down the hill to the mailbox and up the back way through the woods; about a 2 mile trip.
Fishing Report: ah, a hole in the ice near shore due to wind and/or slightly 'warmer' water; filled with brook trout; caught one by dragging a white, rubber grub along the bottom; released the fish.
Sunday morning coffee: Costello Street Coffee House (http://www.costellostreetcoffeehouse.com) in Florissant; biscuit with sausage gravy (yummy).
Basement Renovation: plans drawn, permit issued; seems that work done under the original permit for basement renovation was never inspected - permit expired - that cost us a few more bucks; works should begin soon (we hope). Of course, no work = no payments. Moved all of the 'stuff' into the garage and, hopefully, out of the way.
Reading Report: Finished 'Pirate Latitudes' by Crichton; working on 'Manatee Insanity' buy Pittman and 'S is for Silence' by Grafton; Color Nook E-book reader arrived and is being tested by the author in residence (and me too).
Monday, November 15, 2010
Divide, Colorado: 8-14 November 2010
Mammal Sightings: mule deer, pine squirrels, least chipmunks, red fox, mountain lion tracks(?)
Bird Sightings: mountain chickadee, evening grosbeak, Canada goose, hairy woodpecker, pygmy nuthatch, Steller's jay, North American crow, downy woodpecker, Cassin's finch, white-breasted nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch. (loggerhead?) shrike, dark-eyed junco.
Fishing Report: - ice, no fishing
Hiking Report: round trip to the mailbox.
Snow Report: light dusting that melted; lots of animal tracks in the snow - future photo mission.
Beer Report: Bier Werks, Woodland Park, CO
Whiskey Report: nothing new
Wine Report: wine tasting with the neighbors at an Italian restaurant in Woodland Park.
Birthday report: Jason's No. 39 and dinner with the family at Famous Dave's BBQ.
REI Report: spent lots of bucks on some winter gear.
Cookie Report: Joey made cookies in the shape of a foot.
Bird Sightings: mountain chickadee, evening grosbeak, Canada goose, hairy woodpecker, pygmy nuthatch, Steller's jay, North American crow, downy woodpecker, Cassin's finch, white-breasted nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch. (loggerhead?) shrike, dark-eyed junco.
Fishing Report: - ice, no fishing
Hiking Report: round trip to the mailbox.
Snow Report: light dusting that melted; lots of animal tracks in the snow - future photo mission.
Beer Report: Bier Werks, Woodland Park, CO
Whiskey Report: nothing new
Wine Report: wine tasting with the neighbors at an Italian restaurant in Woodland Park.
Birthday report: Jason's No. 39 and dinner with the family at Famous Dave's BBQ.
REI Report: spent lots of bucks on some winter gear.
Cookie Report: Joey made cookies in the shape of a foot.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Divide Report: 1-7 November 2010
Bird Sightings: American crow, magpie, Steller's jay, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, pygmy nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, mountain chickadee, flicker, Cassin's finch, dark-eyed junco, evening grosbeak,
Mammal Sightings: red fox, least chipmunk, pine squirrel, mule deer,
Snow Report: yes, but it all melted. The weather has been unusually nice for November - or so I'm told.
One snow mobile in for service and I managed to get the other one started.
Whiskey Report: Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey
http://www.stranahans.com/
Beer report: Odell's Brewery, what else!
http://odellbrewing.com/home
Book Reading: R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton
Fishing Report: - Woo Hoo! Fly fishing for brook trout was excellent. The 'secret' was dragging a small nymph along the bottom.
Hiking Report - Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument - 4 miles on the 'wildlife loop'. Just wildlife poop and signs where the badgers had been digging out ground squirrels.
Mammal Sightings: red fox, least chipmunk, pine squirrel, mule deer,
Snow Report: yes, but it all melted. The weather has been unusually nice for November - or so I'm told.
One snow mobile in for service and I managed to get the other one started.
Whiskey Report: Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey
http://www.stranahans.com/
Beer report: Odell's Brewery, what else!
http://odellbrewing.com/home
Book Reading: R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton
Fishing Report: - Woo Hoo! Fly fishing for brook trout was excellent. The 'secret' was dragging a small nymph along the bottom.
Hiking Report - Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument - 4 miles on the 'wildlife loop'. Just wildlife poop and signs where the badgers had been digging out ground squirrels.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Whisky Tasting - Arran 12 yo Single Barrel
Via the Master of Malt (www.masterofmalt.com) whisky sampling program I was able to conduct a taste test on a dram (30 ml) of Arran 12 year old single cask, single malt (54.7% alcohol by volume) whisky. This Scotch whisky is produced by the Arran Distillery (www.arranwhisky.com ) located on the Isle of Arran.
Master of Malt runs a ‘Drinks by the Dram’
(www.masterofmalt.com/drinks-by-the-dram/ ) program that enables you, the prospective customer, to sample a variety of whiskys for a relatively small cost before committing to a purchase. Such a deal, eh! You can follow Master of Malt on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks.
Master of Malt gives an olfactory and gustatory description of Arran 12 Year Old on its web page (www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/master-of-malt-12-year-old-arran-whisky/). This description includes such terms as ‘briny’, citrusy malt’, ‘thick briny malt’. However, everyone’s chemoreception (that’s taste and smell) aren’t the same and a number of taste testers is always a good idea (n = 30?). Sure, I can do that 30 times!
The first thing that hit us (yes, I shared my dram with my wife and daughter (also a whisky reviewer (http://rareouldtimes.blogspot.com) was the alcohol content. My chemoreception system doesn’t seem to have reference values for ‘briny’ or ‘citrusy’ when it comes to whisky. With a little additional experimentation we paired the Arran with chocolate – specifically homemade spicy Mexican chocolate cookies – and that was right on target!
On the other side of the whisky front we have been sampling Stranahan’s Colorado whisky (47% alcohol by volume), The Macallan (www.themacallan.com) 12 year old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (43% alcohol by volume) and The Yamazaki (www.suntory.com/yamazaki/main.html) 10 year old Single Malt Whisky (40% alcohol by volume).
Stay tuned .....
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Arran 12 year old single cask
Received my first dram of whiskey yesterday.
Standby for the results of the taste test.
Click on the Master of Malt link for details.
Standby for the results of the taste test.
Click on the Master of Malt link for details.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Fall in Divide
Snow and freezing one day. Warm and sunny the next. Finished painting the deck during the warm and sunny phase. Bring on the snow. Snow blower is ready. Project FeederWatch documents ready. Awaiting the arrival of my first dram from Master of Malt.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Stay Tuned
This blog is in the rapid development mode.
Stay tuned for design updates, new links, works in progress.
Up here way above the clouds at 9120 feet altitude there aren't any manatees - yet.
Global climate change could change that!
Stay tuned for design updates, new links, works in progress.
Up here way above the clouds at 9120 feet altitude there aren't any manatees - yet.
Global climate change could change that!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
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