Estes Park...And Chickens

     I took a long drive to Estes Park last night, to see the girls at the Estes Valley Quilt Guild.

The Powers That Be are still working on US 36, including blasting. Basically, they're moving the road further away from the river, which caused such havoc during Colorado's flooding last year. The effects of the flood are slowly being erased, but there are still a number of things that have changed -- probably permanently. One: Estes Park's Fish Creek has silted over in spots. (It's called "Estes Beach" by the locals.) Another: the piles of trunks and branches thrown up along the river. It's clear that a lot of damage happened -- fast.

If you're thinking of visiting Estes, or its crown jewel, Rocky Mountain National Park, have no fears - the town (and the park) are definitely back in business. You'll just need to take a slightly longer route, that's all.

We had a long discussion on Pioneer Quilts (based on my book, Quilts of the Golden West). Thank you, guild members, for your gracious hospitality! (Here's Judy Andersen's take on my visit.) And here's me...photo by Judy A.

     I had some further company on the way out of town -- 6 'teenager' elk who took their time strolling across the street for a snack. (Needless to say, we had to wait.)
      I had a great time. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Often, when I'm out on a teaching gig, something weird happens at home. This trip was no exception. Said the Brick, after loving hugs were dispensed, "Do you know what happened to the third Red?"

Sure enough, we're short a chicken -- one of the three Rhode Island Reds is simply not there anymore. No piles of feathers, no body -- nothing. One of our black Australorps had a handful of feathers pulled off her back last week. (No clue how this happened, either.) We've been extra busy, and instead of counting, I've just closed the coop door.
     Guess I should have paid more attention.

This is frustrating. The chickens are starting to lay more, now that the weather is warming up. We've been feeding everybody all winter. So now that they're laying more...one of the best layers disappears.
     See what I mean? Frustrating.

I'm guessing the culprit is our neighborhood fox. Charley the dog has generally been vigilant...what happened? Did he just slip up one night?
     Don't have a clue. 

Fortunately,  we have nine nominees waiting on the sidelines: nine Black Australorp chicks. (We had ten, but one died of pasty butt. Poor baby.) The chicks are rapidly outgrowing their fuzz in favor of feathers...and outgrowing their bin, at the same time. I desperately need to put them out in the small coop...but we're supposed to have snow this weekend.

Thanks to Keith's help, the chickenyard fenceposts and cross-posts are in place, waiting for the cedar pieces to finish off the fence. Meanwhile, the chickies roam around, pooping and (hopefully) laying more eggs.