Snow Mountain Ranch Trip April 2023

 

This was a mix of a work trip and a vacation. Since I do reservations for Estes Park and Snow Mountain, I had to come over to SMR to see the lay of the land. I was supposed to come in February, but had some issues that I couldn't make it so came now.

I have to admit, I wasn't excited about this trip. I was coming to a place I didn't know and was traveling by myself, so I wasn't all that thrilled. After working my front desk shift at EPPD,  I left Estes Park around 1:15 pm. I drove up through Allenspark. I always have to try to get pictures of the church there because its so photogenic. It didn't disappoint. 

I then drove through Ward, Nederland, Black Hawk and Central City, before getting to Idaho Springs and getting on I-70. Then I took 40 to Empire, Berthoud Falls and up the twistiest road ever - the curves on this road put Trail Ridge Road to shame - and I swear the pot holes were trying to eat Buttercup (the yellow Ford Ranger). The through Fraser and Tabernash to Snow Mountain Ranch. 

I was staying in Indian Peaks lodge. This lodge is great - 2 queen beds and a queen sleeper, and I was on the second floor and had a balcony (lower floors have a porch). And it had BEAUTIFUL views! 

In the entrance hall was a lovely fire place. And then the room was awesome. 

And the views from the balcony.

Saturday morning I went to Grand Lake to see it in the snow because I always see it in summer. Didn't go to the Park, because my pass was expired and I couldn't get a new one until payday, but Grand Lake was pretty in the snow. The lake was unrecognisable as a lake! 

The only activites going on at SMR were skiing and due to an old knee injury, I don't ski - down hill or cross country. The dog sledding was closed or I would have signed up for that and the sleigh ride. 

I do want to come back in the summer and go horse back riding and hiking. And I want to come back in the winter and do the dog sledding and the winter horse ride and the winter sleigh ride. 

When I got up this morning - it was cold and snowy and beautiful. 

Got on the road - I have to say the pot holes were WORSE. Stopped at a gas station in Central City and found out my CC had been run to $0. I am pretty sure that a gas station in Granby is where it happened, because supposedly the girl couldn't get it to work. Now I have to follow up and try to get my $$ back. 

That was the only suck of my weekend. Buttercup did well and got some great gas mileage. And it was nice to see the other property. 

YMCA of the Rockies - March Ceramics

 

Monday, March 20, 2023 was a Ceramics Night at the YMCA for staff.

I enjoyed the December one doing ornaments, but I was excited for this one because I picked a manatee that I saw last time. 

This was the reference I chose to use. 

And I did layers upon layers. 

Then he was glazed and fired overnight and I think he came out so ADORABLE!!! 

Model Horse and Action Figure Monthly Art Challenge - March 2023

 

I was going to work on a traditional scale cow and calf for this month. We are 7 days in and I am working on dogs - one of them is a farm dog, but not what I was going for, but oh well. 

I ended up selling my traditional scale cow and calf, because I really only collect Stablemates and they went to a good home.  I pulled out a Stablemate Breyer cow and painted her. 

She took me 2 days to paint and I got no start to finish pictures, only the completed images. 

I found a picture of a beautiful Belted Galloway show cow and that's what I did her after. 

And here is my completed model 😀

YMCA Cross Stitch Night

 

Tuesday, March 7, 2023 was Cross Stitch night. I am used to embroidery-type cross stitching, but this was actual COUNTED cross stitch and I was so excited, because it has always looked so FRICKING hard to do. 

This was the pattern I chose - an easy little fish. I used different colors than the ones shown. 

This was the actual pattern.

They gave us this to start - the hoop and the material. The thread was the colors I chose to use. 

I didn't get any pictures of my work while I was doing it - I was concentrating too hard. I messed up a few stitches, but for my first time - I am very pleased. I am going to make some more fish so he isn't lonely. 

YMCA Friendship Bracelet night

 

Monday, March 6, 2023 was Friendship Bracelet night. I used to braid strings together with pony beads to make bracelets - these bracelets had instructions and I am still working on mine! 

The one I chose to do was on one of the cardboard spools. 

It was fun but I am still working on it and have only done about 2-3 inches of the bracelet.

I will have to post an update when I finish it. 

YMCA Throwback Craft Night - Saturday March 4, 2023

 

Saturday night, March 4, 2023 was "Throwback Craft" night - it was making beaded animal keychains and Fuse beads. 

I have not done either in my life, so thought this would be fun. 

The Fuse beads were interesting - I did just basic designs on the plates provided, nothing fancy because I hadn't worked with them before. 

A star in my stable colors of black and pink and a heart. 

You iron these and they flatten out and create interesting designs. 

I think I might have melted mine a little too much, but that's okay.