Thoughts on the Republican Debate, December 15, 2015

 

There aren't a lot of folks who really care about my political views, but I have been asked  my opinions on the candidates, so I thought I might use up some of my blog space to share my thoughts. Besides, won't this post will be fun to go back to after the general elections just to see how wrong I really was!??
At this point in the game, You'd be hard pressed to learn anything new about any candidate. That is unless one of  them decides to have a complete and total meltdown in public somewhere, and consequently needs to be taken away in a straight jacket in the near future all that is really left to do is fine tune your study and knowledge of candidate's policies. Here's my opinion on a few of the candidates that may have a chance of winning the nomination. I didn't mention Christie, or Fiorina,  as their attention has dropped so low, there is little chance of them getting the nomination right now.

--Cruz: is still the best debater in my opinion and gets his points across clearly and consistently. He is competent, in control; his knowledge and policy plans are unsurpassed on every single issue facing this nation  Cruz is a strong defender of civil liberties (something a few have seemed to forget) and shows common sense and strength in dealing with terrorism. I think he could win over more moderate liberals who are doubtful of Clinton's ability to lead in a trustworthy manner. Some people think he is too conservative to win moderate democrats vote in a general election, but I am not so sure about that....

--Rubio is not only charismatic, but he's smart, passionate and extremely knowledgeable on the issues. I once heard the Clintons are more worried about Rubio winning than anyone else; after last night, you can understand why that may be true. He is young, which is also a plus in winning over more youth in the country I agree with many of his policies, and I think he could bring a large number of immigrants to vote for him.

--Rand Paul: He was a strong runner early on, and then seemed to lose momentum, but I am going to take a second look at his stance on the issues as he seems to be coming up fast again...He's definitely fiscally conservative, stands on honorable and strong principals, his foreign policy is one that I think could bring both Democrats and Conservatives together. still thinking...

Carson: I love him; what a wonderful human being. compassionate ....intelligent.....grounded in Christian principles, giving, nurturing... a great American and one of the most decent human beings for sure. If the world were a kinder place, I would vote for him hands down...But I fear his lack of political toughness in his stances might seal his doom as a viable candidate. I fear the tougher the questions get, the more his lack of depth on issues comes to light.

--Trump: He made very few mistakes,  still tough, still no nonsense, still unafraid and seemingly unaffected by all the media lies and twisting of his words....he's not a racist, (if you examine the truth about what he says within it's context and stop following the media rhetoric, and listing to half-wit college professors opinions, you get this)  he has an extremely large following in the black community because of his policies and if you look at the numbers, a large number of Hispanic Americans agree with his border policies. My favorite quote from last night came when he was booed by hecklers, he said on monitoring suspected terrorists : "I just can’t imagine somebody booing. These are people that want to kill us, folks, and you’re objecting to us infiltrating their conversations? I don’t think so.”  The biggest problem with Trump is his temperament and in my opinion his mouth.  I like a little more kindness shining through in a leader but his stance on the issues is shaping up to be very solid.  I like the fact he says exactly what he means and what is really on other people's minds and is brave enough (or foolish enough) to say them out loud. People are tired of current administration dancing around issues and scolding and flogging Americans publicly. There are many who would like to see the opposition scolded and treated the same way by Trump. But is that a good way to continue to run a country where all citizens matter? I am still not completely sold on Trump, but  I have come to respect his policies more as I listen to him and study. Still, he is just a little over the top for my liking, and I fear he would be much like President Obama and continue to divide Americans and congress more than he would unite. Nevertheless, if the election were held today, and he was the Republican nominee, I have to say I would vote for him over any other party candidate. (although I did read the other day where projections say Hillary would ultimately defeat him)

Jeb Bush: Good man, great politician who has a list of impressive accomplishments as governor, appeals to the Latino population, but again, when you think about a candidate who can reach across party lines and unite, or who can win the moderate democrats over, he might not fit the bill. I would bet a lot of people would not vote for him simply because of his last name. That is a sad reason, and shows how uninformed many voters are....but it is a fact nonetheless and needs to be realized.

The Problem With The Police (and other civil servants for that matter)

When did Americans start deciding that the answer to every social ill lay in the power of the criminal justice system and officers who try to maintain peace? People expect too much from police officers. You’ve seen the videos or read about those incidents that get lots of media coverage on police whose actions are brought in to question. Often, in the end, the officers are found to have acted appropriately once the truth comes out, and other times they are prosecuted if they were wrong. That’s the way our justice system works and it works very well. Responsibility for social issues like homelessness, drug use, mental illness, and kids who are extremely troubled have now been handed over to men and women in blue who are trained to enforce compliance, not offer therapy!!!! Same thing goes for schools. Teachers are trained to educate and inspire learning; and even though many teachers take it upon themselves to go above and beyond their calling, they are not trained to analyze and administer treatment for troubled teens. (If they tried, they would most certainly be setting themselves up for a lawsuit) Schools do a great job of working to solve social problems, now it is time to help the police do the same.
Rather than lay the blame on those who try to maintain some sort of normalcy in society, why not look at ourselves? Why have we dumped the problems we are seeing onto the laps of officers and teachers? I read an article where an officer killed a robbery suspect with a history of mental illness. He was heavily criticized. I have sympathy for the man killed but why is it we think officers can solve social problems? Too many of us are of the victim mindset: we point fingers to blame, stay locked in the past, and expend an awful lot of energy on the bad news rather than the good.
The use of force is sometimes necessary, and an officers level of force needs to be at a higher lever than the person who is fighting them. How is that so hard to understand? Police put their lives on the line every single day, are exposed to more vulgar and darkness from society than we could ever imagine, and their jobs are getting more dangerous every day thanks to us.
We need to stop such a narrow-minded view and look at the bigger picture here people! Living in our communities we can do little about what we see in the news…but we can do something in our own little part of the world. We can support our officers, and teachers, become involved in helping at schools, and in watching our own neighborhoods. And we can be careful what we post on social media. If we post incidents like what happened with the young girl who disrupted an entire classroom and blame the cop…what kind of message do we send our young people? What can we do about that particular incident? Nothing…nothing at all. But we can use those stories to find a way to make our own neighborhoods better. We need to look at countries like Great Britain, where the best way to fight racism, help the troubled and mentally ill is to become more community oriented as a society. Reforms are needed for sure,we cannot expect them to be the only but only "thin blue line" between us and a problem. Rethink your mindset....then and only then, can real changes take place.

Cornfields and Sand Roads

Photo courtesy of Steve Wageman

Who can relate to this?
I grew up on a small 40 acre farm just about a half mile from Thurston, Nebraska.: Population about 130; a tiny town but big on heart and soul. Everyone knew everybody and we all watched out for each other.
I have lots of great memories growing up in the rural heartland. Thinking back, my “hood” only covered about one square mile, but when you are little, one square mile seemed like a thousand miles of adventures. We walked about everyplace we wanted to go…to softball practice, the little grocery store, even to school. We had a little creek that ran through our pasture, and I would spend countless hours winter, spring, summer and fall combing that little creek for treasures, sitting with the cattle as they grazed nearby (yes, that was fun for me!) Wading the creek in warm weather and sliding on the ice in winter. A big grove of trees for climbing, an old corn crib and some shabby barns…lots of places to play and pretend brings back sweet memories. But I think two of my favorite places to spend my time were the old sand road and my dad’s cornfield.
The Sand Road: I loved waking across our land to the old sand road just outside of Thurston. The sand on the road was deep, not good for riding your bike over, but there was very little traffic and the sand was so much fun to play in the deep, fine, sand. It was like a tiny bit of the Panhandle Sandhills of Nebraska right in our own back yard; so peaceful and serene. I had forgotten how beautiful that area was until I saw this photo taken by a friend on that same road recently. (Posted here)
The Cornfield: Unless you grew up on a farm, it’s hard to imagine how fantastic it is to play in a cornfield. When you’re for or five rows into a field of corn in late July or early August, it’s like a jungle…and fun to try to get lost in the vast green ocean that seems endless as a child. Sometimes I would just sit in among the rows in the stillness. I can still remember the smell, and the silent rustling of the leaves blowing in the breeze. It felt like I was invisible, and imagine I was the only person in the whole world.
A farm is a giant playground and I learned many valuable lessons growing up there. I learned to respect the land and in caring for our farm animals, I learned about life and death. I learned how to drive a stick shift, how to be tough, work hard and be independent. I learned how to be creative and imagine endless possibilities. I learned to be generous, even when you don’t have much, and most of all I learned to be content with the simple things in life, like an old sand road in the middle of everywhere!

Steve Wageman Photo courtesy

The Big Dipper and Me

Such beautiful clear evenings the past few nights have got me thinking of my mom. My mother had so many cool things about her personality. One was telling stories she made up and reciting poetry from memory. Another was a deep appreciation of the natural world. One night, when I was a little girl, she combined her talent for storytelling and her love of nature as our whole family was returning home from the city shopping. Everyone was hustling in the house with grocery bags and shouts of who was going to get to the bathroom first! My mom stopped me as I was heading in and she pointed to the beautiful night sky. She showed me the big dipper and how to use it to find the little dipper. Then she turned my attention back to the big dipper and said this: “Julie, someday, our family will change. You will all grow up and move away. Someday, your dad and I will be gone. But whenever you look up a the beautiful night sky, find the big dipper—and remember how we were in this very moment. Together and happy! Remember each day is a gift from God. And that your family is the greatest gift he gives us. Find the big dipper and look at each star that makes it’s image”.
Then she named each star from the tip of the handle to the bottom of the cup after each one of us; My Dad at the start of the handle and each of us in order, according to our age. She pointed out that in order, my star was the brightest, Alioth! And because of that, it was my job to keep that memory alive. My family has grown, mom and dad are gone, and we are scattered about with kids of our own. but our love grows and extends to cousins and aunts and uncles where ever they are from the tip of Alaska to California, to the east coast.
Every time I see the stars that make up the constellation under the Great Bear, Ursa Major, I look for the Big Dipper, and think of my mama and me, sitting out under the stars,--my dad and siblings inside our home, warm and cozy…and I thank God for the gift of family.

The Truth Behind Islam

Such important information from a man who understands Islam on a deep and intimate level. I have posted below the recent interviews of Dr. Mark Christan with Chris Baker of KFAB radio. You can click on the links below to hear them in their entirety. Each interview is withing the podcast I have posted. I thought you might be interested in Dr. Christian's background, so I have quoted his bio from his website, "Global Faith Institute" 

Dr. Mark Christian

"An Egyptian by birth and an obstetrician/gynecologist by profession, Dr. Mark Christian – destined to become a Sunni religious leader – diverted destiny, ditched Islam, and eventually became devoted to the Christian faith. Galvanized to dismantle the Sunni Islamic political agenda and Initiate real Islamic reform, Dr. Christian unpredictably put his ob/gyn career on hold in order to establish the Global Faith Institute, a Christian platform dedicated to the proclamation and pursuit of truth, particularly as it relates Middle Eastern history and current happenings to the rapidly unfolding events in the United States and around the world.
Groomed from boyhood to become an influential leader of the Muslim faith, Mark was afforded unparalleled exposure to the ideology and objectives of radical Islam, and the stringent creed of Sharia law.  This exposure was gained through his remarkable experiences as the constant companion and confidante of his father, a wealthy doctor, devout Imam, and persuasive advisor for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt – and through his uncle, who, during the massive imprisonment of the Muslim Brotherhood members in Egypt in 1965, shared a cell with Sayyid Qutb, the revered and infamous ideologue for the Brotherhood’s movement.
During medical school, as Dr. Christian began intensive study and preparation to become an Islamic religious leader, he began seeking answers regarding the fundamental tenets of Islam, a query which -though vehemently opposed – exposed the Islamic myth; a quest which, after years of deliberation, ultimately led to Dr. Christian’s conversion to Christianity in March, 2003, a conversion which ignited a murderous hatred from Dr. Christian’s own father.
Dr. Christian served as a military physician for years at El Maadi Medical Center in Cairo, a prestigious hospital providing exceptional medical care to VIP’s and high-ranking military and government officials, including former Egyptian leaders Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarek.
Coming to America in 2005, Dr. Christian conducted ob/gyn research at University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he initially developed an increasing awareness of the shocking degree of Islamic infiltration and their prolific agenda in the United States.  Recognizing the urgency of this grim threat to cherished American freedoms, Dr. Christian responded through his formation and leadership of Global Faith Institute.
Dr. Mark Christian has a heart to not merely awaken and educate a sleeping American public to the actuality of Islamic intention in this country, but to reveal to a growing Muslim population that the peaceful, happy life they seek through Islam could eventually be destroyed by Islamic dominance. Crediting the rejuvenation and radicalization of political and militant Islam in 1971 for much of today’s terrorism, Dr. Christian is unceasingly attentive to critical developments.  Relentlessly keeping one eye on the Middle East while maintaining a global focus, Dr. Mark Christian is equipped with an inimitable voice and an uncanny “firsthand” apprehension of our contemporary crisis.
Dr. Christian is a popular and frequent speaker and lecturer, capturing audiences with his intriguing and incredible story, while imparting insight into the Muslim mind, and truth regarding the impact of Islam in the world today. When Mark is not busy articulating his passion for protecting the principles and practice of our priceless American liberty, he enjoys being home with his wife and son in Omaha, Nebraska."
http://kfab.iheart.com/media/podcast-chris-baker-ChrisBaker/dr-mark-christen-26357415/

http://kfab.iheart.com/media/podcast-chris-baker-ChrisBaker/dr-mark-christen-26357419/

How We Treat Each Other

We are how we treat each other and nothing more.

 It always puzzles me how folks who claim to be so tolerant and open minded are downright mean when something goes against their beliefs.  Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes first, then see if you feel the same way.

We are how we treat each other, and nothing more. The hate and the lies, jealousy, competitiveness, fighting, unwillingness to support or understand one another and pettiness is getting of control!!

We are how we treat each other and nothing more. The lack of love, lack of knowledge and people’s inability to think for themselves is astounding. People’s lack of respect for one another makes my heart ache. Everyone has a right to live how they see fit. God gave us freedom to think for ourselves. It is up to you whether you accept that or not. Don’t like it? Move on. You will find others who think like you so live there, in that space… if that is all you can handle and stay away from the  place where you can’t love your fellow man.  If you won’t pray, for them, don’t pick at them.

We are how we treat each other and nothing more.   Treating others like garbage does not win you any favors from those with whom you disagree, it makes you the exact same as those you hate. Can’t you see that? Is it self-hatred  that causes so much indifference and ignorance. Hatred spreads more hatred. Lies perpetuate more lies.  Half-truths keep you from moving forward.

We are how we treat each and nothing more.

Too much violence, too many babies going to bed hungry, women being beaten, men sleeping on the streets.

Mourning and weeping all over the world form suffering.  

Am I alone in my thinking? Does anyone else understand? I am blessed, I have a good life. But sometimes it is hard for me to sleep at night knowing what others endure while I lie in my bed, comfortable and warm.  It’s hard to find peace sometimes.

 So I go to the one in control He knows how I feel, because he has felt the pain of human indifference and hatred.

He says: Be humble, be still, wait for me. I am coming.

Jesus never forced anyone to follow him. He invites everyone in…it is your choice to follow or not.  But please don’t’ twist his words. Don’t mock someone you know little about. Listen to your heart in the stillness.

We are how we treat each other and nothing more.

Don't Kid Yourself. A College Education Is NEVER free.

A free college education that some leaders are advocating for sounds pretty sweet. No one wants to see young people succeed academically more than an educator. No  one wants to see the price of that education become more reasonable than the mother of 3 college graduates that have some big loans to pay back for that education!

But I am skeptical free tuition would work as the Democrats say it will.  

We live in a global economy, and young people have to compete with workers around the world.  It’s important  we have the best-educated workforce possible.  So we need to make an education more affordable. But there are major flaws in the current plan some are proposing.    

First and foremost, the plan is badly targeted! What about people whose families can afford to pay for their education? Why do they need free tuition? Seems like a waste of tax dollars to pay for those who can afford college and unfair to poor families who deserve the benefit of a free education and they still would not have the money to cover the cost of books, transportation and  if they are not living at home, the cost of room and board. Wouldn’t a better plan to be to apply a sliding scale to the cost of tuition depending on your income? 

Another problem with free education is it does not guarantee one will graduate. Did you know that in the US, just 20% of students who begin a 2 year program actually graduate within 3 years?  A student still needs to maintain a certain GPA to maintain free tuition.  How exactly does a free education guarantee improved graduation rates?  Community colleges have already lowered their standards to compensate for high school students who graduate ill-prepared for the rigors of college.  How will a free education improve student performance? No one can argue that the current system often fails to deliver the high-quality educational pathways that many students need to be successful in the modern workforce. It’s one thing to give everyone a free education; quite another to keep students from dropping out, or failing out, which as we all know is a problem in this country! The countries with the most success with college graduates who are highly skilled and successful in employment are not the ones with free tuition.

Which brings me to ask about minority students who are high achievers. What about high academic achieving black or Hispanic minority students? Wouldn’t it be safe to say that many smart high schoolers who come from minority-low income families opt to go to a free 2 year school instead of applying to a more rigorous,  college better suited to their abilites for financial reasons?

 Finally, if I have not convinced you there is a down side to the current proposals then answer this for me please: Who’s going to pay for free education?  In countries where higher ed is free (like in Sweden) the citizens are heavily taxed, with some of the highest tax rates in the world.  (Sweden has a 42% and Germany has a 49% tax wedge)   I don’t know about you but I feel I’m taxed enough already. I would hate to see my taxes go up even more.! And free education does not necessarily make a country globally competitive in the workplace.  Germany is already rethinking their free system and looking to the model the US has had in place for guidance.

One more thought in closing. If a 2 year education is free, how does that influence the fields of study students go into. Some degrees are more costly to earn. How is that fair and how does that influence the way  young adults decide fields of study? A  degree that is a prelude to teaching cost less than one in engineering.  Technologies for various fields are more costly. Some fields of study require more classes and more investment in time than others.  Is that viable?

College debt and accessibility to the poor or to nontraditional students is most certainly an issue, but isn’t there a better answer than the ones the Democrats are proposing?  We don’t rank globally in highly skilled workers just because college costs money. Furthermore, statistically, many graduates already have a difficult time finding jobs.  No tuition will only increase the unemployment problem.

We rank lower because our education system needs fixing, right along side the attitudes society has about education.  The old saying “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink” really holds true to why our education system is failing. You can have the best and most talented teachers in the world. But if students are not motivated to learn, if they do not understand the ethics behind hard work and fortitude in learning, then free college is nothing more than another drain on our economy! But then, there are some who don’t’ want to hear this, anytime the word free is put in front of a word, that is all the further some can see….until they find themselves with a degree and no job…or when they drop out and have wasted taxpayer money.

Yes, Lives Matter!

I honestly believe that most people in this world aren't jerks. I know there are groups of individuals in this world who are still brutally oppressed, still in need and still hoping for their lives to change for the better, and it is the cause for much unrest. But there is something very wrong with society these days and the situation is becoming more toxic, not just for police, but for everyone. There is a segment of the population whose hate for their fellow man runs far too deep, and whose anger is far too dangerous for us all. America’s problems are deep and systemic, and there is troubling evidence of racism and bias. But it is inaccurate to present these problems as the result of an organized conspiracy by just one group of people or institution. There is a dangerous rhetoric out there against police, whites, blacks, Hispanics, natives, Christians, Jews, Muslims, gays. the unborn....everyone. No one is immune, no one is safe. And until we all truly believe and understand that LIVES MATTER, and stand up and together as human beings..nothing will change. Things will become more toxic and dangerous. Is that the kind of world we want to leave for our children?

It's All Our Fault!

It seems like after every tragic shooting, no matter who did it or who the victims were, the whiners come out in droves to blame the other team. Before you get your feathers all in a ruffle thinking I am pointing a finger at one specific group, here this: IT’S EVERYONE’S FAULT!!!!! We stigmatize race, culture, guns, religion, and each other!! We placidly move through life thinking “hey, if it doesn’t affect me, I don’t want to hear about it!  I can’t do anything anyway!!” Is that responsible thought? We all judge and let ourselves get caught up in the rhetoric of those with whom we align ourselves without giving one thought or care that there may be another side to each and every story. Most of the time those we align ourselves are making money off their tweets or posts or websites that we so religiously follow and blindly believe.  How often do you stop to explore or research an opposing view? I guess it’s easier to read a meme or a quick post on the internet rather than educate ourselves or our children of the fact that we are all human, we all make mistakes, misunderstand each other and that there are often other sides to all stories. We fail to educate our children on the evils of the world and to think critically.  We allow our children to view violent, obscene and vulgar images on television; we give a child a cell phone and never monitor their activity on it, (I have seen kids as young as 9 or 10 with Facebook accounts or watching YouTube videos with violent content). And we as adults are often poor role models with our posts, images, blaming, and actions in our own lives. We the public have become lazy in our thinking. It’s ok to disagree, or to point out faulty thinking or wrongs when we see them. But lets do it intelligently and with the thoughtful consideration of those we may offend when we form our words.  We have lost our ability to respectfully disagree, and to debate with a sense of honor. We align ourselves on one side and refuse to budge. And this friend, is what encourages the radical behavior seen in so many troubled people today.  We are loosing our heart and soul to the Internet and media giants. We are forgetting who we are and what it means to love and feel compassion for each other regardless of our personal views. I once read a quote: “We are all born crying; some just learn how to stop”  Lets all stop crying around and start reaching out to each other before it is too late. Let’s find a way to reach out to each other in love and compassion, and forgiveness, lest we find a tragedy like today’s or yesterdays or all the days before in our own back yard!

Reminder: Puppets are Not People

Let me say right off I mean no disrespect to my beloved friends who are gay.   But while thousands of people are starving to death in Africa, and millions more suffer all around the world, horrors we can only imagine, Americans are fretting over Ernie and Bert. 

Yep. 

Let that sink in for a moment.

Americans are talking about the Sesame Street puppets Ernie and Bert being gay. 

Seriously? ( Or as my Danish grandmother would say ”OOF-TA!”)

Photo Source: Sesame Street Inc. 

The New Yorker magazine published an article stating the beloved and well known Sesame Street chareacters were gay, with a photo of them snuggling and watching TV. 

A statement put out by Sesame Street officials said they were not gay. 

Oh who to believe!!

 I have a few thoughts:

1. Who cares about their sex life?  Wait, They are puppets for goodness sake they don't have a sex life because they are not real!

2. This is silly; does everything, even inanimate objects need to come out slinging the sword of someone's agenda?  Does everything have to be a teachable moment for children?

3.  I think we endanger out children when we try to hurry them into adulthood by pushing ideas about sexuality too early. (Especially when it comes to pieces of cloth with buggy eyes and wild hair) In this day and age, children are growing up flooded with messages about sex and sexuality through the media and elsewhere! Is that necessary? Why don’t we make it more of a priority to protect a small child’s innocence? Why not let them discover things about themselves and their place in life gradually and naturally under the care of loving, rational adults?

I find it all a little strange myself.  

 If Ernie and Bert live together that is their business! Are they best friends or gay? Are they citizens of the US? I wonder if they are Jewish? Who cares!! Let them live in peace and privacy and don’t taint the good work they do for children by prying into their sex life.  Better yet, remember they are puppets. Lets grow up and realize everything doesn’t need to be about an agenda!! Some things in life are just meant to be enjoyed, and some questions are just not meant to be answered! Don’t discriminate!! Accept Ernie and Bert for who they are: puppets; who wish to live their lives like any other puppet, free from the stigma of gender labels and political agendas! 

Adventures in Colorado

First stop on our way to Southwestern Colorado was an overnight say in Denver. We made a quick trip to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Interesting and fun!

 Day 1: Montrose and Ouray

Great early morning hike before it go to hot! We traveled to Eagle Valley trail accessed in Peach Valley area just a little southeast of Olathe, Colorado.  This is one big place!! 

 Eagle Valley is in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, hard up against the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park wilderness area. It was a beautiful hike  with some easy paths but you had to watch your step. Lots of slick rocks, rugged terrain and a little climbing involved.  I found a rock that was shaped like Nebraska and one formation on the side of the canyon that looked like a buffalo head. Can you see it? 

Lots of lizards in the canyon scurrying across our path!   

Some of the landscape made me think of the time when Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days…I was imagining it may have been a tiny bit like this place: Beautiful, but dangerous, with an unforgiving landscape. It had to have taken a tremendous amount of faith, courage and fortitude to travel to an area like this alone, so far from civilization.  I was thankful for those thoughts.

Later that morning we traveled to Ouray and had lunch. I always like visiting here; the majestic peaks, hot springs and waterfalls always make the trip well worth the time. Shops are a little expensive….but who needs to shop with such great views to enjoy!!

Finally back to camp at the end of the day…this small tent was my home for 5 nights. It is my smallest tent which suited me find for this trip. I didn't want too much baggage to tote around.  Comfy and cozy!!

Day 2: Woods lake Trail and The Black Canyon

Amy, the kids and traveled to Woods lake Trail  near Telluride in the Uncompahgre National Forest. We took a trail around what I think was Navajo Lake basin. It lead us through dense aspen trees on one side and came out to a wide meadow. We didn’t travel to the other side of the lake this day as Amy wasn’t sure if she was on the trail that took us around the lake. The other side of the lake was filled with huge dense conifers.  But it was a beautiful hike with magnificent views of three San Juan mountain peaks.

Lots of beautiful wildflowers and some interesting mushrooms.

A couple of selfies for the day! 

After the hike, we headed to Telluride to scout out the scene there. The highlight of our visit there was the Gondola ride, the only free and public transportation of it’s kind in the United States. It gave us a eagle’s eye view of the jagged mountaintops surrounding the city and took us up to Telluride Mountain village.

After heading back to Montrose and dropping off my crew at Dan and Pams, I decided to take a quick trip to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Gorge. Like most of my visits here this week, I had been here before, but you can never get tired of beauty like this. 

I did only one short hike, it was getting too late in the day to go too far:  Sunset is a wonderful time to drive this magnificent area.

I enjoyed the steep but scenic drive from the top of the canyon rims near the painted walls:

...to the bottom of the gorge....

Back to my campsite for a late dinner….I grilled hot dogs because they were quick and easy…I accompanied them with some world famous Oathe Sweet Corn grilled alongside my hotdogs and washed it down with a cold Summer Shandy…ahhhhh, this is living!!

Getting comfortable for a good nights rest. all the comfort I need right here! 

Day Three

The rest of my trip I was solo.  Dan had taken off the rest of the week to spend time with Amy and the grand kids.  I was excited to take a few lone adventures! I went back to Woods Lake trail. I wanted to go deeper into the area and try to find the bridge that crossed to the other side into the conifer forest.   I embrace it whole heartedly and cherish that time, even though it was so short. For me, it is a time to appreciate the beauty of this world. I always feel closer to my Creator when I am here, I feel more at home in the quiet beauty away from the hustle and bustle of life in the city.  I love my walk in silence and solitude. I get a taste of my right and humble place on this planet and  feel an incredible out pouring of gratitude for life at it’s most uncomplicated. 

I have a stronger sense of belonging and I am better able to trust God’s will and way for my life outside this wonderful place. I envision what it was like for the Native Utes living here so many years ago and envision how close they were to the land. Their profound sense of the Creator found here, and why they found places like this sacred.  I picture what it might have been like for Prophets of old like Moses or Elijah to spend time in the mountains, away from civilization and get a glimpse of why God leads people to places like this to speak to them.  God is praised in our practice of stillness and silence. I wish I could do this more often. Maybe this is why I love places like this so much.

It’s hard to describe the wonderful solitude found in the mountains.

As I traveled further, the path became less obvious and I had to be sure I didn't get distracted!

The wildflower and plants were breathtaking! Just wish I had a better camera!!

I took some time to have a bite of lunch beside the San Miguel River traveling back to Telluride.  I stretched out beneath the shade of the willow and watched the river rush by for at least an hour….don’t think I could ever get tired of this! 

In telluride, I again skipped shopping and the busy downtown area and opted to try to get up to the top of Bridal Veil falls. You can drive up the rugged one lane road…but I decided to try my skills at hiking up the road. I wanted to enjoy the view, not stress about the steep drop-offs, switchbacks and rugged terrain!  The views were stunning, but it was slow going up the steep switchbacks. I am not sure how many miles this trail is. I read it is four miles, but it didn’t seem like that much. It’s hard to estimate with all the switchbacks. I made it to the top! I was wishing I had time to go further above the house that is now empty, but it was getting close to dusk and I needed to make the trek back down. Next time I am here, I will start out earlier to get above the falls to hike the area above the house. The start: 

The middle of my hike. (Notice the water fall going over the road!! Glad I hiked!

The first Falls a photo and a short video:

 

The second falls was the sight of an old mining operation. I took a peek inside the old mine shaft:

I wanted to spend a little more time in town before heading home, but I was bushed!! I headed back to camp!

Day 4
 Today Amy, Dan and Alexis took a hike up to Blue Lakes. It is a challenging climb and they didn't want to bring Hayden, so I got to spend the day with my number one grand son! We had so much fun I forgot to take any pictures!! My bad! But we started the day with a trip to McDonalds for breakfast; Haydens favorite spot! We ate breakfast and he played in their indoor playground fo!)r a while. Then we took in some of the Montrose local shops. A wood carvers shop, the Ute museum and then sat by the river and threw rocks into the rushing water. (Hayden loved throwing sticks in and watching them rush down the tide!) Then it was back to McDonalds for some lunch and more indoor playground! (not my choice, but hey, it was his day so I let him call the shots!) After lunch and play we spent a few hours at the pool before I brought him back to the Dan and Pam Cadwallader ranch! On a side note, of our  museum visit, I found the history of the Utes in the area interesting but sad. To think of the natives who called this beautiful place home for centuries only to have to be forced out by the white settlers. Here is a link to some history on the Utes and the amazing Chief Ouray and his wife Chepita who are buried in this area.)
Chief Ouray was Chief of the Uncompahgre band of the Ute Tribe. Because of his great leadership and negoicating abilities, he was also acknowledged as Chief of the Ute by the United States Government. Take some time to visit this site. I think  you will agree he was a remarkable man.


http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-ouray.html 

 I think it wise we all take time to study the history of areas in our great country and learn of the terrible injustices Natives suffered at the hands of the early white settlers. I think it equally wise that we acknowledge these mistakes and work towards reconciliation with our Native American brothers and sisters. Their ancestors suffered so much, and the trauma from this suffering still haunts many tribes to this day.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Day Five:
Just picture an idyllic alpine sky blue lake surrounded by wildflowers and rocky peaks. That was my hope this day to attempt to climb 6 miles around Mount Senffels to get a glimpse of one of famous glacial basin Blue Lakes. Dan has led all our kids up the trail to this breathtaking lake at various times through the years. Here are some photos they have shared from their respective hikes there (note the beautiful blue skies):

  

And here is my virgin journey to Blue Lake: 

You guessed it!! It was pouring rain!! I got about a mile or so into the trek just before the switchbacks and made the tough decision to turn around! Yes I whimped out. Not only would the lakes not be as blue today with all the cloud cover, but I would be one soaked mama when I got there soooooo: Blue Lake will have to wait until my next visit to Western Colorado! I did manage to snap a few shots of the view though. Even on a rainy day it's beautiful!

Admitting defeat but determined to make it a great day I decided to take a trip to Silverton; An old mining town high in the San Juan Mountains halfway between Ouray and Durango. It's an amazing drive over the Red Mountains and a place rich in history.  So many interesting historic buildings 

What this building was I guess I'll never know: 

 I found a street with my namesake!! 

On the drive back I stopped at a deserted mining town to read some of the history of the Red Mountain mining era. One mine here called Yankee Girl held one of the richest silver veins ever to be discovered in the United States. 

I stopped by the river for a while to snap some photos of the unique colors that run through the water here. Red minerals from the mountain tops give this water some interesting hues: 

You can see why the river runs red from the mountains above: 

 By the time I got back to Montrose it was time to get ready for a Sawyer Brown Concert! Pam and Dan had an extra ticket for me so I tagged along and enjoyed the music! By the time the concert started the skies had cleared and it made for a wonderful evening! Everyone had so much fun! My family is far from perfect, we have had our moments,  but I wouldn't trade any of them for all the money in the world! I love them all so very much!

Saturday morning and it was time to leave. We were a little sad to be going, so to lift our spirits we took the scenic route home. We stayed the night in Sterling, Colorado with my beautiful Daughter-in-law's family! Erika and Bella even met us there and we enjoyed the gracious charms of her wonderful family! Ann made a wonderful meal and we enjoyed a few games of cards. Again, I was enjoying myself so much I forgot to snap some photos! but that's ok, we have a standing invite back anytime, and you can be sure I will be taking them up on that offer in the future! I said it once but I am saying it again...family is the greatest gift God can ever bestow upon  us! Thanks Nickel family for a wonderful time!
Morning drive back to Nebraska and one last shot of the beautiful Sandhills of the Nebraska Panhandle:

Until next time!! Thanks for visiting my blog! I have some photos of my trip to Lake City, Minnesota I will post next time!!