The Boys Soccer Season

The boys played Upward Soccer again this year.  It has been awhile since they played it but after seeing what a good time Nora had we thought the boys should do it again.

The thing I love about Upward is that there is only one game a week and one practice!

It is more of a instructive league than a competitive one.

Nathaniel's Soccer Season

Nathaniel's team was the Gamecocks.

This is Nathaniel and an old neighbor of ours, Trent.

Tim's Soccer Season

Timothy's team the Cavaliers in the pre-game huddle.

Tim's team did real well and won most of their games.

"Mom!  Stop taking pictures!"

Nora's Soccer

Nora missed this spring's sign up for soccer but we made the effort to get her involved with a team this summer.  The Wichita Defenders, one of our local homeschool teams signed up to play at the Y.  The summer YMCA soccer league is highly competitive and ...INDOORS!  Air Conditioning!  Unfortunately, due to the highly competitive nature of the league our team didn't win a game. 

The Sipps came to cheer Nora on in her last game.

They were quite proud of their Nora!

Nora's team, The Defenders.

Colorado - The Island

Here are the plumbers hard at work.  Chad and I had to assemble the island while they were working. The old sink had to be removed and the plumbing rerouted before the new could be installed.  We couldn't put the island in till the old sink was gone.

It still needs to be stained and the decorative pieces added but that will have to wait till next summer when we have more time and can get and electrician out to wire the island for the dishwasher, disposal and outlets.

I'm so excited!  

Oh, and incase you forgot what it looked like before, this is it.  Some folding tables, a gas camp stove and a utility sink.  

Colorado

In August I had wanted to install the kitchen island while I was at the cabin.  It turns out that the local plumbers are in high demand and it would take 2 months to get someone out to re-route the kitchen sink plumbing.  So, I got and estimate and asked to be put on the schedule.  I was told it would likely be December before they could make it out.  But thankfully I got a call two weeks ago saying that they could get to it.  So, Chad took some time off and we headed to the mountains to install the island and enjoy fall.

There was quite a bit of wildlife, more than I have ever seen in the area before.  The elk and deer were everywhere.  Above is an elk herd.

We arrived after dark on a Wednesday night and the next morning while sipping coffee on the front deck we watched a bobcat catch and kill a squirrel.  The bobcat is to the right of the big post.

That same morning shortly after we saw the bobcat two birds flew into one of the windows.

One of them died.

Another was dazed enough to be carried around by Nora till it recovered and flew off.

One day we did some exploring and found the wild horses by a lake.

Did I mention the deer were everywhere?  In the evenings we would drive around looking for wildlife.  We called them "Forbes Park Safaris" and played games to see who could spot the most.  Chad held the record for 6 herds of deer spotted in one drive.

The deer know they are protected and can't be hunted here so you can get quite close.  The elk are much more skittish.  

Check out that bull elk in the front!

Wild Horse Mesa

After visiting the Fort we headed to Wild Horse Mesa to do some arrowhead hunting.  Once there we realized that all the land was privately owned and I'm a little gun shy about trespassing so we settled for driving around and looking for the wild horses.

The first herd we saw.

Once off the Mesa and back down in the San Luis Valley we came across another herd.

Just hanging out!

This little guy came to say hi!

Fort Garland part II

The Parade Grounds.

The Fort had 5 buildings still standing and in use.  Like Fort Laramie there were no walls.  The buildings were arranged around the Parade Grounds and with a few barricades thrown up could easily be defended.  However being on the valley floor and the land stretching away for miles there was little chance of anyone sneaking up on the Fort.

The Soldiers barracks.

Soldiers hanging out in the mess hall.

A Private catching a nap in the barracks. 

Of course it wouldn't be Colorado without a marijuana store next door.  Talk about a clash between the past and present! 

Fort Garland

After our hike we drove back to the cabin and took it easy for a day.  Susan and Elizabeth left for home.  

Fort Garland is the closest town to the cabin.  It is a 30 minute drive and really doesn't have much but a few restaurants, two hotels a gas station and a terrible grocery store.  It is better to drive an hour to get groceries than depend on this store having what you need.

After all these years of visiting we have never checked out the Fort.  I assumed that like the town there wasn't much to offer.  It turned out that I was wrong.

Fort Massachusetts was established 6 miles north of the current town on the side of Mt. Blanca.  After a short time it was decided to move the fort to the current location and rename it Fort Garland.  The Fort remained in use by the Colorado Volunteers and the US Government for 25 years.  Those 25 years were mostly uneventful.  After all their mission was to maintain peace between the settlers and the local Indians.  They must have done a good job.  The only battle related to Fort Garland is the Battle of Glorieta Pass in New Mexico against the Confederates during the Civil War.  Fort Garland is also known as being commanded by mountain man and guide Kit Carson for a short time and also for being home to the Buffalo Soldiers for 3 years.

After a short video explaining the fort's history the staff archeologist gave us more details before she had to leave to take a conference call.  After that we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

Unlike Fort Laramie in Wyoming, Fort Garland was much more kid friendly.  The kids were allowed to touch almost everything and also dress up.

The women of the Fort.

A lonely soldiers wife (Ella) waiting for her man to come home.

Private Timothy Baker

Private Nathaniel Baker

Private Wyatt Sipp