January 31, 2026

Another warm sunshine day. High in the mid to upper 40’s. This afternoon I did my miles at the river again. Wow it was full of people and dogs. Lots of fishermen too. Absolutely no birds except at the pond. I’m going to have to change to early morning walking down there. It’s just too busy to be peaceful and birdy. 

 January 30, 2026

Today we did some bush trimming in the yard. This afternoon I did the river ramble. It was pretty warm in the low 40’s.  A bald eagle spooked right above the trail from a big cottonwood. I couldn’t see it due to branches until it flew, so I didn’t get a photo. The weather guru says we are again going into a high pressure Rex Block. That means more dry and above normal temps. It will stay put until something very strong comes along to move it or break it up. Sounds like that means the creator to me. I only took a few videos at the river so here’s a photo from September 2018. I called this young bull in to about 15 yards. He never did see or smell me and just kept on feeding on up the mountainside. Panasonic GH4

 January 29, 2026

It was a nice sunshine day in the upper 30s. We decided to head up Gunnison way. We stopped at Mickey D’s for the two cheeseburger meal which we share. Then we moseyed on up to Parlin and turned toward Pitkin. Part way up we did our usual right turn on the cutoff back to the highway. We usually see elk on that road, but not today. In fact the only wildlife we saw were at the cliff spot by Blue Mesa. We couldn’t stop to get photos. Up there it was only in the low 20s. We then took the cutoff over to the Cochetopa Rd. Nobody on that road at all. The recent snow was sure pretty. Surprisingly Blue Mesa was not even half frozen. It likely won’t freeze over this year. That’s pretty rare. Anyway it was a great day and God is GOOD!

 January 28, 2026

I did my usual route at the river today.  It was apparently bring your dog day.  Lots of people and the vast majority had a dog, most had two.  It started out cloudy and cool and then the sun came out and it got quite warm.  The Jeep said 39 when I headed for home.  It was a good day.  I saw a small flock of Western Bluebirds, got some very mediocre shots of a Woodhouse Scrub Jay.  At the pond there were a couple Buffleheads - I really like the colors on their heads when the sun hits them.  I also saw a Barrow's Goldeneye there but couldn't get a good shot.  There are usually lots of them during the winter.  But this has been anything but a normal winter.  The variety of birds and colors - even though it's not that varied around here - amaze me.  What a brilliant mind the Lord has in all the wildlife and insects He has made.  How could anyone think this all just happened by coincidence?  Nikon P950

 January 27, 2026

Today I headed down to EWR (Escalante Wildlife Refuge).  It's really not much of a wildlife refuge.  But there are a few birds.  I saw a couple bald eagles in a tree near Transfer.  I spooked a great horned owl, but where he settled I couldn't get a good photo.  They were running two masticators back in the trees.  It will be nice to get some of the tamarack and Russian olive knocked down.  Since there was so much noise there I then headed over to the other side of the river.  I had fun with a bunch of little birds there.  On the way home I stopped to get a shot of the sandhill cranes.  I also saw one of the eagles back in the same tree but I didn't stop this time.  I saw several newborn calves along the way.  Spring is just around the corner here.  What a wonderful day outdoors.  I was thanking the Lord all day.  It was about 35 degrees when I left down there.  I probably got in about 5 miles - nice day!

 January 26, 2026

Today we headed out to see some of the recent snow. It was a chilly day. We went up both Cimarron as far as we could. There was more snow up there than we thought. It was a winter wonderland. We didn’t see ant animals and very few tracks. It was 0 degrees at the turnoff on Big Cimarron. It was nice…very few people. On the way back into town there was a lot of haze. The ditch burning has begun and we’re having an inversion so it’s not a nice clean air situation. I feel for people with lung issues.  Thank you Lord for the snow!!!!

 January 25, 2026

Nippy today. We went to church. I then went for a couple mile walk and then went for lunch. Sharon came up for the Broncos game. It’s not going to break freezing today. Wind chill is in the teens. Supposedly Grand Mesa got 14” in this storm. Yay. God is good. I didn’t take any photos when walking so here’s a photo from the Escarpment Trail from 2019. 

 

 January 24, 2026

We finally got some snow - about 3".  Thank you Lord.  We needed it really bad.  It seems the mountains - San Juans anyway - are getting hit hard.  It's sure needed.  Joann's sister came and went shopping with Joann.  I took off to the river for a walk.  It was great.  Not many people - probably because they hadn't plowed the trail.  It was hard walking in spots - bumpy due to being packed by others.  I’ve changed the blog title back to the original. It seems the new title wouldn’t come up at all in google searches for friends and family. 

Anyway it was nice down there and reminded me of a scripture I recall any time we get snow.  All because of Jesus, my filthy heart was changed to pure white.  

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.  Isaiah 1:18

 January 23, 2026

Today it was supposed to snow. So late in the morning I headed to the river for a walk. I only made it to the pond when it started snowing hard. So I turned around and called it off. There were lots of robins down there today. It snowed all day but didn’t start sticking until late. At 9:30 pm it’s still snowing hard but since it’s 32 degrees it’s not adding up to much. But PTL it’s an answer to prayer. OMD EM1 III

 January 22, 2026

Today I went with Allen in his Polaris Ranger coyote hunting. We went up Transfer. We first stopped at the Cushman Overlook. We saw some deer but no yotes. Then we went up the Cattle Loop. Again no critters. We had lunch back in there and then headed on up Transfer. We got clear to the fields and summer ranch above Oak Hill. That shows how meager the snowpack is. There’s a storm coming supposedly. I hope so. Anyway it was a fun day and another nice day…mid 40’s.  God is good.  Iphone 15

 January 21, 2026

Today we wandered up Escalante Canyon. We saw around 20 desert bighorns but they were pretty far out in the fields at what we called the Lowe Place when I worked for a bit down there. It always brings back fond memories of those days down there. No television…just games or reading in the evenings. So quiet then…it’s gotten much busier now…like most places. We went as far as the Sawtell. It was getting a bit muddy in spots with the few spots of melting snow. It was 45 degrees down there. We usually see turkeys down there but not today. It was actually less busy than usual today, which was nice. It was hard to come back on the highway. You could feel the peace ebb away. Then as we got to Delta and looked up the valley the smog was heavy. We didn’t look forward to coming home and breathing that foul air. We sure need more people to move in here…not.  Oh well, it was still a beautiful escape into God’s wonderful creation. 

Amazing this large ponderosa growing in rock high on a cliff face.

The Lowe Place and Ben Lowe table rock.