12/12/2008
Santa in Moffat County
You never know when you'll run into Mr. Claus. This is Santa in Brown's Park in a BLM boat.(unknown photographer)
12/08/2008
Brothers
Deloss and Billy Jackson
Born and raised in Moffat County.
(actually, Deloss tells me that he was born in Vernal, Utah)
Downtown Craig
2008
Born and raised in Moffat County.
(actually, Deloss tells me that he was born in Vernal, Utah)
Downtown Craig
2008
12/07/2008
Christmas 2008
Hand made by my own two hands.
I loved making these potholders.
I made them to be used by my friends.
Making them gave me a wonderful
opportunity to think about the folks
in my life who mean so much to me.
Thank you and blessings,
Carol
I loved making these potholders.
I made them to be used by my friends.
Making them gave me a wonderful
opportunity to think about the folks
in my life who mean so much to me.
Thank you and blessings,
Carol
Sand Rocks
Today, December 7th/Pearl Harbor Day, Terry and I took a short hike along the Sandrocks on the north edge of Craig.
The star which is lighted at Christmas at the top of the Sand Rocks.
The long view looking south and a bit east across the body of Craig on a warm December day.
Sagebrush and lichen.
The hard crust of earth above the smooth, round sandstone rocks. Terry is standing at the top of the trail.
The star which is lighted at Christmas at the top of the Sand Rocks.
The long view looking south and a bit east across the body of Craig on a warm December day.
Sagebrush and lichen.
The hard crust of earth above the smooth, round sandstone rocks. Terry is standing at the top of the trail.
12/03/2008
2008 Celebrate Literacy
I received this letter on November 28, 2008.
"Dear Carol,
It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you of your nomination and selection by the Colorado Council of the International Reading Association to receive the 2008 Celebrate Literacy Award.
Debbie Frazier, on behalf of Sagebrush Reading Council, nominated you for your work supporting literacy in the community and the schools in Craig. Your work with children and adults of all ages, as well as the many activities and opportunities you offer through Downtown Books to promote literacy is commendable."
I'll go to Denver in February to accept the award.
I'm thrilled.
"Dear Carol,
It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you of your nomination and selection by the Colorado Council of the International Reading Association to receive the 2008 Celebrate Literacy Award.
Debbie Frazier, on behalf of Sagebrush Reading Council, nominated you for your work supporting literacy in the community and the schools in Craig. Your work with children and adults of all ages, as well as the many activities and opportunities you offer through Downtown Books to promote literacy is commendable."
I'll go to Denver in February to accept the award.
I'm thrilled.
12/01/2008
Stand By Me
This is is very cool! Very creative. Very good, and I've always loved the song.
Carol
This video is only 5 minutes long. But it's quite extraordinary. Not only is the music itself great, but this one video seamlessly splices together parts of the visual video tracks of identical performances videotaped at the following locations, and performed by different musicians native to those locations, while at the same time mixing together, not parts, but the entire audio tracks of all 12 performances in these 12 locations: Santa Monica, New Orleans, Amsterdam, New Mexico, France, Brazil, Russia, Venezuala, The Congo, South Africa, Spain and Italy. Quite amazing.. And very beautifully done.
Click on the following link(or cut and paste)
Playing For Change: Song Around the World "Stand By Me"
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=Us-TVg40ExM
>
Carol
This video is only 5 minutes long. But it's quite extraordinary. Not only is the music itself great, but this one video seamlessly splices together parts of the visual video tracks of identical performances videotaped at the following locations, and performed by different musicians native to those locations, while at the same time mixing together, not parts, but the entire audio tracks of all 12 performances in these 12 locations: Santa Monica, New Orleans, Amsterdam, New Mexico, France, Brazil, Russia, Venezuala, The Congo, South Africa, Spain and Italy. Quite amazing.. And very beautifully done.
Click on the following link(or cut and paste)
Playing For Change: Song Around the World "Stand By Me"
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=Us-TVg40ExM
>
11/30/2008
Terrible the Cat
This is Terrible Twin, one of the two brothers I had at Big Gulch. I loved those two boys. They live up near Baker's Peak now.
Parade of Lights
Our very own Santa and Mrs. Claus, George and Anne Kidder. George drives the mail truck when he is not being Santa. The beard is all his own.
Terry's sister's daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Ava is the apple of her parent's ey and Grandma Laura and Grandpa Dick adore her. This was the taken at the annual Lion's Club Parade of Lights.
Terry's sister's daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Ava is the apple of her parent's ey and Grandma Laura and Grandpa Dick adore her. This was the taken at the annual Lion's Club Parade of Lights.
11/27/2008
Our orthopedic ward
Terry and I note, with some amusement, our version of Animal Hospital. We have a geriatric ward where the two old-lady cats live. When they come out of their apartment, we have to be very careful where we walk as they are slow moving around the floor.
We have an oncology ward, where Sadie lives--on a pile of straw outside my ground-level office.
And, finally, the orthopaedic ward with Charlie, who is doing quite well. It has not been fun for any of us, especially Charlie. He has a cast on his right back leg and is terribly off balance. His fractured left pelvis has knitted together enough that he puts weight on that leg (at first, he just pulled himself along with his front legs). We, or Charlie to be more exact, have had considerable challenges as he figures out how to pee and poop. I have rarely, since my babies were little, had to worry about poop. First, we worried that he couldn't poop. He can, he just doesn't, thus requiring a trip to the doc who irrigated little Charlie until he did.
As you can see, aside from the cast still on his leg, Charlie is doing well. He actually took the time to bite and scratch me today, which means he is feeling much better.
The cast may come off in four days.
We have an oncology ward, where Sadie lives--on a pile of straw outside my ground-level office.
And, finally, the orthopaedic ward with Charlie, who is doing quite well. It has not been fun for any of us, especially Charlie. He has a cast on his right back leg and is terribly off balance. His fractured left pelvis has knitted together enough that he puts weight on that leg (at first, he just pulled himself along with his front legs). We, or Charlie to be more exact, have had considerable challenges as he figures out how to pee and poop. I have rarely, since my babies were little, had to worry about poop. First, we worried that he couldn't poop. He can, he just doesn't, thus requiring a trip to the doc who irrigated little Charlie until he did.
As you can see, aside from the cast still on his leg, Charlie is doing well. He actually took the time to bite and scratch me today, which means he is feeling much better.
The cast may come off in four days.
Thanksgiving
I am thankful for my sons, AJ, Adam, Isaac, and for Rebecca, who will soon become my daughter-in-law.
I am thankful for my husband, who makes all things possible.
I am thankful for my old dog, Sadie, who has been a remarkable companion.
I am thankful for my friends (you know who you are) and my family.
Blessings on Thanksgiving 2008.
Carol
I am thankful for my husband, who makes all things possible.
I am thankful for my old dog, Sadie, who has been a remarkable companion.
I am thankful for my friends (you know who you are) and my family.
Blessings on Thanksgiving 2008.
Carol
Cranberry Relish
Every year for the last 10 or 15 or 20 years, I've made this relish. I love it. Most people don't quite know what to do with it, but it is delicious on turkey and on pork. It looks like ice cream with a horseradish kick, Yum!
Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish Recipe
2 cups raw cranberries
1 small onion
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons horseradish
Grind together the cranberries and onion, add the remaining ingredients and mix. Put in a plastic container and freeze. On Thanksgiving morning, move the mixture to the refrigerator to thaw.
Makes 1 1/2 pints.
Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish Recipe
2 cups raw cranberries
1 small onion
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons horseradish
Grind together the cranberries and onion, add the remaining ingredients and mix. Put in a plastic container and freeze. On Thanksgiving morning, move the mixture to the refrigerator to thaw.
Makes 1 1/2 pints.
11/26/2008
11/25/2008
A little test...
This came from my Aunt Valera.
Count every ' F ' in the following text:
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...
HOW MANY ?
WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke.
READ IT AGAIN !
Really, go back and try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down.
The reasoning behind this:
The brain cannot process 'OF'.
Count every ' F ' in the following text:
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...
HOW MANY ?
WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke.
READ IT AGAIN !
Really, go back and try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down.
The reasoning behind this:
The brain cannot process 'OF'.
11/23/2008
Sadie and Suz
Suz and I share a birthday, including the year! There but for my father being in the service, we would have been born in the same hospital.
In July, we took a drive up to Freeman Reservoir just north of Craig. The reservoir sits at the base of Black Mountain. Sadie is very interested in Suz's trout.
In July, we took a drive up to Freeman Reservoir just north of Craig. The reservoir sits at the base of Black Mountain. Sadie is very interested in Suz's trout.
Howdy Davis 2008
Howdy is one of the students in my memoir class. He has had an amazing life. In this picture, he is dressed in his mountain man clothing (some of which he made himself) at a rendevous in Craig. I loved his glasses; they fold up.
11/19/2008
Comment
Caroline sent this to me after she saw the MCR3 blog.
I love this girl.
I love how you are in tune with the land.
You know the mountains and the prairies.
I hope to have that kind of time some day.
Care
I love this girl.
I love how you are in tune with the land.
You know the mountains and the prairies.
I hope to have that kind of time some day.
Care
An idea for poems:
Andrea Watson, a member of IWWG is issuing a call for submissions: Anthology on Collecting/Poems about Collecting . . .:
“Muse with us about the why and how of what we collect. Proposed anthology looking for POEMS that draw us out of the expected and into the anthropology of collecting. Take us from the universe of small things to universal themes. Dazzle us.
Think:
bottle of dress buttons
religious objetcs
microscopes and maps
basket of mushrooms
pioneer diaries
spongeware bowls
heirloom seeds
dreams and stars
Please send up to 3 poems, each no longer than 32 lines, with a 3-5 line bio and SASA to: A. Watson, P.O. Box 370627, Denver, CO 80237. Deadline: March 31, 2009.
PSC: December 2008
“Muse with us about the why and how of what we collect. Proposed anthology looking for POEMS that draw us out of the expected and into the anthropology of collecting. Take us from the universe of small things to universal themes. Dazzle us.
Think:
bottle of dress buttons
religious objetcs
microscopes and maps
basket of mushrooms
pioneer diaries
spongeware bowls
heirloom seeds
dreams and stars
Please send up to 3 poems, each no longer than 32 lines, with a 3-5 line bio and SASA to: A. Watson, P.O. Box 370627, Denver, CO 80237. Deadline: March 31, 2009.
PSC: December 2008
11/16/2008
Lee K. Abbott to his son...
...Kelly, who has decided to be a writer.
"Don't write drunk . . . or stoned.
Get a reader . . . be a reader.
Write fan letters.
Show up for readings.
Fret not about fame or fortune.
Take every opportunity to write well.
Rewrite.
Rewrite again.
Pay your bills promptly.
Say "please' and 'thank you.'
Change your oil every three thousand miles.
Write it all down.
The hopes and fears . . . the hand
and head and heart of us.
Write it all goddam down."
I liked this quote a lot. Alana Noell Voth sent it to me, several years ago.
"Don't write drunk . . . or stoned.
Get a reader . . . be a reader.
Write fan letters.
Show up for readings.
Fret not about fame or fortune.
Take every opportunity to write well.
Rewrite.
Rewrite again.
Pay your bills promptly.
Say "please' and 'thank you.'
Change your oil every three thousand miles.
Write it all down.
The hopes and fears . . . the hand
and head and heart of us.
Write it all goddam down."
I liked this quote a lot. Alana Noell Voth sent it to me, several years ago.
MCR 3 and Fortification Rocks
Today, Terry and I drove up Moffat County Road 3 through the wheat and hay fields that contribute to our rural well-being.
MCR 3 passes John Allen’s ranch and runs through McStay Brothers' property,jogging through the sagebrush and dropping into and out of the gulleys.
The first photo is of three lovely, dancing trees on a bright November morning. I had seen these same trees several years ago. I loved them then and still do.
Then a single tree across the reservoir from the dancing girls.
The long view from the three dancing trees, looking toward Baker’s Peak and Black Mountain.
Great distances separate the families; distance is measured in thousands of acres. This photo shows the land’s contour and human’s efforts to mitigate wind and snow with trees.
My crew: Terry (driving) and Sadie (drooling)
Sadie with her head out the window, lips flapping in the wind.
Compression station in front of Fortification Rocks, known for their sharp edges and lots of rattlesnakes.
div>
Back side of Fortification Rocks: a plowed field with a muddy road. You can almost see a truck full of hunters who had just passed us.
div>
MCR 3 passes John Allen’s ranch and runs through McStay Brothers' property,jogging through the sagebrush and dropping into and out of the gulleys.
The first photo is of three lovely, dancing trees on a bright November morning. I had seen these same trees several years ago. I loved them then and still do.
Then a single tree across the reservoir from the dancing girls.
The long view from the three dancing trees, looking toward Baker’s Peak and Black Mountain.
Great distances separate the families; distance is measured in thousands of acres. This photo shows the land’s contour and human’s efforts to mitigate wind and snow with trees.
My crew: Terry (driving) and Sadie (drooling)
Sadie with her head out the window, lips flapping in the wind.
Compression station in front of Fortification Rocks, known for their sharp edges and lots of rattlesnakes.
div>
Back side of Fortification Rocks: a plowed field with a muddy road. You can almost see a truck full of hunters who had just passed us.
div>
11/14/2008
Sweet History--Election 2008
Barbara Hoepp, my friend of many years, wrote this lovely piece to celebrate the recent presidential election. I loved it so much that I'm adding it to my blog.
Sweet History
By Barbara Hoepp
November 2008
As I watched last night,
I pictured a plump, shiny,
bing cherry.
Not the ones that I bought the first week.
Rather, the ones I found the second week.
Bigger, darker and full of promise.
When I bit in, the juice was sweet
and trickled off my lip.
It pleased me.
I wanted to eat every one
right then and there.
I knew that there were more;
I would have my fill!
Congratulations to all of us.
We have taken a chance
to step outside the box,
take this journey together
with a young man who
will make mistakes but
I believe that he will learn,
and we will all be the wiser.
It is time to breathe again.
Sweet History
By Barbara Hoepp
November 2008
As I watched last night,
I pictured a plump, shiny,
bing cherry.
Not the ones that I bought the first week.
Rather, the ones I found the second week.
Bigger, darker and full of promise.
When I bit in, the juice was sweet
and trickled off my lip.
It pleased me.
I wanted to eat every one
right then and there.
I knew that there were more;
I would have my fill!
Congratulations to all of us.
We have taken a chance
to step outside the box,
take this journey together
with a young man who
will make mistakes but
I believe that he will learn,
and we will all be the wiser.
It is time to breathe again.
11/13/2008
Our house in Craig
This is an ariel view of our house (middle structure) with our huge crabapple tree on the right. My garden is in the middle of the back yard. July 2008
Mule deer family
I try to carry my camera with me all the time, because I hope to catch a good picture of our town deer. This was taken in winter 2008.
Cedar Mountain
Cedar Mountain is reflected in the pond at Loudy-Simpson Park. The Yampa River runs swift and lovely beyond the pond. Taken in late summer by my friend, Suz Syvertson.
11/09/2008
Coyotes
By Carol Valera Jacobson
2005
On that slow dirt road
is a dead coyote.
Still grinning face lying
by the side of the track.
Carrion birds obliterated
the lamb a bit further down,
but they did not disturb the coyote,
nor have any humans stopped to move it.
A warning.
2005
On that slow dirt road
is a dead coyote.
Still grinning face lying
by the side of the track.
Carrion birds obliterated
the lamb a bit further down,
but they did not disturb the coyote,
nor have any humans stopped to move it.
A warning.
Town Deer
Craig has a resident deer population of about 200 bucks, does, and fawns. They eat gardens, hang out in deserted yards and rarely get run into. I thought was an interesting picture of a fawn crossing the street near East Elementary.
11/08/2008
Working Dogs
I like this picture of the Meeker Sheep Dog trails in early September: the sheep, the border collie, the fence, the mountain.
11/05/2008
Origami Haiku
By Carol Valera Jacobson in 2004 while teaching 4th grade students in Fort Collins.
Origami is
fingers, too many thumbs tumbled
in piles of paper.
Juxtaposition,
mountain fold, valley fold, turn
point to delicate bird.
Origami is
fingers, too many thumbs tumbled
in piles of paper.
Juxtaposition,
mountain fold, valley fold, turn
point to delicate bird.
2008 Elections are over, over, over
Wahoo!!
History is made; we elected the first non-white president with a majority of the electoral vote. I'll be curious to see what happens over the next four years.
History is made; we elected the first non-white president with a majority of the electoral vote. I'll be curious to see what happens over the next four years.
11/02/2008
My writing space
In September, "Poets and Writers" asked readers to submit photos of their writing spaces. They wanted to see each writer's unique approach to writing and how those writers find inspiration, motivation and focus. Some of the spaces on the website were stunningly beautiful and others were austere and barren. My study/studio is a place of organized clutter.
And yes, that is Perry Mason on the small television. I finally have all the episodes and play them over and over. The window on the left looks out at the crab apple tree, the greenhouse and the garden.
And yes, that is Perry Mason on the small television. I finally have all the episodes and play them over and over. The window on the left looks out at the crab apple tree, the greenhouse and the garden.
What finally happened to Opus?
I've read Berkeley Breathed's comic strip "Opus" for many years. Apparently, Mr. Breathed is retiring and worked out a contest with the Humane Society to find the perfect last episode.
It took me a minute to find the final panel, but it is absolutely wonderful.
The comics said to visit humanesociety.org/opus.
I found the final panel at:
It took me a minute to find the final panel, but it is absolutely wonderful.
The comics said to visit humanesociety.org/opus.
I found the final panel at:
http://www.hsus.org/forms/the_opus_contest.html
11/01/2008
Home -grown onions
This is the second group of onions I pulled from the garden in October. I'm learning how to braid them together. Next year, I'll grow a few more.
The Ongoing Story of Charlie-the-cat-who-bites
Yesterday was Halloween. Terry and I woke up to a little crushed kitty. Charlie was probably hit by a car; his pelvis was crushed and his tibia was fractured/broken.
We cried a lot.
We took him to Dr. Wayne who said that the pelvis would heal by itself, and he could splint/pin/amputate the back leg. We opted for the splint because it is the least invasive; it will still be a challenge for Charles--the pelvis is broken on one side and the tibia is broken on the other so there is no pain-free way for him to move. So, soon, we will bring home the little orange kitty who adds so much to our lives. As we said before, our lives would be greatly diminished without Charlie.
It’s that awkward moment when money matters/doesn’t matter and when we, as humans, get to play God. I always dislike these life and death decisions about animals. Through my tears, I threatened Charlie, that if he lived, I would have him declawed and make him live in the house for the rest of his life. Ha! Yeah, right!
Then I swore that after these four pets (three cats and a dog) were gone, we were done with animals! But, a friend pointed out, then I would miss all the joy of having a pet.
Charlie will come home a sore and worn out little fellow. He’ll get better, and we will continue to delight in his antics.
We cried a lot.
We took him to Dr. Wayne who said that the pelvis would heal by itself, and he could splint/pin/amputate the back leg. We opted for the splint because it is the least invasive; it will still be a challenge for Charles--the pelvis is broken on one side and the tibia is broken on the other so there is no pain-free way for him to move. So, soon, we will bring home the little orange kitty who adds so much to our lives. As we said before, our lives would be greatly diminished without Charlie.
It’s that awkward moment when money matters/doesn’t matter and when we, as humans, get to play God. I always dislike these life and death decisions about animals. Through my tears, I threatened Charlie, that if he lived, I would have him declawed and make him live in the house for the rest of his life. Ha! Yeah, right!
Then I swore that after these four pets (three cats and a dog) were gone, we were done with animals! But, a friend pointed out, then I would miss all the joy of having a pet.
Charlie will come home a sore and worn out little fellow. He’ll get better, and we will continue to delight in his antics.
'Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened!
10/19/2008
1956
Me at two or three years old with Arthur (my brother) who must have been one. We are in front of the original house on the old ranch property on the Williams Fork.
The Williams Fork
Once again, Terry and I took a road trip over Knez divide (where we saw a herd of about 20 elk running across the road) and up the Williams Fork River.
This is a picture of a 100 year old house about a quarter mile from the river. The view from the house was spectacular. This is in Routt County.
This is the sign at the top of a dead end road at the Sullivan Ranch, a beautiful, high mountain property that butts up against White River National Forest.
Finally, a roadside marker for two women (one white, one black) who lived in the valley many years (maybe 100) ago. As I understand, they are actually buried in this grave site overlooking the Williams Fork River.
This is a picture of a 100 year old house about a quarter mile from the river. The view from the house was spectacular. This is in Routt County.
This is the sign at the top of a dead end road at the Sullivan Ranch, a beautiful, high mountain property that butts up against White River National Forest.
Finally, a roadside marker for two women (one white, one black) who lived in the valley many years (maybe 100) ago. As I understand, they are actually buried in this grave site overlooking the Williams Fork River.
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