Ram Horns

Back in March 2012, I wrote about the herd of bighorn sheep that live in Waterton Canyon, only about four miles from our house. Waterton Canyon is my favorite bike ride mainly because of the herd. We see them nearly every time we go to the canyon.

On our last bike ride, this big guy just walked up on the road and posed for us. The Big Horn Sheep is Colorado's state animal, and well-deserved.  It is also the mascot of Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

Now my sons did not attend CSU; they went to the University of Colorado in Boulder and Denver. But my 'third son' Eric did attend CSU. Eric and my son Dane have been best friends since grade school and were almost inseparable. Dane was Eric's best man at his wedding and they do a video blog together on YouTube. (If you want to see it, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ny1L70vh3c)

Future CSU alum Oscar
modeling his new hat.

So when Eric and Margaret had a baby last month, we had to go visit them. Also being a knitter, I had to make Oscar some hats, including a Rams Horn Hat.  The pattern is in this book but I make the hat in the colors of the CSU Rams, green and yellow. It turned out adorable!

And I had to make him a Colorado hat as well. He might have to grow a little more before his hat fits perfectly.

Mammoths in Roxborough? Who Knew?

http://www.douglas.co.us/lambspring/

Ken and I moved to Roxborough Park in 1985. Roxborough Park is south of the Denver Metro area in the foothills to the Rockies. It is a beautiful area with red rocks formations, wildlife from mountain lions, coyotes, and bears to raccoons and skunks, and breath-taking scenery. We have hiked the foothills, bicycled up Waterton Canyon, and cross-country skied across the prairie land. Our property backs up to the Pike National Forest, and we can sit on our deck and see downtown Denver, Chatfield Reservoir, Arrowhead Golf Course, and Roxborough State Park. Our summers are filled with hummingbirds and our winters are filled with hundreds of birds and jays.

We have also traveled all over the western United States with our boys going to similar digs such as Hot Springs in South Dakota, Dinosaur in northwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde in Colorado, Hovensweep in Utah, Head-Smashed-In and Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta Canada.

The dig is now covered to protect it, but plans are to
put up a building over the dig.

So how come we didn't know we were within 4 miles of an archaeological dig that uncovered 33 mammoth skeletons?  Lamb Springs is over 40 acres in the grassland prairie to the north of Roxborough, and we drive by it several times a week.

I can see my house from here! It's south of Lamb Spring.

On Saturday (Sept. 8), we attended a lecture about the history of Lamb Spring at the Roxborough Library followed by a visit to the site. If you get a chance, sign up for the tour on the website and spend a morning going back in time with the mammoth hunters. It is well-worth your time!!

The Lockheed Martin plant is directly west of Lamb Spring.

Big Horn Sheep in Waterton Canyon

About two miles from our home is one of the more beautiful and scenic bike rides in all of Colorado called Waterton Canyon. It's slightly uphill the entire way, so when you turn around and head home (all tired and exhausted), you sail back downhill to civilization. Since it is so close to our home, we go several times a year. Colorado can have beautiful 60 degree weather, even in the winter time, so biking is a year-around activity.

And nearly every time we do, we see the big horn sheep herd.  Usually, they are high on a bluff overlooking the bike path, but the last few times, they have been on the road.  Such as yesterday. While on the path, I suddenly heard a couple of small rocks falling down the hill -- this really is a canyon. I looked to my right and there was the entire herd, only a few feet away. Pull out the camera phone (hey -- they would have pulled theirs out too if they had any to take pictures of us).

Without caring whether we were there or not, they walked down the hill, took a saunter down the road, and climbed up the next hill. We did notice that none of the rams were around. Usually a herd this size has one accompanying them. I have a feeling that he did something that ticked off the ewes, and he is sleeping in the doghouse. Fortunately, dogs are allowed in Waterton Canyon.

The end.