Monday, August 20, 2018

Summer Retrospective


I've heard it said that "summer should receive a speeding ticket"!  Isn't that true? It seems as soon as summer arrives in the blink of an eye it is almost over. Like fruit ready to be harvested, our last days of summer were sweet, ripe, and juicy in enjoyment. (All photos and photo collages will enlarge if clicked on)


We took many hikes in our area and enjoyed the beauty of Colorado's Front Range


We spent lots of time with grandchildren, enjoying community playgrounds, parks, and pools.


We visited nearby scenic Red Rocks Amphitheatre to attend a concert by cello virtuoso, Yo-Yo Ma! 
If you'd like to listen to a few minutes of Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach at the concert --click here--to go to a video on my Mille Fiori Favoriti facebook page.


Watching twin fawns growing up, after their birth in our next door neighbor's yard in June, was very enjoyable! We've also been fortunate to see much other wildlife this summer--click here-- to read about that. One thing I really love about summer is its very long daylight hours and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Although we never seem to have enough rain in Colorado, we were finally blessed this August with some good showers (and some hail!)


We've also attended two exciting Broncos football exhibition games this August, that were held at Mile High Stadium in Denver! 
 More about that in a future post.


And as surely as August approaches its end, and the field grasses grow long and go to seed......


... it was "back to school" time in Colorado this past week, and also back to sports and school-related activities for our grandchildren.


Like the flight of a beautiful butterfly, the summer of 2018 has fluttered into its last few days and moments to savor. 


Autumn comes early to Colorado's high elevations and the aspen trees will soon be turning glorious shades of gold. Autumn is my favorite season and I'm looking forward to cooler weather and fall activities.  Are you looking forward to the same? What was your favorite memory of the summer of 2018?

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Monday, August 13, 2018

The Byers Evans House Museum, Denver, Colorado


The Byers Evans House Museum, located at 1310 Bannock Street, is a Denver landmark that reflects the character of two early and important Colorado pioneer families. It was built in 1883, by William Byers, the founder of the Rocky Mountain News, the first newspaper printed in Colorado; from 1859 until it ceased publication in  2009.  Its first issue of the newspaper was printed on a printing press from Omaha, Nebraska, that Byers had hauled by oxcart during the start of the Colorado Gold Rush. ( All photos will enlarge if clicked on)
Postcard of the house in the gift shop

The house was sold to William Gray Evans, the oldest son of Colorado's second territorial governor, John Evans. in 1889, who had several additions made to it over the years. William Evans lived in the home with his wife Cornelia Lunt Gray and their four children, John, Josephine, Margaret, and Katharine. William's mother, Margaret Patten Gray Evans, former first lady of Colorado, moved into the home in 1900 with her unmarried daughter, Anne Evans. Members of the Evans family continued to live in the home until 1981 when it was donated to the Colorado Historical Society. along with the entire contents of the house. 


The house has been restored to the 1912–1924 period and includes approximately 90% of the original furniture, glassware, china, and other household items belonging to the Evans family.


All visits to the Byers Evans House Museum are by a guided tour, but one is able to walk into each room and examine closely all its contents, while the tour guide recounts the history of the house and its former occupants.  It is a visit back in time as you see the polished antique furniture, large book collection, ornate fireplace mantels, patterned wallpapers and period artwork and early period electronics such as a record player and radio.


Family crystal, silver, and fine china on display.


Memorabilia was displayed as if it were perfectly frozen in time.


The Evans daughters were skilled in leather tooling and also did weaving, needlepoint, and painting.


Anne Evans devoted her life to the founding and support of some of Colorado's largest cultural institutions, including the Denver Art Museum, the Central City Opera, and the Denver Public Library

Anne collected Native American, Puebloan Art, and Spanish Colonial Art and in 1925 she donated a large portion of her collection to the Denver Museum of Art, making it one of the first art museums in the nation to collect this genre of artwork.


The Center for Colorado's Women's History is also located at the Byers Evans House Museum


World War I era women's uniforms.

A collage of the various informational posters on display. The Center sponsors programs which include talks, workshops, book clubs, and tea times, to encourage conversation for guests to discuss women’s issues, both in the Rocky Mountain states and worldwide.
Inspirational World War I posters

The Byers Evans House Museum is definitely an interesting place to tour, as it is full of interesting history and memorabilia. Enjoy a visit, and take a walk back in time!
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