Monday, May 20, 2019

A Medley of Recent and Ancient Events


The month of May in Colorado is rainbow weather! Every day we see beautiful cloud formations that bring scattered rain showers and many rainbows to our front range location.


May is also the month of our last snowfalls on the front range. We sometimes wake up to trees covered with snow and by the middle of the day, when the sun is hot, everything has warmed up and melted.



The deer are hungry and enjoy all the new leaves on our shrubs and all the newly sprouted green grass. 



I took a blog break last week, as May is the end of the school year in our county and is full of school events, sports, and dance recitals. and I knew my computer time would be limited. We also attended the opening night of Opera Colorado's "The Marriage of Figaro," in Denver at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. It is always a fun opera with Mozart's lively music.


Another exciting event we attended last week, as members of our community's historical society, was the History Colorado Center, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation nomination process that took place for a 97-year-old barn in our community to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Our historical society president worked for quite a while researching and compiling the necessary nomination requirements. It was reviewed by the Colorado State Register Review Board and the Colorado Historic Preservation Review Board at the meeting and approved unanimously to be sent to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., for final approval.


This is the nominated John C. Schaffer Barn, both front and back views. At one time a cattle barn for Ken Caryl Ranch owner, John C Shaffer, it now is part of the community's equestrian center which boards horses. 


A slide show of the history and the archetectural details of the barn was presented to the review boards. If accepted, this will be the second property on Ken Carly Ranch that is on the National Register of Historic Places. The first is the pioneers' Bradford Perley House. You can read the interesting story about this house on my blog: The Bradford Perley House


Our community has a very long history of human presence, dating back to prehistoric times. Paleo Indians, Native Americans, explorers, pioneers, and ranchers have all left their mark along the Colorado front range. There have been many archeological digs in our area over the years and new discoveries are made all the time.  In the photo collage above you can see two display cases that are in one of our community centers, which show artifacts found on our community grounds.  The large piece of mandible bone is from a pre-historic mastodon and found by neighborhood boys in a creek. Dinosaur bones have also been found in our area.


An archeologist who is a member of our historical society brought the arrowhead to one of our meetings recently.   I am showing the back and front in the photos above. It is made from a piece of petrified wood and was carbon dated to 5,000 years ago! Many arrowheads have been found here but this one was unique. It was a thrill to be able to hold such an ancient man-made object in my hand.  We certainly live in an interesting place full of history and beauty!  May has certainly been an exciting month for many reasons.


If you'd like to read more about the dinosaurs that lived in our vicinity you can see more on this post: Dinosaur Ridge.
If you'd like to read more about mammoths and mastodons in our area, you can see more on this post: Lamb Springs--Where Mammoths Roamed.
If you would like to see what a front range archeological dig looked like you can read this post: Digging Up The Past


You can also find me on 


I'm linking this post to the following blog events:

 Mosaic Monday, All SeasonsBlue Monday, Through My Lens MondayHeart and Soul Link Up, Little Cottage Link Party, Blogging GrandmothersHearth, and Soul Link PartyYou Are the Star Blog HopGood Random FunNature NotesGrand SocialTravel Photos, Photo Tunes, Happiness Is HomemadeSomething Old Is NewTuesday TreasuresOur World TuesdayRuby TuesdayTuesdays With A TwistWordless Wednesday on a TuesdaySay Cheese!,  Party in Your PJ'sWordless WednesdayNanahood WWOh My Heartsie Girl's Wonderful Wednesday, Your Whims WednesdayWorldless Wednesday at Sky GirlWednesday My Corner of the WorldWonderful Wednesday Little Things Thursday,Thankful ThursdayThursday Encouraging Hearts and HomeThursday Favorite Things,  Pretty Pintastic PartyFriendship FridaysFriday Photo JournalSkywatch Friday, Pink SaturdaySaturday CrittersOver the MoonHappiness Is Homemade

Bookmark and Share

28 comments:

riitta k said...

That deer photo is absolutely splendid. That old barn is beautiful with its roof style. The barns in Finland don't look so great. Wishing you happy MM.

diane b said...

It sure is a historical place where you live. That ancient arrow head is amazing.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

What a beautiful picture of the rainbow! Your have such much interesting things to do around you.

Anonymous said...

You live in a beautiful area! The rainbow photo is lovely. Wonderful shot of the deer. And the historic barn is magnificent! I’m glad it got chosen to be on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Adam Jones said...

I love history and this blog was fascinating.

Tom said...

...lots of interesting things going on your neck of the woods!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love seeing that deer and learning more about the history of that area! Enjoy your week sweet friend. Hugs!

Ruth Hiebert said...

In many ways it sounds and looks like your May weather is similar to what we often have.It can be hot one day and freezing the next. I love the rainbow shot.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Pat, your photos are gorgeous. I especially like the before-and-after on the same day--what a day! #TomsLinkParty

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hello Pat! The deer photo made me chuckle - you caught him mid-bite and he looks slightly guilty to me! That's a very attractive barn; I love the lines of the roof. I'd also like to say you have a real knack for finding all the interesting things to be seen wherever you live! I remember your New York posts, and now your Colorado ones are just as informative and fun to look at/read. Sara

Powell River Books said...

Must be hard to keep up a garden in deer country. We have deer near the cabin but they can't get to my float cabin or floating garden. - Margy

Little Wandering Wren said...

Wow, the end of the school year already. Love to see your soccer playing, all dancing Grands! Your cheeky deer looks very happy with all the lush growth!
Looks a fun busy month indeed.
Wren x

Angie said...

Pat - what a varied month you're having - mirroring the weather! We have had a return to cold weather (but no snow) - a bit of a shock to the system, but I am grateful - it's way too early for it to get hot and dry! Thanks for adding this educational bit of history to Mosaic Monday today!

ellen b. said...

Those little dancers at the recital look so cute. That deer is sprouting something on it's head :) They are really comfortable in your yard. Hope you are having a good week.

Linda W. said...

That's quite an unusual barn! You have been busy so far this month.

Lady Fi said...

Lovely shots! That deer is priceless.

William Kendall said...

Your shot of the deer is my favourite of the set.

Veronica Lee said...

Amazing photos! The deer shot is my favourite.

Happy Wednesday!

bookworm said...

Loved the shot of the deer, but I suspect you would rather have had no deer munching on your plants. The rainbow picture was beautiful, too. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

Al said...

I love spring in the foothills, although the 15 inches of snow we got at our house was a bit of a surprise. Nice shots!

NanaHood said...

You do have a LOT going on, don't you? Thanks for stopping by NanaHood! Have a blessed week!

betty-NZ said...

So much variety for you this month! Love your photos, as usual :)

I appreciate your contribution to 'My Corner of the World' this week!

My Corner of the World

Jeanie said...

You've been having a beautiful and wonderful season with lots of fascinating history, adorable little ones and that beautiful fawn. The snow? Not so much!

Esha said...

You are blessed to be living amid so much beauty! Loved all those gorgeous photos. Wish I could hold that ancient arrowhead in my hands!!! Must have been such an amazing feeling for you. Thanks for sharing the pictures and joining us for #ww this week. Have a fantastic weekend.

Michelle said...

That first photo is just perfection. I love Colorado, but not snow in May! School was out for teachers yesterday. I am enjoying this Friday morning, with time for extra coffee :) My daughter graduates tonight and then it is off to summer adventures. Thanks for linking up and have the very best weekend!

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

Lots of interesting things to see and do in your neck of the woods! I wouldn't mind snow so much if it always melted by mid day!

Lowcarb team member said...

The rainbow photograph is lovely, and the little ones are adorable.
Great post and photographs.

All the best Jan

Dee | GrammysGrid.com said...

You sure live in an interesting area!