Showing posts with label . Mosaic Monday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label . Mosaic Monday. Show all posts

Sunday, August 9, 2026

The Fort in Morrison, Colorado


The Fort is a historic restaurant/steakhouse located at 19192 CO-8 in the Front Range town of Morrison, Colorado. 
It has become one of our favorite places to celebrate special occasions since we moved to Colorado!




As you can read on the sign above, The Fort was built in 
1962 by Sam'l P. Arnold and has an interesting history.
 Its adobe structure was built between 1961 and 1963 as a replica of the historic 1833 Bent's Fort located in La Junta, Colorado, along the Santa Fe Trail. The structure incorporates over 80,000 handmade adobe bricks. The building was originally intended as the Arnold family home, but during construction, rising costs prompted the decision to open the lower level of the building as a restaurant, while the family lived upstairs. 
The completed Fort Restaurant opened in February 1963, specializing in what the Arnolds called “New Foods of the Old West.”


The photo collage above shows the actual Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site. 
We visited it in 2017--you can read that blog post here.

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site features a reconstructed version of the 1840s adobe trading post. Archaeological excavations and original sketches, paintings, and diaries were used to reconstruct the fort, to coincide with the nation’s bicentennial and Colorado’s centennial in 1976. The reconstructed fort and its setting along the Arkansas River allow visitors to learn about its role as a trading post for Native Americans and pioneers during its existence.


The interior courtyard of The Fort has an early western theme.


It is at 6,100 feet (1,859.28 meters) elevation, nestled among beautiful giant red rock formations.



There is a fun tradition at The Fort when someone is celebrating a special occasion: a buffalo hat is placed on their head and the staff beats a drum and cheers with a loud "HUZZAH!!"  In the photo above, my husband is wearing the hat at his retirement party.
There is also an official drink toast written by Arnold which you can read here.


From The Fort's website:

"The Fort’s menu was built on meticulous research into pioneer diaries, Native American foodways, and the meals of mountain men and Santa Fe Trail travelers, blended with Spanish and Mexican influences reflective of Bent’s Fort’s historic location. Sam Arnold’s research led to his acclaimed cookbook Eating Up the Santa Fe Trail, which became the foundation of The Fort’s cuisine. Buffalo, elk, quail, and other historic staples defined the menu, along with dishes such as bone marrow, tongue, and Rocky Mountain oysters. The Hailstorm—Colorado’s first recorded cocktail, served at Bent’s Fort in 1833—became The Fort’s signature drink."


All the food at The Fort is very Western gourmet and delicious!

You can see some of their recipes on their blog at this link.



The Fort has an assortment of private event rooms, and also an outdoor seating area with beautiful views.  We once saw a bride and groom arrive for their dinner party by helicopter!

Holly Arnold Kinney, daughter of founder Sam Arnold, purchased The Fort in 1999 and led the restaurant with a deep commitment to its history until her retirement in January 2026. Under her stewardship, The Fort earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places, and its land remains protected through a conservation easement held by the Colorado Historical Foundation.

 The Fort also hosts Entertainment, Historic Lectures, Cultural Events and Dinners, Murder Mystery Dinners, Wine and Whiskey Dinners, among other special events--check their website under the Happenings and Entertainment tabs to see what is available.


You can watch this YouTube video made in 2022 for The Fort's 60th Anniversary to see some of the history of the restaurant, some of the famous people who dined there, and interviews and TV segments filmed there.

It's been so nice to have this special place nearby to enjoy through the years! 

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Sunday, June 28, 2026

The United States of America's Semiquincecentennial!


It's almost July, and July 4th, 2026, the USA will be celebrating its Semiquincentennial--the 250th anniversary of becoming a nation!



I looked at my digital photos from over the years to pick out a few that symbolize patriotism and celebration in our country.
 

This August 2026 will also be the Sesquicentennial--150th anniversary--of Colorado becoming a state!

Read President Ulysses S. Grant’s statehood proclamation admitting Colorado to the Union on that date in 1876.


Did you know that the first official battle for independence of the United States of America, after the Declaration of Independence was read on July 4, 1776, was fought on August 27, 1776, in what is now called "The Battle of Brooklyn"?
General George Washington's Continental Army fought against tens of thousands of British and mercenary Hessian soldiers in what is now the borough of Brooklyn, in the city of New York.

Many years ago, I wrote a three-part post about this monumental battle that almost ended our independence, showing the area of Brooklyn, NY, where it took place.

The links to those posts are here:




How about making a Mixed Berry Pie for the 4th of July?  I made this one for a family celebration a few years ago, and have a recipe for a similar--Berry Cherry Almond Tart on this link.




Happy Fourth of July to America!


  Happy July to all!


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Sunday, June 14, 2026

Twin Deer Fawns Were Born in My Yard Last Week!



The adorable twin mule deer fawns seen in this photo in my backyard were born last week on June 8th, 2026!


Google made this collage a bit out of sequence order...

My husband and I had gone out for breakfast to celebrate our June birthdays, and when we arrived home, we looked out the window to see if there were any deer in our yard, as we wanted to do some gardening. We saw a Mule Deer doe lying in the shade under a pine tree in our side yard. It was a hot day with temperatures reaching 90 degrees. When we saw two hoves, we realized she was in labor and about to give birth!
 
The gestation period for a Mule Deer's pregnancy is around 200 days, and many in our neighborhood were also seeing fawns being born. This was the second time we witnessed fawns being born in our backyard in the thirteen years we have lived here--see the first time in this blog post. 



Female deer that are giving birth for the first time, often called yearlings, typically have only a single fawn. Mature does, however, frequently produce twins. I could see this deer was still in labor with the second twin when a curious buck showed up in our yard! If you look closely, you can see that his new antlers were beginning to grow in.


A doe licks the newborn fawn and eats every part of the products of birth to remove their scent and protect the fawn from predators. The buck came close to see what she was doing, and she had to get up and chase him away three times before he left for good!


It was nice to watch how caring the Momma doe was to her fawn.



A short YouTube video of the first fawn twin taking its first steps on wobbly legs.



The doe retreated under the pine tree again to give birth to the second fawn.


It began to thunder, and we had a brief rain shower, so she stayed under the tree during the storm.


When the sun returned, the firstborn twin curled up to take a nap...


...while the doe cleaned the second-born twin and bonded with it.



Momma Doe also looked ready to take a nap! 

They all remained in our backyard until the next morning, when they left. 
Important: a doe will leave her fawns for long periods of time to protect them from predators, as fawns' fur does not have a discernible scent. She will return for short periods to allow them to feed. If you ever come across a fawn that is alone when hiking, leave it be!


It was the end of a beautiful day!

I know these fawns will be back in my yard from time to time this summer, and it will be fun watching them grow!


 



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Sunday, February 15, 2026

The Blue Mustang of the Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport (DIA) is located 25 miles (40.234 kilometers) east of Denver on the high plains in Aurora. Colorado. Opened in 1995, it replaced the smaller Stapleton International Airport. 
It is the largest airport in North America by area — 53 square miles (137.269 square kilometers) — and one of the world's busiest, serving over 64 million passengers annually.
The Denver International Airport Jeppesen Terminal's internationally recognized peaked roof, designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects, resembles snow-capped mountains and evokes the early history of Colorado when Native American teepees were located across the Great Plains.


 The airport features some of the longest commercial runways in the world, necessary due to its "hot and high" altitude, which affects aircraft performance.
Downtown Denver is less than 40 minutes away via the A Line Commuter Rail.


On trips to the airport, we witnessed the construction of the Westin Hotel, which opened in 2015 and is adjacent to the airport.

The hotel was designed with this description:
 “Building upon imagery of flight and aviation, the sleek form resembles a bird with wings extended, framing and accenting the acclaimed tent-like roof of Jeppesen Terminal.”





Travelers heading to and from Denver International Airport (DIA) along Peña Boulevard have been greeted for 18 years by a blue horse statue called "Blue Mustang." He recently celebrated his birthday!  There is no parking area near the sculpture, so my photos are all "drive-by" ones. 

Weighing 9,000 lbs. and standing 32 feet tall, Blue Mustang is a fiberglass sculpture by Luis Jiménez. It was one of many public art projects at the airport. 

According to the DIA website: "Jiménez’ characteristic style references the grandeur of the Mexican muralists, the energy of the Southwest, and the bright colors he experienced as a youth in his father’s sign-making company. Jiménez’s vivid paint, unique surface treatments, and method of exaggeration have influenced many young artists who are emerging in the galleries of Los Angeles and New York in the styles that are known as Lowbrow and Urban Art."


Most people tend to affectionately refer to the statue as "Blucifer" due to its piercing red neon eyes, but the eyes are actually a tribute to the artist's father, who owned a neon light shop in Mexico

There is also the sad fact that the statue’s creator was killed when a section of the sculpture's three sections came loose in his New Mexico studio, pinning him and severing an artery in his leg in 2006.
After his death, family and friends made the decision to complete the sculpture. Jiménez’s son took over the project to make sure Blue Mustang was finished.



The Blue Mustang is definitely an eye-catching sight when one drives towards the airport terminal!

 I captured this photo of him in the snow a few years ago


Some fun facts about the Blue Mustang: 

The Mustang's eyes are made out of LED lights, and the maintenance team has changed them just once in the airport's lifetime.

The piece was partly modeled on Jiménez's own Appaloosa stallion, Blackjack, a horse that he bought in fulfillment of a childhood desire after becoming a successful artist

A team of professionals helps to perform maintenance on the Mustang's paint as it becomes weathered. Every year, a local art fabrication and conservation company gives him an exam and a cleaning. They check for any cracks or chips caused by the elements. The sculpture is then washed by hand with distilled water, any holes or cracks are filled, it's repainted with an airbrush, and sunblock is applied.

The city ultimately paid $650,000 for the sculpture. A 2007 appraisal valued the work at $2,000,000, and the city has insured it at that value.


Denver International Airport is a busy one, and the Blue Mustang is certainly an iconic sight when one is beginning or ending a travel adventure!


 
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Monday, December 8, 2025

Early December Holiday Happenings!


I don't decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, so I decorated our Christmas tree on the first few days of December. It is full of sentimental ornaments that bring back many memories as I place them on our tree.


We were happy to have decorated the outside of our home the day after Thanksgiving, as the cold and snow finally arrived! Colorado experienced significant snowfall over several days following a prolonged drought.



We usually leave some leaves on our lawns in late fall, as we have seen the deer dig under the snow to eat them all winter.  They are good foragers, and they survive on what they can find in the wild.


Santa Claus visits our community in early December, and although our oldest granddaughter is a few months away from becoming a teenager, she agreed to take photos with him again. 
My husband and I joined in, as this might be the last year we see him!



We even get to take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage after seeing Santa Claus!




Our community is about 25 miles west of Denver, located in a valley of the foothills, and on our way back home after seeing Santa Claus, we had this view of dramatic, stormy snow clouds over the city!
 



This past week, we enjoyed listening to our oldest grandson and oldest granddaughter play the viola in a holiday orchestra production at their schools. They both enjoy music very much!


Our youngest granddaughter enjoys ballet, and her ballet school put on a fabulous production of "The Nutcracker" this week.



Our granddaughter had some solo parts in the dance of the "Russian Candy Canes" segment of the ballet, as seen in the short video above.


She was so excited!


As these assorted decorations proclaim ..."It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"...and more busy times are ahead! 
I'll be writing my Christmas cards, baking some traditional cookies, and making savory zeppole that we serve as appetizers.

I'm sure you are all busy too! Enjoy all the fun!


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