Sunday, November 20, 2016

Thanksgiving Gratitude


This Thursday will be Thanksgiving in the United States, a day most families gather together to give thanks for all their blessings and to enjoy a delicious dinner.  My husband and I feel so fortunate to be living close to our children and grandchildren and to be able to share wonderful occasions with them throughout the year. One of our traditions is to visit a farm's pumpkin patch to enjoy all the wonderful activities there and to choose pumpkins and gourds to decorate our homes for Autumn.


It is fun making these memories with our grandchildren, and their smiles and laughter are our treasure.


We also treasure living in this beautiful state! After living 3/4 of our lives in New York City, which gave us many opportunities throughout our lifetime, we are now grateful for the new experiences we have, and the incredible scenery we see, in our new state of Colorado.


Where we see swirling clouds surrounding high peaks...


....and tall aspen groves lit in orange and yellow leaves like candle flames.
Where snow capped peaks tower over golden fields and deep green pine forests....


...and where there are still areas of vast pristine wilderness...


Where you can climb peaks over 14,000 feet high to touch the sky...


..and where winding trails are almost right outside our door.
We are grateful to live in a place where the Old West still survives...


...and cattle drives are still a part of daily life...

...yet city experiences and culture are still available close by.


To live in a state where we see abundant wildlife...


...and wildflowers galore to enjoy in spring!


We are grateful to live in our beautiful and peaceful valley, where we just had our first snowfall.


On this Thanksgiving we have much to be grateful for...
For Faith, Family and Friends, as well as place.
We are also aware that many do not enjoy all we do
and that we need to share our bounty with those less fortunate, 
to strive for equality and peace in this country, as well in the world,
and to protect and preserve nature, as it is God's gift to all of us.

 "Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayers. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good."  ~ Maya Angelou

May all that celebrate this week have a very Happy Thanksgiving!


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Sunday, November 13, 2016

Carousel of Happiness


Current stressful political events in the USA made me think about a person who utilized their personal stress and sadness to do good and to add happiness to the world in a small but valuable way.   
Scott Harrison's  Carousel of Happiness, located at 20 Lakeview Drive, in the Caribou Village Shopping Center, Nederland, Colorado was one such place of happiness for me. This autumn, my husband and I took our three-year-old granddaughter for a ride along the very scenic Peak to Peak Highway (Hwy 119), to enjoy viewing the beautiful fall foliage. We also wanted to treat our granddaughter to a few rides on the Carousel of Happiness, a place I had read about in the Denver Post.

 (All photos and photo collages will enlarge for easier viewing when clicked on)


The carousel features 56 hand carved animals on a restored 1910 Looff carousel base. Charles I.D.Looff was one of the great carousel makers of the late 19th and early 20th century. During his lifetime Looff produced carousels for parks all across the nation. In 1910 he delivered one to Saltier Park, just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, and which was later transferred to a state school in Utah when the Saltier went bankrupt. In 1986 the carousel was sold to a collector, who only wanted to keep the hand-carved animals on it. A Nederland resident, Scott Harrison, learned that the empty frame was still standing and available, and with a help of a friend he took it apart and trucked it back to Nederland.


Scott had an idea on what he wanted to do with the carousel base he acquired and spent the next 26 years carving very original carousel animals in his wood shop after his children went to sleep at night.


Although Scott never carved wood before, he started out by carving the rabbit that is now on the sign in front of the carousel (see photo above), and went on to create more than 50 one of a kind whimsical animals. He has stated that it was therapy for him.  When he was a 19-year-old Marine serving in Vietnam, the music from a small music box, that he was given as a gift, evoked in him a peaceful image of a carousel in a mountain meadow. That image calmed him during stressful wartime and during his post-Marine job with Amnesty International, where he often heard stories about the horrible torture of people. He wanted to bring the sense of calm and happiness that his wartime carousel vision had brought to him to his community.


When Scott was finished carving all the animals, the town of Nederland (population of approximately 1500) came together to raise $700,000 to help refurbish the 1910 Looff carousel base and motor and build the carousel a home. A volunteer non-profit organization was also formed, dedicated to spreading joy to all those who ride.


My granddaughter loved her rides on the carousel!   The carousel is accompanied by musical tunes from a 1913 Wurlitzer band organ music, that add to the joy.


My husband and I took turns standing next to our little granddaughter, as she took multiple rides on different animals. It put a smile on all our faces!


The Carousel of Happiness opened in 2010 and has attracted over 250,000 riders since then.  It is fully enclosed and open year round. It is also fully accessible to people with handicaps and is available for rental for birthday parties and special events. Check the website for operating hours.  


Upstairs there is an observation window, a small party room, and a do-it-yourself puppet theater. There is also a  small store that sells toys and gifts, a book about the making of the carousel, as well as an online store.

The Carousel of Happiness was one man's vision and response to the horrors of war, and his job afterward dealing with tragic torture and abuse stories. Its mission was to replace such sadness with joy, and it has done just that for the benefit of many! 

 May we all try to bring more joy into the world and make the world a better place, with peace, love, tolerance for all.

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