Happy 4th of July from Desert Weyr!
This year, the 4th was our big local event, Cherry Days, but there were unfortunately no cherries this year. We had a warm, early spring followed by a horrific frost, and it killed off all the blossoms. We actually had no local fruit (in the North Fork area) at all this year for that reason.
Droughts and fires have been the talk of the town. Colorado (and much of the western US) has been battling wildfires. They haven’t reached us here in Paonia as of yet, fortunately, but they are not far from us. We’re always on the lookout this time of year. The smoke from the fires in Colorado and Utah has at times completely obscured the view of Mt. Lamborn, just across the valley.
The bears are out in force, and because we’ve had such a bad year for fruit, they’re on the hunt for chickens, gardens, and – if they could get to them – sheep. Ours are protected by an eight-foot-high game fence and guardian dogs, but a determined bear could still get in, so we stay vigilant.
This picture was taken at our next-door neighbor’s place, and it’s a small bear. We didn’t see momma, but she’s surely around.
We also have coyotes (who can dig under the fence), mountain lions (who can jump the fence while carrying a sheep), and wolves (who can wipe out the flock in a night after killing our guardian dogs). Wild turkeys are on the move, too, with their young poults.
The high school reunions happening this year all had floats in the parade. I (Oogie) will be in it next year for my high school reunion. 🙂
There are old tractors, obligatory political party floats, and the karate dojo has a dragon that the kids walk down the street with.
We watched the town parade from a friend’s back porch, complete with Bloody Marys. It made the parade a lot more enjoyable!
We also had cheeseburgers for lunch at the West Elk rescue booth in the park – it’s their fundraiser for the volunteers’ training and equipment.
We ended our day with a root beer float at the historical society museums, a house, and the old Bowie schoolhouse. I realized while we were there that they were missing a couple of high school yearbooks, so I’m going to find mine and donate them.
It also so happens to be Colorado’s 150th anniversary of statehood this year, so the celebrations have been bigger than usual here. Here’s to many more!
