Neighbors

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I had just finished my radio program, playing 3 hours of some of my favorite music.  I thought I would step outside and enjoy the peace of looking at the magnificent night sky.

The sky was beautiful.  I could see the milky way.  I could hear a neighbor scolding  her dog.  She sounded like a six year-old.  It was bizarre.  She was obviously taking out her frustrations on the dog. It was torture for the dog and my ears.

Things quiet down, I take a seat in the front yard and return to gazing at the sky.  Ten seconds later this pickup truck comes careening up the road and stops 20 feet away from me.  Then it lurches forward another 30 feet and stops again.  This is like shattering glass to my peace.

I wait for people to emerge.  No one does for several minutes. When they finally do, it’s apparent they are severely intoxicated.   They amble back down the road, even stating “we are walking down the road” in a sing song voice.  They disappear into Jay’s house.

At this point I decide there is more peace inside the house and come back inside, locking the door behind me.

My thinking 5 years ago was that I’d have more peace here than in the city.   It’s nights like this I can’t wait for winter to quiet everything down.

 

Oct 26, 2011

It’s probably time to move.

A Beautiful Nest

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Female broad-tailed hummingbird on nest. Click for larger.

 

Probably the most beautiful nest I’ve ever seen.  She’s decorated it with pieces of lichen to make it more camouflaged.  Click on the photo for the larger version and see the cobwebs she grabbed from the forest to glue the lichen to the nest.   An amazing work of art.

She seemed at ease with me being close.  I actually had hoped she would fly away so I could see what is in the nest.  I will have to hike back in a couple of weeks and check on things.

Later posts in this series:  Part 2, Part 3

Niwot Mountain & Niwot Ridge

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I like getting up on the tundra this time of year. Normally there would be more snow and wildflowers.  Niwot mountain is a relatively quick (less than 1 hour) hike up from near Lefthand Reservoir.  Niwot is named after a native Indian chief of the Arapaho. His nickname was Left Hand, probably for obvious reasons.

Lefthand Reservoir and Mount Audubon from Niwot Mountain (11,400 elevation)

Mount Audubon, in the photo above, is a thirteener, meaning it’s summit is over 13,000 feet in elevation.  I know I’ve attempted the summit a couple of times, decades ago.  I don’t remember ever making all of the way up.  It’s a long hike with a 3,000 foot elevation gain.  I’d like to attempt it again this year and cement a yay or nay into my memory.  I think if I could stop injuring myself, I’d be in good enough shape to accomplish it.

Some type of shrine/memorial at the top of Niwot

I have mixed feelings when I discover shrines or memorials in conspicuous places along trails or on top of mountains.  They’re interesting to look at, but they are selfish when placed at such a public point.  There are so many corners of the forests or on the sides of mountains that would be more appropriate.  But claiming a major mountain top as your own is simply self-centered.