Santa's Little Helpers (OK... Not so little but definatley grey!)

Barky Lew and Bish at the 'Delicious Dishes' Christmas party. It was a great time and I think the girls raised over $5,000 for the Mountain Family Center. Thanks to everyone who helped out!!

Delicious Dishes 21st annual Christmas dinner

Delicious Dishes 21st annual Christmas dinner is tonight at the Daven Haven at 5:00. It's a great benefit for the Mountain Family Center and always brings out the true spirit of Christmas. I'm happy to be a part of it again this year! Leeper took over for Gene this year and peeled potatoes with the girls. I made a rum cake for the bake sale and you can see how I made it by going to this link...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUuLlc72Ovw

November at 8369'

This picture looks like a painting but it's from just the other evening. Kathy James Rinker took this beautiful shot of Mt. Craig (Baldy) in alpenglow. November surely brings out the beauty of Grand Lake!

Veterans Day

From my friend, Mark Sosis

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. That is beyond honor, too many people in this country have forgotten that fact. Copy and paste this as your status if you are a Veteran, know a Veteran, Love a Veteran, or Support the Troops!

No Doubt About It... I Gotta Get A New Hat

I've been out in woods looking for the answers to life, the universe and everything. I couldn't find Arther Dent or Sladdy Bartfast but I did find this guy. He was looking for a flying squirrel who had been kidnapped by two Russian spies(yeah, right). Oh well, I'm back for awhile and will stay in touch.

I think there's a rain cloud hanging over my head when it comes to playing music outside! This morning was beautiful but about a half an hour before I was due to set up at the Waconda, it hailed about three inches and the temperature dropped 30 degrees! Oh well... it could have been worse. (At least I wasn't about to play golf with Mac and Dixie Stew.) Now, as I'm writing this blog, it is thundering and lightning is striking (was that Lou Christie I heard?), the wind is picking up and it's starting to rain. At least I'll be playing inside at the Lariat tonight. I hope the roof doesn't leak!!!

Too Close To Home

There was a fire across from Johnsons Landing aka JRs, Rays Chop House, Jack Depews, Moseles. Luckily the wind wasn't blowing too hard, for a change, but it was still a little scary having a big fire that close to 'The Hood'! This is the hot, dry time of year up here and with all the dead trees, it gets pretty worrisome. At least I now have the new fire hydrant that attacked my car door last Winter....

Here's a crazy idea for a bumper sticker that wandered into my twisted little mind the other day. I remember years ago Terry Bramwell had a bumper sticker on his old Plymouth Duster that had a bull legged cowboy relieving himself and the words... "DIVERT THIS DENVER" on it. I think it was about the Frying Pan project to divert water to the the eastern slope like the Big Thompson Project and others. I guess when you're at the top of the food chain (water wise) everyone wants the pristine waters that come from the HEADWATERS of the Colorado River just up the road aways. And I suppose that when we and the moose and deer etc. let our waters flow... they all go downstream! So "FLUSH TWICE - DENVER NEEDS THE WATER!" Here's the website for the "SAVE THE FRASER AND COLORADO RIVER" ...http://www.cotrout.org/

Berts Guitar

I was doing my usual Monday madness today and thought I would stop by the Waconda on my way back home from Grand Lake. To make a long story longer... I grabbed the guitar that hangs by the fireplace there, took it down and cleaned her up and thought that I would tune the old girl (no comments from the peanut gallery, please). Well, of course it was still in tune anyway!!! The guitar was Bert McLaren's old Fender acoustic that he could no longer play due to arthritis in his fingers so he gave it to Doris and Egon at 'The Wac' for anyone to play. Years ago, "Cowboy Cook "and I were sitting there and took down the guitar which we had both used before to write some songs of our own and decided we should write a song about Bert's guitar. So here it is....


BERT’S GUITAR

BERT’S GUITAR JUST SITS AND WAITS
DOWN THERE BY THE FIRELIGHT
NEXT TO HIS OLD BEAT UP HAT
HE USED TO WEAR ON SUNDAY NIGHTS

PRETTY SOON SOME LONESOME PICKER
WILL PULL HER DOWN AND STRUM A SONG
AND WARM THEIR ACHIN’ FINGERS
WHILE EVERYBODY SINGS ALONG

IT BROKE SOME HEARTS, BUT HEALED SOME WOUNDS
AND GOT US THROUGH COLD WINTERS
PICKIN’ SONGS TO WARM OUR ACHIN’ HEARTS
WITH THE MAGIC IN HER STRINGS

HERE WE SIT WITH BERT’S GUITAR
COUNTIN’ UP THE MEMORIES
'TIL LAST CALL COMES TO CHASE US OUT
THEN WE’LL GENTLY PUT HER BACK

THE OLD GRANDFATHER CLOCK STRIKES THREE
EVERYBODY’S GONE HOME
LEAVING JUST THE DYING EMBERS
AND THE MEMORIES OF THE DAY

THAT’S WHEN I IMAGINE
BERT STILL PLAYS HER ALL ALONE
SONGS LIKE “SUPER SKIER”
AND OF COURSE, “STRAWBERRY RHONE”

(CHORUS)

BERT’S GUITAR JUST SITS AND WAITS
DOWN THERE BY THE FIRE
WAITIN’ ON SOME LONESOME PICKER
BOUND TO BE INSPIRED

Fathers Day

This an interesting story and probably very long but here we go... My dad's been gone for 25 years or so and last winter, his little sister, my Aunt Shirley passed. When her husband, my Uncle Bill, was cleaning up things to maybe sell the house he found an old shoe box with letters that my father had written to his parents when he was in the service back in WWII. Uncle Bill sent them to my mother and my sister made copies and sent them to me and my brother. It was very interesting and emotional reading these letters from my dad that he wrote when he was 22 years old. Well, of course, me being a so called song writer had to write a song about it. Ray helped me put a CD cover together and I have finished the song and will record it for real....soon (I promise). Here are the lyrics and if I knew how to put music this blog thing, I would. Anyway, here is the song for anyone who cares to read it and Happy Fathers Day!

Twisted Tee Pee

The wind is stronger these days due to so many dead trees from the beetle kill and it has twisted the canvas on the tee pee around so the door is about 3ft to the right of the door opening on the poles. Anyway, I got it twisted back around today and then the wind came up and moved it back just a little.... dang! I wonder if the Indians would mind if I got my staple gun out and secured to the lodge poles? Auntie Em! Auntie Em!!

Grand Lake Jam

Wild, Wild, Life

Lots of wildlife on the trails these days. Shelly and her kids ran into three moose up by Cascade Falls the other day and had to sit there for a half hour or so until they could pass. The snow yesterday didn't last long but it was a reminder of how short summer can be here at 8369'! The Barky Lew Reunion in Grand Lake is set for July 25th. I'll have more info later but it's not too early to make reservations. I will post some motels and all that good stuff soon.

Back on Board

OK, I get the message! You're correct... I got on that stupid Facebook thing and forgot myself for awhile. As you can see, it snowed here this morning at 8369' but it didn't stop me from going for my morning swim! Rumour has it, that MJ is in town so no wonder it snowed on June 13th. I will try and direct my attention to my blog and leave the Facebook thing alone. It sucks anyway!!!

Get Me 'Somewhere With A Beach'...PLEASE!!

Winter stays long this high. It may be pretty but it's getting old!

I'm sure Dal meant to give me the 'peace sign', but didn't want to drop his cigarette or his scoop shovel. He is still my ch amen and Grand Lakes greatest 'Hippie'! Live well and prosper, my friend....

I hope everyone had as great an Easter as I did! I even got a chocolate bunny but I can't decide if I should eat the ears first or the cotton tail. Maybe if I eat the eyes, no one will see what I do next....

It's Just A Moose

This young one was hanging around the side of the road yesterday and I saw it on my way to work. Anymore, I usually just look and drive on past but decided to stop and take a pic. I'm always reminded of a story my friend Steve Nagel told me once. He owns the 'Wheel Bar' in Estes Park and there are elk everywhere in the town and, of course in RMNP. Tourists always stop to take photos and it can create a traffic jam(elk or moose jam) and irritates the locals trying to get to work or whatever. Steve often used to roll down his window and yell... "it's just an elk!". Well he was in Hawaii on vacation and stopped to take pictures of the whales when a local drove by and yelled at him... "it's just a whale!". After that, he realized that what we take for granted is special to someone else. We should always stop and smell the roses, even if we get to all the time!

Czech This Out Boys!

Our beloved Petra from the Czech Republic dancing up a storm on New Years Eve at Caroline's. If ever you get up to to 8369' and go to Caroline's Cuisine for a fantastic dinner, I hope you get the pleasure to have Petra as your waitress. She is an absolute hoot and has some great stories about how she got to the good old U.S of A.

One Laptop Per Child

A couple of years ago I joined a group called one laptop per child. They donate lap top computers to children all over the world to help educate them and therefore give hope to their future. I believe that education is the key to understanding and perhaps the best way to find peace in this crazy world. 'Give a man a fish and he will not be hungry today, teach a man to fish and he will never be hungry' Here's their website if you want to check into this further.... http://laptop.org/en/laptop

Stay Tuned

I was talking with a friend today and we were conversing about cell phones and how two old guys like us finally 'bit the bullet' and now have one. Then I said something about payphones and how there don't seem to be any around much anymore. He said "I wonder if kids today even know what a phone booth is and where does Superman change into his costume to become the 'Man of Steel'? Well I'm happy to say that Grand Lake still has a phone booth in the Lariat and I believe there might still be one at Humphrey's. I will grab my camera and try to take photos of them and see if they even still work. Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of..."Who's that guy taking his glasses and his clothes off next to his cell phone?"

One Pill Makes You Larger...

So what character from Lewis Carrol's "Alice" books do you think you are and,better yet... which one looks like some one you know?

Gravity Built The Snowman

Winter lasts a long time here at 8369'. Even my friend here has had enough by now. I guess I should have put him on skis so he could embrace the season. He better remember that summer will eventually come and he will succumb to the heat and fill the lakes with his brothers and sisters and water the lawns of the people down below. So, think of him when you're playing golf in July and remember that he gave his all to keep the fairways green!

My Philosophy On Life

There's no need to go to Vancouver to hang out with Swiss girls, you can do that right here in good old Grand Lake! I realize that this looks like a thorn between two roses so just concentrate on the roses, OK? It's a good way of looking at life.

Miracle On Ice

30 years ago today! Do you remember where you were? I know I was in Colorado Springs and probably watched it with Sean and Barky( do you remember, Sean?) but I'm lucky to remember what happened yesterday. Oh yeah, I saw the US hockey team beat the Canadians for the first time in 50 years! Not quite the same but none the less, a great game. GO USA!!!!

It Could Have Been Worse

No more teasing...I could have fixed it myself!

Saga Of The Focus (Part 3)

OK.... I know it's been awhile and I'm certain that all of you have been sitting on pins and needles waiting in desperate anticipation of the next chapter of this intriguing saga to be opened like a secret envelope from James Bond. Well, the silver door is on thanks to 'Randy's Auto Body' in Granby. Randy is Chuck Schmuck's (remember him?) nephew and did a great job! We both considered Chuck as our second father, so I think he took special care to make a stupid mistake (by me) become better. And now the time has come to customize the "SILVER DOOR"!!!! My friend, Christopher had a great idea to have the kids at Grand Lake Elementary School paint something on the door. If any of you have any ideas for them...I am open for suggestions from my beloved ' Peanut Gallery'! Thanks, your pal....Buffalo Bob Smithcorm ( hey Sean...maybe we could get Diegle out to customize the fire hydrant!...)

Saga Of The Focus & The Hydrant (Part 2)

I found a door at a salvage yard in Denver and my friends Doug and Julie picked it up and brought it from 5280' to 8369' for me. It's silver but thanks to Randy's Auto Body in Granby, the silver door is on the red Focus and as Steinbeck would say...."Once again the world is spinning in greased grooves". Randy is Chuck Schmuck's nephew and I think he took special care to fit the silver door just right. Danny Schneller now says, when he sees me...."Hi Ho Silver Door...Away!!!"! I guess it's my turn in the 'barrel' until somebody else screws up! Larva says it is now Ohio State colors. Maybe I'll see if the salvage yard has a silver gas cap cover to match. Heck, who knows?, if the the little Focus hangs in another ten years, I might have a silver bullet!

Anybody Have A Door?

I've picked on others for doing stupid things here on the hill in Winter, so I guess I have to pick on myself this time. As I tried to back into the driveway last night I slid off into the 'new' fire hydrant that was installed last summer. I tried to "rock" the Focus out and smashed the passenger door up pretty good. Result....fire hydrant-1, Focus-0!!!!

Sunset At 8369'

It seems like everyday there is something here at 8369' to remind us why we live here. This was the sunset last night. Pretty dang cool!!!

Skinny Skiing At Adams Falls

It was a little difficult getting over the wall with my skis on but that was nothing compared to the ride down to the East Inlet!!