Catching up

Another snow is past, but it looks like more coming. Winter in Colorado.

We had a reception at Artisans last night for our newest member, Suezan Chapman, who does mirrors with uniquely tiled frames. She's shown with her works in the top picture and with 89-year-old Mac Neely in the middle picture ... Mac is everywhere, vigorous and active! The bottom pic is of one of Janice Reich's decorated gourds in her exhibit.

We didn't have a lot of people turn out, which is disappointing for the amount of work Sandy put into it, but those who came enjoyed meeting Suezan, looking over her work as well as all the others and members got a social occasion. We're optimistic about good sales in recent days; maybe the winter doldrums are already over!

There's a KSJD event ("Cabin Fever Party") in Dolores we're going to go to this evening; visit with some of our Dolores friends and support the local public radio station.

I've been following the Wyoming Stage Race closely; one of the mushers was Kate St. Onge, who will be moving to the Mancos Valley this year with her husband Rick. The race ended today with Kate in 11th place out of 16 finishing teams ... not a bad showing! Makes me eager to see dogs running soon in the La Plata Paw a week from now. Still not sure if the San Juan Stage Race will take place at the end of the month.

Sandy and I are also wrapped up in the planning that's going on for the Mancos Melt, a new winter event the downtown businesses ("Mancos on the Move") are launching to give the community an activity that will draw regional folks to Mancos for fun and frolic. We're hopeful.

There are skunk carcasses on the highways now and red-winged blackbirds sing when I put fresh birdseed in the feeder ... two sure signs that spring is not far off. We have our heaviest snow season just ahead of us, interspersed with multiple mud seasons, but we're hopeful! TV