Month: December 2014

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Happy New Year’s Eve Day

The Colorado Traveling Ducks and their humans hope you have a very Happy New Year’s Eve.   In Denver, it will be cold as we ring in the New Year.   Denver will have two fireworks displays again this year.   The first show is at 9 p.m. and the second is at midnight.   Here are some photos celebrating New Year’s Eve in 2013.

Denver fireworks last year

Denver fireworks last year

Celebrating the arrival of 2014 near Denver's capitol building

Celebrating the arrival of 2014 near Denver’s capitol building

Looking forward to ringing in 2015 in Denver

Looking forward to ringing in 2015 in Denver

If you are near a television at midnight Eastern Standard Time, we hope you watch the ball drop in Times Square.   This, the 6th ball, debuted in 2009.   The ball begins 475 feet about the street.   Weighing 11,875 pounds, the ball is 12 feet in diameter, and contains 2500 crystals.   That is really big!

We will celebrate with friends, one of whom is hosting a party.  We will be careful and hope you will be careful also.   If you drink, please have a designated driver or call a taxi.   Have a good time today and remember the Colorado Traveling Ducks care about you.

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Denver had a White Christmas

Usually Denver does not have snow on Christmas day.   This year, 2014, Christmas day started with temperatures in the upper 40 degrees.   By mid afternoon, snow flurries arrived.   This is what we saw the next morning.

Before the snow ended December 26, we had more than 6 inches

Before the snow ended December 26, we had more than 6 inches

Even plants were covered with fluffy snow.   There was more than 6 inches in our yard.  So pretty.

Yesterday, I, Zeb the Duck, Soapy Smith Duck, and our Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, went through a couple of canyons.   We went through Coal Creek Canyon and also Boulder Canyon.  We just wanted to see some snow in the mountains and a sign that winter was on the way.   Maybe a different day we will go to the ski slopes, but this was just a peaceful drive.   These snowy trees welcomed the blue sky peeking through the clouds.

The sun is trying to clear the clouds

The sun is trying to clear the clouds

A little precipitation is starting now.   We ducks all sat in the snow to admire this lake.

Winter lakes are beautiful

Winter lakes are beautiful

The lake is beginning to freeze, the temperature was 17 degrees, but the wind was cold.  Snowy mountains form the walls of the canyon.

Canyon wall of rock with snow

Canyon wall of rock with snow

We liked the snow partially covering these rocks.

Snow is accumulating on the mountain

Snow is accumulating on the mountain

Here, the beautiful blue Colorado sky provides a perfect backdrop for these mountains.

Isn't the blue sky beautiful?

Isn’t the blue sky beautiful?

The rivers and creeks, with patches of snow, are beginning to freeze.

This creek will soon be frozen

This creek will soon be frozen

Winter has arrived in the Colorado mountains.   We hope you will enjoy this season.

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Christmas Decorations at Torres Mazatlan

I, Zeb the Duck, and Eider Duck, loved the Christmas decorations at our resort in Mazatlan, Mexico.

Torres Mazatlan. Our home for the week.

Torres Mazatlan. Our home for the week.

It was great having Christmas decorations to remind us that Christmas is almost here.  We are used to colder weather for Christmas, but we are enjoying the pool, beach and warm, sunny weather.  The Christmas tree and Nativity scene were beautiful.

These decorations were made by Torres Mazatlan employees in 1992

These decorations were made by Torres Mazatlan employees in 1992

We especially liked the story of the Christmas tree.  The employees made the tree from palm fronds and decorated it with coconuts wrapped in colored paper.  Torres Mazatlan has used this tree since 1992 as a symbol of Love and Peace on Earth.

Entering the resort, just past the security station, this festive scene greets us.

Just past security station

Just past security station near the entrance of the resort

The Christmas flowers near the registration desk are very much a sign of Christmas.

Such vivid colors

Such vivid colors

The Santa display with Santa’s mailbox was very popular.

Letters to Santa go in this mailbox

Letters to Santa go in this mailbox

Leaving the registration area, we passed through this decorated arch.

Looks so tropical

Looks so tropical

Wandering through the grounds, we liked this cart of flowers with Christmas decorations on the ground.

Flowers are always nice.

Flowers are always nice.

Near our patio, we enjoyed this cart of Christmas packages.

Presents everywhere

Presents everywhere

It was especially nice at night when the lights were on.

One day we watched the younger human children break a piñata.

He is trying

He is trying

This is a great Mexican custom and the kids had fun.

She is older, so the piñata moves while she tries

She is older, so the piñata moves while she tries

We had fun watching this also.

It won't be long before piñata is broken and candy falls to ground

It won’t be long before piñata is broken and candy falls to ground

Our humans said we were too small to swing the stick and also too small to scramble with the humans picking up the candy.

While enjoying tropical weather it was nice to see the Christmas spirit around us.  We hope you are enjoying seeing Christmas decorations wherever you are during the Christmas season.

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The Rink at Belmar with the Colorado Traveling Ducks

I, Zeb the Duck, have a great idea for you during this Holiday season.   Soapy Smith Duck, our Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, and I, Zeb the Duck, went to Belmar shopping area in Lakewood, Colorado.

Belmar shopping center. The B really is on this sign.

Belmar shopping center.  The B really is on this sign.  Letters change between green and red.

We didn’t come to shop.   We came for The Rink.   The Rink is an outside ice skating area for humans.   Look at the humans having a great time on ice skates.

Ice skating at The Rink in Belmar

Ice skating at The Rink in Belmar

We sat on the table watching the human skaters.

Humans on ice skates

Humans on ice skates

Again, we would love to be humans.   The area is decorated for Christmas.

Big Christmas tree

Big Christmas tree

See the decorations over the street, the Christmas tree and all the magical lights.   The lights are magical when it is dark, but we were there this afternoon, so the lights were not turned on yet.  These white trees decorated some streets here.

White trees for Christmas

White trees for Christmas

During the winter, we still have nice sunny days, so head out to The Rink.   We think it will be open through late January.  This is the sign explaining the hours and rates for skating.

See you at Belmar soon.

See you at Belmar soon.

We hope you come to Belmar to ice skate, or any ice skating rink near you.   Enjoy this winter activity.   We would if we had ice skates to fit our duck feet.

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Welcome to Torres Mazatlan

I, Zeb the Duck, and Alaska cousin Eider Duck, went to Torres Mazatlan resort in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico.

Torres Mazatlan. Our home for the week.

Torres Mazatlan. Our home for the week.

We love Mazatlan.

We thought this Christmas tree made from palm fronds

The employees of Torres Mazatlan created this tree.

The employees of Torres Mazatlan created this tree.

and decorated with wrapped coconuts was great.  The Nativity scene was beautiful also.

Nativity scene to remember the birth of Jesus

Nativity scene to remember the birth of Jesus

There was his big red box labeled Toy Box.

Toys for the children of Mazatlan. This is the season for giving.

Toys for the children of Mazatlan. This is the season for giving.

The staff at Torres Mazatlan donates toys and money to provide Christmas Eve dinners and toys for the people of Mazatlan.  We think this is great.  We will give them money also.  Eider, Zeb and the humans want to help.

We attended the welcome party Monday evening.   They served mango daiquiris and mango margaritas.   We ducks did not try any but the humans seemed to really like the mango daiquiris.  We liked the mariachi band.

Mariachis to welcome us to Mazatlan

Mariachis to welcome us to Mazatlan

The music is so happy.

Let's dance

Let’s dance

Just makes everyone want to dance and be happy.

When it got dark, they had the official lighting of the Christmas tree

Wow!

Wow!

and the Nativity scene.

The lights create magic

The lights create magic

Aren’t they pretty?  We liked the welcome party.  We liked the mariachis.

So typical of Mexico

So typical of Mexico

We liked the popcorn.  And we really liked the Christmas tree being lit while we were there.  As they say in Mexico, Feliz Navidad.   Merry Christmas to you all.  We will tell you more about our time in Mexico soon.

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Santa’s Workshop in North Pole, Colorado with Zeb and Eider Duck

I, Zeb the Duck, and my Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, went to the North Pole.

At the North Pole with Santa

At the North Pole with Santa

We visited Santa’s workshop and outdoor park.   In Colorado, the North Pole is located at the foot of Pike’s Peak near Colorado Springs.  This place is great.  First we got on Santa’s sleigh.

Think we can help Santa deliver presents?

Think we can help Santa deliver presents?

Next was the sky ride.

Let's go!

Let’s go!

Everything is so pretty in the mountains.   If anybody gets lost, this reindeer tells the correct direction to walk.

Isn't he helpful. He is our friend

Isn’t he helpful. He is our friend

We liked the snowman.

A big snowman decoration

A big snowman decoration

Entering the glass blower house,

Cute house

Cute house

we met a human relative.  This glass blower talked to us and told us his real name is Bill Duck.

And friend and human relative Bill Duck

And friend and human relative Bill Duck

We liked him!  Mom liked the glass also, so now we have a new glass Christmas tree ornament.   There are many rides for small humans.   This big candy cane with Santa on top has a slide on the outside for humans to ride.

This ride is definitely a sign of Santa's North Pole

This ride is definitely a sign of Santa’s North Pole

This ride looks so much like Christmas.

So much like Christmas.

So much like Christmas.

We think you like it also.   The small ferris wheel is great

For little humans.

For little humans.

and there is also a large one for bigger humans.   Isn’t this candy cane coaster just perfect for Santa’s park?

Definitely a Christmas theme here

Definitely a Christmas theme here

This fire pit was warmer and humans were roasting marshmallows here.

We love roasted marshmallows.

We love roasted marshmallows and the Bronco jacket

Yum!   This picnic table is on the path to the North Pole post office.

It was too cool for a picnic today

It was too cool for a picnic today

We think these decorations are perfect for Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

If you can go to the North Pole before Christmas you will have a lot of fun. This park will close for the winter Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.   It is open most of the summer, so visit when you can. For more information see http://www.northpolecolorado.com

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Happy Winter Solstice 2014

The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will begin today, December 21, 2014 at 6:03 p.m. EST.   This occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun.  In terms of light, this is the longest night of the year and the shortest day of the year.  The winter solstice is celebrated by many people around the world as the beginning of the return of the sun, and darkness turning into light.

This is also the official first day of winter for us.   Whatever you do today, the Colorado Traveling Ducks and their humans, wish you happiness.

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Christmas Decorations 2014

I, Zeb the Duck, and Eider Duck, drove around admiring Christmas decorations.   We like the snowman,

Cheerful snowman

Cheerful snowman

especially since we do not have snow yet in Denver.   Santa is ready for Christmas Eve with this sleigh.

Ready to fly on Christmas Eve

Ready to fly on Christmas Eve

The Nativity Scene reminds us of the reason for the season.

The birth of Jesus is the reason for Christmas

The birth of Jesus is the reason for Christmas

We ducks are not in any of these photos.  The humans said we could not go into people’s yards and sit on the decorations.   But we did love seeing everything. It’s just difficult to decide which pictures to show you today.   All were special.

We spotted some rather unusual decorations.   Here Mickey Mouse is sending Christmas greetings.

Mickey Mouse loves Christmas also.

Mickey Mouse loves Christmas also.

The Christmas moose is great.

A Colorado Christmas moose.

A Colorado Christmas moose.

This was one of our favorites.

This is a big guy!

This is a big guy!

Santa is a biker when he is not flying in his sleigh.

Santa is biker

Santa is biker

We had dinner at the Buckhorn Exchange in Denver and even this buffalo was in the Christmas spirit.

Merry Christmas from Denver's oldest restaurant.

Merry Christmas from Denver’s oldest restaurant.

And, lastly, no collection of Denver Christmas photos would be complete without Denver’s City and County Building.

A lighting tradition in Denver.

A lighting tradition in Denver.

We hope you are enjoying Christmas decorations near you.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

We like the Christmas season.

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Georgetown, Colorado with Zeb and Eider Duck

I, Zeb the Duck, and my Alaska cousin, Eider Duck, visited Georgetown, Colorado.

Georgetown, Colorado was an old mining town.

Georgetown, Colorado was an old mining town.

We did not have any snow in our neighborhood near Denver, so we drove to Georgetown to find some.  First stop is the Georgetown Visitor’s Center.

The Visitor Center has great information and a small museum.

The Visitor Center has great information and a small museum.

It was starting to snow in Georgetown, so our photos are missing the bright sunshine and our Colorado blue skies.   But we loved the misty mountains and the light falling snow.   The park in Georgetown has a pretty gazebo and it had evergreen branches for Christmas decorations.

In the park in Georgetown, Colorado

In the park in Georgetown, Colorado

On the main street, this archway leads to a small area with seats.

Misty mountains are pretty

Misty mountains are pretty

The tall tree by the outdoor café was decorated.

Didn't even want hot chocolate out here today. But it is pretty.

Didn’t even want hot chocolate out here today. But it is pretty.

It was too cool today for us to sit outdoors and enjoy refreshments.   Looking down the main street, we liked the Christmas decorations over the street and

Looking down main street at mountains

Looking down main street at mountains

especially liked this view of the mountains, slightly obscured by swirling snow and light fog.   This tree with lights seemed festive to us.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

We really like that Georgetown does not cut trees to decorate.   The lights and decorations are placed on growing trees.  We enjoy these trees all year long.   Eider and Zeb liked sitting on these logs.

These logs seemed inviting to ducks.

These logs seemed inviting to ducks.

Georgetown is a nice town located at an altitude of 8,530 feet in the mountains.  It is a nice drive on I-70, about 45 minutes west of Denver.

You will enjoy visiting Georgetown, Colorado.

You will enjoy visiting Georgetown, Colorado.

We will be back here soon.