Colorado

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Steve Helfant of Natural Turnings

I, Zeb the Duck, went to the Boulder Arts and Crafts Gallery.

We love arts and crafts

We love arts and crafts

Steve Helfant had an exhibit there. Mom and I learned about him in Denver’s magazine 5280.

Here are examples of Steve’s work.

Great work Steve

Great work Steve

Steve, a high school English teacher, began turning in the school’s woodshop. With the help of the shop teacher, he was soon addicted.

Steve often uses pine from trees that have been killed by the beetles. This pine vase, made from beetle kill pine is really nice.

Beetle kill pine vase and juniper vase with turquoise

Beetle kill pine vase and juniper vase with turquoise

In this juniper vase Steve added turquoise. We like it, Steve.

This Juniper vase is made from local wood

This Juniper vase is made from local wood

Steve’s style of wood turning is a fluid, spontaneous process. Once a raw piece of wood is mounted on the lathe, the piece itself takes over, evolving and taking on a life of its own. These pieces by Steve show his style.

Nice variety

Nice variety

The accompanying page tells about using beetle kill pine in his artwork.

This sculpture, made from beetle kill pine and bocote wood is one of my favorites.

Great piece

Great piece

We really enjoyed our visit to Boulder Arts and Crafts Gallery and we think you would like it, too. For more information visit www.boulderartsandcrafts.com You will see works from many artists in this gallery. To learn more about Steve Helfant’s wood pieces visit  http://naturalturnings.tripod.com We hope to see you there soon.

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Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith II

Zeb the Duck here to tell you about Leadville, Colorado in the 1800’s.  Silver mines were profitable, and everybody was looking for fast money.  Prostitutes were plentiful, street merchants and entertainers were everywhere.  Even Doc Holiday was in Leadville; arrested twice in three days for attempted murder.  Con men were also very common on the streets of Leadville.

One of the con men was Jefferson Randolph Smith II.  He began selling soap.  He wrapped a $100 bill around a bar of soap, re-wrapping it with his own label, and placed it in a box with other bars of his “Sapolion” soap.  Walking into a saloon with the soap, his silent partner purchased a bar of soap and opened it in front of the saloon patrons.  What a surprise.  There was a crisp one hundred dollar bill under the wrapping! Needless to say soap sales escalated at a phenomenal rate for “Soapy”.

Soapy soon left town, (a necessary move) relocating in Creede, Colorado and then to Alaska where he was killed in a gunfight on July 8, 1898.  Leadville will always remember “Soapy” Smith.

Now you know why JB Duck, Eider Duck, myself (Zeb the Duck) and the little ducks always have to watch our “Soapy” Smith Duck.  He is quite the scoundrel.

No sapolion soap for our Soapy Smith Duck

No sapolion soap for our Soapy Smith Duck

This information was from http://www.leadville.com/history/soapy.htm

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Rocky Ridge Music Center

Zeb the Duck here and I have to tell you about my neighbor, Greer Ramsey-White.    Greer is a very accomplished violin player.  She went to Rocky Ridge Music Center near Estes Park, Colorado.

A great music camp

A great music camp

This camp is on 17 wooded acres in the Rocky Mountains.  The camp sits at the foot of 14,259 foot Longs Peak.  Rocky Ridge Music Center opened as a music camp in 1942.  This place is beautiful.

The last day of camp featured a concert for parents and friends.  Fantastic!  Greer is playing her violin with a group here.

Greer is playing her violin

Greer is playing her violin

In this piece my neighbor, Greer, is concertmaster.

Concertmaster Greer

Concertmaster Greer

Greer stayed at Rocky Ridge Music Center for two weeks.  She liked this camp.  I liked the concert and the camp was so pretty.

Greer and all the campers stayed in cabins like this one.

Home for 2 weeks

Home for 2 weeks with roommates

Doesn’t this look like fun?

My neighbor, Greer, attends Denver School of the Arts in Denver, Colorado.

Greer studies here

Greer studies here

Denver School of the Arts is a comprehensive secondary arts magnet school (grades 6-12) in the Denver Public School District.   Admittance to this school is by audition only; so all students are very talented.  Of course, I think Greer is one of the most talented.  If you follow music you may know of Greer Ramsey-White.  If you don’t know of her, you will in the future.  Greer is an excellent violin player.

When the concert was over, we returned to Denver.  All that music and camp makes humans and ducks hungry.  The Old Spaghetti Factory is a favorite restaurant.

Makes me hungry

Makes me hungry

This old building has a beautiful front door.

What a door

What a door

You can eat at regular tables or you may decide to eat in this car.

Cable car inside the restaurant

Cable car inside the restaurant

This car is inside the main room of the restaurant.

I hope you eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory soon.  I really hope you visit Rocky Ridge Music Center near Estes Park.  For more information about the camp, visit www.rockyridge.org   For more information about Denver School of the Arts, visit http://dsa.dpsk12.org

Greer is an accomplished violin player, but she is also a normal, happy teenage girl.  And she is one of my favorite neighbors!

Greer Ramsey-White

Greer Ramsey-White

 

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Dragon Boat Festival

I, Zeb the Duck, Soapy Smith Duck and our moms went to Colorado’s 14th annual Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake Park in Denver.

Dragon boats!

Dragon boats!

We had so much fun!

There were 3 stages with live entertainment.  First we saw Saving Avery perform on the Band Stage.

Saving Avery is a great group

Saving Avery is a great group

Then we headed to Sloan’s Lake to watch the dragon boats.  This is where the teams must register for their race.

We are trying to reach the sign

We are trying to reach the sign

We watched the team get on this boat and head to the starting place for the race.

Ready to race

Ready to race

Four boats competed in this race.

Fast rowing

Fast rowing

You can see that it was a close race.  Fans cheer their team during the race.

A new instrument. We liked it

A new instrument. We liked it

When the race ended, the dragon boats head back to shore.

Coming back to shore

Coming back to shore

There were dragon boat races all day Saturday and all day Sunday.  As ducks, we love water activities.

We watched the popular group, Hype 303 on the main stage.

Hype 303

Hype 303

Very talented!  Next was Halau Kalama, a hula group.

Halau Kalama

Halau Kalama

WOW!!  This is a great place for entertainment.

Walking around the park we admired the official poster.

We are here

We are here

These umbrellas were displayed on the grass.

This red one is our favorite

This red one is our favorite

Very colorful.  A lady purchased one while we were there.   Another store was selling these dolls.

Aren't these beautiful?

Aren’t these beautiful?

We liked them also.

Next we enjoyed this group from Filipino-American Community of Colorado.

All the entertainment is great

All the entertainment is great

This is the Explore Asia stage.  This group is preparing for the next act.

Zeb and Soapy can do this!

Zeb and Soapy can do this!

I think they are the duck duo.

We really liked the Dragon Boat Festival.  Great food also!  I hope we see you there next year.

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Independence Pass in Colorado

I, Zeb the Duck, and Soapy Smith Duck crossed Independence Pass this summer. In Colorado we have several mountain passes. Independence Pass crosses the Continental Divide.

We are almost at the top of the world

We are almost at the top of the world

Just to remind you, the water that is west of the continental divide flows to the Pacific Ocean. The water that is east of the continental divide flows to the Atlantic Ocean. Of course, all of the water does not reach the oceans as much goes for agriculture, for animal use and for human use.

Independence pass is 12,095 feet above sea level. You can see surrounding mountains are higher. This pass is closed in the winter. Today, in the summer, there is still snow on top of the mountains

This is snow is cold!

This is snow is cold!

and we are on top of the snow.

There are no trees up here. We are above timberline. That means the weather is too severe for trees to grow.

Windswept mountain top with summer snow

Windswept mountain top with summer snow

Timberline is determined by temperature and latitude.  Some times timberline is called tree line.

On either side of the pass, the streams, created by melting snow, are just beautiful. In Colorado we have many mountain passes and several cross the continental divide.

Melting snow gives us these cold streams

Melting snow gives us these cold streams

Zeb and Soapy just wanted to remind you about mountain passes and about the significance of the continental divide. Visit Colorado this summer. You will enjoy traveling through our mountains and passes and over the continental divide.

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Leadville, Colorado with Soapy and Zeb Duck

Soapy Smith Duck and I, Zeb the Duck, visited Leadville, Colorado.  Leadville is an old mining town.

First gold in 1860 and silver in 1874

First gold in 1860 and silver in 1874

Leadville, Colorado is North America’s highest incorporated city at 10,430 feet above sea level.   That is almost 2 miles high.  The air is pretty thin up here, so be careful when you visit.  Usual precautions—slow down and drink lots of water.

One of your first stops here should be the visitor’s center.

Beautiful old home and visitor's center

Beautiful old home and visitor’s center

Soapy and I just love these pretty old houses.  There is so much to see and do in Leadville.  A good way to see some of the history is through the self guided walking tour.  You can get directions before you go at www.leadville.com    The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum is in Leadville.

National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum

National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum

This statue, Mining:  The Pulse of Civilization, is at the front of the building.

Marble mining statue

Marble mining statue

It is symbolic of Double Jacking.  The marble for this statue is from the Yule Marble Quarry in Marble, Colorado.  Marble from this quarry has been used in the Tomb of the Unknowns and part of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

We love these pretty older homes.

We love these houses. Did you guess?

We love these houses. Did you guess?

Leadville is very high, but even higher mountains surround the town.  Isn’t this a pretty street?

Annunciation Catholic Church with snow capped mountains

Annunciation Catholic Church with snow capped mountains

The Annunciation Catholic Church dates from 1880.   The “Unsinkable Molly Brown” was married here in 1886.  Baby Doe Tabor’s funeral was held here in 1935.  In Leadville, the Colorado and Southern Railroad Station is still in use.

This train station is used every day in the summer

This train station is used every day in the summer

Tourist trains leave here daily during the summer.  This engine has the plow that was used to clear the tracks in winter.

Snow plow on engine

Snow plow on engine

Leadville, Colorado was home to Horace and Augusta Tabor until 1881.  The Tabors were very wealthy and very generous to the city of Leadville.  The Tabors lived in this house

The Tabor home is open to visitors

The Tabor home is open to visitors.  Pretty lace curtains.

until Horace moved out to be with his future second wife, Baby Doe Tabor.

Downtown Leadville is the location of the Tabor Opera House.

Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado

Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado

When this opera house opened in 1879 it was “the finest theater between St. Louis and San Francisco”.

Across the street from the Tabor Opera House is the very popular Silver Dollar Saloon.  First named Board of Trade Saloon; in 1935 it became the Silver Dollar Saloon.

The Silver Dollar Saloon

The Silver Dollar Saloon

Leadville has so much history and so many stories that you could spend several days here and have a great time.  Please visit www.leadville.com to learn more about this fascinating city and then visit Leadville.  You will be glad you came here.

Leadville, Colorado. Isn't this beautiful?

Leadville, Colorado. Isn’t this beautiful?

 

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Central City for an Opera

Zeb the Duck here and we returned to Central City, Colorado.  Today mom and a friend brought me here to see the opera.  Mom’s friend’s grandson is in the opera!!  We arrived early to experience some of Central City.  First stop was the visitor’s center.  Upstairs the Gilpin County Arts Association displays work from mostly Colorado artists.  I liked this pottery by Steve Briggs.

I like Steve's pottery

I like Steve’s pottery

To learn more about Steve visit www.thepotterystudiogallery.com  About 50 artists are featured at that gallery in Littleton, Colorado.

Then we went on a tour of the Teller House.

Teller House in Central City, Colorado

Teller House in Central City, Colorado

Mr. Teller built this grand hotel in 1872.  Today the hotel is not available for guests, but sometimes the bar and small restaurant are open.   This clock came from Europe especially for the Teller House.

Sent from Europe to Central City

Sent from Europe to Central City

Another room has a wonderful mural on the ceiling.

I like ceiling murals

I like ceiling murals

It is big. This is just one part of it.  From the piano room you can see into another room.

Spacious rooms

Spacious rooms

This sure was a luxury hotel when it opened.  The Teller House is famous for the bar

Great place for a drink

Great place for a drink

and the face painted on the bar room floor.  Mom could not get a good picture of the face on the barroom floor so we bought this post card.

Face on the barroom floor post card with Zeb

Face on the barroom floor post card with Zeb

After lunch at Stella’s Upstairs Café in the Bonanza Casino, we went to the opera.

Central City Opera

Central City Opera

The grand opening of this opera house was in 1878.  We saw Deadman Walking.

Other operas also this summer. Deadman Walking was ours today

Other operas also this summer. Deadman Walking was ours today

We were not allowed to take pictures during the performance.  This is just before the opera began.  The stage is dark, with only one chair.

Opera will begin soon. See the orchestra pit.

Opera will begin soon. See the orchestra pit.

You can see the orchestra pit under the stage.  This was my first opera.  Does this mean I am a cultured duck?  I really liked this opera and our friend was fabulous.  He can act and he can sing!

Central City is an old mining town, so we looked around one of the cemeteries.

Old towns have interesting cemeteries

Old towns have interesting cemeteries

This headstone is for William Quiller.

Headstone of William Quiller

Head stone of William Quiller

He was born in England on March 31, 1816 and died January 10, 1897.  That is an old headstone.  It began to rain, so we left.  You might remember that I was in Central City last September.  To read about that visit, click on this link   www.coloradotravelingducks.com/2013/09/09/zeb-visits-central-city-colorado/  We like Central City and we think you would also.  Hope you visit here soon.  It is so pretty!

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Giant Redwood Trees in Colorado

What a surprise.  The redwood trees of California used to live just west of Colorado Springs.  I, Zeb the Duck, and my mom visited the 6,000 acre Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Let's see the fossils!

Let’s see the fossils!

Thirty-four million years ago, the meadow was Lake Florissant.  There are many rare fossils from here.  Colorado has the fossil of a tsetse fly.  The tsetse fly now can only be found in equatorial Africa.  It used to live in Colorado with giant redwood trees.

Redwoods in Colorado

Redwoods in Colorado

In the visitor’s center you can watch a short film about the fossils.  The visitor’s center has great displays also.  Here is one with fossils.

Great display

Great display

Fossils of insects and plants have been recovered from this area.  If you hike through the 15 miles of trails, you may see wildlife.  We saw this prairie dog close to the front entrance of the visitor’s center.

Official greeter?

Official greeter?

Now, about those redwood trees in Colorado.  This sign shows that these are redwoods.

Yes. Redwoods in Colorado

Yes. Redwoods in Colorado

This one is just behind the visitor’s center.  That really was a huge tree!

GIANT Redwood!

GIANT Redwood!

Wandering along the trails, this is a peaceful view.

Stress free area.

Stress free area.

Hard to imagine this meadow was once a lake.

A couple miles from the visitor’s center you can visit the Hornbek Homestead.  This homestead was built in 1878 for Adeline Hornbek and her four children.  It was the first homestead in the Florissant Valley.

Hornbek Homestead

Hornbek Homestead

This homestead is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and now belongs to the National Park Service.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a great place.  You will like it if you visit.  For more information visit www.nps.gov/flfo   We really like this National Monument.  Visit it when you are in the area.  You will be glad you did.

You should see this place!

You should see this place!

 

 

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A Glimpse of Victor, Colorado with Zeb the Duck

A few days ago I told you about the Donkey Derby in Cripple Creek.  After the Donkey Derby, we went the short distance to Victor.   Victor is often referred to as the city of mines.

Entering Victor, Colorado

Entering Victor, Colorado

Gold was discovered there in the late 19th century.

This is one of the old homes in town.

Very nice home

Very nice home

I love the design of these older homes.  The Baptists were the first to organize a church in Victor, and that church is still an important part of the community today.

Baptist church in Victor, Colorado

Baptist church in Victor, Colorado

This church has a two-story brick bell tower.

This is the fire department.

Great fire trucks!

Great fire trucks!

Isn’t that a great door!  Near the fire department we found an ore cart.

Wow! A ton of gold ore

Wow! A ton of gold ore

This cart, when filled, contains one ton of gold ore!

Here I am riding a blue elk.

Zeb riding the blue ek

Zeb riding the blue ek

Even historic mining towns  have cute things for tourists and this traveling duck.

A reminder of the gold days of the late 19th century and early 20th century, this gold mine looks pretty good.

Old gold mine

Old gold mine

And, today they are still mining here in Victor.  In 2012 they brought 250,000 troy ounce of gold from the mines.  The Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mine is a successful, working gold mine.

Visit this museum

Visit this museum

Victor, the city of gold mines, is nearly 10,000 feet above sea level and is on the southwest side of Pikes Peak about 50 miles from Colorado Springs.  You will enjoy a visit to this town.  We did!

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Cherry Creek Arts Festival

Zeb the Duck here again.  Last Saturday, July 5, Soapy Smith Duck and I went with our moms to the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver.  There was so much to see.  This festival has been an annual event since 1991 and features visual, culinary and performing arts.

Dolan Geiman of Chicago, Illinois designed this official poster, “Colorado Blue Jay”.

Colorado Blue Jay is the official poster

Colorado Blue Jay is the official poster

We liked the ceramics by Linda Lewis.

Very nice Linda

Very nice Linda

Linda is from West Des Moines, Iowa.

The photographs were wonderful.

What a sky!

What a sky!

The photographer is David Mayhew.

Love these, David

Love these, David

David is from the UK, but now David lives in Colorado.

The sculpture by Harold Siefert of Houston, Texas is great.

Watch your tail Soapy

Watch your tail Soapy

Visit www.hsartonline.com

We saw this sign for the Art Institute of Colorado.

Soapy's mom and her money went here

Soapy’s mom and her money went here

The Art Institute is a sponsor of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival.  Soapy’s mom graduated from the Art Institute of Colorado.

This is by Dakota Pratt of D. Redington Design of Austin, Texas.  Dakota makes contemporary sculpture and furniture.

Something new for we ducks

Something new for Soapy and Zeb

If you look closely, you will see this is made from bottle tops.

This one was already sold

This one was already sold

It really looks nice.

Our moms like wood, so we all really liked these by Gary Burditt.

We love wood

We love wood

Gary is from Loveland, Colorado.  This is Gary with another of his creations.

We like Gary and he is so talented.

We like Gary and he is so talented.

Visit www.gbfinewoodworking.com

We liked this statue.  It is permanent in the Cherry Creek area of Denver.  The plaque on the statue says “I Too Know the Eagle.”

In Cherry Creek

In Cherry Creek

Very unusual and very nice.

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival, in Denver, Colorado featured 260 exhibitors, selected from over 2,000 applications.  We hope you visited the art festival.  If not, plan to come next year.  Also visit other art festivals this summer.  They have so much!!