Colorado

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Hamlet in Denver

Soapy Smith Duck and his mom invited my mom and me, Zeb the Duck, to see Hamlet.  I was so excited.  Our moms love plays and love the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, but Soapy and Zeb have never been here before.

We went to a matinee.  Before the performance Soapy and Zeb posed for photos.

Soapy and Zeb on foot of tall dancers

Soapy and Zeb on foot of tall dancers

These dancers are really tall!!  Zeb and Soapy are standing on a foot—the foot on the left side of this photo.  We look like yellow dots.  Here we are, Soapy on the foot and Zeb on the ground.

Really big feet!

Really big feet!

This is one entrance to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.  We ducks love the roof.

One entrance to Denver Center for the Performing Arts

One entrance to Denver Center for the Performing Arts

This center has multiple theaters and artwork.  Here is one statue in the complex.

Statue at Denver Center for the Performing Arts

Statue at Denver Center for the Performing Arts

We like this place.

Inside the building near the entrance we saw these small tables.

Near theater showing Hamlet.

Near theater showing Hamlet.  First performed in 1600.

Little known facts about Hamlet are here.  It is very nice to learn unusual facts about our show.  We really like Lion King, so we think we will like Hamlet also.

Time to enter the theater, but mom said no photos during the performance.  We loved this performance.  Maybe our moms will bring us here again.  They are talking about seeing another performance.

After the show, some of the actors and other people instrumental in this production talked to the audience.

Some actors and staff talking to audience

Some actors and staff talking to audience

They were very interesting and informative.

Here we are, by the statue of King Hamlet, the very King that was murdered in this play.

Soapy and Zeb with King Hamlet

Soapy and Zeb with King Hamlet

This was an exciting day for ducks and moms.  We hope you will see Hamlet, or some other live performance.  The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is beautiful, but if you don’t live in Denver, see a live performance in your area of the world.  You will like it!

Announcing Hamlet. Soapy and Zeb in lower left.

Announcing Hamlet. Soapy and Zeb in lower left.

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Frosty morning in Denver

Snow and cold in Denver today.  We had more snow during the night.  Our morning snow is beautiful.

Snow covered evergreen bushes have white frosting.

Morning snow on evergreen bushes

Morning snow on evergreen bushes

This tree looks magical.

Snow coated tree

Snow coated tree

Mom put us, Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck, on this table.  The snow measures 7 inches.  The 24 ounce Pepsi bottle is almost buried.

Ducks on snowy table

Ducks on snowy table

Here Zeb is almost buried.

Hey mom! I am sinking.

Hey mom! I am sinking.

This is a good time to ski in Colorado.  The ski resorts have feet of new snow.  Have some winter fun.

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Snow Sculptures at Breckenridge Colorado

We went to Breckenridge.  I, Zeb Duck and Soapy Smith Duck went with my mom to Breckenridge.  They have international snow sculpture championships here.  Saturday, January 25, 2014 the sculptures were finished and judged.  We went Sunday, January 26, 2014 to see them.

Here we are in Breckenridge.

In Breckenridge Colorado

In Breckenridge Colorado

Budweiser sponsors this competition and they have a great snow sculpture featuring a Clydesdale horse and Spuds Mackenzie, the dog.

Budweiser snow sculpture with Spuds

Budweiser snow sculpture with Spuds

This year 16 teams from 14 countries, including the United States, were scheduled to compete.  One team withdrew due to illness.  Here are a few photos of the finished work.

Team Lithuania. "Once upon a time here was a forest…"

Team Lithuania. “Once upon a time here was a forest…”

Team France. "Dark Side of the Moon"

Team France. “Dark Side of the Moon”

Team Germany. "Apecheta The source where the flow begins"

Team Germany. “Apecheta The source where the flow begins”

Thursday, January 16, we went to Breckenridge to see them make the snow blocks.  The blocks of snow are 10’ x 10’ and 12’ tall.  They weigh 20 tons each.  Huge!!

20 ton snow block and 2 small ducks

20 ton snow block and 2 small ducks

Breckenridge ski area makes snow.  The ski area makes extra snow that is trucked to the snow sculpting contest area.  Snow is put into frames, stomped on for packing

Humans stomping on snow in wooden frame to pack it hard

Humans stomping on snow in wooden frame to pack it hard

and placed in the sculpting position.

Snow blocks ready for the artists

Snow blocks ready for the artists

Because this is made snow, the consistency is the same throughout the block.  That is important for the artists.

Here are more finished sculptures.

Team Great Britain "The Somerset Hunky Punks"

Team Great Britain “The Somerset Hunky Punks”

Team USA Colorado. "Must be using the wrong bait

Team USA Colorado. “Must be using the wrong bait

Team USA Colorado. Maybe we are the bait

Team USA Colorado. Maybe we are the bait

The artists have only 65 hours to complete the masterpiece and no power tools are used.  Some teams use potato peelers and some used cookie cutters for finishing touches.

This is the first place entry.

Winter Fun is the winner in 2014

Winter Fun is the winner in 2014

Team USA from Breckenridge, Colorado created this.  It was inspired by the simple pleasure of winter.

Sledding is fun

Sledding is fun

Team Breck competes internationally and is recognized as one of the best in the world.

Yesterday we enjoyed warm sunny weather in Breckenridge; so if you want to see these sculptures, go today.  They will melt soon.

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GO BRONCOS

Congratulations to the Denver Broncos.

Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos

They will play in the Super Bowl in New Jersey in two weeks.  Fantastic!!

This is where the victories took place.

The Broncos play here

The Broncos play here.  We love our white bronco at the top

Denver Broncos Football Stadium

Another view of Denver's football stadium

Another view of Denver’s football stadium

Broncos will play in Super Bowl February 2, 2014

WOW! Broncos

WOW! Broncos

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Rocky Mountain National Park at Christmas

Christmas will arrive in a couple days so Mom took us to Estes Park

Entering Estes Park, Colorado

Entering Estes Park, Colorado

and Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday.  Snowy and beautiful.

Zeb the Duck and Soapy Smith Duck left a sunny Denver to experience early winter in the mountains.  This place attracts chipmunks, wild turkeys, birds, and tourists in the summer.

Estes Park, Colorado

Estes Park, Colorado

None seen on this visit.  Entering Estes Park we noticed changes.  Now the Fall River is frozen so the water wheel is not turning.

Estes Park, Colorado. River is frozen

Estes Park, Colorado. River is frozen

Humans are wearing hats, gloves and coats, no shorts today.  After visiting our favorite stores and purchasing cookies, brownies, salt water taffy (has no salt water in it??), fudge, and toffee we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park.

We love Rocky Mountain National Park

We love Rocky Mountain National Park

Passing through the Fall River Entrance we discovered Sheep Lakes are frozen.

Frozen lake in the park

Frozen lake in the park

As we drive, snow begins to fall.  It swirls on the road.  We, Zeb and Soapy Duck, think it looks magical.  Driving higher, more snow is falling.  These elk take advantage of the grass and graze before it is covered with snow or ice.

Elk grazing as snow begins to fall

Elk grazing as snow begins to fall

They knew we were watching them and they kept an eye on us.

Further up the mountain, this bull elk was also grazing.

Bull elk in the snow

Bull elk in the snow

Must take a lot of grass to fill his tummy.  We, Zeb and Soapy Duck, were only 15 feet away from him.  He is big!!

Mom decided it was time to leave; she will be wrapping candy for Christmas presents tonight, but we wanted one more minute in the snow before driving down the road.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

We love Rocky Mountain National Park.  It is beautiful in the summer, colorful in the fall, magical in the winter and refreshing in the spring.    We hope you visit Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado soon.  You won’t be sorry.

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Christmas at Cherry Creek Mall

I, Zeb the Duck, can tell something is going to happen soon.  This is my first Christmas.  Mom and I went to Cherry Creek Mall in Denver.  I saw Christmas decorations and I heard Christmas carols.

Cherry Creek Mall has Rocky Mountain Play Park,

Play Park for human and ducks

Play Park for human and ducks

sponsored by Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children.

So much fun for kids and me

So much fun for kids and me

I went inside and played on the toys.

I like this

I like this

It is a lot of fun.  So glad we came here.

At the Ice Palace I saw Santa Claus.  I did not get to talk to him, but he was walking around the Ice Palace.

Is Santa looking for Zeb?

Is Santa looking for Zeb?

He is big with a white beard and wears a red suit.  I wanted to see him, but maybe not too close.  Christmas trees surround the Ice Palace.

So pretty

So pretty

This huge glass globe had polar bears inside.

This looks like polar bear weather

This looks like polar bear weather

Everything looks so pretty.

Walking through the mall, we heard singing.  A musical quartet stopped occasionally to sing Christmas carols.

Christmas carols in Cherry Creek Mall

Christmas carols in Cherry Creek Mall

They looked so cute and sounded so good.

I like Christmas decorations.  I will show you more decorations next time.  Christmas is fun.   Mom will tell me more about it.  But, I like it!

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Christmas Decorations in my Neighborhood

It is getting close to Christmas.  I, Zeb the Duck, am excited about Christmas.  But, I don’t really know much about it yet.  I am seeing different things appearing in people’s yards.  These are Christmas decorations.

These are some of the things I noticed.  This is Santa Claus in a sleigh.

This is Santa Claus

This is Santa Claus

Mom says Santa Claus rides in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer and brings presents to people.  Santa seems nice, but looks a little different.

Here is another Santa Claus with sleigh and reindeer.

I like Santa

I riding on flying reindeer.

Also some big presents.

Huge presents

Huge presents

Maybe a chair for me??

A snowman and another Santa.

Welcoming Snowman

Welcoming Snowman

These all look like fun things.

A manger or Nativity Scene seems a little more serious.  This is the reason for Christmas.  A baby named Jesus was born.  This baby grew up to be a special man and he changed the world.

Baby Jesus was born

Baby Jesus was born

Maybe more about this later.

I am curious and excited about Christmas.  I hope you see decorations and like them.  What is your favorite Christmas story or memory?  This is all new to me but I like it.

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Denver’s Annual Christmas Light Display

The City and County building in Denver, Colorado has spectacular Christmas lights.

City and County Building of Denver, Colorado

City and County Building of Denver, Colorado

Zeb the Duck here, reporting that mom drove us to view this Christmas display.   WOW!!!  The lights are beautiful.

While we there, we heard Christmas carols.  The lights changed colors as the music played.

The colors change

The colors change

The evening we visited was mild and clear.  It was just like a Christmas movie.

Denver’s City and County building has been decorated for Christmas since 1935.  So many people experience this lighting masterpiece every year.

Colors change again

Colors change again

Usually this building is lit every night during the Christmas season.  The lights remain on the building through January and the building is illuminated again during the Denver’s National Western Stock Show and Rodeo.  Our stock show visitors also enjoy this display.

I am so happy to live near Denver so I could watch in amazement as the lights changed and the music played.

I love this!

I love this!