December 14, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Yellowstone National Park Has Geysers

Today Ms. Ducky will show you pictures of some geysers at Yellowstone National Park. According to National Geographic’s Guide to the National Parks, Yellowstone is a “geological smoking gun”. Here is Ms. Ducky at Mud Geyser.

Mud Geyser

Don’t get in that water, Ms. Ducky.

Mud Geyer

Humans do go to National Parks to see wild animals. Be careful, Ms. Ducky

Ms. Ducky. There is a buffalo behind you.

Of course, this is the Rocky Mountains, so let’s see a mountain lake.

Yellowstone Lake

Possibly the best known geyser in Yellowstone National Park is Old Faithful.

Old Faithful Geyser

This geyser’s eruptions are predictable, so many humans gather here waiting for the next eruption.

Old Faithful

Isn’t it beautiful at Yellowstone?

A closer look

Let’s go to Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace for a different landscape.

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace

The steaming terraces are made of travertine, calcium carbonate, which the hot water brings to the surface from beds of limestone.

Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace

A whole new look for geyser landscape. Isn’t this interesting? We love to see this stuff.

Very unusual

But, what is this?

Dormant hot spring cone

This is a dormant hot spring cone. This is something new. We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks have never seen anything like it. This is great Ms. Ducky. Thanks for sharing all these great pictures with us. We will have from Ms. Ducky next time. We still think you are very photogenic.

December 12, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Ms. Ducky Goes to Yellowstone National Park

Ms. Ducky, our friend, took a great vacation. She and her humans went to Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park with Ms. Ducky

In 1872, Yellowstone became the world’s first national park. Yellowstone has so much to see. First Ms. Ducky took her humans to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Beautiful.

Yellowstone National Park

This is wonderful.

Yellowstone National Park

The river cuts through the rock.

Canyon

The color of the canyon walls is caused by heat and chemical action on gray and brown rhyolite rock. Oh, those waterfalls are perfect.

Canyon and waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park

Ms. Ducky was happy to see this human.

Joe with Ms. Ducky

This Joe. He is a US Marine and she does not see him often. Ms. Ducky had her humans ride this wagon.

Riding in wagon

Where are you going, Ms. Ducky? The horse seems to like Ms. Ducky, too.

He brought us here

After the wagon ride, this dinner was served.

Ready to eat!

Makes me hungry. Now we know where you were heading while on that wagon. Great choice! Thank you for sharing your photos, Ms. Ducky. Yellowstone National Park is beautiful. Next time she will show us a different area of Yellowstone National Park.

December 9, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Christmas Train in Georgetown, Colorado with Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck

I, Zeb the Duck, and Soapy Smith Duck, are going on the Christmas train. We love trains and we love Christmas and we love Georgetown.

Georgetown, Colorado

A perfect time for us. Arriving early, while still daylight, we find the path to the warming hut and our train.

Path to train station and white warming hut

But first we see Jeremy roasting chestnuts.

Jeremy is roasting chestnuts

Of course we try some. Very nice. Our first time eating roasted chestnuts. Jeff shows us some knives he recently made. He is a blacksmith and also carves the handles for his knives.

Jeff makes and sells great knives

Some of the handles are bone, some are antlers or animal horns. All the knives he makes are one of a kind and personally crafted by Jeff. Heading to the train station, we love these guys in the canoe.

Canoe with friends in Clear Creek

They are floating on the partially frozen Clear Creek. This creek also winds through downtown Denver. Looking the other direction on Clear Creek, we see the train crossing Devil’s Gate High Bridge.

Train on Devil’s Gate High Bridge

The train will cross Clear Creek 4 times on this loop ride. This narrow gauge train was completed in 1884 to connect the two mining towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume. Now it is primarily a tourist train. It is rather chilly here in the mountains, so we head to the warming hut. Inside we admire the decorations.

Inside warming hut

Our train has not arrived yet, but this one is here. Freight cars decorated for the Christmas season.

Decorated train cars

There are lights everywhere. Inside our train, there are more lights.

Inside night train

It is dark outside now, and we pass so many displays of lights. Some lighting displays are synchronized with music. Since this is a Christmas train, Santa is here.

Santa in train

We ducks tell Santa what we want for Christmas. Maybe we will get it? Maybe not? But, we love Santa and we love this train ride. The towns of Georgetown and Silver Plume are only 2 miles (3.2 km) apart, but climbing the mountain, we ride 4.5 miles (7.2 km) on this train. Returning to the Georgetown train station, we enjoy hot chocolate and sugar cookies from Steph.

Hot chocolate and sugar cookies here

Looking back, we love the lights leading to the train. If you visit Colorado this month, we hope you ride the Georgetown Christmas train. We think you will love it as much as we did.

December 7, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Georgetown Christmas Market with Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck

One of our favorite nearby mountain towns is Georgetown, Colorado.

You will enjoy visiting Georgetown, Colorado.

We are going to the Christmas market. Georgetown has a special Christmas market the first two weekends of December.

Entering Christmas market

We went last weekend. We hope you visit this weekend. The area is small, but you will find things here that you do not see everywhere else. We bought some jewelry. The favorite items for our moms were eye masks. They are filled with cherry pits.

Eye mask filled with cherry pits

Our moms put them in the freezer and use them in the morning. They say their eyes are tired in the morning and a little swollen. The cold, but not frigid, mask makes eyes feel better and reduces the slight swelling. The lady that makes and sells them also has larger ones. They can also be put in the freezer, but usually a put in a microwave for no more than 2 minutes. The pad with cherry pits will stay warm, not hot, for 1-2 hours. We ducks are wondering if our moms will be saving and using cherry pits this summer? We saw several people here, but it was not overly crowded.

Comfortable amount of humans

That large barrel is for roasting chestnuts and cooking other food. Several types of hats were also available.

Soapy’s mom had to help us. We fell off the hats. Several times!

Shopping always makes humans, and ducks, hungry. Pretzels and other snacks were available here.

Pretzels and snacks

Other food choices were also sold on the street and at Georgetown’s many restaurants.

Georgetown’s tourist and business street

It does get cold in the mountains, especially when the sun goes behind the mountains, so this fire pit was a welcome and popular spot.

Love the warmth of fire pits

We love the lights on live trees in Georgetown. There are many beautiful trees growing in town, so they do not need to cut a special Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas!

This is not the largest Christmas market, but it is very nice and fun to visit. After, or before, visiting this market, you may wish to ride the Georgetown Loop narrow gauge train. The lighting for Christmas is very festive. We will show you photos of the train next time. Visit Georgetown soon and you will have a good time. We did.

December 5, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Zeb Goes to Women’s Bean Project Open House in Denver

I, Zeb the Duck, love to visit during an Open House. Saturday we went to Women’s Bean Project in Denver.

Open House at Women’s Bean Project

I like this already. Humans, let’s go!

Let’s go inside, humans

We met some human friends here. Now we are all going inside. What is Women’s Bean Project? According to their website, “the mission of Women’s Bean Project is to change women’s lives by providing stepping stones to self-sufficiency through social enterprise.” Women in the program learn gourmet food and handmade jewelry manufacturing. During this open house, we meet employees and program participants. Also on display are items made in Denver and available to purchase. Here is some of the jewelry made here and offered for purchase today.

Jewelry

The women also provide and package ingredients for making cookies at home.

Yum! Cookie mixes.

I, Zeb the Duck, love cookies, so we purchased a couple bags of cookie mix. The tree makes the room very festive. Here are baskets, ready for you to give to friends this Christmas.

Gift baskets

We did not purchase a basket, but the Malaysian spice rub caught our attention, so one of those did come home. A rather large selection of spices for rubs and dips tempted everyone.

Individual packages for rubs and dips

In addition to preparing the food mixes and making jewelry, the program participants have classes in interpersonal and life skills needed for employment. In Denver, Women’s Bean Project is known for delicious soups.

So many kinds of soup mixes

This is a sample of what was available for us at the Open House. And, even more choices, including dog biscuits.

More mixes, gifts, and dog biscuits

You could complete most of your Christmas shopping today at Women’s Bean Project. Even if you are not hungry, or not tempted by the food choices, perhaps a shirt or reusable, cloth shopping bag?

Not hungry? Shirts and shopping bags available

Christmas will be here in a few weeks, so I, Zeb the Duck, stopped to chat with Santa.

I like Santa

Perhaps he will answer this duck’s Christmas request? The Women’s Bean Project started in 1989, when Jossy Eyre was working with women in a shelter. Purchasing $500 worth of beans, she put homeless women to work making bean soup. That was just the beginning of a successful program that has helped thousands of women. During the open house, I was happy to see my friend, Marta.

My friend, Marta

She is a program participant. The cookie mix we purchased was made by Marta. The women put their name on the packages they made, so we know we have Marta’s cookie mix. Every time we eat snickerdoodle cookies, or chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, we will think of Marta and how proud we are of her success. For more information visit http://www.womensbeanproject.com You may also purchase their products at this website. At the open house, we sampled several food items, and they all were delicious. Get some and give your taste buds a treat.

December 2, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Cozumel, Mexico with Chanel the Bear

Today I, Zeb the Duck, want you to see these photos of Cozumel, Mexico from my friend, Chanel the Bear.

Big boots for a small bear

Aren’t these the biggest boots you have ever seen with an adorable bear? Looks like a place to have a lot of fun. Cozumel is a small island of Mexico. A great tourist area with fantastic beaches, scuba diving and snorkeling. These horse drawn carriages looks great and just announce that you are a happy tourist.

Horse drawn carriages in Cozumel, Mexico

I love to see them, Chanel. Wow! Look at the size of your cruise ship.

That cruise ship is huge

These ships really are floating cities, aren’t they? Thanks for these great photos, Chanel.

November 30, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Chanel the Bear Visits Jamaica

Jamaica! Oh Chanel, that is exciting. This duck has never been to Jamaica. Mom said Jamaica, a Caribbean Island was colonized by the British and the island is beautiful. Jamaica has mountains, rainforests, great scuba diving and wonderful snorkeling. Here you are, entering Konoko Falls and Park.

Let’s go to Konoko Falls

This beautiful area is in the Hills of St. Ann, overlooking the tourist area of Ocho Rios. Your photo of this beautiful fountain shows a turtle in the water.

Turtle in the fountain

We love to see turtles. Jamaica’s first people, the Taino Indians settled in this area. Be careful Chanel, that man has something on his shoulder.

Man with huge iguana

A really huge iguana. The tropical landscape is breathtaking. Thank you Chanel for these photos. Jamaica looks beautiful and it seems that you had a great time there.

November 28, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Curacao, Nederlands Antilles with Chanel the Bear

My friend, Chanel the Bear, just came home from another cruise. She sent me, Zeb the Duck, some colorful photos from Curacao.

Curacao with Channel the Bear

Mom told me Curacao is in the Caribbean Sea, just 40 miles (65 km) north of Venezuela in South America. Things look so tropical and warm here.

Colorful Willemstad, Curacao

And even a huge sign for Vitamin Water, a common beverage in the United States. Curacao still has strong ties to the Kingdom of the Nederlands. Shopping looks like fun, Chanel.

I love these shirts!

We love these souvenir shirts. Mom told me that Curacao is one of the ABC Islands. The ABC Islands are Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Just look at the colorful buildings in Willemstad, the capital of Curacao.

Colorful buildings in Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Willemstad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Oh Chanel, thank you for sending these photos. How wonderful that you and your mom went on this cruise.

November 26, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Scenic Hiking in the City

I, Zeb the Duck, hiked around the lake. I saw migratory birds. I enjoyed the mountain backdrop, and I was in the middle of the city. Jefferson County, our home and just west of Denver, has an Open Space Program, which is similar to a park system. Today we went to Crown Hill Park in Jefferson County Open Space.

Crown Hill Park. Jefferson County Open Space Program

Within minutes we found this protected picnic area.

Sheltered picnic area

I love the lake and the mountain views. Humans come here for many reasons. This human is walking a dog.

Dogs like this park also

Dogs must be on a leash here and of course, humans clean up after their dog. These humans are fishing and enjoying the lake.

Fishing and relaxing at Crown Hill Lake

The clouds coming over the mountain verifying the weather forecast. A storm is moving in and we may receive snow tomorrow. There is a 1.2 mile paved trail around the lake.

Paved trail around Crown Hill Lake

Paving makes it wheelchair accessible, so everyone can enjoy this space. Some humans come here to skateboard.

Skateboarding around the lake

Some humans come for exercise.

Running and jogging around the lake

This man is jogging around the lake. He passed me three times. For those that want a little more wilderness feeling, these miles of dirt paths are available.

Unpaved through wilderness areas

Some humans and ducks come to walk and view quiet scenes like this.

Secluded view

Here a human threw a stick in the lake and his dog is enjoying a swim to bring it back.

Fun for dogs also

Humans are not allowed to swim or wade in Crown Hill Lake. The northwest corner of this area is a Wildlife Sanctuary.

Wildlife Sanctuary within Crown Hill Park

We eagerly go through the gate and watch many migrating birds on Kestrel Pond, the wetlands.

Kestrel Pond in wetlands area

Following the many paths, we remember that this area is also certified as a National Urban Wildlife Refuge. Kestrel Pond area earned that designation for its value to a variety of migrating waterfowl. There are always so many birds here. The Wildlife Sanctuary is only open to the pubic from July 1 through February 28. It is closed during the mating season to protect the wildlife. We liked all the birds, but the colors here grabbed our attention.

Feeding while feeling protected

Dogs, skateboarders, and bikes are never allowed in this area. These 242 acres contain 10.1 miles of trails and are located between two major streets. But the feeling of peace and serenity is strong. Directly east of Crown Hill Lake, is another huge area of peacefulness. Across the lake, we see the Tower of Memories from Crown Hill Cemetery.

Looking across lake to Tower of Memories in Crown Hill Cemetery

Crown Hill Open Space is a short drive for us, yet it seems so far from the busy lives we all have. We hope you visit Crown Hill Open Space, or enjoy some pretty parks near you, soon and often.

November 24, 2016 by coloradotravelingducks

Happy Thanksgiving 2016

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States of America. Today is a day for family and friends to be together. We give thanks for our many blessing. For most Americans, we first give thanks for our family and our friends. We believe we are blessed to live in this country.

Thankful for having plenty

Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November since 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday. The first American Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 when the pilgrims had their first harvest in the New World. This first Thanksgiving was shared with 90 Native American Indians and 53 pilgrims.

American pilgrims and Native American Indians sharing and celebrating

The Colorado Traveling Ducks and their humans wish you a pleasant day with your family and friends, giving thanks while enjoying a wonderful meal.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone

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