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Father’s Day 2016

Today, Sunday, June 19, 2016 is Father’s Day in the United States.   Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June every year.   This is a holiday to honor fathers and male parenting and to recognize the influence of fathers in our society.   We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks wish all fathers, brothers, uncles, and grandfathers a Happy Father’s Day.   Father’s Day became a national holiday in 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the holiday into law.   We especially wish a Happy Father’s Day to Eider Duck’s father and to JB Duck’s father.

Happy Father's Day 2016

Happy Father’s Day 2016

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Happy Flag Day 2016

Today, June 14 commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States of America by resolution of the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.   Today, June 14 is also the birthday of the United States Army.   We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, hope all Americans proudly and properly display the flag of the United States of America.

Flag Day 2016

Flag Day 2016

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Horses in and Around Denver

Colorado became a state in 1876.   At that time most people traveled by horse.   Today, many people in Colorado own horses.   Every January Denver hosts the National Western Stock Show.  The rodeos at the National Western are among the largest in the country.   We have horse carriages on our pedestrian mall in Denver.   But, we have many statues of horses that just don’t look like the horses I usually see.   Mom says this is artistic interpretation.   What do you think?   This horse statue is in west Arvada, near a beautiful, new housing community.

Horse across from beautiful new housing community

Horse across from beautiful new housing community

What is in its mouth?  And what is it wearing?  Horse shoes or horse boots?  In western Colorado, in the town of Rifle, this statue resembles a horse, but what is the horse standing on?

Balancing horse in Rifle, Colorado

Balancing horse in Rifle, Colorado

Rifle is a great western town.   I like Rifle.   West of Denver and south of Boulder, is the town of Eldorado Springs.   This horse was outside a sculpture studio.

Horse sculptured in Eldorado Springs, Colorado

Horse sculptured in Eldorado Springs, Colorado

Denver encourages public art.   This horse is on the corner with a Wal Mart.

Horse with fancy feet.

Horse with fancy feet.

The prancing horse, created in 2008 by Jim Dolan, is called Montana.   In downtown Denver, the main Denver Public Library is in the Denver Art Museum complex.   Here we have a small horse standing on a big chair in front of the Denver Public Library.

Small horse on big chair

Small horse on big chair

One of Denver’s more famous horse sculpture in at Denver International Airport.   This well known sculpture is also famous for killing its creator.

Blue Horse at Denver International Airport

Blue Horse at Denver International Airport

During the creation, the horse fell and did kill the artist.   The artist’s son finished the blue horse.

Red eyes on blue horse at Denver International Airport

Red eyes on blue horse at Denver International Airport

These red eyes on the horse really are noticeable as night approaches.   Perhaps our most famous, and most loved horse is the white bronco on the stadium where our Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos play football.

The Broncos play here

The Broncos play here

The people of Colorado do love the Denver Broncos football team, and our horse, Bucky.

Bucky. Mom did not take this photo.

Bucky. Mom did not take this photo.

Bucky was moved to his traditional place of honor when a new stadium was built over 20 years ago.   There are many statues with horses in Colorado and in fairness, we wanted to show you some of the more unusual.   But we love our state and our many horses.

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The Road to Mount Evans is Open and The Colorado Traveling Ducks Go To The Top

The winter snow has been plowed from North America’s highest paved road.   The road opened this week, so Zeb, Soapy Smith, and JB Duck went to the top of Mount Evans.   The road begins at Echo Lake.

Echo Lake

Echo Lake

This lake is 10,600 feet (3,230 meters) above sea level.   Echo Lake has a picnic area, a camping area, great fishing and hiking, and a lodge.   We love Echo Lake.   Starting our trip up, our first stop is Mount Goliath Natural Area, elevation 11,540 feet (3,517 meters).

Mount Goliath Natural Area

Mount Goliath Natural Area

This 160 acres protects the Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine tree.   These trees can live thousands of years and often grow twisted for a stronger foundation against extreme winds.

Bristlecone pine trees and the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Bristlecone pine trees and the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Of course, our rascal duck, Soapy Smith, decided to sit in this young tree.

Soapy sitting in a small Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine

Soapy sitting in a small Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine

The plowed snow by the side of the road is really piled high in some areas.

Snow was plowed to open road

Snow was plowed to open road

The highest paved road in North America is two lanes, mostly uphill, with many curves.

Highest paved road in North America

Highest paved road in North America

There are no guard rails, so drivers must be alert.   These Yellow -bellied Marmots were under a pick up truck.

Yellow-Bellied Marmots

Yellow-Bellied Marmots

Soon we see more animals.

Rocky Mountain Goats

Rocky Mountain Goats

There are many Bighorn Sheep and Rocky Mountain Goats in this area.   The road to Mount Evans and the surrounding land is governed both by the US Forest Service and the City and County of Denver.   Part of this area is included in the Denver Mountain Park system.   Our next stop is Summit Lake Park.

Summit Lake Park

Summit Lake Park

A lot of snow here at 12,830 feet (3,911 meters) above sea level.   Summit Lake is still frozen.

Summit Lake, still frozen

Summit Lake, still frozen

We love the way the mountain was carved by glaciers to form Summit Lake.    The Colorado Traveling Ducks have reached the top.

The summit of Mount Evans and the remains of Crest House

The summit of Mount Evans and the remains of Crest House

The building behind and to the right of us was Crest House.   Crest House was completed in 1941 and quickly became a popular gift shop and restaurant.   Unfortunately Crest House burned in 1979 and as far as we know there are no plans to rebuild.   Near the top, we ducks sat in the snow.

Colorado Traveling Ducks in the snow

Colorado Traveling Ducks in the snow

The elevation at the summit parking lot is 14,130 feet or 4,307 meters.   The elevation is important as the thinner air does not contain as much oxygen.   Also, for every 1,000 feet above sea level, the sun is 5% stronger.   Remember to go slow as you adjust to less oxygen and to wear sunscreen and a hat.   Also driving the 14 miles to the top of Mount Evans, you will see landscape similar to driving through Canada to Nome, Alaska.   Returning to Echo Lake we see our friendly goats.

Our friends were waiting for us

Our friends were waiting for us

Through the car window, this goat gets really close and personal.

He likes us!

He likes us!

He is our favorite friend at Mount Evans.

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National Doughnut Day 2016

We love donuts!   Today, the first Friday in June, is National Doughnut Day.    This holiday was created by the Salvation Army in 1938.   The day recognizes the Salvation Army Doughnut Lassies.   Those are the ladies that served free donuts to the soldiers during World War I.

Salvation Army Doughnut Lassie of World War I

Salvation Army Doughnut Lassie of World War I

This holiday began in 1938 as a fund raiser for Chicago’s Salvation Army, to help people during the Great Depression.   Today some donut stores are giving free donuts, often asking for a donation for the local Salvation Army.   We love donuts and we support the Salvation Army.  We will be at our donut shop, eating donuts and donating to the Salvation Army.

After the photo, we ate some donuts at Dunkin' Donuts

After the photo, we ate some donuts at Dunkin’ Donuts

This is a great day for ducks and humans!

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Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado with Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck

Traveling on I-70 near Golden, Colorado, a large white statue sits on the Rocky Mountains.   Follow the road signs and visit the Mother Cabrini Shrine.

Welcome to Mother Cabrini Shrine

Welcome to Mother Cabrini Shrine

Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck enjoyed the peace and serenity here this week.   Mother Cabrini, born July 15, 1850 as Francesca Saverio Cabrini, immigrated to the United States and became the first naturalized US citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church on July 7, 1946.   The Shrine and the Rocky Mountains contribute to a feeling of peace and serenity.

Deer enjoy serenity

Deer enjoy serenity

These deer contribute to and enjoy the peacefulness.   We drove past the main chapel, to the Grotto.   Isn’t this archway pretty?

Beautiful stone archway

Beautiful stone archway

There was no known source of water here; water was brought in from miles away.   Now the water flows freely from this fountain.

Fountain

Fountain

The sign says “Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini founder of the missionaries of the Sacred Heart, endowed with lofty gifts, struck with a staff this rock, from which flowed a fountain of water, in the year of Our Lord, 1912.”  Near the fountain we walked through the Rosary Garden.

Rosary Garden

Rosary Garden

The benches offer a place to rest, reflect or meditate.    There is a small chapel near the fountain.

Inside small chapel

Inside small chapel

Several humans light candles here.  But, we the Colorado Traveling Ducks, want to see the statue up close.

Mother Cabrini statue on mountain

Mother Cabrini statue on mountain

Looks pretty far, but humans say the longest journey begins with a single step.

Step one of 374 steps

Step one of 374 steps

This is the first step to the top.   Let’s go.   Along the way, signs mark the Stations of the Cross.

Jesus speaks to the women

Jesus speaks to the women

This one is VIII, Jesus Speaks to the Women.   The signs all have information to tell humans the significance of each place.   We also saw several symbolic statues.

Along the stairs to the statue

Along the stairs to the statue

After 374 steps, we reached the top and the statue.   This statue is dedicated to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini.

Mother Cabrini Statue

Mother Cabrini Statue

Looking down, we admire the mountains while looking east toward Denver.

Looking toward Denver from Mother Cabrini Statue

Looking toward Denver from Mother Cabrini Statue

Looking to the west, over the homes, we admire the snow capped Rocky Mountains.

From Mother Cabrini, looking west toward the snow capped Rocky Mountains

From Mother Cabrini, looking west toward the snow capped Rocky Mountains

Soon we walk down the 374 steps.   There is also a Meditation Walk, the Cabrini Garden, and Stone House which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.    There is much to see here, too much for one blog.   We hope that if you are near Denver, Colorado that you drive west of Golden and visit Mother Cabrini Shrine.  Looking back, we enjoyed the peacefulness of these deer on the mountain near the statue.

Deer on hill with Mother Cabrini Statue in background

Deer on hill with Mother Cabrini Statue in background

Hope to see you there soon.

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Happy Memorial Day 2016

Today is Memorial Day in the United States.   Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day after the American Civil War.   Since 1967 Memorial Day has been a Federal Holiday, celebrated the last Monday in May.   This is the day for remembering the people who died while serving in the United States armed forces.

Fort Logan Cemetery, Denver, Colorado

Fort Logan Cemetery, Denver, Colorado

We drove to Fort Logan National Cemetery in south Denver.   This federal cemetery is 214 acres of white headstones and was opened in the late 1800s.

Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado

Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado

Volunteers placed American flags at all graves.   There are more than 100,000 small American flags there today.   The roads leading into the cemetery are marked with larger American flags.

Fort Logan Cemetery, Denver, Colorado

Fort Logan Cemetery, Denver, Colorado

We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks, remember, honor and are forever indebted to those who gave their lives to give us our way of life.

Fort Logan Cemetery, Denver, Colorado

Fort Logan Cemetery, Denver, Colorado

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Meet Joe the Marine Duck

We are proud to introduce the newest member of our Colorado Traveling Ducks family.   Joe the Marine Duck is in full dress blue uniform.   You remember our friend, Ms. Ducky.   In January 2016 she told us about her trip to Europe and then a return European trip to Ireland.   Her human brother is a United States Marine.   We are proud of the Marines and all humans in the United Sates Military Service.  Welcome to our new brother, Joe the Marine.

Joe the Marine

Joe the Marine