Can you believe this? There is a national day for batteries! Today, February 18, is the day to appreciate the convenience batteries provide to our everyday lives. We need batteries in so many things. Cars and other motor vehicles need batteries. Also computers, cell phones, security alarms, cameras, flashlights, watches, clocks, toothbrushes, toys, and so much more. We even have stores dedicated to batteries. Battery Plus sells so many different types of batteries and other accessories, such as chargers, adapters and more. To celebrate National Battery Day the Colorado Traveling Ducks recommend checking and perhaps replacing the batteries in smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide detectors. Have a safe and happy National Battery Day.
We Visit Denver’s First Church
Trinity United Methodist Church, organized in 1859 claims to be Denver’s First Church. I, Zeb the Duck, with Chanel the Bear, visited this beautiful church at 1820 Broadway in Denver, Colorado.
Trinity United Methodist Church
Known today as Trinity United Methodist Church, is was first known as Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church.
Originally Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church
We went inside. From the front this is the view looking toward the balcony.
Looking to balcony
We love stained glass windows, so we were happy. Isn’t this a great wooden Nativity display.
Nativity Scene with Zeb and Chanel
Chanel and I fit right into this scene. Climbing the stairs to the balcony, we had an impressive view of the organ.
From balcony to organ
Completed in 1888, under the supervision of Frank Roosevelt of the Roosevelt Organ Works of New York, this organ has been carefully maintained. In 1888 electricity was not dependable. A water wheel was connected to an artesian well in the sub-basement of the building. Thus in an emergency, there would be electricity to power the organ. This organ has 4,275 pipes. That is a lot! Looking around the balcony, there are a lot of seats in this church.
Inside Trinity United Methodist Church
We liked this sculpture.
He Shall Gather The Lambs
The inscription says “He Shall Gather the Lambs”. This church has many symbols of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). There are three arches over the Broadway Street entrance and three sections of the steeple.
Trinity United Methodist Church
Also within the proscenium arch above the organ’s pipes, there are 66 lights. Each light represents a book of the Bible.
From balcony toward organ
This Roosevelt organ is so large. Doesn’t the organist look small? When you are downtown Denver, we recommend that you visit this church. The church is beautiful and the organ is fantastic. Even when the weather is not perfect for outdoor activities, remember to visit special buildings, museums and other great indoor exhibits.
A Winter Sleigh Ride with Zeb, Soapy Smith, and Stevie
We returned to Winter Park, Colorado, one of our favorite mountain towns and ski resorts. The humans, ducks, and Soapy’s dog, Stevie, drive to Dashing Thru The Snow office.
Dashing Thru the Snow
Here we are. Now, into this building to register for a Three Horse Open Sleigh ride.
Check in here
The humans ask if Soapy’s dog Stevie can go and they said yes!! There were not many humans on this trip, so Stevie could ride also. This is our sleigh with the three horses.
Horse drawn sleigh. Ducks on step ready to get in.
We ducks are on the step to get in the sleigh. Stevie is in.
Stevie is in the sleigh
Here we go.
Going for a sleigh ride.
Driving through the snow with the Rocky Mountains in the background is so much fun. Soapy’s mom seats next to Stevie so Stevie doesn’t get scared.
Stevie and Soapy’s mom
This is the first sleigh ride for ducks and for Stevie. The humans have taken sleigh rides before and they always have fun. Driving through the trees is fun.
Riding through the trees
It is below freezing today, but the bright Colorado sun shines while the gentle breeze tugs at our scarves. New snow sparkles in the sun and our blankets keep us cozy and warm. Stevie has her blanket tucked around her silky black fur. The Continental Divide of the Rocky Mountains is so pretty today, with new snow on the mountains.
Colorado Rocky Mountains from our sleigh
This area is called Devil’s Thumb. Here we are, at the end of the sleigh ride.
Ready to get off the sleigh
Stevie is standing up and ready to get off. We were too slow. Stevie’s new friend, Chip, jumped on the sleigh to be with her.
Chip and Stevie in the sled
Chip lives here and her owners run Dashing Thru The Snow. Now everybody is off the sleigh and Stevie and Chip are having fun.
Chip and Stevie
The humans and ducks now get hot chocolate. The large container has cups and miniature marshmallows for the hot chocolate. Yum!
Cups, hot chocolate, and marshmallows are here.
The other container has regular marshmallows to roast over the fire. We ducks love roasting marshmallows.
Roasting marshmallows with empty horse drawn sleigh behind.
Our empty sleigh and horses are here also. We ducks are sitting by the fire. Chip is our friend also.
Colorado Traveling Ducks with Chip by the fire
Sleigh riding makes ducks hungry, so we stopped for a snack.
Snack while looking at the mountains
It is nice to look out the window and admire our mountains, covered with snow. Today the weather in Winter Park was nice, but below freezing. We small ducks are still a little chilled when we get back to our condo. The humans said we could sit by the fire to get warm, but not long enough for rubber ducks to melt.
Warm by the fire
We really had fun today in Winter Park.
Happy Valentine’s Day 2017
Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone. Today is a day to celebrate love and friendship. A traditional Valentine gift is candy.
Valentine candy for us
Another traditional gift is flowers.
Valentine flowers just arrived
Remember Valentine’s Day is not only for the romantically involved. It is also a holiday for friendships. And, of course, remember your non-human friends. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Colorado Traveling Ducks to Return to Winter Park in 2017
We are back and we love it. Our time share condo awaits us. Huge piles of snow here this winter.
Lot of snow here
From our deck, through really long icicles, we view the partially frozen Fraser River.
Icicles on our deck
Many winter activities are planned. However after the first one, more about that next time, daytime temperatures did not get above the mid teens, or -10C. Our human moms did not like the cold. They did not enjoy the wind blowing from the mountain peaks over the fresh snow, attacking their skin. Actually, we ducks did not like being cold either. Much of our time was inside admiring the sparkling now on the mountain peaks, and enjoying the fireplace. Occasional short walks with Stevie, Soapy Smith Duck’s black lab reminded us we don’t have fun shivering. One evening we went bowling.
Fun here!
It was a lot of fun. Soapy Smith Duck, and I, Zeb the Duck, can verify that our humans had not bowled for a long time. The scores, low and rather embarrassing. Gutter balls, too often. Strikes, a few, but too few. Laughter and smiles were there, also. Poor performances but a great deal of fun for everyone. The movie theater, located in the same building, sold popcorn. We bought some on the way out and were surprised to also see buckets of caramel corn. We returned to the condo with a bucket of each kind. A couple colder days, our only trips were to great restaurants. Winter Park and Fraser have so many. We’re returning to the Smokehouse.
Smoke House
One human enjoyed pulled pork.
Liftie sandwich on Texas Toast. Delicious pulled pork
Bucky’s mild sauce always tops her sandwich. Other humans enjoyed various sandwiches. Nearby, where humans do not walk, these icicles impressed us.
Huge and abundant icicles
The roof is rather clear, but so many icicles. One day we enjoyed Mexican food at Azteca.
The place for Mexican food
Another evening flavorful, fresh seafood was our choice.
Good food inside
Fontenot’s has great food and pretty great icicles also. Another favorite, Randi’s, prepares mom’s favorite broiled trout with almonds.
We return here every year.
Then our moms ordered these desserts.
Ice cream desserts. Cold and snowy outside
Behind the desserts, that is a window and real snow piled in the parking area. With so much snow, roofs of buildings need to be cleared. The weight of the snow can cause roof damage, or even roofs may collapse. Also, falling ice and snow can seriously injure anyone on the ground.
Cleaning the roof
At our condo, men clear the roof using electric tools. This tool, similar to a chisel breaks ice. Other tools, if necessary, are used to remove snow and the underlying ice. During this cold spell, we ducks and humans were often seen walking to this building.
More fun inside
Inside the hot tub was hot.
We are ducks and we love water
The sauna was also hot.
Rather hot in here
So warm and relaxing. The morning we left Winter Park, it was a couple degrees below 0, or about -20C. These are not unusual temperatures, but even with warm winter clothing, we did not enjoy going outdoors often. The next week temperatures were around freezing during the day. Perhaps we will go back for a day to enjoy some of the winter activities we missed. Maybe.
National Peppermint Patty Day
National Peppermint Patty Day is today, February 11, 2017. Isn’t this another great idea for a national day?
Yum
The oldest commercial made mint patty or cake was made by the Quiggin’s family on the Isle of Man, an island in the northern Irish Sea. In the United States peppermint patties were made by regional confectioneries by 1900. With York and Pearson’s being the most popular peppermint patties, we like other peppermint candy as well. Here we are with York and Pearson peppermint, but we added Andes mints and Ghirardelli mints.
We like several kinds of mints
We love chocolate, we love peppermint and we love variety. Enjoy a peppermint patty, or better, several of them today.
It was a Great Vacation for Humans and Colorado Traveling Ducks
So many things to do and so many new places to explore, we don’t want to forget anything. We chatted about our experiences on the flights back to Denver. The first day we ducks met our new friend, Chip, from Hilton Doubletree hotels.
Colorado Traveling Ducks met Chip, Doubletree Hotel’s chocolate chip cookie.
On our cruise ship, Carnival Fascination, Zeb surveys his kingdom.
From ping pong area looking at main pool
Then in St. Thomas, Bucket and his parents ride underwater scooters.
Underwater motor scooters
Barbados provided the shopping highlight.
Maybe this bag is new traveling bag for ducks. Humans get the emeralds.
Also Barbados was where Bucket and his parents snorkeled and saw an underwater wreck.
What you can see snorkeling in Barbados
St. Kitts had us all in mini speedboats.
Ready to drive mini speed boat
Bucket and his parents almost ready to head out. Then Soapy’s mom discovered a monkey and the monkey’s owner discovered Soapy’s mom.
Soapy’s mom and monkey owner
Was fun for everybody here. St. Lucia almost ended the Colorado Traveling Ducks.
Are we swimming alone? Mom!!
Out to sea we went, but Bucket’s mom saved us! In St. Maarten, Bucket, the daredevil that he is, went swimming alone.
Soapy come back here
He said he had fun and needed to get away from all of us. Bucket’s mom saved him, too. Bucket’s mom plays and get ready to do some fancy jumping into the water.
Ready to jump
Puerto Rico displayed the really small house.
Really small house
Narrow streets were fun to explore in Old San Juan.
Narrow streets of Old San Juan. Let’s go down this street.
Of course we visited many beaches, but this one, Isla Verde in Puerto Rico was the last.
Isla Verde Beach, Puerto Rico
Every night we were blessed with beautiful sunsets.
Sun setting on our family vacation
This was a vacation to remember. We saw and did many things, and we were all together. We hope you enjoy family vacations also.
Puerto Rico’s Isla Verde Beach with the Colorado Traveling Ducks
We are going to the beach! We ducks love all the activities and exploring in old towns, but the beach is our favorite. Isla Verde Beach is our place today. First we rent beach lounge chairs and umbrellas. We have never seen this. We pick our spot on the beach and the gentleman uses a drill with a wide, long attachment to dig a hole to secure our umbrella in the sand. 
Now the umbrella is firmly anchored in the sand, but extra ropes are needed to protect our umbrella from the wind.
Attaching lines to secure umbrella
Since we needed two umbrellas and four chairs, how did he carry them to our favorite spot? On this lounge chair, adapted with large sand wheels.
Tools of the trade
You can also see the drill and long attachment behind the carrying chair. This man really knows what he is doing. The chairs are arranged, water bottles available, and we are ready for a day of sun, sand, water and fun.
Chairs and umbrellas ready
Sitting on the beach, we enjoy the soft sand.
We love the sand and water
Time to rent jet skis now. Jet skis are so much fun. Each human gets a separate jet ski. It is more fun to drive. Here is Bucket’s dad driving his jet ski.
Bucket’s dad on a jet ski
Warm sun and beach activities do make humans and duck hungry and thirsty. Not to worry. A food stand is right behind us on the beach.
Food and drinks are near
We have a lot of food now, so Bucket’s mom is sharing with some new friends.
Bucket’s mom sharing with birds
There are many water activities available at the beach. These are kite boards.
Kite boarders here
The kites are so colorful and look great sailing above the water. We did not try them today. Maybe another time. You can see there are many people enjoying Isla Verde Beach today, but it really is not crowded.
Nice wide sandy beach
This is a big beach. This is our last day in Puerto Rico so we are all happy to spend it at the beach. But we are getting hungry again. Let’s try some real Puerto Rican food for our last evening. Nearby at Los Platos restaurant, we order mofongos.
Mofongos
These are green mashed plantains. One has chicken inside and one has beef inside. We have a choice of white garlic sauce or Puerto Rican creole. We tried each sauce. Three of us had mofongos and one had a delicious fish dinner. This meal was very tasty and a great way to end our Puerto Rican vacation.
Wandering Old San Juan, Puerto Rico with the Colorado Traveling Ducks
Who are these people? What are they doing?
Ponce de Leon
Here, in the Plaza de Colon in Old San Juan we found Ponce de Leon, the first governor of Puerto Rico. Searching for the Fountain of Youth, in Puerto Rico and in the American state of Florida, today he is promoting benefits of drinking clean water. It must work, he was born in 1474 and he looks pretty good. A short walk took us to the Franciscan Chapel, built by the Third Order of Saint Francis.
Franciscan chapel
This is not the most popular church, so it was almost empty.
Inside chapel
But so beautiful and made humans and ducks feel at peace. On the walls, the Stations of the Cross, were intricately carved.
Station of the Cross XI
This is number 11, the nailing of Jesus to the cross. Much of Old San Juan features restaurants and tourist shops. But, it is part of the city and many people live here. From the 1500s, the cobblestone streets are quite narrow.
Narrow Street
The humans just wanted to wander down these streets, not wanting to eat or shop now. On the main, wider streets, tourist buses take people between the two Spanish Castillos that we previously showed you. Also taking humans to the cruise port. Yes, the cruise ships leave from this area also. Look at the decorations on this bus.
Very colorful bus
From the bus, we saw the government building for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, flying the flag of the United States of America.
Puerto Rico Government building
Some people in the world are trying to reduce their life, their possessions, and reduce their carbon footprints. This house does that. This little house is only 5 feet wide.
Little house is only 5 feet wide
That really is little. Not everybody wants to live in a space that small though. On this narrow street, the apartments are fairly small, but the curved balconies seem wonderful.
Great balconies
And, no buses on this street. You could spend several days exploring Old San Juan, but we were only here for one day. We loved it, but we wanted to go to the beach. We will take you there next time.
National Thank A Mail Carrier Day Today, February 4
In the United States we get free mail delivery six days a week. Almost everyone is entitled to free mail delivery to their house. Our mail delivery person comes to our front door and puts the mail in the mailbox attached to the front of our house. Our mail carrier comes when it is very hot, when it is very cold, when it is hot and sunny, when it is cold and snowy, when it is raining. Our mail is delivered every day except Sunday. And even on Sunday, our packages are delivered. The humans that deliver the mail, walk 5-10 miles every day, carrying the mail. Some drive to each house and they walk from the street to each house with mail, then walk back to the mail truck. They are walking and doing step aerobics all day, every day.
We thank Letter Carriers!
We, the Colorado Traveling Ducks and the humans want to thank the mail carriers today, February 4, and every day. We really do appreciate all that you do for us.
Colorado Traveling Ducks 