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This is such a good depiction of the Expectations vs. Realities of Winter and what really happens in life. Don’t we all have great expectations of how things should be? And, then reality sets in but, hopefully, we can laugh and move on! Can you identify with any of these?  The Expectations vs. Realities of Winter
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 Are you Ready? Santa Claus is coming to town. You can track him coming into your city! NORAD Deploys their NORAD Santa Tracker! NORAD will be tracking Santa (like they do every year) so get on board and watch when and where Santa Claus arrives in various parts of the world. Go to the NORAD Santa Tracker web page and watch Santa in real time: http://www.noradsanta.org  Background info… The NORAD Tracks Santa program began as an annual event on December 24, 1955. According to legend, a Sears department store placed an advertisement in a Colorado Springs, Colorado, newspaper which told children that they could place a call to Santa Claus. It included the number ME 2-6681. A call allegedly came through to Colorado Springs’ Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center as one digit was misprinted. In some versions of the story, the calls were coming in to the “red telephone” hotline that connected CONAD directly to command authorities at the Strategic Air Command. Colonel Harry Shoup, who was a Crew Commander on duty, answered the first call and supposedly told his staff to give all children who called in later a “current location” for Santa Claus. NORAD Santa Tracker, it’s Fun! Merry Christmas! A Thanksgiving tradition for some families and a soon-to-be tradition for others…a Thankful Tree! After all, the meaning of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. This is an activity that all ages can participate in and will be a topic of conversation for your Thanksgiving gathering. We have chosen three trees that are fairly easy DIY projects. You can get started on them this week and have them ready for Thanksgiving day. Thankful Tree #1 (Pinterest)  Start with some tall branches — either gather them from outside, or purchase a bunch of craft branches. For an even more festive look, consider lighted branches. Add them to a simple glass vase. You may have some of the supplies on hand… if not, they are reasonable in cost and can be used year after year! Before guests arrive, attach ribbon to paper leaves. Using a dark colored Sharpie, write what you are thankful for on a few of the leaves and hang them on the tree. Encourage your guests to do the same as they arrive. Thankful Tree #2 (Pinterest)  You will need the following supplies for this Thankful Tree: Glass Vase, Tree Branches, Pinecones, Autumn Leaves, Ribbon, Scrapbook Paper, and Leaf Pattern This is a low-cost Tree that can be used year after year. Thankful Tree #3  This Tree is nature themed. It uses unshelled nuts in the vase with autumn leaves decoration surrounding the vase. The medallions are wooden with chalk paint so they can be used again next Thanksgiving. Be creative and use supplies that you have on hand. If you need to purchase some of them, remember that you can use this Thankful Tree year after year! Autumn Leaves Changing Colors As summer ends and autumn comes Days get shorter, misty and cold And in this spectacular season Nature’s beauty graciously unfold Trees get ready to slow down And in autumn take some rest And show amazing colors of love That are all at their best  Green fades away quickly And yellow and orange appear To show off their vibrant hues And warmup their surrounding dear Sunlight and cool nights of autumn Help leaves to turn orangish red And combine all things smoothly To add magic in season’s lovely bed And all this shedding and replacement Of leaves continue throughout the year And trees only shed leaves in autumn To prepare for another winter dear This is God’s spectacular display Of beautiful colors of the fall During which many changes occur Including yellow, orange and red of all. ***Inspired by the changing colors of Autumn in Canada. Enjoy Autumn with these Pumpkin Dessert Recipes - Click Here  Dog & Camp Gear It would be nice to go leave the busy city life every once in a while and go on a camping trip, to breathe in fresh air, enjoy nature's surroundings and go back to the basics.
When campers take their dog along on the trip, they will be able to loosen up and enjoy each other's company with no distractions, making it a fun way to make their bond stronger. In case they happen to find themselves in the middle of nowhere as they head out with their tent to camp out underneath the stars, at least they will have peace of mind knowing that their dog is tucked up beside them. Actually, there are health benefits when camping with a pet dog. Fresh, natural air increases serotonin levels. Spending some time outdoors like near the seaside or trees lets the body breathe in more oxygen, giving a camper and his pet a big break from the pollution and other chemicals experienced daily in the city. Also, this makes the camper feel happy since this releases serotonin inside the brain. The serotonin hormone has an effect on different things in our body, including a person's mood, behavior, digestion and sleep, to name a few. Sunshine boosts melatonin When people are camping out in a place that is warm and sunny, they can benefit from the abundance of sunshine received. It helps even out the body's melatonin. This chemical affects the mood and sleeping patterns in a positive way when people have the right levels. Melatonin can also restore the dog's body rhythms, reproductive cycles and sleep patterns plus it can be given to help dogs that suffer from anxiety and phobias. Reduce stress in a person and his dog Camping is an effective way to de-stress humans and dogs. During camping trips, people can turn off their phone and other gadgets to relax, exercise, explore, read a book and do all sorts of things that they don't have time for when attending to their daily routine. Stress has a negative effect on the minds and bodies. Being more relaxed with their dogs will make their furry friends more relaxed as well. More exercise When they bring along their dog on a camping trip, the more exercise they get since their pet will motivate them to get up and about, whether they are making fire to roast marshmallows or heading out to explore the sights with their best friend. Camping involves more exercises outdoors than spending the day in an office so it will benefit a camper and his dog alike. Sleep well Since the camping site is located outdoors, where there is fresh air and trees or water, campers can definitely get a good night sleep with all the relaxation experienced. It can make anyone fall into a deep slumber, which incidentally also offers a load of health benefits. Interested in purchasing a quality outdoor dog tent? Come and visit our online store today! That's where you can also find awesome store display tents for sale! For info on RVing in Colorado, Click Here Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Karina_Popa/1432444 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10391591 Let's hear it for Trivia!
Here's a free trivia quiz website that provides free trivia quizzes on a multitude of subjects. It has a variety of trivia games for adults as well as kids. Topics covered include U.S. history, geography, Harry Potter, Disney films, science, sports, holidays general knowledge, Bible trivia, movies, music and more! All of the free trivia quizzes are in multiple choice format, so even if you don’t know the answer, you’ve still got a chance to guess correctly! Have fun and let us know what your favorite category is! Here's the link: https://allthetrivia.com/ ***************************** Let's hear it for IQ Tests! You can take quick, free IQ tests that provide instant results and will also show you where your score sits compared to the full spectrum of IQ ranges. Here's the link: https://iqtestprep.com/ Yes, parent's stuff can be a boomer burden! Many baby boomers and those in the over 50 group are facing the inevitable in life. They have aging parents or their parents have already passed away. Besides coping with the emotional burden, there is also the matter of the financial aspect of a death and also dealing with your parents stuff. It can certainly be overwhelming!  Top 4 suggestions for action to take now and later: 1. Start Now – If parents are alive and willing, ask if they would like help in deciding what they want done with their belongings when they die. They might also want to start giving things away to family and friends while they are still alive. 2. Savor Memories – One way to remember a loved one is to make shadow boxes containing mementos of their hobbies and activities. They take up much less room and provide pleasant memories of a loved one. They can also be made for other members of the family. They make nice mementos for grand children and nieces and nephews. 3. Don’t Wait Too Late – You will be surprised to know that your aging parent (s) would actually welcome help in culling out possessions. It is a good time for them to reflect back on their life. It is also an excellent way to find out more about their life that you maybe didn’t even know! Communicate with your parents early! 4. Dealing with Siblings – Keep in mind when working with siblings in this situation that there are differences in how things should be done. Some adult children just want to “get it done” without giving much time or thought to the process. There are also those that want to touch each item and reminisce to great lengths. Come up with a plan on how you are going to deal with your parent’s possessions that will be workable for all to handle. Professional organizer, Claudia Smith, advocates a simple rule of thumb. “We spend our first 40 years in life collecting things and the second 40 years getting rid of things.” How to Deal with Your Parents Stuff!
 The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad is a National Historic Landmark. It's a 64-mile day trip that you will thoroughly enjoy and never forget. The narrow-gauge heritage railroad operates between Antonito, Colorado and Chama, New Mexico. It crosses the borders of Colorado and New Mexico 11 times as it chugs its way up and over the 10,015′ high Cumbres Pass. You can depart from Antonito, Colorado or Chama, New Mexico for a steam train ride of a lifetime! The Cumbres & Toltec goes where no automobile can go. Most of the route is through “off-the-grid” wilderness, so you’ll experience views into canyons and over ridges that can’t be seen in any other way. The train travels at a top speed of 12 miles an hour, and that’s the beauty of it! You won’t miss the aspen groves, the wildflowers, the steep mountain canyons, or the plentiful wildlife. The steam engine is coal fired and carries you through steep mountain canyons, high desert, and lush meadows as you zig zag between the Colorado and New Mexico borders. There is, indeed, spectacular and rare Western scenery which can only be viewed from the train's unique route. The Cumbres and Toltec Railroad has steamed through history and across the Rocky Mountains since 1880, when first tracks were laid across Cumbres Pass. This unique experience will take you back in time and off of the grid so you can experience the sounds, steam and steel of bygone years. Your daily grind can’t follow you into the great, unspoiled West. Originally part of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad's narrow-gauge network, the line has been jointly owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico since 1970. In 1988, a nonprofit organization called the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad was established to preserve the history of the railroad and help maintain infrastructure and rolling stock. The Friends of the C&TSRR also participates in various education programs and provides the railroad guides, known as docents, who inform passengers about historical aspects of the railroad as well as locations of interest. (Image Courtesy of Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad) A recent honor: USA Today - "Best Train Ride in America” Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad ranks among the most authentic steam-operated railroads still in existence. Passengers aboard this National Historic Landmark travel along a track laid in 1880 between Chama, N.M. and Antonito, Colo. Source... Related Travel Info...
You have a choice of days as well as the type of music you prefer. The music genres are varied throughout the summer: jazz, blues, rock, R&B, Motown, oldies, bluegrass, reggae, Americana, Dixieland, pop, Latin, country and more!
All you need is a blanket or chair as well as some yummy snacks. The difficult part is deciding which concerts to attend! FIRST & MAIN SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 5-7 p.m. Fridays (June & July) First and Main Town Center, 3650 New Center Point, 955-6060, firstandmaintowncenter.com ——————————————————————————————————————- PIKES PEAK JAZZ AND SWING SOCIETY’S ~ JAZZ IN THE PARKS 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, ppjass.org —————————————————————————————————————- Manitou Springs Live Music For concerts in Manitou Springs – Click Here —————————————————————————————————————-- HILLSIDE GARDENS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 6:00-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays Hillside Gardens, 1006 S. Institute, $15, and includes a house drink 520-9463, hillsidegardensandevents.com ———————————————————————————————————————- BANNING LEWIS RANCH SUMMER CONCERT SERIES 6-8 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays Banning Lewis Ranch, 6885 Vista del Pico Blvd., 522-2432, banninglewisranch.com ———————————————————————————————————————– JAZZ IN THE GARDEN AT GRACE AND ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 7 p.m. Fridays 601 N. Tejon St., 328-1125, gssepiscopal.org ———————————————————————————————————————– MUSIC ON THE LABYRINTH 6:30 p.m. Saturdays First Christian Church, 16 E. Platte Ave., firstchristiancos.org ———————————————————————————————————————-- PAINT THE TOWN BLUE SERIES 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays Thorndale Park, 2310 W. Uintah St., pikespeakblues.org ————————————————————————————————————————- MUSICAL MONDAYS IN MONUMENT VALLEY PARK 7 p.m. Mondays Monument Valley Park, on lawn west of Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 170 W. Cache la Poudre St. Concert Schedule ————————————————————————————————————————-- SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE GLEN 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays ~ July & August The Glen at Broadmoor Community Church, 315 Lake Ave., broadmoorchurch.org —————————————————————————————————————————-  Pikes Peak Area RVing – If You Are Interested… It’s Close!
Garden of the Gods Park One of the most photographed views in all of Colorado. These red rock formations rise up from seemingly out of nowhere. The view is dramatic especially views against the background our majestic Pikes Peak. The park features easy to hard walking trails and family and wheelchair friendly. If you want a different adventure, you can sign up for a Jeep or Segway tour or if you really take the risk for adventure you can arrange for some rock climbing. Royal Gorge Bridge and Park It’s just a short ride but you can take a short RV road trip to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. It was known, at past times, as the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas. The gorge is approximately ten miles long, granite walls that tower over 1,000 feet high. You can take a gondola across the gorge, or if you can handle the height walk across on the bridge. There is a experience of taking the highest zip line in North America… if you dare. There are historic displays about the park’s history. You will see the story of the 2013 fire that destroyed parts of the bridge. To settle in for a quiet day you can sit and just enjoy the spectacular views of the rock formations and river below the venue. Pikes Peak Another Colorado 14er at 14,115 feet — is one of the most famous summits in the United States. Visitors can hike the mountain, drive it (passing three fishing lakes and numerous hiking trails on the way), or ride up on the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway. However you get to the top, you’ll be rewarded with views of Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and more. For more RV Trips in Colorado, click here... https://rvshare.com/blog/rv-trips/colorado/ Broadmoor Seven Falls Another great place for us seniors to visit in the Pikes Peak Region is the Broadmoor Seven Falls. A shuttle conveniently takes you up to the series of waterfalls. From there, you can travel along the trails, and you can experience the magnificent views. Don’t want to miss the Eagles Nest across from the falls. Take the elevator up to see the spectacular views there. |
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