In one of my earlier posts, I recounted that a woman visited my “cottage” and said,

“How do you live like this?”

She never really came back.  She was used to live-in help and million dollar homes and the way I was living would “just never do.”

She should see it now.

In my tiny “living room” there are recliners, end tables, collapsable dinner trays stacked behind another mess,  a full sized electric keyboard, a secretary (that’s in furniture, not an assistant), my new iMac, two lap tops, winter coats, a wireless printer for the iMac that’s still in the box, stools (one for the piano, and one just because I like it), a new flat screen TV, huge boxes for the iMac and the TV…and other assorted furniture, pictures, wires and CDs.  You get the idea.

But here’s the good news.

I’m flying out of New York tomorrow and leaving this mess behind.

Will it be waiting for me when I get back?   Of course.  But that’s all that will be waiting, because life is changing, and so am I.   And in six months, I promise, you won’t hear me crying nostalgically and whimpering,

“Auntie Em, there’s no place like home.”

It’ll be more like,

“Fuck you Dorothy, and your little dog too.  Now get the fuck out-of-the-way, because this is a whole new ballgame baby.”

I don’t know how, (maybe it’s the bottles of “meds” my shrink keeps giving me)  but I’ve reconciled a lot of things in my life.  My home life, my love life, my creative life, my professional life and even the occasional “curve balls” my boys throw in my direction.   It certainly hasn’t been Aspen.  In fact, sometimes all of those things can seem like the sheerest, most dangerous slopes of the highest mountains.  And once upon a time they were.  But not anymore.

When I get back, I’m going to clean up this mess, literally and figuratively.  The old way  produced some wonderful tales and some funny dating stories.  But it also brought out some not so wonderful behavior, and almost ruined my heart.  That’s not how I want to live.  Nor will I live that way in the future.  So, I’m getting off Misery Lane, and making room for those who are still looking for it, and for those who have already found it and can’t seem to get off.

Life has other roads it wants me to travel, where love comes first, and I’m going to be open to all of them.

That is, if those flying monkeys don’t swoop down first, and rip all the hay out of my body.

Either way, this should be fun.  I’ll soon be on the Yellow Brick Road, and…

…leaving this mess behind.

Imprendibili la tedesca Hoelzl (2′09″63) e l’austriaca Zettel (2′09″87), già davanti a tutte dopo la prima manche, si classifica subito alle loro spalle la diciannovenne azzurra Brignone, ottava dopo la prima prova.

Guadagnano diverse posizioni anche le italiane Manuela Moelgg, Nicole Gius e Denise Karbon, tutte autrici di un’ottima seconda manche, che si classificano rispettivamente settima, ottava e nona.

In estate Milan e Inter li hanno ceduti: è stata davvero una grossa perdita’

Escono a testa alta gli azzurri di Mallett contro gli All Blacks: a San Siro festa per 80mila

Fonte:
http://www.datasport.it/?body=news;idnews=10484

Can you ever get enough School House Rock?  I think not.  This particular episode ‘The Shot Heard Round the World’ provides a nice summary of the original US Revolution and reflects the historic basis for the Revolution in Check Mate, which starts even before the book begins and reaches its climax in the middle of the book.  The Wild Turkeys rush in, just in time for Thanksgiving.

School House Rock: The Shot Heard Round the World

Thanksgiving week in Aspen, Colorado-

Sunshine & snow- It’s heaven on earth-

The slopes open tomorrow- can’t wait to ski. Until then, enjoy the view!

Playing in the snow

The city of Snowmass village is best known as the location of the Snowmass ski area the largest of the four nearby ski areas operated collectively as Aspen/Snowmass.  The four mountains include Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk.  The mountains usually open for snow activities in late November and stay open until mid April.  On average these areas see 300 days of sunshine per year, which is only one of the reasons over 70% of it’s visitors return.  During the summer the mountains keep alive by attracting visitors for camps, fishing, hiking, concerts and recreational paintball games.  If you’re looking for somewhere you can be active during the day and cuddle up next to a warm fire at night Snowmass village is the perfect vacation spot for you.

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Aspen

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 23, 2009 20:30:05

HP MediaSmart Server EX495

Comedy Work is Serious Business
By Corby Anderson

How I came to find myself in Aspen during the winter of 1996 is a story unto itself. That one involves a broken car, a mauled ticker, a soon-to-be useless college degree, several dares, a dog named Bear, and at least two quarts of Boone County blueberry moonshine, consumed at irregular intervals.

But it is that first night, spent sitting on a wobbly barstool milking a sore neck at the J-Bar that sticks in my memory as a scatter shot signpost to my own varied existence as an Aspenaut.

Somehow I had been enlisted to act as a stagehand for the HBO Comedy Festival, a job which involved much loading and unloading of large, heavy rolling boxes down iced over steel truck ramps.

It was my job, and that of about seven other frozen, giddy souls, all new to Aspen, to unload trucks while weathering the withering ire of a hot-headed LA producer with a penchant for stunningly mean vulgarity. Like his own personal Army, we eight hands offloaded several tons of equipment in the alley behind the Jerome through a lashing winter storm. The producer railed on us constantly. At one point I stopped to ask him if his act was just that – an act. “Are we being filmed? Is this some sort of skit?” I asked through clopping teeth. His answer is unprintable, but essentially he urged me back to work, with an addendum to stop asking questions.

I had had just about enough with Chad, or Dom, or whatever the hell the producers name was, when fate intervened. I was looking up at the cascading sky, dreaming of the morrow, when I would once more float freely down a mountain, a fairly new and all-abiding sensation to this recent relocatee from the unpowdered, ice-doused hills of North Carolina, where I had previously “learned” to ski.

With my head to the sky, eyes transfixed on one particular, postcardesque snowflake descending through the tangerine glow of the klieg lights, I never saw the ten-foot section of lighting truss coming. The steel beam clipped me right in the neck, sending me reeling backwards down the ramp, sliding the last five feet upside down like a human curling stone. “Jesus! Anderson, you alright?” I heard my roommate say. “JESUS! WHAT THE $#^% NOW!” I heard Chad/Dom say. I couldn’t see him from my turtled position there in the snowdrift, but I imagined him motioning to the others disgustedly to remove me from his ramp, which is exactly what happened.

I was deposited in the only sick bay available, the J-Bar, and told to get a warm drink and return to work as soon as I was able. As it turned out, the recovery time from such an incident was exactly 18 hours, at least six of which, spread over two calendar dates, were spent sitting on a barstool, drinking my prescription – hot coffee and whiskey. After three doses, I asked the keep to adjust the tincture. No sense in keeping up all night, I thought. I had work to do, eventually…

Corby Anderson
Marina, California
November 22, 2009

You heard me. I’m moving on. and it’s to bigger and better pastures…

oh, me? no, not me personally…I”m staying in Denver.

Its just that part of Bleeding Senses will be moving on to a more appropriate venue — specifically the blogs on WESTWORD.COM!!!

http://blogs.westword.com/ontheedge/

yes, yours truly is now an official and REAL (read: underpaid) blogger for an actual publication (and a damn cool one at that)

Now hopefully this first blog post doesn’t get my season pass revoked…

I present to you: Sin Your Way Through Ski Season
(oh, and i’m clearly not Joe Tone… though hopefully the byline has been corrected to say my name by the time anyone reads this)

http://blogs.westword.com/ontheedge/2009/11/seven-deadly-sin_your_way_thro.php

–

Otherwise, I plan on staying up as your normal, less-than-frequently-updated source for all second-hand news about phish and the Denver jamband scene… afterall, where else will my loyal seven get their news?

Vejam nos mapas abaixo algumas distâncias de pistas de Snowboard, partindo de Denver, capital do Colorado

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com.br/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=loveland,+colorado&daddr=denver,+colorado&hl=pt-BR&geocode=%3BFRJfXgIdgQ---SnPFx8jqoBrhzHWNoon-PSOEQ&mra=ls&sll=39.795825,-104.66914&sspn=0.831448,1.234589&ie=UTF8&ll=40.067563,-105.02655&spn=0.828155,1.234589&t=h&z=10]

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com.br/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=aspen,+colorado&daddr=denver,+colorado&hl=pt-BR&geocode=%3BFRJfXgIdgQ---SnPFx8jqoBrhzHWNoon-PSOEQ&mra=ls&sll=40.067563,-105.02655&sspn=0.828155,1.234589&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=9]

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View Larger Map

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Por hje é só, mas vem mto mais por ai!! Pretendo publicar dicas e curiosidades sobre diversos locais no estado do Colorado, para melhor visualização dos locais que vou visitar!!

• Grown up in the mountains of Colorado
• Competitive skier and motorcycle racer throughout my life
• 10+ years as a golf course superintendent
• finish carpenter for fun and extra income
• Nascar enthusiast
• Denver sports teams fan
• Hang out in Vail and Aspen on regular basis
• Know that success is a state of mind and a product of passion

Feel free to ask any questions regarding my bio topics.  Maybe I can help you out.  Need help with growing a beautiful yard or choosing the best ski equipment. If you do just ask a question in the comments and I will do my best to help you out.

I just came across this amazing special in Aspen for active adults and foodies like you and me.  I love Aspen; it is by far my favorite mountain in Colorado as I too love to ski, taste unique cuisine, dress up for a gala event and be pampered by a spa treatment.

Have any of you stayed at A RockResort property? I’ve heard they are exquisite…take a look at this incredible offer for any of you ski bunny, food-buffs…The iconic Hotel Jerome, A RockResort, announces plans to commemorate its 120th anniversary in grand style this Thanksgiving during Aspen Mountain’s first ski weekend of the season. History buffs, skiers and foodies alike are invited to attend Hotel Jerome’s majestic gala with the “120th Anniversary Celebration” package.

Available Thanksgiving weekend, November 25 – November 29, 2009, the package includes:

• Four-night stay in a Junior Suite
• Two full-day ski lift tickets for two people
• Two tickets to Hotel Jerome’s 120th Anniversary grand soirée on Wednesday evening – Bring your 1889-themed costume, and your ballroom dancing shoes!
• Thanksgiving dinner for two on Thursday night
• A 50-minute massage per person at the Aspen Club & Spa
• Rate is $1,889 based on double occupancy, which represents a savings of 50 percent off of room rate. Four-night minimum stay required. Excludes resort fee, tax and gratuities. Subject to availability.

Hotel Jerome’s Wednesday night anniversary bash will transport guests back in time, by recreating the atmosphere and energy of the hotel’s original opening night celebration on November 25, 1889. Guests will be escorted to the hotel in grand style via a horse-drawn carriage, passing street entertainers, characters and perhaps a few donkeys along the way!

The evening affair at Hotel Jerome will include live entertainment, ballroom dancing, authentic cocktails such as Curaçao Punch, a live auction of luxury items, and a gourmet dinner. The feast will be a culinary retreat honoring classical French preparations with such dishes as oyster bisque with wild spinach paillettes au Parmesan; Colorado prime rib with sauce béarnaise and croquettes de pommes de Terre; and profiteroles with pistachio ice cream, Belgian chocolate sauce and vanilla whipped cream.

Wow! Anyone else dying to jump on a jet and head out to Aspen for this fabulous Thanksgiving soiree?

Don’t forget your last chance to enter my Genuine Health Gift Basket Giveaway; I wil be picking the winner tomorrow morning!

With Winter coming up, ski resorts only seemed appropriate.

5. Mount Snow located in Vermont

4. Killington in Vermont

3. Deer Valley Resort in Utah

2. Heavenly Resort located on Lake Tahoe

1. Aspen in Colorado

With 64 miles worth of trails, Aspen steals the number one ski resort in the U.S. Aspen is a great family vacation spot because they tend to the most beginner level skiier to expert skiiers with classes, trainers and equipment rental. Runners up included Stowe Mountain Resort, Vail and Winter Park.

Purchase lift tickets, season passes or book a room here

(picture found at skipressworld.com)

In Aspen last week for a pre-season blowout sale, we got the goodies we’d come for (two pairs of lightly-used carving skis—cheap), and we got a serendipitous shot of living ski history.

Cecily’s assignment was to score some p-tex candles. Her husband Mike has been up high already making thin turns on Trico Peak. His board has paid a price, and thus the need for base repair.

Cecily looked around at downtown Aspen with almost new eyes. “Where did the Chamberlains live?” she asked. It had been at least two decades since we’d visited friends on W. Francis Street with our little girls. The Chamberlain house had, Cecily remembered, a steep, carpeted stairway, down which both girls plunged head-first on their bellies again and again. It was more memorable than the skiing we must also have done.

Now we wandered quiet streets and pedestrian malls crunchy with leaves, but none of the ski shops we visited had any p-tex. Or they hadn’t yet brought out the ski-tuning stuff. Or in one instance, we’re pretty sure, the twenty-something salesperson didn’t actually know what we were talking about.

Then we spied Durrance Sports, a name freighted with meaning for even casual students of skiing history. The shop was narrow, elegant and spare, with a careful selection of shapely new skis in the window. We asked about p-tex and the balding, bespectacled man behind the counter immediately pulled a drawer and produced two packets.

I directed Cecily’s attention to a book on the counter, Dick Durrance’s autobiography, The Man on the Medal. It’s called that because Durrance’s bas-relief likeness for many years graced the medals awarded at the U.S. National Alpine Championships.

In his day, in the 1930s and 40s, Dick Durrance was the Man. The man who won everything on this side of the Atlantic, went over to the Alps and became the first American to beat the European skimeisters on their hoary courses. He had a nose for speed—literally a hawk’s beak—short, piston legs and an unmatched feel for the snow. And after he was done racing, he helped build Sun Valley, ran the ski school and the lodge at Alta (his photographer wife, Margaret, sewed curtains and bedspreads and knitted the ski school sweaters), and then became the first general manager of the Aspen Skiing Company.

In 1950 he convinced the International Skiing Federation to hold the World Championships—for the first time outside the Alps—in ghost-town Aspen.

And then he was a filmmaker, producing and directing 44 movies, many of them about skiing, before retiring in 1993.

The more I looked at the man behind the counter and the picture on the wall behind him, the more it made sense. There were Dick Durrance’s two apple-cheeked sons, in a luminous black-and-white print, riding Aspen’s first T-bar.

“I’m Dave,” he said, “the one on the left.” The older brother beside him was Dicky.

I had introduced their father to the Opera House crowd at Telluride’s Mountainfilm festival in the mid-90s, when he came with a bunch of his old movies. One featured Dick and friends skiing on pine needles in New Hampshire in the 40s—not just slapsticking around but snapping turns back and forth through steep trees, flipping over roots, sticking the landings.

Somehow we segued to Bear Valley in California’s Sierra where Cecily’s mother and I taught skiing in the 1970s. Dave knew it well. He competed in the National Championships there in 1969. It snowed, of course. Three and a half feet in one afternoon. Classic. We laughed. Every time the World Pro Skiing circuit came to Bear Valley in the years Ellen and I were there, it pounded snow. Ridiculous amounts of snow. Too much snow for the kind of racing they do now. Dave’s eyes widened as he recalled the shoulder-high ruts in the slalom course.

Yes! It was like that when we were there, too. We knew a lot of the same people, some of the same stories. History and memory filled the little space around the counter.

Margaret Durrance passed away in 2002, Dick in 2004, at 89. “He was pissed that she went first,” Dave volunteered, as if we, practically family now, would understand.

After a while Dave had to go help other customers. I stole one more glance at the cover of The Man on the Medal. It’s an astonishing photograph from a trip Dick made to New Zealand after competing in the 1936 Garmisch Olympics. He’s planing through backlit snow bearing down on the camera, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, no hat, no gloves, arms wide, hickory skis way up on edge throwing precise, matching contrails. Those old boards, with the funny carved points on the tips, are slicing an arc so crisp, so ecstatic, any modern super-sidecut tool would be proud to match it.

I grew up eating collards, mustard and turnip greens.  My grandmother would tell me, as she dipped me out a generous helping, “Eat these greens.  They’ll make your cheeks rosy.”

Well, I’m not sure about the rosy part, but I know that when I eat greens, I feel so energized and clean.  Yes, greens make me feel very clean.

My latest hankering has been for kale.  I eat kale for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but when I came across the Kale-Parmesan salad at Lu Lu Wilson in Aspen, Colorado last year, I developed a new love affair with this green.

Last night, my husband and I dined at Lu Lu’s, and the place was packed. Kale salads were pouring out of the kitchen.  Honestly, I believe every one in the place ordered this dish.

It’s so popular, and rightfully so.  It is truly delish!

My theory is that people are so high off of this salad, that they have threatened the chef, so he has (generously) shared his recipe.

Even if you don’t like greens, I suggest you just give this recipe a whirl.  It’s like the little black dress that has been jazzed up with a Birkin bag and a Harry Winston pendant.

It’s greens on steroids.

It’s like eating a drug.

Yes, I’m a little high on greens myself, and I think that my cheeks may even be a little more rosy this morning.

LuLu Wilson Kale Salad

One serving. Can be made a few hours ahead, but better if prepared just before serving.

2            ounces dark green kale with no yellow edges

2            tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1            tablespoon lemon juice

1/4            cup currants

1/4            cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4            cup pine nuts, not toasted

Using a very sharp knife, cut away the kale leaves’ tough center stems. Roll the leaves like a cigar and cut them into very fine thin slices, about 1/8th-inch wide.  Put kale and olive oil into a bowl and toss by hand. Add the lemon juice and toss again. Add the currants, parmesan, and pine nuts and toss by hand until the mixture is soft. Taste and adjust quantities if needed. Serve on a cold plate.

NOTE: “Cut the kale using an extremely sharp knife,” says Coffey. “A dull knife will crush the kale and make the salad soggy. It’s also fun to use a recipe like this to learn a technique like chiffonade (where herbs and leafy vegetables are cut into long, thin strips).”

(Courtesy of Aspen Magazine)

My suggestion:  Make this salad ahead of time and let it marinate for a few hours. And, the cold plate really does end the finishing touch.  Bon Appetite!

Aspen + Chris made their  blog debut just after their October 3rd wedding of this year!  Now Chris is making a new debut on my blog by singing the song he wrote for his new bride.  As they walked onto the dance floor he surprised her with a recorded song of him singing ‘Forever’ to her.  I can imagine that moment to be everything a girl dreams of for her wedding day.

“I find my shelter in her eyes”

“When we grow into silver days I’ll turn to you and say…”

“Lets start forever today!”

Now you get to hear his words to her as you watch their slideshow!

Enjoy!

One of the new products introduced in the CTMH Autumn/Winter ‘09 Idea Book are the Glitter Rub-ons.  You get 3 sheets of glitter paper (silver, twilight and olive) and 2 sheets of the rub-ons in each pack.  But when you use all of the rub-ons you still have a lot of glitter left on the sheet.  Here’s a tip on how to use the rest of that glitter.  First “ink” up a stamp with bold lines with a glue pen.  Let it sit for a moment so it’s not too wet.  Then stamp your image on the paper.  Lay your sheet of glitter over the image and rub the glitter on just like you would a rub-on.  Pull back the sheet a bit to see if you got it all covered.  If not, rub over the stamped image a bit more.  I hope you can see the glitter snowflake on the left side of this card. 

Another great tip on this card is to make your own pearl brads.  Use a plain brad (I used silver) and pick it up with tweezers.  (CTMH has a great pair of tweezers that are perfect for this application.)  Heat with a embossing gun.  Then dip in the silver pearl embossing powder.  Heat again with the embossing gun.  That will set the embossing powder and you’ll end up with a beautiful pearl looking brad.  Don’t touch the brad right away as it will be hot. 

Recipe:

Snow Flurries stamp set, Snowflake Kisses stamp set (retiring), Aspen Paper Pack, Twilight stamp pad and textured cardstock, Outdoor Denim stamp pad and textured cardstock, silver brads, silver pearl embossing powder, sandpaper, Glitter rub-ons and glue pen.

Last weekend was about searching for horses, in particular Duke, Molly and Liberty, Poco and Roach and baby Hayden. I found Hayden and Poco and Roach.

The end of the third rifle season was Friday or Saturday, depending on which DOW schedule was right, and I mostly had the basin and the horses to myself – ah, peace. I haven’t seen the pintos since the start of hunting season, I think, probably because of pressure from the road, close to which is the only water source I know of for them.

One of the bands that has NOT been hard to see recently – Kreacher’s – was briefly sighted up by the northwest road, then not again. I did get lucky and saw most of the others both days I was out.

Grey/Traveler was babysitting his youngsters – safely tucked into the saltbush taking their afternoon naps – while mamas and Iya were out grazing. Chrome and his new family were nearby, baby Hayden also taking his nap.

It was pretty windy both days (very still and nice until Saturday mid-morning) but mostly sunny and perfect temperature. Still some shade in the very shadiest of the most-north-facing hills but otherwise totally dry – except “the squish” on the loop road down from the roller-coaster hill, but not a problem to drive through.

The first clutch came when I found Steeldust’s band near the north-south road north of the Flat Top pond (which continues to shrink). Hook was with the band, and Aspen, but Twister was not with Hook. Maintaining my practice of not letting ya’ll share (some of ) my worry, he’s with Cinch and Bruiser! Not too much of a surprise, given they were all out on the Round Top-Flat Top saddle the previous weekend. AND the very first time I ever saw Mister Twister, he was with Cinch and Corazon.

Comanche and Mouse were napping on the far side of the band, and only Aspen and Hook gave me the eyeball while I visited (I don’t think Mouse moved so much as a hoof). Steeldust was hanging out with Alpha on the other far side of the band, and he apparently was completely unconcerned that Aspen and Hook were closer to his ladies and babies (except Alpha and Storm) than he was. Is Alpha in heat? There was no activity to suggest that; they were very quiet, sharing each other’s company in the sunshine. I just like to speculate. Storm-chaser is holding onto baby-hood as long as he can.

Hook and Ember napping. They weren’t as close as they look in this photo. That’s Hollywood’s band way out in the distance on the east-west hill.

Sundance roused from his nap long enough to greet Aspen and Hook, and after a couple of squeals and sniffs, went right back to the band.

Is it just me, or is Mouse getting stocky as he grows up?

Handsome curious boys

Front: Mahogany and Sable. Back: Ember and Pinon.

Sleepy, sleepy babies: Ember, Pinon, Hannah and Luna

A little after the previous photo, Hannah laid down. In the “near” background is the east-west hill – that’s where Hollywood’s band was hanging out both days.

“Baby” Storm is still nursing. Mama Alpha still lets him. Steeldust was just to the right.

Comanche.

Whaddy’a think? They look sleepy … and they look fantastic, eh?

You all, of course, know the Twister “mystery,” but I didn’t yet at that point. This pic was taken from the west-side loop road looking back at the band. Those crazy ponies didn’t even move in the time it took me to drive around there – well, Storm walked over to the main group. Lower left: Steeldust and Alpha. Looming weirdly hugely in the background is Filly Peak.

Seven’s band was between the Round Top road and roller-coaster ridge pond, Bounce’s was between the pond and the ridge, and Cinch, Bruiser and Twister were out between Round Top and the weird guzzler. No Molly and/or Liberty to be seen. Bounce’s were right at the base of the ridge, so when I drove over, I decided to walk down and around them to get better light. But before I got “better” light, I got light that loved Alegre.

Love that rim lighting on her forelock and tail as she stands over her baby Whisper, who is growing up into a fine young boy.

Handsome handsome!

Just like daddy Bounce!

Sweetest bravest curious-est girl Gaia

She’s still baby-clacking.

While I was visiting with and photographing Bounce’s band, Seven was curiously and calmly watching. Then he walked down to get a drink from the pond, just a little bit in front of him, out of this frame.

I checked the hunter camp on the hilltop overlooking Wildcat Spring. Except for four ribcages, four mule deer heads (antlers cut out) and hides, two gut piles and three entrance routes to the hill from the main road, the only speck of trash I found was a bottle cap. I guess I get leaving the leftovers for the ravens (they didn’t seem to find the stuff till the next day, making me wonder how recently the hunters left) and coyotes, but did they have to dump it down the hill on the side of the spring/canyon?? And the three routes they drove in – I hope – illustrates the need to prohibit off-road travel in an area of limited forage. How long will it take for grass – or anything else – to grow back in that poor (poor as in not very fertile) soil the horses depend on?

The sun was close to the horizon (I always forget how early it comes when we turn back the clocks) by then, so I headed out, hoping to find Grey’s and Chrome’s still in the flats. Oh, lucky me … but the long shadows were growing longer by the second.

You can see that the shade has overtaken them by this point … See that white-ish blur at upper left? That’s Grey/Traveler. His band was out to the right.

Hayden looks back at me and Chrome takes the opportunity to investigate the little mister. That’s Grey’s butt between his ears; an unfortunate angle, but I didn’t want to move and lose the moment! Remember how I originally described Hayden’s star as diamond-shaped? What does it most resemble now?? Be still my so-lost heart.

This is how close they were … and how calm. Still in the sunshine, barely. Jif and Hayden were to the right; Grey/Traveler was over to the left as far back as his band. In the background, from left: Iya, Houdini, Terra and Cuatro. I think Two Boots was closer to Grey.

Lovely day and evening.

Fall in Aspen is perhaps our town’s best-kept secret. Seriously, ask a local what his or her favorite season is, and more often than not you’ll hear “fall.”

It’s easy to understand why. Autumn in Aspen is beautiful – golden aspen leaves give way to snow-covered peaks, as summer turns to winter before your eyes. Autumn in Aspen is relaxed – the hustle and bustle of summer is behind us, and the ski season is yet to arrive. This is a time to slow down and enjoy Aspen for, well, Aspen. And autumn in Aspen affordable – with hotel deals, prix-fixe restaurant specials and sidewalk sales, there is no better time to escape to Aspen for a weekend.

Plus, by spending a few days in Aspen this fall, you get a sneak peek at all the new Aspen hotspots and shopping experiences, many of which are already open or slated to open in October! Dine at Il Mulino, New York in the new Residences at The Little Nell, try out Syzygy’s new venture Ute City, or stop in Noodles by Kenichi. Imbibe at The Mustang, located in the center of town on the Hyman Avenue Mall, or at Hunter Bar, set to open on Halloween.

Speaking of Halloween, we have to say there would probably be no better weekend to live it up in Aspen than Oct. 30-Nov. 1! Halloween in Aspen is always a big party, and with it falling on a Saturday this year, it’s only going to be bigger. We’re not kidding. In Aspen, kids of all ages celebrate Halloween with everything from trick-or-treating and haunted houses for the little ones, to costume parties and bar crawls for the grown-ups. Halloween is, truly, Aspen’s No. 1 local holiday. Don’t miss out!!