Whew!

Gabe's Pies did a fantastic Thanksgiving run this year.  Just over 70 pies have been baked, boxed and delivered.  We're pooped!  Hope everyone enjoys the goodness tomorrow.  As for us, it will be a very quiet turkey day at home on the couch.  Yes, we will be having pie.

Now this is Biking and Baking

We know you've been dreaming of eating some Gabe's Pie while getting your bike tuned up, we know it!
Now you can.  Starting Tuesday the Denver Bicycle Cafe will open for business serving coffee, beer and GABE'S PIE!

Back Home

My uncle, my mother's only brother, died last week after a lengthy illness which wrecked havoc with his body.  It was a gift.  He was a very healthy and physically fit man who, even in his 70's was a a force to reckon with in 3-on-3 basketball.  He lived a good life and we should all be as lucky. 

We went back home, well my mother's home for the funeral.  We visited the family farm which held so many incredible memories for me as a child.  Like the time my cousins (all older than me and all boys) took me on a snipe hunt to the north 40 (literally). I was probably four or five, lost in the sky-high corn and at least smart enough to know that I shouldn't wander lest I risk getting more lost, so I just sat down and cried.  My uncle came through the corn like some kind of jesus to save my little lost soul - complete with the late afternoon sun blazing behind him creating a holy aura.  He said, "What are you doing out here all by yourself Suzie Q?" as he lifted me up on his shoulders to take me back to civilization.  I told him the whole story and as I recall I got homemade ice cream after dinner that night but the boys certainly did not.

My brother and I remembered fishing with my grandmother at one of the many ponds.  The day when I caught blue gill after blue gill and the boys caught nothing was one of my favorites.  The day when grandma, always in her overalls, caught a big old snapping turtle and made a special show of pissing him off for our entertainment was one of his favorites.   I was always in awe of my grandma's skills with a knife when chickens were involved.  My uncle and the rest of the men would lot slaughter cattle and hogs which was also a special treat to watch, especially because we knew the yumminess which would come later.  The best part of these days was the huge family gathering at the end of the day.  BBQ chicken with all the cousins out under the trees.

We went to the country church, built by my great-great grandfather and cared for by generations of my family until they could care for it no more.  My grandparents and my parents were married there and countless babies baptized. 

We buried my uncle in the small country cemetary where generations of my family are buried.  It sits on top of a hill and looks over miles and miles of rolling Missouri hills, rich with row crop and livestock.  I visited with cousins and second cousins and counsins of cousins learning about how they survived, or not, the Missouri River floods of this past summer.  One cousin lost his hardware store and decided to retire.  Another was able to save their house but since their business is raising and moving houses, they are all too close to many who couldn't save their homes, despite trying. I visited another cousins "new" home, built in 1861, complete with hidden levers which were intended as tools to call the maid.  Evidently the maid never comes these days.

We spent some time on the near-by wildlife refuge where we saw thousands of migrating pelicans and several areas of pure stillness and peace.

Overall it was a good trip, quick with way too much driving, but very, very fulfilling.

Did We Miss It?

I'd been waiting for the leaves on my commute to be just perfect for a fall colors post and then.....six inches of snow.   So here's an obligatory fall color commute post (from last year.)

Red Jeans

Highs and Lows

Friday  morning I slept in a bit in anticipation of a 10am meeting with my mentor.  Why go into the office only to leave an hour later, I thought. It was a good thought.  Our session started with her saying to me, "You look exhausted and emotional."  Gee, is it that obvious?  At least I was having a good hair day.  We ended up having a very invigorating session and I headed out recharged and ready to finish a very tough week at work.....only to find my bike had a flat tire.  Sigh.

The Baker came to pick me up, since my bag was interestingly missing any tools (!?!?) and dropped me at the office.  I had a productive day which simply felt good.

At the end of the day I opted to walk to my kids' school to meet up with the fam.  It was a beautiful fall afternoon walk.  We stopped at a new sushi place for  dinner then home to chill in the back yard with a bottle of red.

Hiking This Summer

We've done a fair amount of hiking this past summer and have several more to do before the snow hits and we switch over to snowshoes. 

Classic Colorado summer views.

Big rocks upon mountain tops!

Stunning views!

The aspen are starting to turn.  Fall must be coming.

Dear Maude!  Get off that cliff children!  Are you trying to give us heart attacks?!

Many smiles!

One More from Viva Streets

2011 Tour de Fat - Denver

Random sillybike madness.

B1 providing some chill air for a couple of silly  hipsters.

Captain Obviouso, MB and Princess Bikesalot

THIS is living.....

US Pro Cycling Challenge in Denver

We arrived early to watch the US Pro Cycling Challenge sixth and final stage in Denver this morning. We found a wonderful shady spot right on a turn at the top of a hill near the finish.  The riders did six, five mile laps once they reached central Denver so we got several opportunities to cheer them on.  It was amazing to be so close that you could feel them go by!

The calm of the finish line before the racers arrived downtown.

Here they come!

The lead rider as they moved through downtown Denver past the capital ready for the first loop.

The first peleton.

BMC Racing Team, including Cadel Evans, support car.

You could feel the wind coming off the peleton as they flew by.

The parade of support speeding along behind the racers.

B1 caught a water bottle tossed by a Team Garmin Cervelo racer as he flew by.  Major luck! 

Final lap....

Waiting for the winners at the podium.

Thousands of fans catching the victory laps.

The beautiful Colorado State Capital post race!

Can't Comment

Literally, I can't comment and I'm not finding a solution on blogger's help pages.  If anyone has experienced the vortex of blogger comment blacklisting, please let me know.
Not only can I not comment on other's blogs but I can't respond to comments on my own!

Viva Streets, Denver's First Cyclovia was an Amazing Success!

Seeing Oneida Park so alive was a great feeling!   This little neighborhood shopping center is experiencing a slow but steady revival.  The energy of the day signaled more good things to come I'm sure!

We were fortunate to have Denver's first Cyclovia right in our own neighborhood (although I would have headed cross town to get in on the action.)   I had high expectations for this event and all were surpassed!  A constant stream of people from 10am to 2pm.  I think if it would have run longer, the crowds would have kept coming!

The Bike Depot hosted an on-going bike rodeo for kids and adults alike.  Much fun was had!

The scene was much like this for the full two miles from Colorado Blvd to Syracuse.  Bikes, pedestrians, roller skaters and bladers, skate boarders and more!

Bamboo wrapped ride!

Watch out, she's gaining on you!

Denver Water keeping folks hydrated.

HUGE thanks to DPD for monitoring the action and running the lights!

The ever-popular Park Hill hangout, Turtle Park.

23rd & Dexter fun!

Spinelli's Market (where the Baker sells his pies) and the Cherry Tomato were popular stopping points.

How slow can you ride a B-cycle?

Don't have a bike?  Don't worry!  Mobile BCycle Station

I Strongly Recommend the Building of a Backyard Stage

People will come.  Some will play music, some will listen and sing along, some will dance and all will  have a glorious time!

Lighting test the night before Oneidapalooza 2011

The Too Late Bluegrass Band

Evergreen Hum

Dancing!

A Stick Ponies Reunion with The Baker on rhythm guitar

Friends Jamming

The Holmes Twins do Cake (with a little lyrical help from the interwebz)

And when the stage isn't being used as a stage, it will be our outdoor dining room ---- after a little exterior decorating, including the contruction of a unique and artful permanent cover complete with drapey shit, and some landscaping madness.