Bed & Breakfast in Estes Park, Colorado

Bringing home outdoor plants from the nursery to prepare for our first wedding of the new season.

My first thoughts this morning should have been: what I will make for breakfast, and my to-do list for the wedding we’re having tomorrow. Rather, I struggled to remember what it was I felt sad about the night before. It was 5:30 AM and my mind was in an emotional fog and I couldn’t remember why.

Snap dragons do great in Estes Park. I have been planting them around this tree for seven years with success. One or two get pulled up by elk, but they survive and the elk get a sore tummy. I’m convinced planting the same plants in the same spot each year conditions the elk’s eating behavior.

My heart sunk when it came back to me that my little old lady Maggie was laying at the foot of my bed sick. She wont be pawing my bed posts to wake me. I went to her and prayed she was alive. She lifted her head to let me rub under her chin, and stretched out her back legs. It was all normal, she was behaving like she normally did when I beat her to the wake up call.

The tag is for the snap dragons near the rear of the photo. The flowers in the foreground are Verbena. I LOVE this family of flower. I plant them in my window boxes at he top of my porch. Wind, rain, cold temperatures. They are heat tolerant thriving summer and into early fall with full Southern exposure. The flowers last for weeks but when the flower expires dead head them for new growth.

Magg’s head gets tired at times.

I think for a few minutes Maggie too forgot she had lost her ability to jump up at will. Maggie is a sight-hound so making eye contact is Magg’s M.O. Her bright brown eyes turn people’s hearts to soft gel. It was while looking into her eyes that I saw a slight flash. She was fully awake now and she now remembered.

She can eat alone but it’s hard on her neck.

Over the years many of our guests have kissed Maggie’s head, rubbed her ears, sent her Christmas cards and even gifts. She has friends all over the United States and world. Including; Germany, Holland, and Thailand.

We had a guest that was terrified of dogs. She had not touched one since she had been bitten in the face as a little girl. Maggie’s soft knowing eyes opened that lady’s heart up–healing an old wound. Our guest, from Thailand, held Maggie crying when she told us her story and triumph over a fear that paralyzed her at times.

Thank you from Maggie, and Eric and I, for sending your thoughts and well wishes.

Lissa, Eric, Me (Caprissa) and Paul. Maggie is the cute one in the center–getting hands on healing and love this morning, the day after her first seizure.

Here is an account of Tuesday’s events. It’s 8:20 Am, 10 minutes more and my B&B guests will be smiling up at me as I place a fresh bowl of fruit in front of them. The fruit is swimming in vanilla yogurt and granola. Just as I am checking the oven, my guest’s yell from the breakfast room. “Caprissa, Caprissa has your dog had seizures before?” ”

Should I call Eric”, says Lissa. I’m saying, “No he’s serving breakfast at the other B&B.”

It’s a family emergency what would you do? I’ll tell you what I did. I spent 60 seconds, or more minutes, panicking. My kind guest Lissa, held me by the shoulders as I gasped for air, tears streaming down my cheeks. My mind raced, ‘It’s a heart attack…what do I do…how do I stop it’. I scoop Maggie up, lay her on our down-filled 1886 sofa, which she sleeps on when we’re not watching, and ask my guests to hold her still. I search for the phone book, throw it down deciding to drive Maggie straight to the animal emergency hospital. A place I’ve taken her before to get her teeth brushed, rabies shots. Or, the time I called in in advance during a holiday. Maggie’s tooth was knocked out and wouldn’t quit bleeding. The place Maggie hates to visit.

Maggie and Me this morning in the back yard near our kitchen window. The guests were in side eating breakfast enjoying conversation and enjoying Eric’s “to-kill-a-mocking bird” dish.

The place was swamped, phones ringing, technicians zipping in and out. I stood still at the counter staring, patting Maggie. Suddenly: “CAN I PLEASE GET SOME HELP”. It was 15 minutes later when the doc was sending me home with pain pills. Says, “It’s just muscle pain, old age he reassures me”. He showed me her pink gum’s (this is good and proves it wasn’t a heart attack), her weak hind quarters. This proves she’s getting old.

Well, that was Tuesday. Wednesday after spending two hours at a fellow B&B owner’s home snapping photos of his newly decorated haven Eric and I pack Maggie in the car. It’s the final B&B association meeting of the season.

This is when IT happens. Last I’d seen Maggie she was napping in the cool mountain shade.

Now she’s jerking, head whaling around, eyes glazed and darting back and forth in her tiny fuzzy head.

I crawl into the back of our SUV, curl up with my sweet-pea and ask Eric to please hurry to the vet’s office. I wisper to her that I love her, that I’m sorry, that we’ll figure this out. And, the old stand by, it’s okay Maggie it’s going to be okay.

Fast forward…10 minutes. I’m racing into the hospital with Maggie in my arms. My eyes glazed now too, but with tears and panic. The same desk attendent sees me and quickly ques her associate to help me.

I call out load, “It’s a seizure, it’s a seizure, where’s Dr. Fish”?

Racing down the hall, I call out for the doctor. Calling out my warning my voice getting loader. I’m angry, and scared. I no longer feel Maggie’s 37.10 pounds in my arms. She’s stiff. Her legs are whaling around. I felt sure of ONE thing. Doc needed to see poor stiff Maggie. Her eyes glazed and darting. I wanted HIM TO SEE HER and FIX it right this time.

Maggie the afternoon after her grand seizure. Her ball at her side. She now walks with a gait to the left, head turned the same way. The way she use to turn her head when she was trying hard to understand me.

I’m not sure how much time passed but it happened fast. Maggie was being held down aggressivly by the tech that saw her the day before. Dr. Briant, Maggie’s favorite teeth cleaning person, quickly checked Maggie’s vitals. I was barking out orders.

“Dr. Fish I want you to see her” says I. “Did you see how she’s jerking around, can you look at her”? I ask him. He tells me, that Dr. Briant will tend to Maggie. He tells me to please let Dr. Briant check her vitals. I see in his eyes that he’s sorry. Maybe sorry for the mistake, or sorry for Maggie’s condition. Either way I’m no longer upset with him.

Maggie is on the table her head weaving back and forth and up and down. I think she’s lost her sight.

If you know anything on the topic we would love to hear from you. As you can see she is bright eyed and a little confused but otherwise she doesn’t seem to have pain. She still loves to hear her favorite words: ball, walk, supper, and laundry…The last word might be dog code for, “Carpe diem”.

Maggie and Eric a few months ago on the coach. For those of you who have met Maggie you know she’s sweet and full of life.

I’m sorry to say yesterday she had what has now become the first of many seizures that are due to a neurological issue. It’s only been 34 hours so we are holding out hope that she will recover her ability to walk and play again. She has the heart, just not the coordination. If you’ve met us you know how much we love our pal Mags, sweet-pea, bugs, sweet-nose, love-dove…

Eric and Maggie, Ed and myself in Arizona a few months ago.

This is sweet-pea last summer. Maggie is about 14 maybe going on 15 years old and has been healthy and happy until yesterday morning when, just as breakfast was being served to our guest, she had a seizure. It might be encephalitis, it might be due to a brain tumor we don’t know yet. More later. Now we must rest. Please keep her in your thoughts.

This is pretty piece at the memorial art festival here in Estes Park. I didn’t get the name of the artist–I’m sorry to say that.

Clematis come back faithfully each year. Over all they are deer/elk proof…but sometimes the furry beasts forget the rules. I used this old bench for my ladder along with a interesting piece of iron a friend gave me. CLICK this photo for a good Clematis website.

Russian Sage just starting to grow around Ms. Maples. Like my Clematis my Russian Sage come back each year and the come back a little bigger than the year before so be prepared to give them space. My seven year old plants grows about 4×5.  You can see Ms. Maples and her sage in bloom on my seasons page.

Elk have been hanging out here waiting to give birth. A few dads here too.

We’ll stack this pile of wood this week. We have a wedding here this Saturday. If we don’t get it stacked I thought I would spray paint it pink–I think the bride will understand.

It’s Festival season in Estes Park. This is Bond Park a little under a mile from the B&B. Do you see the horse and carriage? This is a fun time!

Leah Simmons De Capio is a friend and local artisan who owns a gallery and cafe in our neighboring town of Glen Haven.

This fellow didn’t give me a passing look. His person works all the fairs so he’s seen it all.

Click this photo to learn about what to pack when coming to Estes in the Spring and Summer.

Thank you Lissa for posing a great question which inspired this post. Lissa will be coming to see us the weekend.

We offer the above items to our guests. It’s a new service we are able to provide compliments of the brand companies. Men and women deodorant and razor’s, lotions from Dove, Oil of Olay, and Nivea, power powder drink mix. Advil, throat lozenges, women’s sanitary items. Not shown are breakfast bars and chewing gum. The rooms have soap and conditioning shampoo and robes.

We hope this helps you with your traveling plans and avoiding delays at airport security. We are located less than one mile from a Safeway Grocer and a pharmacy.

Eric Innkeeper Action Figure is helping out a fellow innkeeper for the next three days. Cooking and hosting guests at Eagle Cliff House. Nancy the owner had to leave town and the employee that was to fill in for her fell ill. We offered to lend a hand. Eric will stay the night and make breakfast in the morning, and refresh the rooms in the afternoon. He will also provide hiking and touring information to Nancy’s guests. They flew in from Switzerland to visit Estes Park also known as “little Switzerland”. Click to see Nancy’s place.

I think Eric is glad to be out from under my reign for a few days. He looks happy, do you think he looks happy…? I think he looks real happy.

Bubbles of joy and three generations celebrate a new marriage. Steve and Pearl were married in the meadow here at Gilded Pine Meadows B&B. The grand kids were given the task of blowing bubbles for Grandma and her new husband. The children’s faces were precious to capture on film! Weddings are a great time to catch kids on film getting into mischief.

We spent the morning with Andrea and Michael who come each year to celebrate their anniversary. Congratulations on your 7th year! I’ve talked before about our very open conversations here at the B&B. Well, Andrea is great at opening doors to VERY intriguing topics. It was a given that Obama’s name came up as a topic of debate. Andrea please stay clear of the secret service we love you and want to see you again next year to discuss our new prez…or the anti-Christ theory which ever is applicable.

It’s really hard to get this man to keep a straight face when I’m taking his picture. Anyway! We are now closing our gate when we don’t have a guest staying with us. I would be curious to hear your thoughts on that. Please pick up those phones and dial the number at the bottom of your screens… Actually, please post it on our blog. We’re not a televised program.

After we locked our gate….we treated ourselves to a breakfast burritos at Kind Coffee here in Estes Park. In the summer we go for lunch and in the winters we’ll go at breakfast time.  Click this for the website which has plays music.

Can you see that? Try clicking it.

Amy with our garage sale booty. I had mentioned before that I’ve had this super-killer cold. This morning I didn’t think I’d be able to lift a tired bone if my life depended upon it. Than Amy called and asked me if I wanted to go to a large church garage sale. Well, it was a miracle how the life in my limbs returned with a gush of light, and in a flash I had grabbed up my loose change and put the peddle to the metal.

And, they say their is no cure for the common cold. In total Amy won the “frugal-Finders Award”. She spent a total of $5.00 I spent $9.00. I bartered one of her bargains off her by making a trade. I still owe her for that, so, she’s ahead by a Star bucks Coffee.

This umbrella was my winner item. I bartered the seller down a buck…so THAT feels cool.

We found some silk flowers for pennies. I maybe should of bought more. This is the wreath I started last week.

After unpacking our new treasures I went to Amy’s place. She and Bart have a duck that has laid eggs near their pond. She’s going to photo the families progression. Maybe she’ll share the pictures so we can post them. AMY, what ya think?

Planting flowers in an old head board is a fun idea.

I took this last week at Barbara’s B&B. I’ve already stayed up to late, but I’ll try and update you on the Innkeepers tour we did last week later this week. That’s when I took this shot–it was a group effort.