A summer morning! Love the mountain's cool fresh air. The view from our front porch.

This badger was a first for us. We've had neighbors, 100 feet lower than us in elevation, have their yard dug up by him but this little man was our first.

They come in a dozen. This small family of a dozen or more marched through our yard, walking within 15 feet of our smiling faces. I have lots more photos of our summer yet to post. We've had rock stars, aspiring rock stars, all kinds of fun and interesting guests.

Mike Finkner Marathon runner

Placed top in his category. Mike is a fun guest we get to see every few years. Doctor, father, husband, grandfather, book author and marathon runner-- an inspiration to everyone!

Wife Kathy Finker trailed along in a car to support Mike during his pain staked run.

Maggie taking a break from window guard duty.

Kym and  Susan are a yearly-wool-Mart-duo coming to our inn each year whilst attending Estes Park’s annual Wool Mart.  Both ladies are devoted teachers and friends, whom we enjoy “yarn-ing” stories with.  This year it was about Kym’s encounter with a bear whom she chased off by flipping on her green porch light, and threatening to call to 9-1-1.  Kym, a danger to wildlife…I think not. We wish Susan the best with her pursuit to obtain her masters degree online with “Make Me Crazy University”.  Eric and I have daubed it MMCU.

Did you hear about the cat who swallowed a ball of wool?  She had mittens.

The International Year of Natural Fibers (IYNF) is coordinated internationally by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Click photo for website.

]]> http://www.bedandbreakfastinestespark.com/announcements/wooley-duo.html/feed http://www.bedandbreakfastinestespark.com/announcements/heavey-metal-rock-climber.html http://www.bedandbreakfastinestespark.com/announcements/heavey-metal-rock-climber.html#comments Fri, 29 May 2009 18:20:14 +0000 Caprissa http://www.bedandbreakfastinestespark.com/?p=1210

Lisa and her mom Barb were fun lively guests. Lisa is an avid rock climber and fitness trainer. We were talking about Lisa's face ornament, and next thing you know we're helping her remove what she'd been trying to dislodge for sometime. During the removal of the piercing, Eric held one end with a pair of needle nose, and I twisted the other end with a set of jewelry pliers.

It was fun to be a part of this important time in Lisa’s life. This was one step in a life that will continue to change.  Barb, her mother, (not shown) is obviously a committed mother who’s provided Lisa the tools she needs to make her dreams come true–just forgot to give her a pair of needle nose pliers.

]]> http://www.bedandbreakfastinestespark.com/announcements/heavey-metal-rock-climber.html/feed http://www.bedandbreakfastinestespark.com/announcements/sing-me-to-you.html http://www.bedandbreakfastinestespark.com/announcements/sing-me-to-you.html#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 19:10:04 +0000 caprissa http://www.bedandbreakfastinestespark.com/?p=1231

Guests Janet and Mike came to Estes Park from England. One of the cool things about being an innkeeper is the heart warming moment of a guest sharing a piece of themselves. Mike sang and played Eric's guitar for us.

Janet has a veterinarian practice back in the U.K. For those of you who know of Maggie's most recent illness...this may interest you: Janet termed Maggie as having had "Senile Vestibular Syndrome". A treatable circulatory disorder. If your dog suddenly looses her balance, and eyes begin to dart rapidly investigate further before "turning off the lights". Be careful about excepting a drug which may mimic existing symptoms. Maggie is doing great and we expect her to live out her life fully.

Click this picture for great blog which outlines the condition well. I met this dog at Estes Park's memorial day art market. Maggie's treatment: patients, exercise, hand feeding fresh rice and tuna, holding her hind end--help her walk, light on 24/7. Keep off stairs and away from large rocks.wrongly diagnosed with arthritis or a stroke, "just old". Don't fall trap. Your dog will recover assuming they were relatively healthy before hand, and you help with exercise, eat, rest.

A word from Doctor Janet, of the U.K.  Janet was very familiar with the condition and offered the following: It’s a circulatory disorder, correctable by giving your dog anything that will improve blood flow to heart, brain and joints, doing so may prevent onset or recurrence. Drug used in U.K. is manufactured by Intervet the brand name is, “Vivitonin”.  The actual drug is called “propentophylline”.  Janet said it is the dog version of a stroke, but their isn’t a blood clot.  Maggie had 2 or 3 mini episodes before she had, “the grand mall”.  She had a second grand mall, when we allowed her to become sleep deprived–we believe in both cases she had not had much sleep. We have her on lecithin granules and fish oil, and a 10 PM bed time. Click photo for video of another dog.

Cat’s are also prone to Senile Vestibular Syndrome. Symptoms: Sudden onset of confusion, panic, eyes darting, stiff legs, or weak legs, falling, walking circles, (vertigo), loose of appetite (due to being dizzie), Maggie’s tung seemed to be twisted; but not sure, head tilt, heavey breathing (fear).  Some or all the above occures quickly.  It took us a couple days to pin point all her symptoms. In all Maggie was still making improvements 3 months later. The worst of it was over after 3 weeks.