Several years ago, Helen's friend Pat in Boulder gave her a cactus that has really taken off this year. This is one of the blossoms that measures 8x8". There are over 10 blossoms ready to or already have exploded.
For the past several years, we have been trying to attract Blue Birds at our property where we have 5 Bluebird homes erected. About 3/4 mile north of our house is a development called Sage Creek. The Bluebirds have been roosting there for many years but normally you do not see them in our area.
This year we have had visitors and it appears that this Bluebird may adopted our Bluebird house in the front near the willows. Last week, a male and female checked out the houses but finally decided to move on. For the past couple days, this Bluebird has been sitting on top of the house and I have seen him picking up grass and moving it into the house. He does not appear to have a mate at this time but he continues to sit on top of the house hoping that she will find him soon.
Last Friday we had another late snow storm which dropped about 6-8" of snow at our house. By Sunday, most of the snow had disappeared from our yard and the temperature was around 60. During this time of the year and just after a late snow storm is when some locals hike (snowshoe) to the top of our mountains and take advantage of the new fresh snow.
About 2:30PM on Sunday, I looked across the valley at Red Mountain and thought I could see where some people had skied down the mountain. Once I got out our binoculars, I could see where people had hiked to the top and could see the perfect zipper turns as they descended down the mountain. I then noticed that an avalanche had occurred in a very steep area. I got my camera with a zoom lens and took several photos of the mountain and the avalanche area. I uploaded them on to my computer where I could further zoom in and was able to determine that two people had entered this steep chute on the top.
If you click on the photo you should be able to view a larger image where you can see that one person apparently started the avalanche and was able to ski out of it at the bottom right. The other person must have waited at the top until the avalanche stopped and then skied down the left side to the bottom of the avalanche area. Local mountains skiing is very extreme and there is also danger of starting an avalanche. There are two very lucky Summit County Skier that made it out alive.
Below are the other photos I took of Sunday's Red Mountain Skiing Activities. Click on each image bring up the larger image where you can see the tracks on the mountain. 
On April 18th, I had reconstruction surgery on my right shoulder to repair the damage I received from a bicycle accident on Nov 10, 2007. Photo on the left shows my clavicle bone sticking up and my shoulder drooping. The photo below was taken a few days after the surgery and really shows the difference.
My surgery was performed by Dr. Hatzidakis of Denver and took about 2hrs. Click Here if you like to read Dr. Hatzidakis's operation report. Since I was not awake during the procedure, I found it very interesting. Since most of the surgery was done arthroscopic, Dr. Hatzidakis provided photos take internally. Click Here if you want to view them.
It has been about 3 wks since the surgery and I now just getting back to working on the computer. I will be in a sling until the June and then start the long recover process of getting use of my shoulder. I currently don't have any pain and have been able take walks with out my arm or shoulder hurting as before the surgery.
Hopefully by the end of the summer I will have pretty good use my shoulder and be able to ski this next season.
