Whomever, came up with the term the Lazy Days of Summer did not have any kids! Summer is always such a high energy time with familial obligations and get togethers, folks wanting to look at land during thier vacations, and owners wanting to get their land on the market for those folks on vacation.  I realized recently that I did not get a chance to do any of the fun things that those folks visiting Colorado get to do

Well, summer is not quite over and it is never too late. Think I will venture out and enjoy a day trip or too.  Where to start is the hard part. I can go stroll through the Garden of the Gods, or enjoy fresh and local grown produce at the Farmer’s markets, both in Canon City and Pueblo, and I always have loved the feel of the

Hard to choose when right here in Pueblo, just about every weekend there is something going on at the Riverwalk usually involving food and music http://www.puebloharp.com/ Or the Greenway and Nature Center it’s a bit more low key http://www.gncp.org/ 

I have a list of local history museums too…and I am sure there is something new going on at Art Center in Pueblo http://www.sdc-arts.org/

 

Or maybe just head into Westcliffe and enjoy some of our States most captivating views of the Sangre De Cristos which at this writing are already snow capped peaks!

Better hurry though cause soon enough it will be time for a our annual journey to see the aspen change. Just need to decide between the Gold Belt tour or the Frontier Pathways http://www.goldbeltbyway.com/  http://www.frontierpathways.org/ 

 

Happy Trails ~

When driving in the winter: 98% OF AMERICANS SCREAM BEFORE GOING IN THE DITCH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD. THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM COLORADO AND THEY SAY, ‘HOLD MY SODA AND WATCH THIS.

You’ll eat ice cream in the winter.
When the weather report says it’s going to be 65 degrees, you shave your legs and wear a skirt.
It snows 5 inches and you don’t expect school to be cancelled.

You’ll wear flip flops every day of the year, regardless of temperature.
You have no accent at all, but can hear other people’s. And then you make fun of them.
‘Humid’ is over 25%.

You say ‘the interstate’ and everybody knows which one.
You think that May is a totally normal month for a blizzard.
You buy your flowers to set out on Mother’s day, but try and hold off planting them until just before Father’s day.

You grew up planning your Halloween costumes around your coat.
You know what the Continental Divide is.
You don’t think Coors beer is that big a deal.

You’ve gone off-roading in a vehicle that was never intended for such activities.
You always know the elevation of where you are.
You wake up to a beautiful, 80 degree day and you wonder if it’s going to snow tomorrow.

And the ultimate true test: Your sense of direction is: Toward the mountains and Away from the mountains.

Happy Trails to you!

By Curtis Seltzer

RISMEDIA, Oct. 8, 2007-If a recession is coming, is rural land a good place to have your money?

The answer does not depend on what your definition of “is” is. But there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, because much depends on the severity, length and characteristics of any economic pullback.

And everything else depends on the land you’ve bought–its price, financing terms (if any), location, uses and affordability in light of your income, among other factors.

Land bought with an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) will benefit from a recession’s lower interest rates.

But if you’re laid off during a recession, you may either lose the land or have to sell it a low price to get free of its debt.

Land bought at a too-high price will lose value.

Easy credit, ARMs and speculation hyper-inflate prices in good times; when times sour, they can boil you.

Most types of rural land have not lost value in recent months. The factors that have steadily lifted their worth during the past decade are not mainly speculation and cheap credit.

Second homes that have doubled or tripled in value in the past several years are the exception. They would be front-line casualties in a recession.

The most vulnerable are likely to be those in destination settings, particularly dedicated communities.

The least vulnerable second homes are those within a reasonable driving distance of metropolitan areas.

Undeveloped land that has marginal characteristics-so-so location, limited uses, negatives-will not do well. But quality land will ride out a recession. Population growth, not speculation, is the flood lifting this boat.

The floor under timberland is its long-term appreciation. That’s why pension funds, endowments, investors and trusts are putting money into it.

Quality land, bought at the right price with sensible financing, should weather a recession better than stocks and many other investment alternatives.

Buying land on time with a long-term fixed rate, coupled with tax-deductible interest and cash potential from a partial sale or rental, is a strategy that floats over turbulence.

The credit crisis we now see is the product of different groups each working the angle of self-interest. Mortgage borrowers jumped at low-introductory rate ARMS and interest-only loans.

Banks sold their sub-prime loans in packages to investors who bet these risks wouldn’t bite. Banks began seeing packaged, hinky debt as a revenue stream.

Investors-hedge funds, pension funds and insurance companies-borrowed to buy these packages of shaky loans.

When mortgage borrowers started being pinched by higher interest rates, foreclosures and other problems, many sectors of the economy yelled “Ouch.”

Common sense has a way of rearing its ugly head. Eventually, lenders will start lending again on the basis of genuine value. Recovery starts with quality borrowing and quality lending. Good land is a better place to wait out a recession than most others.

Curtis Seltzer, land consultant, is author of “How To Be a DIRT-SMART Buyer of Country Property.” For more information, visit www.curtis-seltzer.com.

Might as well get used to it. Colorado is cattle country! And with that.. comes the “Cowboy Way” of doing things. But don’t take the term as being negative.  It’s actually more a statement to be proud of.  Like not wasting time, putting in a hard days work, respecting the law, being polite and friendy to strangers, performing a task right the first time, and never, ever going to bed with your spurs on

Below are some thoughts from the cowboys of yesteryear, excerpts are from the Oct 07 issue of Cowboys and Indians. Pass em along if you feel so inspired…and Happy Trails to you!

Hopalong Cassidy: “The highest badge of honor a person can wear is Honesty.” “Be mindful at all times.” “If you want respect, respect others.”

Wild Bill Hickock: “Be kind to animals.” “Be polite and courteous.” “Be brave, but not careless.”

Gene Autry: “Never shoot first, hit a smaller man or take unfair advantage.” “Help those in distress.” “Do not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.”

The Lone Ranger: “To have a friend a man must be one.” “All men are created equal and everyone has~ within himself~the power to make this a better world.” “God put the firewood there, but it is up to man to gather and light it.” “Sooner or later, somewhere..somehow..we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.”

And the Roy Rogers Prayer:

Lord, I reckon I’m not much just by myself,  I fail to do a lot of things I ought to do.

But Lord, when trails are steep and passes high, Help me ride it straight the whole way through.

And when in the falling dusk I get that final call, I do not care how many flowers they send,

Above all else, the happiest trail would be For you to say to me

“Let’s Ride, My Friend.”    ~~Amen.

Wildflowers abound in the summer, and an assortment of native trees grace the landscape. Pinion, cedar, gamble oaks and cottonwoods, line the meadows and Greenhorn Creek snakes it’s way along the valley floor attracting a myriad of wildlife including some of the feathered variety.Verde Valley Ranch is a total of fifty 35 acre mountain properties, with only five properties remaining! Several, full time residents are already enjoying the wide open spaces, and expansive views. It is easy to see why, with how close this is to town, and yet the feeling of being miles from civilization.35 acres start at $47k to $118k! Click here for more info…

One of the (many) things I love about where I live, is how Colorado experiences four very distinct seasons. This time of year is just amazing! Still cool in the am, then bright and sunny in the day. While just yesterday we were blessed with a softly falling snow shower, whose flakes were the size of the palm , of my daughters hand.  The prairie looks like a big brown carpet with a green hue eminating from the undergrowth coming alive after lying dormant all winter. The decidious trees’ branches are bedecked in random patterns of tiny little bumps showing the promise of producing tender buds. And I swear one could burn thier retinas  if they stare too long at the dazzling illumination off the still snow-capped mountain peaks.  Although I love and appreciate winter, I am ready to head to the home improvement centers. Stroll the aisles and start planning the spring clean up and planting projects.  But for now, repairs and improvements can wait I need to get to the Riverwalk, and see how the expansion is going, check out the wares in any newly discovered shops along the way, and sip a latte while the boats and ducks float by.