Cowgirls and Assorted Characters

Kari Peterson is Evergreen Rodeo Queen for 2010. She is currently majoring in equine science. Kari's focus has been on animal husbandry. It is her goal to work with stock contractors, breeding bulls and horses.

Ride'em Cowboy

Of course there was mechanical bull riding.

Wild West Weekend

Rodeo Weekend kicked off with an Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce Mixer co hosted by The Rodeo Association and several Bergen Park businesses. You know it's going to be a wild evening when there's MT's stationed at the front door. Fresh Tracks Catering provided gourmet cheeses, fresh fruits, and sandwiches. Keeping with the western theme Qdoba Mexican Grill provided an array of southwestern foods. And, of course there was wine.
It was an evening of cowboy hats and Rodeo Royalty. The Rodeo is always held over Father's Day Weekend. This was the 44th annual Evergreen Rodeo. www.evergreenrodeo.com

SKINNY DIPPING

When you see cars pulled over on the side of the road with their hazard lights on, you don't think accident - you think ELK!

COMMUTING EVERGREEN STYLE

My Monday morning commute. I take the curves slowly and with awareness that there are elk, deer, dogs, and people like me who stop to enjoy these moments.

Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker

No, it's Artist, Baker - Wednesday has become cookie day at the Wild Eye Gallery. Jillian O. Eberhart, an exhibiting artist, is also a pastry chef, Bee Sweet Bakery, http://www.beesweetbakerycolorado.com/

Jillian has a "no screw up" cookie recipe:

Using basic cream method combine

1 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup sugar, 1tsp salt, a tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 cup oatmeal, 2 1/4 cup flour, 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1 1/2 cup dried cranberries. 350 for 8-12 minutes.

Stop in at Wild Eye Gallery on Wednesday to meet Jillian and try her latest cookie. The cookies

and her art will impress you.

RODEO TIME

The PRCA Rodeo and Pro Bull Riding keeps the west alive and well in our mountain community.

The weekend is filled with small town, family fun starting with Pro Bull Riding Friday, June 18.

The El Pinal Rodeo Arena is located off Hwy 74 and Stagecoach. The gates open at 5:00, PBR starts at 7:00. Begin your Saturday at the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast in Downtown Evergreen, 7:00-9:00. The pancakes are good, served up with western hospitality. There's a variety of activities and shops to explore before the Main Street Rodeo Parade at 10:00. This year's parade theme is "Support Our Troops." The art is from The Wild Eye Gallery at the light. You can't miss it, there's only one traffic light in town.
The PRCA Rodeo starts at 2:00, the gates open at noon. The concert at the Rodeo arena begins at 5:00 with

Steve Stoddard and the Might Moss Creek Band. Cowboy Church (non-denomination) is Sunday at 7:00 at the El Pinal Rodeo Arena and is open to the public. The PRCA Rodeo starts at 2:00 on Sunday, the gates open at noon. For more detailed information and photos go to www.evergreenrodeo.com.

We have great restaurants in Evergreen with something for all budgets and ages. Catcus Jack's, The Stagecoach Sports Grill and The Little Bear will have bands. For a more civilized dining experience there's Casa del Sol and Creekside Cellars. For the family there's Beau Jo's, for great fast food there's Tin Star, CJ's Dogs, Java Groove, and The Ice House. There's also Saigon Landing and Evergreen Sushi. For atmosphere and fun there's The Wild Flower and One World Cafe. Near Evergreen Lake there is the Coal Mine Dragon, Willow Creek, Lakeshore Cafe, Cafe di Lucca, and just up Hwy 74 there's The Sub Shoppe. For a western flair, hand cut, all natural steaks and real cowboys, try The Black Hat Cattle Co. in Kittredge. For more local restaurants go to www.evergreenchamber.org. Check out the restaurants' websites for coupons and specials.

There are several public parks in Bear Creek Canyon just outside Kittredge if you want to do a cookout.

The Evergreen Lake is a beautiful area for a picnic and fishing. Get out of the city and have an old fashion family weekend in the Colorado mountains. Come play Cowboys and Cowgirls!

Superb Sub Shoppe

The Sub Shoppe has been a local favorite since 1973. If you are not a local you might miss this down home and friendly eatery. It is tucked into a corner just off Hwy 74, between The Lake and the Catholic church. It's not a franchise, has no advertising gimmicks, and offers quality, fresh food make with love. The baguettes are made fresh daily, the salads are not pre-made, the sauces and salad dressings are fresh, original recipes and the roast beef is slow cooked. And there's mouth watering BBQ! The tuna, chicken and egg salads are the best in the area. They offer a variety of platters available for your summer parties, this menu includes deviled eggs.

AND THEY SERVE BREAKFAST - affordable breakfasts made with the same quality and care as their salads and sandwiches. They're open 7am-5pm, www.sub-shoppe.com.

303-674-6190 for to go orders!

Although The Sub Shoppe has been here since 1973, Silvia and Chris moved to the Mountains from Florida and have owned the shoppe less than a year. This is their dream. Their joy is reflected in their approach to the business and the interaction with the customers/friends. Once you taste their sandwiches you'll be happy they picked Evergreen. Let's make sure this quality business and Evergreen tradition continues - What are you doing for lunch today!

An Unexpected Saturday!

Saturday I indulged myself in a special day. I took Mia Foley's workshop, Develop Your Intuition. If I had any intuitiveness I would have realized that this was going to be one of those life changing days. The workshop helps you gain simple tools to assist in managing your energy and living a fully intuitive life. Managing my energy is something I could use. Most days I have more to do than I have time. And my attention is often captured by a new event, business, or interesting person. Some days I'm so exhausted by 2:00 p.m. that I need a nap. I have become an expert on which parking lots are the best to nap in. The ad in Mountain Connection also described the workshop as 'release unwanted energies and attract what you want in your life." Napping in parking lots has on occasion attracted unwanted energies, and I do events in a notoriously haunted hotel, and then there's my mother! In the workshop I discovered I had a lot of unwanted energies. The first technique we learned was how to ground ourselves. The techniques were simple, the results were immediate!
I have an impossible week, filled with new projects, deadlines, and demands and I am going to meet each demand with the tools and techniques I learned in the workshop. In between the photos and posts about "More Wine," I 'm going to track the inpact Develop Your Intuition is having on my daily life.

A Parade of Homes, Wine and Food

Friday afternoon, Mountain Metro
Association of Realtors, American Craftsman Homes and The Preserve at Pine Meadows hosted a Broker Parade of Homes. The five homes were built by Bud and Clair Moore.
They opened American Craftsman Homes in 1993. Their mission statement is "committed to quality, professionalism, timeliness, fiscal responsibility and team work with our clients." The five homes reflected the quality of workmanship and design that Bud and Clair are known for. There was a progressive poker run, food and wine. The Realtors, mortgage brokers, bankers, and guests ended the evening with wine in the last featured home. Photos of the homes are available at www.preserveatpinemeadows.com

Scoop on Ice Cream

My vice is chocolate malts and my favorite is Baskin Robbins. Wednesday Annie had turned BR over to Lorna from Evergreen Parks and Recreation. Lorna was supporting her friend's cause for scholarships for Special Needs People to enable them to attend Summer Adventure Camp. From 1:30 - 3:00 31% of all sales were donated to Special Needs People scholarship.

Express Yourself with Fun!

Solar powered dancing daises will make you giggle. Check out the yoga frogs and cowgirl lotions and products just in time for The Rodeo.

Supportive, positive gifts for the cure and those who have fought and won the battle.

Express Yourself with Wild Whimsy and Elegant Style

Express Yourself in Bergen Village carries gift items that truly allow you to express yourself.

Each item is personally selected for its' quality, style, and sometimes humor. There is something for every age group making this the perfect boutique for last minute gifts. I also recommend

Express Yourself for a "a just because" gift for yourself. The prices are reasonable, so there's no guilt in treating yourself.

David and Bethany opened Express Yourself because they wanted a lifestyle which would allow them to spend more time together and interacting with their community. They make it a delight to shop their gift boutique.

Express Yourself is much more than a gift boutique. They specialize in custom invitations. The invitation to your wedding, party or event sets the mood and the theme for your special occasion. The invitation expresses your personality and intention and David and Bethany do everything to insure it is perfect. This is a small town business with small town ethics, each client is important to them. It is more than a business relationship it is a friendship.

The Food!

All the galleries serve food and wine on the Last Friday Gallery Walk.

My favorites are Stoneheart Gallery, catered by Tin Star Cafe (next door) and The Wild Eye Gallery which serves Salmon Quesadillas from The Black Hat Cattle Co. in Kittredge.

The quesadillas are a local favorite, unfortunately there was very little left to photograph.

And More Art & Wine

THE SILVER ARROW GALLERY has been part of downtown Evergreen since 1987.

The Silver Arrow specializes in fine American Indian and Southwest arts, traditional and contemporary original jewelry.

The Evergreen Gallery also became part of downtown Evergreen in 1987. The gallery features a variety of arts. Friday night the attention was on "Dinner on the Arts", custom order dinnerware and handmade serving pieces.

More Art, Wine, & Food - Friday Night!

TIMBERLINE GALLERY
David Smith, fine art nature photography from Colorado and the West.

SHADOW MOUNTAIN ART GALLERY is an artist coop showcasing over 40 artist members.
The gallery opened in 1990 and features original art and fine crafts.
Friday's featured artist was Linda Hartman.