Colorado Mesa Verde National Park - Spruce Tree House

Spruce Tree House is located near the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum in the Park. The half-mile winding, paved trail includes a steep 100 foot descent and ascent. Moderately strenuous when you're not used to the altitude. There is a Ranger on site if you have questions, but you conduct your own tour. This site is easily accessible and no climbing of ladders is required. A must see if you're in the park. Be sure to take in the Chapin Mesa Archeological Museum too! It's well done and it's free!

Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park - Balcony House

Balcony House is the most adventurous cliff dwelling tour and involves climbing a 32 foot ladder to enter the dwelling. At the exit you crawl through a 12 foot long by 18 inch (yes inch) wide tunnel,












followed by a 60 foot climb up the OPEN CLIFF FACE using two 10 foot ladders and a series of stone steps.

Nancy handled the ladders and steps and Cliff House with ease, but Balcony House proved to be a bit more challenging and THRILLING! Once you embark up the ladder to the dwelling there is no turning back. About half-way up I thought "What did I get myself into!" A death-grip on the rungs and at a snail's pace....I made it! Exiting through the tunnel easy, but stone steps on the open cliff face to exit was another thrill. Anyone can do it or the Park wouldn't be doing it....but because I'm afraid of heights, I really had to push past my fears.

Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park - Cliff Palace

Cliff Palace in 1889 Before Restoration
We are huge fans of the National Parks, and we're doing our best to visit each and every one of them. Today we visited Mesa Verde National Park, the only national park set aside "to preserve the works of man." 52,073 acres; 8,100 acres of designated wilderness. The Ancestral Pueblo moved into the Mesa Verde area by AD 550 and occupied the Colorado Plateau region until AD 1300. There are many, many sites located in the park and in the entire Four Corners area and archeologists have compiled one of the most significant chapters in the story of prehistoric America.

I was particularly impressed with the beauty of the geology in the area. Plateaus, rock outcroppings, and cliffs go on for miles and miles. We were particularly impressed with the cliff dwellings and Cliff Palace was no exception.

Park Rangers go to great lengths to let you know you need to be able to climb ladders and shouldn't be afraid of heights. At Cliff Palace we took the park tour that required us to climb five 8 to 10 foot ladders, including a 100 foot vertical climb to exit.

The dwellings have been explored extensively. There are numerous rooms and chambers - beyone what we were allowed to explore. The ruins have seen significant repairs in an attempt to slow their decline. Cliff Palace was discovered in 1888 by two cowboys, and the park displays photographs of the site taken in 1889 before exploration and repairs were undertaken. It is fascinating how the Puebloans established such elaborate communities.
Cliff Palace Today

Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park

Nestled against the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Great Sand Dunes are the magnificent centerpiece of a natural system that includes high mountain peaks, sparkling streams, powerful winds, and billions of grains of sand. It is an awe-inspiring, wild landscape. The dunes are the tallest in North America and they cover more than 330 square miles. Rolling around the edges of the dunefield are the creeks of Medano and Sand Credk. They are swift, shallow and seasonal and are critical links in the natural system of sand recycling. They are sources of moisture in this desert valley and are the focal point for many visitors to the Great Sand Dunes.

Tennessee, Memphis - GUS'S FRIED CHICKEN

Texas, Rockwall - Hey, Hey - most of the Gang's Here!

Top Photo (left to right) Will Hogan, Rusty Hogan Teresa Hogan, Charlie Luedeger, Joe Parsons, Vince Aloi, Judi Aloi, Nancy Parsons, Danny Currey, Mary Luedeger, Blair Currey

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day. Beautiful weather, good food and an chance to reconnect with a few of our fire friends. We gathered at Dodie's Cajun Restaurant in Rockwall in the new Harbour Development. It was great to see everyone - we don't get to see everyone as often as we did, and it's always fun to hear what they and their families have been up to. We all look fantastic (and yes, I need glasses! LOL!)We need to repeat when we're next in town

The Harbor Development is across the street from our old neighborhood in Rockwall. When we moved it sure didn't look the way it does now. I am sure folks in Rockwall enjoy having all those amenities nearby.

Texas, Carthage - Visiting Ocil and Oma Lee Parsons

We enjoyed a lovely visit in Carthage, Texas with Joe's Uncle Ocil and his wife Oma Lee today. These terrific folks are 94 years of age and still live independently. Oma Lee prepared lunch of beef stew, canteloupe, banana pudding and coconut cake for us and it was delicious. We enjoyed sharing stories from Ocil and Oma's past and learning more about our ancestors. We look forward to visiting with them again soon.

Here is a picture of their house. It is so unique, sided with petrified rock! We've never seen another house like this. It is very interesting, really neat!