Mountain Secrets Blog

It's hard to think about Christmas shopping and festivities when the weather is so beautiful. The temperatures are in the mid-50's, for crying out loud! But that's exactly how my friend Heather and I started our Small Business Saturday journey in Conifer, Colorado. Beautiful weather and a treasure hunt for hidden bargains, new friendships, and a better understanding of just what it was like to shop local in the My Mountain Town Community for the holidays.  

Did you know that with just the click of a couple of buttons, you can have Amazon send money to your favorite nonprofit organizations? It costs you nothing extra, you still get the same deals and service you expect from Amazon, and you help raise a little more money for our local nonprofits with your purchases. Pretty sweet, isn't it?! It's called AmazonSmile, and we've got the list of eligible nonprofits below from which you can choose.

 "What's the difference between reading a resource document and finding a reason for getting involved?" I asked Heather Galaska when we spoke of Fire Mitigation in her childhood home of Evergreen, Colorado. Here's how my time with her went.

Small Business Saturday is a great time to promote not only your own business, but that of your fellow businesses in the area as well! Did you know that you can create your own custom "Shop Small" graphics? It takes a little finagling if you have a longer business name, but you can go through and try several iterations if you don't quite like what you get back. There's no charge, and they'll send some generic graphics as well as Tip Sheets for how best to use these marketing materials! You'll get a Facebook cover photo, Profile Pic, an email header, and other ready-to-use graphics. Give it a try!

It's all at this link here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/promote

Learn more about Small Business Saturday here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/

PEACE - "It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart."

When I got the heads up that September was a special month for the mountain community of Bailey, Colorado, I had to ask why. Turns out it's a month of remembrance for Emily Keyes, the catalyst for the "I Love U Guys" Foundation. This, friends, is a big deal. Here's why:

"On September 27th, 2006, a gunman entered Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, Colorado, held seven girl's hostage and ultimately shot and killed Emily Keyes. During the time she was held hostage, Emily sent her parents text messages… 'I love you guys' and 'I love u guys, k?' Emily's kindness, spirit, fierce joy, and the dignity and grace that followed this tragic event define the core of the 'I Love U Guys' Foundation - The Standard Response Protocol PK-2 Manual, I love U Guys Foundation Curriculum Toolkit.

I had the opportunity to meet with Emily's parents and get a feel for the dignity and grace that followed. Although the tragedy was real and is still keenly felt, this story is about what happened AFTER the tragedy hit. And friends, this is where the community​ that My Mountain Town is so incredibly proud to be a part of stepped up.

And have I got one for you!

This story starts out with a runaway truck barreling into a building. Then, wine turns into water. BAM! There's an epic community Kumbaya, and a huge cliffhanger at the end. Are you hankering for a good love story? Or maybe a great action and adventure? A heart-warming western? Read on if you want all the details, my friends. It's about to get good.

Or, read on if you want an update on the Aspen Peak Cellars Winery in Bailey, Colorado.

It's the same story, after all.

A weekend is a sacred thing, isn't it?

Whether our weekends start on a Friday, a Tuesday, or somewhere in between, they are something to be cherished. They provide a well-deserved break between the drudgery of consecutive work days and we become the masters of our own destiny for those short, blessedly unallocated hours.

My own imagination starts percolating right around the time Tuesday shows up. I think, "I could sleep, around the clock, for the entire weekend!" or "I may just lounge around in my skivvies and binge watch the latest Netflix season." I COULD do those things, but my adventurous side wins over. "What road trip would take me to someplace I've never seen before?" I think, and usually go with that.

 -There's nothing like a good find.

Unearthing a forgotten or buried treasure (whether it was hidden months or decades ago) is a thrill. I know you know what I mean. So do antique shops, who take pride in their people traveling miles for a coveted candy dish. Swap meets, flea markets, and garage sales bank on the good finds, too. They count on the theory that "One man's trash is another man's treasure." My own Aunt Fran makes her living by it, mining nuggets of genealogy for curious folks who are eager to know whether their ancestors are heroes, villains, or just plain folk like us. (You're reading one of her edits today, in fact. She's just that good.)

I'm taking a page out of Aunt Fran's book this week and going on my own historical treasure hunt. It's my adventure and privilege to unearth the good finds around Conifer, Colorado. It's a little piece of heaven nestled in the foothills about 15 miles southwest of Denver going West up Highway 285. Conifer has a long history of treasure seekers, being first used as plentiful hunting grounds by the Arapaho, Ute and Cheyenne tribes, and then sheltering miners, trappers, and a plethora of pioneering souls who happened upon the place.

You know those weird neighbors that have nothing in common with you? The nosy ones that stare through your window to see what's up in your world just so they can tell you how to do your life better? Those sort of neighbors make living in a community a challenge sometimes. I've been known to hunch my shoulders and run inside as they start to come my way. You may have done the same thing, too. But this year, this year ... I don't have those neighbors AT ALL. I'm talking about the other ones. The awesome ones. The neighbors we all cross our fingers for when the moving van pulls up.

If you're a resident of the towns that make up the Jefferson, Park, and Clear Creek Counties of Colorado, you've probably heard that same phrase from every tourist that crosses your beautiful trails and frequent your shops.
Well.
You, dear Mountain Town Folk, are patient, generous people. When this phrase comes your way, you are known to open your lives and history to those who want to know more...

Spring has settled upon Colorado with great aplomb. I thought "Sprinter" would never end, what with 75 degree days battling doily-sized snowflakes. But with one last hail storm, Mother Nature made her choice. Inviting temperatures, beautiful blossoms, and most importantly...The Sun!