«12. . .18192021222324. . .5152»
Several Carbondales in the United States. I've been to the one in Pennsylvania, from where several of the original explorers to the Valley hailed from and named our town after. Unbeknownst to them at the time there is an excellent source of high quality coal located underneath the town's surrounding ridges. The Carbondale in Illinois is indeed home to SIU though I've never been to that city. The closest might have been Peoria. Our Colorado version is quite the little rancher/farmer/hippie community that tends to be listed as one of the 'happiest' places to live. My personal belief, after 20+ years in this town, is that we are floating on a layer of alcohol and cannabis smoke that gives us the outward appearance of 'happiness'. The newspapers are all free and the number of liquor stores and recreational/medical cannabis dispensaries in town make us VERY popular to the visiting ski tourists.
Congratulations on Melbourne once again taking the title of Most Livable Cities in the World. I've lived in Washington, D.C. twice and while entertaining its not what you would call livable due to high crime rates and disparity of income.
BLT and a hefeweisen with an orange slice.
Colorado
And then (again) there were two.
Ah. It never occurred there might be more than one place of the same name though I should have clicked when I saw they were in different States. D'oh. Your particular version sounds delightful but as you mentioned, Melbourne is rather pleasant in its own way. And thank you for the felicitations; I claim Melbourne's popularity to be all of my own doing (of course). No idea where these people get the data to make these assertions, but there we go; good for the tourism industry, I expect.
Dutch hot chocolate with marshmallows.
~ Melbourne
I'm hoping we will have more than a puppet dump join in one of these days. Several new UGP members seem to arrive within a very short span of each other and usually right after we have a top 10 -25 showing in one of the census polls. Trying to decide if they arrive to be part of the high rating or to intentionally skew the standings downward. Either way, no one stays for very long.
Cheers,
Colorado
No staying power, these young ones (mutter mutter).
I confess that age creeps into some of my more reptilian thoughts. However, you did warn me some time ago to be aware of the 3 major groupings in Nation States and that has proven to be sage advice. I now fall solidly into the middle grouping of been here for several years but certainly not in the 10+ years of activity that you reside in.
Our turn at out of control wildfires. The smoke builds up in the mountain valleys to the point of not being able to see a 13,000' peak out the front door. Thought I had a head cold at first and then realized it was the 10 days of inhaling smoke 24 hours a day. Aggh!
Glass of cold water and an inhalation of Albuterol.
Colorado
Just as we thought the weather might turn itself towards Spring, south-east Australia is in the grip of a mini ice-age; snow, sleet, hard frost. Lovely stuff. But even with all this 2015 has still been the hottest year on record. I wonder, with some trepidation, what next year is going to be like.
Mulled wine in front of a roaring fire.
~ Melbourne
We have much to be concerned about as the Earth spasms from our lack of action. The US space agency, NASA, just released a report on global water levels over the next 200 years that indicates we are past a certain tipping point in regards to our ability to do anything to stymie the rapid sea level rise. Basically, we are 100 years ahead of predictions on sea level rising and its not going to slow down unless the developed countries of the world make a truly significant reduction in the emissions from industry and confront fossil fuel dependency.
Our main local paper had the headline yesterday of 'Hottest July on Record' just to prove the point. In some ways we Coloradoans are ahead of the curve in the fact that we lead the nation in recycling but have 0 laws on the books requiring people to do so.
Meanwhile, enjoy the snow and the mulled wine. By the way, do you use plum wine or traditional grape for your mulling. Loved walking around the local German Christmas markets drinking the hot spiced wine with potato pancakes.
Colorado
I am endlessly mortified by the deliberate blindness of the current Australian political administration when it comes to climate change. Many people are now doing what they can to assist - going solar, recycling just about everything, aiming for a carbon neutrality if possible; but the Federal government just want to keep the coal-burners happy. Talk about vested interests.
Spiced claret is the go down here (Cab. Sav/Cab. Merlot/Shiraz with nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves). Best by the fire with cheese on toast. Real comfort stuff.
~ Melbourne
Spring is sprung and the weather is typically Melbourne; four seasons in the one day. Starting off with a chilly few degrees C, the temperature meanders sluggishly up to the low teens until early afternoon when it leaps (leaps) into the steamy mid-20s followed by a slow decline back into an autumnal 13 or 14C. It's now 10 pm and a cooling 11C. Tomorrow is going to reach 27C, so they say, but tonight is crawling down to a miserly 5C. Just lovely.
~ Melbourne
Greetings! Have returned to the valley after a month in Michigan looking at farm properties while visiting my sister and her family. Lots of fun and a very productive excursion. Found 50 acres of horse/sheep ranch with a beautifully updated 100+ year old house along with multiple barns, sheds, fenced pastures, silo and an outdoor wood burning hot water boiler that feeds all the heating needs of the house and horse barn. Oh, and there is the 1 acre spring fed pond. Life is good on this side of the planet right now. Hope things are going well this Spring on your side.
Colorado
Hello Sinoesises. Are you joining us for a while or only for the standard puppet drop reasons?
Beezyland
How wonderful to have your own pond! I too have been on the hunt for a new property, but going in the opposite direction to yours - downsizing for my retirement. Have been looking at some small cottages on the banks of the River Tamar in Tasmania; glorious river and/or coastal views. Fabulous countryside and overall lovely place to live. The problem is finding something sufficiently small - everything's at least a half-acre, and that's not what I'm after. Thought I'd buy a little place and rent it out until I'm ready to use it myself. Or I might simply buy a plot of land and build exactly what I want. Such fun.
Are you planning to run livestock?
~ Melbourne
Opposite directions leading to very similar goals. While I've been fine tuning the overall plan for life after children (though not the loss of my wife) for some time, it is uplifting to know the next stage is nearing reality.
Becoming self sufficient in a sustainable environment has been a life long ambition. After military service I started researching methods while studying biology at Colorado State Univ. From there I have worked at attaining the necessary funds, associates and trustworthy friends to accomplish the goal. Soldier/Microbiologist/Landscaper/Animal Husbandry/Hardware Store Manager/GM of multi-million dollar revenue liquor store/Father, all to get here.
Livestock will be:
- Goats, Boer buck bred with a Toggenburg nanny to have good meat and dairy, goat cheese will follow.
- Rabbits, Californians for meat, fur, droppings for worm beds under cages and organ meat for dog owners that like to use high protein organic diet.
- Rhode Island Reds for eggs and meat
- Geese for meat, security and pond water aeration.
- Merino sheep, fiber and lambs for meat (not much though).
- A nice 6-9 year old gelding if I can find one reasonably priced.
- Aquaculture barrel system to raise tilapia, snails and possibly shrimp.
Not even going into the fruits, vegetables and nut crops to establish.
A labor of love for sure but its all for the benefit of me, my family and their offspring and the planet as a whole.
Apologies on my excessive response, I'm really looking forward to the process.
Colorado
Goodness, no need to apologise - it all sounds quite wonderful. I used to keep chickens for eggs but found it impossible to kill them off for the pot; I'm not one of life's proper farmers and would probably go vegetarian if I was faced with having to slaughter my own food. Speaking of which though, I really do enjoy growing the very best vegies, a thing I think will figure large in my post-employment plan. That, and writing. Though it's a few years off, I'm already looking forward to it. You sound as if you have it all very much worked out. Fabulous ideas.
Aquaculture in barrels? How utterly fascinating. Got any links you could send me?
~ Melbourne
ATTENTION ALL NATIONS!!!
ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE BEGINS IN LESS THAN 40 HOURS!!!
RESEARCH A CURE!!
BE PREPARED TO ASSIST YOUR NEIGHBOURS BY BOMBING THEM WITH 'CURE' MISSILES!!
Enjoy!
~ Dioxin
Will research and use my drones to utmost efficiency. Shall I assume the boarders will be closed to prevent continued infestation?
If the worst should happen we will quarantine infected combs and sell them on the black market for poisoning apples and such.
Queen Columbine XII
Always fun!
One of the better operations devoted to small space operations is http://www.backyardaquaponics.com
Right in your backyard, so to speak.
Colorado
I see our newest member strives to adopt the worst parts of humanity as its reason for existence. Which region(s) do you suppose finds it necessary to send out these avatars of low self esteem?
Colorado
*** ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE *** UPDATE *** ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE ***
WE ARE NOW AT T-MINUS 20 HOURS *** ALL NATIONAL BORDERS WILL BE CLOSED UPON ONSET OF ZOMBIE EVENT *** READY YOUR RESEARCH TEAMS *** READY YOUR LONG RANGE MISSILES!!!
~ Dioxin, Regional Representative UGP.
I find it very hard these days to comprehend the nihilistic and self-destructive urges of so many. Looking around the world (both real and virtual) these days makes me very sad. I do what I can to improve things in my little corner of it, but it is heart-rending at times.
Melbourne
PS. Thank you for the link - I shall investigate!
*** ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE UPDATE ***
REGIONAL BORDERS WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE IS OVER!!! RESEARCH A CURE!!! DEFEND YOURSELF AND YOUR NEIGHBOURS!!! GOOD LUCK!!!
THATISALL
«12. . .18192021222324. . .5152»
Advertisement
