Colorado Springs

 

We went to Colorado Springs this past weekend and the family had a great time... except when sprinting 60 gates to make a connecting flight.   Above is a view from our hotel.

We went up Pike's Peak 13 of the 19 miles, as far as we could go, but it was snowing and the rangers closed off the top 5.  The mountain was covered in snow, and Thomas and Gregory had visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads: 

We also met a local fox named "Wilbur" that liked to beg for food at your car doors:

That wasn't the only close encounter with nature, mule deer were everywhere, outside of the church, roaming the suburbs, just about everywhere you turned there was a herd of about 50 deer that just sat and watched you from ten feet away.  They just were wandering the streets.You almost had to run away from the giant bucks (didn't see one with less than 6 points) in order to keep a safe distance:

 

Yes, I mean they were really close.  Thomas desperately wanted me to shoot one for lunch.  This deer was behind a fence at the zoo -- but he wasn't an exhibit. He jumped out moments later.

 

 

But our encounter with nature didn't stop there.  We went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  Although it was a bit cold, the boys enjoyed petting the giraffes (they had a herd of about 20!):

They came right up and wanted to steal Thomas's lolipop.  Never been that close to am 18' giraffe:

Gregory had a blast just walking around :

The next day, we went into the bowels of nature itself... into the Cave of the Winds, again, the boys had a blast, except Gregory didn't so much appreciate the restraints we imposed on his desire to go on an independent spelunking tour of the cave.

Due to the delay of our flight, we just barely made our connecting flight home on Tuesday, got home at 11:00 p.m., and then it was back to the real world, a return to the lingering skunk smell, and getting up at the crack of dawn to the Leesburg sunrise:

...  which, really isn't that bad.  As we departed, Thomas waved bye bye to the mountains, and said he was sad.  But, upon being home, the boys rediscovered their toys...  It is good to be back.  We had a great time, and it meant alot to be able to spend that time with the family.

Pepe Le Pew: R.I.P.

The Hanssen boys, father and sons, having simultaneously come down with fevers, colds, and miscellaneous other bodily ailments had all settled in for peaceful night of sleep, Becca put them all to bed.  And at 10:00 pm, just one more task remained, Becca would dutifully take the dogs on their evening walk.  

Entrez Pepe.  Ou vont les chiens?  The dogs?  The dogs are running as fast as they can with their noses to the ground.   The depressed skunk, apparently accepting that Penelope would never accept his advances, was sulking around mourning the loss of his raison d'etre and playing a reckless game of hide and seek with our dogs.   Twice before, he had managed to escape.  I had called the dogs back, once very narrowly.  But this time, the dogs were ready.  They bolted into the starless night as soon as they stepped into the paddock, noses to the ground, looking for blood. Notorious for bad eyesight, he probably never saw them coming.

When Becca finally caught up with them, she saw Springer crushing the skunk's neck.  The skunk managed to latch on to his face and Springer howled in protest -- even after Springer released his grasp and desperately tried to fling him off, the skunk held on for dear life.  He wasn't ready to go, but he had stepped to far into the field to go back now and Amber got in on the action.  But, Pepe's revenge filled the night squirting Becca, Springer, and Amber with a coating of putrid oil from his anal glands....

We all know the distinct odor of the breed scientifically known as Spilogale putorius, the stinking spotted weasel.  You pass it in the car, and you shake your head, glad to leave it behind as the miles go by , but you soon forget all about it.  But when you are actually engulfed in its raw presence, there is no leaving it behind, you are stuck.  With all of its concentrated gut wrenching power it clings to anything and everything, including your wife.  Becca came into the house, and it came with her like hell's fury, hitting our air ducts like a virus.

We have been working all day to get the smell out of the house, ourselves, and the dogs.  Three gallons of vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda later, we have achieved limited success.  My Jeep Grand Cherokee remains under quarantine for the foreseeable future after Becca took the dogs to the vet.  Our laundry room is still off limits.  But, luckily, the living area is ... well, livable.

The good news is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After vacating the area, we came back in the morning to confirm that he had died on the spot where he dropped.

The dogs after frigid baths must remain locked in our barn until Animal Control can check the skunk's brain for rabies.  We doubt it, we believe he has been stalking our chickens.