Market visit

 Olathe Sweet Corn...right out of the fields. Still with all the husks on and packed in ice. Saturday at 10 am I joined several other consumers in picking up some to take home. One woman was going to purchase eight ears, at $1 each, and grill them, then freeze them.

So I got 3 ears. I can certainly try freezing without the grilling part...and will at least partially cook them first. 

Apparently this corn is grown in Colorado, and not shipped elsewhere, besides local groceries and farmer's markets.

This huge tent near the Durango Community Recreation Center held many things I was wanting. Fresh tomatoes. Green beans, garlic, Mexican avocados (at $3.50 each - sure!) and little yellow potatoes! There was even wildflower honey available. It's my go-to honey, to maybe reduce some of my allergies, by picking up some of the pollen through the process sister bees have provided...thus building my own immunity to local wildflowers.

The prices were staggering however. I deferred from purchasing a home baked apple pie at $27. I might want that in a few weeks however. For now I'm thrilled to have a great green bean and yellow potato casserole recipe that I haven't fixed for ages. 

They may not be here much longer though, the sign says season ending mid-September!

AND I discovered a new soft drink. Boulder Birch Beer! It was worth the $3. It might replace my other favorite, Reed's Jamaican Beer. 

The bottom line was that I brought all this home, walking down the hallway with my trusty cart, being completely out of breath, and finally sat down to finish my drink!

I can't wait to taste the heirloom tomatoes. Sliced next to my left-over chicken thighs and Jasmine rice.

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I did notice the people that Saturday were friendly as I walked around the Farmer's Market...as well as around the apartment building. Smiles and some hi's, and even comments about my little cart that I pull around. A plus!

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The lobby of Common Spirit Hospital in Durango - where my pulmonologist's office is located

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Another soul has gone on to the other side of this life, at 92, Wendell Berry. 

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 Repost from August 15, 2026 another Saturday!

I like watercolors of cats... by Elena Wuest, The Tangerine Hour. This may not be a watercolor. I've added a YouTube at the bottom of this post of more of her art.

I love when the temperatures drop after midnight and I can open the windows. The first few weeks I lived here it got to 100 most afternoons!

"Caws for Concern" last Saturday was International Day of the Cat!

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The owners of this property have fenced off their garden area...but the deer enjoy the leaves on their trees, thus there aren't any lower than the reach of the hungry critters.

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Groceries (and gas) cost more in Durango than they did in Black Mountain NC. So rather than paying $7 for a loaf of mixed grain bread, I baked some. I found my dried buttermilk which was packed in a U-Haul truck had baked into a hard cake of something inedible, so I just used water instead. My bread was kind of thrown together without a recipe, but it is tasty.

I found some more Elena Wuest paintings on this YouTube. No more cats though! 

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End of repost

Now you are welcome to comment...

Coffee Shop

Last Monday was my first doctor's appointment with my new medical provider. Whew, glad that's over...no, I liked him.

 So what do you do after talking about your medical issues for 20 minutes?

Go for coffee, of course!

The Blue Wing is still listed on maps of Durango as Smiley's Cafe. Lots of people with their laptops. That day was the first day of classes at Fort Lewis College, which I haven't yet explored. It is really two blocks away from my apartment, but still I need to drive rather than walk since I'm stuck on the oxygen thingie.

Very few pastries, just bagels, brownies and cookies. Sigh, I'm spoiled with having croissants!

I grabbed one of the blue velvet swivel chairs.

In the future I'll explore the arts and crafts area...but not today!

A sign of the times is that the handicap parking space is at the far end of the lot, while 2 recharging spaces are right next to the steps to the door. Did I mention this is a former school?

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 Repost from August 13, 2026 - Simple pleasures

Laundry room.

Adding this photo as I post this today, about the second time I did laundry here.

Only two of the 4 machines have working internet connections to run them with the company where you set aside funds and they're all used for the laundry, no fee to use it. If only it worked. I'm also concerned that there was no evidence of the detergent sheets that I'd put in with the laundry (after 10 minutes)...perhaps they were damaged by the move where they probably baked pretty darn hot. I'll test one out in the sink!

There's a lovely commons room with big couches and chairs...and outside the windows you can see it was still a cool 80...due to get to 100 again that day!

Some people were outside chatting, but few came inside this big room. 

There are always a few smokers in their designated shady area.

I sat while the washers were going, but as soon as the hour long driers started, I went back upstairs. For the same price I got 15 minutes more of drying time, but perhaps the temperature is a bit lower, because everything was just right when my first laundry was finished. Except I had to fold and hang up things still!

My son, Tai, says the highest peak is Heron Peak. I'm not tired of taking pictures of it yet...sorry if you are tired of seeing them!

I'd appreciate any comments you might like to make...