All Entries Tagged With: "Ridgway"
A Touch of Provence in Hotchkiss
We arrived at Leroux Creek Vineyards on a sunny mid-morning and were greeted by Bon Bon and Piaf, two interested Corgis. The vineyards ramble to the Southwest. An early 70s vintage MG sits in the driveway.
“I guess I’m a bit of an Anglophile,” says wine maker Yvon Gros, who with his wife Joanna of Leroux Creek Vineyards on Rogers Mesa. “Come in and let’s talk for a few minutes then I have to get back to stomping grapes.”
Gros, who grew up in the Provence region of France, told us that the North Fork Valley resembles his boyhood home, one of the finest wine producing areas of the world.
“It strongly resembles the Coulon Valley right down to the rivers and the rolling countryside,” he said, showing off a substantial collection of maps and reference materials on the subject such as An American Provence , which favorably compares the two regions.
“Actually I came to Colorado to play golf and ski and this happened.”
The future wine maker arrived in Vail in 1973 where his brother lived, intent on pursuing his passion for cooking. He worked at several of the leading establishments and embraced the ski all day – work all night philosophy.
“In the summer it was golf and in the winter it was skiing,” he explained. “Somewhere in between I carved out a career.”
Gros grew up in Lac d’ Annency, one of 7 children, during World War II. He pulls out a thick, somewhat intimidating recipe book.
“This is the book that my mother used every day. There would be 7 children at the table but when another showed up at dinnertime she would invite them to sit and join us. She was an exceptional woman. She taught me the love of cooking.”
Later Yvon studied French Classic Cuisine at Thonon Les-Baines Culinary School in Savoie and interned at Liond’or near Lake Geneva.
Yvon’s partner, Joanna, was a clothing designer, and a graduate of the Fashon Institute of Technology in New York City. She has developed a signature line of skin care products based on grape seed extract. The inn reflects the elegance of Joanna’s design touch. Leroux Creek Spa, the signature line of Grape Seed Extract skin care products, available online, at the Inn and in speciality locations.
“But now we should have something to eat, some wine to drink,” he smiled pulling a cutting board chocked with olives, prosciutto, gorgonzola and brie, gherkins, French bread and freshly made pate’. Along with the fare, originating with local organic farmers in the neighborhood came a bottle of Chambourn, his flagship vintage.
Leave it to the French to present an elegant feast to highlight a morning interview that has now stretched into the noon hour.
“Wherever apricots and peaches thrive so will grapes,” said Gros filling our glasses with his robust red wine. “The terroir is defined by the volcanic soil and the climate. The grapes can handle the cold.”
The Chambourin goes well with beef, pork and lamb. Before the naturally grown grapes are ready they undergo oak barrel aging and strict monitoring so as to insure consistency throughout the process.
“Maybe I’ll make a sparkling wine next,” he laughed, “but right now there are grapes to stomp.”
Gros told us that although his inn is upscale there are plenty of people out there searching for just this kind of experience. The natural beauty blends with the delicious food and exceptional wine.
“It’s fun to see our guests get excited about the place,” he said. We offer a bed and breakfast with so much more.”
For more go to www.lerouxcreekinn.com
Horseshoe Voted Best in Several Categories
(Colona, CO – Pine Beetle Press – November 21, 2015)
The San Juan Horseshoe walked away with a record number of first place trophies for Excellence in News Creation at the 91st Colorado Stress Association Banquet held at Pea Green Observatory last night.
Panels continually focused on the Horseshoe as the easiest to tear into small portions and burn extending multiple accolades in this review.
Another top award, for taste and aroma, was accepted while the paper won another first-place mention in the Juvenile Pairing Classification.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was a stroll through a nostalgic winner’s circle where 93% of the general voters said the Horseshoe resembled impressionable moments in their childhoods.
The paper received $50 in cash from Zen Consumerism Magazine in addition to silver-plated dust collectors and wall plaques that will be stored underground in an undisclosed location.
Readers may recall when the paper took a Pulitzer back in 1992 only to return the prize to its rightful owners the next day.
– Merci Plaine
Tres Farcheezies Lesionado
(Montrose, Colorado – 20 de noviembre 2015)
Tres de los cuatro Farcheezies Flying resultaron levemente heridos cuando un extremo de la cuerda floja cayó en el Cañón Negro del Gunnison durante una actuación aquí. El Farcheezies, un acto de cuerda floja croata con linaje directo a los Habsburgo, se cruza el cañón en dicha cuerda floja cuando se produjo el incidente. Guano Farcheezie, su hermano Armando y su hermana Helena todo raspaduras y moretones sufrieron y fueron atendidos y dados en el Memorial Clinic de San Roscoe.
Al parecer, el accidente fue provocado por las acciones de un guardabosques del Servicio Forestal de exceso de celo que se dieron cuenta de que los altos gimnastas no habían pagado los honorarios de campamento en el parque desde mayo 2.
Después de varios intentos de localizar a los artistas de alto alambre ella simplemente comenzó el desmantelamiento de sus excavaciones.
Desafortunadamente el desmantelamiento incluyó la cuerda floja que estaba atado a una mesa de picnic concreto. El guardabosque sufrió lesiones menores como varios pollos, dormideros en la esperanza en el pecho de la Sra Farcheezie, la atacó mientras se excita el campamento. El guardabosques, cuyo nombre no fue dado, será premiado por su dedicación a su país con un trabajo de escritorio en Salt Lake City.
Los sobrevivientes afortunados dijo a periodistas que se sintieron aliviados de que la historia se rompió por primera vez en el San Juan de herradura, ya que, al igual que los sábados por la mañana los dibujos animados, es raro que alguien alguna vez se mató en una de las páginas de ese papel.
“Si esto hubiera ocurrido en uno de los otros papeles que podríamos haber sido asesinados y / o nuestros nombres mal escritos,” cantó Armando Farcheezie.
El grupo viajará al Valle de Bland el martes para llevar a cabo en un local de noticias transmitido allí.
-Ripple Van El Winkle
Three Farcheezies Injured
(Montrose, Colorado – November 20, 2015)
Three of the four Flying Farcheezies were slightly injured when one end of their tight rope fell into the Black Canyon of Gunnison during a performance here. The Farcheezies, a Croatian high wire act with direct lineage to the Hapsburgs, were crossing the canyon on the said tight rope when the incident occurred. Guano Farcheezie, his brother Armando and sister Helena all suffered scrapes and bruises and were treated and released at St. Roscoe’s Memorial Clinic.
The mishap was reportedly provoked by the actions of an over-zealous Forest Service ranger who noticed that the high gymnasts had not paid camping fees in the park since May 2, 2010. After several attempts to locate the high wire artists she simply began dismantling their digs. Unfortunately the dismantling included the tight rope that was tied to a concrete picnic table.
The attentive ranger sustained minor injury as several chickens, roosting in Ms. Farcheezie’s hope chest, attacked her as she excited the encampment. The ranger, whose name was not given, will be awarded for her dedication to her country with a desk job in Salt Lake City.
The fortunate survivors told reporters that they were relieved that the story first broke in the San Juan Horseshoe since, like Saturday morning cartoons, it is rare that anyone is ever killed on one of that paper’s pages.
“If this were to have happened in one of the other papers we could have all been killed and/or our names misspelled,” crowed Armando Farcheezie.
The group will travel to the Bland Valley on Tuesday to perform on a local news broadcast there.
-Ripple Van Winkle
Ralphie to start at fullback against Utah
(Boulder, CO Flatiron-No Starch News November 19, 2015)
The University of Colorado will feature a new face in the backfield when it dons its spikes to play a powerful University of Utah in Salt Lake Saturday.
The new guy, standing in behind the quarterback when the teams collide will be none other than Ralphie, the rough-and-tumble team mascot.
In actuality a bison, Ralphie has masqueraded as a buffalo for many seasons here. His familiar charge out onto the field before home games is a thrill to see, especially up close.
Utah 7 – 2 has knocked off Michigan, and trounced Oregon, while losing to Southern Cal and Arizona in Pac-12 competition in 2015. The Thanksgiving weekend bout promises to be a good one with Utah favored over an improved Colorado squad, that lost two close ones to UCLA and USC respectively.
Ralphie has never played organized football but he appears to have digested the complicated offensive playbook. First down – Hand the ball off to Ralphie who runs straight ahead. Second down – Run the option and give the ball to Ralphie who runs straight ahead. Third down – Run a reversal with Ralphie running the ball. Fourth down: Fake the field goal and give the ball to Ralphie who runs straight ahead. Pay dirt!
“Our biggest concern is that he doesn’t run over his own linemen,” said CU coach, Mike MacIntyre.
In addition to the running back role Ralphie will see expanded snaps at the nose guard position where he has learned the defensive signals in just a few days. Ralphie rush. Ralphie sack. Ralphie blitz.
“He won’t be worked into pass plays due to infamously bad hands, continued MacIntyre, “but he could be employed as a diversion along the line of scrimmage. He’s developed into an excellent blocking back.”
Team seamstresses needed three XXL jerseys sewed together and pants made from a protective stadium field cover at Folsom Field, to outfit the new player. Fans hope a dapper, well-dressed Ralphie will wear down opponents, then dazzle them with unprecedented speed and uncanny instinct as he gallops into the line and stampedes his way to the end zone. – Rocky Flats
Feds Bust Forest Animals on Pot Charges
(Gunnison National Forest Colorado Fur Review Nov 18, 2015)
In a major sting that has reportedly been in the works since July, hundreds of park rangers have detained and arrested an assortment of forest creatures that live here.
Early this morning campers and hunters were shocked to see cute quivering little bunnies and sassy squirrels in chains as they awaited transport to jail. Even marmots were apprehended according the eyewitnesses on the ground.
“This kind of trauma will stay with these innocents for many years to come,” said Dr. Evillio Tinkleholland who has been working with at-risk forest and plains mammals for 30 years. “It’s one thing to tag and harass these four-legged residents but this has crossed the line.”
Law enforcement sources had no comment on the proceedings this morning.
The bust, which many say is the result of federal frustration over legalized weed in Colorado. The state voted to legalize recreational use of marijuana and allow its monitored sale back in 2013 much to the chagrin of power brokers of Washington.
The feds still call the shots in “our” national forests, even though these lands are technically public recreation areas along with a litany of multiple use designations. Persons smoking cannabis within the confines of these vast land masses within the legal and established borders of Colorado are subject to arrest for breaking federal law.
Further invasions of “suspected national forest criminals” are slated for December with bighorns, moose and rocky mountain goats in the crosshairs of the investigative clampdown. Mountain lions and elk, along with the timber wolves we don’t have here will begin after Valentine’s Day. Bear, who are trying to sleep through all of this racket, will be accosted when they wake up in March or April.
So much for personal freedoms. So much for state’s rights. So much for pettiness. Where are the animal protection agencies on this one?
The arrested are expected to post bail and return to the forest where all their stuff is stored but they must wear radio ankle bracelets until a trial date, set for late 2019.
The action was lauded by states such as pot-scared Nebraska and Kansas who have little in the way of national forests, and the American Medical Association, which in collusion with the major pharmaceutical companies encourages the distribution of legal narcotics to human sheep.
– Melvin O’Toole
