And the summer continues...

Phil inside the Snowbound Mine

Milo and I arose for an early breakfast and then took our usual morning walk.  This morning we pulled out the large (4'X6') cotton flag.  We only fly it on special occasions like Sundays, holidays and funeral days.  Today it is flying at half-staff until noon in honor of our friend and neighbor, Phil Hannum.  Phil, like myself, was a native of Wyoming.  During his working career, he was a real estate developer.  Phil died recently and his memorial service is this afternoon (4PM).  The service is being held at the Snowbound Mine.  Phil has owned the mine for many, many years.  It was a project he held near and dear to his heart.  The Snowbound was an active gold mine up to the time it locked it's doors in 1935 .  All the mining was closed down in order to move all the resources to the war effort.  When you walk into the building, it looks just like it did in 1935. 

The calendar hasn't been touched and all of the working clothes are still hanging on their hangers.  Phil's dream was to turn it into a museum.  Rest peacefully Phil.

 

Upcoming events are brunch at Doug and Mary Ann's house (tomorrow), the Arts and Crafts fair at the school house and then the community fest at the fire house.  I'll post the dates soon.

Sunday happy hour

Hey everybody!  I just received this email from the flute player in the band.  Vic's in town from his Morristown hide-a-way so we have a bass player.  You might as well join us.  The entire community of Sunshine will hear us.  We'll see how work goes on Monday. 



Hey everybody, let's have a Sunday PotLuck HappyHour!

When:      Sunday July 27 - 4 - dark

Where:    Spencers 1254 County Road 83

What:      Music open mike - assorted beers and beverages - Pot Luck Hors D'oeuvre

What else:  Bring an instrument (french horn, trombone, Gretch single cutaway hollow body electric guitar, banjo) a drink you like or a dish to share, sunglasses, and no dogs.

Dogs:       No dogs, unless they're hot dogs or corn dogs or Elvis Presley style Hound Dogs

Who:       You, your friends, your visiting relatives from New Jersey, your neighbors

Safety:   Always be safe - wear helmets, goggles and reflective outerwear - be safe!

 

 OK...Tracy wants to see some pictures, after the fact.  Here they are.

 

The party begins!

 

The Kids having fun.

I know they are not all democrats.

 

The mayor, Chris and John, a band member enjoying a cool one.  Remember this picture for when I talk about our mayor.

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Potluck dinner

It's that time of year again!

Sunshine Schoolhouse Annual Potluck

Saturday, July 19th

6:00 to 9:00

Bring a dish to share plus your own plates, cutlery, and beverages

July 4th Wedding

Four years ago my oldest son built a volleyball court as an Eagle Scout Project.  The area has evolved into a small community recreation area with the volleyball court, horseshoe pit, swing set, sand box and picnic tables.  The community of Sunshine has used it for games, picnics and a quiet area for meditation.

Yesterday (July 4th), around 2PM a bunch of cars started arriving and parking around the school house.  I figured a wedding or something because the school was all decked out with flowers and buckets of beverages on ice.  To my surprise, everybody parked at the school house but headed up the hill to the volley ball court.  Not being invited, and hating to be a party crasher, I avoided the crowd and went about my business. 

This morning, curiosity got the best of me, so Milo and I took our walk.  We raised the flag and then walked up to the volley ball court.  Much to my surprise, here is what I found.

I found out that a couple who used to rent one of the houses in Sunshine so loved the neighborhood that they wanted to get married here.  It must have been a fun wedding.

SCSSYYSR2008

SCSSYYSR---Sunshine Canyon Summer Solstice YaYa Sisterhood Reunion.  An annual event of old friends, all who use to live in the same mountain community of Sunshine, Colorado.  Most have moved away.

Last weekend the family and I celebrated the summer solstice with our friends in the northern mountains of Colorado.  This event has become an annual event.  I posted about the 2006 and the 2007 event.  Janice's brother, Dennis and his wife, Suzi flew in from Hawaii.  The rest drove in from Utah and Colorado.  Most of the folks there read this journal;  I was reminded that I need to post more often.  Here are a few photos.

John, Harry, Bob and Lester ready for the white elephant gift exchange.

Our host's Dale and Terry leveled their old mountain cabin and built a beautiful home on the same foot print.  We still treat their home as if it is a cabin hiding in the forest.  They are off the grid and rely on solar power.  The house filled up and many of us camped out in our tents

My oldest son, Nate setting up his tent.

We had some fun games to play.....Kube and Wacky Ball.

Harry and Dennis playing Wacky Ball.

I can't wait till next year.

Is that a fish in the hot tub?



Dale and I discussing the world's problems (or deciding who will get the next haircut)


Thegame court


They say smoke follows beauty so I got up and moved.

The family enjoying "Ingabobs"

Bob had a comment about Chris' story and Bernie.  I was told that Bernie went back to the east coast 22 years ago.  Bob informed me that it had to be more.  Bernie was gone when Bob and Bebee moved away from Sunshine and that was 24 years ago.  The freezer has been buried and Bernie is still not back.  Ellen, have you seen Bernie and the prune juice posse on the LIE?

Smiles to all,
David

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Found ear ring and our hero, Butch

Yesterday was one of those days that is remembered for a long time.  Milo and I started out our walk as usual.  It was Saturday and Milo suggested that I fly the large garrison flag instead of the smaller 3' X 5' flag.  I agreed with Milo and we hoisted the much larger (5' X 8') flag.  Just as I was finishing, one of the neighbors stopped to say hello.  I lost my concentration and pulled a little too hard on the rope.  The rope became entangled and it was stuck.  I couldn't move it.  I was afraid the flag was going to fly high on the pole for eternity.  There were two more immediate issues.  The first was that the flag should not be flown after sundown unless illuminated.  I wasn't ready to stand out there with a flashlight all night.  I couldn't because the band was playing at Ruby's birthday party that evening.  The second issue had to do with Donna's memorial service.  Her service is today.  I usually fly the flag at half-staff for the morning and then raise it to full-staff at noon on the day of the service.  It is a hard thing to do with a stuck flag.  Butch came to our rescue.  This morning he leaned a 40' ladder up against the flag pole and climbed all the way to the top.  He freed the flag.  He is our hero.  Now I have to find a case of beer or a 5th of Beam for our buddy.

 

On our walk this morning Milo and I found an ear ring in the road.  For my Sunshine readers, please let me know if you know the owner.

Just another reminder about the Flap Jack Fling next Sunday.  It should be a beautiful Spring morning.

Smiles,

David

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Flapjack Fling

Sunshine Firehouse Flapjack Fling

           Sunday, June 8th, 9 - 10:30 a.m.

Pancakes - Bacon - Sausage - Coffee - Tea - Juice

            Adults - $6, Kids under 12 - $4

           Community Meeting - 10:30 a.m.

   Fire Station 2 at 5880 Sunshine Canyon Dr.

                       Open to the public

    Please join the Sunshine Fire Department and Team Sunshine

                  for our 3rd Annual Pancake Breakfast!

       We will begin a community meeting at 10:30 a.m. to discuss

                             SFPD matters of interest.

                                                Please, no dogs

                      Hosted by Team Sunshine

                                     Building a Stronger Sunshine Community