Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday. Award-winning international correspondent, Elsa here joining our fur-pals, Rosy, Sunny and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard with their weekly Nature Friday blog hop. Don’t forget to click on their link to see other posts about nature from around Blogville.
Norman: Ahem…when did you become an award-winning international correspondent? May I remind you that you were born in Northern Colorado?
Elsa: Geography is subjective, brother…besides I needed to beef up my ‘brand’ by creating a compelling presence for these Friday posts.
Norman: Does Mum know what you’re doing?
Elsa: You better not rat me out, hairball or I’ll make your life miserable.
Norman: Trust me, I won’t be the one to tell Mum her blog has been taken over by a fraud someone who’s ‘creating a brand.’
Elsa: Whatever. Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission? Besides, you’re ruining my byline with all this chatter. Let’s get on to showing off this week’s images my pawsome reporting skills.
Norman: Go right ahead but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Elsa: Thank goodness, maybe now that dolt will let me get on with doing my job. Sheesh…so this week…let’s take a look at some images mom took recently when she went up to the foothills in Morrison, Colorado to meet with family and friends. They met up at a place called The Fort.
What is The Fort, you ask? It’s a full scale adobe replica of the 19th century fur trading fort, Bent’s Fort. Created by Sam’l P. Arnold and his wife, “Bay” (Elizabeth), local amateur historians who wanted to create an authentic adobe home for their children to grow up in the country outside Denver. Purchasing the Morrison property in 1961, they began building the adobe structure consisting of 80,000 adobe blocks for the main building. When construction costs exceeded the budget, Sam’l and Bay had their builders redesign the lower level into a business location while the upper level served as the family’s living quarters. The furniture, gates, doors and chairs were hand carved by Taos artists in the same style as they were in 1833; their restaurant opened for business in February 1963. Today’s menu is inspired by the same recipes that pioneers ate along the Santa Fe Trail of the 1800’s. While the food is terrific, the scenery is what we’re going to showcase today.
As you prepare to enter The Fort, one of the first things you’ll notice are the surrounding rolling hills and scenic vistas. Then you’re greeted by quite a sight. Yikes, is that a SNAKE? Mom, what are you doing hanging out with snakes?
Mom: Well, Miss award-winning, international correspondent, isn’t that part of your job of due diligence/research for this story?
Elsa: Heh, heh…ummm, I’m going with that’s some fancy kind of kinky artwork on the surrounding red rocks. We’ll leave it at that. Moving right along…
Let’s continue, shall we? The courtyard boasts signage about The Fort’s history.
After reading the sign, you are blown away by the adobe construction and full sized teepee inside in the courtyard.
The bear carving is a replica of the adopted Canadian black bear cub the Arnold’s daughter played with as a child. ‘Sissy the Bear’ lived with the family for 19 years.
The Fort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
An outdoor patio has a few water features that add to the ambience of the area.
As you prepare to order a meal, you can look out toward Denver and imagine what Native Americans and pioneers alike encountered with the landscape while enjoying a lovely evening.
Well, that’s it for this week. Join us again next time when we look at all the remarkable sights Nature is kind enough to provide us. We hope you are able to enjoy Nature the weekend. Stay cool if at all possible, and drink lots of water, okay. This is Elsa, award-winning international correspondent signing out but before I go, don’t forget it’s “Take Your Dog to Work” today. I hope this means I’ll get lots of treats in the studio. You did bring home a buffalo bone or two, right mom? Have a great weekend, everyone.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
That fort looks like a movie place, Elsa, so COOL😺 We also want to thank you for stopping by on our bloggie and your kind words. It feels good to have so many caring furriends💗Pawkisses for a Happy Week ahead sweet furriends🐾😽💞
We think of you often, dear Binky and hope you’re getting along well despite losing your vision. You’re right, The Fort does look like a moving set!
Lulu: “That sure looks like an interesting place.”
Java Bean: “Ay, that’s a lot of chili peppers! Time to get cooking!”
Charlee: “Blowing up the fort instead of selling it seems like kind of an extreme reaction to a lowball offer, but It’s definitely a way to get people to keep talking about you …”
It is an interesting place, Lulu and definitely one not to blow up, Charlee.
Another addition to my bucket list! 👍
This place is a meat lover’s paradise!
All the more on my bucket list then 😁
Sweet Norman mee gotta meow that Elsa did a pawsum job reeportin this week.
What a kewl place this Fort with Teepee two…such a kewl blendin of THE Fort with Native deecor.
An THE Arnold’ss had a “pet” bear??? WOWSERSS!
Thanx fore sharin such a furabuluss place with us.
**nose bopss** BellaDharma an ((hugss)) BellaSita Mum
As a long time vegetarian, the heavy not he meat menu isn’t exactly my jam but the surroundings were so incredible, it was worth going to check it out.
Yore not a “Meat-ivore” like BellaSita Mum?? Mew mew mew….
Mee thinkss shee ISS part CAT! 😉
Nope, haven’t been a flesh eater for probably 30 years. 😇
Mee-yow yore simplee amazin Miss Monika <3 <3
You’re gonna make me blush, sweet kitty.
Iss OKay…go ahead an ^^blush^^ Miss Monika! Yore pawsum!
WOWZERS…..what a beautiful place and so many interesting things to see……love those huge strings of peppers hanging up…..and the lizards and eeeeeek on the snake. Amazing fort with an amazing history.
Hugs, Pam
Glad you enjoyed the tour. They host a festival where there are lots of folks who dress like the pioneers and do bow & arrow contests among other things. This area is so gorgeous with its beautiful red rocks. Happy weekend!
Thank you Ella for being our guide through a merging of old and new and the funky middle.
Hey, I’m nothing if not a intrepid guide. Have a great weekend.
Same to you!
BOL and LOL – loved the photos and the commentary!!! thanks for sharing this wonderful visit with us.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
It was our pleasure. It’s a bit different from our usual Nature post but since it looks like Elsa has finally decided to contribute to the blog, I’ll give her enough leash until she goes too far. 😂 Which in her case, will likely be soon. She loves pushing the envelope.
Classic Southwest style…want those lizards!
Aren’t those amazing? Hope you have a terrific weekend.
You too (tonight could be the up!)
Drats…the CUP!
No worries, I knew what you meant. 😉 🏒 🥅 🏒
heehee…
Hope springs eternal! #GoAvs #FindaWay
A very fascinating post, Elsa, Norman and Monika. (yes I spread the credit around) Thanks for sharing.
Wait, you actually think either those two slackers contributed to this story? No way (well other than I stole the pics mom took)! Happy weekend, John.
Stolen pics are a contribution.
Shhh…hope I don’t want to have to report them to the IRS. 🤣
😁
WOW! What a treat to read about The Fort – and its history – and enjoy your unique sense of humor Ninja Elsa!! Thank you for all the smiles! Glad your mom was able to enjoy family time!!
It’s a pretty fascinating place to see, especially if you like stories from the Wild West. The Arnold family also wrote a cookbook about the dishes they adapted for the restaurant. Fascinating reading! Have a great Zen weekend. 😊
Thanks for the pretty pictures, great reporting and even a history lesson!
That is one HUGE snake up there on the rocks…yikes!
Thanks, Ingrid. It sure isa big one…no doubt there are rattlers in them thar hills! Have a great weekend.
Such a treasure tho read! I love the humor and the beauty in this post. Makes me smile!
Thank you, Catherine. Glad you enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful area very close to the city and a nice place to get away.
Elsa, you did a great job!
You’re very kind, Kate. Too bad her ‘brand’ is all smoke and mirrors. LOL
Isn’t everybody’s? She’d make a great politician!
Shudder the thought!
Hey, she can’t be any worse than some that are around.
Great job Elsa…we are sure you’ll be a top nature travel influencer before you know it!
In the mean time, I think Mama has made a note and wants to visit the Fort!
xoxo,
Sunny, Jakey & Rosy
You guys would enjoy visit that area. And if you like wild game, it is THE place to dine at.
What a fascinating place to visit…..well reported by Elsa.
Thanks, Helen. There are always interesting things to check out around the fort. So Wild West-like yet just 30 minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown Denver.
Wow I love the peppers! This looks like a beautiful place to visit!
Mom is always fascinated by those ristras (strung chilis). Personally I don’t get the attraction, they taste like spice veggies. I’m more into buffalo or elk bones myself.
Your award-winning international correspondent,
Elsa 🐾
Great job, Elsa. I would love to visit there too.
Have a woof woof day and weekend. Scritches to the pups, a smooch to Norman and a big hug to mom. ♥
It’s a real meat eater’s paradise, that’s for sure. Hugs and tail wags from all of us at the Ranch.
Didn’t know Elsa was so famous, but no wonder, she did a great job reporting. 🙂
Looks like a real cool place to viist, thanks for sharing! Happy Weekend to all of you! <3
Thank you, Carolyn. Us professional correspondents work hard trying to deliver the best stories for
myour readers. Have a pawsome weekend. 😉🥰
Never heard of The Fort before. Very interesting history, and it looks like a really neat place to spend time at. A historic place indeed. Thanks for taking us on a trip there.
It’s well known in the area and has been featured in such publications as the New York Times, Sunset, Bon Appetit, Modern Maturity, 5280 Magazine, Plate Magazine, Rocky Mountain News and Westword. In February 2008 The Fort was featured on the Today Show with Al Roker.
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing this remarkable place. I imagine I would want to hang out there all day just enjoying the view!
Happy Friday!
It’s a truly unique place. Think Wild West!
I am thinking just that!
cool place!!! Good to see pretty parts of colorado at least in photos if not person. And it looks quiet with less people which is safer.
Even if one didn’t eat there, it’s an interesting place to check out. Have a lovely weekend.