Ralph Homan's Blog: Barney Keller's Blog

Megan and Matty Host a Young Moms Workshop in Leadville

Megan Allen and Barnabas Matthew Wesley (Matty) hosted one hundred young moms and their babies in the first ever Mountain Mamas Confabulation. They exchanged ideas on postpartum blues, vaccine schedules, asking for help, altitude issues, trusting maternal instincts and more.

Nearby pediatricians and nurses shared their expertise, and of course Megan's "Big Sis" Buffy contributed to making it a rousing success. She got the Denver Post to cover it and persuaded some baby stores to support it.

Megan is a natural! Her amazing knack for mothering is off the charts and her love for Matthew and Matty gets stronger every second. Matty is one lucky guy! Besides, he has the best "virtual grandpa" in yours truly, who deluges him with Unicorn toys, mobiles, and clothes for, um, the obvious reason. Well? If I'm a Unicorn hunter I ought to at least catch some every now and then!

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Dora and Powell Bennington Have a Hit on Their Hands

Lois the Laughing Lightning Bug is the top children's book on Amazon this month. What makes it so appealing is how lighthearted Lois is, laughing off her troubles as she fixes them.

Parents love the lessons of positivity while kids love her special laugh of "hee-hee-ha-ha-ho-ho-hoo-hoo,"

Please join me in congratulating them on their big success!

The InterLaken Fire Upset Dexter Mightily

My ghost friend, Dexter, created InterLaken back in the 1890s. For the fire to have threatened it as close as it did was even upsetting to a ghost.

Folks - this fire was caused by careless campers. Please feel free to rough camp over on the south side of the lake but love the area enough to douse your campfire thoroughly!

Forest Service campgrounds abound in the area as well if you'd prefer actual campgrounds. in either event, dousing your campfires is priority number one.

Dexter loves all the extra attention his beloved InterLaken has received. Even as cantankerous as he is, he's grateful.

Firefighters were somewhat amazed the fire didn't spread to InterLaken. Dexter's not; he did his spiritual part in protecting his place. Part of that was inspiring the courageous firefighters as to how best to protect it. He told me how impressed he was with the skills and courage he sensed from the firefighters. It gave him full confidence.

Dexter asked that I encourage all of you to show the love to your local firefighters. From protecting our neighborhoods to helping us get to the hospital and more, they are valuable assets in all our communities.

Welcome to my world

Thanks for allowing me into your world. I'd like to introduce you to mine. As you know, I'm a private guy. I have a small world of people such as Lois, Biff and Buffy, Matthew and Megan, and Wes Allen. I'd love to include you.

Have you ever been to Twin Lakes, Colorado? It's my inspiration. There's never a time when it doesn't stimulate thought, wonder, happiness, calm. If it's a bright summer's day or star-filled winter night, Twin Lakes beckons awe.

I suggest you make Twin Lakes a part of your vacation plans and get immersed in its grandeur and history. You can stay at the Twin Lakes Inn, a former brothel with amazing stories to tell. You can also opt for the beautiful Delaware Hotel in nearby Leadville if your thirst for history is better quenched with more refined comfort and atmosphere. You can tent or RV camp at gorgeous National Forest Service campgrounds nearby such as Parry Peak or Lakeview campgrounds, or many others nearby. Trout fish in Lake Creek or Twin Lakes. Hike the effortless Colorado Trail behind Twin Lakes and visit the awesome InterLaken ghost resort.

if you like ghost towns, visit nearby Vicksburg and Winfield, Tin Cup, Ashcroft and many others.

Leadville's Wild West history is well chronicled at the two museums in town. Some of the richest and most noteworthy gold miners in American history made their fortune in the Leadville area. Luminaries of the Wild West such as Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, and Wyatt Earp gambled in Leadville. The Silver Dollar Saloon has never closed since 1879 and is like a time warp. Don't miss it.

Off-roading in the area is the best in the entire USA. Stagecoach and gold mining trails abound and can be located with Forest Service maps from nearby Ranger Stations. Have a stout 4x4 equipped with all-terrain tires.

For the not-faint-of-heart, if you're there between Memorial Day and Labor Day, drive Highway 82 from Twin Lakes to Aspen. It's well-paved but a shelf road that narrows down to barely over one lane around hairpin turns.