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Celebrating Strasburg, Colorado, a small, friendly town in the plains east of Denver...

GoPro Time Warp Bicycle Ride

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“For Amber Waves of Grain” on Two Wheels

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At home we have a Bowflex Max Trainer (yes, it is expensive, but it really works). However, in Strasburg nothing beats climbing on a bicycle in beautiful weather. Not quite amber waves of grain, but still a appealing view…especially to a New Englander like me who isn’t used to be being able to see so far:

View of fields east and west

For those “not from around here,” top is west, bottom is east.

My short trip also brought me past one of my favorite sites in our humble little town:

Trees, buildings, and grain towers
No, not the trees…the grain towers! 🙂

Now, to finish a Diet Pepsi at the Strasburg Convenience Store and head home!

#TentLife is Back!

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Although Augie and I hoped to camp out each Friday through winter…circumstances when it first became really chilly (below low 30s) meant we didn’t (e.g. Augie got a bad cold if I remember correctly).

However, I am proud to announce that we did start it back up for 2016 last night!:

Augie in the Fahrner tent

And, it appears we were enjoying it: 🙂

Augie and dad in the tent

I think the low overnight was just 41…so we were toasty in our sleeping bags. I also believe it rained a tiny bit…but our Coleman Instant Tent kept us dry!

Finally, if you are interested…here are some highlights of my shortwave listening in the tent. It was a great night for shortwave radio…with some very far away and some first time finds (and a combination of both!)Continue Reading

Hail Equals New Friends

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Quite the hail storm yesterday…

Backyard hail

…means we got to meet Brian from CJ Restoration today! 🙂

Selfie with Brian from CJ Restoration

We called Brian because someone in a local Facebook group was so impressed with him…and we can see why. He was upfront about what the process would be, found a bunch of damage I would have missed (and he only did an initial cursory look), and already has started the process with our insurance company on a good foot.

Although CJ Restoration can be called at (303) 690-9253 (squinting for the selfie I couldn’t see Brian’s left hand was covering the final “3”), we recommend you call him directly at (720) 486-3540. We’ll do a more formal review of CJ Restoration after they do all our repairs (they are a general contractor, so they can do everything…not just our roof)…but for now, thanks to Brian, they get a Strasburg Rocks! “We Recommend.”

Pack 439 Visits a Great, Local Museum!

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Pack 439 visits Comanche Crossing MuseumIf you are anywhere near Strasburg and haven’t checked out he Comanche Crossing Museum, please be sure to when it opens in June. You can read here about the special visit one of our local Cub Scout Packs made today:

“Mr. Smith Goes to Comanche Crossing Museum”

Thanks to Strasburg Elementary School Cliff Smith and the Comanche Crossing Museum for helping our Scouts earn their rank badges with a special tour!

First Bicycle Ride of 2016

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Alan Fahrner with clouds behind
Me in bicycling gear with beautiful clouds and sky
Well, I finally pumped the tires and took my bicycle out for its first ride of 2016. What a beautiful day, and what a great way to make up for work appropriating part of a Sunday!

 

American flag at the Strasburg Convenience Store
American flag at the Strasburg Convenience Store
 Today it was a short route…since said work means I am exercising about half as much as I wish…so I avoided the temptation to overdo it. Successfully. To easily. 🙂

How did you celebrate the amazing weather? Did you catch some opening day baseball? Something else?

The DT Stampede Bar & Grill

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The DT StampedeI’ve been meaning to write about a local restaurant Michelle and I first discovered when we wanted to eat somewhere new on Valentine’s Day. We love Strasburg’s offerings, but wanted something different…and not by heading toward Aurora.

DT Stampede's bar in the backMichelle had heard nice feedback about The DT Stampede Bar & Grill…so we hopped into the car and buzzed 18 miles east to Deer Trail. We couldn’t have been happier. Why?

Well, the food is good to great to begin with…and the prices are reasonable. However, the thing that sold us most on it was the friendliness of the staff and the family atmosphere. The owners were as congenial as they come, and it rubbed off on their staff…which may or may not be another family member. 🙂

Large room in back of DT StampedeThey also have a pool table in the front bar, so yesterday afternoon Augie and zipped over there for a couple games. Sadly, it was already in use…and then Steve (one of the husband/wife owners) told us there were two more tables out back. Go figure, there is a huuuuuuuge bar in the back. As you can see, we took Steve up on his offer to play there:Continue Reading

Strasburg Church of Christ

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Strasburg Church of Christ

Alan Fahrner, the main person behind Strasburg Rocks!, is also a Church of Christ pastor. He and his wife Michelle are prayerfully considering planting a church here in Strasburg. Please read more about the Strasburg Church of Christ and pray the Lord guide their decision. (That site also includes contact info if you would like to participate in this opportunity to serve Christ and His children on the high plains…)

It’s weird talking about myself in the third person. 🙂

A Canon 70D & Richmil Ranch Open Space

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Richmil Ranch Open SpaceThere is nothing better to do on a Sunday than spend time outdoor with family and friends…especially if you can sneak in a couple other things while doing it. 🙂

So…we headed over to Richmil Ranch Open Space in Deer Trail for a walk with some good friends of ours…and I brought along a shortwave radio and my new Canon 70D. The former was so I could see what I could pick up without normal housing electrical interference, and the latter to give it its first real use. (Our refund was a nice size this year, and this makes up for the T4i and accessories I had to sell when being out-of-work meant funds weren’t as plentiful.)

Shortwave listening was pretty good…even got a station out of India. As for the 70D…I left it in auto mode for now…but I’m pretty happy with the results below. Not all are great, but some are pretty slick. I especially like the windmill ones. I didn’t take quite as many as I might ’cause I didn’t want to be anti-social on a Sunday. 🙂

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Happy Wife, Happy…

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…life. 🙂

I don’t know if the gentleman involved is just proclaiming his love, or if flowers weren’t enough to make up for something… 🙂

But I gotta admit this put a big smile on my face:

I love my wife sign

The Snow Strikes Back

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Shoveled houseI don’t know about the rest of you, but when I shoveled before dinner last night I thought, “Wimpy snow.” I knew I would have to shovel a bit again this morning, but slept confident it wouldn’t be much of a task.

I will never mentally insult the snow again. 🙂

Snowy street, looking southOkay, it wasn’t horrendous…but I will feel what I just did all day. I’m not sure how much there was because of the way it drifts…and after an hour I still have the sidewalks to do. Okay, I’ll admit that I’m hoping the nice guy with the snowblower will do it while I’m working today. 🙂

Snowy street, looking northWith the wind and the snow, everyone stay safe. Last I knew I-70 and 36 were both closed…so no reason to even attempt something dangerous right now. Wait a bit for crews to clear things up…

P.S. Is our complex the only one where they just plow down the middle of the road?

Minion Flamester

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Augie with the Minion FlamesterIt’s done!

World, we present you the one…the only…

Pinewood Derby…

Minion Flamester!!!

Cub Scout Pack 439’s Pinewood Derby is this coming Saturday, February 6. It starts at 9AM at the Strasburg Elementary School. If you have any questions, please contact Pack 439 or me.

In case one picture isn’t enough… 🙂

Fellow Cub Scout Pack 439 Scouts…are you ready to race?!?!?! 🙂

New Cub Scout Pack 439 Web Site!

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Cub Scout Pack 439 logoTime to go onto other things…but late yesterday afternoon and evening we threw up the first version of a new web site for Strasburg’s Cub Scout Pack 439 (and tweaked it today). Check it out?

Even better…have a boy in first and fifth grade or who is 7 to 10? Please contact them and see how your youngster can have a ton of fun will improving his skills and growing his character.

If You Join Cub Scouts Pack 439…

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…you will get to see me wear this cool name badge. 🙂

Cubmaster name badge

Well…you’ll get to see it in mid-February when I become Cubmaster. 🙂

However, join now! Great kids, parents, and leaders. Lots ‘o fun and activities that’ll help your youngin’ gain skills and build their character. If you are interested and want more info, please contact me.

P.S. I was chosen specifically because the wanted someone who, quote, “Wouldn’t be afraid to act crazy.” Now, if that doesn’t sell you on it, what will?! 🙂

P.P.S. I got my badge via QuatermasterStore.com.

An Afternoon Drive

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After visiting a friend in Cañon City, I’m heading back…and this is just a taste of the beauty living in Strasburg allows me to experience…

P.S. Yes, my car needs a wash. 🙂

Happy New Year!

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2016 Happy New Year!Strasburg Rocks! wishes you and yours a Happy New Year!

2015 had its ups and its downs…but, for us, one of its ups was this awesome town and its great people. If you are reading this and do not live in Strasburg, come by for a visit. Although there are probably a couple grumps within our population you could run into :-), it’s far more likely you’ll leave happier than you arrived.

Alan with New Year 2016 "hat"And, if you are going to be in the area and want to say hi, please contact us.

Whether you live in Strasburg or not, may 2016 be your best year ever! It’ll be our first complete year here…and we are looking forward to it!

Our Purpose

The sole purpose of Strasburg Rocks! is to celebrate Strasburg, Colorado, a small, friendly town in the plains east of Denver. It does not exist to make money. However, should Strasburg Rocks! produce any net income, it will be donated back to the Strasburg community.

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