Rocky Mountain National Park in the Winter
Just inside RMNP Gate
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most visited National Parks in America! We have always spent at least a couple weekends up there camping each summer and fall, but never visited during the winter. This was about to change. On my birthday weekend, my hubby decided to surprise me with a short road trip to RMNP, it’s one of my favorite places in the whole world. We packed up the parrot, dog and ourselves and headed to the high country, brought along a wonderful lunch of raspberry iced tea, turkey sandwiches, Fritos, pretzels and red velvet cake. The views, the wild life, the park rangers and visitors alike are wonderful. The snow was less than we expected, but beautiful all the same. Rocky Mountain National Park majestically rises above Estes Park, Colorado. Last year RMNP celebrated its 100th Anniversary 1915- 2015. Now lets take a look at some fo the ecosystems in the park.
Frozen Bear Lake
Montane below 9,000 feet ecosystem is the park’s gateway whether you enter from Grand Lake, Estes Park or Wild Basin. On warm south facing slopes the ponderosa pines greet you with their sweet fragrance. A sunlight-dappled forest boasts trees up to 150 feet tall, and is home to the tassel-eared Abert’s squirrel. Otters and Beavers work and play in the montane streams. Elk are abundant throughout the park with an occasional moose, bear and other wildlife tripping through.
Sub-alpine 9,000 to 11,400 feet, snow that falls in the alpine zone whooshes down to the sub-alpine areas creating a wet ecosystem with over 30 inches of precipitation yearly. The trees here are sharp-tipped pungent Engelmann spruce and flat-needled fir trees that tower 100 feet toward the sky. The forest floor is covered with shrubs like wax currant, huckleberry, blueberry and Wood’s rose. Flora consists of Arnica, twinflower, purple elephant’s head and fairy slipper. But are just brown branches during the winter. I always loved the name fairy slipper, brought to mind colorful winged creature’s flitting among the wildflowers. In the winter, they’d have froze wings. Not good!
Near Moraine Campground
Alpine above 11, 400 feet, thin soil, strong ultraviolet light, buffeting winds and bitter cold define life on the tundra. Plants that survive here hug the ground in dense mats, preserving moisture with waxen leaf surfaces or trap warmth with hairs against stems and leaves. Wildlife in this harsh environment adapt or die. Marmots store fat and draw upon their reserves as they hibernate. During the summer, Big Horn Sheep graze
Ptarmigan
here, but are long gone by late fall. One resilient bird stays all winter in the alpine zone. Warmed by feathered eyelids,nostrils, legs and feet, the ptarmigan calls the Alpine zone home year around.
Near Bear Lake Road
There you have a little info about the park and it’s ecosystem. Rocky Mountain National Park has something to offer its visitors whether it’s Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall. Come explore!
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Posted in My Say What Blog, Uncategorized by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Orchids – Failure Is Not An Option!
I know this is a little off topic for me, blogging about flowers, let alone Orchids. However, I am so excited about my recent break through, I hope you’ll bear with me.
For years and years I have tried to grow Orchids. Bought the special soil to plant them in, watered them faithfully, sat them in direct sun, indirect sun, shade, artificial light. You name it, I tried it. Each effort met with terrible failure, resulting in a dead orchid and disappointment. I felt terrible. I was an Orchid killer, and I hated it. 
My h
ouse is filled with beautiful plants, from purple African Violets, to White, Red and Pink Christmas Cactus, Palms, you name it, I‘ve got it. Well…pretty much, no Venus Fly Traps or plants from outer space i.e. Little Shop of Horrors. LOL.
Last Mother’s Day, my hubby bought me this beautiful, huge blue Orchid. It was infused with blue, so if and when I ever got it to grow again, it would bloom white, which was fine with me. If it would just bloom. Heck, I’d be happy if it would survive.
The Orchid came with a little instruction card of care and feeding, listing an exact watering schedule and food. So I carefully sat it on the kitchen table in a window that got direct sun during the morning, per instructions. I watered once a week, submerging the entire pot in water for 5 minutes. I used a timer. Wasn’t taking any chances. Took it out and let it drain for a few minutes, Orchids don’t like their little feeties wet. Fertilized with a balance mix (20-10-20) Believe me, that mix was hard to find. I finally resorted to looking it up on Amazon and ordering it there. No store locally had that particular mix. I was bound determined to do everything within my power to urge my orchid to live. After the last blue flower expired, I cut the spike one-half inch above the node from which the first bloom appeared. The directions said a new 
spike would branch off within weeks.
Low and behold, a few weeks later, first one then two and three new leaves grew on the plant, no sign of blooms. Yet my orchid was thriving. One morning I noticed a small spike on one original branch, then one on the other branch, to my delight a brand new spike grew from the plant itself. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. Now, I am considering asking for another Orchid this May, maybe a Black Sapphire Orchid to join my other one. My Orchid killing days are over and I am celebrating! Won’t you join me. Leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.
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2015 Year of Firsts – 2016 What’s Next
After Christmas is done and all the decorations are put away, it’s time for reflection. What was accomplished in 2015? What will 2016 bring?
For me, 2015 was a year of firsts. My debut novel, A Demon’s Witch, came out on September 25, 2015. I dared to dream of becoming a published author since I was young, and through dedication and determination made it happen. The feeling was beyond description to hold my creation in hand and have people enjoy reading it, well — it’s fantastic. I have to admit the promotion side of the business had a steep learning curve.
First interviews on blog sites for both me and my characters were nerve racking. What to say, how to say it and would people like my book? Thunder clap campaign was an experience all its own, thought it brought much needed name recognition.
Participating in my first Facebook Party after the release of A Demon’s Witch was overwhelming, but exhilarating at the same time. Learning to create my website was fun, but ramping it up to promote my books was interesting to say the least. January 9, 2016, will be my second Facebook Party a release party for a fellow author, Mary Morgan and promotion for my second release, Charm Me. I’m ready. Please feel free to join several well-known authors and myself.
Now let’s talk about a first author’s newsletter. I chose Mail Chimp as my provider, but that nasty learning curve rose up and slapped me upside the head, AGAIN. Just type the info in the boxes. Right? All kinds of wrong, arrange the boxes, add the art work, then the content. After blood, sweat and tears, in the end, I won and produced a newsletter my readers enjoyed. Whew!
Whats next for 2016? I’m glad you asked. Charm Me has a release date of January 6, 2016 and A Witch’s Journey will be out later this year. I have work in progress that I hope to submit, one is the second book in the Demon’s Witch series, the other a fun Christmas novel. I continue to strive to reach my goal of 5000- 7,000 words a week, which I met in 2015. Spend quality time with my family and friends, take long 
walks with my dog and more play-time with my parrot. Camping is high on my list of priorities, I’m in the process of making reservations for my family’s favorite camping spots.
How was your 2015? Did it meet your expectations? What about 2016? Any resolutions, changes you want to make, plans or vacations you want to take or do? Please leave a comments as to what you are looking forward to in 2016!
Wishing you a safe, heath, prosperous and Happy New Year!
Next we tackle camping plans and making reservations for the summer. See you then.
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Posted in Camping, Food for Thought, For Fun, My Say What Blog and tagged 2015, 2016, A Demon's Witch, camping, Charm Me, goals, New Year Resolutions, novels by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
My Favorite Things About Christmas!
With the holiday season in full swing, Thought I’d mention a few of my favorite things. I love Halloween, it’s by far my favorite holiday and decorate for the All Hallows Eve almost as much as I do for Christmas, which comes in a close second. Did I mention, I LOVE to decorate! LOL At Thanksgiving the aroma of turkey, candied sweet potatoes, stuffing and pumpkin pie made the house smell so inviting. My mouth waters just thinking about it. But Christmas…well… Bright lights adorning neighborhoods, Christmas Carols playing in the malls, and Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays on everyone’s lips makes the holiday season special. Here’s what makes my family’s holiday special.
1. Decorations. First of all, we start decorating the Friday after Thanksgiving. First the outside decorations go up. Then the tree, it’s lights, especially the bubble lights they are mesmerizing to watch. Several years ago, I brought the cutest colorful lifesaver shaped garland that I wind up the stairway banister. The tiny Precious Moments nativity is one I found years ago, along with Sam’s town, the soft lights from their windows are my 
parrots night light during the holidays. 
2. Food. Christmas is turkey, homemade cranberry sauce, rolls, candied yams and pumpkin pie swirled in whipped cream. Yummmm! The leftovers are even better. Sometimes we freeze the turkey leftovers and weeks or even a month later, yummy turkey sandwiches are wonderful. I’ll be putting one of those sandwiches together for lunch today. Left overs from Thanksgiving. LOL
3. Music. While we decorate the tree, we play a wide variety of Christmas Carols from the traditional to Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. The carols are sung by rock and roll artists, county western or classical renditions. It has been a family traditional as long as I can remember. We reminisce where the beloved tree decorations passed down generation to generation originated and the funny stories each spark.
4. Movies. It’s officially the Christmas season when we watch Miracle on 31st Street and How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carey. He is such a hoot. Then its Scrooged with Bill Murray. Afterward most nights we enjoy watching the variety of Christmas movies collected. Yep, get my Christmas movie fix. Then of course there is always the Hallmark channel heart felt Christmas movie magic.
5. Christmas Light Looking. It isn’t Christmas without getting in the SUV and driving through town admiring everyone’s decorations. Some lighting displays are synchronized with popular holiday music wafting through the crisp night air as you drive by. It’s beautiful and we enjoy it every year with a mug of hot chocolate and Christmas cookies we pack with us for the drive.
6. Family and Friends. The best part of the holidays is connecting with family and friends, whether it’s a long over-due phone call to catch up or a board game with friends. Years ago, I started writing a Christmas letter with our family’s actives for the year, complete with pictures. Since then it’s become a tradition. Friends and family look forward to that letter and make sure updated address are in my hands by Thanksgiving. There have been scary times, happy times, sad and in-between times, but keeping in touch seems to help everyone weather the preverbal storms. It’s been a rough year for many.
One last favorite thing of mine is to curl up in front of a crackling fireplace with a good book and a mug of homemade hot chocolate. Speaking of good books, have a look at two great holiday tales, A WITCH’S JOURNEY and A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING. Tales of redemption, magic, wildlife rescue, true love and paying it forward will leave you breathless. A Witch’s Journey and the sequel A Witch’s Holiday Wedding.
So there you have it, a few of my favorite things. What are yours?
With that, I’ll wish you all Love and Laughter. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Got any resolutions? Come on, you know you do. LOL What do you plan to change and what do you hope to see in 2019? I look forward to hearing from you! See you next year. I know it’s an old cliché, but couldn’t help myself!
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Posted in My Say What Blog and tagged A Vampire's Unlikely Alliance, Christmas, Decorations, Favorite things by Tena Stetler with 1 comment.
