Sharing some words that have touched me recently!

Hello from Lakewood Colorado! I apologize for walking away from LIFE. I have spent the last 7 months healing. I give thanks & gratitude for having time and patience to allow healing.

Physically- while spending time in the Arizona desert (7 weeks in November & December) I found myself cold to the bones- literally. The unexpected cold weather while camping in a tent found my bones- my teeth, back, hips, neck and shoulders kept me in pain. I came home to Lakewood the beginning of 2022 to find physical & emotional relief.

My dentist, regular doctor and chiropractor along with massage have been busy helping me recover. My urologist along with kidney stone symptoms and recent surgery have also been a part of my life. My mental health therapist has been kept busy along with spirit friends helping find the LIGHT!

Depression regarding this wonderful body was keeping my spirits at bay. I was sad, confused and wondering why this body was NO longer responding in the manner I was accustomed. I no longer could push my body without consequences. I was resenting getting OLD!

There is light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel is now opened into a new track- I have a NEW normal!

Physically, I am feeling better. My teeth are better with a night guard to minimized stress. A new bridge gave stability to the left side and the promise of a right side bridge is a good feeling. My shoulders and neck are back to feeling fine- now allowing my old hip injury to be heard. Kidney stones are part of my life- prevention and awareness are key. I am doing NIA (dance) at least once a week and have hula hooped a few times. I have several gardening jobs- helping with cleanup!

I know I am not the only one with social anxieties after more than two years of pandemic upheaval. My mental health has its ups and downs. Currently, using breath, meditation, quiet time, and outside activities (mother nature) to find mental relief.

My spirit is open to new awakenings and pleasures. Gold Prospecting in rivers & mountains- found gold along Chalk Creek near Mount Princeton. Rock hounding with the Colorado Mineral Society- quartz crystals near Conifer, Amazonite and smoky quartz near Lake George. Metal detecting with the Eureka Club and dowsing with Mile High Dowsers. I am involved with the Golden Anti-Racist Society- Check out “A Decent Home” documentary on trailer parks. I have been taking short camping trips-went down to view the Sand Creek Massacre memorial as well as the Japanese internment camp near Granada, Colorado.  Also getting to visit Rose & Steven at their summer hosting gig at a fish hatchery near Buena Vista. 

I back on the path to selling Pstyles. Got a Facebook page and looking towards selling at rock, mineral, gold shows. I have found the pStyle so handy when hiking, traveling and using porta potties/ rest stop toilets, etc. Always purchase the cloth bag with the plastic pStyle- easy to wash and no toilet paper needed.

My choice for peeing-Sometimes known as an STP (stand to pee device), or a PUD (personal urination device), the pStyle is a simple design that works exceptionally well. Because it is made of rigid plastic, it is easily maneuvered through clothing, without removing gear like backpacks and climbing harnesses. The unique funnel shape directs the flow of urine away from the body, while the rounded back edge can be used to wipe, so there are no drips!
https://www.thepstyle.com/ Use code CCC53 for 10% off order
Take it with you…
hiking, camping, rock climbing, boating, horse back riding, farming, building, landscaping, serving in the military or first responders, outdoor events, music festivals, night clubs, road trips, international travel, bird watching, cos-playing, caving…
https://www.thepstyle.com/ Use code CCC53 for 10% off order 

Hey Friends and Family,

How are you doing during this “interesting” time of living? I have laid low in the Denver metro area since March learning new ways of walking on this earth. Finding paths to my passion- Mother Nature and living with her energy!

Kayaking is a fun new activity for me. I was able to get out almost every week with friends. My kayak is folded up and stored for the winter…… This is a fun activity I would highly recommend.

I have learned how to pan for gold and how and where to search for gold! I joined the Gold Prospector’s Club of the Rockies and went on 3 gold finding excursions- driving to a claim near Blackhawk, Colorado, douse for gold, fill buckets full of dirt (hopefully with some gold) and take the buckets of dirt to Clear Creek where members of the club set up high bankers and dredges to run our precious dirt through. In the end, each miner had small buckets of concentrates to pan. Last Saturday, one guy found a nugget big enough to be picked up by tweezers- called a picker.  

Social- meeting people who have similar interests- Pockets full of ROCKS! Being outside! Digging in the dirt! Fresh air!

I enjoyed a two day trip with Angi, another female rockhound- we drove to Crawford, Nebraska to look for Jasper and Agates. We saw a wolf, pheasants, golden eagles and I brought back a full bucket of Jasper and other pretties. If you are interested in checking out the area around Crawford, Nebraska- just ask for a great location….

In October, I spent a day with a friend investigating the area around Devil’s Head near Sedalia. We found lots of rose quartz, and the fall foliage was amazing- best year ever! The area has been searched extensively so the gems found in the area seem to be gone unless one digs and break up large rocks. I did find my first crystal- the size of a very small pea!

I am leaving Lakewood Wednesday- November 10th- tomorrow. I am following Jack, an 87 year old miner and nice guy to Gold Basin, outside of Kingman, AZ. Jack has been going into Arizona for years to prospect for gold. He has agreed to my company! After we leave Gold Basin we will head for Quartzsite for the winter.

I sold the van early this year and have spent the summer setting up a new set up for travel/camping/etc. This is my set up until the Universe brings another path/adventure! The tent can stand alone allowing me to go into town without taking the camp down!

Quartzsite has become a winter haven for many folks- myself included. A place that is inexpensive, full of warm weather/ cool nights, with lots to do or do nothing. I look forward to spending days mining with Jack, catching up with friends, meeting new friends and enjoying the scene in Q.

Looks like there will be a LIVE Women’s Rubber Tramp Rendezvous. When and where to be announced. I plan on being there along with the Gold Show in February. My plan is to market pstyles. I love my P-Style (https://www.thepstyle.com/ discount code CCC53). It’s a super-easy-to-use stand up pee device for women. My life changed after using this. No more mosquito bites on my bum, no more dropping my drawers or squatting. It is so empowering and easy to use! I love it!

So my new journey starts.

We are all on life journeys that might take us to other states in the US and other states of mind. Enjoy living friends!

How are you doing? I hope you are out enjoying the last weeks of summer. I have been kayaking, hiking, gold digging and gold panning, joined rock hound clubs, and also lots of time spending quiet time with myself.

I have my own single person blowup kayak which I use when I kayak on my own. Most of the time, I kayak with friends and have been using a 2 man inflatable kayak owned by Loelle. I currently, prefer using the 2man kayak since it is easier to set up and take apart with 2 people. More time on the water- less prep and heavy lifting!

Been kayaking at Bear Creek City Park and Chatfield- both the Lake and the Platte River. Tomorrow heading to Gross Reservoir near Boulder, Colorado.

Fun Nature Treats:

Cormorants sunning themselves.

Pretty pink flowers floating/ growing in the water with sweet small blue dragon flies all around.

Huge fish jumping out of the water.

Pelicans, pelican, pelicans!!!!!!!!!

Hundreds of small frogs near the Platte River-some as tiny as my thumb nail

A young duck climbed on the back of a kayak!

So many birds!!!!!!!

Okay picture- stay upside down!

Finding GOLD has been a fun adventure! I joined several rock hound and gold prospecting Clubs. I have been on two club events where we went to a claim near Blackhawk, Colorado and dug for dirt with gold. We then took our buckets of “gold filled” dirt to mile marker 269 on the road along Clear Creek. Club members set up different gold retrieval pieces of equipment- monster high banker, sluices and we were able to run our dirt through the equipment- leaving us with a bucket full of “concentrates”.

Vic’s Gold Panning is outside of Blackhawk. You can learn to pan, set up machinery and prospect (for a fee). Jesse the current owner has a mine you can tour and looks and acts like a mountain miner!

Once a year they have a week end set up for prospectors of all ages. I decided to join the fun. I camped near the river with other folks. A great dinner of beans and meat and a raffle for a silver ingot. (I did not win the raffle)

I loved digging in the creek with my rubber waders. The splashing and sitting in water was a delight for me. The following picture is my ALL time favorite. My happy joyful place!

I went on a two night camping trip to try out my camping gear which is 40-50 years old. I did not take any pictures! Just know I AM a happy camper!

I plan on being around Lakewood, Colorado until winter- then heading to Quartzsite, Arizona with my new mining skills.

Hello Family & Friends,

I got back to Lakewood, Colorado in March and went into a weird hibernation- the wet cool weather kept me inside and the need to be active pushed me towards creating new business.

Spent Easter gathering Easter eggs with Susan & Twilight- that was a highlight!

It is now June, I am feeling more anchored here in Colorado. Have started being more social- meeting in parks and back yards, patios of restaurants and riding in cars for car travel…………

Currently, creating a business plan to sell p-styles at rockhound events, gold/ mineral shows, etc. I am having a blast learning about the shows and events while actually gold panning in creeks & metal detecting in streams and parks. I have joined rock clubs, Mineral societies, and signing up for adventures with experts. Luckily, Susan is okay with me bring home rocks and putting them in the yard.

Last fall when I was in town I bought an inflatable kayak. I blew it up in the livingroom and then kidney stones happened and kayaking did not happen. Finally, today I am heading to Bear Creek Lake to kayak in the swim area. If all goes well I am signed up for a kayaking adventure with Baby Boomer Social Meetup group Friday morning at Chatfield.

I hope these words find you healthy and enjoying LIFE!

Always,

Connie

I left the southwest area of the UNited States in the middle of storms- wind storms in Arizona & New Mexico plus rain& snow storms in New Mexico & Colorado. Took 10 days to drive the van back home to Colorado. Enjoying life on the road!

great landscapes

I arrived back to the Denver Metro area right before a major snowstorm. Also had several people interested in buying the van so got the van ready to show…….

Showed the van before the storm arrived! DID NOT sell the van!

New Neighbor…………..❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️☃️❄️

Canoeing anyone?

Enjoying being in wEAtHer! I ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Snow! Especially When I do NOT have to drive!

Rockhound BLM near Duncan, Arizona

I ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ROcKs! Little ones, garden rocks, mountains made of rocks, river rocks, gems and hopefully soon gold rocks!
Steven told me about this place near Duncan, Arizona. I got to explore and camp miles from anyone!
Rockhound area is about 40 miles from anything.

The first 5 miles from Duncan Highway are a rutted dirt road. The last 7 miles are Primitive for sure. I never made the loop since the road ahead was intimidating for my van.

Fire agates are abundant in this area! I never went more than 30 feet from my van and found all these fire agates.

Totally in my happy place!