Keya's Blog

Sustainability Fair, Fort Collins

The 10th annual Sustainability Fair happened in Fort Collins, Colorado last weekend. I went because I wanted to see what type of stuff they had here. I’m interested in energy efficient, passive solar type of buildings, so I have been curious as to what types of companies have been emerging in Colorado. There was a wide array of different ideas and different types of products, from soap, coffee, plants and builders. Here’s some of the other stuff that was there.

SIPS building models

There were huge organic vegetables too.

Organic Vegetables

There was also info about agriculture.

Hydroponic Agriculture

Another way of growing vegetables… and lots of other stuff, like this.

Worm Casting Hotel

A worm hotel of sorts… It creates a really good fertilizer!

Sometimes things don’t work out as planned, things always seem to take longer than anticipated and sometimes my outlook gets bleak as my thoughts become consumed with questions I can’t answer, such as, “Why don’t people drive with sanity? Why did some creature eat all the petunias on one planter? Why did it do it? The flowers were so nice. Why does it seem like my house is falling apart? Where are these bills coming from? What happened to my health insurance?” and on and on.

Sunset Clouds

Then I see something absolutely beautiful, by just looking around and I’m filled with a sense of awe, and ahhh – which fills up my being with thankfulness. Then everything seems fine.

Click on a small picture to see the larger picture in a slideshow. Article below.

[Show as slideshow]

The Telluride Film Festival was in full bloom this Labor Day Weekend.  It takes place each year in picturesque Telluride, Colorado.  It does not announce its lineup until the day it starts, yet does not disappoint. This year they had a special tribute to actor Viggo Mortensen, their guest director was Alexander Payne, and others present included Nicholas Cage and Werner Herzog.  The festival prides itself on its ability to bring talented directors, screenwriters, actors and producers in a relaxed, yet beautiful atmosphere.  Not only do they bring in big names, but they also bring in an impressive amount of filmmakers to have Q&A sessions after the screening and create common spaces where the audience has an opportunity to interact with some of the screen giants that are in attendance.  There are discussions with actors and filmmakers in the Elks Park and the Court House, while films play on 9 different screens throughout Telluride.  One of the larger theaters, Chuck Jones’ Cinema is accessible from town by an 11 minute gondola ride.

It is impressive to see the transformation that Telluride undergoes in preparation for the Festival.  Schools get transformed into theaters with state of the art sound systems and large screens to play the films.  I wasn’t able to see that many films, but I did take some pictures. As you can see, it is in a beautiful area.

I only went for a day, driving from Montrose in the morning and attended without a pass.  One of the downsides of attending without a pass is that while I and many others waited in line for 3 hours, in hopes of attending the Viggo Mortensen tribute, we did not get in.  As in most film festivals, the ‘really important’ passholders get in first (arriving 10 minutes before), the ‘other’ passholders get in second, then if there is room, nonpassholders can buy tickets.  I only saw the back of Viggo Mortensen’s head as he arrived right before his tribute began. I thought, “Wow. That was Viggo Mortensen.” Then I walked to my car in the rain.

Friends in the Montrose, Colorado area have some goats for give-away to a nice home.  They are very social animals, eat weeds (and other stuff) and are quite personable.  They are young, for milking, Nubian-mix doe goats.  They are the ones in the pictures with the collars.

Wow.  Within 24 hours, they have already been given away.  It was also on my facebook feed and on craigslist.  That’s social networking for ya!

I'll find the scientific name for this bug later

Here is a bug that is commonly seen in the southwest.  When it seems to sense danger, it stops walking and puts its bottom in the air.  Perhaps it is practicing yoga.  Perhaps its reaction is related to a type of narcolepsy, wherein, upon getting excited/sensing danger, it – instead of going to sleep, goes into yoga mode.   I always go around them.  Dogs seem to leave them alone.  Perhaps it is a smart bug.