And after the conference relaxation...

I was exhausted after teaching for three days.  I had no idea I would be so worn out.  Undoubtedly it has something to do with extroverting myself for four days straight.  Fortunately I had the foresight to purchase Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge rail tickets for Monday after the conference and Emily and I had a fantastic time riding the train and exploring some more of western Colorado.

There is a weaving shop in Silverton called Weathertop Wovens.  They don't allow photos in the shop, but here is the storefront.  In the past when I've visited they have both spent a lot of time explaining how they create their garments.  They are great people to visit.  They use multi-colored warps mostly in cotton to weave fabric which they then sew into ruanas and jackets.  (Does the name come from The Lord of the Rings?  I didn't think to ask them while there this time.)

This is perhaps one of the funniest signs I have ever seen.  It was in front of a house in Silverton--a town where only the main street is paved, most of the town leaves for all but 3 months of the year, and the people who live there year round are tougher than nails.  I suspect this sign belongs to one of the tough ones.  (Silverton also gets a LOT of summer-time tourist traffic and I suspect people get sick of tourists parking in front of their houses.)

On our way home we drove through Bayfield, CO.  I had asked the woman at Yarn (an amazing little yarn shop where I have spent some money in past months!) in Durango if there were any other yarn shops in the area and she mentioned one in Bayfield.  We ran across this one which has one of the most clever names for a knit shop that I have ever seen... considering that the shop is on Pearl Street.