The mercury approached the upper 50s and it wasn't unusual to see people walking around without jackets, hats or gloves!
That is nearly unheard of. Temperatures broke record highs for Sunday and Monday. Some people commented that it felt like spring (without the wind).
"It is hard to believe this is January," was heard more than once in Dolores.
Snow is hard to find too in Dolores and the south slope of the hillside in Dolores is actually dry enough to hike on. The new trail constructed last year that starts near the old cemetery was dry until you got to the mesa top.
Let us all do a few snow dances, wash our cars, hand out laundry, wash our windows, whatever it takes to bring on some more snow.
Successful event
It looks like the Dolores River Boating Advocates made about $7,000 for their work for the Dolores River earlier this month after hosting the Dolores River Permit Party.
"It's so inspiring to see that type of community support and turnout. It's clear that people really love the Dolores," Lee-Ann Hill, director of the Dolores River Boating Advocates said.
The group installed boater-safety fences on the upper Dolores last year to keep boaters safe and cattle where they belong. It is so dangerous for boaters to run into barbed wire fences while boating, but it is also dangerous for cattle to be roaming around where they please. So far, their efforts have proved to be successful.
Cold water
A few locals took to the water over the weekend for their annual Polar Bear Plunge.
Sam Green, Jim Mimiaga, Ian MacLaren and Mark Drudge jumped into McPhee Reservoir Sunday. The frigid water was just above freezing as ice floated by this group as they jumped in.
When asked how the plunge went, they said, "It was cold."
The group jumped into the lake near Sagehen because the river is frozen over and the lake is so low, it can't be accessed near town.
New store
Rosie Carter, well known in Dolores for her Stone Free Farm produce, her music and her art, recently opened an online store highlighting local craftsmen.
Be sure to check out homeandrange.com and check out some of Rosie's beautiful items and other items made locally.
Carter and her husband Chuck Barry have been farming the 60-acre Stone Free Farm north of Cortez for about 20 years .
The online store pays homage to simple, rural living and offers handcrafted items, available for purchase.
Shannon Livick