The newest location of Rosies Diner just opened a few weeks ago. I have to admit that we’ve already been there twice already. It’s so nice to have new places to eat in the Northgate area. In the past we’ve gone up the road a few minutes to the Monument location but now we drive south on Voyager Drive to the newest location.

Actually, the Monument store feels a bit more “diner-ish” but the new place is biggers and the food is great! I was there a few weeks ago during the grand opening and while we waited they offered everyone free little milkshakes. What a nice treat.

They actually have juke box music playing and the atmosphere is definitely that of a classic 1950′s diner. The first location was in New Jersey and opened in 1946. Remember the old TV commercials with Rosie and the paper towels? That diner was the inspiration for those TV spots. From that first location the chain has grown quite bit with now two locations in the Colorado Springs area.

Take a look at the menu and see what they offer. I’ve had the burgers, the prime rib and I love the meatloaf. All good old-fashuoned American diner food! We like to find out of the way diners to eat when we are on road trips. The last one we found was Mom’s in Salina, Utah. What a treat that was. The coconut cream pie was so good and the waitress knew to bring it out before the meal. Too funny! The Rosie’s Diners in the Colorado Springs and Monument areas are equally charming and serve yummy food. Give it a try.

Colorado Springs Location: 11550 Ridgeline Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 MAP

Monument Location: 411 Hwy 105, Monument, CO 80132  MAP

Well, yes and no.

The answer will depend on where you live and how you live. For people who have a job that does not allow you to come in a bit later in the morning after a big snow then you will want to invest in a good set of snow tires.  Snow tires are actually made of a different rubber mixture than regular all-season tires so they work differently when gripping the road and snow. The treads are bigger as well.  All season tires are certainly less hassle but if you are the kind of person who delays buying new tires until the last minute, they won’t serve you well in the snow and ice.

If you will be buying a new vehicle when you arrive in Colorado Springs, it might be wise to invest in a four wheel  or all wheel drive car or SUV.  This is a must if you live in the foothills or Monument area. In my area, Flying Horse Ranch, the interior streets never get plowed so just getting out of the neighborhood can be an issue even in a four wheel drive SUV. I know people who buy a new car just before they set out to move to Colorado Springs. Great idea unless you bought a two wheel drive Suburban. Pointless and poor resale value in Colorado Springs!

If you plan to live in the mountains then chains might be needed but us city dwellers have no need of them.  I am native of Colorado Springs and I have never had to put chains on my vehicle. If it is that bad outside, we just stay home. There is definitely something to be said for a snow day. We stay inside with a pot of chili and movies to watch. Makes for a good relaxing day!

Bottom line here is not to panic about winter driving. Make sure that you have at least all weather tires with plenty of tread left on them. Keep your tires inflated to the proper setting. Drive slower than normal and leave early to allow for slower speeds of travel. Driving in snow is no problem if you are prepared and take your time.

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Flying Horse Ranch living at it’s best!

This gorgeous Vantage rancher has so many upgrades and options to wow you! Dramatic entry with vaulted ceiling. Formal dining room. Gourmet cooks will appreciate the dream kitchen with granite counters and stainless appliances. Built-in computer center in casual dining area. Kitchen walks out to low maintenance covered deck with phenonenal views of the front range, Pikes Peak and USAFA! Perfect for a glass of wine or a cup of coffee after dinner.

Spacious master suite offers a see through gas fireplace, five piece bath and a walk-in closet to die for! Your guests will enjoy their bedroom and bath on the main level as well.

Walk-out lower level is perfect for entertaining. Custom wet bar looks out over the large family room plus a huge bonus area perfect for a pool table or game area. Two more bedrooms, a full bathroom and a convenient office nook round out the lower level. Plenty of storage is also available.

This home has so much to offer the discriminating buyer. The total square footage is just ove 4500 and there are 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Membership to The Club at Flying Horse is available at an additional cost. The Club offers a Spa, Fitness Center, Golf  plus casual and formal dining. Contact me

Saturday, May 8th at 10 am: Container Gardening-Make something special for Mom. Learn about container designs and vegetable themes. Location: Flying Horse Garden Center, 1615 Silversmith Road 80921

Monday, May 10th, 7pm: Health Benefits of Chocolate-If you have a passion for chocolate but want to be health conscious, this event is for you. Held at the Flying Horse HOA office just off of Highway 83.

Saturday, May 22nd, 10am: 5K Run/Walk for HOPE  Starts at 10am at Barefoot Park, 2324 Diamond Creek Dr. 80921

Lots of fun things to do this month and more to come over the summer! Get outside and enjoy the Flying Horse Ranch area. you’ll be glad that you did.

I made my monthly trip to the commissary this weekend and yes, it was worth it! For you who are civilians and reading this, you might want to just skip to the next post. This will not mean anything to you but for military people who are moving to Colorado Springs, this could have some meaning.

I do admit that I split my shopping between the King Soopers in my neighborhood and the USAFA commissary. I think that most people do that unless they happen to live on base. I don’t have time to drive up to the Academy if I am out of milk but definitely use the store for my big shopping.

As commissaries go this one at USAFA rates a 6 on a scale of 1-10. My dream store would have a much bigger selection and of course be just like my neighborhood grocery store. The store at Peterson AFB is much larger and nearly new but still has that “commissary” feel to it.

Things I like about the USAFA commissary:

Close to my house (I live in Flying Horse Ranch near the North Gate of USAFA).

Small and usually not crowded

Good selection of the basics that I like to stock up on

Things that I hate about the USAFA commissary:

The produce department is terrible! I just skip it other than maybe buying potatoes.

Holiday displays make this small store too crowded.

Not enough selection of certain items. This is typical of all commissaries so it’s not that big of a deal.

All in all, this store is a good one. When I was an active duty spouse, my first thing to locate when we made a PCS move was the commissary. Having a decent place to shop has always been important to me.  The store at USAFA certainly does meet my needs. If you plan to live in the northern part of Colorado Springs, this is the closest facility. The store at Peterson AFB is new and mega big but it is located on the far east part of the base and is about 40 minutes from my home. Just not worth it for me but for you it could very well be great.

This was the view of Pikes Peak yesterday as I dropped my son off at CSCS for his delayed start. This was the first day this year that we have have the delayed start. As I was on my way home, I was reminded of the exact reason that we have this program in our area. Two cars had been going too fast on the ice near Discovery Canyon School and collided, serving as a reminder to       other drivers to just take it slow.

What about closures?

In Colorado Springs, winter snows are just a fact of life. Schools do not want to close unless they really have to. They do build a few snow days into the yearly calendar but if those get used early in the season, kids may have to extend their school year to make up the lost days. My son’s school has an online program to keep kids current with their work in case of a snow day. He hates this idea since it keeps him from having what he calls a “real” snow day but I think it is a great idea.  The kids have to log onto the system and then do their work for the day and turn it in when they return to school.

How do you know when there is a delay or closure?

We usually know the night before a storm comes in if it is going to have an impact on school times. I try to set my alarm for 6 am or just a bit earlier so I can find out the latest school news. Every TV station will have the school and employer updates on the crawler on the screen. If there is a 2 hour delayed start, I can roll back over and sleep for another hour. If there is a total cancellation, I usually hear the grateful yell of my son who has just heard the news himself followed by a few more hours of quiet. Many school websites also have delay and closing info but the TV news system is the simplest for me.

What about winter driving?

You have to remember, I am a native of Colorado Springs so winter driving is not an issue for me. If you are planning an upcoming move to Colorado Springs, you will want to think ahead. Owning a four wheel drive vehicle is a big help in our area. We have up to ten inches of snow coming in the next few days to the northern part of the city. If I did not have my four wheel drive, it could be difficult to get out of my neighborhood. Once I am on the main streets and the highway, I have no problems. The major roads are plowed right away and also treated with a de-icing chemical. If you are in the market for a new car in your current city, do not buy a two wheel drive SUV! It will be useless here in Colorado Springs! The resale value will be so low since nobody wants that kind of vehicle here. I suggest trading your two wheel drive truck or SUV before you get here–you will thank me for this later!

How long will it last?

Our snow season will run from mid-October through the end of April. Remember, we live here at 7000 feet above sea level and Pikes Peak is right out our front door! The benefit to all of this snow is that we usually have plenty of water. Our water tastes great right out of the tap. Very few people buy water in this area. That would seem crazy! Our water comes right off Pikes Peak and is cold and clear. You will love it!

If you are thinking of a move to Colorado Springs in the future, contact me or leave a comment below. I am a native of the area and can tell you which areas get more snow than others! My area, Flying Horse Ranch, gets plenty but I love it! Hopefully you will adapt to the snow and love it too!

Old Man Summer?

Crazy but it is snowing here this morning! I work from home in Flying Horse Ranch and just looked out my office window and saw the storm. The snow is flying and even sticking just a bit. I am thinking that a wet and snowy winter is in store for us here in Colorado Springs. It is only September but as a native of the area, I am not surprised!

If you are thinking of buying a Colorado Springs home, it pays to have someone who is familiar with every aspect of the area. Some parts of the city get lots more snow than others. Many people want an easy commute that does not include worry about whether or not access roads are plowed. I am familiar with those areas. Leave a comment below or contact me for more info.

Is this even relevant in Colorado Springs?

Maybe, maybe not. First of all, I should fill you in on what exactly the Walk Score is. Many people now want to live in a neighborhood where autos are an option. Great idea, especially as gas prices stay in the higher range. If you visit this new site, you can type in your address to see how walkable your area is. The site gives a list of nearby amenities such as schools, grocery stores, coffee shops etc. and how far the walk will be from your home.

I typed in my address here in Flying Horse Ranch. The score was so crazy low that I had to laugh! Of course I knew that my area was certainly not walkable. You can walk to the Discovery Canyon School but strangely enough the kids who go there take a bus. I drive by in the mornings and see them waiting for the bus. I guess it is too much to ask kids to walk across the street to the school. No walkability going on here!

I love the idea of the walk score, especially in larger urban areas. If you are moving to Denver, the walk score is a wonderful tool to have. If you want to live in Colorado Springs, forget about it! Most neighborhoods in Colorado Springs are not designed for walkability. This is unfortunate. Our weather is great and there is no reason not to be able to walk to things like a coffee shop or school.

Pass or Fail

The new concept of the Walk Score will hopefully inspire developers to design new housing areas with more walkable features. The site said that 99% of Colorado Springs had a better walk score that I did.  Somehow I now feel like a failure. It’s not my fault. I would love to have someplace to walk to! Plan it for me please. Build a little shopping village in my neighborhood. I would like an excuse to leave my desk during the day to walk to the coffee shop or to the post office. I spend endless hours in my car showing homes or driving kids to activities. Any break I can get would be much appreciated.

Tell me what you think. Is your walk score high or low? Do you care? Is it even relevant in our auto oriented city? I think not so much.

Leave a comment or contact me. I would love to hear your thoughts.