Happy New Year

Happy New Year - greetings from our family to yours.  

the Manning's (aka, Tessa Clogs / Swedish Clog Cabin entourage)

not too late - Get a Gift Certificate for a pair of Tessa Clogs

It is not too late - get a gift certificate for a pair of Tessa Clogs - we can get it to you electronically - print it up and your good to go

Happy Holiday Everybody!

Tessa Clogs Gift Certificate - perfect, for that last minute extra

from our family to your - thanks so much for you support over the years

celebrating time with family - hugs everybody

Holidays are Here - well they're close

You all know - we make our clogs locally here in the lovely diamond in the rough gem of Minturn, Colorado.  Just a couple of miles from Vail or Beaver Creek.  These houses are lived in year around unlike some of the modern castles you see in our neighboring towns.

Minturn, Colorado  81645

This is an aerial photo of our town where we work and live - pretty cozy huh?  Our factory is located off the photo (about 2 inches at this scale) on the bottom about 2 city blocks north (yes, the top of this photo is south so the bottom is north).  Where we live is about in the middle of the photo.

We are lucky - life is simple here but we live simple also.  It sure can get hectic in life if you make it - trying to keep up with what advertisers say you need.  Do you need that George Foreman grill?  What about the new and improved skis or bike that is out this year?  No - period.  My skis/bike are 10+ years old - do I want a new pair - heck yeah - do i need a new pair or a bike - probably not.  At least currently, I'm able to keep up with most on my old stuff and when I can't - not sure I'll be able to blame it on the equipment - it might just be this old body (but you always blame the equipment and not the engine right?) - HA

new classic - Astrid

So - we sell and make Tessa Clogs.  Do you need a new pair - maybe, do you want a new pair - for sure! :-)
We are proud to say, your Tessa Clogs will last a long time, this is true.  If you take care of them they could be in your wardrobe for years.  Like any article of clothing, you wear it and it does have a lifespan.  Wear your Tessa Clogs hard and proud, we can and will make you a new pair.

Speaking of Tessa Clogs and the Holidays - PLEASE, order as early as you can to guarantee a holiday delivery.  These elves will be working hard but "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in awhile you could miss it".  Hugs all - Clog Guy

Winter is here - NOT ready for it

Most of you know, we live at 8,000 feet, here in the central mountains of Colorado.  Snow comes early and lasts late.  If you don't like snow, you better not be living here.

It is now November 1st, our yard is covered - truly and Really.?.  We love snow, we love to play, ride and ski in it.  BUT - I don't like snow when it comes in October and last till April.  Most of you also know, we like to be outside - I like to ride bikes and it is pretty darn tough to ride when the snow is on the road - heck, you can't even really run once the snow hits the trails unless you don't mind running in mud constantly. 

Wow - 1st world problems here.  Boo Hoo - we have to deal with weather :-)

We had all of the family home and together last night - that doesn't happen very often as time keeps rolling on.  But it was only a night as today, 2 have peeled off to hit the desert in UT and participate in a off road running race in Moab.  3 of us are here together for one more day, then 1 will peel away back to college which leaves 2 of us.  I and the middle daughter will still be around and trust me, will find something to do - not sure what - baking?  I don't think it'll be running being that middle daughter still has cross country running going on. 

I like beer.  Yep - a simple sentence with a period.  I have to say as I was picking up our oldest in

Denver yesterday - I stopped at the Bierstadt Lagerhaus.  All I will say is - everybody needs to find this place and try a Slow Pour Pills.  Truly and Absolutely Delicious - if a picture is worth a 1000 words well check my fresh tasty didn't last very long and get me another Slow Pour Pills.  Interesting enought - it takes about 6 minutes for this beer to be poured so if your thirsty, you need to order another one as soon as you get your first. 

Cheers Everybody -

Family, Friends, Working, Playing and Living Life

on top Mt. Massive

We are all working hard to support family and life.  I'm sure it is not just me but many of us sometimes wonder or worry about the what ifs.  As I now am old (ok maybe mature) I try not to stress about the unknown future.  It tends to usually always work out.  In my instance, the best way to not worry is to get out side and sweat.  Make the muscles and mind sore.  I promise you that if you get outside for an hour, get the heart rate up and make something of a goal - you will for that time NOT be concerned of the unknown future.  For me, i usually need to get into a zone, meaning putting some stress on the body where I'm having a good hurt (breathing hard, heart rate up, sweating and maybe having a hard time talking while in this zone).  

epic Ride - Holy Cross Crusher

It is hard, where do we find the time.  Where do i find the time to type this blog that some folks will read.  MAKE IT - your mind, body and soul will appreciate it.  Too many people suffer from bouts of worry and sadness - getting outside and sharing adventures with family and friends will help.  Cheers

mountain biking outside of Avon, Colorado

    

a new chapter for the ClogBlog

Wow - time flies as I sit here typing in to our ClogBlog over a year after our last entry.  Sorry for those of you that have been waiting.  

getting Tessa Clogs painted, April 2000

As many of you know - we have been in the "clog world" or clogerati (as writer Lauren Mechling deserves credit for coining the term) since the mid 1990's.  Back then we were in our mid 20's living the life working to grow Tessa Clogs and everything else a young couple does (buy a house, raise a family, argue a bit, etc.).  Originally, we imported our clogs from Sweden and would customize then here in the central mountains of Colorado - Vail/Minturn.  We opened our original store/warehouse in Minturn in 1998.  It was a small retail shop with a big warehouse (that was also our daughter's day care for her first year of life).  In July of 2000, we closed our store/warehouse in Minturn and opened up a new location in Vail, Colorado just 100 yards from the gondola.

Times Change and new Chapter Begins

closing the red door, April 2019

We are still in our beautiful mountain town but as you can all do the math, we are a bit older (still trying to live the life skiing as much as possible), have 3 kids that have almost moved on and made the decision in 2015 to manufacture all of our clogs here in the mountains.  Besides the decision to manufacture our clogs locally, we also made the decision to close our retail location in Vail in April 2019 (which was a good idea being our landlord has decided to knock down the building and "pave paradise and put up a parking lot" - well a new condominium building with parking).  The Vail Daily did a nice article on us - https://www.vaildaily.com/news/closing-the-red-door/   So, we are back to Minturn where our factory has been since 2015.  Our retail is now more of a showroom after moving machines around to carve out a small space.

Things to look forward and onward to - more ClogBlog entries (at least more then once a year),  a new web site, sharing with all the lifestyle which we love and want you all to come to see yourself.  Living here at 8,000 feet can have it's challenges but it is truly magical and so are our Tessa Clogs.  This is what we and many live in.  Will our Tessa Clogs change your lives, no but it will put a smile on your face.  Cheers, Chris, aka, ClogGuy

Everybody needs Tessa Clogs

I notice a lot of my blog post are about time.  I guess I think more about this subject the longer that I'm on this merry go round.

Just today, there was a young couple that came into the store from NYC, NY.  We got to talking about life here in the mountains (slower pace) and their life in the city (the rat race keeping up with the joneses) .  Now I have only been to NYC once and what a town (can I call it a town) it is.  Amazing - the food, lights, traffic, people, sights, buildings, etc. - if you never have been there you need to go and visit.

I guess to get back on track, this young couple loves Vail.  "Why wouldn't you" I say.  "You are on holiday, hopefully you been able to put the phone away and enjoy our mountain lifestyle.  I think that to truly enjoy the mountain vibe and lifestyle you need a pair of our hand made Tessa Clogs made HERE in Colorado - just down the road - in Minturn to be exact!".

Well - it worked, they are taking a pair back to the city to wear and remember their special time in Vail.  Ahhh -  I did like visiting NYC, would I want to live there, no way - it is too busy for me.  Here in the mountains, we like to be able to stop, talk, ride our bike, ski, enjoy life/family and where work is there but other priorities are placed ahead.  We try to not look at our watches (or phones) being that TIME will always continue to move forward but those visits we spend with family and pushing ourselves up or down the mountains are priceless.

As it is the middle of May, Spring is finally here, snow has melted in town at 8,000 feet but we still have plenty up high (9,000 feet and higher).  Town is quite slow being that we call this time of year "mud season" as the snow melts.  It is a great time to visit for relaxation but activity wise you may be getting muddy as you hike or bike up in the higher elevations.  Kayaking/Rafting is starting to go off here as the rivers/creeks get higher as the snow melts.  For some, the skiing can be incredible but you have to hike for it.  Our family activity of choice is rock climbing.  I love to ride but not everyone in the family enjoys that but we all love to get out push ourselves physically and mentally on the sport climbs around the area.


Not sure for those that are reading - we did send out a spring email mailing showing off many styles of Tessa Clogs.  If you did not receive that and would like to be on our mailing list - do follow this link - Tessa Clogs Mailing List Sign Up - and get your information down so we can get you out the latest and greatest information.

Other ways to follow us is via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (which we post to almost less then our blog posts) or the old fashioned way being that we like to talk and type 970-476-8083, info@tessaclogs.com.

Cheers and Hugs - Clog Guy