A Couple More Trip Tales

I wanted to share a couple more pictures. These first ones are from Garden of the Gods. This was taken the morning it was about 20 and starting to snow. It was still beautiful there.















These next two are from the Royal Gorge. The first is the view that always upset Nurse J when she was little. She was afraid she was going to fall through the bridge! The next is the view of what's under that bridge. Photo was taken from looking over the side.








On a side note, about my flight.... I was traveling alone since Golfer was traveling between business locations. All was well until the flight from Denver to Colorado Springs. It was late departing. After we all got on board and seated the pilot announced it was going to be rough and if we needed anything to just shout or wave; the flight attendants were going to stay belted in. Ominous. Take off was okay, and the flight wasn't too bad until we got close to landing. We were almost down, rocking back and forth, and all of a sudden up we went. We circled around again and on the second try we landed. Golfer said he saw the plane come in and then go back up and thought "what the heck!?" I was a little nauseous and had a headache, but all was well.

More later. Stay safe!

We're Back!

Golfer had a couple back-to-back business trips and I got to go along on the last one when he went out to Colorado Springs. We lived there for about four years and loved the area. This first picture tells why. Clear air, beautiful mountain (Pikes Peak)

The day we arrived it was almost 70 out. The next morning it was about 20 and snowing. The third morning it was about 10. We had packed sensibly and had warm clothes to layer so we were fine. We had forgotten how strong the winds could be though and at times it was difficult to walk in a straight line!

We went to all our favorite places and drove around enjoying the scenery. We also visited with some friends and ate at several excellent restaurants.

These cold fish are at Seven Falls. When we lived in Colorado and would go there, Bikini and Nurse J liked to feed the fish. The white part is ice.

We drove through Garden of the Gods and Cheyenne Canyon Park. Took a trip to Cripple Creek. In the mid-70's when we were there it was a quaint old mining town. Now it is touristy gambling establishments and little shops. But the area around it is still gorgeous!

We had a fun evening at the "Flying W Ranch" with a wonderful steak dinner and great cowboy music.

Golfer got his work done.

We visited Royal Gorge and the Air Force Academy and hunted the places where we used to live.

All in all we had a wonderful trip. I will close with the tradtional family photo of a potty break!

Stay safe!

Time Has Been Flying!

I don't know where it goes, but time sure flies by fast. All is well here with us.

Golfer was supposed to be in Ohio with his brother, Lar. Lar had double bypass surgery yesterday. We are told he is doing okay and the surgery went well; the problems were caught early. You'll notice I said Golfer was supposed to be there. We got a 12:45 A.M. phone call the night before he was to fly out telling us the flights had been cancelled. He tried, but could not get other workable connections. Lar's wife is keeping us informed and up to date. We are disappointed Golfer could not get there, but are very relieved Lar is doing well.

On other fronts, the weather here is sunny today and things are drying out after some heavy rains last weekend. Everything is green. Flowers are blooming. Birds are trying to build a nest over our porch light. I am discouraging this. They may have any other space on our property, but not over the light. This has been happening for several years. The first year I did not realize it until they had already finished their nest and the momma was sitting on eggs. I would not do anything to disturb them, so there was quite a mess to clean up when the babies were finally out and on their own. Now, each Spring, I keep an eye out for them. The furry kids do their part, too, and take up guard watch in the foyer where they can see out the window and keep on eye on the light. When they start to meow and chatter, I go shoo the birds. It's good to have a system!

Nurse J and Cable Guy are as busy as ever. We all attended a lovely concert last week when BeyB participated in a school music festival. Fifth graders singing popular Broadway show tunes. They did a great job! BeyB is looking forward to spring break next week and visiting some friends.

Bikini says they are well in Georgia. Brief received a job offer in another state and is checking it out. Bikini can do her job from anywhere, so they are considering. Boxer loves soccer and is doing well with it. He and Bloomer recently started swim lessons. Boxer will be registered for kindergarten this week.

So, time marches on. Stay safe!

Back and Forth and Back and Forth!

Humph. It is COLD again here. And raining. I knew the nice warm weather wouldn't last long at this time of year, but this is still an annoying change. We need the rain, but does it have to be so cold????

It's been a busy week. Golfer was a little "under the weather" and saw our doctor. I believe he has whatever is going around at the moment. He's feeling a little better, but not over it yet. I had an appointment with my rheumatologist. Nothing new there, except I am scheduled for a bone density test; it's a few years since my last one.

I've been busy around the house. I got some more painting done on the woodwork and did the touch-up painting in the small bathroom. Right this minute I'm taking a break from staining quarter-round. Golfer and I are working on that again today since it is definitely not golf weather today. When he gets another batch cut I'll go back out and do the staining and coating with polyurethane. Things are coming along.

We have a friend at church who does landscaping and we had him come and prune our crape myrtles and spread the hardwood mulch. He does a great job. Also does any weeding I've missed and tidies everything up. I felt bad that he was doing this yesterday in the cold wet weather, but he also coaches track and he had on his waterproof hurricane track suit and said it could have been worse! The yard looks good and I'd take a picture, but like I said, it's cold and raining!

Cable Guy hurt his back and he's been seeing the doctor all week. Feel better soon, Cable Guy! Nurse J has been busy with work. BeyB has had some SOL testing at school.

Bikini's family is getting over a round of colds and whatever is going around in Georgia. Feel better soon down there, too!

More later! Stay safe!

What a Difference a Week Makes!

Almost a week ago we were having a snow day and everything was covered in snow and ice.

Today it's almost 80 out and we're enjoying warm, sunny weather. We know it won't last, but it's great while it's here.

Golfer is...playing golf. He and his golf buddy are enjoying the pleasant weather in a weekend tournament in Williamsburg.

I have been been enjoying getting things done outside. BeyB was here with me yesterday and she helped with the yard work. We have new mulch scheduled for delivery and spreading at the end of the week and I wanted to get the areas weeded and cleaned up. BeyB collected a couple large garbage bags of ginkgo balls and pine cones with her efforts! Where do they all come from????? And given my ability to trip and fall down, I hate walking on them! So that was a big help from her.

We also did important stuff like scrub bird poo off the deck and arrange the chairs. And plant the new pots I bought. I saw these and just loved them! Ordinarily I would see them and not buy them. Then think about them for a while and in a month or so decide to get them and they would be gone. For some reason, these I bought as soon as I saw them!

I hope you're all happy and having weather as nice as we are having! Stay safe!

BRRRRRR!

Hey, all!

The wind chill this morning was around 3 degrees. Again, I say, I. am. ready. for. SPRING! There was a little more snow yesterday. Most of the roads are clear around here, but it's so cold that the snow isn't melting. And any that does soften up and melt a little because of sun or traffic just freezes over again. They are still predicting temperatures around 70 for the weekend though!

We spent our snow day doing odds and ends. Golfer did go to work. Then to a doctor's appointment later in the morning. When he went back to work the base had been closed, so he came home. Everything is on regular schedule today.

The folks who bought our TV came and picked it up during a lull in the snowfall.

I finished unpacking the boxes and getting things put away. I did a little cleaning and a little laundry, a little TV watching, a little reading. Cooked a pot roast in the crock-pot. It was good, but in Golfer's words, "still pot roast".

I hope all is well with all of you! Stay safe!

SNOW !

Happy Snow Day!

I'm staying in today. It's not that I lack the skills to drive in snow, but more that most Virginia drivers have very little experience in that area. A lot of the folks think if they drive faster they will get out of it sooner. I like to stay out of their way. Golfer did go to work and made it okay.

We have a couple inches as of right now. It rained most of the weekend so it's wet underneath and getting colder so there is a potential for lots of ice.

We have been busy working around the house this weekend. Did some more quarter-round. Put some more things away. Golfer played golf Saturday morning before the heavy rain started and we went to a reception at the course in the evening. It was a nice time. Golfer also did our taxes.

Boxer, our Leap Year grandson, turned five over the weekend. Happy birthday, Boxer! We love you! We're anxious to see a picture of him on his new bike!

So, here we are. It's a snow day. A day to catch up on some things or just sit and read a book for a while. Perhaps a day to put something in the crock-pot. ?????

Stay safe. More later.