Nice day to bbq

Sheep and Marmots - RMNP

Went to RMNP today, and got some great photos of the sheep. They were shedding their coats, so they looked really ‘sheared’.

We went up trail ridge, and saw the most awesome family of marmots. They are usually so skittish you can never get their picture since they run and hide. Luckily I had a 400 mm lens on my camera, so was able to get close up without being close up.

Back from Cambria, Uncle Eliot

Well we had a real nice time in Cambria visiting with Elliot and Rob.  We got to Cambria just in time too as Robbie called when we were turning on the street to the hospital saying Elliot was being released right then.  So we got there to basically take him out to the car and drive up to Elliots house in Cambria.   Our hotel rooms that we rented was in San Luis Obisbo near the hospital and the Madonna Inn, so we quickly cancelled that room and tried getting a hotel room covered with our 'points' near Cambria, but they didn't have any available.  It was spring break week up there so a hotel near the ocean was not going to be cheap.  Luckily Rob works as an auditor in one of the hotels so we were able to get the employee rate for 2 rooms (one was ocean front!)  so that was real nice. 

Saw lots of California poppies on the road driving up there, but not a lot of wildflowers yet.  Probably bout a month too early. With all the driving didn't get to play golf. 

Janis took this when I slowed down on the side of the road - great shot Janis!

On the way home from Cambria we stopped at Casa De Carlos, where Janis' family has been eating for 40+ years.  It was Phil's birthday on Friday so for his birthday dinner we took him there after a 5 hour drive from Cambria.  The owner now (son of the original owners) was there which was a nice surprise as Larry usually works at the Chatsworth location instead of the the Woodland Hills location which was down the street from Janis' family house when they lived there.

 By the time we got back from Woodland Hills and dinner which started @ 8:45pm, we got back to Solana Beach at 12:20 am!

California - Driving me crazy

We are in CA this week visiting Janis parents in San Diego.   Janis' uncle had 2 strokes so are driving her parents up to Cambria to see him.  Get to stay overnight on Madonna Inn Road  (not @ the Madonna Inn though) and then drive back home tomorrow, just to get in the car Saturday morning to drive to LA for the last Kings game of the season and then BACK down to San Diego to fly home on Sunday.

Did I mention I had a lot of driving to do? 303 miles up to Cambria and back = 606  and then SD to LA is 140x2 -280..  forget it my head is going to explode..

First snow!

First snow of the year!   these were just some quick ones - didnt stay outside enuff for the camera to adjust to the cold ..

I have to go out and get some new tires for the SUV - can't even get up my driveway .. i didn;t realize they were so worn.. We hadn’t gotten all weather tires in California!

UUGH - PITA's!

Anybody want two cats?   They've figured out a new game, they jump down onto the landing above the front door and hang out.  Sadie knows how to jump back up the 5' to the loft railing but Abbey either can't jump up or doesn't want to as its more fun to have us go up on the ladder and get her. 

Sadie's on the ladder trying to help

What a difference! the backyard is!

I was looking at some old photos -

The before..

and the after

After is a lot better, eh?   20 trees, 750 sq ft patio - deck expansion, water feature -

If you are interested in getting a custom designed water feature for your yard, I'd highly recommend

Falls by Fox.    They did a great job on ours, considering the flatness of our lot, they were able to put in a nice

water feature for us. One of the things you see in the after is the elementary school between our house and house on the left.

That school didn't even break ground until Oct 1st, 2007 and it started last week with school kids.  Amazing!

Panorama of the water feature

Panorama of the water feature in the backyard - 10 photos put together -

Waterfall/stream is in!

Waterfall is in!  Other than planting stuff around it we are done for this year!!

It took 5 days to build - the guys doing it worked their tails off..   It isn’t exactly as we wanted, as we wanted more of a slope. But when you are working on a totally flat piece of land, that’s what you get. The bright light on the left is a bubble rock.

Deck expansion

Expanding the master deck out another 8' to give us more of a deck off of the upstairs master and also provide more shade down below - they are doing it in one day..

Unfortunately the trex that we are using is a different shade/grain from the original trex, as they don't

make that anymore -but the only ones that will see it is us (and you guys that see this picture)

Too too busy! : (

Been real busy and not posting - sorry about that - we went out to California for my aunt's funeral 2 weeks ago and Sat/Mon of this week we were in Boston for another aunts funeral, my moms sister Ruth passed away..

Ruth was the closest in age to mom, and they both had the same “wicked” sense of humor that mom has. (Boston word - wicked= Irma Bombeck like.

Trees were left outside for about 6 days in the hot sun and they were finally planted yesterday, I ended up renting a bobcat to drill the tree holes out - hopefully they aren't too stressed out and will survive.

CASA of Broomfield and Adams County

I was sworn in yesterday to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children.   It was a 30 hr class and now I'm sworn in before the Judge in Adams County.   There were 19 of us in the class, and we're all starting to get our court cases this week. 

The volunteers get to know the children and their circumstances, show them that someone cares, advocate for their best interests (including making recommendations to the Court), encourage them to grow to their fullest potential, and become involved in key issues in their life, especially permanent placement, and school, health, and mental health issues.

A CASA volunteer is often the sole consistent adult anchor for foster children. Children frequently remark how important it is to them that these tireless advocates are the only people in “the system” who are not paid to assist them. CASA volunteers give a voice to a child who cannot speak up for herself or himself and are frequently viewed as mentors or guides.

Judges typically assign CASA volunteers their most difficult and complex cases: children with prior maltreatment or contact with child welfare, cases of extreme abuse or neglect, or those where there is a great level of risk of further abuse and neglect. Many children assigned to CASA have learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and significant emotional and mental health problems.

Abby and Sadie

They are getting so big - no longer little kittens

Over 4000 deaths of young Americans in the war

Two years ago my brother was dying of leukemia in Santa Barbara, and I spent a lot of time there.  I remember on the beach someone had created "Arlington West" which was an amazing testiment to the number of American soldiers lost in the war. That was 2,474.   More than double that amount now   :(

Leaving for Denver

Flying out today to go home and play with our cats : )  6 whole days in this beautiful 75/81 degree weather is making me long for home so bad.   I called this place home for 48 years but this ain't home to me no more.

Time for a little Rocky Mountain High!

I love my family and friends, and miss the ocean a lot, but sure is nice to not have to fight traffic every time you go someplace.

highly recommended - Baldacci's Camel Club

i read David Baldacci's 2nd book on the Camel Club Chronicles first, and then read this one,  it was a really good book and pretty scary if his information is correct regarding terrorism and NSA and stuff.  

I recommend it !!. As well as all of his books.

Bowling League

Janis and I joined a bowling league in October.  It ran thru Thanksgiving week and then picked back up 3  weeks ago.  They have a nice break over the holidays.  Janis didnt want to bowl as she's not bowled in over 20+ years and I haven't either in about 10, but we're having fun.  Janis average was about 100 for the longest time but  2 weeks ago bowled a 161 in a game and beat Tim and I.  She was shocked as she's never bowled that high.  Well tonite she did it again, bowled 148 and then a 161 game and hit most every first ball in the pocket.  It could have been much higher as she tapped every frame and should have been getting more strikes than she did.   She did have 3 in a row though. 

I bowled great the first game, had 2 open frames and bowled a 215.. should have been about 238 easily.. Its nice to bowl though with good people, have met quite a few real nice people in this league.  Mark and Pam (our contractor friend)  is the one that invited us to the league he is the president of the league.  My average is 173 in this league.

Welcome to the Family Sadie and Abbey

Meet the new additions to the family!   We adopted two sisters from Mississippi who were in a shelter and were going to be put down.  Sadie and Abby.  

It's funny cause Abby is my daughter Jennifer's cat's name too..  We got them @ Petsmart today, and they are so cute.  They could have been adopted separately, but that would have been awful as they are so close, you can just tell in the little time we spent with them at the store.

Sadie is the calico one, Abby is the grey tabby looking one.   Sadie is very shy and Abby seems to fear abandonment as when we leave the room she follows us.

Carpet day !

Today they are installing the carpet in the basement!  It is gonna look SOOOOOOOO  good!

Mark has done a great job on the basement.   He only has trim work and staining of the doors left, and it will be finished.  I already hung up some photographs in my portrait studio.  It's looking awesome!

This is the game room area

The storage/workout area will have indoor outdoor type carpeting

The portrait studio is shaping up!

4 hrs later and the carpet is done!

Welcome Travis Gray!

My nephew and his wife had their baby yesterday!  Travis Adair Gray, welcome to the family!  and sorry you got the "chin"   : )

Get used to having your picture taken, as I will be a big part of your life for the next 18 years (or until Jason and TL move away from me!! )