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Grandpa: This getting older has got to stop! I'm tired of it.

Grandma: I know of only one way to stop it...LOL!!!!

A little of this, a little of that

A couple of weekends ago, we took M and CJ to Fox Run Park and made a picnic. We played in the water, then ate. We also played with the bubble wands and the kids chased the bubbles.



When we left, we went to the gelato place. Of course, when we got there both kids were asleep. So I went in and got two pints and two cones. By the time I got out, M was awake so we shared my cone on the way home. When we got home CJ was still asleep, so Grandpa threw him on the bed, and laid down beside him. This is just as CJ is waking up.



A couple of days later, I saw the mama deer and the baby! It was out with mama down below the deck. Grabbed the camera, and we put the telephoto on it. Still in the picture it was really small. So this is a blown up picture. You can see the spots on the baby.



The next day, I caught Furby on the railing of the deck. I just love this cat, he is so sedate and calm. He likes being outside this time of the year, yet he doesn't wander very far. And they all come into the garage to get fed at night.



Today, we loaded up the back of the pickup with branches and dragged them to the slash/mulch place. Now that I've mowed the grass under the tree, and I can go get some timbers and make a square around it, and then we'll go back and get a couple of buckets of the mulch to put under the tree. I can hear the old man from black forest complaining about the physical labor now.........

A new sketch

Yesterday, I sat outside for a couple of hours keeping an eye on Kat while she grazed in the yard. I took a sketchbook and pencils out with me and sat on my new patio (finally!!) at the picnic table and drew the flowers in one of the planters. It was peaceful.

I haven't done this in a long time, and I think I'm going to get back into the habit of doing something everyday. Of course, it's 2:30 in the afternoon, and I've not done anything except figure out that since the upgrade of the computer, Photoshop doesn't recognize the scanner. But never fear.....the computer nerd (better known as the old man in black forest) was here and even though it still doesn't show up in Photoshop, it is usable.

Now all I have to do is get the pictures from the last week and a half off the camera and I can do posts that should have been done last week!

We are SO just on top of everything here. And it's raining again. Yea!!!!

Last day in Grand Junction

Grand Junction part III.

The last whole day in Grand Junction started with a hike (even tho the path was paved with cement, it was more than a stroll!). We went back to the Colorado River State Park, and turned left towards the wildlife area. That was supposed to be 1/2 mile away, but with the heat it sure seemed longer. And what did we find when we got there?

A lake with ducks and some really tiny fish. We did see a jackrabbit and a nesting dove, but that was all. Nothing interesting like a bobcat or mountain lion! Oh, and lots of ants, they were everywhere.

Later that day, we went to one of the parks in Grand Junction. After it had cooled off somewhat.
I mean, the truck thermometer was registering 101 degrees, and I didn't even know it had a hundreds column, hadn't seen that before!

Here's Cordelia, with hands on hips, probably trying to correct Wyatt.


And here's Wyatt, drinking. This kid is FAST!!! He runs all over the place! And climbs, and explores, and whatever else little boys do.


And here's Cordelia thinking about climbing one of the cottonwood trees. These things can get very big, especially around. The bark in uneven, so theoretically it could be climbed, but I think some steps would make it easier!

Notice them long legs on Cordelia, this kid is going to be tall.

And here's Grandpa. What more can I say?


And that's the end of the trip. Now I have to think of something to blog about!

Colorado National Monument

On Sunday while we were in Grand Junction, we drove the scenic route (only route) thru the Colorado National Monument. The views were great! However it goes really high, and depending on the side of the vehicle you are on, you can be looking straight down for several thousand feet! So here's one of my first pictures of the Monument itself. Most turned out kinda washed out because we went in the middle of the day, but you can bet that I'm going to get back there at sunrise or sunset. It would be awesome!


Here's Rachel with Wyatt. She kept a very close hold on him...kinda like a death grip so he wouldn't get away and run over the edge. And we all watched Cordelia to make sure she stayed away from the edges, even tho there were railings at all the lookout points.

All three of them after Cordelia tried to catch a lizard. Guess she's going to be a tomboy like her grandma was!

And here's Ed and Grandpa at the first stop. I thought we were going to be doing this all the way thru the Monument, but Ed didn't get his tripod out all that much, but Grandpa did!

We picnicked at the visitor center where there was some shade, but we all came back with some sunburn. Very hot and bright out there.

Patio: Yesterday, I finished the patio. Got more flowers to plant, and more potting soil. So what does it do last night (July 4th)? We had a total of four different hail/thunderstorms. It poured!
This morning, I get up and go out and the flowers are all beaten by the hail, the sand between the bricks is all washed away, and the pollen producers from the pine trees are all over the place. So I spent the morning cleaning up the mess. And planting the new flowers.

A fun time in Grand Junction

Last week, Grandpa and I took a trip to Grand Junction to see the grandkids (and Ed and Rachel too). It was a long drive over the mountains, but we stopped in Castle Rock for sustenance first.

Here is Ed and Wyatt. This is one of the few times that he looked at me and didn't CRY!


Here is Cordelia. I must say that when we pulled up and she was out in the drive way, I mistook her for a six year old version of her father. All she was missing was the curly copper penny hair that he had as a youngster.


Ok, so that was Friday night. Saturday morning when we got up I gave Cordelia the bubble maker that I had brought for her, and Wyatt the pail and shovel, so we all went outside in their backyard. I must say that their backyard is very interesting. There is this huge cottonwood tree, about 50 years old, that shades the entire back of the house. And right behind them is county land, with a farm on it.! Here are Cordelia and Wyatt on the swing in their backyard.


Later that morning, after Cordelia and I took our morning walk, I pulled out the Yarka watercolors and the watercolor block that Clyde brought. She was the only one that did any art work while we were there. Well, I did draw her a picture to paint on the paper, so I guess that should count too.

Here she is painting. She was that focused the entire time.


And Voila! Here's the finished picture.


That afternoon, when Ed was done with some of the yard work that he was working on, we all went to downtown Grand Junction to see the sculptures on the street. It was quite interesting, some of the sculptures were amazing. But the one weHAD to see was the prince as a frog.
Here is Cordelia trying to turn him back into a prince!


On another note, we are still having our run of bad luck. After having to have the transmission rebuilt on my truck (and believe me that wasn't cheap!) the computer died, so now we have a new one. Clyde's truck is getting fixed on Tuesday, and he spent the weekend replacing the brakes on my truck. Also the D100 isn't working correctly, and I sure can't afford to replace that right now........

I need a quiet and uneventful July......!!!!!