Blizzard and a Breeze

This isn't an advertisement for Dairy Queen, though in wintry weather when we drove home from skiing at Mt. Hood, we often stopped for one.  Instead, this blizzard stopped for us.  And it brought a mighty breeze with it that blew the snow all over the place.  Guesstimations suggest that we got almost a foot of snow, but it was so hard to tell because of the drifts.  Thomas and I woke up to a snow day on Monday, December 19th.  I wasn't sure what to expect with the blizzard warnings when we went to bed on Sunday because it had been raining...a lovely way to fall asleep, though rare.  School was already on Christmas break, so there weren't any radio warnings of delays.  However, eventually the highway to Springer and I-25 from Santa Fe to Raton were closed because of drifts and poor visibility.  It kept getting worse as the morning wore on, but the snow was utterly deceptive.  A step out the front door was easy because the snow had been blown away to reveal frozen ground.  High-stepping over to the workshop where Thomas was hiding out, on the other hand, was a knee deep trip that dumped snow into my boots.  Tuesday was much of the same.

Our hardest part was getting onto the highway once it was cleared.  The truck, which isn't four wheel drive, got stuck trying to get onto the highway - too much snow and mud underneath.  Tuesday, I wanted to get out of the house, so I donned all my winter gear for a trip to the mailbox and up to the neighbors with some pumpkin bread.  

The car was blown clear of snow and around it, too, but you can see how the wind piled it up.  No scraping or shoveling had been undertaken before this picture.

The view of my relaxing chair in the middle of our circle drive.  Snow in every direction!

Our huge piles of dirt around our future home-site were leveled off in the snow.

Pretty swirls from the wind...

And after the dry summer we had, our rain barrel for the mud room gutter was very happy and full!

Happy Birthday, Liam!

December 19th has been looming large on my calendar.  I awoke this morning singing happy birthday for dear Liam, the son of my friends Oren and Ahna.  We dearly miss his presence in all of our lives and pray that the heavenly hosts sing for him and celebrate his life today!

And while the tune is happy birthday, the happiness is hard to swallow for those left behind, so I invite you all to life up his mom and dad and family who miss him so much!

Pre-Christmas Celebration (aka Mom's birthday)

We were instructed to arrive on Saturday the 10th at 4:00 pm and bring only liquid refreshments and to come prepared not to talk about politics, religion, health, war, price of Coca Cola and a myriad list of taboo topics.  We weren't all together on Thanksgiving and wouldn't all be together for Christmas, so attendance was not optional.

Thomas and I arrived with our things and parked in the snow and mud.  I quickly handed Thomas my armload, as Granny was standing on her porch looking for her cane.  It was a rather funny sight, as she has little sight left and couldn't possibly have seen much in the light of late afternoon.  More comical was that she hadn't been outside with it.  I found it leaning behind a robe in the bedroom, but then was invited to have a seat and talk.  I really wanted to go check out the liquid refreshments, but first listened to the news of the day.


Thomas got to do his favorite thing - hold a baby!  I don't know why he thinks he is too tough to hold babies because in truth, they all just think he is terrific.  Sofia especially likes the view from her Tio's lap.



No, Andres didn't get into the cake early.  Granny went home before it was cake time, so she took her piece before the wish was made.

A woman never tells her age, but this cake did have number candles.  Sara remarked that the numbers were probably backwards, knocking a few years off Mom's age and making her an extraordinarily young mother to Daniel.



In lieu of birthday spankings, Mom got sat upon by her almost 13 year old grandson.

 We all had fun and made nice.  The feast was delicious, and we enjoyed lots of storytelling and laughter into the evening!  Good timing, too, as I knew I missed a fantastic birthday party for Nick's 31st with the lighting of the Ford house on Henderson Street and another one for Cole's 2nd.  Near and far we celebrated!

A World of Hurt

I had the privilege of spending two and a half hours with a couple in town this evening.  It really was a privilege, though the visit turned out to be about five times longer than I anticipated. 

I am a talker, sure.  But I really enjoy listening to other people's stories.  And sometimes it is most important to let someone tell his stories so that they may live on.  The gentleman I visited is a most extraordinary man for making a person feel so comfortable and at home, so important and at ease, and so appreciated.  His health has been troubling the last few months, and there is no telling yet if it is on the decline or turning around.  He came home just a couple of days ago, and only time will tell.  I did not know him or his wife well, and still really don't.  But I am privileged that these "private" people opened their door and let me be a part of their story.  And hopefully I will have plenty more chances to visit.

Something he said made me pause - wondering what lesson God needs him to learn from his suffering.  It gave me pause because he is not one who takes God for granted, but truly tries to live and preach the Gospel in his life.  I suggested that maybe it is not he who is supposed to learn something, but who has something to teach the rest of us.  For me it affirmed the importance of companionship.  So many times I have thought to visit someone or extend friendship in some way, but let my life get too busy to take that time.  I hope I can change that.

It is troubling how my prayer list of people keep gets longer by the day.  There are so many people hurting in so many different ways, needing healing of so many kinds.  This season of Advent is a season of waiting.  And for good news, for recovery, for a sign that all will be well, so many people are waiting and praying.  Waiting for a miracle.  My streak of bad luck this week just seems so insignificant!

So tonight, on my little brother's birthday, I join friends and family in their waiting.  May God be with us!

Time with Friends

Thanksgiving was a wonderful day off.  Tom had been home sick all week, but perked up for the long weekend - just in time for company!  Mary came to visit and had specially requested that we make a trip to Santa Fe.  And so we did!  I had been watching goats all week for a neighbor, so I rolled out of the house early to feed them and such.  Then it was home for a quick shower, breakfast, and hitting the road.

The drive down is a blur.  I know Tom drove, and there was lots of storytelling.  We were eager to get there and unsure what we would do.  Tom was the tour guide, having lived there so many years.  We parked near the plaza and started walking.  It was bitterly cold to me, though the other two didn't show it.  I looked ready for the Arctic! 

 Outside the Loretto Chapel, which we didn't pay to go inside, a tree is strung with rosaries.  I said a decade for my dear cousin Theresa and another for Mary Pat.

 Off the chapel plaza a market of sorts was set up.  These ristras were a lovely burst of color.

 We saw these lovely metal sculptures spinning in the wind all over.  I especially liked this shape and how the spokes turned in a different direction for an ever changing pattern.  

We stopped in at the Blue Corn for some eats.  We had the nachos, one of the two dishes that marked my first meal in Santa Fe with Thomas three plus years ago.  It was fun to go back with Mary, too.  On our way to the cafe, we stopped into a gallery Tom and I were in on a recent trip.  The moving animal sculptures caught my eye then and did again.  We walked deeper into the art and saw some new pieces.  I notice the couple of women walking and talking towards us, fully absorbed in their conversation.  The one with her back to me was surprised when I called her out for following me across state lines.  Deb and her mom were in town peeping in galleries, too.  We enjoyed chatting and, after lunch, met up on Canyon Road and wandered some more together.  We gave Deb's mom a lift back to the hotel to walk the dog and held onto Deb for a little shopping.  Afterwards, we picked up Deb's mom and headed off for an authentic dinner at Posas.  What a terrific day with friends!

I drove us home, while Tom lay in misery in the back seat (something in his fajitas didn't agree with him).  We rolled in and fired up the stove and called it a night.  Mary and I made breakfast burritos in the morning with just enough time for me to duck out, burrito in hand, to get to church for a full first day of Advent!

Me and my handsome tour guide!

Giving Thanks

I am grateful for a great many blessings!  A slow internet connection and other to-dos have kept me from posting this sooner, but I had a fantastic Thanksgiving.  I am especially grateful for the time woodcutting with the guys.  We made a trip out on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and then on Thanksgiving morning.  Not because I am the token female, I have been the truck loader and get great exercise filling up some trucks with future firewood (and take the pictures).  

I say "future" because it won't be any time soon.  The storm that blew through in early November and left shingles and branches everywhere also took out a great number of living trees.  These green trees will make great firewood, but need to cure first.  All the same, when it's ready for the getting, we will take it!  Because it was so recently alive, the wood is incredibly dense.  It made for some low tailgates.

These pictures are from the Saturday trip.  We went to Clark's Fork, a new part of the camp for me.  Very pretty views.

 When I mention strong winds, these two green trees were felled at the roots.  The picture doesn't even capture the tops.  We didn't block it because it wasn't particularly close to the road for loading.

 My strong man blocking a tree...

Minus Pop, who was probably in the truck and ready to roll on home, my fellow crew.  I enjoy getting to help.  And on a night like tonight with a roaring fire in the cold, I appreciate that I had a hand in it.

We missed the Salas family on Thanksgiving, but had a feast all the same.  Mom made salmon for me...so sweet!  We brought the gravy and potatoes, a big loaf of focaccia bread, homemade whipped cream and pumpkin empanadas, and the green chile.  It was a heck of a feast, and it took us a whole week to eat up all our leftovers.  I really wanted to make a ridiculous post about how the gravy didn't turn out pink.  I tried an onion gravy recipe to please an onion lover who teases me about my "compost" gravy.  Anyhow, I thought it would be fun to use our purple onions and serve a pink gravy.  Six cups of onions for five cups of gravy, and with all those onions, it still came out beige.  We indulged and then crashed!  We are blessed, blessed, blessed!

Food Glorious Food

Oh how I love to eat!  Out here in the middle of nowhere, inspiration for a meal can come from a magazine, from the produce that needs to get eaten, and from how long it will take from inception to belly.  Thomas and I take turns cooking, but sometimes neither one of us is in the mood. 

Recently, I was inspired by a recipe from Food & Wine magazine.  It was for a quinoa-stuffed kabocha squash.  Coincidentally, I had all the ingredients, save for fresh herbs.  This squash is partially roasted and then basted with a butter-thyme-maple syrup sauce.  The quinoa is cooked with thyme and onions.  And the both are sauced up with a creamy thyme and maple syrup concoction.  It was tasty!  The mushrooms were omitted for Tom's sake, and I added a little crab to the sauce for Tom's sake.

That meal was quite a production.  Most weeknights I don't make time to roast squash and all that.  Getting home in the cold and dark shortly before 5 pm, my first instinct is to build a fire and get the house warmed up.  Occasionally I will work up a simple feast, like last night's shrimp with toasted coconut, pineapple, and cutie over rice with crispy wonton strips - no pic.  And other nights a fancy pizza requires less thinking.  

When we make it to town, a dinner out is a treat.  So when we don't make it to town, a frozen pizza is as close to "take out" as we get.  However, a pizza rarely comes out of the box and goes straight into the oven.  I am partial to dressing up my cheese pizza with pineapple, green chile, and garlic - yummy!  This one got a little out of hand - pineapple, garlic, chipotle "sausage", and avocado.  Pretty and tasty!

A Random Act of God's Kindness

This is a mostly silly post, so stop right now if you are not interested. 

 

This morning I was posting a message on our reader board at the parish hall.  I had stacked up my letters, minus a few that were used in the message still on the sign and needing to come down.  I walked out towards the road where the sign rests and started to remove the tape holding up the remains of "turkey bingo".  The wind that ravaged us a week and a half ago also got the sign.  The letters are slid into their slots and then taped on to prevent just that occurrence, but somebody nicked a whole roll of packing tape from the crate of letters, so the "turkey bingo" was barely holding on with masking tape.  In fact, much of it had not held on.  In fact, one of the letters I had planned to re-use had not held on.

 

Last week our maintenance man had retrieved some of the lost letters, many cracked or broken, but not all of the letters.  I walked along the road way looking for letters, but found a "1" which was not used recently.  It would not be a good substitute for the "M" I needed.  I crossed the street in the direction the wind would have carried the letters and found, woven into the tumbleweed stuck in the neighbor's fence, an "I" and a "P".  I found a "0" and "4". 

 

And then I found the "M". 

 

The "M" had found its way over the fence, no small feat getting through horse fence and two layers of barbed wire.  Certainly a feat I was not about to attempt!  I looked for other letters and covertly was on the look out for a very long stick that might reach through and flick it back towards the fence.  No such stick was to be found.  I looked at it and wondered who lived there and assumed that it would be frowned upon to trespass.  There was no gate or opening save for the front of the house, 30 yards down and around the corner.  I couldn't be discreet, at least, and I didn't have a gang of friends and a tree house next door from which to plot all sorts of ways into the backyard of the neighbor to retrieve the lost "M" (a reference to the Sandlot, if you didn't get it).

 

I crossed the road, praying there was some way to get that "M", and began hanging the new message.  Thomas called just then, so I told him my predicament.  He was dismissing my assumption not to trespass when I looked up and saw someone in the backyard.  I told Thomas I would call him right back.  I ran across the street and called out, "Excuse me, sir..."  It was the Comcast guy I had just seen drive by, and he was happy to oblige me. 

 

As I strolled back toward my "M"-less message, I thanked God for a random act of kindness.  Truly, God hears our prayers...

Too bad I didn't ask for something bigger than an "M" "/

 

 

For the Beauty of the Earth

Last week I thought I might just drive off the side of the road.  The view on my commute home was stunning.  The full moon rising, the dusky colors, the snow on the ground.  Really a remarkable and serene landscape.  I wish I had the means to capture it just as I could see it, but this will have to do.  I stopped a number of times one day driving home, trying to snap pictures.  This is from the pull-off at monkey hill.

And this week if I went off the road, it would most certainly be the wind that pushed me over the edge.  It's been howling for sure, but Saturday night we came home from the party and tucked ourselves in to a long winter's nap.  I slept pretty well, but Thomas couldn't block out the strains of our home against the wind.  The sounds of whipping and ripping and buffeting...too much to take!

In the morning I awoke to a special delivery from Marie for the bake sale at church, and she pointed out the damage.  I peered around and saw where the skirting had been crushed in from the wind, and the wind now trapped blew out the end.  It was no light breeze.  Marie and David were tending to the loss of shingles and the swamp cooler from off the roof.

Our drive to Cimarron revealed limbs down, trees down - four foot diameter trunks, fences and roofs crushed, dumpsters tossed, a semi trailer overturned, trees uprooted.  Philmont saw extensive damage (great pictures posted on facebook).  Cimarron had a few small limbs down, but not bad.

When we got home, we got a call from Marie letting us know Mom & Pop were cleaning up if we could join to help.  We arrived to see David and Pop on the roof repairing shingles.  Daniel was trying to lasso one of three large widowmakers.

 I climbed this tree to tie the rope on.  Thomas went for the pole-chainsaw because one of the branches had wedged itself from being pulled free.

While we waited for Thomas, Andres, Daniel, and I enjoyed a game of toss the rope over the branch.  It could be a computer game - trying to negotiate the angle from which you need to pull to remove the branch.  You can see the end poking down into the picture.

After we liberated this branch from the tree, we moved on to the next, though the fence that got blown in had to be removed first.  Sadly, no more pictures.  Rumors are the winds were over 100 MPH.  They haven't let up, though not quite at such high speeds.

Happy Birthday, Julie!

A close call - almost didn't get this posted within the week!  Last Saturday we celebrated the life of another Vigil - JULIE!!  Birthdays are every two weeks all through the fall and into winter.  Do I tire of the family fun?  Never!

Daniel tried to plan a surprise party, and though Thomas was convinced that Julie knew, I am still too new to know these things.  I maintained the charade Saturday afternoon when I called to see if I could bring by a check for the pizzas we bought through the high school fundraising.  Of course, the joke was really on me, since Julie knew we would be coming over.  There were balloons hanging when we got there, but I maintained feigned innocence until others arrived and saw there was no "SURPRISE!" to be had.

The birthday girl and her party planner 

 Always the life of the party!  Sofia kept us laughing - she sounded like an outboard motor - tooting all night!

 Such sweet sisters!  One wanted to play with Tia Julie's iPad all night, and the other took over twenty pictures on my camera...techno whizzes! 

 These two were talking tunes all night...David's early birthday present had arrived - triple digit gb iPod...whoa- that's a lot of music!

 Sara took over the camera and snapped one of Maya & I

My party animal...when he shows up in slippers, I know he is going to get out of control!

Thank you, veterans...

So most trips to the library result in renewing a book from the previous trip (an eyes-bigger-than-the-stomach kind of thing) and selecting books randomly from the shelves.  The selection isn't awful by any means, but it seems if I am looking for a particular book, I probably won't find it on the shelves...maybe in the card catalog, but rarely on the shelves (especially the last book in a series).

A recent renewal is the novel The Lacuna, a "diary" of sorts of a young man's life.  There are a lot of political references and stories - the Bonus Army of the 30s when he is in school in DC on the young end and his service during World War II and the civilian efforts to support it.  A really fascinating read, particularly as it also chronicles the politics of Rivera, Kahlo, and Trotsky - employers of the young man when is in Mexico.  Barbara Kingsolver has done a great job in her research, and the story is well put together.

A random pull from the shelves is Dream When You're Feeling Blue.  It is an interesting title, as there has been little or no dreaming.  I didn't know what it was about when I picked it up, and by a great coincidence, it is also set in World War II times.  Primarily about the older "girls" in a family in Chicago.  The oldest in her mid-twenties captures what it means to be left behind by someone she loves, making do during rationing, joining the war efforts by filling a man's work spot...  I haven't finished it just yet, but I was surprised at the similarity.

And then today listening to NPR on the way home from work, I heard a piece on the Bonus Army, including recorded comments from a couple of people who were there.  It seemed to bring everything full circle.  It's no coincidence they aired it on Veteran's Day, but hearing and reading these stories all together...leads me reading into why now, what does this coincidence mean....

Anyhow, thanks for all who have defended the liberties and freedoms I so enjoy!

New addition?

What a week it has been!  Thomas and I returned from Ruidoso on Friday evening, and the laundry list of to-do's just filled in the blanks.

 

A major feat was Tom's fix for the dryer, which has gotten noisier and noisier with every load.  Thomas, my hero, pulled it apart, vacuumed out the mess of lint inside the box, and then replaced the wheel that had cracked up.  It runs so much better now - one expense removed from our list!  No new dryer for a while anyway!

 

The new addition referred to is The Tom, aka Felix.  I hesitated to post this, as it seemed maybe he wasn't really staying.  Two weeks ago Friday, on our way home from Marie & Dave's, Tom saw a black cat by the horse barn.  On Halloween I saw a dark gray cat run past the front door.  Then on Sunday, while coming in from the field, I saw the cat dash behind the porch on the west side.  I walked over and called for it.  He stuck his head out from under the mud room and meowed for me.  Later while on the phone, the cat sat right in front of the door and meowed an meowed and meowed. 

 

Tom came in from the shop, and we just watched him.  (I keep saying him, but it is just our hunch that it is a boy.  Haven't checked.)  I was snacking on some pretzels and cheese, so I cut a few pieces and offered them to him.  Clearly this isn't some feral cat, as he then swirled around me legs over and over, just rubbing up to me.  Then he followed Tom into his shop and was happy to just nose around.  I made a trash run and nicked a scoop of cat food from Pop & Ma.  The Tom is especially skinny, and though there are mice a plenty, a little food, I am told, might seal the deal on his residence at our place.

 

Anyone who knows me knows I am allergic.  This cat will not be coming inside.  Of course, we then had a dumping of snow Monday night, and Tom was worried from some tracks to the SE that this might just be a Nolan cat that wandered over for our cheese.  We didn't see him for a couple of days, thus casting a shadow of doubt over whether there really is a new addition or not.  Last night he was back, which pleased Tom greatly!

Noisy (estrepitoso), clamorous, obstreperous

Yes, we are in Ruidoso, NM, and according to an online Spanish dictionary, that's what "ruidoso" means. Thomas left Monday morning for a work conference. With Father's permission I planned to "work remotely" Wednesday - Friday. I would have liked to drive down on Tuesday, but the dark (pitch dark) on a non-lit high way with who know what animals and terrain and curves, etc....you get the idea. Safer to go during the day. So Wednesday morning I awoke to the radio telling me that Raton Pass had zero visibility, but no reports on a delay of school...what?!?! I looked out the window to see snow piling up. I got up in a hurry, checked the internet for a weather report - which suggested that Miami could get up to three inches, and then made a run for it before it could get worse. On the road I realized all the things I forgot in my hurry. I also realized that nobody in Miami knew what I was, and if I landed in a ditch, nobody would notice I hadn't arrived or left or anything. Anyway, I drove slow and prayed the joyful mysteries of the Rosary for friendsfamily battling cancer/leukemia, then the glorious for loved ones gone before us (Wednesday was All Souls Day), and then the sorrowful because it was still snowing. Gratefully, after fifteen decades the snow cleared, which was about Watrous. The snow let up, but the wind did not. I figured I was practicing being brave for a possible drive to Portland at Christmas. Of course, when I turned off the road at Romeroville, not much more than 90 miles from home, the snow blew and the sky was clear blue and sunny, and then it was just clear blue and sunny.

A ridge of windmills to many to count - I counted about fifty before they got to small and the road to curvy...

Me and the mister at the Inn of the Mountain Gods

The lake behind us was so pretty - nice to see so much water anywhere in New Mexico, even if a man-made lake

Tomorrow, Tom's conference ends and we make the long road home...

Fright Night

Growing up on Henderson Street, there was a tradition to make our way up the hill towards Grandma and Grandpa and stop when we go there. Sure, we were excited to ring the doorbell and say trick-or-treat, but the real treat was homemade pumpkin pie and homemade whipped cream. Grandma never disappointed - at least not that I can remember. Now my mom carries on the tradition. Henderson Street is still the place for picture taking and pumpkin pie eating. Knowing Tom would already be gone for his conference, I planned ahead and invited the Salas family to celebrate the pumpkin pie tradition with me. I did cheat and used a pumpkin pie I previously baked and froze, but the whipped cream was freshly whipped with Grandma's hand mixer. The real work was cleaning house. I cleared and cleaned the counter and the table and the chairs. I even had time to vacuum. I got my camera ready, and in lieu of a balloon Tom, I just kept out the picture his grandma gave me. The picture is deceiving, though, because Tom got to sit on the counter next to Andres. Marie called to give me the halfway warning, so I cut pieces and got it all ready. In the midst of it all, I had nine trick or treaters (and a few hungry parents). With all the candy I bought, I was happy to see most of the kids eager to take a few pieces. One was overly eager and tried to wrap his pirate hands around as much booty as could be lifted out at once, plus an extra one for good measure. And one was too timid to take more than one piece. I am sure none will be sugar deprived for awhile. Then two skeletons and witch and a beast appeared. So charming, yes? They enjoyed dinner, I mean pie, with me. I don't think pumpkin pie is meant to be dinner, but I was too distracted with cleaning up the place that it was mine. (I had a pretty good sugar crash later on!) All in all, I think I had more trick or treaters than last year and than any year in Denver. The last piece of pumpkin pie made for a nice breakfast today. Yum!

Marathon Weekend Pt II

So I crawled into bed at Mary's house right about the end of the half marathon - about 1 am. I wasn't looking forward to an alarm set earlier than even my weekdays, but I was excited to see him:

Henry just turned one on Friday. And he is an early riser, as are his parents, so we met at Loyola for 7:30 am mass!

Nikki, my support person my JV year in Denver, and Fr. Tom, my Jesuit support person that year, get to see each other all the time, now that Fr. Tom is assigned to Loyola, but I can't think when the last time was that we were all three together. We enjoyed catching up in the hall after mass, and little Henry was happy to show off for us. As it approached time for Fr. Tom's second mass (the one I would have been at had it not been for my early rising friends), we said good-bye and got a picture.

Henry, Nikki, Russ, me, and Fr. Tom

The four of us left Fr. Tom and headed over to the farmers market for a little more hang out time and some much needed produce. I found some squash and pumpkins, a box of apples, and a loaf of cranberry walnut bread as a treat for Tom - a treat we often picked up at the farmers market and finished in one sitting. I also ran into my friend Chad from farming in Denver days. It was good to see him and catch up. And of course the samples are always delicious.

As we loaded our cars and parted ways, I set my course for Betty's house. She was getting back Saturday from a trip, but I figured she still went to her early church service and would be home at 10:30 am. She was guessing who it was as she came down the stairs, and I thought she might not open if I didn't give myself away. We visited, and as usual I left with a few duplicate movies. It was fun to show her this blog and my sister's, so she could see pictures.

A quick shot of the two of us!

From Betty's I zoomed over to Racines. Yes, at this point, I think Thomas may have gotten out and started walking home. I knew that the Davis clan would be meeting before the Broncos game for their version of tailgating - brunch at Racines. I found a spot at Mt. Fuji across the alley, ordered a couple rolls to go, and then snuck in to Racines. Gratefully I could see them when I walked in and surprise them without troubling the staff. Hugs all around! Andrea was in the bathroom, so I stole her seat and protested that she had eaten most of my breakfast. It was a quick visit, but put a huge grin on my face. No pictures, but Shaun, Andrea, Jennifer, Davis, and Cathy were to be my last hugs in town.

I hit the adult beverages store, the grocery store, and the gas station on my way out of town. I wanted to be home by 6 pm for the Simpson's with Tom (which actually didn't start until 7 pm). I made it with five minutes to spare!

Marathon Weekend - first half

Twenty-six hours - twenty-two friends and five shopping stops... oh yeah, and a measly six hours of sleep! I paid the price Monday morning, when it took several pieces of Halloween candy to revive me, but it was all great fun. I woke up early-ish on Saturday and was on the road at ten after eight. Too late for the Bob & Tom Show, but I enjoyed the increasing numbers of radio stations and variety as I drove north from small town to bigger and bigger cities. (Then I realized how many commercials I miss out on...not so bad!)

My first stop was Great Northern in the DTC to meet up with two girlfriends - Minerva and Anna Belle. We had a delicious lunch and talked for a couple of hours. It was a lot of fun to see them both and way to long since our last lunch date!

The fashionable Minerva and Anna Belle - I, not so fashionable, but rather comfortable in my sit-in-a-car-for-four-hours comfy clothes! I was only slightly aware of being under-dressed as I waited for my friends and a whole wedding party came parading through in their fanciest duds.

My next stop was recycling - the back seat and trunk were full of two large black trash bags stuffed with recycling and three large boxes of paper. I collect at home and work - paper, paper, and more paper, plastic, tin, cardboard, and glass. Of these, #1 & 2 plastic and cardboard can be recycled in Cimarron, so the rest kind of piles up - especially beer bottles.

Near the recycling stop, I chanced a visit with friends who were, unfortunately, out. I knew it would be a close call, but even worse, I wasn't able to stop by again. I was able to meet up with my friend Deb, who just happened to have a free day pass to the Botanic Gardens, so we walked and talked among the plants.

The new greenhouse was up with a lovely glassed in walk about. We peered in and found many photogenic plants.

From here I raced back towards Castle Rock for family dinner...the impetus for getting me to Denver in the first place. Ahna & Oren were hosting, but it was also a last chance to get everyone together before Jennifer takes off for five weeks of volunteer work in Haiti. I brought some rocks from home and stopped to visit little Liam's grave. It was nice to get to do that. I also made my first shopping stop for supplies for work at a craft shop. Then...on to visit! Ezra, pre-astronaut stage, invited me to dance with him before everyone had showed up. It was very sweet. Pretty much everyone was there - Ahna, Oren, Ezra, Gabe, Char, Jennifer, Mary, Sarah, and Heather...of course, Thomas was notably missing. Six hours later we reluctantly and tiredly said our good-byes.

Ezra showed off his costume and then proceeded to ask all of us to try on the "helmet". This after conducting us to sleep, wake up from our nap, close our eyes, and so forth. He was entertaining and easily entertained.

Par-tay!

Friday night we celebrated Marie's birthday with pizza and fabulously perfect homemade cheesecake. It was a lovely celebration.

I was most entertained by the biggest kid who kept asking for more and more stories about his tios and the trouble they got into as boys and men. Somehow during these storytimes, with Tom in the same room as his big brother, he just melts into a little boy. I can see him look up at Daniel as an 8 year old who adores his big brother. Very sweet!

More cause for celebration - Daniel just got his license to preside over Christian celebrations - namely non-denominational weddings, baptisms, and burials. There was much teasing, but I am happy for him. Tom likes to say that I say that Daniel is my favorite pray-er. I don't know that a person can have one favorite pray-er, but Daniel is definitely top of the list. He is very thoughtful and genuine - both authentic and articulate. (PS - if you'd like to request the services of Rev. Dan, let me know, and I can put you in contact.) (PPS - be sure to include a cheesecake made by Julie in your negotiations.)

A Bird in the Flue is Worth What?

Yesterday morning I guess I made a mistake. I rekindled the fire from Wednesday night before I got myself together and out the door. Given the hurried departures of Thomas and I in the morning, it probably isn't really necessary, or rather, it probably doesn't benefit us much in the morning. Now if I was the good wife that got up before dawn to stoke the fire, make eggs and bacon, and pack my husband's lunch, well then maybe it might be worth it. So I stoked up a little fire briefly and was, not long after, on my way to work.

No there wasn't a fire. Rather, Thomas and I arrived home to immediately take care of a few things outside. Upon entering the house, Thomas was aware that we weren't alone. There was noise coming from the living room. Not the witching hour or day, we suspected it was from the land of the living. There inside the wood stove was a very sooty bird. The poor bird was likely lured by the heat of the chimney on a chilly day and found it's way under the chimney cap and fell down the chimney. I would guess that it was too tight a space to fly straight up a narrow chimney.

We grabbed a garbage bag and surrounded the door. Thomas got it open, but thought it was too sooty to fly. I tried to use the little shovel for ashes to move it towards the bag, but all things considered, we didn't want to create an opening for it to fly out of the stove and into the house. Thomas finally reached with the bag into the stove and pulled it into the bag. We took the bag outside and waited a moment. Then -POOF- the bag was opened, and the poor little meadowlark flew up and made a big arc to the SW and then slowly back around to a big tree by the horse barn. You could see the lovely color under its wings once taken to flight. We laughed about what that poor bird was going to tell the wife sitting on the nest - really, honestly, I was stuck in a stove - I wasn't messing around!

First Fall of the Snow

OR First Snow of the Fall... Either way you look at it...it came, it soaked, but it did not conquer...in fact, most signs of it are gone. It snowed Wednesday evening. It had been so cold all day; I just couldn't wait to get home and build a fire - though there had been some teasing about whether I was capable or not. It was a soup night for sure, so I also made some delicious focaccia bread and let it rise near the warm fire. So tasty! After I got the bread rising, I snuck out to snap some pictures: (sorry for the delay in post, as if it has never happened before...last night I really did try, but the internet wouldn't upload the pics)

What a way to start a day!

This morning I didn't want to get out of bed.  Could be that I stayed up to late.  Could be that the bed is so warm and comfortable in the morning, as compared to the rest of the world.  Could be that even with the shades drawn, I could sense the overcast-ness of the day, the kind of day that deserves to be relished under blankets with books and movies and cocoa.  But we do what we do because we're "supposed" to - get up, get dressed, freshen up, and head off for work. 

 

I sat in the car a moment to let it warm and run the windshield wipers.  Then the moment arrives that I set the car in motion, and, in my case, it doesn't stop until I park it at the office.  Maybe a brake here or there for deer, but never a stop.  As I pulled out to the highway, I watched Blackie motor by, reluctantly taking Daniel to work.  

 

Following Daniel is usually not maddening, as he drives at a good clip and fairly consistently.  (Yes, there are others who drive slow, then speed up in the passing lanes, then slow down again....maddening!)  We were keeping pace pretty well, but he started slowing down a little, then a little more, then completely pulled off the road.  He started to get out and had something in his hand.  My first thought was what a bummer to breakdown, but what luck that I was so close if he needed a ride.

 

But, in fact, Daniel offered me half a cream cheese-y bagel with chopped garlic and green chiles on top.  He, too, would have liked to stay home and enjoy the storm rolling in (a real live storm with thunder showers, snow, and a winter storm warning from 4 pm - 6 am).  We chatted a moment longer, and then drudged back into motion of going to work. 

 

My drudge was infinitely better with a warm, toasted bagel in my hand and the smile of seeing family on my face!  Thanks, Daniel!

Our Foundation - finished!

We were all head prisoner between these bars until it was finished. With the sun rising and the concrete setting, we urgently got the last of the rebar in place and the concrete smoothed around them. Then, with my soreness, hunger, and thirst, I made it out of the pit and into the kitchen to make lunch! My fingers felt raw on my left hand, tender tips. When I finally washed them, I learned that I should have been wearing gloves. Actually, I wore a glove on my right hand to prevent calluses from holding the trowel with which I smoothed the concrete. But I do prefer the dexterity of a bare hand, so I left my left bare, unknowing of the consequences. And none of my experienced colleagues of the pit told me otherwise! (Thanks, guys!)

It looks like a mouse was nibbling off my fingertips. Or maybe a caterpillar from the garden mistook my fingers for carrots. The squirrely little lines and holes hurt. Sometimes with use they become numb, like being in the ocean so long you don't realize it is cold. And then I do something that smarts like fire. The throbbing in my fingertips will subside, I am sure...

And here it is...our footer for the walls we will put up in the spring. After putting up the basement walls, we will pour the slab.

Thomas glazing the concrete...